Howdy, all!
A new year means new (or renewed) goals and new reading challenges.
I chose to combine these two things because, for me, my choice of reading challenges mostly reflects my reading goals. I say mostly because some of the challenges were chosen simply for fun. I’m going to list some of my reading goals and then my challenge choices.
Reading Goals:
- Read a larger percentage of books from my own shelves. Ideally, this would be a 50/50 split, but I’m not quite there yet. And, remove books from shelves I don’t plan reading again or unread books I do not plan to ever read.
- Buy less and borrow more. Before purchase, check availability at the library and other resources like Prime or KU. Keep the book buying budget to nearly zero while there are unread books on my shelves.
- Take fewer review requested books so that I can easily read the ones I have in time to post review around release date. Get NetGalley percentage to 99%.
- Balance the completion of favorite author backlists with trying new to me authors and series. Also read more books written by foreign authors and/or in foreign settings. Read outside comfort zone a few times.
- Above all, read for fun and enrichment. Stop reading when its obvious a book isn’t a good match for my mood or my taste.
And, to go with those goals, here are the challenges I picked:
New Release Hosted by Linda and Brandee @ Unconventional Bookworms
Books released after January 1st, 2020 count.
My Goal: Enthusiast 101-200+ books
Link: https://unconventionalbookworms.com/2020-new-release-challenge-sign-up/
Library Love Hosted by Angel @ Angel’s Guilty Pleasures and Anne @ Books Are My Heart
Books borrowed from the public library count. Minimum of 12 for the year.
My Goal: Dewey Decimal 12-23 books
Link: http://angelsguiltypleasures.com/2019/11/sign-up-2020-library-love-challenge/
Austenesque Lovers TBR on GoodReads
Any book about Austen, by Austen or based on Austen’s novels
My Goal: Catherine Morland 50 books
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/1040462-austenesque-lovers-tbr-challenge-2020
Mt. TBR hosted by Bev @ My Reader’s Block on GoodReads
Books acquired before Jan 1st, 2020
My Goal: Mt. Everest 100 books
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/1024957-mount-tbr-2020
Reading Assignment Spring Semester hosted by Michelle and Berls @ Because Reading
January to April, 3 Categories with one book for each month.
Professor Author Luv- I chose Anna Lee Huber
Professor Genre- I chose Romantic Suspense/Mystery
Professor Mix Up- 4 books from a list made before the 1st
Professor Ann Thology- 4 anthologies
My Goal: Beginner Level 4 months x 4 books
Link: https://www.becausereading.com/2020-reading-assignment-challenge-sign-up-now/
Series that Never Ends hosted by Shari @ Delighted Reader
Books in a series where you have at least 5 books and novellas left to read.
My goal: Surviving the Book Tsunami 5-9 books from the Lady Darby series
Link: http://delightedreader.com/2020-the-series-that-never-ends-challenge-sign-up/
Historical Fiction hosted by Amy @ Passages to the Past
Any sub-genre of historical fiction counts.
My Goal: Prehistoric- 50+ books
Literary Pickers hosted by Shari and Sophia @ Delighted Reader
Scavenger hunt-style matching a book to each word clue
My Goal: Professional Picker- 50+ books
Link: http://delightedreader.com/2020-literary-pickers-reading-challenge-sign-up/
Romanceopoly hosted by Fran, Suz, and Annie @ Under the Covers and Jess @ Peace Love Books
Based on Monopoly board game with streets representing specific genres and book prompts, timed reads, or Instagram picture prompts. Two boards to choose from or do both.
My Goal: The Native (all spaces on both boards) 40 books
Link: http://romanceopoly.com/
Audio hosted by Loupe & Mel @ Hot Listens and Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer
Any book on audio
My Goal: 100 Club- 100 books
Link: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2019/12/2020-audiobook-challenge-sign-up.html
Books N Tunes hosted by Shari & Sophia @ Delighted Reader
Match a tune to a book
My Goal: Raging Rocker 50+ books
Link: http://delightedreader.com/books-n-tunes-challenge-sign-up-for-2020/
Romance BINGO hosted by Blodeuedd @ Book Girl of Mur-y Castell and Carole @ Carole Rae’s Random Ramblings
BINGO game with a book per each square with a specific prompt.
My Goal: Blackout 25 books
Link: http://www.caroleraesrandomramblings.com/2019/12/2020-romance-bingo-reading-challenge.html?m=1
GoodReads Challenge: 375 books
I will be updating my challenge numbers each month as part of our The Monthly Report. I have shelves for each of these challenges over on GoodReads that reflect the books I’ve read for each challenge.
Did you make any book goals this year? Are you doing any of these challenges, too? Hosting or participating in other challenges? Do tell!
Latest posts by Sophia Rose (see all)
- Review: Things We Didn’t Say by Amy Lynn Green - January 17, 2021
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- Spotlight & Excerpt: Running Away With the Bride by Sophia Singh Sasson - January 14, 2021
- Review: Once Upon a Mail Order Bride by Linda Broday - January 13, 2021
- Audio Delight Review: Ghosts Just Wanna Have Fun by Danielle Garrett - January 12, 2021
I get a lot of my books from NetGalley. I’ve had good luck finding a few free ones on Amazon when I’m looking for other books. I don’t make a lot of goals, just read 150 books by the end of the year. Good luck with your goals.
You’re doing great book budgeting-wise. One goal of 150 will be a nice challenge for you, Mary.
These are wonderful goals! I really want to read books from my own shelves. I like getting review copies but I am neglected so many other books. I hope to have a 99% ration someday 🙂 Good luck!
Thanks, Carole! Yes, the balance between getting new books I want to read with reading the one’s I’ve got is what I want to tackle this year. Maybe we can both do it. 😉
Good luck for everything!
Thanks, Melliane!
Good luck with the challenges you picked.
Thanks, Angela! I’m definitely going to give it my best.
Good luck with your goals! I also want to try and read the books I own instead of buying. I’ve actually been doing decent with that the last year or so, but I feel like I haven’t really made a dent in my owned shelf! So glad you’re joining us on #2020HW again 🙂
That’s great that you’re hitting the shelves like that. Definitely what I want to do this year. 🙂
Excited to do #2020HW again. 🙂
Um wow, I’m tired just reading all your challenges Sophia Rose LOL good luck! I’ll be pulling for you xo
Haha! Yeah, it looks like a lot, but I generally can count the same book for several challenges so that helps. 🙂
Good luck with all your challenges! Your goals were basically mine from last year and it’s made my reading life SO much less stressful.
Karen @ For What It’s worth
Yes, I was so impressed by your dedication to reading books you already had, Karen. I want to get there, too.
WOW! Sophia, I had no idea you read so many books in one year. I mean, I see your reviews everywhere, but looking at these challenges really made it crystal clear! Good for you for trying to read more from your shelves. I’m taking fewer ARCs in 2020 and branching out, as well. Great goals!
LOL, I read as fast as fiend, but also these are challenges that can easily double up. 🙂
Yes, more from my shelves and few arcs will hopefully get my pile under better control. Whew, it needs its!
Wow, you’ve signed up for a lot of challenges! I’ve only signed up for 3: GRs, Audiobook Challenge, and Romance Bingo. I usually never sign up for challenges so I thought I was doing well, lol! I’m only pledging to read 150 books, so I think 3 challenges are enough. I see the Lady Darby series fulfilling part of your goals here. I’m loving the series! Glad to hear you are too! 🙂
Yeah, I’m a tad bit addicted to reading challenges. I go crazy, but not too crazy. These all allow a book to be used for more than one challenge and several overlap. Yes, I’m doing Lady Darby for Series and Reading Assignment challenge. 🙂
You’re doing great with three, Rachel. I know how busy real life is for you.
SO MANY CHALLENGES! I LOVE IT! And I am so happy you are joining B and me. My secret goal is to read more from my shelf. Less from publishers and etc. I feel like last year I didn’t touch my own books much.
Yes! I’m thrilled to do your challenge, too. I wanted to last year, but just could not fit in one more. You and me both on hitting the personal shelves more.
I have been working towards the 50/50 split (shelf/other), and I am getting a LOT better. I don’t think I would ever have a 99% ratio on NetGalley. I am at 93%, which is pretty good, but there are some older ARCs, that I avoided, because of poor reviews. I just don’t see myself reading them. I might do that “read now” trick, if I see any I like to up my ratio. I check my TBR to all the library resources I have, and will not buy any BIG books, that I know will be at the library. I… Read more »
Sounds like you have a good reading action plan, too, Sam. I like that idea of doing a TBR checklist of which ones are at the library. Thanks, Sam!
Whoa those are some great goals but that is a LOT of challenges. I opted not to do as many challenges because I want to read rather than spend time updating challenges as much. I do love some of the challenges though. Good Luck!
LOL, yeah, I’m a bit addicted. We’ll see how it goes. I do love them so its all fun.
Good luck with your challenges, Sophia. You have a busy year ahead of you! 🙂
Haha, Angie, yes, I do it to myself every year. 🙂
I love that you participate in so many challenges, and you always do so well at meeting your goals. I;’m doing the New Release Challenge, 2020 Reading Assignment, and Romanceopoly, which I learned about from you! I’ve been having so much fun making more board, printing out my cards and tracker, and decorating everything! Good Luck with all of your challenges!
I have a good time reaching for my challenge goals and participating with everyone else. Oh yay, glad we’re doing a few challenges together. Isn’t Romanceopoly fun? I bought a set of marker pens just for coloring in my challenge board and cards. 🙂 Wishing you luck, too, Lindy!
Good luck with all your goals. I am also aiming for 50/50 split between review books and non review books. I am also joining Coyer, the new release challenge and the Audiobook challenge. That’s a good goal re limiting your Netgalley request, I try and only request what I can review within a reasonable time frame, but it’s difficult sometimes. And getting your percentage up to 99% is a nice one too. I am usually happy when I am above 70%, but I hope to get up to the 80% eventually. It’s mostly older request that count against me now.… Read more »
Thank you, Lola! I’m already a little off my goal of not taking so many requests, but doing well on the 50/50 and not buying. 🙂 Oh fun that we’re doing several challenges together. I think 80% is a good NG goal, too. Good luck on your goals and challenges, Lola!
I totally agree that borrowing books can save so much on costs, but curious minds want to know what you plan to do with the books you’re taking off the shelves?!(lol) Hugs and more hugs! RO
Yes, I’ve been keeping track of how much I save borrowing the books and its a good chunk.
LOL, well, there are a few places the books go: the library for their library sales, a friend of mine who runs a local charity shop, another friend who owns a book store in a larger town nearby, and family. I know you like mysteries and thrillers… so, interested? 😉