It became too annoying to share challenge progress in my monthly wrap-ups, so I’ve stopped bothering (aside from basic percentages). I always like to check in around this time of year though to see how I’m doing on my challenges, figure out some books I can read to fill in the gaps, and plan an EOY TBR! Here’s where I am at the time of writing this post (mid-September).
Must Read in 2023
Status: 67% complete, 4 prompts left
I set up my own backlist reading challenge for the year and yes I’ve totally slacked on it! In fact, I read only new 2023 releases in August… what about my backlist books?! Here are the categories left and some ideas of what I may read, with all books having a 2022 pub date or earlier, unless otherwise noted:
Backlist review copy – AMERICAN ROYALS: RIVALS
Backlist BOTM selection – THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK
Backlist book I preordered or just HAD to buy – FIVE SURVIVE
Backlist holiday book – SO THIS IS IS CHRISTMAS
Mystery/Thriller Challenge
Status: 88% complete, 3 prompts left
I definitely think I can finish this one off! I’ve found it very easy to tick them off the list as I read because I read so many within this genre. I didn’t pay attention to a ton of the prompts so I ended up finding a couple of others that I could add here while filling this out.
Season is important to the plot – THE WRITING RETREAT
Out of your comfort zone – ZERO DAYS
PopSugar Reading Challenge
Status: 72% complete, 14 prompts left
My goal for these big challenges like PopSugar is usually to read 40 out of 50 prompts, just because I know it’s unrealistic to think I’d read every single one. I just don’t have interest in reading books that are completely NOT my style. I know I should get out of my comfort zone but I only have so much time for so many books! Here are the prompts I feel good about completing this year – my realistic goal is to get 4 of them done to hit my 40 book goal, but I’m including any that I think COULD happen of the 14 remaining.
With “girl” in the title – GOOD BAD GIRL
Celebrity memoir – THE WOMAN IN ME
With a color in the title – SILVER IN THE BONE
Romance with a fat lead – ONE LAST STOP
About or set in Hollywood – THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK
With a rabbit on the cover – HELL BENT
Author with same initials as you – Lexi Ryan, Lance Rubin, Lindsey Ribar, Louise Rennison, Linda Reilly
About a holiday that isn’t Christmas – THREE HOLIDAYS AND A WEDDING
Longest book on your TBR – KINGDOM OF ASH
Prompts I probably won’t get to: published the year you were born, banned book, should have read in high school, read more than 10 years ago, started out as fanfiction
52 Book Club
Status: 75% complete, 13 prompts left
Like I said above, hoping to get 40 books read for this one. That would mean only a couple of books left! I’m still going to list all of the prompts that seem possible:
Dystopian fiction – BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES
Set in Australia – APPLES NEVER FALL
By a Caribbean author – BLACK CAKE
Body positive message – ONE LAST STOP
Script font on the spine – TBD
Prompts I probably won’t get to: takes place in the roaring 20s, published posthumously, city or country in the title, Newbury Metal winner, banned book, written by comedian, by Octavia E. Butler, refugee character
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