Hooked on Books discussion
Curious Patterns
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S: Edition — Geri
Mod
Welcome!
This thread is your space as you move through the challenge, one Chapter at a time.
A few quick reminders:
• For each Chapter, choose one task
• Post your completed task in this thread using the format below
• Check in by posting a link to that post in the Check-Ins & Completions thread
• The next Chapter will be provided after you’ve checked in
📝 Posting Your Progress
Use the format below:
Chapter # and Title: (Example: #1 - Bridge & Flow)
Task:
Book/Author:
Date completed:
How it fits:
⏭️ Skips
A limited number of skips are available if needed.
To use a skip, note it in your thread, then check in as usual to receive the next Chapter.
(Optional: you may include a brief note if you’d like to share your reasoning.)
📌 Before You Begin
Before the challenge begins, please check in using the Check-Ins & Completions thread to:
• Request a solo name (optional)
• If you would like to change your tier selection
• Let me know you're ready to begin
Once that’s set, you’ll be ready when the first Chapter is released.
Mod
Paris, the “City of Light,” has 37 bridges crossing the Seine and—surprisingly—no stop signs within the city limits, shaping how people move through the city.
📚 Choose ONE:
Read a book where...
🥖 Food or shared meals are part of the story.
📜 The history of a place or its past is explored.
👣 A character has to navigate unfamiliar surroundings.
🗺️ The setting strongly influences what happens in the story.
💭 A character’s emotional response to a place is a clear focus of the story.
Completion PostChapter # and Title: Chapter #1 - 🌉 Bridge & Flow
Task: 🥖 Food or shared meals are part of the story.
Book/Author: Six Feet Deep Dish by Mindy Quigley
Date completed: 5/2/26
How it fits: MC manages and cooks for her own gourmet deep dish pizzeria.
Mod
In Switzerland, it’s illegal to own just one guinea pig. Because they are highly social animals, keeping one alone is considered animal abuse—they need companionship to stay healthy and happy.
📚 Choose ONE:
Read a book where...
🫶 Characters grow close over time.
🐾 An animal or pet plays a role in the story.
🧍 A character is largely alone or without companionship.
🌉 Two characters from very different backgrounds become friends.
🤝 Two characters depend on each other to get through a difficult situation.
Completion PostChapter # and Title: Chapter #2 - 🐹 Better Together
Task: 🫶 Characters grow close over time.
Book/Author: Juniper Hill by Devney Perry
Date completed: 5/3/26
How it fits: Memphis and Knox meet at the beginning of the book and grow close throughout the book and end up engaged by the end of the book.
Mod
Finland has ranked as the happiest country in the world for seven years in a row, with high levels of trust, safety, and quality of life contributing to everyday well-being.
📚 Choose ONE:
Read a book where...
😌 A character is content with their life.
🌿 The atmosphere is calm or slow-paced.
🕯️ A character finds comfort in a familiar routine.
🕳️ A character struggles with loneliness or isolation.
🏡 Much of the story takes place in or around the home.
Completion PostChapter # and Title: Chapter #3 - 😊 Contentment
Task: 😌 A character is content with their life.
Book/Author: Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping On a Dead Man by Jesse Q. Sutanto
Date completed: 5/4/26
How it fits: Vera states outright that she is content with her life. But also enjoys the excitement of solving a murder.
Mod
The word for the fear of long words is hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia. It was intentionally created as a linguistic prank, combining elements meaning “monster” and “hippopotamus” to make the term as intimidating as possible.
📚 Choose ONE:
Read a book where...
🤐 A character struggles to express themselves.
✍️ The writing style is distinctive or memorable.
😬 A character says something that has unintended consequences.
💬 The way characters communicate is a central focus of the story.
❗ A misunderstanding between characters changes the course of the story.
Completion PostChapter # and Title: Chapter #4 - 📖 Ironic Fear
Task: 🤐 A character struggles to express themselves.
Book/Author: The Bond That Burns by Briar Boleyn
Date completed: 5/5/26
How it fits: Blake definitely struggles to tell Medra how he feels about her for about 3/4 of the book.
Mod
To be classified as tequila, a spirit must be made from the blue agave plant—specifically from its core, known as the piña.
📚 Choose ONE:
Read a book where...
📍 The story is set in Mexico.
🏪 A character visits or works in a bar.
🍹 A character is particular about what they drink or consume.
🧺 A character carefully makes or prepares something by hand.
🌵 The setting plays an important role in what is produced or created.
Completion PostChapter # and Title: Chapter #5 - 🥃 True Spirit
Task: 🧺 A character carefully makes or prepares something by hand.
Book/Author: The Auction by Sadie Kincaid
Date completed: 5/6/26
How it fits: Pierre prepares lots of meals by hand for MCs, Imogen and Lincoln.
Mod
Honey never spoils. Archaeologists have found pots of honey in ancient Egyptian tombs that are over 3,000 years old—and still edible today.
📚 Choose ONE:
Read a book where...
🪨 A place, object, or idea lasts for a long time.
🧬 Traditions or practices are passed down over time.
🏺 History, archaeology, or ancient cultures are explored.
🕰️ Something from the past is still important in the present.
⏱️ A character is under pressure because time is running out.
Completion PostChapter # and Title: Chapter #6 - 🍯 Built to Last
Task: . 🏺 History, archaeology, or ancient cultures are explored.
Book/Author: The Star from Calcutta by Sujata Massey
Date completed: 5/8/26
How it fits: The book is set during 1920s Colonial India. It explores the cultures of the British Raj, and the Parsi community.
Mod
Humans are the only animals that blush. We’re also believed to be the only ones who experience embarrassment—a social emotion tied to how we think others see us.
📚 Choose ONE:
Read a book where...
🙈 A character tries to avoid being noticed.
🌟 A character seeks attention from others.
😶 A character is trying to impress someone.
😓 A character feels embarrassed in front of others.
🏋️ A character feels pressure to meet others’ expectations.
Completion PostChapter # and Title: Chapter #7 - 😳 Awkward Moments
Task: . 😓 A character feels embarrassed in front of others.
Book/Author: Blood Beneath the Snow by Alexandra Kennington
Date completed: 5/9/26
How it fits: Revna is the only one in the royal family without magic. She feels embarrassed in front of others.
Mod
In 2014, two research scientists in Antarctica matched on Tinder—one at McMurdo Station, the other 45 minutes away by helicopter—highlighting connection in one of the most remote places on Earth.
📚 Choose ONE:
Read a book where...
❄️ The story is set in a remote or isolated location.
📡 Characters communicate across a long distance.
👥 A small group of characters is in a contained setting.
🤝 Two characters meet in an unusual or unexpected way.
🧭 Reaching another person requires significant effort or travel.
Completion PostChapter # and Title: Chapter #8 - ❄️ Far Apart
Task: . 👥 A small group of characters is in a contained setting.
Book/Author: House of Korba by C.L. Stone
Date completed: 5/11/26
How it fits: Sang and her guys spend all their time with each other or in high school.
Mod
In Japan, there are companies that will send someone to apologize on your behalf. These professional apologizers can be hired to say sorry for anything—from missing work to personal mistakes.
📚 Choose ONE:
Read a book where...
🚫 A character refuses to apologize.
🎭 A character gives an apology they don’t mean.
❌ A character makes a mistake and must face the consequences.
🔁 A character repeatedly does something they must apologize for.
⚖️ A character is expected to take responsibility for something they didn’t do.
Completion PostChapter # and Title: Chapter #9 - 📌 Owning It
Task: . ❌ A character makes a mistake and must face the consequences.
Book/Author: Metal Slinger by Rachel Schneider
Date completed: 5/12/26
How it fits: The MCs make a mistake that causes massive structural failure of a crane. They have to pay for the mistake with grunt work to help pay for the repairs.
Mod
Over a lifetime, the average person walks enough to circle the Earth three times.
📚 Choose ONE:
Read a book where...
👣 A character spends much of the story on foot.
🌳 The story spans many years of a character’s life.
🧱 A character makes steady progress toward a goal.
🧭 A character travels a long distance across different places.
🔄 The story revisits the same location at different points in time.
Completion PostChapter # and Title: Chapter #10 - 🚶 Step by Step
Task: . 🧭 A character travels a long distance across different places
Book/Author: Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune
Date completed: 5/13/26
How it fits: George is a journalist and travels all around the world for a story.
Mod
Istanbul is split between two continents—Europe and Asia—divided by the Bosphorus Strait, a narrow waterway that runs through the city and connects the Black Sea to the Mediterranean.
📚 Choose ONE:
Read a book where...
✈️ A character is traveling or relocating.
🌍 The story is set in either Europe or Asia.
🤝 A character acts as a link between two people or groups.
🗺️ A character experiences a culture different from their own.
⚖️ A character is caught between two sides, choices, or expectations.
Completion PostChapter # and Title: Chapter #11 - 🌉 Between Worlds
Task: . .
⚖️ A character is caught between two sides, choices, or expectations
Book/Author: Change of Plans by Sarah Dessen
Date completed: 5/14/26
How it fits: Finlay has to choose between 2 young men and the university she truly wants to attend.
Mod
About 60% of the world’s lakes—around three million in total—are located in Canada.
📚 Choose ONE:
Read a book where...
🍁 The story is set in Canada.
🌊 Water plays a major role in the setting.
🛶 Characters travel across water as part of the story.
🧭 Characters move through many different locations.
🧊 Cold or icy conditions significantly impact what happens in the story.
Completion PostChapter # and Title: Chapter #12 - 🌲 Everywhere You Look
Task: 🌊 Water plays a major role in the setting
Book/Author: Wake-Up Calls by Mariah Stewart
Date completed: 5/16/26
How it fits: Kit inherited a campground in Maine right off a lake.
Mod
Lemons float, but limes sink due to differences in density, even though they look quite similar.
📚 Choose ONE:
Read a book where...
↔️ Similar choices lead to very different outcomes.
🫧 Something turns out differently than it first appears.
🔀 Two similar characters are treated differently by others.
🧠 A character misjudges something based on how it appears.
🧩 Two things that seem similar are revealed to be fundamentally different.
Completion PostChapter # and Title: Chapter #13 - 🍋 Same but Different
Task: 🧠 A character misjudges something based on how it appears.
Book/Author: The Last Page by Katie Holt
Date completed: 5/17/26
How it fits: Ella misjudges Henry at first thinking his ownership of the bookstore was a bad thing and will lead to the bookstore closing. But he actually helps to keep it open.
Mod
Lobsters were once so plentiful that they were considered poor man’s food, even served to prisoners and servants—but today they’re seen as a luxury.
📚 Choose ONE:
Read a book where...
🍂 Something once valued becomes less important.
👑 A character’s status or position changes over time.
🪙 Something once dismissed or ignored becomes valuable.
💎 Something is considered valuable by some but not by others.
🗝️ Gaining or losing wealth changes what a character can or cannot do.
Completion PostChapter # and Title: Chapter #14 - ⏳ The Value of Time
Task: 👑 A character’s status or position changes over time.
Book/Author: While You Were Seething by Charlotte Stein
Date completed: 5/18/26
How it fits: Caleb’s status as a bestselling romance author changes when he creates his own PR disaster. The book is about him trying to fix his reputation.
Mod
A giraffe named Forest at Australia Zoo in Queensland stands 18 feet, 8 inches tall—making him one of the tallest giraffes ever recorded.
📚 Choose ONE:
Read a book where...
🐘 A notably large or tall animal is featured.
🏔️ The story is set in a high or elevated place.
🧗 A character must reach or climb to a high place.
🏢 A tall building plays an important role in the story.
🧍 A main character stands out physically in a noticeable way.
Completion PostChapter # and Title: Chapter #15 - 🦒 Standing Tall
Task: 🧍 A main character stands out physically in a noticeable way.
Book/Author: Cash by Jessica Peterson
Date completed: 5/19/26
How it fits: MC Cash was described as tall, muscular and handsome.
Mod
Australia is wider than the moon—stretching nearly 4,000 km from east to west, compared to the moon’s roughly 3,400 km diameter.
📚 Choose ONE:
Read a book where...
🦘 The story is set in Australia.
🛰️ A character travels a long distance.
🗺️ The setting spans a large or wide area.
🏔️ The scale of a place or situation makes it difficult to understand or navigate.
📏 The size of a place, object, or situation is very different from what is expected.
Completion PostChapter # and Title: Chapter #16 - 🌕 Bigger Than It Looks
Task: The setting spans a large or wide area.
Book/Author: The One Day You Were My Husband by Rosie Walsh
Date completed: 5/21/26
How it fits: There are multiple settings for this book, Thailand, England, Malaysia and Sweden. All those countries span a large area.
Mod
Each zodiac sign is tied to one of four elements—fire, water, air, or earth—believed to shape personality and temperament.
📚 Choose ONE:
Read a book where...
🕊️ A character seeks freedom.
🌊 A character is overwhelmed by their emotions.
🌲 The story is set primarily outdoors or in nature.
🌬️ Characters struggle to communicate or understand each other.
🔥 A character acts impulsively or loses control in a tense situation.
Completion PostChapter # and Title: Chapter #17 - 🔮 Elemental Nature
Task: 🌊 A character is overwhelmed by their emotions.
Book/Author: Captivation Creek by Claire Kingsley
Date completed: 5/21/26
How it fits: Theo is overwhelmed emotionally when Penelope goes missing.
Mod
Octopuses have three hearts. Two of them stop beating when they swim, which is why they prefer crawling along the ocean floor instead of moving quickly through open water. They’re also known for their problem-solving abilities and their ability to adapt to different environments.
📚 Choose ONE:
Read a book where...
🐌 Progress is slow because of external obstacles.
🧠 Problem-solving or strategy plays a central role.
🏹 A character has to confront something they’ve been avoiding.
🛑 A character delays making a major decision despite clear stakes.
⚖️ A character is pulled in different directions by competing priorities.
Completion PostChapter # and Title: Chapter #18 - ❤️ Three Hearts
Task: 🧠 Problem-solving or strategy plays a central role.
Book/Author: Dissection of a Murder by Jo Murray
Date completed: 5/24/26
How it fits: Leila is a lawyer defending her client, which does require problem solving and strategy.
Mod
Scent is the only sense that connects directly to areas of the brain involved in memory and emotion, bypassing the usual processing pathways.
📚 Choose ONE:
Read a book where...
🕰️ A smell is tied to a specific memory.
🍲 Food or cooking is described through smell.
🥀 A smell lingers on a person, place, or object.
🌫️ A smell is one of the first things noticed in a place.
🚨 A smell is so strong it demands a character’s attention.
Completion PostChapter # and Title: Chapter #19 - 👃 Direct Access
Task: .A smell is one of the first things noticed in a place
Book/Author: Murder at the Rusty Anchor by Maddie Day
Date completed: 5/25/26
How it fits:MC’s husband, Tim, owns a bakery and the wonderful smells are noticed when someone walks in.
Mod
Wolves can travel over 30 miles in a single day while hunting, covering long distances in search of food.
📚 Choose ONE:
Read a book where...
👣 A character is being pursued or hunted.
🎯 A character is working toward a clear goal over time.
⏳ A character is racing against time to complete something.
🔍 A character is searching for a specific person, place, or thing.
🧶 A character follows a trail left behind by someone or something.
Completion PostChapter # and Title: Chapter #20 - 🐺 The Long Pursuit
Task: . 🎯 A character is working toward a clear goal over time.
Book/Author: Broken Dove by Dani Francis
Date completed: 5/26/26
How it fits: Wren’s clear, long-term goal is to overthrow the totalitarian rule of the Primes and secure freedom for her people on the Continent.
Mod
Research has shown that people are more likely to form strong connections through shared experiences—especially during challenging or unfamiliar situations—than through casual, everyday interactions.
📚 Choose ONE:
Read a book where...
🔁 Characters reconnect after time apart.
💫 A single encounter leads to a lasting connection.
🧩 Characters form a bond while cooperating under pressure.
🧭 Characters form a connection through a shared experience.
⚔️ A connection develops through conflict between characters.
Completion PostChapter # and Title: Chapter #21 - 🤝 Forged Together
Task: . 🔁 Characters reconnect after time apart.
Book/Author: Undeniable by Melanie Harlow
Date completed: 5/27/26
How it fits: MCs get a second, third, fourth chance at love after years apart.
Mod
In South Korea, there are cafés where you can wash and pet sheep while drinking coffee.
📚 Choose ONE:
Read a book where...
🧤 A character has an unusual job or role.
✨ Something unusual appears in an everyday setting.
🧶 Two very different worlds or environments overlap.
🐾 An animal’s presence significantly affects the story.
🧖 A character has an unexpected or unconventional experience.
Completion PostChapter # and Title: Chapter #22 - 🐑 Out of Place
Task: . 🧶 Two very different worlds or environments overlap.
Book/Author: Home of the American Circus by Allison Larkin
Date completed: 5/29/26
How it fits: The book overlaps the ordinary, everyday reality of small-town, Somers New York, juxtaposed against the bizarre, historic legacy of early American sideshows and traveling exhibits, that also started in Somers, New York.
Mod
Octopuses have suckers that can taste what they touch, allowing them to explore their environment through both touch and chemical sensing at the same time.
📚 Choose ONE:
Read a book where...
🩸 A character is justified but still causes harm.
🤹 A character is handling two situations at once.
🌓 A character experiences two emotions at once.
🔄 The same moment is understood in more than one way.
💡 A character realizes something new in the middle of a scene.
Completion PostChapter # and Title: Chapter #23 - 🐙 The Tasting Touch
Task: . 🤹 A character is handling two situations at once.
Book/Author: Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan
Date completed: 5/30/26
How it fits: Dolly is simultaneously trying to manage the family's fish house, while also navigating a high-society, fake-dating arrangement with a billionaire.
Mod
In Namibia, desert sand dunes stretch all the way to the ocean.
📚 Choose ONE:
Read a book where...
🌓 Two very different settings or worlds overlap.
👣 A character moves between very different environments.
🌫️ A boundary, border, or dividing line plays an important role.
🦴 A character must survive in a harsh or extreme environment.
⚖️ A character is caught between two places, cultures, or ways of life.
Completion PostChapter # and Title: Chapter #24 - 🏜️ Where Worlds Meet
Task: A character is caught between two places, cultures, or ways of life.
Book/Author: Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser
Date completed: 6/1/26
How it fits: The MC is caught between being who she really is (a farmers daughter raised to be gentry) and the performance that is required to belong to the upper crust.
Hooked on Books
Books mentioned in this topic
Survival of the Fritters (other topics)The Final Target (other topics)
Nonesuch (other topics)
Lady Tremaine (other topics)
Dolly All the Time (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Ginger Bolton (other topics)Nora Roberts (other topics)
Francis Spufford (other topics)
Rachel Hochhauser (other topics)
Annabel Monaghan (other topics)
More...
Stories, Recognition, and Discovery
Solo or Partner • Open-Ended
Start Date: May 6, 2026
🔗 Quick Links
📝 Check-Ins & Completions
Post your check-in after completing a Chapter
❓ Questions & Answers
For questions or clarification
🪟 Between the Chapters
A space to share and explore interesting fits along the way
——
A reading experience built around curiosity, connection, and intentional design.
Each Chapter begins with a real-world fact that anchors a set of thoughtfully designed reading tasks. These tasks reflect the kinds of moments, behaviors, and patterns that naturally occur in stories—so matching a book to a task feels intuitive rather than something you have to search for.
For each Chapter, you choose a task and read a book that fits, at your own pace. If participating with a partner, both readers select different tasks and move forward together once both are finished.
The tasks are designed to be clear and easy to recognize, while the structure allows space for optional discussion, shared progress, and connection along the way.
What to expect:
• Tasks that are clear, grounded, and easy to recognize within a story
• 94 Chapters, each built around a unique real-world idea
• A balanced mix of tasks, from straightforward to more interpretive
• Flexible tasks that work across genres, including nonfiction
• A wide range of themes—from environment and systems to relationships and human behavior
• No scavenger hunts, page counts, or technical requirements—just tasks your book will naturally meet
Every Chapter is intentionally designed to create variety without feeling random, with tasks that feel consistent, recognizable, and purposeful across different kinds of stories.
📖 About the Structure
This challenge is made up of 94 Chapters (individual rounds of tasks), forming a complete collection.
Each Chapter offers a set of tasks—choose one and read a book that fits.
Each tier follows its own sequence of Chapters, drawn from the complete collection.
📚 Choose Your Experience
🌱 Excerpt — a curated version of the challenge (13 Chapters)
A shorter tier designed to capture the full feel of Curious Patterns. You’ll move through a beginning, a shift, and a meaningful ending—on a smaller scale, creating a distilled experience with a clear and complete arc.
📘 Edition — the full reading experience (62 Chapters)
This tier reflects everything the challenge is designed to do—the build, the variation, and the shift in how you approach each Chapter. It offers a balanced experience across a complete arc, without compression.
🗂️ Archive — the complete collection (94 Chapters)
All Chapters, all variations, all layers. This tier represents the full exploration of the system—its complete expression from start to finish.
🧭 Challenge Rules & Guidelines
• Standard Rules Apply
• There is NO page minimum
• Books must be finished after the Chapter is released; they may be started beforehand
• Justifications are based on your honest interpretation of the tasks—ask if unsure
• A small number of skips are available if needed, allowing you to move past a Chapter that doesn’t fit
• The goal is exploration, not perfection
🌿 Closing Note
Whichever tier you choose, this challenge is designed to leave room for interpretation, reflection, and discovery.
No deadlines—just a structured, open-ended reading experience built for curiosity, variety, and shared progress.