Reading challenges are a great way to diversify your reading, push yourself out of your comfort zone, and set new goals for your reading life. Here are ten popular reading challenges, along with book suggestions to get you started:
Goodreads Reading Challenge
This is a popular challenge hosted by Goodreads, where you set a goal for the number of books you want to read in a year. You can track your progress and see how you compare to your friends.
Book suggestions: If you’re looking for a classic, try “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee. For something more recent, “The Dutch House” by Ann Patchett is a great pick.
Read Around the World Challenge
This challenge encourages readers to explore literature from different parts of the world. You can set a goal to read a certain number of books from different countries, or aim to read at least one book from every continent.
Book suggestions: “The God of Small Things” by Arundhati Roy is set in India and won the Man Booker Prize in 1997. “The Elegance of the Hedgehog” by Muriel Barbery is set in France and is a beloved international bestseller.
Genre Challenge
This reading challenge encourages readers to step out of their reading comfort zone and try different genres. You can set a goal to read a certain number of books from different genres, or aim to read a book from a genre you haven’t tried before.
Book suggestions: If you typically read literary fiction, try a thriller like “The Silent Patient” by Alex Michaelides. If you usually read romance, try a science fiction novel like “Dune” by Frank Herbert.
Diversity Challenge
This reading challenge encourages readers to seek out books written by authors from marginalized communities. You can set a goal to read a certain number of books by authors of color, LGBTQ+ authors, or authors with disabilities.
Book suggestions: “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas is a powerful and timely novel about police brutality and the Black Lives Matter movement. “Red at the Bone” by Jacqueline Woodson is a beautiful family saga that explores race, class, and gender.
Series Challenge
This challenge encourages readers to dive into a series and follow a group of characters through multiple books. You can set a goal to read a certain number of books in a series, or aim to finish a series you’ve been meaning to get to.
Book suggestions: The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling is a beloved classic that follows Harry and his friends through their years at Hogwarts. If you’re looking for something more recent, the Cormoran Strike series by Robert Galbraith (aka J.K. Rowling) is a gripping mystery series.
PopSugar Reading Challenge
This reading challenge offers a list of 50 prompts to inspire your reading, with categories like “a book with a bird on the cover” and “a book by a female author who uses a male pseudonym.” It’s a great way to find new books and challenge yourself to read outside your usual genres.
Book suggestion: “The Nightingale” by Kristin Hannah, which fits the category “a book set during wartime.”
Read Harder Challenge
This challenge is hosted by the website Book Riot and offers a list of 24 tasks, such as “a book featuring a main character with a disability” and “a book of poetry in translation on a theme other than love.” It’s a great way to discover new voices and perspectives.
Book suggestion: “The Color Purple” by Alice Walker, which fits the category “a book by an African-American author.”
52 Book Club Challenge
This challenge is hosted by the 52 Book Club website and encourages readers to read one book per week for the year. It’s a great way to create a consistent reading habit and explore a wide variety of books.
Book suggestion: “The Vanishing Half” by Brit Bennett, which tells the story of twin sisters who grew up in a small, black community in the South, and explores issues of identity and race.
Classics Challenge
This challenge encourages readers to read more classic literature, with prompts such as “a book written before 1800” and “a book by a female author from the 19th century.” It’s a great way to connect with literary history and gain a deeper understanding of the roots of literature.
Book suggestion: “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen, which is a classic novel about the Bennet family and their five daughters, and explores themes of marriage, class, and reputation.
By the Numbers: A Genre-Specific Reading Challenge
This challenge involves reading books with numbers in the title within a specific genre. For example, read mystery books with numbers in the title such as “The Two Minute Rule” by Robert Crais, “The Third Victim” by Lisa Gardner, and “The Fourth Monkey” by J.D. Barker. Other genres that could work for this challenge include romance, science fiction, and historical fiction.
No matter which reading challenge you choose, the most important thing is to enjoy the books you’re reading and have fun exploring new genres and authors. Happy reading!