Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

2025 Chubby Chunkster Challenge
January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025


They're large. They're in charge. And they're calling your name. They are the big mommas of your TBR, the mountain more than the molehill - these busty babies have been waiting for you to crack them open and take a nice, long perusal of their contents. If you've been waiting and delaying your chunkster reading, this challenge is for you!


1. Definition of a Chunkster:

- A chunkster is 450 pages or more of fiction or nonfiction. A chunkster should be a challenge.
- If you read large type books your book will need to be 525 pages or more... The average large type book is 10-15% longer or more so I think that was a fair estimate.

If the book is ebook-only with NO PRINT EQUIVALENT. then the following rules apply:

1. You can use the ebook edition you are reading for the page count found here on Goodreads.

2. If Goodreads does not show a page count for your ebook, please look on Amazon. Check the estimated page number there.

3. If no Amazon page count and GR page count exists, then the book cannot be used for this challenge.

Please ask any questions if you have any doubts. You can also post the book title in this thread if you have any trouble and I'll check for you.

2. The Rules:

- Audiobooks count.
- Re-reads are fine, as long as you don't skim or skip sections.
- Short Stories and Essay collections will not be counted.
- Books may crossover with other challenges.
- You can join in anytime, but you have till the end of the year to read it all.
- You don't need to list your books ahead of time.
- Once you pick a level, that's it...you're committed to that level!
- When you post your updates, put page count by each chunkster.
- If you completed a level before the end of the year and you want to sign up again, you're more than welcome to do so.

3. You must pick a level of participation:

- The Chubby Chunkster - this option is for the reader who has a couple of large tomes on their TBR list, but really doesn't want to commit to much more than that. Three books is all you need to finish this challenge.

- Do These Books Make my Butt Look Big? - This option is for the slightly heavier reader who wants to commit to 5 Chunksters over the remainder of the year.

- Mor-book-ly Obese - This is for the truly out of control chunkster. For this level of challenge you must commit to 8 chunksters OR 3 tomes of 800 pages or more. You know you want to.....go on and give in to your cravings.

- Too Big To Ignore Anymore - this option is for those chunksters on your TBR list. You may select any number of books over 450 pages but you must LIST THEM ahead of time.

2025 Chubby Chunkster Challenge - 450+ pp.
January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025
Level: Mor-book-ly Obese
8/8

1. Along Came a Spider by James Patterson 19/1 3★ - 502p
2. The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver 13/2 3★ - 512p
3. The Folklore of Discworld by Terry Pratchett, Jacqueline Simpson 28/3 5★ - 504p
4. Sunrise Over Mercy Court by Fiona McCallum 13/4 4★ - 496p
5. Unwanted by Mia Sheridan 27/4 4★ - 530p
6. Treachery in Death by J.D. Robb 13/6 4.5★ - 480p
7. City Girl Country Girl by Liz Harfull 27/6 3.5★ - 570p
8. New York to Dallas by J.D. Robb 4/7 4★ - 479p

2025 Chubby Chunkster Challenge
January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025

- A chunkster is 450 pages or more of fiction or nonfiction. A chunkster should be a challenge.

Level: Mor-book-ly Obese
Completed: 8/8

1. Emma - Jane Austen 1/7/25 (474 pgs.)
2. Pack's Queen - M.H. Soars 2/6/25 (461 pgs.)
3. One Summer in Savannah - Terah Shelton Harris 3/9/25 (464 pgs.)
4. Burned - Ellen Hopkins 3/22/25 (560 pgs.)
5. Written in Red - Anne Bishop 3/29/25 (514 pgs.)
6. Persuader - Lee Child 4/5/25 (496 pgs.)
7. Pure - Jennifer L. Armentrout 4/7/25 (464 pgs.)
8. The Enemy - Lee Child 4/14/25 (496 pgs.)

2025 Chubby Chunkster Challenge
January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025
Level - Mor-book-ly Obese (450+ pages)
Completed: 0/8

1. Heart of the Raven Prince by Tessonja Odette 3/9; 506 pgs
2. The Bourne Legacy by Eric Van Lustbader 1/12; 597 pgs
3. Twisted Mercy by Elaine Levine 1/3; 468 pgs
4. Not So Innocent by Dani Alexander 3/14; 483 pgs
5. The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent 2/28; 504 pgs
6. The Charlie Method by Elle Kennedy 2/28; 577 pgs
7. The Book That Wouldn’t Burn by Mark Lawrence 2/16; 571 pgs
8.

Level: Mor-book-ly Obese

0-8

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2025 Chubby Chunkster Challenge
January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025

Mor-book-ly Obese - This is for the truly out of control chunkster. For this level of challenge you must commit to 8 chunksters OR 3 tomes of 800 pages or more. You know you want to.....go on and give in to your cravings.

Read:

1. The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
2. First: Sandra Day O'Connor by Evan Thomas
3. A Pipeline Runs Through It: The Story of Oil from Ancient Times to the First World War by Keith Fisher
4. Pandemic by A.G. Riddle
5. Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
6. Devices and Desires (By: K. J. Parker) published: January, 2010 by K. J. Parker
7. The Black Prism by Brent Weeks
8. I Hotel by Karen Tei Yamashita

The Chubby Chunkster

0/3 Finished

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3.

I‘m in, even though I‘m a little afraid of this challenge.

2025 Chubby Chunkster Challenge
Duration: 01 Jan. 2025 - 31 Dec. 2025
Rules
- books length 450+ pages
- add page count
Level: Do These Books Make my Butt Look Big? - 5 Chunksters
Read: 0/5


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Chubby Chunkster Challenge
Duration: January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025
Level: Do These Books Make my Butt Look Big?
Completed: 3/5

1.A Voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers (514) (3/19)★★★1/2
2.Out of Captivity by Marc Gonsalves, Tom Howes, Keith Stansell, Gary Brozek (457) (5/20)★★★★★
3.The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (564) (8/24)★★★★
4.
5.

2025 Chubby Chunkster Challenge
Level: Do These Books Make my Butt Look Big?


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I have been away from GR for some time and was trying to stay away from challenges but who can resist

Do These Books Make My Butt Look Big?
Update February 8th Ok I have already read 5 time to admit this will now be:
Too BIG to Ignore

Completed: 21

✔️1. Variation by Rebecca Yarros 📚459p.1/24/25💖💖💖
✔️2. Blood of Hercules by Jasmine Mas 📚496 p.1/26/25💖💖💖
3. The Ninth Rain by Jen Williams📚544p.
✔️ 4. The Water Walls by iLana Markarov📚470p. 1/15/25 💖💖
5. The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë📚576p.
✔️6. City of Last Chances by Adrian Tchaikovsky 📚500p. 1/22/25 💖💖💖💖💖
✔️7. Dissolution by C.J. Sansom 📚482p.2/17/25💖💖💖💖
✔️8. The Thirteenth Man by J.L. Doty 📚512p.2/7/25💖💖💖💖
✔️9. The Water Outlaws by S.L. Huang 📚478p.2/13/25💖💖💖💖💖
✔️10. The Poppy Warby R.F. Kuang 📚545p.2/26/25💖💖💖💖
11. Dark Fire by C.J. Sansom 📚502p.
✔️12. Powerless by Lauren Roberts📚523 pgs. 4/10/25 💖💖💖
✔️13. The Bourbon Kings by J.R. Ward 📚466 pgs. 5/5/25 💖💖💖💖💖
✔️14. The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent 📚504 pgs.4/29/25💖💖💖💖
✔️15. The Art of Awkward Affection by Alina Jacobs📚625 pgs.💖💖💖💖5/13/25
✔️16. The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King by Carissa Broadbent 📚626 pgs.5/13/25 💖💖💖
✔️17. The Art of Marrying Your Enemy by Alina Jacobs 📚 454 pgs.💖💖💖💖 5/16/25
✔️18. Fearless 📚 604 pgs.💖💖💖6/4/25
✔️19. A Court This Cruel & Lovely📚562 pgs 💖💖 8/11/25
✔️20.The Dixon Rule📚 507 pgs. 💖💖💖💖6/15/25
✔️21. The Charlie Method 📚 530 pgs 💖💖💖 6/22/25
✔️22. The Jack*ss In Class 📚 478 pgs. 💖💖💖💖💖7/13/25
✔️23. Year One 📚482 pgs 💖💖💖7/17/25
✔️24. The Square of Sevens 📚 527 pgs 💖💖💖💖💖 8/11/25
✔️25. The Tides of Kadavar: The Twelve Paladins Volume One 📚 700 pgs 💖💖💖💖💖 8/23/25

2025 Chubby Chunkster Challenge
January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025
Level: Mor-book-ly Obese

1. Back in the Saddle, 511 pgs, 2/24
2. Bounty, 678, 2/26
3. Complicated, 628, 3/2
4. A Perfect Union: Dolley Madison and the Creation of the American Nation, 512, 5/26
5. Still Standing, 528, 7/14
6. Smoke and Steel, 477, 7/15
7. Smooth Sailing, 458, 7/16
8. The Legend Next Door, 7/25

2025 Chubby Chunkster Challenge

Duration: January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025
Level: Mor-book-ly Obese

READ: 21/8

Tomes = 0
Chunksters = 21

1. [464 pages] Promise Not to Tell - Jayne Ann Krentz 1/26
2. [462 pages] Guardian of Talons and Snares - Anastasis Blythe 2/6
3. [498 pages] A Catalogue of Catastrophe - Jodi Taylor 2/10
4. [475 pages] A Very Bad Thing - J.T. Ellison 2/14
5. [467 pages] The Foxglove King - Hannah F. Whitten 2/23
6. [482 pages] Be Still My Heart - Emily McIntire & Sav R. Miller 2/26
7. [508 pages] A Ship of Bones & Teeth - Karina Halle 3/6
8. [480 pages] The Hemlock Queen - Hannah F. Whitten 3/29
9. [544 pages] The Wolf in the Whale - Jordanna Max Brodsky 4/21
10. [517 pages] Fourth Wing - Rebecca Yarros 5/3
11. [464 pages] Immortal - Sue Lynn Tan 5/11
12. [480 pages] From Blood and Ash - Jennifer L. Armentrout 5/22
13. [619 pages) [book:Heavenly Bodies|58650445] - Imani Erriu 6/13
14. [451 pages] Servant of Earth - Sarah Hawley 6/22
15. [592 pages] Silverborn: The Mystery of Morrigan Crow - Jessica Townsend 7/4
16. [496 pages] The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep - H.G. Parry 7/14
17. [465 pages] A Drop of Corruption - Robert Jackson Bennett 7/20
18. [509 pages] The Good, the Bad and the History - Jodi Taylor 7/23
19. [623 pages] Iron Flame - Rebecca Yarros 8/15
20. [716 pages] The Things We Water - Mariana Zapata 8/26
21. [480 pages] To Kill a Badger - Shelly Laurenston 8/31
22.

2025 Chubby Chunkster Challenge
January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025

- A chunkster is 450 pages or more of fiction or nonfiction. A chunkster should be a challenge.

Level: Mor-book-ly Obese
Completed: 0/8

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2025 Chubby Chunkster Challenge
January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025

- A chunkster is 450 pages or more of fiction or nonfiction. A chunkster should be a challenge.

Level: Mor-book-ly Obese
Completed: 6/8

1.Hell Bent 481 pgs 1/30/25
2.Station Eternity 457 pgs 3/21/25
3.The Shattered Sword 450 pgs 4/8/25
4.The Lives of Tao 460 pgs 6/3/25
5.New York to Dallas 479 pgs 6/3/25
6.1Q84 1318 pgs 7/29/25
7.
8.

2025 Chubby Chunkster Challenge
January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025

Level: Do These Books Make My Butt Look Big?
Completed: 5/5

1. Fallen - 2/5/25 🔖 491 pages
2. Wild Man - 2/6/25 🔖 528 pages
3. Stolen By A Sinner - 2/7/25 🔖 461 pages
4. His Forsaken Bride - 3/14/25 🔖 617 pages
5. A Sinner's Promise - 4/25/25 🔖 508 pages

2025 Chubby Chunkster Challenge
January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025

Level - The Chubby Chunkster
Completed: 3/3

1. Hester - Mrs. Oliphant [468 pages] May 25

2. The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins [672 pages] July 5

3. Can You Forgive Her? - Anthony Trollope [847 pages] July 13

2025 Chubby Chunkster Challenge
January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025
Level - The Chubby Chunkster
Completed 0/3

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3.

2025 Chubby Chunkster Challenge
January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025
will probably never update this and forget all about it, but am mainly doing this because these are both great books to let everyone know about them.
1. Manslaughter Park by Tirzah Price
2. For Whom the Belle Tolls by Jaysea Lynn

The Chubby Chunkster - this option is for the reader who has a couple of large tomes on their TBR list, but really doesn't want to commit to much more than that. Three books is all you need to finish this challenge.

- Do These Books Make my Butt Look Big? - This option is for the slightly heavier reader who wants to commit to 5 Chunksters over the remainder of the year.

- Mor-book-ly Obese - This is for the truly out of control chunkster. For this level of challenge you must commit to 8 chunksters OR 3 tomes of 800 pages or more. You know you want to.....go on and give in to your cravings.

- Too Big To Ignore Anymore - this option is for those chunksters on your TBR list. You may select any number of books over 450 pages but you must LIST THEM ahead of time.

Tomes (800pgs+):
1.
2.
3.

Chuncksters (450pgs+)
1. A Touch of Chaos-1/8/25 (464pgs)
2.Twisted Hate (522pgs)-1/17/25
3. King's Cage (700pgs)-2/3/25
4. The Last Second Chance (479pgs)-2/5/25
5. As Good As Dead (500pgs)-2/17/25
6. Cold Snap (458pgs)-3/7/25
7. Jurassic Park (450pgs)-4/20/25
8. Crave (575pgs)-4/26/25
9. Phantasma (497pgs)-5/29/25
10. Crush (704pgs)-6/7/25

☕️📚Chubby Chunkster Challenge📚☕️
Level: The Chubby Chunkster

0/3 Completed
🔲
🔲
🔲

2025 Chubby Chunkster Challenge
Duration: 01/01/25-12/31/25
Level: Too Big To Ignore Anymore

Goal: 2 books ; Progress: 0/2

1. A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire; (Pages: 637; Completed: )

2. The ​Crown of Gilded Bones; (Pages: 659; Completed: )

Fran wrote: "2025 Chubby Chunkster Challenge
January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025


They're large. They're in charge. And they're calling your name. They are the big mommas of your TBR, the mountain more than th..."

So question total page count for ebooks.

I read almost exclusively ebooks so in my post (message #22) I listed the total page count (637 pages) for the Kindle version I'm currently reading of A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire. However, when I look the book up on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08...) it says the Kindle version page count is based on a paperback version with the ASIN: 1952457777; https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...) and a total page count of 572 pages.

So, for this challenge, am I supposed to be using 572 pages from the paperback version as my total page count even though I'm reading the 637 page Kindle version? Just trying to be clear on the rules for ebooks since this one does have a print equivalent.

Anissa wrote: "
So question total page count for ebooks.

I have notice the same issues, some kindle editions base page counts on the paperback that releases the same day but there are kindle editions with different page counts. I check the copyright page on the kindle edition to see if it matches the paperback. I think the counts vary due to format changes but I am no expert. The MODS definitely need to clarify. I have been lucky so far with this challenge but have another that is a nightmare because one author has so many editions of each book.

Hopefully we will get clarification soon. They are still chunky books 📕 so they count.
Happy Reading 📚💖📚

2025 Chubby Chunkster Challenge - COMPLETED
1 April 2025 - 31 December 2025
Level: Mor-book-ly Obese
Progress 8/8



1. Mountain Boss - (Pages: 510; Completed: 30 May 2025) - ★ ★ ★ ★
2. Till Summer Do Us Part - (Pages: 459; Completed: 01 July 2025) - ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
3. The Way I Hate Him - (Pages: 528; Completed: 07 July 2025) - ★ ★ ★ ★
4. Tame the Heart - (Pages: 460; Completed: 13 July 2025) - ★ ★ ★ ★
5. Arran's Obsession - (Pages: 531; Completed: 20 July 2025) - ★ ★ ★ ★
6. Riordan's Revenge - (Pages: 473; Completed: 24 July 2025) - ★ ★ ★
7. Bridesmaid for Hire - (Pages: 450; Completed: 27 July 2025) - ★ ★ ★ ★
8. Burn - (Pages: 466; Completed: 06 Aug 2025) - ★ ★ ★ ★

COMPLETED

2025 Chubby Chunkster Challenge
January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025

- A chunkster is 450 pages or more of fiction or nonfiction. A chunkster should be a challenge.

Level: Mor-book-ly Obese
Completed: 8/8

1. Emma - Jane Austen 1/7/25 (474 pgs.)
2. Pack's Queen - M.H. Soars 2/6/25 (461 pgs.)
3. One Summer in Savannah - Terah Shelton Harris 3/9/25 (464 pgs.)
4. Burned - Ellen Hopkins 3/22/25 (560 pgs.)
5. Written in Red - Anne Bishop 3/29/25 (514 pgs.)
6. Persuader - Lee Child 4/5/25 (496 pgs.)
7. Pure - Jennifer L. Armentrout 4/7/25 (464 pgs.)
8. The Enemy - Lee Child 4/14/25 (496 pgs.)

Caraina wrote: "COMPLETED

2025 Chubby Chunkster Challenge
January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025
O..."

Congratulations Cardinal🎉💖📚🎉

Anissa wrote: "Fran wrote: "2025 Chubby Chunkster Challenge
January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025


They're large. They're in charge. And they're calling your name. They are the big mommas of your TBR, the mountain..."

So sorry for the late reply! I will pass your question to the rest of the mods and we will get back to you soon!

〰️Beth〰️ wrote: "Anissa wrote: "
So question total page count for ebooks.

I have notice the same issues, some kindle editions base page counts on the paperback that releases the same day but there are kindle editi..."

Please feel free to use any edition you would like. If there is an ebook page count for your ebook, you can use it. Since this challenge is just for your own personal enjoyment and not a competition, you can use whatever works for you :)

COMPLETED ☺️

2025 Chubby Chunkster Challenge
January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025

Level: Do These Books Make My Butt Look Big?
Completed: 5/5

1. Fallen - 2/5/25 🔖 491 pages
2. Wild Man - 2/6/25 🔖 528 pages
3. Stolen By A Sinner - 2/7/25 🔖 461 pages
4. His Forsaken Bride - 3/14/25 🔖 617 pages
5. A Sinner's Promise - 4/25/25 🔖 508 pages

minnemoo wrote: "COMPLETED ☺️

2025 Chubby Chunkster Challenge
Completed: 5/5

🎉📚Congratulations Minnimoo📚🎉

Done

2025 Chubby Chunkster Challenge - 450+ pp.
January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025
Level: Mor-book-ly Obese
8/8

1. Along Came a Spider by James Patterson 19/1 3★ - 502p
2. The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver 13/2 3★ - 512p
3. The Folklore of Discworld by Terry Pratchett, Jacqueline Simpson 28/3 5★ - 504p
4. Sunrise Over Mercy Court by Fiona McCallum 13/4 4★ - 496p
5. Unwanted by Mia Sheridan 27/4 4★ - 530p
6. Treachery in Death by J.D. Robb 13/6 4.5★ - 480p
7. City Girl Country Girl by Liz Harfull 27/6 3.5★ - 570p
8. New York to Dallas by J.D. Robb 4/7 4★ - 479p

I'm done! Melanie (msg 17)

Congratulations minnimoo, catsalive and Melanie!!

Completed my challenge! (Message 25)