Reading challenges are fun ways to expand the scope of what you typically read by introducing you to new authors and genres. Book Thoughts from Bed has hosted an annual book challenge for several years now, and I have enjoyed discovering books I might not have otherwise read. For example, some reading challenge gems I read in 2023 include:

The Shell Collector

Cold Sassy Tree

The River of Doubt

This book challenge is structured so that you read a book a month on a topic or theme related to that month. Twelve books a year is a manageable goal that still gives you plenty of time to read other things.

At the end of each month, I’ll blog about the book I read, and I’d love for you to comment about your book, as well.

Here are the categories for the 2024 Thoughtful Reading Challenge. I think there are some good ones!

January – Read a book that has been turned into a movie or TV series, because January 19 is National Popcorn Day. Here are some terrific books that fit this category:

Where the Crawdads Sing

The Woman in the Window

All the Light We Cannot See

February – Read a book with a flower in the title in honor of Valentines Day.

March – Read a book that takes place in Paris to commemorate the 135th anniversary of when the Eiffel Tower was inaugurated to the public.

April – Read a legal thriller because April 12th is International Be Kind to Lawyers Day.

May – Read a book written by an Asian American because May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

June – Read a beach read – June is the start of summer. Here are a couple of options:

Beach Read

The Hotel Nantucket

July – Read a book involving sports because the summer Olympics begin in late July! Yay!

August – Read a book set during the 1960s to commemorate the 55th anniversary of Woodstock.

September – Read a book that takes place on a farm in honor of the beginning of the harvest.

October – Read a book with a primary or secondary character who is blind because October is Blindness Awareness Month.

November – Read a book (fiction or nonfiction) that is centered on a family since Thanksgiving involves a lot of family gatherings.

December – Read a book with snow on the cover since December marks the beginning of winter.

I hope you’ll join me for this book reading challenge! Did any of the categories catch your eye?