2026 Reading Challenge discussion

This year, my goal is to read 120 books total, read 12 physical books, and listen to 12 audiobooks.

Total Read: 52/120
Physical books: 3/12
Audiobooks: 2/12

Rating Scale
⭐ - Was this close to DNF
⭐⭐ - Didn't really enjoy but I've read worse
⭐⭐⭐ - Was neither overwhelmed or underwhelmed. Guess I was whelmed
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Enjoyable and entertaining read
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Absolutely loved and couldn't put it down

2026 Romanceopoly

Core Curriculum 2/5
1. Registrar’s Office: A book by an author you’ve never read before - The Bookish Girl's Guide to Mating with a Werewolf (#1) by Lola Glass 01/24
2. Crying Room: A romance that made (or will make) you cry or emotionally spiral - The Book of Azrael (#1) by Amber V. Nicole 02/09
3. Compass Wing: A romance from a genre you don’t typically read
4. Commons: A popular romance
5. Romance Hall: A book that features a classic romance trope

Major: Dark Psychology 3/5
1. Control Center: A dark romance with an obsessive, “touch her and die” love interest - God of Malice (#1) by Rina Kent 02/20
2. Mirror Wing - A stalker romance or romantic thriller where someone is being actively watched or followed: Silent Night Sins by Alexa Michaels 01/31
3. Dissonance Hall: A romance with a morally gray love interest - Her Possessive Outlaws by Gemma Haze 02/05
4. Off-Limits Lab: A dark or taboo romance that features a clearly labeled kink or taboo trope and comes with hefty content warnings
5. Velvet Room: A dark romance with a walking red-flag love interest

Minor: Fantasy Theory 3/5
1. Crownspire Tower: A romantasy book with royalty or arranged marriage - A Court This Cruel & Lovely (#1) by Stacia Stark 01/14
2. Runehall: A fantasy romance with a unique magic system or slow burn - Burn the Kingdom Down by Addie Thorley 02/27
3. Thorn Court: A romance featuring fae or magical creatures - Siren's Mark: A Paranormal Romance (#1) by Lux Raven 02/17
4. Nexus Hall: A portal fantasy, multiverse, or space opera romance
5. Battle & Bond Academy: A romance featuring a warrior, warlord, assassin, or protector

Electives 3/5
1. Corset Hall: A Regency or Victorian historical romance
2. Lycanthrope Hall: A shifter romance - The Artsy Girl's Guide to Mating with a Werewolf (#2) by Lola Glass 01/24
3. Crypt Library: A vampire romance - We Who Will Die (#1) by Stacia Stark 01/22
4. Arcane Theory Hall: A fated mates romance - The Wolf in My Tavern by L.V. Lane 01/17
5. Infernal Lab: A demon romance or one involving magical contracts

Club: Nightshade Society 3/4
1. Into the Shadows: A romance with a monster love interest - Hunted & Knotted By The Minotaur King: A Myth Retelling, Omegaverse, Monster Romance (#4) by Siena Stone
2. Supernatural Boarding Pass: A paranormal romance set at a school or training academy
3. Cursed & Claimed: A curse-breaking or soul-bound romance - Knotted By The Beast (#3) by Siena Stone 01/13
4. Full Moon Fever: A romance that includes the mating heat trope - The Independent Girl's Guide to Mating with a Werewolf (#3) by Lola Glass 01/25

Club: Secret Stacks 1/4
1. Undercover Gems: A Kindle Unlimited book with under 1,000 reviews - Knotting Cinderella (#2) by Siena Stone 01/13
2. Plot Twist Pages: A romance with a wild twist or a secret identity
3. Quietly Feral: An indie or self published romance that’s not on a bestseller list
4. Book Club Rebellion: A backlist book that you think deserves more hype, then recommend it to at least one person

Club: Theta Tau Theta 1/4
1. Villain Era Required Reading: A romance with a villain redemption arc
2. Do Not Recommend to Your Therapist: A spicy or taboo dark romance
3. That Was Not a Healthy Relationship: A romance with toxic dynamics
4. They Had No Business Being That Hot: A romance with a grumpy hero and/or black cat heroine - The Friendly Girl's Guide to Mating with a Werewolf (#4) by Lola Glass

Event: Frostbitten Trials (January - March) 4/4
1. Ice Gauntlet: A paranormal romance where one character harbors a dangerous secret or a hidden power - One Dark Window (#1) by Rachel Gillig 02/15
2. Shimmer Clash: A fantasy romance featuring a winter setting or ice magic - Hunted & Knotted By The Wolf (#1) by Imani Jay 01/11
3. Crimson Brawl: A dark or paranormal romance - The Stars Are Dying (#1) by C.C. Peñaranda 01/10
4. Velvet Blitz: A dark romance - Game Over by Selena Winters 02/13

Event: Bloom & Brawl Games (April - June) 1/4
1. Mirror Power Play: A contemporary romance with hockey or figure skating
2. Enchanted Brawl: A book that uses magical realism or enchantment as a key plot device, especially if it’s dangerous, secretive, or mind-bending - Kiss of the Basilisk (#1) by Lindsay Straube 04/09
3. Time Loop Triple Play: A romance that plays with time (past/present dual timelines, time travel, time loops, or memory loss)
4. Heartstopper Hustle: A romance with flowers or nature

January

1. Christmas at Hogwarts (#1.5) by J.K. Rowling 01/02 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
2. The Faraway Inn by Sarah Beth Durst 01/02 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
3. The Stars Are Dying (#1) by C.C. Peñaranda 01/10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
4. Hunted & Knotted By The Wolf (#1) by Imani Jay 01/11 ⭐⭐⭐
5. Knotting Cinderella (#2) by Siena Stone 01/13 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
6. Knotted By The Beast (#3) by Siena Stone 01/13 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
7. A Court This Cruel & Lovely (#1) by Stacia Stark 01/14 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
8. The Wolf in My Tavern by L.V. Lane 01/17 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
9. The Blacksmith in My Tavern: Tales of Bleakness by L.V. Lane 01/19 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
10. We Who Will Die (#1) by Stacia Stark 01/22 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
11. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (#2) by J.K. Rowling 01/23 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
12. The Bookish Girl's Guide to Mating with a Werewolf (#1) by Lola Glass 01/24 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
13. The Artsy Girl's Guide to Mating with a Werewolf (#2) by Lola Glass 01/24 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
14. Come Knocking by Mike Bockoven 01/25 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
15. The Independent Girl's Guide to Mating with a Werewolf (#3) by Lola Glass 01/25 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
16. The Friendly Girl's Guide to Mating with a Werewolf (#4) by Lola Glass 01/25 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
17. The Logical Girl's Guide to Mating with a Werewolf (#5) by Lola Glass 01/25 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
18. The Hungry Girl's Guide to Mating with a Werewolf (#6) by Lola Glass 01/25 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
19. Random Facts for Adults Made Simple: Entertaining Trivia for Curious Minds -- Knowledge Nuggets You Never Knew You Needed by Cari Panitzke 01/29 ⭐⭐⭐
20. Silent Night Sins by Alexa Michaels 01/31 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Favorite Book Read: The Wolf in My Tavern by L.V. Lane 01/17 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Least Favorite Book Read: Hunted & Knotted By The Wolf (#1) by Imani Jay 01/11 ⭐⭐⭐

YTD Physical books: 1
YTD Audiobooks: 1
YTD Total: 20

Best of luck with your plans and goals, Monica! Here’s to exploring new worlds and adventures through books! Happy reading!

February

1. FantasticLand by Mike Bockoven 02/03 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
2. Her Possessive Outlaws by Gemma Haze 02/05 ⭐⭐⭐
3. The Book of Azrael (#1) by Amber V. Nicole 02/09 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
4. Death Row Games by Shade Owens 02/09 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
5. Game Over by Selena Winters 02/13 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
6. Winter Moon (#24) by J.R. Rain 02/13 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
7. Moon Blade (#25) by J.R. Rain 02/14 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
8. One Dark Window (#1) by Rachel Gillig 02/15 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
9. Siren's Mark: A Paranormal Romance (#1) by Lux Raven 02/17 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
10. Sasquatch Moon (#26) by J.R. Rain 02/18 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
11. God of Malice (#1) by Rina Kent 02/20 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
12. Knotted By The Incubus: An Omegaverse Monster Romance by Imani Jay 02/21 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
13. Knotted by the Psychopath by Taylor Rose 02/22 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
14. Knotted By Her Alphas: A Reverse Harem Omegaverse Romance by Posey Parks 02/22 ⭐⭐⭐
15. Knotted by her Alphahole Boss: An Omegaverse Romance by Amara Bonds 02/23 ⭐⭐⭐
16. Knotted by the Dragon Prince: A Cozy Omegaverse Romance by Amaya Black 02/24 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
17. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (#3) by J.K. Rowling 02/24 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
18. Burn the Kingdom Down by Addie Thorley 02/27 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
19. The Blood They Shared by Mahogany Jaimes 02/28 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
20. Knotted By Her Wolf Shifters: AMBW Omegaverse Romance by Siren Allen 02/28 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Favorite Book Read: The Book of Azrael (#1) by Amber V. Nicole 02/09 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Least Favorite Book Read: Her Possessive Outlaws by Gemma Haze 02/05 ⭐⭐⭐

YTD Physical books: 2
YTD Audiobooks: 2
YTD Total: 40

March

1. A Kingdom This Cursed and Empty (#2) by Stacia Stark 03/05 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
2. Difficult Girls by Veronica Bane 03/10 ⭐⭐⭐
3. Wild Moon (#27) by J.R. Rain 03/12 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
4. Small Wonders: 39 Tales of the Imagination by J.R. Rain 03/25 ⭐⭐⭐

Favorite Book Read: Wild Moon (#27) by J.R. Rain 03/12 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Least Favorite Book Read: Small Wonders: 39 Tales of the Imagination by J.R. Rain 03/25 ⭐⭐⭐

YTD Physical books: 2
YTD Audiobooks: 2
YTD Total: 44

April

1. Kiss of the Basilisk (#1) by Lindsay Straube 04/09 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
2. Hunted & Knotted By The Minotaur King: A Myth Retelling, Omegaverse, Monster Romance (#4) by Siena Stone 04/12 ⭐⭐⭐
3. Nerve by Jeanne Ryan 04/13 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
4. Baking Across America: A Vintage Recipe Road Trip by B. Dylan Hollis 04/22 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
5. Moon Magic (#28) by J.R. Rain 04/25 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
6. The Dinner Party: A Pick Your Poison Adventure by Freida McFadden 04/26 ⭐⭐⭐
7. STFUATTDLAGG: A Masked Man Dirty Short by Imani Jay 04/27 ⭐⭐⭐

Favorite Book Read: Kiss of the Basilisk (#1) by Lindsay Straube 04/09 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Least Favorite Book Read: Hunted & Knotted By The Minotaur King: A Myth Retelling, Omegaverse, Monster Romance (#4) by Siena Stone 04/12 ⭐⭐⭐

YTD Physical books: 3
YTD Audiobooks: 2
YTD Total: 51

May

1. Crown of Rust and Ruin (#8) by Penelope Wright 05/01 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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Favorite Book Read:
Least Favorite Book Read:

YTD Physical books: 3
YTD Audiobooks: 2
YTD Total: 52