Trope-ical Readathon TBR

I will be participating in the Trope-ical Readathon again in August. I did this readathon in March and had a lot of fun. The readathon is hosted by Jen Jen Reviews.

The Trope-ical Readathon is a month-long competitive readathon with points given per page read and prompt completed. There are 13 common challenges (each of which has a main prompt and an alternate), 2 team challenges and a team book. There’s no repeating of prompts and each book can only count for one prompt. Your team determines your teammates for the scoring system and your team challenges but you can read any team book. There are six teams based on different genres but you are not tied to reading books of that genre. Based on the team challenges and trying to pick a team with a lower member count, I strangely have decided to join Team Non-Fiction/Poetry.

Here’s my planned TBR. I’ll likely change at least one book, I typically do and the full 16 books is definitely a stretch (it would tie my best reading month ever) but still fun to plan it all out and I’ll do my best.

Common Prompt #1 – Absent/Dead Parent Trope (alternatively a book published under a pseudonym)

My only NetGalley ARC that will be published in August is Meet Me at the Summit by Mandi Lynn. This one follows 19-year old Marly who recently lost both of her parents in a car accident and goes on an RV road trip with her friends.

Common Prompt #2 – Time Loop Trope (alternatively a reread)

I’m not in the mood for a reread so I’m going with The Midnight Library by Matt Haig to fulfill the time loop trope. This one has received a lot of praise and sounds like something I might like so I’m going to give it a shot.

Common Prompt #3 – Found Family Trope (alternatively a buddy or group read)

For this one, I’m planning to read The Gilded Ones by Roshani Chokshi. This is the first in a YA fantasy series. It’s been on my radar for a while and the cover is beautiful. Apparently it has found family so it works!

Common Prompt #4 – Coming-of-Age Trope (alternatively a book with a protagonist the same age as you)

The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna is the beginning of another YA fantasy series. This one follows Deka who at the age of 16 undergoes a blood rite to determine her place in her village. That sounds like coming of age to me?

Common Prompt #5 – Food Theme Trope (alternatively a “meaty” book, i.e., a book over 500 pages)

I’m going with the food trope on this one, books over 500 pages aren’t the best choice for a readathon. Tweet Cute by Emma Lord is a contemporary YA romance about teens at rival restaurants and something about a grilled cheese recipe. It sounds adorable.

Common Prompt #6 – Blast from the Past Trope (alternatively a book written before 2000)

For the main prompt, you’re supposed to read a book where the main character encounters someone from their past. I plan to read A Stitch in Time by Kelly Armstrong. Direct from the except “Now, twenty years later Bronwyn inherits Thorne Manor. And when she returns, William is waiting.” Sounds like a perfect fit and I’ve heard good things.

Common Prompt #7 – Mixed Media (alternatively read an ebook or audiobook)

For this same prompt in March, I read Illumine and now I plan to finish off the trilogy with Obsidio by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff. This mixed media sci-fi YA series is so much fun, I’m really looking forward to seeing what happens next.

Common Prompt #8 – (Post) Apocalyptic (alternatively a book with fire on the cover)

I’m going with the alternative prompt for this one and using the fire on the cover as an excuse to finally read Middlegame by Seanan McGuire. I know basically nothing about this one except that there are twins and people like it.

Common Prompt #9 – Historical Figure Trope (alternatively a book published in 2021)

I don’t have any books with historical figures but I have lots of books published in 2021. I could use any ARC from NetGalley but I think I’ll be reading Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune.

Common Prompt #10 – All Happens in One Day Trope (alternatively a book read in one day)

Again I’m going with the alternative prompt and planning to read Slay by Brittney Morris which is currently the shortest book on my shelf and something I think I can easily read in a single day.

Common Prompt #11 – Multiple POVs (alternatively a book with multiple people of color)

I strangely had a hard time with this one because so many books with multiple POVs are fantasy and really too long for a readathon. Then I started reading Ace of Spades by Faridah Abike-Iyimide and not only does it have multiple POVs, it matches the alternative prompt too. I stopped one chapter in and plan to read in early August.

Common Prompt #12 – New Kid in Town (alternatively a genre you don’t normally read)

Ever since I read Cinderella is Dead earlier this year, I have been looking forward to reading This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron. It was published June 29th and hopefully I can get my hands on it to read in August (fingers crossed for the library hold!). This follows Bri who goes to stay on her late aunt’s estate in upstate New York so she’s the new kid.

Common Prompt #13 – Retelling (alternatively a book that has been adapted to a movie or TV series)

I haven’t watched the new Netflix series but I have read the first two books in the Shadow and Bone trilogy. So I’m going with the next and final book Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo.

Team Prompt #1 – Novel-in-Verse

I’ve really enjoyed the two novels in verse that I read this year and had Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo as the next one to try. This was going to be on my TBR in the next couple months anyway so really this is why I went with team non-fiction/poetry. I’m excited to read another book by Acevedo after loving The Poet X.

Team Prompt #2 – Book with Untold Stories

I had to get a little creative with this one since I’m not a huge fan of nonfiction. So I found this book, All the Ever Afters by Danielle Teller. The subtitle clearly says it’s an untold story….even if it is of Cinderella’s stepmother. It fulfills the prompt and sounds like I might like it.

Team Book

The way the readathon is structured, you can read the team book from any team. The ones for my team didn’t really spark my interest so I’ll be reading one from another team. It will likely be A Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers which is one of the choices for the sci-fi team. I also really want to read She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan which is a team book for the fantasy team but between the length and publication date, I’m doubtful I’ll be able to get it and read it in time.

Are you participating in the Trope-ical Readathon? I’d love to know your team and reading plans.