Happy New Year!!
Going into the new year, I’ve chosen to set a Goodreads goal I know I will reach without too much effort, because I don’t want to pressure myself to read as many books as I possibly can. But I did want to take on another challenge and that’s when I came across the Popsugar Reading Challenge. I haven’t participated in this challenge before, and I thought it would be a good challenge to step outside of my comfort zone a little sometimes.
I made a TBR for the challenge that’s not set in stone, but that’s more meant as a guideline or inspiration. It could be that I decide to swap titles during the year, but this is just to help me get started and get some ideas for what I could read. My goal is to read one book for every prompt, so I initially won’t be combining challenge prompts.
A book that’s published in 2021
I’m actually currently reading a book that will be published in 2021: Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers. So that will be the first book I finish for this challenge.
An Afrofuturist book
An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon sounds perfect for this prompt and I’ve been wanting to read it for ages.
A book that has a heart, diamond, club, or spade on the cover
This first book I thought of here was Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé.
A book by an author who shares your zodiac sign
My zodiac sign is pisces, and on the list of suggestions for this prompt I found Born a Crime by Trevor Noah, which is on my physical TBR already.
A dark academia book
For this prompt, I’m 100% reading Victoria Lee’s 2021 release: A Lesson in Vengeance!
A book with a gem, mineral, or rock in the title
For this prompt, I’ll be reading The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo.
A book where the main character works at your current or dream job
For this prompt, I would like to read a book where the main character is a book editor or works in publishing in another role. One option my friend suggested and that I’m interested in is The Hating Game by Sally Thorne.
A book that has won the Women’s Prize of Fiction
I have one of the winners on my physical TBR: Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie.
A book with a family tree
I found The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbie Waxman on the list of suggestions for this prompt, and this is on my Kindle, so maybe that’s my sign to read it this year.
A bestseller from the 1990s
This prompt is a little out of my comfort zone, but I did find a book I’m interested to read: Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton.
A book about forgetting
For this prompt, I would like to read Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson.
A book you have seen on someone’s bookshelf (in real life, on a Zoom call, in a TV show, etc.)
I looked up a few shelfies and came across Kingdom of Souls by Rena Barron, which I’m really hoping to finally get to this year.
A locked-room mystery
Another prompt that’s very outside of my comfort zone, but I did find a book that’s on my physical TBR: Piranesi by Susanna Clarke.
A genre hybrid
I want to read more historical romance in 2021, and for this prompt I found An Extraordinary Union by Alyssa Cole, which seems to fit this prompt. I do want to read more Alyssa Cole books as well, so this should be a good option!
A book set mostly or entirely outdoors
I really want to read Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel this year!
A book with something broken on the cover
I also want to read more middlegrade this year, so for this prompt Sal and Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos Hernandez seems fitting.
A book by a Muslim American author
For this prompt, I chose We Free the Stars by Hafsah Faizal!
A book that was published anonymously
Maybe this is the push I need to finally actually read Frankenstein. We’ll see.
A book with an oxymoron in the title
Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse seems like a perfect fit for this.
A book about do-overs or fresh starts
A romance seems perfect for this prompt, and I’ve chosen Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren.
A magical realism book
What else can I choose for this prompt than The Mirror Season by Anna-Marie McLemore?
A book set in multiple countries
I keep managing to find books that fit the prompts from my physical TBR, so I’m definitely pleased with that! My choice for this prompt is Less by Andrew Sean Greer.
A book set somewhere you’d like to visit in 2021
I would like to visit London, so I chose a book set there. I had a hard time finding a book I hadn’t already read that I’m actually interested in reading, so for now I’m going with a reread of The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary.
A book by a blogger, vlogger, YouTube video creator, or other online personality
For this prompt, I’m hoping to read The Stars We Steal by Alexa Donne.
A book whose title starts with “Q”, “X”, “Z”
Queenie by Candace Carty-Williams has been on my TBR for quite a while, so this is a good reason ton finally read it.
A book featuring three generations (grandparent, parent, child)
I chose another Christina Lauren book for this prompt: Twice In a Blue Moon, this time.
A book about a social justice issue
I literally just preordered Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas, and that book will be perfect for this prompt.
A book set in a restaurant
Another 2021 release for this prompt: A Pho Love Story by Loan Le.
A book with a black-and-white cover
I still have No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference by Greta Thunberg on my TBR, and that will work for this prompt.
A book by an Indigenous author
I have an eARC of Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley that I’d like to read for this prompt.
A book that has the same title as a song
I couldn’t think of a book with a title of a song I actually know that I haven’t read yet, so I looked through the Goodreads list with suggestions and picked Lore by Alexandra Bracken.
A book about a subject you are passionate about
You will all be surprised to learn that the subject I’m passionate about is… books! So I looked for a book about books. I read Tilly and the Bookwanderers by Anna James a while ago, and for this prompt, I would like to read the second book in the series: Tilly and the Lost Fairytales.
A book that discusses body positivity
A release I’m VERY excited about is Pumpkin by Julie Murphy!
A book found on a Black Lives Matter reading list
I really want to take the time to read some nonfiction as well, so for this prompt, I will be reading So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo.
A book in a different format than what you normally read (audiobooks, ebooks, graphic novels)
This is where I confess I actually read books in any format already. Maybe I’ll go with a library book for this one, I’ll choose a book for it later!
A book that has fewer than 1,000 reviews on Amazon or Goodreads
On the list of suggestions, I saw Ace by Angela Chen listed, and I’ve been wanting to read that! I do however regularly read books with few reviews, so I’ll be fine to complete this challenge regardless.
A book you think your best friend would like
My friend who I chose a book for loved Only Mostly Devastated by Sophie Gonzales, so I’d love to read her new book, Perfect on Paper, for this.
A book about art or an artist
A good option for this prompt would be Almost American Girl by Robin Ha, a graphic novel I don’t own yet but that I’ve been meaning to buy.
A book everyone seems to have read but you
I really really want to read The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin and I do feel like everyone has already read it, except for me.
Your favourite prompt from a past POPSUGAR reading challenge
I chose my favourite prompt from the 2020 challenge: a book by a trans or nonbinary author. I’m going with Meet Cute Diary by Emery Lee for this prompt, because it’s my most anticipated release of the year.
ADVANCED
The longest book (by pages) on your TBR list
This has to be To Sleep in a Sea of Stars by Christopher Paolini for me.
The shortest book (by pages) on your TBR list
This has to be A Quick & Easy Guide to Queer and Trans Identities for me.
The book on your TBR with the prettiest cover
The one that immediately comes to mind for me is Me, My Dad and the End of the Rainbow by Benjamin Dean. I got an ARC copy that was sent in a beautiful sort of sleeve with incredible art work.
The book on your TBR with the ugliest cover
Ugly is a strong word, but Otherbound by Corinne Duyvis doesn’t have my favourite cover. I am very excited to read it though!
The book that’s been on your TBR for the longest amount of time
I’ve had Descendant of the Crane by Joan He on my TBR for a pretty long time. I don’t remember which book I’ve owned the longest, but reading this one is definitely long overdue, so I’m going with this one.
A book from your TBR list you meant to read last year but didn’t
I meant to read Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez.
A book from your TBR list you associate with your favourite person, place, or thing
I got How to Make a Wish by Ashley Herring Blake as a present from one of my best friends.
A book from your TBR list chosen at random
The first one I spotted when I looked at my TBR bookcase was The Beauty That Remains by Ashley Woodfolk.
A DNF book from your TBR list
I DNFd Lalani of the Distant Sea by Erin Entrada Kelly because I tried the audiobook and that didn’t work for me, but I still really want to read it.
A free book from your TBR list (gifted, borrowed, library)
I’m going with an eARC for this prompt: Make Up Break Up by Lily Menon.
Anniek's Library 