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2025 Independent Challenge > Veronica's Independent Challenge 2025

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message 1: by Veronica (new)

Veronica (veraj121) | 232 comments Hi Everyone.

It's been a crazy year. I haven't been reading or participating as much in 2024. For 2025 I will set my reading goals a little lower..Especially since I want to read longer books.

I plan on reading more series.. Lets see how that goes.

I do want to travel more this year. I became a travel advisor ( if anyone is interested in travelling and want an agent, Im here). I want to visit some of the places I read about. I read a goofy two book on about Antarctica and Galapagos Island cruises. I have a friend that just came back from an Antarctica cruise (pics on my FB). She said it was amazing.

I'm also thinking about doing a road trip to my dad's ( Ross's) family hometown in Mecklenburg, NC. I did my Ancestry and my dad's side of family has so much information and history recorded..Maybe I will start a personal journal.

Anyway I said a mouthful. I wish everyone happy reading and I will engage more

OH! Lets plan more buddy reads for 2025..


message 2: by Veronica (last edited Aug 14, 2025 05:50PM) (new)

Veronica (veraj121) | 232 comments Books to Read 2025

1. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
2. The Talented Mr. Ripley
3.Bridge by Lauren Beukes
4. Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
5. A Tale of Two Cities / Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
6.Rani Patel in Full Effect by Sonia Patel
7. Gita Desai Is Not Here to Shut Up by Sonia Patel
8.The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
9.Society of Lies
10. Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six by Lisa Unger
11.Confessions on the 7:45 by Lisa Unger
12.Nobody's Perfect by Sally Kilpatrick
13. The Neighbor Favor by Kristina Forest
14.The Shutouts by Gabrielle Korn 2/10/25
15. House of Bone and Rain by Gabino Iglesias
16. Murder Road by Simone St. James
17 I Was a Teenage Slasher
18. The Murder Rule
19.We Used to Live Here
20.Sandwich by Catherine Newman
21.Sicilian Avengers: A Novel
22. Strong Passions: A Scandalous Divorce in Old New York by Barbara Weisberg
23.Trust
24.Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty
25.The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins
26. This Motherless Land by Nikki May
27. Capote's Women: A True Story of Love, Betrayal, and a Swan Song for an Era
28The Swans of Fifth Avenue
29. Memorials by Richard Chizmar 1/12/25
30. The Rich People Have Gone Away by Regina Porter
31.Beach Read
32.People We Meet on Vacation
33.Book Lovers
34.Funny Story
35.Good Material
36. Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe
37.Entitlement b y Rumaan Alam
38. This Cursed House 04/24/25
39 Between the World and Me
40. The Water Dancer
41. The Reformatory by Tananarive Due
42.Long Island Compromise
43. The Husbands
44. The Briar Club
45. The Resort
46. Age of Vice
47. The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story
48.Brooklyn by Colm Toibin
49Long Island by Colm Toibin
50. Everyone Here Is Lying
51.Never Flinch by Stephen King 6/28/25
52. The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois
53. Shōgun
54.The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins ( re-read) 01/22/25
55. All Systems Red by Martha Wells 4/13/25
56.This Is How You Lose Her by Junot Diaz
57. Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng
58..[book:28 Summers by Elin Hildebrande
59.Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Canas
60. The Whispers by Ashley Audrain
61.The Testamentsby Margaret Atwood
62. Little Heavenby Nick Cutter
Testimony by Anita Shreve
63.Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
64. The Wife Stalker by Liv Constantine
65. Yellowface
66. Babel
67.Blacktop Wasteland S.A. Cosby
68. The Warmth of Other Suns: the Epic Story of America's Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson
69.Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty
70. Last Girl Ghosted by Lisa Unger
71. The Book of Accidents by Chuck wendig
72. The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
73. One of Us Is Back Karen M. Mcmanus
74.Five Survive by Holly Jackson
75, The Wedding People
76. Goodbye Earl Leesa Cross-Smith
77. By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult
79. The Seventh Veil of Salome
80.Harlem Rhapsody
81. The Good Liar
82. Our Wives Under the Sea
83. Then Things Went Dark 2/8/25
84. Girl, Goddess, Queen
85The Doll's House
86.What the Woods Took by Courtney Gould 2/16/25
87. Everyone Is Watching by Heather Gudenkauf 2/22/25
88. Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson
89. Three Days in June By Anne Tyler ( short read).
90.We All Live Here by Jojo Moyes
91. Dream Count By Chimanada Ngozi Adichie
92. Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte Mcconaghy
93.The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff
94. The Original Daughter by jemimah Wei
95. Famous Last Words by Gillian Mc allister
96. You Are Fatally Invited by Ande Pliego
97.This Book Will Bury Me by Ashley Winstead
98. King of Ashes by S.A.Cosby7/31/25
99. Don't Let Him In by Lisa Jewel
100.The Bachelorette Party by Camilia Sten
101 Last Call: A True Story of Love, Lust, and Murder in Queer New York
102. Witchcraft for Wayward Girls byGary Hendrix
103. The Unworthy by Augustina Bazterrica
104. Come and Get It by Kiley Reid 01/02/25
105. The Women by Kristin Hannah
106. The Other Princess by Denny Bryce
107. Token Black Girl by Danielle Prescod
108. The Rules of Fortune by Danielle Prscod
109. The Queen by Nick Cutter
110. Ruth Run by Elizabeth Kaufman
111.All the Sinners Bleed S.A. Cosby 3/10/25
112.They Dream in Gold by Mai Senna
113. The Many Lives of Mama Love: A Memoir of Lying, Stealing, Writing, and Healing
114. Allow Me to Introduce Myself by Onyi Nwabineli - 03/27/25
115. The Five Sorrowful Mysteries of Andy Africa 5/20/25
116. Dinner for Vampires: Life on a Cult TV Show by Brittany Joy Lenx 7/22/25
117. The Woman in Suite 11 by Ruth Ware
118. Summer Rental By Rektok Ross
119. The Compound 8/9/2025
120.The Swans of Harlem: Five Black Ballerinas, Fifty Years of Sisterhood, and Their Reclamation of a Groundbreaking History
121.As Good As Dead by Holy Jackson
122. Little Rot by Awaeke Emezi 8/14/25
123. The Girl on the Train
124. Sex and Vanity
125. Lies and Weddings


message 3: by Veronica (last edited Jan 04, 2025 05:15AM) (new)

Veronica (veraj121) | 232 comments Books Read 2025 - 01/50

January

1. Come and Get It Come and Get It by Kiley Reid by Kiley Reid 01/02/25 3.0 stars


message 4: by Veronica (last edited May 05, 2025 04:43AM) (new)

Veronica (veraj121) | 232 comments Books in a Series

Nantucket Series - Elin Hilderbrand
1. A Summer Affair 5/3/25
2.The Castaways
3.The Perfect Couple
4. Swan Song

Aunties -Jesse Q Sutanto
1. Dial A for Aunties
2. Four Aunties and a Wedding.
3.The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties

Alex Cross - James Patterson ( will try to finish)

20. Alex Cross, Run

The Thousandth Floor Series - Katharine McGee ( Re-Read)

You Series - Caroline Kepnes

Currency - An Amazon series
1. Simplexity by Kiley Reid 1/13/25


message 5: by Ioana (new)

Ioana | 2122 comments Hi Veronica,
Long time, no see; hope all is well. I like your goals: longer books, series and travel. Good luck as a travel advisor, sounds very exciting. Galapagos islands are amazing, highly recommended.
The ancestry research is fascinating, good luck there too.

Now, books. Yes to more buddy reads. Yes to more series, I need to do the same. Looking forward to seeing your choices, happy reading!


message 6: by Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator (new)

Alondra Miller | 4190 comments Mod
Veronica, your year sounds crazy, but crazy exciting and awesome. I love "new chapters."

I haven't read Alex Cross in so long, but may try and get back to it.

Good luck and happy reading


message 7: by Bill, Moderator (new)

Bill | 4250 comments Mod
Sounds like a fun year of traveling ahead. A friend of ours and her husband used to work for a company that organized bus tours all over North and South America. They used to be gone for months at a time. She showed us photos of a boat trip they took to Antarctica. Looked awesome.... I hope you enjoy yours... Oh... and good luck on your reading too. 😃


message 8: by Alissa (new)

Alissa Patrick (apatrick12211) | 1802 comments I love these and am happy for you that you want to travel more; good for you!


message 9: by Lea (new)

Lea (leaspot) | 3635 comments Veronica, I'm excited for your travel plans and hope you enjoy your new business! Good luck with all of your series books and yes to more buddy reads! I hope you enjoy the Nantucket series - I need to read Swan Song to complete it. Happy reading!


message 10: by Lillie (new)

Lillie | 1686 comments Love your travel plans! The books will fall into place. Looking forward to your reviews of both books and your travels.

Happy 2025!


message 11: by Veronica (new)

Veronica (veraj121) | 232 comments My Kindle readers... It Ends with Us It Ends with Us (It Ends with Us, #1) by Colleen Hoover is free.. Unlimited.. Ths is the time to get it before it changes back


message 12: by Veronica (new)

Veronica (veraj121) | 232 comments I keep adding books. And I still have to read the latest books when released. SMH


message 13: by Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator (new)

Alondra Miller | 4190 comments Mod
Wow. You added quite a few books since last time I looked.

Glad you are reading Murderbot finally. I loved All Sinners Bleed by SA Cosby and am reading another of his books this year. I need him to make a series out of the book though.

I also realized that I don't have a copy of The Handmaids Tale and now must purchase it again. I am determined to read it this year. I also want to watch the series, but know I will get ticked off.

Good luck, again. ☺️


message 14: by Veronica (new)

Veronica (veraj121) | 232 comments I was on the fence with SA Cosby. And didnt know which one to read first. The Murderbot Family have been in my TBR for so long. I just need to get into this series


message 15: by Veronica (new)

Veronica (veraj121) | 232 comments Come and Get It Come and Get It by Kiley Reid 3.0 ( 01/02/25)
A "slow burn". It took me awhile to figure out the plot if there was really a plot. I don't even know how to describe this book. The characters were incredibly self centered and not aware of anything but that wasnt past their noses. I think the college girls..20 plus years old were incredibly immature. I kept thinking I was reading about teenagers.

However, the characters were realistic in the sense that I know people that act like these characters. Especially Agatha and Robyn. Millie was the most responsible and sensible. As much as I thought I did not like the book, the more I was drawn to it and wanted more.. like a toxic relationship..

Please. Dont put it down. Stick with it....


message 16: by Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator (new)

Alondra Miller | 4190 comments Mod
Congrats on the first book read of the year! ☺️


message 17: by Veronica (new)

Veronica (veraj121) | 232 comments Thank You


message 18: by Veronica (new)

Veronica (veraj121) | 232 comments Memorials Memorials by Richard Chizmar 4.5.

The first horror read of the year and it did not disappoint. Haunted roadside memorials. Everyone is not who they seem. What is really going?

This is a classic horror/thriller. You will get attached to the MC. Sequel? Hmm.


message 19: by Veronica (new)

Veronica (veraj121) | 232 comments I started reading an Amazon series on the Kindle called Currency. Its 8 short stories written by well known authors. Each story is 100 pages and less. This particularly series is about the workplace.

The first one I read is called Simplexity by Kiley Reid Simplexity by Kiley Reid. Diversity and Inclusion. When to say something and when its not worth fighting for...


message 20: by Veronica (new)

Veronica (veraj121) | 232 comments The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (The Hunger Games, #0) by Suzanne Collins The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes 5.0 Stars

I read this book, watched the movie, and the re-read. This story had such a powerful impact on me. I think this is the best of the Hunger Games series.

The confliction and the rawness of emotions. I don't know if i dislike Snow or love to hate him. Not once did I feel bad for him because he was plotting throughout. And yes it was for survival to maintain. But he did too much..

Lucy Baird was just fire all around. I love her no nonsense. She saw the bs in the end and bounced... I loved it. She knew Snow was for self. And knew she may be next. Gave him back the scarf with a snake. Calling him out - the snake that he was.


message 21: by Alissa (new)

Alissa Patrick (apatrick12211) | 1802 comments Veronica wrote: "MemorialsMemorials A Novel by Richard Chizmar 4.5.

The first horror read of the year and it did not disappoint. Haunted roadside memorials. Everyone is not who they seem. What is reall..."


This sounds so good! Looks like I need to bump it up the list!


message 22: by Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator (new)

Alondra Miller | 4190 comments Mod
Veronica wrote: "MemorialsMemorials A Novel by Richard Chizmar 4.5.

The first horror read of the year and it did not disappoint. Haunted roadside memorials. Everyone is not who they seem. What is reall..."


Already added! Glad you enjoyed it!! Kudos!

Simplexcity looks interesting.


message 23: by Veronica (new)

Veronica (veraj121) | 232 comments Then Things Went Dark Then Things Went Dark by Bea Fitzgerald 2.5

I was going back and forth rating this book. It was alright. I liked the premise of the reality tv theme. The characters were ok. To me it was bit hard to follow. Just didnt flow well for me. And the ending was predictable.


message 24: by Veronica (new)

Veronica (veraj121) | 232 comments Hi, The Shutouts by Gabrielle Korn

I have been reading but not posting any comments.. Here are the following books:

1. The Shutouts 3.) -Ok book on futuristic apocalyptic read. Commune and sustainability leaving. LGBT community

2.Everyone Is Watching Everyone Is Watching by Heather Gudenkauf 3.0 - Reality TV gone wrong

3.Ward D Ward D by Freida McFadden ..4.0 A McFadden read if you are a fan. Fast paced. Trapped in a psych ward overnight with a killer on the lose. Is it all real? Hmm


message 25: by Veronica (new)

Veronica (veraj121) | 232 comments All the Sinners Bleed All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby 4.0

Quick read. Killer hiding in plain sight..


message 26: by Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator (new)

Alondra Miller | 4190 comments Mod
Veronica wrote: "All the Sinners BleedAll the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby 4.0

Quick read. Killer hiding in plain sight.."


Yay. So glad you enjoyed this one. I loved it.


message 27: by Veronica (new)

Veronica (veraj121) | 232 comments Allow Me to Introduce Myself Allow Me to Introduce Myself by Onyi Nwabineli .. Deep introspection of a mom influencer's subject - her stepdaughter. MC Anuri reflects on the emotional and psychological damage being the subject of a mom influencer. As an adult it affected a lot of her decision makings. With a great support system of friends, grandparents, an aunt, and a psychologist she starts to heal. Until she sees the behavioral changes of her 5 yr old sister who is part of the same treatment from her mom - Ophelia. Anuri tries everything under to sun help her sister a lot resistance from both her dad and stepmom..

Does she succeed? Does this ruin her relationship indefinitely with her father?


message 28: by Veronica (new)

Veronica (veraj121) | 232 comments This Cursed House This Cursed House by Del Sandeen ..
A hauntingly beautiful read. Ghost, haunted house, family curse, NOLA ( Metierie), and heritage of African Americans - passing ( historical).. I loved all of the characters. I loved to hate them. You want to but cant. So many twists, lies, and secrets.


message 29: by Veronica (new)

Veronica (veraj121) | 232 comments Familia Familia by Lauren E. Rico 5.0

OMG I never cried so much over book. The last portion was amazing... This is a must read. I cant even say too much without giving it all away.

And the PR culture. As a native New Yorker and having a brother in law from PR, this book just hit home.. Especially the food.. LOL

GRACE, MERCY, COMPASSION and most of all LOVE filled these pages...


message 30: by Karol (new)

Karol | 745 comments Veronica wrote: "FamiliaFamilia by Lauren E. Rico 5.0

OMG I never cried so much over book. The last portion was amazing... This is a must read. I cant even say too much without giving it all a..."


Veronica, sounds like one I want to read!


message 31: by Ioana (new)

Ioana | 2122 comments Veronica wrote: "FamiliaFamilia by Lauren E. Rico 5.0

OMG I never cried so much over book. The last portion was amazing... This is a must read. I cant even say too much without giving it all a..."


This sounds interesting, thank you for the review/recommendation!


message 32: by Veronica (new)

Veronica (veraj121) | 232 comments Its a beautiful read..


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