The quarterly challenge check-in worked quite well for me in 2024, so I decided to stick with it. In these posts, I do a quick recap of the reading I did, pick 5 of my favorite reads, and also report on how I progressed with my different reading challenges. All of these are based on my reading goals for 2025 post, which you are welcome to check out! That said, it’s time for the second challenge check-in for 2025 Q3.
2025 Q3, surprisingly (to me, anyway), was more productive on the reading front than I thought, especially as I had reading slumps and been generally busy with life. I moved in July, I got a bit of breathing space in August, and then September hit with a gut punch, as it usually does (for those not in the know: I work at a school, September is the craziest time when the school year starts).
Until October 1st, I opened 18 books (1 more than in Q2). I DNFd 2 and alpha read 1 which I’m not going to count for anything, because obviously I can’t. I’m also currently reading 2 of them (well, I already finished them, so they’ll count for Q4), so for the sake of this post, I’ll go with 16 from here on. Out of the 16 books, 2 were rereads (I honestly thought there were more, huh). As for format, 9 were audiobooks, 6 were ebooks, and 1 was a paperback.
As predicted in my Q2 round-up, I already went beyond my GR goal of 40. As of September 30, I finished 46 books (not including my alpha read, and the DNFs, of course).
Out of the 16 books, only 5 were on the list I set up as my shortened TBR in my Reading Goals for 2025 post, which means I didn’t do as well with keeping it up, but I’m hopeful for Q4.
The books I loved the most in 2025 Q3
Out of the 13 books (I did not include my beta read and the DNFs), I gave 5👑 to 3. But I also had 1 4.5👑 reads as well. I’m keeping myself to my promise at the start of the year, and this year I’m stricter with my ratings. And that probably shows because I did have quite a few 4👑s. I’m not sure if it was because nothing really hit my sweet spots, or because I was just not to be satisfied with anything.
Often I find that not necessarily the books I 5👑 that stay with me until the end of the year, but those I might have rated lower for some reason. So, in these mini-lists, I’ll focus on highlighting those that I think have the potential to end up on my top 10 reads of 2025 list. I will not pick rereads, because I obviously loved them previously, so I’d like to give the spotlight to newcomers. The books are listed in the order I’ve read them.
The Art of a Lie is the latest historical fiction/mystery standalone from the amazing Laura Shepherd-Robinson. I absolutely LOVE her books and can’t recommend them enough. I swear she is getting better with each book, damn her. This book has deception within deception, and it’s just so damn fun watching the two main characters (Hannah and William) outsmarting each other without even knowing what the other is about. Absolutely delightful.
A Witch’s Guide to Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna is another witchy standalone novel, although this has a darker tone to it. And also the familiar themes of found family, acceptance of each other, and ourselves. I had some minor complaints, but it’s a fun and heartwarming romantic fantasy with some darker edges.
The Cornish Wedding Murder by Fiona Leitch is a fun cosy murder mystery I picked up on audiobook. Well, actually this is the first book of a series. It has a cast of interesting characters, plenty of banter between Jodie, an ex police officer, and the local detective, and small-town charm with people who come together.
Castaways by Craig Schaefer is the first book in a new UF series. I don’t think I expected Schaefer to write a series set in a magic school, but hey, I’m glad she did. I’m not reading a lot of books anymore featuring teenagers, but when it comes to Schaefer, I always know we are in good hands. I really enjoyed the ride and the little Easter eggs that connect this series with the world of the Faust and Harmony Black novels. I’m not sure yet if this will take top place for me, but I’m looking forward to reading book 2.
The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen is the first book in a romantasy series that OIivia has been raving about. And one does not ignore her recommendations (especially if you love her books). And as it happens, I need the second book for various challenges in October, so I decided it was time to get on the Megan Bannen bandwagon. And I have no regrets, as I very much enjoyed Hart and Mercy’s story, the way their relationship built up, and especially the fun worldbuilding and the characters.
Look, I’d love to say I’m smashing Womble’s reading challenge this year, but…well, this isn’t going all according to plan. But that said, I still managed to finish 2 out of the 3 prompts, so I’m taking that as a win.
July – Travelling broadens the mind: Cross the Line by Lucky Hart. Look, for me, this is the easiest prompt ever. We had to read a book from someone who is from the other side of the world. Living in the middle of Europe, I went for an American author. I also managed the stretch goal which was to read a book set in a different country from my own. As I don’t read anything Hungarian, and I rarely come across books that are set in Hungary, this is pretty much true of every book I read. I decided to pick The Summer Fair by Heidi Swain, that’s set in England.
August – Take a trip?: We were supposed to read a book from a genre we don’t usually read. But August wasn’t my best reading month, and I haven’t read anything out of the norm. Hell, I just finished moving between flats, the last thing I needed was one more thing out of the norm.
September – Just the facts: Hollywood Horrors: Murders, Scandals, and Cover-Ups from Tinseltown by Andrea van Landingham. Non-fiction is something I don’t usually read – dear Womble got me in a pickle here, because this book would have been the perfect fit for August, too. But alas, I read it in September and it fit the prompt, so here we go.
I still love this board game look. Especially as I’m really getting into board games this year. After making the initial choices at the start of the year, 2025 Q3 was pretty straightforward, but it still had a choice for me. Here is the board:
July – 7D – Write Notes (read a 5 star prediction book, write and share a review of it): A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna. As I very much enjoyed The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, I couldn’t wait to read Sangu Mandanna‘s next book. Fortunately for me, I got my hands on an ARC and was able to read it for this prompt. I ended up giving it a 4.5👑 tho, but it’s close enough.
August – 8D – Stargaze (read a book with stars on the cover): Castaways by Craig Schaefer. This prompt was tricky. I mentioned previously that August wasn’t my best reading month (a gross understatement), but I eventually settled on Castaways as 1) it fits the prompt (THE STARS ARE THERE, EVEN IF TINY!), 2) I can never go wrong with a Schaefer book, and 3) I already owned the book.
September – 9C – Travel to Kerador (read a book with purple cover): A Thief in the Night by KJ Charles. Not going to lie, I *almost* tripped on this one. Purple is my favorite color, and somehow most of the books on my radar were later books in series that I haven’t gotten to yet. Which was super frustrating. Thankfully, KJ Charles came to my aid as I found the audiobook for one of her novellas that can pass as having a purple cover, thank you very much.
In 2025 Q3, I decided to add 7 books (tentatively) to The Sound of Madness Reading Challenge card. Here they are:
- Castaways by Craig Schaefer for PROTECTOR
- The Art of a Lie by Laura Shepherd-Robinson for DANCING ON OUR GRAVES
- The Cornish Wedding Murder by Fiona Leitch for HOME
- Where the Bones Lie by Nick Kolakowski for THE TRUTH IS…
- A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna for WORDS AS WEAPONS
- Cross the Line by Lucky Hart for HEY BROTHER
- The Summer Fair by Heidi Swain for VISZLÁT NYÁR (SUMMER GONE)
Here is what my card looks like right now:
And that concludes my Challenge Check-In for 2025 Q3. On the whole, I’m doing well with my different challenges, so for now, I’m happy with my progress. Let’s hope I can keep it up for Q4 as well! I’d love to hear about how you are doing with your challenges so far, so feel free to comment below!
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