Read With Allison’s 2025 Reading Challenge

 My third time doing this one.

1. 2024 bestseller
2. Set in winter:
3. Highest rated book on TBR:
4. Genre: Fantasy:
5. You and author share first initial:
6. Five words in title:
7. Gold lettering on cover:
8. Set in a  city known for its nightlife:
9. Book gifted to you:
10. Genre: Romance:
11. Ugly cover:
12. By two authors:
13. In a series:
14. Five-star prediction:
15. Cover with a night sky:
16. Set in a small town:
17. Indoe author:
18. Book from a subscription box:
19. Out of your comfort zone:
20. Audiobook:
21. About secrets:
22. Multiple POVs:
23. Set at a lake:
24. Book you've owned longer than year:
25. Illustrated cover:
26. Genre: Contemporary Fiction:
27. Title starts with E:
28. Recommended by a friend:
29. About revenge:
30. Library book:
31. Mood read:
32. Number in title:
33. Two books by the same author (1):
34. Two books by the same author (2):
35. Book with a  map:
36. Genre: Mystery:
37. About friendship:
38. Set somwhere you wouldn't want to visit:
39. Underhyped book:
40. Mostly black cover:
41. Book that scares you:
42. Character's name in title:
43. Genre: Thriller:
44. Set in a different time period:
45. About travel:
46. Book you've been putting off:
47. Book adapted to TV/movie:
48. Holiday scene on cover:
49. 2025 new release:
50. Book you think will surprise you:
51. Popular book:
52. Reread a favorite book:

Booklist Queen’s 2025 Reading Challenge

 Another favorite of mine is now up for 2025.

1. Meant to read last year:
2. Goodreads Winner in 2024:
3. Romantasy:
4. About siblings:
5. Book becoming movie/show in 2025:
6. Spy thriller:
7. Women's fiction:
8. Title starts with C:
9. Nonfiction book about health:
10. Twist ending:
11. Published in 2015:
12. Fiction & Nonfiction by same author:
13. Fiction & Nonfiction by same author:
14. Mythology retelling:
15. Own but haven't read:
16. Set in the Middle East:
17. Sequel:
18. Debut author:
19. Heartwarming story:
20. Book that took a while to read:
21. Classic recommenced to you:
22. Villain as protagonist:
23. Set in the summer:
24. 2024 bestseller:
25. Green cover:
26. Bottom of TBR:
27. Author from Africa:
28. Book that makes you cry:
29. About a politician:
30. Popular book you've never read:
31. Illustrated book:
32. Audiobook with multiple narrators:
33. Set in the suburbs:
34. Dark academia:
35. Intriguing cover:
36. Five-star read:
37. About an immigrant:
38. Banned book:
39. Set in the 1960s:
40. With chapter titles:
41. Dystopian fiction:
42. Author you love:
43. Multigenerational story:
44. Animal in the title:
45. 2025 new release:
46. Out of your comfort zone:
47. Thought-provoking historical fiction:
48. Book everyone is talking about:
49. Romance book:
50. Bestselling memoir:
51. YA fiction:
52. Reread a favorite:

2025 Reading Challenge--Reader Haven

 A new one to me this past year that I will join again.

Read a book that(s)…

1. Been on your TBR list for 3+ years
2. Recommended by a friend
3. In a genre you don’t usually read
4. By a debut author
5. By a bestselling author
6. Nominated for a literary prize
7. Set during a historical time period you don’t know much about
8. Set on a mountain, in a forest, or in a rural area
9. Set on a college campus or in a museum
10. Written in first-person POV
11. Set during fall (or has leaves on the cover)
12. Set during summer (or has a sun on the cover)
13. Has a movie or TV adaptation
14. Gives you cozy vibes
15. Gives you spooky vibes
16. Published before 1940
17. Published before 1970
18. Published before 2000
19. Published last year (2024)
20. Features a culture/religion different from your own
21. Has a person’s face on the cover
22. A retelling of a fairy tale, myth, or classic novel
23. A non-fiction book about a topic that interests you
24. Has 400,000+ Goodreads ratings
25. Has >30,000 Goodreads ratings
26. Less than 250 pages
27. More than 500 pages
28. Set in a country you don’t know much about

2024 Yuletide Spirit Reading Challenge

 Another favorite seasonal challenge. I will get as many books as I can during the time indicated.

Here we are at the holiday season again! Time to sign up for the Yuletide Spirit Reading Challenge and Readathon co-event!

Dates: Monday, November 25 through Tuesday, December 31

Three ways to participate:

1. Challenge - Pick a level
2. Readathon - read as much (or as little) as you want
3. Participate in both!

AND new this year....a fun (optional) BINGO challenge! 

Regarding the reading of Christmas books, for the readathon, you do not have to read only Christmas books. I am always reading regular genres along with Christmas books during the season. Please do try to read at least one though.

For the reading challenge (and the BINGO challenge), these must be Christmas novels, books about Christmas lore, a book of Christmas short stories or poems, books about Christmas crafts, children's books (we even have a level for them!), etc.

Reading Challenge Levels:
--Candy Cane: read 1 book
--Mistletoe: read 2-4 books
--Christmas Tree: read 5 or 6 books, or more (this is the fanatic level!)

Additional levels:

--Fa La La La Films: watch a bunch or a few Christmas movies...it's up to you!
--Visions of Sugar Plums: read books with your children this season and share what you read

*the additional levels are optional, you still must complete one of the main reading levels above

My Books:

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Cruisin' thru the Cozies Reading Challenge 2025

 Another I have been doing for years now. I always get as many books as possible each year.

A) Read only cozy mysteries of your choice (see link above for more details).

My books:

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What An Animal Reading Challenge 2025

 Another favorite now up for 2025.

1. Any book read for this challenge has to have an animal that plays a major role in the book (which could be fiction or non-fiction.) It also counts if a main character is (or turns into) an animal (define that however you'd like). In the past, books would qualify if an animal is in the title or on the cover, but that alone no longer qualifies. This challenge is for books related to animals and just because they are in the title or on the cover, doesn't mean it's about an animal. 

These are the levels.

Level 1 - Read 6 books

Level 2 - Read 7-12

Level 3 - Read 13-20 

Level 4 - Read 21 or more

2. The animal can be any type of animal (real or fictitious)--dog, cat, monkey, wolf, snake, insect, hedgehog, aardvark...dragon, mermaid, centaur, vampire, werewolf...you get the idea...

3. Books can be fiction or nonfiction.

4. You may make a list of books at the beginning of the challenge or you can just list them as you find them.

5. Book titles may be swapped out at anytime (assuming you made a list to begin with).

My Books:

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Color Coded Reading 2025

 This has been one of my favorite challenges. Preparing for another round of filling my color pallet!

I've opened the possibilities up just a bit further--the color may be named in the title, in the author's name, or it may appear as the dominant color for the cover of the book. For "implies color" the image implying color should dominate the cover--for instance a large rainbow, a field of flowers, or the image of a painter. Get ready for a rainbow of reading in 2025. 

~Read nine books in the following categories:

1. A book with "Blue" or any shade of Blue in the title/author name/on the cover:

2. A book with "Red" or any shade of Red in the title/author name/on the cover:

3. A book with "Yellow" or any shade of Yellow in the title/author name/on the cover:

4. A book with "Green" or any shade of Green in the title/author name/on the cover:

5. A book with "Brown" or any shade of Brown in the title/author name/on the cover:

6. A book with "Black" or any shade of Black in the title/author name/on the cover:

7. A book with "White" or any shade of White in the title/author name/on the cover:

8. A book with any other color in the title/author name/on the cover.title/on the cover (Purple, Orange, Silver, Pink, etc):

9. A book with a word/image that implies color in the title/author name/on the cover. (Rainbow, Polka-dot, Plaid, Shadow, Paint, etc):

Winter 2025 Reading Challenge--Beyond the Bookends

 Here is the new winter bingo card. Though it says Winter 2025, it begins in December 2024.

1. Best of 2024:
2. Holiday Book:
3. Set in the 80s:
4. Book Set in the Library:
5. Book Being Adapted:
6. Short Story:
7. Psychological Thriller Books:
8. Second Chance Romance Books:
9. Mythical Creature:

2025 Decades Reading Challenge

My second year participating this one. 

Jan 1880s-1890s*

Feb 1900s-1910s*

March 1920s

April 1930s

May 1940s

June 1950s

July 1960s

Aug  1970s

Sept 1980s

Oct 1990s

Nov 2000s-2010s* 

Dec Spanning Decades:

* For the months that cover two decades, you only need to read one book from that time period.

Book Discussion: Reading By Seasons

 

Even though we're halfway through fall, I recently read The Summer I Turned Pretty, something I'd been waiting to read for some time now. It fit the prompt for this month, YA romance. In this post from June, I mentioned reading summer-themed books in seasons other than summer, mostly in winter. As I said then, reading "out of season" can be fun. The book I'm currently reading also has a summer theme, evidenced by the cover alone.

This blogger asked how much impact the seasons have on your reading. I can read any genre at any time of the year, though I tend to read spooky stories mostly in October, and Christmas/holiday/winter stories mainly in December (though I did read 19th Christmas in July one year, as I have been working on that series, and that was the one I hadn't yet read up to that point). And I can't recall reading a summer-themed in a season other than summer itself or in winter, as I've said already. In general, I just read what I feel like, when I feel like it, but will try to find some that fit a particular season.

Do you read by season? Do the seasons impact what genre you read during each one?

Thursday 13

Colleen at The Thursday 13 holds a weekly blogging prompt where bloggers make a list of 13 things on Thursdays. The topic is for you to choose. The blog host doesn't have any official graphics to display on the Thursday 13 posts, so I decided to whip one up myself. 🙂  

In the last week, and in the month ahead:

1. No trick-or-treaters at my house :( Every year we seem to get fewer of them on our street.
2. Checked out the Spirit Halloween store one last time. I had no interest in buying anything, even though it was half off. Got a whole year to come up with next year's disguise :) I may start deciding as early as August.
3. No Spirit Christmas coming to my town. So far all the stores listed on their website are on the East Coast. The former Kmart will be empty once again :(
4. Trying not to think about Christmas yet, though I want to decorate the front yard and do not want to wait until after Thanksgiving to come up with an idea. Already bought some solar-powered Christmas light stakes at Dollar Tree. I wanted to get some before they ran out.
5. Not sure what is happening for Thanksgiving this year. Though we will have potluck at work the day before.
6. No plans to go shopping on Black Friday, at least not in person. And certainly not at 3AM! Online remains an option, but I am uncertain of that one as well.
7. I've posted the reading challenges I host for next year, and have signed up for a few I have already found. I keep on searching for these and post them to a Facebook group that collects reading challenges. I am moderator for the group.
8. Worrying over how many of the challenges I will finish for this year, with only two months left. As I pointed out earlier this year, I have a lot of categories that I have some trouble filling. Some I have resolved, but others remain. But there are several challenges I have already finished already, as I  have pointed out. 
9. Wondering how many ^^ I should sign up for next year. There are several I like to do each year and others I come across for the first time. Sometimes I think I'm doing too many, but they are hard to resist!
10. Again, not trying to think about Christmas too much right now, but am wondering what I will be doing, at least at work, since celebrations at home have pretty much disappeared.
11. Had to get a blood lab today for a doctor appointment next week. And I have a psychiatrist appointment just before Thanksgiving. This is one time of year I hate going to appointments!
12. The time change has messed me up as it always does!
13. The election results. Just. Cannot. Comment! 

2025 Key Word Reading Challenge

 From the same hosts as the Motif Challenge. Another favorite.

Read a book each month with one (or more) of the key words in the title. Variations of key words are allow. For example: Drown, Drowning, Drowned are all okay for the key word ‘drown’. 

JAN– Storm, Time, Know, Return, Break, Hour, Twist, Silence
⁠
FEB– Art, Golden, Dream, First, Club, Went, Stay, Live
⁠
MAR– Deep, Clever, Sand, Little, Happy, Date, Guest, Over
⁠
APR– Rest, Days, Upstairs, Sing, Shell, Starlight, Life, Couple
⁠
MAY– Lost, City, Wind, Hide, Lie, Fan, Room, Clear
⁠
JUN– Great, Wander, Child, Mine, Book, Watch, Heart, Save
⁠
JUL– Sunrise, Deepen, Story, Sweet, Resort, Good, Left, Ever
⁠
AUG– Side, World, Sound, Trial, Word, Hotel, Now, Say⁠
⁠
SEP– Borrow, Survive, Listen, Where, Sleeping, Crash, Please, Count
⁠
OCT– Bury, Ghost, Chain, Glass, Moon, Last, One, Street
⁠
NOV– Tale, Final, Feast, Bloom, Cliff, Wide, Memory, Always
⁠

DEC– Fable, Flirt, Truly, Shop, Winter, Yours, Warm, Love

2025 Motif Reading Challenge

 One of my favorites, now up at the new blog with the same hosts. 

JAN- “Punctuated Titles” Read a book that uses a form of punctuation in its title. Question marks, commas, periods, exclamation marks, etc.

FEB- “Emotional Rollercoaster” Read a book that will make you feel all the feels! A romantic rollercoaster ride; psychological rollercoaster ride; any emotional journey works. Take your pick!

MAR- “It’s All Geek to Me” Read a book where technology, science, math, or engineering plays an important role in the story. 

APR- “Spring Cleaning” Read a book that’s been on your TBR (to be read) list for two or more years. 

MAY- “Virtual Book Club” Read a book from a celebrity/influencer book club list, an organization’s book club list, your library’s book club lists, or a book club you’re a part of.

JUN- “No Biz Like Show Biz” Read a book in which the character(s) is involved in some aspect of the entertainment industry OR read a book that has been turned into a tv show or movie.

JUL- “Single Day Story” Read a book that takes place over the course of a single day. 

AUG- “Vacation Location” Read a book that takes you to a location you’d love to visit OR read a book that explores elements of that place or culture.

SEP- “Birds, Bugs, Botanicals” Read a book with birds, bugs, or botanicals that are on the cover, in the title, or part of the story.

OCT- “The Dark Side” Read a book with a ‘dark’ story OR read a book with a mostly black cover. “Dark” is up for interpretation. This could be dark academia, horror, difficult subject matters, creepy settings, books that take place at night, etc.

NOV- “Popcorn Fiction” A book that makes for light but enjoyable reading Binge-worthy and low stakes. One-sitting reads. Quick and fun palate cleansers.

DEC- “Snuggle Up & Read” Let’s get cozy! Read some cozy fiction, a cozy mystery, or a cozy romance book.

Creativity Reading Challenge 2025

And my last one for 2025:

 

This challenge is about reading books on creativity, art, crafts, writing, film making, photography, cosmetology, DIY, cooking, music and any other topic that helps you live a more creative life. 

Challenge Guidelines

• Runs January 1 to December 31, 2024. 
• I won't be creating different levels. Read as many books as you want.
• Books may be nonfiction, memoir, how-to, self help, coffee table books, instructional, picture books, and even fictional books if they are about people who are creative.
• You may include books of any format including traditional books, ebooks or audiobooks
• You may reread books. 
• Books may count towards other reading challenges in which you are participating.
• Sign up below in the comments. 

Need ideas for reading? Here are some links to get started:

40 of the Best Books to Unlock Your Creativity

Fiction Books Involving Art

11 Essential Art History Books

My Books:

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Humor Reading Challenge 2025

Another I'm bringing back. 

Choose a level from below.  You may go up a level, but not down.

Cartoonist: 1-5 books

Humor Columnist: 6-10 books 

Comedy Writer:  11-15 books

Stand Up Comedian: More than 15 books 

Guidelines for the Challenge:

Challenge runs from January 1 to December 31, 2025. Books must be started on or after January 1 to count. Re-reads are allowed as long as they are read during the specified time frame.

Books may cross over to other challenges in which you are participating.

Any book (fiction, nonfiction, memoirs, graphic novels, poetry collections, plays, picture books) labeled as humor counts. As such, all book formats (paper, audio, electronic) may be read.

You do not need a blog to sign up. You may keep tract of your progress on Goodreads, Amazon or other similar sites with a shelf dedicated to this challenge. Or sign up on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, etc. 

There will be no checkins, nor do you need to post reviews.

Sign up below in the comments. 

 

Need ideas? Here are some links to get started:

Goodreads: Funniest Books Ever

Goodreads: Books that Made Me Laugh Out Loud

Goodreads: Humor Books

B&N: 50 of the Funniest Books Ever Written

Amazon Best Sellers: Best Humor

My Books:

Epistolary Reading Challenge 2025

Another I have hosted and will be bringing back.

The challenge will be to read books written in the form of letters, diaries, blogs, e-mails and such, either completely or partially written this way. 

Guidelines:

Challenge will run from January 1 to December 31, 2025.  Books must be started on or after January 1 to count.  Re-reads will be allowed as long as they are read during the specified time period.

Books may cross over to other challenges in which you are participating.  

Fiction (all genres and subgenres) and nonfiction that fit the challenge description may be read.

All book formats are allowed (paper, audio, electronic, graphic novels/manga, picture books). 

No levels. I will let you choose how many books to read.

You do not need a blog to sign up.  You may keep tract of your progress on Goodreads, Amazon or other similar sites with a shelf dedicated to this challenge.  Or sign up on Youtube, Facebook, or Twitter.

You do not need to post reviews, nor will there be any check-ins.  Sign up below in the comments.

Need ideas for reading? Here are some links to get started:

Goodreads: Epistolary Novels Books

100 Must-Read Epistolary Novels From the Past and Present

11 Epistolary Novels That Will Make You Miss the Days of Letter Writing

Amazon Best Sellers: Epistolary Novels

My Books:

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November Bookish Bingo

The new card is here.

My books:

1. Snow White With the Red Hair--Sorata Akiduki (5 squares): Outer Space, Fall Colors on Cover, Bully, Wish, Free Space
2. Glass Sword--Victoria Aveyard (7 squares): In a Series, Library Book, Physical Book, Object on Cover, Different Platform, Special Abilities, Travel 
3. The One and Only Ruby--Katherine Applegate (1 square): Audiobook
4. King and the Dragonflies--Kacen Callender (3 squares): Missing Person, Not in a Series, Memory Issues
5. The Best We Could Do--Thi Bui (1 square): E-Book
6. Evvie Drake Starts Over--Linda Holmes (2 squares): Book Club Read, Sarcasm
7. The Days I Loved You Most--Amy Neff (3 squares): New Release, Adverb in Title, Family Drama

Mental Health Reading Challenge 2025

 Another I'm bringing back for 2025, on a topic that is very important to me.

General Rules:

• Any book depicting mental health counts, whether fiction or non-fiction.
• Challenge takes place from January 1 to December 31, 2025. All books must be read during that time to count.
• All book formats (print, audio, e-books) are accepted.
• Books may cross over to other challenges in which you are participating.
• No levels, read as many books as you like.
• Need ideas for books? Check this Goodreads page for several lists of books on the topic.
• You do not need a blog to participate. You may sign up on Goodreads, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, etc. 
• Sign up below in the comments. 

Need reading ideas? Here are some links to get started:

Goodreads Lists of Mental Health Reads

Amazon: Best Sellers in Mental Health

11 Enlightening and Empathetic YA Novels about Mental Illness

My Books:

Memoir Reading Challenge 2025

 This is the first of the five challenges I host each year.

To participate, you must read a minimum of five memoirs from any of the categories listed. One book can only count for one category. Re-reads are acceptable. All book formats count. 

Other Rules:

1. Books must be read on or after January 1, 2025 to count.
2. Challenge runs from January 1 to December 31, 2025.
3. Books may cross over to other challenges in which you are participating. 
4. Books must be labeled as memoirs to count. 
5. You do not need a blog to sign up.  You may keep tract of your progress on Goodreads, Amazon or other similar sites with a shelf dedicated to this challenge.  Or sign up on Youtube, Facebook, or Twitter. Sign up below in the comments.

If you need reading ideas, here are some links to get started:

Goodreads: Best Memoir/Autobiography

Goodreads: Memoirs by Women 

B&N: 50 Essential Memoirs

Here are the categories:

1. Mental Illness Memoir: 
2. Other Illness Memoir:
3. Political Memoir:  
4. Food Memoir: 
5. Animal Memoir: 
6. Music Memoir: 
7. Travel Memoir: 
8. Written by a person of color: 
9. Written by a woman: 
10. Written by a person who identifies as LGBTQIA: 
11. Written by an actor or a comedian: 
12. Written by an author or journalist: 
13. Written by any other celebrity:
14. Written by someone under 40: 
15. Written by someone over 40: 
16. Written by someone from a country different from your own: 
17.  One you find thought-provoking: 
18.  Made into a movie: 
19.  Graphic novel memoir: 
20.  Bestselling memoir: 
21.  Humorous memoir: 
22.  Fictional memoir: 
23.  In translation:
24.  Won an award: 
25.  Published in 2025: 
26.  Published in 2024 or earlier: 
27.  Under 300 pages: 
28.  Over 300 pages: 
29.  One you want to re-read: 
30.  On a favorite topic: 
31.  By a favorite celebrity: 
32.  Free choice: 
33.  Free choice: 
34.  Free choice:

Time Change

One of the things I dread this time of year. I'm glad to have a newer car, so the setting back the clock on the radio isn't like that in the scenario depicted in the photo.

Even More Halloween Fun: Thursday 13

Colleen at The Thursday 13 holds a weekly blogging prompt where bloggers make a list of 13 things on Thursdays. The topic is for you to choose. The blog host doesn't have any official graphics to display on the Thursday 13 posts, so I decided to whip one up myself. 🙂  

 

Today is Halloween! Here is more humor for the holiday, both old favorites and new ones.