Charming

Charming Bookclub Bingo 2024

Yo! It's always nice to have some book reading goals for the new year – I'm less interested in quantity this year than in possibly getting out of my comfort zone and reading a wider variety of things! I couldn't find a 2024 reading challenge I loved, so I'm making my own.

Post about your own 2024 book goals or challenges here, and/or join me if you like!

I've made a spreadsheet with a long list of bingo categories. You can C&P the whole list or cherrypick the ones that suit you, or feel free to mix it up and add your own (& note them in this thread to give the rest of us ideas!)... and then create your own bingo card(s).

I've gone for a 5x5 grid because 25 books seems like a reasonable goal for me to start with and I'm planning... hopefully... to tick off the whole grid eventually. But you could do a row for bingo and then generate a new one, or whatever! You make the rules xD

If you are joining in with any kind of bingo feel free to post up your progress through the year here!

e.g. is this an example or is this going to be my actual challenge? we shall see xD

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Mr. Fallin agreed to do my bingo card too. Although I feel like I could have made it more challenging. Whoops

#Goals

This is probably going to be a failure, but I gave myself some easy ones XD

July 25th - Rolling along, between book club books, reading A Perilous Undertaking, which is the second in a great Victorian series, the Veronica Speedwell Mysteries by Deanna Raybourn!

Heartless by Elsie Silver

3/5 Stars
5/5 Steam
I was disappointed, I enjoyed it up through chapter 20 and then it fell of the rails for me.

Shark Heart by Emily Habeck

2/5 Stars
0 Steam
I have never said WTF so much while reading a book in my entire life.

Leaf of Faith by Lisa Bouchard

3.5/5 Stars
0/5 Steam
It was cute! Very much the author's first book, but I met her at a local witch's market and she was the SWEETEST! Had a good twist near the end.

Cities of Smoke & Starlight (Gate Chronicles #1) by Alli Earnest

4/5 Stars
0 Steam
Everything I want in a book. It was marketed to me as the banter of The Mummy movies, meets Anastasia, which sign me tf up! It did not disappoint. I would describe it as a post-apocalyptic dystopian steampunk sort of ride! The characters and their banter are TOP NOTCH. Good slow burn, great world building!

Summer Swap by Sarah Morgan

2/5 Stars
1/5 Steam
I was bored. Coming off the highs of the second Gate Chronicles. Predictable, lacked depth to the characters and storyline. Spite read in 24 hours for book club. Did like some of the chapters were a 70something year old woman, she was the highlight!

Realms of Wrath & Ruin (Gate Chronicles #2) by Alli Earnest

2/5 Stars
0 Steam
Though the third one is not out yet, it doesn't feel like second-book syndrome. So much good worldbuilding and story progression. Characters show growth, storyline didn't really stall out. The cliffhanger tho, need book 3 ASAP!

Future Squares

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley for my classic I've never read, I'm still in the beginning, but generally enjoying. I failed you MJ, I'm sorry!
The Davenports by Krystal Marquis for my author of color
A Perilous Undertaking by Deanna Raybourn for my next in a series - current read!
Neon Gods by Katee Robert for my retelling (Hades/Persephone)
Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker - Gin's favorite!

Suggestions I Have

Fairytale retelling; Spindle's End by Robin McKinley, a fairly straightforward Sleeping Beauty, but so wonderfully written
Pre-1900/Historical Fiction/Romance; The Veronica Speedwell Mysteries, starting with A Curious Beginning! Cannot recommend this series enough!

Recommendation Requests

I need somebody's favorite book to try!
The best seller list has failed me twice so far, but I need something from there or something new!
Something outside my normal genres of romance/historical/fantasy!

~~I am doing an A-Z challenge. Books might change, but tentative:~~

I lied. Too many series for this. Also stole Lady's tracker code

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Bingo Tracker

Book: Fate of the Sorrow by J.C. Wade Bingo Space: Shorter than 200 words Thoughts/Review: This almost felt like cheating because it was so short, but it was a prequel to a series I got for Christmas my parents bought on a whim. (Yay for meeting a local author!) The writing is beautiful with lots of detail, and I'm excited to read the first book of the series.	Book: The Coworker by Freida McFadden Bingo Space: Someone's Favorite Book Thoughts/Review:Picked this one up because an ex-coworker recommended it and I have inside joke about a turtle which are heavily referenced in this book. It was... okay? I called the twist halfway through the book and it felt like a knock-off version of Gone Girl. Ending sucked.
Book: Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber Bingo Space: Retelling of a Classic Thoughts/Review:1/5. There wasn't much I enjoyed about this book at all. Alice in Wonderlandesque.
Book: Blindsighted by Karin Slaughter Bingo Space: Favorite Author Thoughts/Review: 4/5 stars. Oh boyy, this was a RIDE. I love this woman. She's a thriller writer who isn't afraid of gore or brutalizing people. It's a series<3 Book one
Book: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros Bingo Space: Longer than 500 Pages Thoughts/Review: I was surprised at how much I liked this. The plot is interesting even if the author uses like... every trope ever made.	Book: Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros Bingo Space: Sequel Thoughts/Review: Sequel to Fourth Wing. It was rushed & felt like 90% of the book was the main character throwing a temper tantrum over her boyfriend. Still, interesting enough that I'll keep reading the series.
Book: The Inmate by Freida McFadden Bingo Space: Picked Up On a Whim Thoughts/Review: Listen. This author just writes main female characters stuck in high school, and the male is always picture perfect who everyone adores until he does something wrong. 3/5. It was... meh.	Book: Kisscut by Karin Slaughter Bingo Space: Crime Thoughts/Review: Another thriller book where the main characters have to find out why someone threatened to kill someone else. 4/5. What. A. Ride. Book two<3

Let's be honest, I'm totally going to use some books for multiple squares come the end of the year.

My confidence that this will pan out well for me is nebulous at best.

Bingo Tracker

Author: Bingo Space: Thoughts/Review:	Author: Bingo Space: Thoughts/Review:
Author: Bingo Space: Thoughts/Review:	Author: Bingo Space: Thoughts/Review:
Author: Bingo Space: Thoughts/Review:	Author: Bingo Space: Thoughts/Review:

I'm on my last leg of college this coming year, so we'll see. But reading for fun will hopefully boost my mental health so this might help me get myself back on track with that! (Using MJ's Bingo and Lady's Tracking, thank you lovelies!)

Bingo Tracker

Author: Title: Bingo Space: Thoughts/Review:	Author: Title: Bingo Space: Thoughts/Review:
Author: Title: Bingo Space: Thoughts/Review:	Author: Title: Bingo Space: Thoughts/Review:
Author: Title: Bingo Space: Thoughts/Review:	Author: Title: Bingo Space: Thoughts/Review:

Looking forward to this!

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Behold, the actual grid I'm going to start with!

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Will keep a progress tracker of the books I read below.

Also! Obviously we all want your recommendations for the categories. Post them in this thread and/or Lady is gonna make another tab of the spreadsheet y'all can add them to!

now taking suggestions for any books YOU think I'll hate. there will, obviously, be a review from me at the end of it

Elias Grimstone

Sisse Thompsett

Daffodil Grimstone

Gus Lissington

Anne Moony

Philomena Sprout

Eira Murphy

Madeleine Backus

Elias Grimstone