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Yearly Challenge 2025
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Melissa's Yearly Challenge 2025
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January - New Beginnings
Level 1
✅1. A book by an author you've never read before.
✅2. A book that starts a new series.
3. A book by a debut author.
Level 2
1. A book published in 2025.
✅2. A book about personal growth or change.
3. A book with "new," "begin," or "start" in the title.
Level 3
1. A book set during the start of a new year or a new season.
✅2. A book set in the future or involving a fresh start.
3. A book recommended by someone else to "start your year right."
Book/Author:Cackle by Rachel HarrisonRead: 1/2/25
Task: Level 2 #2 - Personal growth or change
How it Fits: MC goes from being needy in a relationship to finding her inner strength to be alone and happy.
Book/Author: Jingle All The Way To Snowside: A Vermont Christmas Romance by Kathy CoatneyRead: 1/4/25
Task: Level 3 #2 - Involving fresh start
How it Fits: Both MCs are getting past lingering bad relationships and find a fresh start with each other.
Book/Author: Wandering Stars by Tommy OrangeRead: 1/10/25
Task: Level 1 #1 - New to me author
How it Fits: New to me author
Book/Author: The Beauty and the Beast by Alana AlbertsonRead: 1/10/25
Task: Level 1 #2 - Starts a series
How it Fits: Heroes Ever After #1
February - Love Around the World
Level 1
✅1. A romance novel or a book with a love story.
2. A book set in a different country than the one you live in.
✅3. A book by a diverse or international author (your interpretation).
Level 2
1. A book with a pink or red cover (50%+).
✅2. A book about friendship, family, or other non-romantic love.
3. A book with a travel element (road trip, vacation, etc.).
Level 3
1. A book with "heart," "love," or "passion" in the title.
✅2. A book with food, music, or art as a central theme.
3. A book with a famous couple or relationship at its core.
Book: Funny Story by Emily HenryRead: 2/6/25
Task: Level 1 #1
How it Fits: MPG is Romance and it involves a love story
Book: Meet Cute by Helena Hunting
Read: 2/7/25
Task: Level 1 #3
How it Fits: Author is Canadian which is International for me.
Book: When the Sky Fell on Splendor by Emily Henry
Read: 2/17/25
Task: Level 2 #2
How it Fits: Book involves the friendship of 6 teens that go out of their ways to show the strength of their bond.
Book: Midnight at the Blackbird Café by Heather WebberRead: 2/20/25
Task: Level 3 #2
How it Fits: The magic of the book is spread through the sharing of food. Mainly the famous blackbird pies, but the neighborhood shows its love through giving food.
March - Mysteries & Adventures
Level 1
✅1. A mystery, thriller, or adventure book.
✅2. A book set in a place you've never visited.
✅3. A book with a one-word title.
Level 2
1. A book with a detective or amateur sleuth.
2. A book by an author known for mysteries or thrillers.
✅3. A book with a plot twist you didn’t see coming.
Level 3
✅1. A book featuring a chase or hunt.
2. A book with "dark," "shadow," or "hidden" in the title.
3. A book with an unreliable narrator.
Book: Best House on the Block by T.R. RaganRead: 3/3/25
Task: Level 2 #3
How it Fits: Did not see the relationship between the two MCs coming.
Book: The Radio Hour: A Novel by Victoria PurmanRead: 3/11/25
Task: Level 1 #2
How it Fits: I've never been to Australia. (It's on my bucket list)
Book: The Finisher by David BaldacciRead: 3/15/25
Task: Level 3 #1
How it Fits: The book starts off with a chase of someone into the wilderness. There are several other chase scenes throughout the book as well.
April - Blossoming Stories
Level 1
1. A book with flowers, trees, or nature on the cover.
2. A book with a predominantly green cover.
✅3. A book where a character overcomes a challenge.
Level 2
1. A book about growth or transformation.
2. A book about self-discovery.
3. A book that feels "uplifting" or hopeful.
Level 3
1. A book with "spring" or "bloom" in the title.
✅2. A book set in a rural or nature-focused setting.
3. A book inspired by or involving mythology.
Book: The Marsh King's Daughter by Karen DionneRead: 4/8/25
Task: Level 3 #2
How it Fits: MC grows up in the marsh and leads a survivalist lifestyle with no connections to technology or modern connivences.
Book: Listen for the Lie by Amy TinteraRead: 4/17/25
Task; ;Level 1 #3
How it Fits: MC has amnesia from when her best friend was murdered. She is the primary suspect, but has no evidence to prove or disprove her guilt or innocence. She struggles as memories and revelations are revealed to the ultimate conclusion.
May - May We Laugh?
Level 1
✅1. A humorous or lighthearted book.
2. A book with a quirky or unconventional protagonist.
3. A romantic comedy.
Level 2
✅1. A book by a comedian or featuring comedic elements.
2. A book that made someone else laugh (get a recommendation!).
3. A book with an animal on the cover or in the story.
Level 3
1. A book with "funny," "laugh," or "smile" in the title.
2. A satirical book or one poking fun at society.
✅3. A book with a bright, cheerful cover.
Level 1 - #1Book: Flirting with the Frenemy by Pippa Grant
Read: 5/18/25
How it Fits: It centers around a pirate themed wedding where lots of unplanned events occur. It was humorous.
Level 2 - #1
Book: The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center
Read: 5/26/25
How it Fits: The MCs are authors that discuss comedic elements, and timing throughout the book.
Level 2 - #3
Book: Dark Wolf by Christine Feehan
Read: 5/24/25
How it Fits: There is a wolf on the cover
June - Across the Genres
Level 1
1. A book with multiple perspectives.
2. A book published before the year 2000.
3. A book adapted into a movie or TV series.
Level 2
1. A book outside your usual favorite genre.
2. A book that blends two or more genres (e.g., fantasy romance, sci-fi thriller).
3. A book featuring a genre-specific trope (e.g., enemies-to-lovers, chosen one, locked-room mystery).
Level 3
1. A book by an author who writes in multiple genres.
2. A book that is hard to classify into a single genre.
3. A book that redefines or subverts its genre.
July - Hot Reads
Level 1
✅1. A book you associate with “hot” topics or intense emotions.
✅2. A book released during summer (any year).
3. A book with a sunny, yellow, or orange cover.
Level 2
1. A book set during summer or in a warm location.
✅2. A book with a literal or metaphorical fire.
3. A book with a summer fling or vacation theme.
Level 3
1. A book with "fire," "heat," or "hot" in the title.
✅2. A book featuring a beach, island, or desert.
✅3. A book by an author from a tropical or hot climate.
Level 1Task1 - "Hot" topics
Book: Husbands & Lovers by Beatriz Williams
Read: 7/6/25
How it Fits: Soo many hot topics here - following your heart vs following family obligations, misplaced persons due to war, surviving horrors of war, dealing with life threatening disabilities, hidden lives, adoption, infidelities, rape.....
Level 2
Task: #2 - Metaphorical or literal fire
Book: The City Baker's Guide to Country Living by Louise Miller
Read: 7/12/25
How it Fits: MC leaves her job after setting the dining room on fire.
Level 3
Task 3 - Author from a hot climate
Book: Third Time's the Charm by Samantha Baca
Read: 7/3/25
How it fits: Samantha Baca is from the Southwest area of the US, where it is typically hot and dry.
Level 1Task 2 - Published in a summer month
Book: Hate to Want You by Alisha Rai
Read: 7/18/25
How it Fits: Publishe July 2017
Level 3Task 2 - Takes place on Island, beach or desert
Book: Reckless Kiss by Grace Harper
Read: 7/20/25
How it Fits: Takes place on a private island off the coast of England.
August - Around the Classics
Level 1
1. A classic novel (any period or culture).
2. A book that won a major literary award.
3. A book you’ve seen referenced in pop culture.
Level 2
✅1. A retelling of a classic story.
2. A book by an author considered a literary “classic” in their field.
3. A classic short story or novella.
Level 3
1. A book set in the time period of a classic novel you love.
2. A modern book inspired by or paying homage to a classic.
3. A book by an author whose works you want to explore more deeply.
Level 2Task 1
Book: This Princess Kills Monsters by Ry Herman
Read: 8/9/25
How it Fits: Retelling of the Twelve Huntsmen
September - Back to School
Level 1
1. A book set in a school, college, or academic setting.
2. A nonfiction or self-improvement book.
3. A book that teaches you something new.
Level 2
1. A book featuring a teacher, professor, or mentor.
2. A book about childhood or adolescence.
3. A book about a learning journey or discovery.
Level 3
1. A book with a focus on history, science, or technology.
2. A book set in a boarding school or involving academic competition.
3. A book with "study," "school," or "class" in the title.
Bookish Challenges
Books mentioned in this topic
This Princess Kills Monsters (other topics)Reckless Kiss (other topics)
Hate to Want You (other topics)
The City Baker's Guide to Country Living (other topics)
Third Time's the Charm (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Ry Herman (other topics)Grace Harper (other topics)
Alisha Rai (other topics)
Louise Miller (other topics)
Samantha Baca (other topics)
More...
Sign-ups are open throughout 2025.
The challenge will end on December 31, 2025.
The Challenge
1. Comment here to sign up and I will create a challenge thread for you. You can sign up at any point during the year but only for the months that are left. Example: If you join in January, you will be able to participate in the months January-December. If you join in March, you will be able to participate in the months March-December.
2. Each month, I will post prompts surrounding a specific theme to your thread. There will be 9 prompts each month, divided into 3 levels. For the completion of a level 1 prompt, you will receive 1 point. For level 2, you will receive 2 points and for level 3 it will be 3 points.
To receive each month's Book Award, please complete one prompt in each level. You can complete as many prompts as you want and are able to and in any order. Note that only books completed in the respective months will be accepted.
3. You have 3 free skips throughout the challenge but you can only use one free skip each month. To skip a prompt, please read a book that meets the general guidelines.
If you are out of free skips or want to use another skip in that month, you can either:
- spend 2 points to complete a prompt from a previous month,
- spend 3 points to complete a prompt from the current month twice or
- spend 5 points to read a book that meets the general guidelines.
4. Please make a completion post in your thread using this template:
Book:
Author:
Date completed:
Task:
How it fits:
5. If you don't have a personal point account thread yet, request one here.