Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion

Team Kangchenjunga




Team Members
• Lisa - Captain
• Apoorv - Co-Captain
• Melissa - Co-Captain
• Lucy
• Mary C
• Jackie
• Amanda
• Stacey Crudden
• Janine
• Navi
• Cordelia
• Suzanne


• Aimi

Team Spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
Challenge Status: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

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⛰️ Welcome to Team Kangchenjunga ⛰️



Kangchenjunga is the third-highest mountain in the world, towering along the border of Nepal and India, and honestly? That feels fitting for us. This climb isn’t about racing to the summit alone — it’s about steady teamwork, pacing ourselves, helping each other over the rough spots, and celebrating every bit of progress along the way.

Our team vibe is simple:
Read what you want. Enjoy the challenge. Cheer each other on. And when the opportunity comes up, maybe make the occasional tiny team-minded choice that helps us all climb a little higher.

No pressure. No sacrificing your entire TBR to the mountain gods. Just cozy competitiveness, teamwork, and a lot of books.

📚 General Info + Rules

🗂️ Team Planning Spreadsheet:

🏔️ Team Kangchenjunga Climbers 🏔️
🦦 Lisa - Captain
Apoorv - Co-Captain
🦦 Melissa - Co-Captain
🦦 Lucy
🦦 Mary C
🦦 Jackie
🦦 Amanda
🦦 Stacey Crudden
Aimi
🦦 Janine
🦦 Navi
🦦 Cordelia

Use this thread for:
📖 reading updates
🎯 planning + strategy
✨ cheering each other on
💀 recovering from emotionally catastrophic books
🏔️ gentle mountain-climbing propaganda

One page at a time, we climb. 💙

🏔️ Team Kangchenjunga Planning Basecamp 🏔️



Our Planning Sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

This is where we map the climb, stash the supplies, and attempt to convince the mountain gods we are organized.

All books should be entered under the 📚 “Books” 📚 tab.
The main sheet is for captains/co-captains only — so if you find yourself requesting access, you’ve wandered onto the wrong trail.

📖 What We Need From You 📖
We added a few extra columns to help us track challenges, move books around when needed, and prevent complete expedition chaos.

📅 Publication Year
Please include the original publication year whenever possible — it’ll help a lot with ladder planning and future task sorting.

🔤 Series / AFN / ALN / Character Name
These help with spell-outs, searching, and saving captains from manually digging through thousands of entries like exhausted mountain archaeologists.

⛰️ Expedition Status Colors ⛰️
To help track where books are on the climb:
⬜ GREY — Read, shelved, and moved to the official sheet
🟥 RED — Moved, but not read and/or not shelved
🟨 YELLOW — Read, but not shelved
🟩 GREEN — Read and shelved, but not moved

💬 Important Expedition Notes 💬
Please fill in as much detail as possible when adding books. The more information we have, the easier it is for captains/co-captains to rearrange things, cross-check tasks, and keep Team Kangchenjunga steadily climbing.

There may be times we need to shuffle books around to make prompts fit or complete difficult tasks. We’ll always try to make smart swaps, not chaotic goblin decisions.

BUT — if there’s a book you absolutely do not want moved under any circumstances, just let us know and we’ll leave it safely anchored where it is.

📚 BOM Climbing Crew 📚
BoM Details
Joining BOM discussions is a great way to pick up extra points while climbing Kangchenjunga together instead of wandering the mountain alone with a flashlight and emotional damage.

🏔️May
The Will of the Many by James Islington starts on 16 May
Link to BOM Discussion


The Astral Library by Kate Quinn starts on 25 May
Link to BOM Discussion


🏔️June

⛰️ Hello from one of your Kangchenjunga captains! ⛰️

I’m Lisa! I mostly read MM romance, fantasy, paranormal chaos, emotional damage disguised as entertainment, and the occasional book that completely derails my reading plans in the best way.

I love team challenges because I genuinely enjoy the mix of strategy, spreadsheets, cheering people on, and the very specific group energy of “we are all just trying our best against this enormous mountain of books.” My general reading style is somewhere between cozy reader and mildly overcommitted goblin.

For Team Kangchenjunga, my goal is pretty simple:
Have fun, help where I can, encourage everyone along the climb, and maybe — just maybe — avoid being spiritually defeated by the mountain. 😌
This can always change based on the mood of the team.

I’m always happy to help with finding books for prompts, sorting spreadsheet chaos, BOM planning, or enabling terrible “well technically this fits” decisions.

My current reading mood:
📚 emotionally devastating but worth it
✨ found family
⚔️ fantasy nonsense
🐺 shifters probably
💀 books that make me stare at the wall afterward

Excited to climb with all of you this season! 🏔️

📚 Please introduce yourself when you check in! A few fun things you can include:
• what you like to read
• favorite genres/authors
• your reading style (carefully planned vs chaotic mountain raccoon)
• your Tower Teams goals
• whether you like minis/BOMs/team strategy
• your current read or next planned book 👀
• Link to your shelf or your shelf name

Hello everyone 👋👋
Im Janine from england , i know several of you but looking forward.to getting to know everyone else and to get started .

I mainly read MM Romance ( with the odd crime book for my library book clubs )
Ive got loads of challenges on the go ,.so i tend to have a shelf at the start of the month with about 30 bks i need / want to read and then i pick from there. Unfortunately i dont read many longggg books so cant help there but can usually find a shorter one for those harder tasks .
I seem to have read a.lot of sports books lately for challenges so im changing to mysteries & shifters before for start TT

My TT shelf
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

Hi, I'm Cordelia. I like to read a variety of genres but some of my favorites are fantasy and historical fiction. I do plan some of my reading (I have a few friends I buddy read with) and I like to make lists and have some structure, but I also like to impulsively pick my books too so I'd say I'm between the two types. I pretty much read exclusively in print.

This challenge is always nicely timed because this week is so chaotic at work I likely won't have any time to read, and so when the challenge starts I really miss reading.

Shelf: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

Hi, I'm Jackie. I'm from North Carolina so eastern US time zone. Like Janine, I'm in a ton of challenges so I'm constantly planning and looking for books to fit tasks. I usually have a list of books planned but always end up adjusting somewhat. My favorite genres are fantasy, mystery, horror, historical fiction, and science fiction. My least favorite genre is romance but I like it fine as part of the story just not the focus of the book. I do like long books so hopefully can help with some of those peaks.

I love these team challenges and look forward to getting to know everyone and see what they're reading. I do enjoy the minis, the BOMs not so much but I will participate if I can get the book in time.

My shelf: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

Hello everyone!

I'm Amanda from Michigan (EST). Also in challenges out the wazoo (usually with the other challenge doers on this team), but I've also been doing a pretty much constant buddy read with a friend this year so it's been difficult and fun to try to make everything work together!

I like romance with LGBTQIA+ protags. I've also gotten super into horromance lately, but those are usually too short for a challenge so just little fun side quests. I'm more of a "tank" on a team. I might not get the most niche task done, but you can count on me for numbers!! (And I cannot leave a spot unfilled so will take one for the team if need be)

I just finished The Same Blood last night and it was SPECTACULAR. (I forgot Kirsten wasn't here, but she would appreciate it lol). I'm now reading Bury Your Devoured which is so weird and kinda gross and the writing is out of this world good.

My shelf: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

Hello! ! My name is Mary, I'm from Oregon. So excited for this challenge

I mostly read historical fiction, fantasy, romance but like to mix in random genres from time to time. I usually have a general "plan" for my reading but like to leave room for an unexpected gem. I don't participate in the BOMs in this group regularly because but almost always do them during challenges (I love the extra points). Most of the time I am pleasantly surprised and am happy I picked up a book I wouldn't have otherwise. I have a 1 year old so my reading has slowed down a lot this last year, hoping to knock some off the TBR for this challenge.

I am currently reading I Who Have Never Known Men. I am looking to start a good series next and am open to suggestions.

Shelf: Summit Up TTXII

Hi everyone! Stacey from North Carolina checking in!

I have a history of being in too many challenges at any given time, but I actually will finish my only other challenge next weekend and will be free to devote all my reading to this one. I read mostly fantasy, scifi and romance, but will read anything I need to if it makes a challenge work. I have not usually done the BOMs because I have trouble keeping up, but 2 of them this time are high on my TBR, so I'll try to make them a priority.

I usually find myself planning my reading a week or two in advance, but don't have any problem pivoting if I need to. Right now I'm just trying to find something that I can finish before Friday....

My shelf: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

Hi everyone! I'm Melissa one of your co-captains. I'm really looking forward to starting this challenge because I love to read bigger books so it's right up my alley!

My favorite genres are fantasy, crime, mystery, historical fiction, and romcom (like Emily Henry or Abby Jimenez). During challenges I will branch out and read other types of books but the majority of what I read is from the library so it completely depends on if I can get the book from the library or not. I try to plan a little bit but I end up being a chaotic mountain raccoon :D

Usually I'll find a book that fits a spot in the challenge so the book is used most efficiently. I enjoy minis because I've found a lot of new books that I normally wouldn't have read that I've really enjoyed from them. I'll try to read BOMs as long as I can get it from the library and it's a genre I enjoy reading. I used to try and read all the BOMs but it would slow me down if I didn't enjoy them and I realized that's not the best strategy for me.

I'm not a win-at-all-costs player but I do enjoy the friendly competition and like being in the running to win instead of at the bottom. :)

My first book for the challenge will be which I'm really excited about. I just got it from the library and bonus it's on the TBR list!!

Here's my shelf: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

Mary wrote: "Hello! ! My name is Mary, I'm from Oregon. So excited for this challenge

I mostly read historical fiction, fantasy, romance but like to mix in random genres from time to time. I usually have a ge..."

I have 4 daughters that are 22, 21, 3, and 10 months :D

My reading has slowed for sure with the little ones but it's starting to pick back up now that the littlest one is sleeping better.

I have a 2.5 year old. He was the EASIEST sleeper as a baby and all the way through this year and now I'm finally getting my turn of not having time/sleep  😂

Amanda wrote: "I have a 2.5 year old. He was the EASIEST sleeper as a baby and all the way through this year and now I'm finally getting my turn of not having time/sleep  😂"

Oh man!! That's rough being used to sleeping them BAM :D Hopefully, it doesn't last long!

My 3 year old wasn't the greatest and she still gets up now every once in a while but she'll go back on her own. Usually she just needs a cover reset as they are typically on the floor or down by her feet a couple times a night LOL

Hi team!

I'm Lucy from Maryland! I've been super into reading challenges in the last few years so I've been reading a variety of different things. My all time favorite genre is dystopian, but I also enjoy thriller and fantasy. Recently, I've taken a real liking to historical fiction.

I like to have somewhat of a plan but I'm constantly trying to read books that fit multiple challenges at once so sometimes I have to pivot and change the plan. But I also kind of enjoy that too! I currently have a list from a few yearly challenges I'm participating in, and a couple book club books so I'll start with that.

The Astral Library is on my yearly list, so I'm going to borrow that from the library asap and try to read it for the BOM.

Last read: The Lonely Hearts Book Club.
Currently reading: Vengeful
Next read: one of these: The Boyfriend, Heartless, or Dungeon Crawler Carl

My Shelf: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

Actually, just saw that Dungeon Crawler Carl is on the TBR list. So I'll wait to read it after the challenge has officially started.

Lisa , do we need to do a completion post here as well as SS?

How do the TBR books work,
do we get extra points for reading
Are we supposed to try and do all over the 3 months
Can more than 1 of us read for same book

Lucy - Ruta Sepetys is a great historical fiction author and one of her books is on the TBR list if you want to check it out ;)

Janine- I was wondering myself about how many people can read the same book from the list. It seems as if it is as simple as reading a book on the list and getting an extra 5 points. I believe multiple can read the same book but I’ll wait for Lisa to clarify for sure.

Janeylou wrote: "Lisa , do we need to do a completion post here as well as SS?

How do the TBR books work,
do we get extra points for reading
Are we supposed to try and do all over the 3 months
Can more than 1 o..."

Hmm. We don't need completion posts here and in the spreadsheet. One or the other will work.

If you are not a fan of spreadsheets, feel free to post planned and completed reads here and someone can move to the spreadsheet.

Speaking of the spreadsheet, make sure you can access the planning one posted above. I have it locked down so no one can see but our team. I can open it up if we want though.

We do get an extra 5 points for books on the TBR List. There is nothing saying we can't have more than one person read the same book. either in general or for the TBR Points.

Hi everyone! My name is Navi. I'm excited to start this challenge with you all :)

My favourite genres right now (subject to change): Horror, Fantasy and Romance but I am open to reading pretty much anything.

My reading style: CHAOS but I am hoping this challenge will help me stay on task hehe!

TT goals: I would love to use this challenge to help me get through books that have been languishing on my ereader. Books I have picked up years ago because they were on sale for a dollar. It's hard for me to stay focused on the books I own when I have access to a great library, KU and Kobo Plus (hides face in shame!).

I will try to participate in all the challenges - minis, BOMs (if I can get a copy from the library), working together as a team.

Current read: Wicked and the Wallflower - a reread of a favourite. Focusing on finishing this before the challenge starts.

Next read: Maybe The Raven Scholar - it's a chonky book so would help with points!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

Navi wrote: "Next read: Maybe The Raven Scholar - it's a chonky book so would help with points!"

Bonus: It's on the TBR List so an extra 5 page points if you can make it work!

Welcome!

Lucy wrote: "Hi team!

I'm Lucy from Maryland! I've been super into reading challenges in the last few years so I've been reading a variety of different things. My all time favorite genre is dystopian, but I al..."

Welcome! looking forward to getting started.

MN Lisa wrote: "Bonus: It's on the TBR List so an extra 5 page points if you can make it work!

Welcome!"


Oh yay! Okay, definitely starting with that then :) I requested access to the planning spreadsheet!

I'm going to add books to the planning SS that I am definitely going to read. Hope that's okay! Will help me stay organized having them all listed out somewhere:)

I'll fill out the character names etc. when I read the books.

MN Lisa wrote: "Navi wrote: "Next read: Maybe The Raven Scholar - it's a chonky book so would help with points!"

Bonus: It's on the TBR List so an extra 5 page points if you can make it work!

Welcome!"

OOH, The Raven Scholar is on my list too! Please let me know how you like it. :)

Melissa wrote: "Lucy - Ruta Sepetys is a great historical fiction author and one of her books is on the TBR list if you want to check it out ;)

Janine- I was wondering myself about how many peopl..."

I LOVE Ruta Sepetys!! I haven't read the one on the list, might just have to add that onto my list. Thanks for letting me know!

MN Lisa wrote: "Janeylou wrote: "Lisa , do we need to do a completion post here as well as SS?

How do the TBR books work,
do we get extra points for reading
Are we supposed to try and do all over the 3 months
..."

I sent a request for the ss!!

We are doing great. I have all but Aimi and Apoorv checked into this thread.

Apoorv is a Co-Captain and has checked in there so I'll see whatI can find out.

I'm going to next be checking who has requested access to the spreadsheet. If you have not, please do. If you do not prefer spreadsheets, let me know and I won't worry if you don't request it.

Apoorv has put some books onto the SS as well so shes around somewhere .

Lisa ill have a go at the SS but cant do links so will put book & author in title part , so you know what book im reading

Hello hello, I am here and ready to do some reading!

I'm Aimi and this is my first TT challenge so... I am a little all over the place already. We haven't even started climbing and feel like I lost my gear at Base Camp :P But I have all I need to succeed (a great team and an endless TBR list) so I am hoping I will catch up to y'all soon!

I like to read books with great plots, good dialogue and witty characters - the specific genre isn't that important to me, I navigate the world of mystery, sci-fi and horror with just as much excitement as I show for my MM BDSM-heavy romance books!

My reading style is a chaotic mountain opossum, and my specialty is playing dead at work so I can sneak out early and do much more fun things! I have books I want to read but I am also in about 6-8 book clubs outside of GR so I read whatever catches my eye.

My TT goals are thus:
1) Understand TT and get off the ground
2) Pretend I have known the TT mechanisms all along as I join y'all half-way up the first ridge as if I have always been there, what you didn't see me? I was right behind Janice!
3) Read at least 10 books that are NOT part of my real life book clubs.
4) Cheerlead the heck out of y'all!

I love mini-challenges or challenges of any kind because the chances of me not having a book that meets those criteria somewhere in my TBR are slim to none.

My shelf name is Any Challenge and I think I will start with the BOTM "The Will of the Many"

Righty-o! Now that the whole gang is here, lets get the party started! 🕺

I am Apoorv (he/him), live in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, and am a resident Tower Teams junkie, having played every iteration since TT III way back in 2014. It has been one of my favorite challenges and I have met some awesome folks along the way - many of whom are in this group with whom I have shared other challenges too (basically, I am just really ancient in GoodReads years :P)

I am that co-captain who you can ask all the questions to. I promise I will answer every single easy one and lob all the difficult ones to our awesome caps Lisa and Melissa (hmmm, both your names end in sa - maybe I should change my name to Apoosa for this challenge!)

I read pretty much everything and love trying new genres and books that I find across people's shelves (psst, don't be alarmed if you see me lurking through your GoodReads shelves :P you've been warned! hehehe!). As for my goals with TT - the challenge has ruined me after winning one of previous iterations, so now I am greedy - but but but we are here to enjoy and read some very cool books and just climb some very TALLLL mountains - easy peasy! :)

I love the mini's and the BOMs. And historically, reading a lot of the BOMs and participating in the discussion questions through this challenge has helped with the team scores (but as always, I am 63rd, 88th, and 132nd position across my libraries for the first book - just my luck!)

I will be finishing Atmosphere in the next few minutes and will be wrapping up Flashlight tomorrow just in time to get cracking on the challenge and I cannot wait!!

Shelf: Challenge-NBRC-TT12

I 100% think you should be Apoosa for this challenge!! 😅

Aimi - you’ll be fine! You’ve got the basics down already 😉

It always seems more confusing then it really is but ask all the questions you need to that’s what we’re here for!

I visited the library today and got 3 books out so I’m ready to read but it’s still so far away ( only like one day but still!! 😆)

Ill apolgise now for the first book im reading, its only got 109 pgs BUT it is on the TBR list so hope youll all forgive me 😄😄😄

Looks like we have another 'mini maze'to do as well
This is exciting 😁😁

So I am confused, do we get extra points if we read books from the TBR list regardless of whether they are BOTM or not?

Thieryn wrote: "So I am confused, do we get extra points if we read books from the TBR list regardless of whether they are BOTM or not?"

Correct. If its on the TBR List you can check the box and get 5 bonus points.

BOM is a different set of Bonus Points

I'm getting some final details on the Maze and will come back with our official first task as soon as I have it.

I love the Maze. So frustratingly fun :D

Maze
Task: Read a book set in Scotland
Direction: South (Title starts with N-Z)
Mini-Code: S01

Lisa - I'm drawing a blank. For the Maze we can use 'banked' books right? We don't have to start a new one when the task is revealed. We can either use one we haven't used anywhere or one that is already being read.

I think the rules for the TT Maze might be different than the regular Maze. They are still reviewing that answer.

Gotcha - thanks!

We don't have a spell out right now, so I'm hiding those columns. if we get one I will reopen it.

Melissa wrote: "Mary wrote: "Hello! ! My name is Mary, I'm from Oregon. So excited for this challenge

I mostly read historical fiction, fantasy, romance but like to mix in random genres from time to time. I usua..."

You are busy! I really do not know how anyone has more than 1 and manages to maintain their sanity let alone hobbies. Good on you, I am impressed!

Melissa wrote: "Amanda wrote: "I have a 2.5 year old. He was the EASIEST sleeper as a baby and all the way through this year and now I'm finally getting my turn of not having time/sleep  😂"

Oh man!! That's rough ..."

So hard when you are used to it being easy! Hopefully it's just a blip!

MN Lisa wrote: "We are doing great. I have all but Aimi and Apoorv checked into this thread.

Apoorv is a Co-Captain and has checked in there so I'll see whatI can find out.

I'm going to next be checking who has ..."

I just requested access, thank you!