Summer Reading Challenge @ Messy Middle

I've been excited for this one to come! As with every year, I will get as many books as I can between the dates indicated. The "Make up Your Own Category" sounds like fun!

The Summer Reading Challenge will start on June 1 and run for eleven weeks through August 14, 2026. To enter, read seven books from 25+ categories and leave a comment at the end of the challenge with the books you read. That’s all. No entrance fee, no hassle, just fun.

What’s different?

• Only four charities were nominated, so we won’t be reading every Friday for Good. We’ll read on the 2^nd and 4^thFridays of June and July. Hopefully next summer we can return to reading every Friday with more nominations! You can learn more about the four charities here.
• Three special categories tied to big 2026 moments — the USA’s 250th birthday , my mom’s 90th birthday , and the World Cup 

What’s the same?

• Many of the categories were submitted by you!
• Choosing a penalty book within the first week of the challenge. A penalty book is one you declare to yourself:I will read this or be penalized. My penalty book this year has been sitting on my shelf long enough — Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach. This is the year. (Or I’ll die, get it?! HA!)
• Like previous years, if you do not read your penalty book, you will subtract two books from your total
• The joy of reading!

What’s in it for you?

• All who comment on the summary blog post I’ll publish around August 14th will be entered to win one of several $10 Amazon gift cards. You’ll have a few days after August 14th to comment with the names of the books you read.

Drumroll . . . here are the categories!

1. A book someone mentioned in last year’s summer reading challenge
2. A book with cover that uses a color with a plant in the name. Turns out there are 20 colors with plant names!! Greens (moss, sage, fern, clover), Purples (lavender, violet, wisteria, thistle), Yellows (saffron, marigold, dandelion, goldenrod), Pinks and Reds (rose, blush, poppy, amaranth), and a mixed group (indigo, cornflower, eucalyptus, lichen)
3. A book with a verb in the title.
4. A book set where you’re going on vacation this summer/winter (or would like to vacation)
5. A book recommended by a child in your life
6. A book recommended by a bookseller or a librarian
7. A book that is Science Fiction, Fantasy or a Western
8. A book featuring nature such as a river, National Park, forest, or mountains
9. A book that has your favorite color in the title
10. A book with a great first line
11. A book whose title is someone’s name
12. A book that takes place in a place that you’ve been to
13. A how-to book
14. A book you stay up late to read
15. A book about space (I was thinking outer space but “space” could be interpreted in other ways)!
16. A book set on the opposite side of the world to where you are currently located
17. A middle grade or YA novel
18. A book told in epistolary style (letter or diary)
19. A book featuring travel as a theme
20. A graphic novel
21. A cookbook, picture/coffee table book, or wordless book
22. A mystery, classic, or play
23. A book for professional development (loosely defined)
24. An audiobook
25. A book you want to discuss with others
26. A book that’s outside of your normal reading
27. Choose your own adventure: Make up your own category!

A few categories special to Summer 2026

1. Since this summer is the 250th birthday of the USA, either a book about the birth of that nation or a book with 250 in the title.
2. In honor of my mom’s 90th birthday in August, either a book with an elderly person (at least 80 years old) or the number 90 in the title.
3. Because the world cup is in June, a book with soccer (football 😉) or the world cup in it

Bonus: choose a Penalty Book in the first week of the challenge as a way to kick yourself in the pants. If you don’t read your penalty book you will subtract two (2) books from your grand total.

Book Discussion: Bookmarks or Dog-Earing?

 

I saw this post on The Chocolate Lady's blog. 

Are you team dog-eared or strictly no creases?

As someone who borrows a lot of library books, I rely on bookmarks so as not to damage the books. I have also collected fancy ones, so no need for using store receipts or torn-off edges of paper. Even with books I have at home, I use the bookmarks. It's one thing if I buy a used book with pages that have been creased in the top corners, but I won't be doing it myself. 

What is your preference for saving places in physical books?

PS...The Discussion Challenge now has two new co-hosts: Lindsi @ Do You Dog Ear? and Julie @ Chapter Break. 

13 Things About May

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. 🙂   

Last week, I had my trivia class at work and the topic I chose was about the Month of May. I based my questions on those from this video. I then looked for other trivia on different sites. Click here, here and here for more. 

1. No US President has died during the month of May.
2. May is known as the Month of Flowers and as the Merry Month.
3. The Empire State Building opened in May 1931.
4. No other month of the year starts and ends on the same days of the week as May.
5. Blue Jeans were invented in May of 1873 by Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis.
6. At one point, May was once considered a bad luck month to get married. There was a poem that said, "Marry in May and you'll rue the day."
7. May is named after the Greek goddess Maia, the Greek Goddess of Spring. The Romans had a similar goddess named Bona Dea where they would hold a festival in the month of May for her.
8. In the US, the last week of May is library and information week.
9. In the UK, May is National Smile month.
10. Colors associated with May celebrations are green and yellow.
11. May 1 in France is known as "Fėte du Muguet," meaning "Lily of the Valley Day." Lily of the valley is the birth flower for May.
12. The May Day celebration is known for dancing around the pole.
13. In the Southern Hemisphere, May occurs in the fall.

Movie Day

One thing I have not been doing a lot of lately is going out to the movies, something I decided to do yesterday afternoon on Tuesday bargain day. One reason is that not too many movies have come out that I have been interested in seeing. Also, movies released recently don't seem to get a lot of hype. Well, except two lately. One of course, is  the Michael Jackson biopic, which I don't think I'll be seeing. Another is The Devil Wears Prada 2, which I decided to see yesterday.

I had seen the original 20 years ago, but did not read the book until years later. And I did not know that the book had a sequel. Now I'll have to read that one. I also have the original movie on DVD, and was thinking of rewatching it, but never got around to that. I was bored yesterday and needed to get out. I just had to see the movie now and not have to wait until it was on streaming. One thing I miss about getting DVDs is getting to see the movie right away. Most streaming services charge to watch a movie when it's first released on the service, and it can be a long time before the movie can be seen free. I did not want to wait for that to happen. 

I now wonder when I'll ever get out to see a movie again. Ticket prices are one thing keeping me away, exactly why I chose to go on a bargain day. And i have not heard of many upcoming films that seem to interest me. Movies don't seem to get the same hype as they used to.

And on a side note, I came across this about a week ago. Sounds about right!

13 Words Beginning With Z

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. 🙂  

I haven't posted a Thursday 13 in almost two months. My topic this week is inspired by the A to Z Blogging. 

1. Zeitgeist
2. Zanzibar
3. Zephyr
4. Zulu
5. Ziggy
6. Zebra
7. Zirconium
8. Zero
9. Zinger
10. Zoological
11. Zipper
12. Zygote
13. Zany

What are some that come to your mind?

Six Years Ago...

The two occur on the same day this year. The last time that happened was in 2020, during the pandemic. I began to remember these memes that came up then:

Many people did not seem to know at that time that "coronavirus" already exists as a term. "Corona" is also Spanish and Italian for "crown," which appears on the Corona beer labels.

May Bookish Bingo

 Here is the card for May.

My Books: 

1. 44 Cranberry Point--Debbie Macomber (9 squares): DNF Last Month, Library Book, In a Series, Physical Book, Book Club Read, Mother/Grandmother, Travel, Flowers on the Cover, Plot Keeps You Guessing
2. What About X?--Anne Marie Houppert (1 square): E-Book
3. Make Me Rain--Nikki Giovanni (1 square): Audiobook
4. 6 Rainier Drive--Debbie Macomber (5 squares): A Favorite Author, Free Space, Set in a Small Town, Banter, Cozy Vibes 
5. The Wedding People--Alison Espach (2 squares): Not in a Series, Tropey Title
6. The Last Telegram--Liz Trenow (3 squares): Training, Death, Clues/Puzzles
7. The Beast Within--Serena Valentino (1 square): Retelling
8. Moss Hysteria--Kate Collins (1 square): Shelf Love

Summer Reading Challenge: Read the Rainbow

Once again, doing this one, at Booklist Queen. The colors have to be on the covers.

Red: The Honey-Don't List--Christina Lauren

Orange:

Yellow: Sunshine Nails--Mai Nguyen

Green: The Goodbye Quilt--Susan Wiggs

Blue:

Purple: Eye of the Beholder--Jayne Ann Krentz

Black:

White:

Blogging A to Z Reflections

 

The Refections post sign doesn't begin until next week, but I wanted to do mine now before getting back to regular blogging this month. I only made a few posts in April outside of A to Z, during our Sundays off. 

It was another great year of reading posts by participants. I was amazed how many people participated in my scavenger hunt. The number of comments per post dwindled once the challenge neared the end, but it was still fun to see what others came up with.

Once again, I am glad for schedule posting. Made it a lot easier to navigate other people's posts.

One blog had an 80s theme. When I learned about this in March, I knew I had to read their posts. Another had a book theme, which I also knew I'd be reading. More than one person, including me, wrote about books on B day. Same with cats on C day. 

The month seemed to speed by fast with the challenge. I can't believe it's already May. The weather in my area is still a little weird, not feeling like mid-spring. 

Though a little burned out from the challenge, I do plan to see how many others are participating in the Road Trip that begins on May 11. There weren't a lot of participants in the Road Trip last year and I now wonder how many will take part this time.

And here is the Winner badge for this year. Congrats to all who finished.

Z is for Zombies

 

A book-cover scavenger hunt is this year's theme. Please see this post for general rules on how to participate. 

Today's item is:

Zombies

My choice:

Pride, Prejudice and Zombies--Seth Grahame-Smith

Z was as pesky as ever. (Do I even need to say that?) It was a while before I arrived at "zombies," having flashed back to this book. I don't know how easy this one will to find, but it was the best I could do.

Now it's your turn. Provide a link in the comments (from Amazon, Goodreads or other sites) to a book with the item of the day. Just naming the book in the comments is also acceptable. Remember, you cannot use the same one in my post. Otherwise, just comment on the post. Good Luck!

Y is for Yarn

 

A book-cover scavenger hunt is this year's theme. Please see this post for general rules on how to participate. 

Today's item is:

Yarn

My choice: 

Knit One, Kill Two--Maggie Sefton (from A Knitting's Mystery series)

Having read a great number of cozy mysteries with craft themes is how I arrived at this one, making Y a little less tricky that I thought it would be. I've read at least three books in this series (all several years ago), and still have two of them at home. Once again, I don't know why they're  till there, and I likely won't read them again. 

Now it's your turn. Provide a link in the comments (from Amazon, Goodreads or other sites) to a book with the item of the day. Just naming the book in the comments is also acceptable. Remember, you cannot use the same one in my post. Otherwise, just comment on the post. Good Luck!

X is for X

 

A book-cover scavenger hunt is this year's theme. Please see this post for general rules on how to participate. 

Today's item is:

X (on the cover in some form):

My choice:

X--Sue Grafton

I shouldn't have to remind everyone how tricky the letter X is 😀 Everyone finds a way around it during A to Z, and this was the best solution I could come up with. Before this came out, I wondered how the author was going to work around this ever-pesky letter. It's just so sad she didn't live to complete the alphabet, not getting to Z. 

Now it's your turn. Provide a link in the comments (from Amazon, Goodreads or other sites) to a book with the item of the day. Just naming the book in the comments is also acceptable. Remember, you cannot use the same one in my post. Otherwise, just comment on the post. Good Luck!

W is for Water

 

A book-cover scavenger hunt is this year's theme. Please see this post for general rules on how to participate. 

Today's item is:

Water

My choice:

The Summer Deal--Jill Shalvis

"Water" was the first thing that came to mind when trying to come up with something for W. I've seen and read many books that have water in some form on the cover.  I remembered reading this book one summer when it was very hot and wanted to dive into a pool, but there were none nearby to go to. The water on this cover also looked good when I typed this post, after the hot March weather that was in my area. Water can be in any form for this (eg, bodies of water, pools, or water in a glass or bottle).

Now it's your turn. Provide a link in the comments (from Amazon, Goodreads or other sites) to a book with the item of the day. Just naming the book in the comments is also acceptable. Remember, you cannot use the same one in my post. Otherwise, just comment on the post. Good Luck!

Things This Month

I can't believe the month is almost over, along with the A to Z Blogging. It's been fun and there have been many fun topics by other participants. Only for days left now. Waiting to see how everyone caps of the alphabet this week. The Reflections posts begin next week, and the Road Trip on May 11. 

I'm hoping to get back to the Thursday 13 next month, at least once per month. I chose to take this month off, since I'm limiting my non-A to Z posts to Sundays. 

Other stuff that has been going on this month has included the weird cold and humid weather in my area. Certainly not feeling like spring around here. And right after a March heatwave. 

Yesterday was Independent Bookstore Day. I had a lot of other stuff to do then, so I didn't get to go to the two of them in my town until around 3PM. The used bookstore has 15% different genres at different times a day. When I got there it was off Children's/YA books but couldn't find a single one I wanted! Same at 4, when the deal changed to romance books. I still did not see one I wanted. I'd missed it when the fiction books were 15% off. I then went to the other store and entered a raffle for a gift card. It's great to have a day like this. 

V is for Vehicles

 

A book-cover scavenger hunt is this year's theme. Please see this post for general rules on how to participate. 

Today's item is:

Vehicles

The Unexpected Everything--Morgan Matson

This was another of the letters I had trouble with! "Vehicle" was not one of my first choice, but nothing else seemed to come to mind. And this is another book I read years ago (2018), that I still inexplicably have at home. I probably won't get the urge to re-read it, but also haven't gotten the urge to donate it or any others I don't feel I'll read again (though this a matter for another time). Any sort of vehicle is acceptable for this one.

Now it's your turn. Provide a link in the comments (from Amazon, Goodreads or other sites) to a book with the item of the day. Just naming the book in the comments is also acceptable. Remember, you cannot use the same one in my post. Otherwise, just comment on the post. Good Luck!

U is for Umbrellas

 

A book-cover scavenger hunt is this year's theme. Please see this post for general rules on how to participate. 

Today's item is:

Umbrellas

My choice:

The Perfect Couple--Elin Hilderbrand

This is an author I have read a lot of. I have had the "umbrella on cover" prompt at least once in the past and at least once this year. This is one of the trickier letters. 

Now it's your turn. Provide a link in the comments (from Amazon, Goodreads or other sites) to a book with the item of the day. Just naming the book in the comments is also acceptable. Remember, you cannot use the same one in my post. Otherwise, just comment on the post. Good Luck!

T is for Trees

 

A book-cover scavenger hunt is this year's theme. Please see this post for general rules on how to participate.

Today's item:

Trees

My Choice:

Lost Lake--Sarah Addison Allen

While searching for covers with trees, this one came up and I immediately remembered this one. It's another I read over a decade ago. Barely remember the book, but I sure remember this cover.  I have the "tree on the cover" in some of the challenges I signed up for this year, prompting me to choose "trees."

Now it's your turn. Provide a link in the comments (from Amazon, Goodreads or other sites) to a book with the item of the day. Just naming the book in the comments is also acceptable. Remember, you cannot use the same one in my post. Otherwise, just comment on the post. Good Luck!

S is for Shoes

 

A book-cover scavenger hunt is this year's theme. Please see this post for general rules on how to participate. 

Today's item is:

Shoes

My choice: 

Orange is the New Black--Piper Kerman

This was the first thing that came to mind. The copy I read was from a thrift store. I found it not too long after the series premiered and was glad not to have found a movie tie-in cover. Shoes are a popular book-cover item. A few years ago, I wrote this post in which I asked if there was any rhyme or reason for the shoes on covers.

Now it's your turn. Provide a link in the comments (from Amazon, Goodreads or other sites) to a book with the item of the day. Just naming the book in the comments is also acceptable. Remember, you cannot use the same one in my post. Otherwise, just comment on the post. Good Luck!

R is for Roads

 

A book-cover scavenger hunt is this year's theme. Please see this post for general rules on how to participate. 

Today's item is:

Roads

Crossing to Safety--Wallace Stegner

Another one that hard to decide on! Almost a decade ago, I was reading a lot from this author. I was hooked on his writing from the first one I read, a short story collection. There was a post I wrote in 2017 in which I mentioned discovering new authors, and Stegner was one of them. 

Now it's your turn. Provide a link in the comments (from Amazon, Goodreads or other sites) to a book with the item of the day. Just naming the book in the comments is also acceptable. Remember, you cannot use the same one in my post. Otherwise, just comment on the post. Good Luck!

Q is for Quilts

 

A book-cover scavenger hunt is this year's theme. Please see this post for general rules on how to participate. 

Today's item is:

Quilts

My choice:

The Winding Ways Quilt--Jennifer Chiaverini

The ever-tricky Q! This was the first thing that came to mind. I immediately remembered reading this series more than a decade ago, and just recently found out there are more books in the series that had come out since then. I now want to find and read those ones. I picked this one because it had a bright quilting pattern around the edge. The colors stand out.

Now it's your turn. Provide a link in the comments (from Amazon, Goodreads or other sites) to a book with the item of the day. Just naming the book in the comments is also acceptable. Remember, you cannot use the same one in my post. Otherwise, just comment on the post. Good Luck!

Summer Reading Challenge 2026 @ Beyond the Bookends

This begins on May 1 and ends September 7 (Labor Day this year). 

1. Book Set at the Beach
2. Celebrity Book Club Pick: The Wedding People--Alison Espach
3. Family Inheritance Novels (June)
4. By a Summer Author*
5. Jane Austen Retellings or Jane Austen Books in Order
6. Novels about Immigration or Immigration Memoirs
7. Matchmaking Books
8. Books About Road Trips (May): The Goodbye Quilt--Susan Wiggs
9. Pop Culture Nonfiction Books
10. Lake Books
11. Books Set in New York: Color Me In--Natasha Diaz
12. Beach Mystery Books
13. Adult Versions of Favorite Childhood Books
14. YA Thriller Books
15. Ultimate Beach Reads 2026
16. Royal Historical Fiction
17. Books Set in Maine (July)
18. The Best Fiction Books about Wine
19. 2026 New Release Book
20. Reality TV Novels: The Honey-Don't List--Christina Lauren
21. Nonfiction & Fiction Books About Cults
22. Books Set in Tropical Locations (August)
23. Romance Books About Books
24. Books About Female Spies 
25. Free Space 

* (Hannah Orenstein Books, Emily Henry Books Ranked, Jenny Colgan Books Ranked, Ashley Poston Books Ranked, Annabel Monaghan Books, Taylor Jenkins Reid Books Ranked, Ali Hazelwood Books Ranked, Chanel Cleeton Books in Order, Carley Fortune Books, Jasmine Guillory Books in Order)