While we are already in the third month of 2024, I don’t think it’s ever too late to start a reading challenge for yourself. If you’re tired of your only annual reading goal being a number of books, then add in some of these ideas to inspire you to step outside your comfort zone, read more, and (most importantly) have more fun reading this year.
Write them down in your journal, make a note in your phone, schedule them out by week/month, or even create a reading bingo card to keep track of your own reading challenge throughout the year. I like making a page in my journal with black and white squares labelled for each challenge. Then I come back and color them in when I complete them throughout the year.
Let’s see how many we can cross off this year!
1. Complete a series.
You can take this one of two ways- either you have to start and complete a new series, or you have to finish a series you have previously started. Right now, I’m working on finishing up the Beartown series by Fredrik Backman, so that will probably be how I cross this challenge off my list.
2. Reread a book you’ve already read.
This one is pretty straightforward. Some of my favorite books that I would like to reread this year are Happy Place by Emily Henry and You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle.
3. Read a book with a pink, yellow, black, blue, etc. colored cover.
I added a few of these to my own reading challenge, just for fun. I’m thinking I’ll read Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid for the blue cover and Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto for the yellow cover challenge.
4. Read a book you’ve been avoiding.
This is a great one to put on your list if you have a stack of books sitting and waiting to be read… but you find yourself buying new books instead. Pick a book that’s been gathering dust and finally read it. Who knows, it could be a new favorite if you give it a chance.
5. Read a book in one day.
There’s something magical about being so immersed in a book that you finish it within one day (or even one sitting!). I haven’t checked this one off my list yet, but there’s still lots of time left this year.
6. Try out a debut novel from a new author.
I’ve already crossed this off my list since I read Bonnie Garmus’ debut novel, Lessons In Chemistry in January. I loved it and really can’t believe it was her first published work.
7. Read a book that has been (or will be) turned into a show/movie.
My pick for this one is Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid, but there are a ton of other books that have been or are going to be on the screen soon. Two of Emily Henry’s books, Beach Read and People We Meet on Vacation, are set to become movies. The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave is now a series on Apple TV+, as is Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus.
What’s your favorite book to movie/show adaptation? Let me know down below.
8. Read a book from a different genre.
Go a little outside of your comfort zone and pick a book from a completely different genre than you typically read. This is supposed to be a challenge after all!
For example, I don’t usually read a lot of thrillers. So, I’d like to give The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides a try (and it’s available on Kindle Unlimited right now!).
9. Find a new five-star read.
For people who don’t give out perfect five-star ratings to just any book, this might take a while. I haven’t quite found my next five-star read yet this year, but I’m hopeful that I will soon!
10. Read a new release.
I already know exactly what book I’ll be reading to cross this one off my list- Funny Story by Emily Henry, which will be released on April 23rd. Mark your calendars!
That's it (for now).
What are some of your reading goals for 2024? Check out my favorite books of 2023 for some more reading inspiration and save the image below to come back to these reading challenge ideas later.
