2025 Reading Challenges

I’m tracking my 2025 reading challenge progress here. I’m limiting myself to challenges that might push me a little out of my comfort zone or at least mix up my habitual reading patterns. This looks like a lot, and it kind of is, but I can complete several of these by reading just one book.

The challenge buttons and names link to to the signup/information posts at the challenge host’s website if you’d like to join me!

Reading Challenges I’m Hosting

Books in Translation Reading Challenge

Hosted here at Introverted Reader. I’m signing up at the Conversationalist level, 4-6 books. #2025booksintranslation

1. What You Are Looking For Is In the Library by Michiko Aoyama, translated by Alison Watts, illustrated by Rohan Eason
2. The Kamogawa Food Detectives (The Kamogawa Food Detectives #1) by Hisashi Kashiwai, translated by Jesse Kirkwood, read by Hanako Footman

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Bonus:

I don’t want to count these children’s books for my main challenge, but I do want to record them for my own reference.

1. ¡Diez Manzanas En La Cabeza! by Dr. Seuss, translated by Yanitzia Canetti, illustrated by Roy McKie
2. Lola en la Biblioteca by Anna McQuinn, translated by Eida Del Risco, illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw
3. Lola le lee al pequeño Leo by Anna McQuinn, translated by Yanitzia Canetti, illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw
4. Lola va a la escuela by Anna McQuinn, translated by Carlos E. Calvo, illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw

Southern Literature Reading Challenge

Hosted here at Introverted Reader. I’m signing up at level four, 7+ books. #2025southernlit

1. Run: Book One by John Lewis with Andrew Aydin, illustrated by L. Fury and Nate Powell
2. The Whispered Word (Secret, Book & Scone Society #2) by Ellery Adams, read by Cris Dukehart
3. The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle #1) by Maggie Stiefvater
4. Creatures of Habit by Jill McCorkle
5. The Book of Candlelight (Secret, Book & Scone Society #3) by Ellery Adams, read by Cris Dukehart
6. A Dream So Dark (A Blade So Black #2) by L. L. McKinney, read by Jeanette Illidge, Jacob York, and Matthew Barnes

Challenges I’m Participating In

Hundred Years Hence Reading Challenge

Hosted by A Hot Cup of Pleasure. Read and write about one book published in 1925. I found an article entitled “1925 in Literature” on Wikipedia that should help. #HYH25

Craving for Cozies Reading Challenge

Hosted by Escape with Dollycas into a Good Book. Read cozy mysteries. I’m signing up for level 1, which is 1-25 cozy mysteries. #CravingCozies

1. Seeing a Large Cat (Amelia Peabody #9) by Elizabeth Peters
2. The Kamogawa Food Detectives (The Kamogawa Food Detectives #1) by Hisashi Kashiwai, translated by Jesse Kirkwood, read by Hanako Footman
3. The Whispered Word (Secret, Book & Scone Society #2) by Ellery Adams, read by Cris Dukehart
4. The Thursday Murder Club (#1) by Richard Osman, read by Lesley Manville
5. The Book of Candlelight (Secret, Book & Scone Society #3) by Ellery Adams, read by Cris Dukehart

2025 Nonfiction Reader Challenge

Hosted by Shelleyrae at Book’d Out. I’m joining at the Nonfiction Nosher level to read 12 books, one from each of 12 categories. #ReadNonFicChal | Instagram: @shelleyrae _bookdout | Mastodon: @shelleyrae@aus.social

• History Down the Great Unknown: John Wesley Powell’s 1869 Journey of Discovery and Tragedy Through the Grand Canyon by Edward Dolnick
• Memoir/Biography Run: Book One by John Lewis with Andrew Aydin, illustrated by L. Fury and Nate Powell
• True Crime I Know Who You Are: How an Amateur DNA Sleuth Unmasked the Golden State Killer and Changed Crime Fighting Forever by Barbara Rae-Venter
• Science Pleased to Meet Me: Genes, Germs, and the Curious Forces That Make Us Who We Are by Bill Sullivan
• Health
• Food
• Travel A Walk in the Park: The True Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon by Kevin Fedarko
• Garden Genius of Place: The Life of Frederick Law Olmsted by Justin Martin
• Myth, Legend and Folklore
• Islands
• How-To
• Published in 2025

2025 Classics Reading Challenge

Hosted by Tea and Ink Society. I’ve done pretty well in the five-year long Classics Club challenge but I first signed up for Tea and Ink Society’s challenge to help steer my choices in 2022. I wasn’t completely successful but it definitely kept classics on my radar. I’m signing up again this year.

• January: A classic you discover in a used bookstore–Island of the Blue Dolphins (Island of the Blue Dolphins #1) by Scott O’Dell
• February: A Russian novel or short story collection
• March: A classic about immigrants or pioneers–O Pioneers! by Willa Cather
• April: A classic set on your own turf
• May: A book you were supposed to read in school
• June: Nonfiction nature writing
• July: A science fiction novel or short story collection
• August: A classic by an author you’ve only read once
• September: A classic World War I or World War II novel
• October: A Jane Austen novel
• November: A poetry collection by one of the Romantic poets
• December: A Medieval or Renaissance classic

2025 Cover Lovers Reading Challenge

Hosted by Bloggin’ Bout Books. I’m signing up for level 1: read 1-10 books with covers that match the following prompts. I’ll decide which prompts I want to use as I go.

1. A title and/or scene that makes you laugh
2. Something you might see in a hospital (medicine bottles, IV stand, stethoscope, doctor, etc.)
3. A futuristic scene
4. The name of and/or a depiction of a famous person
5. A television or movie screen
6. A piece of jewelry
7. The name of one of the four seasons in the title, design, or author’s name
8. A depiction of something that has been spilled (milk, paint, blood, etc.)
9. Something you might find in a child’s bedroom (teddy bear, nightlight, crib, etc.)
10. Outdated technology (typewriter, film camera, rotary telephone, etc.)
11. The name of a month in the title, design, or author’s name
12. Your favorite color Feral Creatures (Hollow Kingdom #2) by Kira Jane Buxton, read by Robert Petkoff
13. Headwear of some kind The Bookshop on the Shore (Kirrinfief #2) by Jenny Colgan, read by Eilidh Beaton
14. A mode of transportation Magic Marks the Spot (The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates #) by Caroline Carlson, read by Katherine Kellgren
15. Bookish elements What You Are Looking For Is In the Library by Michiko Aoyama, translated by Alison Watts, illustrated by Rohan Eason
16. An author that has a common name spelled in an uncommon way A Stitch in Time (A Stitch in Time #1) by Kelley Armstrong, read by Samantha Brentmoor
17. An illustrated scene Island of the Blue Dolphins (Island of the Blue Dolphins #1) by Scott O’Dell
18. A design that is in desperate need of a makeover Creatures of Habit by Jill McCorkle
19. A wintry scene Winter Lost (Mercy Thompson #14) by Patricia Briggs
20. A summery scene O Pioneers! by Willa Cather
21. Food The Whispered Word (Secret, Book & Scone Society #2) by Ellery Adams, read by Cris Dukehart
22. A skeleton, bones, or a skull and crossbones The Skull: A Tyrolean Folktale by Jon Klassen, read by Fairuza Balk
23. Floral elements The Tea Dragon Society (The Tea Dragon Society #1) by K. O’Neill
24. Sports equipment Pickleball Is Life: The Complete Guide to Feeding Your Obsession by Erin McHugh, illustrated by Jackie Besteman
25. Someone wearing period clothing Ambush or Adore (Delightfully Deadly #3) by Gail Carriger
26. A famous structure or landmark (man-made or natural) Noir (Noir Chronicles #1) by Christopher Moore, read by Johnny Heller
27. A frame-worthy design Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
28. A lighted window Somewhere Beyond the Sea (Cerulean Chronicles #2) by TJ Klune
29. A bird Mairelon the Magician (Mairelon #1) by Patricia C. Wrede
30. A number in the title or design Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich
31. No people The Devil’s Highway: A True Story by Luis Alberto Urrea
32. An object that is broken Seeing a Large Cat (Amelia Peabody #9) by Elizabeth Peters
33. A silhouette or shadow Pleased to Meet Me: Genes, Germs, and the Curious Forces That Make Us Who We Are by Bill Sullivan
34. A sunrise or sunset I Know Who You Are: How an Amateur DNA Sleuth Unmasked the Golden State Killer and Changed Crime Fighting Forever by Barbara Rae-Venter
35. An aquatic animal River of Teeth (River of Teeth #1) by Sarah Gailey, read by Peter Berkrot
36. A key and/or a keyhole Beastly Beauty by Jennifer Donnelly
37. A flag, pennant, or banner To the Edges of the Earth: 1909, the Race for the Three Poles, and the Climax of the Age of Exploration by Edward J. Larson
38. At least one person of color (POC) Run: Book One by John Lewis with Andrew Aydin, illustrated by L. Fury and Nate Powell
39. A weapon Skin Game (The Dresden Files #15) by Jim Butcher
40. A backpack or piece of luggage A Walk in the Park: The True Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon by Kevin Fedarko
41. The words “light” and/or “dark” in the title A Dream So Dark (The Nightmare-Verse #2) by L.L. McKinney, read by Jeanette Illidge, Jacob York, and Matthew Barnes
42. A foggy/stormy scene A Superior Death (Anna Pigeon #2) by Nevada Barr
43. A cityscape Cometh the Hour (The Clifton Chronicles #6) by Jeffrey Archer, read by Alex Jennings
44. A light source that can be held in the hand (flashlight, torch, lantern, etc.) The Book of Candlelight (Secret, Book & Scone Society #3) by Ellery Adams, read by Cris Dukehart
45. Eyewear of some kind The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen
46. A spooky scene The Bazaar of Bad Dreams by Stephen King
47. A real, historical photograph Genius of Place: The Life of Frederick Law Olmsted by Justin Martin
48. A proper noun in the title or design The Collapse: The Accidental Opening of the Berlin Wall by Mary Elise Sarotte
49. Something that is plaid Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins
50. Someone partly or fully submerged in water Greenteeth by Molly O’Neill, read by Catrin Walker-Booth

Reading by the Numbers Challenge

Hosted by My Reader’s Block. This is similar to the GoodReads Challenge: choose how many books you want to read for the years and track them. I decided I’d like to have this list on my blog and not just on GoodReads so I’m signing up. My goal is 100 books. #ReadingByNumbers2025

1. Seeing a Large Cat (Amelia Peabody #9) by Elizabeth Peters
2. Run: Book One by John Lewis with Andrew Aydin, illustrated by L. Fury and Nate Powell
3. What You Are Looking For Is In the Library by Michiko Aoyama, translated by Alison Watts, illustrated by Rohan Eason
4. Noir (Noir Chronicles #1) by Christopher Moore, read by Johnny Heller
5. Pickleball Is Life: The Complete Guide to Feeding Your Obsession by Erin McHugh, illustrated by Jackie Besteman
6. The Tea Dragon Society (The Tea Dragon Society #1) by K. O’Neill
7. Secrets of the Sea: The Story of Jeanne Power, Revolutionary Marine Scientist by Evan Griffith, illustrated by Joanie Stone
8. A Small Kindness by Stacy McAnulty, illustrated by Wendy Leach
9. Gibberish by Young Vo
10. The Devil’s Highway: A True Story by Luis Alberto Urrea–4.5 Stars
11. Euphoria by Lily King, read by Simon Vance and Xe Sands
12. The Witch Owl Parliament (Clockwork Curandera #1) by David Bowles, illustrated by Raúl The Third
13. Pleased to Meet Me: Genes, Germs, and the Curious Forces That Make Us Who We Are by Bill Sullivan
14. The Whispered Word (Secret, Book & Scone Society #2) by Ellery Adams, read by Cris Dukehart
15. Ambush or Adore (Delightfully Deadly #3) by Gail Carriger
16. Winter Lost (Mercy Thompson #14) by Patricia Briggs
17. The Kamogawa Food Detectives (The Kamogawa Food Detectives #1) by Hisashi Kashiwai, translated by Jesse Kirkwood, read by Hanako Footman
18. Doomsday Book (Oxford Time Travel #1) by Connie Willis
19. Island of the Blue Dolphins (Island of the Blue Dolphins #1) by Scott O’Dell
20. Cometh the Hour (The Clifton Chronicles #6) by Jeffrey Archer, read by Alex Jennings
21. ¡Diez Manzanas En La Cabeza! by Dr. Seuss, translated by Yanitzia Canetti, illustrated by Roy McKie
22. I Know Who You Are: How an Amateur DNA Sleuth Unmasked the Golden State Killer and Changed Crime Fighting Forever by Barbara Rae-Venter
23. Somewhere Beyond the Sea (Cerulean Chronicles #2) by TJ Klune
24. The Bookshop on the Shore (Kirrinfief #2) by Jenny Colgan, read by Eilidh Beaton
25. Mairelon the Magician (Mairelon #1) by Patricia C. Wrede
26. River of Teeth (River of Teeth #1) by Sarah Gailey, read by Peter Berkrot
27. The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James, read by Brittany Pressley and Kirsten Potter
28. The Princess and the Goblin (The Princess and Curdie #1) by George MacDonald, illustrated by Arthur Hughes
29. Down the Great Unknown: John Wesley Powell’s 1869 Journey of Discovery and Tragedy Through the Grand Canyon by Edward Dolnick
30. Lola en la Biblioteca by Anna McQuinn, translated by Eida Del Risco, illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw
31. Soon I Will Be Invincible by Austin Grossman, read by Paul Boehmer and Coleen Marlo
32. Jackaby (Jackaby #1) by William Ritter, read by Nicola Barber
33. Lola le lee al pequeño Leo by Anna McQuinn, translated by Yanitzia Canetti, illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw
34. Genius of Place: The Life of Frederick Law Olmsted by Justin Martin
35. The Overstory by Richard Powers
36. Magic Marks the Spot (The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates #) by Caroline Carlson, read by Katherine Kellgren
37. Razzmatazz (Sammy and the Cheese #2) by Christopher Moore, read by Johnny Heller
38. The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle #1) by Maggie Stiefvater
39. Lola va a la escuela by Anna McQuinn, translated by Carlos E. Calvo, illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw
40. Feral Creatures (Hollow Kingdom #2) by Kira Jane Buxton, read by Robert Petkoff
41. A Superior Death (Anna Pigeon #2) by Nevada Barr
42. A Walk in the Park: The True Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon by Kevin Fedarko
43. Half a Soul (Regency Faerie Tales #1) by Olivia Atwater
44. Night of Miracles (Mason #2) by Elizabeth Berg
45. “The Lord Sorcier” (Regency Faerie Tales #0.5) by Olivia Atwater
46. Skin Game (The Dresden Files #15) by Jim Butcher
47. Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich
48. The Skull: A Tyrolean Folktale by Jon Klassen, read by Fairuza Balk
49. Theodosia and the Eyes of Horus (Theodosia Throckmorton #3) by R.L. LaFevers
50. This Was a Man (The Clifton Chronicles #7) by Jeffrey Archer, read by Alex Jennings
51. Creatures of Habit: Stories by Jill McCorkle
52. Spell Bound (Hex Hall #3) by Rachel Hawkins
53. The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry
54. The Thursday Murder Club (A Thursday Murder Club Mystery #1) by Richard Osman, read by Lesley Manville
55. The Book of Candlelight (Secret, Book & Scone Society #3) by Ellery Adams, read by Cris Dukehart
56. To the Edges of the Earth: 1909, the Race for the Three Poles, and the Climax of the Age of Exploration by Edward J. Larson
57. A Stitch in Time (A Stitch in Time #1) by Kelley Armstrong, read by Samantha Brentmoor
58. Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
59. The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen
60. Beastly Beauty by Jennifer Donnelly
61. Founding Mothers: The Women Who Raised Our Nation, written and read by Cokie Roberts
62. Fourth Wing (The Empyrean #1) by Rebecca Yarros
63. Iron Flame (The Empyrean #2) by Rebecca Yarros
64. A Dream So Dark (A Blade So Black #2) by L. L. McKinney, read by Jeanette Illidge, Jacob York, and Matthew Barnes
65. Onyx Storm (The Empyrean #3) by Rebecca Yarros
66. The Lost Art of Mixing (The School of Essential Ingredients #2) by Erica Bauermeister, read by Cassandra Campbell
67. The Collapse: The Accidental Opening of the Berlin Wall by Mary Elise Sarotte
68. O Pioneers! by Willa Cather
69. The Serpent and the Wings of Night (Crowns of Nyaxia #1) by Carissa Broadbent, read by Amanda Leigh Cobb
70. The Bazaar of Bad Dreams by Stephen King
71. Greenteeth by Molly O’Neill, read by Catrin Walker-Booth

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