Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

Hey everybody!

This is a continuation of the year of monthly reading challenges we did in 2022 and 2023 (thanks to Niki for the brilliant idea that is still going strong!). There's no hard and fast rule about the categories and timeline you need to follow, but this is a great way to divide the goals you want to tackle in the new year. Most categories have remained the same with a few minor changes so can plan ahead and utilize all the same trackers you filled out last year.

2025 Monthly Challenge
JAN - New Year, New Books (New Releases)
FEB - Short Month, Short Books (Novellas & Short Stories)
MAR - BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Colour) Authors
APR - Here Be Dragons!
MAY - May the 4th be with You (Scifi Month)
JUN - Pride Month (LGBTQIA+ Authors and Characters)
JUL - Self-Published and Indie-Published
AUG - Pre-2000s Fantasy
SEP - Stand-Alones
OCT - Spooktober
NOV - Cozy November
DEC - Choose Your Own Adventure (Make Your Own Category)

For every month in 2025, one of the mods will highlight the challenge with a separate monthly thread for each to help you work your way through your TBR. The goal of this challenge is to inspire you to tie up loose ends and streamline your reading experience, so no pressure!

To participate, create your own thread where you will list and track all of the books you are planning to read for that month's challenge (Pro Tip: if you think you might participate all year, immediately reserve yourself 12 comments, one per month, so your data isn't split up by other people commenting). And that's it!

Have fun, and let us know if you have any questions!

2024 edition:
JAN - New Year, New Books (New Releases)
FEB - Short Month, Short Books (Novellas & Short Stories)
MAR - Spring Clean Your Collection (Read Physical TBR)
APR - Award Winners (Goodreads Choice, Hugo, etc.)
MAY - May the 4th be with You (Scifi Month)
JUN - Series Love (Making Progress on Series)
JUL - Ebook Extravaganza! (Digital Reads)
AUG - Audiobook August (Line up those earbuds!)
SEP - Stand-Alones (No Series Here)
OCT - Spooktober (Spooky Halloween Reads)
NOV - Cozy November (Relax with a warm cup of tea!)
DEC - Choose Your Own Adventure (Make Your Own Category)*

*Previously, this was the round-out category to focus on any categories, but I thought I'd give people some more freedom here since the library category has been changed to cozy reads. Make this category whatever is most useful to you!

Can it be a mix of genres or do we need to stay with SciFi and Fantasy?

Saar The Book owl wrote: "Can it be a mix of genres or do we need to stay with SciFi and Fantasy?"

You can do whatever you like!

Okay, thanks, Jenna :)

We totally usurped the old october/november themes…

We also seem to consistently do the Hugo and Goodreads Award nominee threads now, too

Timelord Iain wrote: "We totally usurped the old october/november themes…

We also seem to consistently do the Hugo and Goodreads Award nominee threads now, too"

I'm definitely going to scour the awards threads when I make my April list. So far I've only added books already on my GR shelves.

I love the new October and November themes. :)

I would always lump my Own it October books in with March Spring Cleaning anyway so it made sense to get rid of that one.

Oooh, I like the new line-up! Looking forward to it!

Just wondering what is considered a new release? Like 2023? Within the last 6 months? Please don't say January 2024 lol

Yesterday, today and tomorrow are the only books that count. >.<

Ann-Marie wrote: "Just wondering what is considered a new release? Like 2023? Within the last 6 months? Please don't say January 2024 lol"

Usually the current year and the previous year - so for this year, 2023 and 2024!

Jenna wrote: "Ann-Marie wrote: "Just wondering what is considered a new release? Like 2023? Within the last 6 months? Please don't say January 2024 lol"

Usually the current year and the previous year - so for t..."

That's what I was hoping, thanks!

Felina wrote: "Yesterday, today and tomorrow are the only books that count. >.<"

Yeah I'd be out for that, there are few authors I am day 1 release day reading.

There's definitely a part of me that wants to count any new release from the time I started tracking new releases, lol....

So March, what if someone doesn't really ever read physical books?

I've been looking at it as--if I own the book on my TBR, then I can count it, even if I read it in a different way. I tend to buy physical copies as art or for lending rather than for reading, and stick to my ebooks and now audio too.

Nirkatze wrote: "I've been looking at it as--if I own the book on my TBR, then I can count it, even if I read it in a different way. I tend to buy physical copies as art or for lending rather than for reading, and ..."

Good call on that, tyty!

Ann-Marie wrote: "So March, what if someone doesn't really ever read physical books?"

Same as what Nirkatze said. I mostly check out my books from the library, and almost exclusively as audiobooks. So I play March with what’s been on my tbr list for a while.

Load your ebooks on a USB, now it's physical ;)

Or 3D print

Timelord Iain wrote: "Load your ebooks on a USB, now it's physical ;)

Or 3D print"

Why didn't I think about that? I'll get right on that lol

We’re very good at reinventing the wheel… with extra steps…

With all the BRs in January I think I only have time for one new release this month :D (because its a BR lol)

Tonari no Emily wrote: "With all the BRs in January I think I only have time for one new release this month :D (because its a BR lol)"

The 2 (maybe a third) new releases I am reading this month are not BRs but they are books that interested me. The first was absolutely terrible and I hated/loathed/despised it, the one I am listening to now is meh so far so I am thinking I may not give the third a try lol

Tonari no Emily wrote: "With all the BRs in January I think I only have time for one new release this month :D (because its a BR lol)"

I've only been able to get to one new release too. I might try to squeeze another one in.

Tammie wrote: "Tonari no Emily wrote: "With all the BRs in January I think I only have time for one new release this month :D (because its a BR lol)"

I've only been able to get to one new release too. I might tr..."

I am currently listening to Dark Water Daughter and it is okay so far, nothing outstanding but not terrible. Not a ringing endorsement by any stretch I know lol

Ann-Marie wrote: "I am currently listening to Dark Water Daughter and it is okay so far, nothing outstanding but not terrible. Not a ringing endorsement by any stretch I know lol..."

I've run into my share of those too, lol.

I have Mislaid in Parts half-known coming up…

Not sure I have time for anymore, either… I could probably count a few more I missed from last year like Wandering Inn: The Wind Runner, which is also coming up…

Got 4+ on the docket for February tho… 2 thrillers, Empire of the Wolf 3, and Tainted Cup from RJB

So I was wondering, for this do the books need to be read in the theme month or anytime this year to count?

Ann-Marie wrote: "Tonari no Emily wrote: "With all the BRs in January I think I only have time for one new release this month :D (because its a BR lol)"

The 2 (maybe a third) new releases I am reading this month ar..."

lol quit while you're ahead

Ann-Marie wrote: "So I was wondering, for this do the books need to be read in the theme month or anytime this year to count?"

I think in the past we've been counting it anytime...

Ann-Marie wrote: "So I was wondering, for this do the books need to be read in the theme month or anytime this year to count?"

This monthly challenge in particular is a year long one for sure. I've worked on some of the others throughout the year, but really focused on them in the month they are intended for.

What Tammie said

Yeah--I don't usually count books for the challenge before the month, but I count them after the month--like new releases, shorties etc I count all year...

Ann-Marie wrote: "So I was wondering, for this do the books need to be read in the theme month or anytime this year to count?"

I try to focus on the books in that month or afterwards, but I sometimes end up doing books before the month starts and I still count it. I look at the challenge more as 12 mini challenges wrapped up into one big yearly challenge and I don't want to stress myself out with having to stick to a schedule all the time. I also have books that could fit into multiple categories, but personally, I like to add them to only one month to avoid clutter.

Specifically for January, it can be tricky if the category is 'new releases' and the books haven't been released yet, so for this month in particular I'll look to other categories I've already set up.

With all the challenges in this group, we are pretty loose on what counts towards challenges/points. The whole idea is just that it encourages reading, helps your reading goals, and leads to fun chats about books. As long as it's doing that, I don't see a problem with mixing things around, changing categories, etc. :)

I know it's been talked about in other threads, but reading challenges shouldn't stress anyone out or make you feel like you are limited in what you can read. That just takes the fun out of reading. I see challenges as an opportunity to make myself more aware of what kind of books I'm reading and I often use my lists for self-reflection. Then I think about what kind of books I enjoyed/didn't enjoy and I can make plans for what I'd like to get out of my future reading experiences.

Planning my books for Feb. Under how many pages is a book to be considered a novella?

If you have a sheet that measures that on the spreadsheet, it's 1-99 for short story, 100-249 for novella, 250-599 for book, 600+ for tome... that's pretty much an arbitrary decision, tho... the definition varies so much...

Diana Stormblessed wrote: "Planning my books for Feb. Under how many pages is a book to be considered a novella?"

I looked it up the other day, and what I found said up 160 pages.

Jenna wrote: "Ann-Marie wrote: "So I was wondering, for this do the books need to be read in the theme month or anytime this year to count?"

I try to focus on the books in that month or afterwards, but I someti..."

I thought I had replied to this! I appreciate the no stress attitude for sure :)

Timelord Iain wrote: "If you have a sheet that measures that on the spreadsheet, it's 1-99 for short story, 100-249 for novella, 250-599 for book, 600+ for tome... that's pretty much an arbitrary decision, tho... the de..."

Yeah it's hard to know pages because most things tell you how many words. 249 pages is a lot longer than the information I found, so I guess we should just use our best judgement.

I like 250 lol. Gives me more options.

If I read a book and it's only 250 pages /8hrs audio, it feels short...

Anything that's 6hrs audio or less feels like a novella to me... that's 180-200 pages with napkin math...

That doesn't even touch on how page counts vary so much by edition on Goodreads...

Last year, me and a few others read Penric & Desdemona by Lois McMaster Bujold for the month/theme... 90% of the series in novella length, with one double length novel...

Diana Stormblessed wrote: "I like 250 lol. Gives me more options."

Haha same, I always go with 250 pages or less.

Then there's Sanderson novellas, which push the limit up to 300...

On the other hand, I didn't feel comfortable labeling shorter books that still market as novels (like the Sisters Grimm, or Chronicles of Amber) as options for Feb... though I could have! I just didn't feel right. Kept to shorts and things authors marked as novellas...

I have been considering re-reading the Becky Chambers monk/robot books, they were just beautiful and I am pretty sure they qualify as shorts. Those and the last Expanse short make 3 and I may try to squeeze in that series in KU/Audible+ which is 9 if I get to them all.

I'd say Middle-grade books are almost novellas by default... that's the preferred length, to keep kids engaged...

Harry Potter was a real fluke, getting kids to buy doorstopper books and lug them around...

Hey everyone, for 2025, I was thinking about editing the categories a little bit, but I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for categories they would like to see. (or fight to keep categories you love).

Categories that will definitely stay:
JAN - New Year, New Books
FEB - Short Books (Novellas & Short Stories) - this could be moved to another month
OCT - Spooktober (Spooky Halloween Reads)
NOV - Cozy November (Relax with a warm cup of tea!)
DEC - Choose Your Own Adventure (Make Your Own Category)

Categories I'm thinking of cutting because they overlap with other challenges and are highly personal so they don't get a lot of discussion here:
MAR - Spring Clean Your Collection (Read Physical TBR)
JUN - Series Love (Making Progress on Series)
JUL - Ebook Extravaganza! (Digital Reads)
AUG - Audiobook August (Line up those earbuds!)

Current categories that I'm open to keeping or cutting:
APR - Award Winners (Goodreads Choice, Hugo, etc.) - I'm thinking that if we keep this, it could be moved to September after the Hugos are announced mid-August
MAY - May the 4th be with You (Scifi Month)
SEP - Stand-Alones (No Series Here)

Possible new categories I'm considering:
Pre-90s (or Pre-2000s) Fantasy
Young Adult
BIPOC Authors
Self-Published Works
Here Be Dragons! (really would have been fitting for the Year of the Dragon last year, but oh well)
Pride Month (LGBTQIA+ authors/characters/themes) (thanks Ann-Marie!)

I guess it could technically move, but I thought Feb was short story month because it’s the shortest month of the year…

True, I guess there is no need to move it.. I'm just overthinking everything at this point.

I like the stand-alones category and May the 4th be with you. I don't care about award winners but I know a lot of other people like that one so I'm fine with just adding what I have that happens to be one during that month.

Out of the ones you're thinking of cutting, I think the series love month is rather redundant since we have the whole incomplete series challenge, so changing that one would probably make sense. The others are take it or leave it for me.

I didn't actively participate in the challenges for most of last year, when I took my hiatus for my mom I never got back into it but I wanted to try again this year. Personally I am wary about reading a lot of older fantasy since so much has aged poorly or we have found out authors were terrible people. I like the BIPOC author idea, maybe also do a pride month theme where you either read the rainbow in book covers or read books by LGBTQIA+ authors or bonus try to combine both. Perhaps pick a list of all-time favorite SFF (there are sooo many lol) and post it in enough time so folks can either pick for themselves to read or coordinate BRs with other members.

I like the idea of moving the Awards category later in the year to allow for current books up for the awards to be read. I personally like the SF theme for May since I read so much more fantasy than sci-fi I need the push to seek out those lol I don't mind YA but I'd definitely add NA to allow folks more options especially if high school books make people say nope! And who doesn't love dragons?

Sorry to be a bit of a rambler, just some thoughts off the top of my head :)