I always try to lock in around the start of autumn to see where I stand with the reading challenges I signed myself up for. I never really expect to finish them 100%, but I still like to make attempts to get them done. This is a good place for me to see what I have left and how I may get as close as possible to finishing. This is as of September 11th and includes the two books I’m currently reading.
Shelf Reflection Challenge
33 out of 45 prompts completed || 73% complete
Estimated to complete 10 more, finishing at 96%
- Two books by the same author (2) | I knew early this year that I would use Abby Jimenez for this prompt. She has a holiday romance (A MARRIED LITTLE CHRISTMAS) coming out soon so I figured I’d read this, months after reading her normal release in Q1.
- With a title you’d want on your gravestone | This is one where I may just come across it while I’m reading, but LOVE YOU TO DEATH is a great one that I do have on my upcoming TBR.
- About a historical event not WWII | It occurred to me that these books take place in the 1800s and reference war quite a bit, so I think I may end up putting the next EMMA M. LION book here. Maybe it’s cheating, who cares.
- Memoir by a person you’ve seen as a villain | I don’t read a lot of memoirs so I’m going to leave this one open and see if somehow it happens.
- Takes place in 3+ countries | This is usually a prompt where I’d read the book and then realize it fits; it can be hard to tell all the time from a book synopsis if it takes place in multiple countries, unless it’s a clear “road trip across Europe” kind of book! WE SOLVE MURDERS claims to have a “breakneck race around the world” so let’s do that.
- Authored by a celebrity seen in a movie | I can’t think of any celebrity-authored books that I plan to read this year, so I think it’ll be another unfinished prompt.
- Takes place in the Middle East | I originally put ONE DAY.. in the nonfiction prompt below this, but it also fits for a book in the Middle East. We’ll see if I read another nonfiction and move things around but I’m going to keep it here too.
- Nonfiction about something that means a lot to you | I wasn’t sure I’d get any of the nonfiction books done for this challenge because I don’t read them a lot, but ONE DAY.. has been on my TBR and covers a really important topic to me, and I’d love to read it. I’m including THE ANTHROPOCENE REVIEWED here in case I read both.
- Reviewed on Shelf Reflection | I knew this would be a random search on the site and DARK MATTER fits the bill as being reviewed on Shelf Reflection.
- With a workplace romance | HOLLYWOOD, ENDING is one of my most anticipated reads. It sounds like (from the synopsis) that it may involve a workplace romance of two young actors starring in the same movie.
- With a clock on the cover | I have a review copy of YOU, ME, & THE CONSPIRACY that has a clock on the bottom. I hope to read it before the end of this year for sure.
- With a direction in the title | THE SAME BACKWARD AS FORWARD is another book in the Inheritance Games books and I think this would count double! I hope to catch up on this series, as I noted in another post, before the end of this year.
Read with Allison Challenge
38 out of 52 prompts completed || 73% complete
Estimated to complete 9 more, finishing at 90%
- Received as a gift | No book cover here to signify this but I did get a gift card to an indie bookstore nearby for my birthday, so whichever book I buy there should count for this one!
- 2025 bestseller | ONE DAY, EVERYONE WILL HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AGAINST THIS is supposed to be a really powerful book, and I definitely plan to read it. It won the National Book Award and was a nominee in the Goodreads Choice Awards, so I know it was a bestseller from 2025.
- Sweet treat on the cover | I decided that an apple is a sweet treat after almost counting a different book for this prompt. I hope to read SOMETHING ABOUT SEPTEMBER very soon in keeping with the seasonally appropriate reads! This book was released in August so technically it could work there too.
- Genre: fantasy | There are a few fantasy books I hope to read by the end of the year, but I can bet my life savings that I will be reading A COURT OF SPLINTERED HARMONY.
- Own multiple copies of | I have a Kindle copy of DUNGEON CRAWLER CARL from Kindle Unlimited, the audiobook from Audible, and a physical copy. This one certainly qualifies, and I really want to get going on this series by the end of the year.
- Author shares your initials | For the life of me, I cannot find any authors with LR as their initials.
- Genre: sci-fi | DARK MATTER is my current read and it’s kind of a science fiction thriller. Definitely counts here.
- Reread a favorite book | I’d be surprised if I reread anything by the end of this year, so I’ll just leave this open just in case.
- Released in August – any year | I really hope to read TIME TRAVEL FOR BEGINNERS soon because the premise is so up my alley. This was released in August so a good one for this. It could be science fiction too.
- Released in October – any year | I will absolutely be reading IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE MURDER because I loved the first book in this companion series. It comes out in October but I’ll likely be reading it toward the holidays.
- Bought on vacation | I can’t think of any books I bought on vacation recently that will count for this, so I’ll just leave it open and see if somehow I come across something.
- Released in November – any year | I have DANGEROUS IMPULSES preordered and absolutely cannot wait to read more in this series. It comes out in early November.
- Released in December – any year | December is a tough month for new releases. I have very few of them on my TBR from last year and none that are calling on me right now to feature here. I’ll wait and see if anything comes up this December!
- Genre: dystopian fiction | I don’t read a lot of dystopian anymore but usually I want to get on board with an Emily St. John Mandel. We’ll see if this is the year I make the attempt, since her new books sounds really good!
Buzzword Challenge
9 out of 12 prompts completed || 75% complete
Estimated to complete 2 more, finishing at 92%
- “Before” and “after” | I’ve enjoyed Kate Alice Marshall in the past so we’ll see if I manage to read THE GIRLS BEFORE for this prompt.
- “Make” | I recently added THE MATCHMAKER’S COTTAGE to my TBR but I have a lot of fall-themed romances on deck, so who knows if I actually read it this year.
- Superlatives | I have a couple books with “best” in the title but I don’t feel overly confident in them being read this year. Will leave it open in case!
Buzzword Cover Challenge
8 out of 12 prompts completed || 67% complete
Estimated to complete 3 more, finishing at 92%
- Internal body parts | The notes I wrote on my spreadsheet is that “blood” apparently counts, so I’ll be using THE SILENT APPEAL for this prompt!
- Damage | I think the intention for this one is that the cover itself looks damaged, but I think you can stretch it. HOME FOR THE HOMICIDES has a broken candy cane, which surely counts as something damaged.
- Fire and smoke | I can’t wait to read Marlowe’s newest book this spooky season, ENTITIES TO LOVERS. The cover has some smoke on it and looks so cute!
- Music | I have a few books with music notes on the cover but none I feel strongly about right now to show here.
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