2025 Reading Challenge discussion
2025 Monthly Challenges
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September - Down the Rabbit Hole

Once you have signed up for the challenge with a preliminary goal, you can change that goal at any time by providing an update with the changed goal.
Updating your progress
When posting your progress, please be sure to include both your original message number and progress:
Example: Updated msg #10: 2/8
If you decide to drop out of the challenge, please do not delete your original sign-up post. Simply post an update letting me know. If you wish to do so, you can delete the information that is in your post, but it will be necessary to at least leave a single letter or number in the post.
Any questions - please don't hesitate to ask!
As always, have fun with this!
PARTICIPANTS
Amy - 0/6 post 46
Angel - 0/8 post 15
Ashly - 0/2 post 17
Beth - 1/10 post 4
Blu's World - 0/3 post 37
BriannaRaquel - 0/20 post 35
Brit - 0/9 post 36
Bubbles - 0/5 post 31
Caraina - 0/3 post 48
Caroline - 0/10 post 41
Carolyn - 0/10 post 12
Carri Carey - 0/10 post 16
Carrie - 0/10 post 45
Chalmation - 0/5 post 10
Charlotte - 1/5 post 20
Chrissie - 0/3 post 8
Clara - 0/10 post 26
Debra - 0/2 post 33
Donna - 0/10 post 39
Dubhease - 1/4 post 24
GailW - 0/5 post 28
Jaida - 0/10 post 18
Janine - 0/4 post 13
JennH - 0/6 post 7
Jennifer - 0/10 post 47
Karin - 0/3 post 34
Keri - 0/10 post 25
Kristina - 0/5 post 23
Marie - 0/10 post 19
Melissa - 0/10 post 27
Rachel - 0/10 post 40
Sarah - 0/10 post 9
SarahKat - 0/10 post 29
Shari - 0/5 post 14
Sophia - 0/3 post 22
Susan - 0/6 post 5
Susan - 0/3 post 32
Syd - 0/5 post 38
TerryJane - 0/10 post 30
Whitney - 0/4 post 6
STATS
Participants: 40
Books Read: 3
Book Goal: 284
Completed: 0
Updated through message #48 on 3 Sep at 11:30 AM USDT.

Going for all 10
🐰🐇 A book that starts a series or sends you on a journey - One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez this was a 100-year 7-generation journey of the Buendía family
🌹 A book with red on the cover or in the title - The Sentence is Death 64.5% per TEL
🐰🫖 A book where characters gather, dine, or drink - The Last Precinct (Kay Scarpetta, #11) by Patricia Cornwell Kay, Marino, Lucy, and McGovern get together for Christmas dinner.
🐰🔍 A book that’s a mystery or made you say “what is going on?!” London Bridges (Alex Cross, #10) by James Patterson Mystery is 1st MPG
🐰🐛 A book with a wise, strange, or philosophical character - Booked (The Crossover, #2) by Kwame Alexander All of those adjectives describe Mr. Mac
🪞 A book with a mirror, reflection, or doppelgänger theme - Mirror Me a major plot point is the MC avoiding looking at her reflection in mirrors
🐰👑 A book featuring royalty, powerful leaders, or fierce femmes - The Patriot Threat (Cotton Malone, #10) by Steve Berry Both Stephanie Nelle and Isabella Schaefer are incredibly capabable federal agents.
🎩 A book you chose for no logical reason at all - Fifty Shames of Earl Grey no reason related to this challenge
📖 A book that’s fantasy, surreal, or speculative fiction - Somewhere Beyond the Sea Fantasy is 1st MPG
⏱️ A book that’s been on your TBR for far too long - The Blood of Emmett Till added to my TBR Jun 23, 2023

Progress: 0/6
🐇 A book that starts a series or sends you on a journey - The Knight and the Moth
🌹 A book with red on the cover or in the title - The September House
🔍 A book that’s a mystery or made you say “what is going on?!” - The Perfect Stranger
🎩 A book you chose for no logical reason at all - Party Girl
📖 A book that’s fantasy, surreal, or speculative fiction - The Martian
⏱️ A book that’s been on your TBR for far too long - Things You Won't Say

Progress: 2/4
🐇 A book that starts a series or sends you on a journey
- The Quiet Librarian by Allen Eskens (Completed 9/4/25)
Main character is being hunted.
🌹 A book with red on the cover or in the title
- The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang (Currently Reading)

🫖 A book where characters gather, dine, or drink
- Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune
Main character owns a resort. There are multiple scenes involving social gatherings.
👑 A book featuring royalty, powerful leaders, or fierce femmes
- A Rogue of One's Own by Evie Dunmore (Completed 9/4/25)
Main character and friends are part of a women's suffrage group.

DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE
Duration: September 1 - September 30, 2025
1/6
🐇 A book that starts a series or sends you on a journey
🌹 A book with red on the cover or in the title
🫖 A book where characters gather, dine, or drink
🔍 A book that’s a mystery or made you say “what is going on?!”
🐛 A book with a wise, strange, or philosophical character
🪞 A book with a mirror, reflection, or doppelgänger theme
Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik 9/2/25
🎩 A book you chose for no logical reason at all
📖 A book that’s fantasy, surreal, or speculative fiction
⏱️ A book that’s been on your TBR for far too long

🐇 A book that starts a series or sends you on a journey
✓

🫖 A book where characters gather, dine, or drink
🔍 A book that’s a mystery or made you say “what is going on?!”

🐛 A book with a wise, strange, or philosophical character
🪞 A book with a mirror, reflection, or doppelgänger theme
👑 A book featuring royalty, powerful leaders, or fierce femmes
🎩 A book you chose for no logical reason at all
📖 A book that’s fantasy, surreal, or speculative fiction
⏱️ A book that’s been on your TBR for far too long

0/10
A book that starts a series or sends you on a journey.
Blood Queen
A book with red on the cover or in the title.
Little Red Riding Hood
A book where characters gather, dine, or drink.
Murder with Fried Chicken and Waffles
A book that’s a mystery or made you say “what is going on?!”
Her Royal Spyness
A book with a wise, strange, or philosophical character.
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
A book with a mirror, reflection, or doppelganger theme.
The Double
A book featuring royalty, powerful leaders, or fierce femmes.
Mary, Bloody Mary
A book you chose for no logical reason at all.
Show, Don't Tell
A book that’s fantasy, surreal, or speculative fiction.
American Gods
A book that’s been on your TBR for far too long.
The Chosen Queen

🐇 A book that starts a series or sends you on a journey The House in the Cerulean Sea

🌹 A book with red on the cover or in the title The Lotus Shoes

🫖 A book where characters gather, dine, or drink To Kill a Mocking Bird

🔍 A book that’s a mystery or made you say “what is going on?!” Mr Mercedes

🐛 A book with a wise, strange, or philosophical character The Catcher in the Rye

🪞 A book with a mirror, reflection, or doppelgänger theme Julie Chan Is Dead

👑 A book featuring royalty, powerful leaders, or fierce femmes When Sleeping Women Wake

🎩 A book you chose for no logical reason at all All He Takes

📖 A book that’s fantasy, surreal, or speculative fiction Reactive

⏱️ A book that’s been on your TBR for far too long The Kite Runner: A Portrait of the Epic Film


Progress: 2 / 5
🐇 A book that starts a series or sends you on a journey A Sugar Creek Christmas - 1st in a series
🌹 A book with red on the cover or in the title
🫖 A book where characters gather, dine, or drink
🔍 A book that’s a mystery or made you say “what is going on?!” The Coworker
🐛 A book with a wise, strange, or philosophical character
🪞 A book with a mirror, reflection, or doppelgänger theme
👑 A book featuring royalty, powerful leaders, or fierce femmes
🎩 A book you chose for no logical reason at all
📖 A book that’s fantasy, surreal, or speculative fiction
⏱️ A book that’s been on your TBR for far too long

Duration: September 1 - September 30, 2025
Completion 1/8 (But Maybe 10)
"We're all mad here," so let your TBR reflect that!
🐇 A book that starts a series or sends you on a journey
🌹 A book with red on the cover or in the title
🫖 A book where characters gather, dine, or drink
🔍 A book that’s a mystery or made you say “what is going on?!”
🐛 A book with a wise, strange, or philosophical character
🪞 A book with a mirror, reflection, or doppelgänger theme
👑 A book featuring royalty, powerful leaders, or fierce femmes
🎩 A book you chose for no logical reason at all
📖 A book that’s fantasy, surreal, or speculative fiction
⏱️ A book that’s been on your TBR for far too long
Layla | Colleen Hoover | 09.03

Progress: 2/10
🐇

🌹

✅

✅

🐛

🪞

👑

🎩

📖

⏱️


🌹 A book with red on the cover or in the title -

⏱️ A book that’s been on your TBR for far too long -

0/2 read

🐇 A book that starts a series or sends you on a journey
🌹 A book with red on the cover or in the title
🫖 A book where characters gather, dine, or drink
🔍 A book that’s a mystery or made you say “what is going on?!”
🐛 A book with a wise, strange, or philosophical character
🪞 A book with a mirror, reflection, or doppelgänger theme
👑 A book featuring royalty, powerful leaders, or fierce femmes
🎩 A book you chose for no logical reason at all
📖 A book that’s fantasy, surreal, or speculative fiction
⏱️ A book that’s been on your TBR for far too long

Progress: 1/5
🐇 A book that starts a series or sends you on a journey
🌹 A book with red on the cover or in the title
🫖 A book where characters gather, dine, or drink
Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow Jessica Day George 9/2/25 - The MC dines with the polar bear.
🔍 A book that’s a mystery or made you say “what is going on?!”
🐛 A book with a wise, strange, or philosophical character
🪞 A book with a mirror, reflection, or doppelgänger theme
👑 A book featuring royalty, powerful leaders, or fierce femmes
🎩 A book you chose for no logical reason at all
📖 A book that’s fantasy, surreal, or speculative fiction
⏱️ A book that’s been on your TBR for far too long

September 01 - September 30, 2025
Progress: 0/5
Sign me up for 5!
1. 🐇 A book that starts a series or sends you on a journey: Katabasis by R.F. Kuang
2.🌹 A book with red on the cover or in the title: Moonflower Murders by Anthony Horowitz
3. 🫖 A book where characters gather, dine, or drink:
4. 🔍 A book that’s a mystery or made you say “what is going on?!”: Marble Hall Murders by Anthony Horowitz
5. 🐛 A book with a wise, strange, or philosophical character:
6. 🪞 A book with a mirror, reflection, or doppelgänger theme: The Double by Fyodor Dostoevsky
7. 👑 A book featuring royalty, powerful leaders, or fierce femmes: Lords and Ladies by Terry Pratchett
8. 🎩 A book you chose for no logical reason at all:
9. 📖 A book that’s fantasy, surreal, or speculative fiction: The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman
10. ⏱️ A book that’s been on your TBR for far too long: Bloodchild and Other Stories by Octavia E. Butler

1/4
🐇 A book that starts a series or sends you on a journey
🌹 A book with red on the cover or in the title
🫖 A book where characters gather, dine, or drink
🔍 A book that’s a mystery or made you say “what is going on?!”
🐛 A book with a wise, strange, or philosophical character
🪞 A book with a mirror, reflection, or doppelgänger theme
👑 A book featuring royalty, powerful leaders, or fierce femmes
🎩 A book you chose for no logical reason at all - Mother-Daughter Murder Night
📖 A book that’s fantasy, surreal, or speculative fiction
⏱️ A book that’s been on your TBR for far too long

🐇 A book that starts a series or sends you on a journey - Here, There Be Dragons
🌹 A book with red on the cover or in the title - The Sin Eater's Daughter
🫖
🔍 A book that’s a mystery or made you say “what is going on?!” - Knightley & Son
🐛 A book with a wise, strange, or philosophical character - Reap the Wild Wind (not sure this one fits the theme but I am giving it a shot).
(I'm a little bit upset about this one because I JUST finished the perfect book for this theme as it had a whole slew of philosophers and philosophical moments: Small Gods by Terry Pratchett. Now I am going to have to find something else.)
🪞 A book with a mirror, reflection, or doppelgänger theme - The Girl with No Reflection
👑
🎩 A book you chose for no logical reason at all - saving this for a surprise read
📖
⏱️ A book that’s been on your TBR for far too long - Agatha H and the Airship City

🐇 A book that starts a series or sends you on a journey Small Spaces (starts a series), completed
🌹 A book with red on the cover or in the title Bless Me Father, red on cover, completed
🫖 A book where characters gather, dine, or drink
🔍 A book that’s a mystery or made you say “what is going on?!” How to Be a Saint: An Extremely Weird and Mildly Sacrilegious History of the Catholic Church's Biggest Names, in progress ("what's going on?")
🐛 A book with a wise, strange, or philosophical character Priestdaddy (strange character), completed
🪞 A book with a mirror, reflection, or doppelgänger theme
👑 A book featuring royalty, powerful leaders, or fierce femmes Barking to the Choir (powerful leaders), completed
🎩 A book you chose for no logical reason at all Everything Is Tuberculosis, completed
📖 A book that’s fantasy, surreal, or speculative fiction Book of Doors, in progress
⏱️ A book that’s been on your TBR for far too long A History of Loneliness, completed

1. A book that starts a series or sends you on a journey
2. A book with red on the cover or in the title
3. A book where characters gather, dine, or drink
4. A book that’s a mystery or made you say “what is going on?!”
5. A book with a wise, strange, or philosophical character
6. A book with a mirror, reflection, or doppelgänger theme
7. A book featuring royalty, powerful leaders, or fierce femmes
8. A book you chose for no logical reason at all
9.A book that’s fantasy, surreal, or speculative fiction
10. A book that’s been on your TBR for far too long

🐇 A book that starts a series or sends you on a journey
🌹 A book with red on the cover or in the title
🍔A book where characters gather, dine, or drink
🔍 A book that’s a mystery or made you say “what is going on?!”
🐛 A book with a wise, strange, or philosophical character
👭 A book with a mirror, reflection, or doppelgänger theme
👑 A book featuring royalty, powerful leaders, or fierce femmes
🎩 A book you chose for no logical reason at all
📖 A book that’s fantasy, surreal, or speculative fiction
⏱️ A book that’s been on your TBR for far too long

Duration: September 1 - September 30, 2025
Progress: 0/10
🐇 A book that starts a series or sends you on a journey
The River Is Waiting
🌹 A book with red on the cover or in the title
Great Big Beautiful Life
☕ A book where characters gather, dine, or drink
So Happy Together
🔍 A book that’s a mystery or made you say “what is going on?!”
Not Quite Dead Yet
🐛 A book with a wise, strange, or philosophical character
Martyr!
👯♀️ A book with a mirror, reflection, or doppelgänger theme
The Princess of Las Vegas
👑 A book featuring royalty, powerful leaders, or fierce femmes
Park Avenue
🎩 A book you chose for no logical reason at all
One Dark Night
📖 A book that’s fantasy, surreal, or speculative fiction
The Book of Lost Hours
⏱️ A book that’s been on your TBR for far too long
My Side of the Mountain

DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE
Duration: September 1 - September 30, 2025
2/5
Morbidly Yours by Ivy Fairbanks - 9/3
How it Fits: Starts a series
🌹 A book with red on the cover or in the title
The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia - 9/3
How it Fits: There are many scenes of various characters eating lunch and/or dinner together.
🔍 A book that’s a mystery or made you say “what is going on?!”
🐛 A book with a wise, strange, or philosophical character
🪞 A book with a mirror, reflection, or doppelgänger theme
👑 A book featuring royalty, powerful leaders, or fierce femmes
🎩 A book you chose for no logical reason at all
📖 A book that’s fantasy, surreal, or speculative fiction
⏱️ A book that’s been on your TBR for far too long

2/3
🐇 🌹 🫖 🔍 🐛 🪞👑 🎩 📖 ⏱️
🐇 A book that starts a series or sends you on a journey An Open Heart by Harry Kraus sent me from the US to Kenya
A book with red on the cover or in the title
A book where characters gather, dine, or drink
A book that’s a mystery or made you say “what is going on?!”
🐛A book with a wise, strange, or philosophical character Under the Magnolias has several that fit this description
A book with a mirror, reflection, or doppelgänger theme
A book featuring royalty, powerful leaders, or fierce femmes
A book you chose for no logical reason at all
A book that’s fantasy, surreal, or speculative fiction
A book that’s been on your TBR for far too long

Duration: September 1 - September 30, 2025
0/20 (2 each)
🐇 A book that starts a series or sends you on a journey
🌹 A book with red on the cover or in the title
🫖 A book where characters gather, dine, or drink
🔍 A book that’s a mystery or made you say “what is going on?!”
🐛 A book with a wise, strange, or philosophical character
🪞 A book with a mirror, reflection, or doppelgänger theme
👑 A book featuring royalty, powerful leaders, or fierce femmes
🎩 A book you chose for no logical reason at all
📖 A book that’s fantasy, surreal, or speculative fiction
⏱️ A book that’s been on your TBR for far too long

🐇 A book that starts a series or sends you on a journey
🌹 A book with red on the cover or in the title
🫖 A book where characters gather, dine, or drink
🔍 A book that’s a mystery or made you say “what is going on?!”
🐛 A book with a wise, strange, or philosophical character
🪞 A book with a mirror, reflection, or doppelgänger theme
👑 A book featuring royalty, powerful leaders, or fierce femmes
🎩 A book you chose for no logical reason at all
📖 A book that’s fantasy, surreal, or speculative fiction
⏱️ A book that’s been on your TBR for far too long

🐛 A book with a wise, strange, or philosophical character
The Picture of Dorian Gray
👑 A book featuring royalty, powerful leaders, or fierce femmes
The Seventh Bride
⏱️ A book that’s been on your TBR for far too long
In the Shadow of a Dream
Completed: 0/3

Duration: September 1 - September 30, 2025
I'm going to jump in and try for all 10. (Even if I fall short, I land in the stars, right?) All books TBD at the moment.
0/10
🐇 A book that starts a series or sends you on a journey
🌹 A book with red on the cover or in the title
🫖 A book where characters gather, dine, or drink
🔍 A book that’s a mystery or made you say “what is going on?!”
🐛 A book with a wise, strange, or philosophical character
🪞 A book with a mirror, reflection, or doppelgänger theme
👑 A book featuring royalty, powerful leaders, or fierce femmes
🎩 A book you chose for no logical reason at all
📖 A book that’s fantasy, surreal, or speculative fiction
⏱️ A book that’s been on your TBR for far too long

Duration: September 1 - September 30, 2025
0/10
🐇 A book that starts a series or sends you on a journey: Outlander By Diana Gabaldon
🌹 A book with red on the cover or in the title: Beneath a Scarlet Sky By Mark T. Sullivan
🫖 A book where characters gather, dine, or drink: The Name of the Wind By Patrick Rothfuss
🔍 A book that’s a mystery or made you say “what is going on?!”: Jade City By Fonda Lee
🐛 A book with a wise, strange, or philosophical character: Gone With the Wind By Margaret Mitchell
🪞 A book with a mirror, reflection, or doppelgänger theme: Dark Matter By Blake Crouch
👑 A book featuring royalty, powerful leaders, or fierce femmes: Warrior Princess Assassin By Brigid Kemmerer
🎩 A book you chose for no logical reason at all: The Raven Scholar By Antonia Hodgson
📖 A book that’s fantasy, surreal, or speculative fiction: Arcana Academy By Elise Kova
⏱️ A book that’s been on your TBR for far too long: When Christ and His Saints Slept By Sharon Kay Penman











Caroline, would you please edit post #42 to remove your goal? It's a duplicate of post #41. Please don't delete 42; just edit it to say NTSH (nothing to see here), or never mind, or something like that.
Thanks!

Participant list and stats updated through here.


4/6
🐇
🌹
🫖
🔍
🐛 A book with a wise, strange, or philosophical character
🪞 A book with a mirror, reflection, or doppelgänger theme
👑 A book featuring royalty, powerful leaders, or fierce femmes
🎩 A book you chose for no logical reason at all
📖 A book that’s fantasy, surreal, or speculative fiction
⏱️ A book that’s been on your TBR for far too long

0/10
*A book that starts a series or sends you on a journey Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
*A book with red on the cover or in the title The Talisman
A book where characters gather, dine, or drink The Great Gatsby
*A book that’s a mystery or made you say “what is going on?!” Etiquette for Lovers and Killers
*A book with a wise, strange, or philosophical character The Picture of Dorian Gray
A book with a mirror, reflection, or doppelgänger theme The Lady of Shalott
A book featuring royalty, powerful leaders, or fierce femmes Carrie Soto Is Back
A book that’s fantasy, surreal, or speculative fiction Just One Damned Thing After Another
*A book that’s been on your TBR for far too long Baby Proof

Duration: September 1 - September 30, 2025
Completed: 3/3
🐇 A book that starts a series or sends you on a journey What the Lady's Maid Knew - E.E. Holmes 9/1/25
🌹 A book with red on the cover or in the title
🫖 A book where characters gather, dine, or drink
🔍 A book that’s a mystery or made you say “what is going on?!”
🐛 A book with a wise, strange, or philosophical character
🪞 A book with a mirror, reflection, or doppelgänger theme
👑 A book featuring royalty, powerful leaders, or fierce femmes
🎩 A book you chose for no logical reason at all
📖 A book that’s fantasy, surreal, or speculative fiction White Hot Kiss - Jennifer L. Armentrout 9/6/25
⏱️ A book that’s been on your TBR for far too long In the Time of the Butterflies - Julia Alvarez 9/1/25
Books mentioned in this topic
What the Lady's Maid Knew (other topics)In the Time of the Butterflies (other topics)
White Hot Kiss (other topics)
Crimson Spell Bd. 3 (other topics)
Der Donnerstagsmordclub oder Ein Teufel stirbt immer zuletzt (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
E.E. Holmes (other topics)Jennifer L. Armentrout (other topics)
Julia Alvarez (other topics)
Silvia Moreno-Garcia (other topics)
Ivy Fairbanks (other topics)
More...
Duration: September 1 - September 30, 2025
September is for chasing whimsy, wonder, and a little bit of nonsense. In this challenge, you’ll tumble into strange lands with curious characters and stories that defy the ordinary. Whether you’re sipping tea with mad friends or questioning what’s real, there’s a prompt here to spark your imagination.
"We're all mad here," so let your TBR reflect that!
To join, post a message telling the challenge leader how many books you plan to read. If you are new to our group and/or our group challenges, take a moment to check out the Yearly, Quarterly, Monthly Challenges - Start Here thread for more information on how our challenges are run.
🐇 A book that starts a series or sends you on a journey
🌹 A book with red on the cover or in the title
🫖 A book where characters gather, dine, or drink
🔍 A book that’s a mystery or made you say “what is going on?!”
🐛 A book with a wise, strange, or philosophical character
🪞 A book with a mirror, reflection, or doppelgänger theme
👑 A book featuring royalty, powerful leaders, or fierce femmes
🎩 A book you chose for no logical reason at all
📖 A book that’s fantasy, surreal, or speculative fiction
⏱️ A book that’s been on your TBR for far too long
Thanks to Susan for inspiring this topsy-turvy challenge. Thank you Beth for agreeing to lead.