Bookish Challenges discussion
Yearly Challenge 2025
>
Melanie's Yearly Challenge 2025
date
newest »
newest »
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:
The Girl in the Band: Bardot - a Cautionary Tale Author: Belinda Chapple
Date completed: 1/4/2025
Task: Level 1 - 1. A book by an author you've never read before.
How it fits: New to me author.
---------
Book:
The MaidAuthor: Nita Prose
Date completed: 1/4/2025
Task: Level 2 - 2. A book about personal growth or change.
How it fits: While this is a murder mystery, it is also about Molly's personal growth. She is getting better at reading people and the world and growing as a person.
Book:
Harry Potter and the Chamber of SecretsAuthor: J.K. Rowling
Date completed: 1/7/2025
Task: Level 3 - 3. A book recommended by someone else to "start your year right."
How it fits: Recommended by a friend as an easy read over the busy season.
Can we repeat prompts? For example if I read another new to me author, can I reuse Level 1 Task 1?
Melanie wrote: "Book: Harry Potter and the Chamber of SecretsAuthor: J.K. Rowling
Date completed: 1/7/2025
Task: Leve..."
✅
Melanie wrote: "Can we repeat prompts? For example if I read another new to me author, can I reuse Level 1 Task 1?"You can spend 3 points to trade one task for another. Meaning you can repeat Level 1 Task 1 and scratch another task for that.
Book:
All the Little Raindrops Author: Mia Sheridan
Date completed: 1/15/2025
Task: Level 3 - 2. A book set in the future or involving a fresh start.
How it fits: After the trauma, Noelle moves to South Carolina for a fresh start and thrives.
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:
All the Golden LightAuthor: Siobhan O'Brien
Date completed: 2/12/2025
Task: Level 1 - 1. A romance novel or a book with a love story.
How it fits: Love story between Emmett and Adelaide.
---------
Book:
The Bane Chronicles Author: Cassandra Clare
Date completed: 2/9/2025
Task: Level 1 - 3. A book by a diverse or international author (your interpretation).
How it fits: International author; the author was born to American parents in Tehran, Iran and now lives in the USA (international to me as I am Australian.)
---------
Book:
Australian Ghost StoriesAuthor: James Phelps
Date completed: 2/7/2025
Task: Level 2 - 3. A book with a travel element (road trip, vacation, etc.).
How it fits: The author travels around Australia visiting haunted houses and grounds to document supernatural activity (road trip, travelling.)
---------
Book:
The Frozen River Author: Ariel Lawhon
Date completed: 2/19/2025
Task: Level 3 - 3. A book with a famous couple or relationship at its core.
How it fits: Book about Martha and Ephraim Ballard; Martha was a famous midwife that kept a day book from the late 1700's.
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.
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:
Hover Car Racer: The Graphic Novel Author: Matthew Reilly
Date completed: 4/19/2025
Task: Level 1 - 3. A book where a character overcomes a challenge.
How it fits: Jason has to overcome his fear of racing after the accident.
----
Book:
Cross My Heart and Never Lie Author: Nora Dåsnes
Date completed: 4/14/2025
Task: Level 2 - 1. A book about growth or transformation.
How it fits: Tuva's best friend gets a boyfriend and decides she is too grown up for Tuva so Tuva re-evaluates where she is and where she wants to be (growth.)
----
Book:
TygerAuthor: S.F. Said
Date completed: 4/7/2025
Task: Level 2 - 2. A book about self-discovery.
How it fits: Adam learns that he has powers and discovers these powers to save the tyger.
----
Book:
The Sweetness Between UsAuthor: Sarah Winifred Searle
Date completed: 4/2/2025
Task: Level 2 - 3. A book that feels "uplifting" or hopeful.
How it fits: The message that before someone else can love you, you need to love yourself is uplifting and hopeful.
----
Book:
Scar Town Author: Tristan Bancks
Date completed: 4/9/2025
Task: Level 3 - 2. A book set in a rural or nature-focused setting.
How it fits: Set in a small rural town in Australia.
----
Book:
Upon a Starlit Tide Author: Kell Woods
Date completed: 4/17/2025
Task: Level 3 - 3. A book inspired by or involving mythology.
How it fits: Inspired by and involves mythology (mermaids.)
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.
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.
Book:
The Last Time I Saw You Author: Jo Leevers
Date completed: 7/8/2025
Task: Level 1 - 1. A book you associate with “hot” topics or intense emotions.
How it fits: Storyline included parent abandonment issues and the mother feeling like a failure (due to mental health concerns.)
-----
Book:
A Haunting place Author: Glen Williams
Date completed: 7/6/2025
Task: Level 1 - 2. A book released during summer (any year).
How it fits: Published January 1, 2017 (Summer in Australia.)
Book:
Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books Author: Kirsten Miller
Date completed: 7/15/2025
Task: Level 2 - 2. A book with a literal or metaphorical fire.
How it fits: Fire on cover (the book makes the match head and the orange is the match flame.)
-----
Book:
Once in a Lifetime Author: Mary Monroe
Date completed: 7/18/2025
Task: Level 2 - 3. A book with a summer fling or vacation theme.
How it fits: Vacation themed.
Book:
Drums Of Autumn Author: Diana Gabaldon
Date completed: 7/1/2025
Task: Level 3 - 3. A book by an author from a tropical or hot climate.
How it fits: Author is from Arizona (hot climate.)
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.
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
Drums Of Autumn (other topics)Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books (other topics)
Once in a Lifetime (other topics)
A Haunting place (other topics)
The Last Time I Saw You (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Diana Gabaldon (other topics)Kirsten Miller (other topics)
Mary Monroe (other topics)
Glen Williams (other topics)
Jo Leevers (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.