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The Plot Twist Challenge > Solo Player Thread

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message 1: by Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger (last edited Dec 29, 2025 01:09PM) (new)

Ashley Basile (smashreads) | 6919 comments Mod
You can use this thread to chat like a Team Thread, or you can ignore it entirely.

Important: If you are a SOLO player, you must choose a level for Month 1 here.

You are welcome to pick a new level in February, but once you make your choice, it is locked in for January.

Your options:
• Easy
• Medium
• Hard
• Ultimate


message 2: by Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger (last edited Jan 01, 2026 09:23AM) (new)

Ashley Basile (smashreads) | 6919 comments Mod
Players

Anastasia
January Level: Ultimate


Sarah
January Level: Easy


C
January Level: Medium yes, I picked for you, bc you didn't


Bubbles
January Level: Ultimate


Michelle
January Level: Ultimate


Sally
January Level: Easy
January Rule: must include an extra line in every justification this month declaring your undying love for me.


Catsalive
January Level: Easy


Upton
January Level: Ultimate


Geri
January Level: Easy


Ruth
January Level: Ultimate


Sophie
January Level: Easy


message 3: by Sarah (new)

Sarah Morris (shelflove821) | 156 comments Easy. I need to see what I'm getting into first. 🤨


message 4: by Anastasia (new)

Anastasia (anastasiaruff) | 2234 comments I'm going to start with Ultimate and see what happens


message 5: by Michelle (new)

Michelle | 2362 comments I'm going with Ultimate for now and will most likely regret it 🤣


message 6: by Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger (new)

Ashley Basile (smashreads) | 6919 comments Mod
Anastasia wrote: "I'm going to start with Ultimate and see what happens"

🥳


message 7: by Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger (last edited Dec 29, 2025 01:30PM) (new)

Ashley Basile (smashreads) | 6919 comments Mod
Spreadsheets should be available by tomorrow! ..... for those that have picked a level.


message 8: by Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger (new)

Ashley Basile (smashreads) | 6919 comments Mod
Michelle wrote: "I'm going with Ultimate for now and will most likely regret it 🤣"

🎆


message 9: by Sally906 (new)

Sally906 | 542 comments I’m going for easy - vowed this year I wouldn’t sign up for any thing until I can scrutinise the tasks - so comforted by your assurance that I can back out - my personal plan for my 2026 challenges is use what I have in my TBR not go chasing for books I don’t have.

Very intrigued by this challenge 😀👍


message 10: by Bubbles (new)

Bubbles | 273 comments I'm going to shoot for Ultimate!


message 11: by Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger (new)

Ashley Basile (smashreads) | 6919 comments Mod
Bubbles wrote: "I'm going to shoot for Ultimate!"

🙌


message 12: by Catsalive (new)

Catsalive | 1707 comments I'm going cautiously & starting with easy.


message 13: by Upton (new)

Upton | 1142 comments I am going for Ultimate. What is the worst thing that can happen...utter and complete failure. So just another Tuesday.


message 14: by Geri (new)

Geri | 363 comments I’m not brave. 🙂 I’d like easy level, please!


message 15: by Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger (new)

Ashley Basile (smashreads) | 6919 comments Mod
Upton wrote: "I am going for Ultimate. What is the worst thing that can happen...utter and complete failure. So just another Tuesday."

🥳


message 17: by Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger (new)

Ashley Basile (smashreads) | 6919 comments Mod
Alright, let’s talk rules… because yes, there are rules. Your level determines your tasks: how many you do and which ones.

Core Task – everyone completes this. Your level doesn't matter here.

"Optional Tasks" – are they really optional? not really. These depend on your difficulty level:

Easy: Core + Optionals 1 & 2 = 3 tasks
Medium: Core + Optionals 1–3 = 4 tasks
Hard: Core + Optionals 1–4 = 5 tasks
Ultimate: Core + Optionals 1–5 = 6 tasks

💡 Important: No, you do not read one book that counts for all tasks at once. This isn't a Dr. Frankenstein experiment, and you are not creating a monstrous, stitched-together reading abomination. Don't try it… and definitely don't ask the mods about it.

Example – Easy Level (3 books):

• Book 1: MPG Horror
• Book 2: MPG Horror + Published in 2025
• Book 3: MPG Horror + Published in October

Not this:

• Book 1: MPG Horror
• Book 2: MPG Horror + Published in 2025
• Book 3: MPG Horror + Published in 2025 + Published in October

Then, there's the SPELL OUT component... each month has a 6-letter word. Here’s how many letters you complete each month:

Easy: 6 letters (any option)
Medium: 6 letters (with 3 restrictions)
Hard: 6 letters (all restrictions)
Ultimate: 18 letters (all restrictions ×3) — yes, that means spelling the word three times. You picked Ultimate… don't blame me.

Of course, you don't have to do any of the spell out, but you'll lose points, so… good luck.

So, that’s it… for now. Maybe.


message 18: by Sarah (new)

Sarah Morris (shelflove821) | 156 comments I feel like I'm at that restaurant you always see on the travel channel where they cuss you out and then throw rolls at you. 😂


message 19: by Upton (new)

Upton | 1142 comments Sarah - you hit the nail on the head!


message 20: by Sophie (new)

Sophie | 7 comments can you do my speadsheet ashley


message 21: by Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger (new)

Ashley Basile (smashreads) | 6919 comments Mod
Sophie wrote: "can you do my speadsheet ashley"

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...


message 22: by Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger (new)

Ashley Basile (smashreads) | 6919 comments Mod
C
January Level: Medium yes, I picked for you, bc you didn't
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...


message 23: by Sarah (new)

Sarah Morris (shelflove821) | 156 comments I'm so confused lol. Do we use the example tasks from above for the optional set? 2025 and October?


message 24: by Anastasia (new)

Anastasia (anastasiaruff) | 2234 comments Sarah wrote: "I'm so confused lol. Do we use the example tasks from above for the optional set? 2025 and October?"

The optional tasks come up once you complete the core task one at a time


message 25: by Sarah (new)

Sarah Morris (shelflove821) | 156 comments Anastasia wrote: "Sarah wrote: "I'm so confused lol. Do we use the example tasks from above for the optional set? 2025 and October?"

The optional tasks come up once you complete the core task one at a time"


Gotcha, thanks!


message 26: by Ruth (new)

Ruth | 127 comments Hi Ashley… After entering the completion date for my core + 1st optional task, my 2nd optional task did not automatically reveal like the 1st optional did. Is that a fault with my SS or is there a timing restriction for how frequently the optional tasks are allowed? Thanks!


message 27: by Anastasia (new)

Anastasia (anastasiaruff) | 2234 comments Ruth wrote: "Hi Ashley… After entering the completion date for my core + 1st optional task, my 2nd optional task did not automatically reveal like the 1st optional did. Is that a fault with my SS or is there a ..."

Must be a SS fault as mine came up okay


message 28: by Ruth (new)

Ruth | 127 comments Anastasia wrote: "Ruth wrote: "Hi Ashley… After entering the completion date for my core + 1st optional task, my 2nd optional task did not automatically reveal like the 1st optional did. Is that a fault with my SS o..."

Thanks, Anastasia. Everything seems to be working okay now. 😊


message 29: by C (new)

C | 1589 comments Ashley wrote: "C
January Level: Medium yes, I picked for you, bc you didn't
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/..."


Thanks Ashley, sorry! I had this challenge written down, but I hadn't looked at my notes yet this year because I hadn't finished a book yet. So catching up!


message 30: by Catsalive (new)

Catsalive | 1707 comments Hi Ashley, At the easy level, is there any benefit to doing more tasks than required, like a 2nd spellout? Maybe I should just relax now.


message 31: by Sally906 (last edited Jan 19, 2026 03:06PM) (new)

Sally906 | 542 comments Phew!

Finished January - I have decided that I’ll stick with easy for the rest of the year - have learnt a lot - will be better prepared for February (maybe?)


message 32: by Geri (new)

Geri | 363 comments I agree, Sally. I think I’ll stick with easy level too. I’m in a few more challenges (maybe more than a few!) and easy is probably all I can handle.


message 33: by Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger (new)

Ashley Basile (smashreads) | 6919 comments Mod
Catsalive wrote: "Hi Ashley, At the easy level, is there any benefit to doing more tasks than required, like a 2nd spellout? Maybe I should just relax now."

🤨


message 34: by Sally906 (last edited Jan 20, 2026 01:23PM) (new)

Sally906 | 542 comments Geri wrote: "I agree, Sally. I think I’ll stick with easy level too. I’m in a few more challenges (maybe more than a few!) and easy is probably all I can handle."

Same - I have a lot of challenges going on across a few groups, so easy is the only way I can keep my “addiction” under control.

Though having lots of challenges gives me the added personal satisfaction of seeing how many challenge tasks I can cover with the same book - for example my current book covers 11 challenges over 8 different groups!


message 35: by Anastasia (new)

Anastasia (anastasiaruff) | 2234 comments I'm changing to Hard from ultimate next month. Found the spellout tasks too restrictive to repeat 3 times. One time was enough. Don't think I will finish January's set in time. Still have 8 in the spellout to go


message 36: by Bubbles (new)

Bubbles | 273 comments Yeah, I will be doing Easy from now. Maybe I can end up in the positive by the end of the year lol


message 37: by Catsalive (new)

Catsalive | 1707 comments Ashley wrote: "Catsalive wrote: "Hi Ashley, At the easy level, is there any benefit to doing more tasks than required, like a 2nd spellout? Maybe I should just relax now."

🤨"





message 38: by Catsalive (new)

Catsalive | 1707 comments I'll stay on Easy for Feb., it's challenge enough without too much pressure. Maybe I'll try Medium in March, we'll see.


message 39: by C (new)

C | 1589 comments I think I will stay at Medium for February. While I won't finish the spellout for January, at least I got to positive points. 🤪


message 40: by Geri (last edited Jan 21, 2026 02:19PM) (new)

Geri | 363 comments Sally906 wrote: "Though having lots of challenges gives me the added personal satisfaction of seeing how many challenge tasks I can cover with the same book - for example my current book covers 11 challenges over 8 different groups!"

Love when that happens!


message 41: by Catsalive (new)

Catsalive | 1707 comments Geri wrote: "Sally906 wrote: "Though having lots of challenges gives me the added personal satisfaction of seeing how many challenge tasks I can cover with the same book - for example my current book covers 11 ..."

Success!


message 42: by christene_littlelibrary (last edited Jan 21, 2026 07:04PM) (new)

christene_littlelibrary (cpaulanavarro) | 643 comments How do you put task on the task list? It doesn’t appear to me even the level

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...


message 43: by Anastasia (new)

Anastasia (anastasiaruff) | 2234 comments christene_littlelibrary wrote: "How do you put task on the task list? It doesn’t appear to me even the level

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/..."


The tasks should appear automatically. You announce your level on the sign up page


message 44: by Catsalive (new)

Catsalive | 1707 comments christene_littlelibrary wrote: "How do you put task on the task list? It doesn’t appear to me even the level

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/..."


I see you have no level on your SS, you may have to go to Q&A to get a response from Ashley.


message 45: by Michelle (new)

Michelle | 2362 comments For February I want to back down to Hard. Ultimate is really kicking my butt.


message 46: by Anastasia (new)

Anastasia (anastasiaruff) | 2234 comments I think you need to let them know in the sign up thread Michelle


message 47: by Anastasia (new)

Anastasia (anastasiaruff) | 2234 comments Just managed to finish all my January books


message 48: by Geri (new)

Geri | 363 comments I finished a few days ago. It took me longer than I thought it would.


message 49: by Sarah (new)

Sarah Morris (shelflove821) | 156 comments I have been useless this month. Hoping I accomplish more in February. 😬


message 50: by Upton (new)

Upton | 1142 comments I am going Easy for Feb please and Thanks!


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