Lets Play a Hand of Cards

 As if I didn't have enough challenges I keep finding more.  This one aligns itself with the Clock challenge so I figured it was an easy add to my list

It is hosted on Instagram by Erin Likes Books 

I created this new challenge and really want to try it for 2025!
Joker is wild - like a free quare in bingo, pick whatever book you want to fill that spot!
2-10: just the number has to be in the title (i.e. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo or Fourth Wing [Book 3 of a series does not count unless 3 is in the title like 3rd Degree, etc]).
Heart: in the title (i.e. Inkheart or Once Upon a Broken Heart)
Diamond: a gem in the title (i.e. Gods of Jade and Shadow or The Diamond Eye)
Spade: "dig," "bury" or "spade" in the title (i.e. Ace of Spades or Dig Two Graves)
Club: in the title (i.e. The Thursday Murder Club or The Joy Luck Club)
Ace: in the title OR a book about cards or tennis (i.e. My Dream Time or Cards on the Table)
Jack: in the title or in the name of the author (i.e. Holly Jackson or Jack Kerouac [not the name of a character - Jack Reacher - unless the character name is in the title])
Queen: in the title (i.e. The Queen's Gambit or Red Queen)
King: in the title (i.e. The Wicked King or The 10th Kingdom)
🟥: Red in the title or is the main color on the cover (i.e. Red, White & Royal Blue or Red Rising)
⬛: Black in the title or is the main color on the cover (i.e. Black Water Rising or Black Cake)
____
Notice that some of my examples could be used for 2 challenges (Ace of Spades, Red Queen or The 10th Kingdom). They only count for 1. So Red Queen could be for Red or for Queen but not both.
I spent a whole night (not sleeping) thinking up this challenge. I hope some of you will join me and read outside your comfort zone!

Completed 0/20

• Joker
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• 10
• Heart
• Diamond
• Spade 
• Club
• Ace
• Jack
• Queen
• King
• Black
• Red

Nerd Daily 25

 Here's the Nerd Daily challenge for 2025.  Again it is a prompt based challenge that I plan to combine with similar prompts on other challenges.  

#THENERDDAILY #NERDREADING2025

Completed 0/52

1. 2025 release:
2. Judge a book by its cover:
3. Recommended by the Nerd Daily:
4. Debut author:
5. Green on cover:
6. Audiobook:
7. A new author to you:
8. Set in the decade you were born:
9. Author starting with J:
10. Title is red:
11. Released in July 2025:
12. A sequel:
13. Award-winning:
14. Picked by a loved one:
15. 350-499 pages:
16. Author with X, Y, or Z in name:
17. Animal on cover:
18. A 2024 release you neglected: 
19. Workplace or holiday setting:
20. Illustrations or images within:
21. Features siblings:
22. Protagonist starting with P:
23. Book with orange spine: 
24. Bookstore or library recommendation:
25. Book you've been putting off:
26. Spooky or cozy:
27. A genre you don't usually read:
28. Gifted to you:
29. Illustrated cover: 
30. An author you love:
31. A book that's hot right now:
32. 2025 adaptation:
33. A book you know nothing about:
34. Title starts with A or L:
35. Multiple perspectives:
36. Standalone:
37. Set in winter:
38. A different nationality:
39. Three-word title: 
40. A queer main character:
41. Thriller or romance:
42. Wish you had or read when you were younger:
43. Part of a duology:
44. Quoted by an author you like:
45. Recommended by a friend:
46. Bought on holiday:
47. #ownvoices: 
48. Under 250 pages:
49. Murder or wedding:
50. Five-syllable title: 
51. Two or more authors:
52. Reader's choice:

Memoirs 2025

  Jamie also hosts a memoir reading challenge on her Whatever I Think blog.  I am really trying to read more nonfiction this year so I want to prioritize this challenge for sure

The only requirement to participate is to read 5 memoirs.  I have included links to lists that Jamie provided on her blog to get different ideas for memoirs to select.

Goodreads: Best Memoir/Autobiography

Goodreads: Memoirs by Women 

Amazon Best Seller Memoirs

B&N: 50 Essential Memoirs

Here are the categories:

1. Mental Illness Memoir: 
2. Other Illness Memoir: 
3. Political Memoir:  
4. Food Memoir:
5. Animal Memoir: 
6. Music Memoir: 
7. Travel Memoir: 
8. Written by a person of color: 
9. Written by a woman:
10. Written by a person who identifies as LGBTQIA: 
11. Written by an actor or a comedian: 
12. Written by an author or journalist: 
13. Written by any other celebrity: 
14. Written by someone under 40: 
15. Written by someone over 40: 
16. Written by someone from a country different from your own: 
17.  One you find thought-provoking: 
18.  Made into a movie: 
19.  Graphic novel memoir: 
20.  Bestselling memoir: 
21.  Humorous memoir: 
22.  Fictional memoir: 
23.  In translation:
24.  Won an award: 
25.  Published in 2024: 
26.  Published in 2023 or earlier: 
27.  Under 300 pages: 
28.  Over 300 pages: 
29.  One you want to re-read: 
30.  On a favorite topic: 
31.  By a favorite celebrity: 
32.  Free choice: 
33.  Free choice: 
34.  Free choice:

Lets Laugh Together

  Thought I would try the humor challenge again this year.  I could use some light-hearted reads mixed into the choices.  This one is hosted by Jamie at her Whatever I Think of Blog

Choose a level from below.  You may go up a level, but not down.

Cartoonist: 1-5 books

Humor Columnist: 6-10 books <=  My Goal

Comedy Writer:  11-15 books

Stand Up Comedian: More than 15 books 

I am starting with Humor Columnist as I think I can find 6 books across other challenges to meet this number

 Progress:  0/6 

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Historic Fiction Reading

 

 Besides cozy mysteries I am quickly discovering my favorite genre is Historical Fiction.  I am going to participate in the Hist Fiction challenge hosted at The Intrepid Reader.   She has great lists and info on lots of books.  If you are interested in Hist Fiction at all,  I would highly recommend you check her blog out.  Although don't blame me if your TBR explodes.  

20th Century Reader - 2 books
Victorian Reader - 5 books
Renaissance Reader - 10 books  <=  My Goal
Medieval - 15 books
Ancient History - 25 books
Prehistoric - 50+ books

So be sure to go sign up if this one interests you at all.  

#histficreadingchallenge

Reviews will be posted here and on FB

Progress:  0/ 10

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WIAN 25

 Once again,  Andrea at Carolina Book Nook is hosting a prompt-based challenge that’s all about titles.  This is one of the most creative ones I participate in each year.  

You can sign up at any point on the Linky on the page but only count books read between  

Jan 1 and Dec 31, 2025.  Creativity to apply a book to the prompt is encouraged but only count a book for 1 prompt.  

Andrea’s site has links for reviews for each category so please be sure to go back and link your book reviews as you work through the challenge.

#wian2025

Post reviews on the blog for each prompt

Progress:  0/6

 In 2025, choose 6 books that have titles that contain:  (Click on the links for more examples and info)

• Cardinal direction
• Wanderlust
• First & last name
• Alliteration
• Deity
• Crime

Clearing the Piles

  Once again I am doing several challenges to help clear the ever growing TBR pile.  

Some of the TBR challenges refer to physical books I own and others have to do with clearing the list of Want to Read and Library borrows that I am always seeming to add to as well.  

First up are 2 hosted by Bev on her MyReadersBlock blog.  

Mount TBR-   #MountTBR2025  books you already own before 1/1/25  Goodreads group

 Challenge Levels:

Pike's Peak: Read 12 books from your TBR pile/s-  <== Trying this
Mount Blanc: Read 24 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Vancouver: Read 36 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Ararat: Read 48 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Kilimanjaro: Read 60 books from your TBR pile/s
El Toro*: Read 75 books from your TBR pile/s (*aka Cerro El Toro in South America)
Mt. Everest: Read 100 books from your TBR pile/s
Mount Olympus (Mars): Read 150+ books from your TBR pile/s

The Rules:
*Once you choose your challenge level, you are locked in for at least that many books. You are welcome to voyage further and conquer taller mountains after your commitment is met. 

*Books must be owned by you prior to January 1, 2023

*Audiobooks and E-books may count provided they are yours prior to January 1. ARCs are also fine.

Virtual Mount TBR-  #VirtualMountTBR2025 Clear your want to read list   Goodreads group

 Challenge levels:

Mount Rum Doodle: Read 12 books from your Virtual TBR/Wish List/Library
Mount Crumpit: Read 24 books from your Virtual TBR/Wish List/Library
Mount Munch: Read 36 books from your Virtual TBR/Wish List/Library  
White Plume Mountain: Read 48 books from your Virtual TBR/Wish List/Library
Stormness Head: Read 60 books from you Virtual TBR/Wish List Library
Mount Mindolluin: Read 75 books from your Virtual TBR/Wish List/Library  <== Trying this
Mount Seleya: Read 100 books 
Mount Olympus: Read 150+ books 

~Once you choose your challenge level you are locked in for at least that many books. If you find you are on a mountain-climbing roll and want to tackle a taller mountain, then you are welcome to upgrade. All books counted for lower mountains carry over towards the new peak.

This challenge is only for books you do not own. They may be borrowed from the library, a friend, found on a free e-book site (like Project Gutenberg), or anywhere else that allows you to temporarily "checkout" the book. Also--unlike Mount TBR--there is no date limit on your wish list. If you see a book that strikes your fancy after January 1 and want to grab it from the library, etc. then go for it.

  This is a straightforward challenge to just track books that are on your to read list- whether or not you actually own them.  Only requirement is that it must be published before 2024 and be on your list at the beginning of the challenge. Not sure if this challenge is being hosted this year or not.  

I found a new TBR challenge last year that is hosted by    Rose City Reads.  The goal is to read 25 books off your TBR this year.  This will obviously coordinate with the others   Link Reviews here

One additional Backlist based challenge is hosted by the Book Girls  They have called it the In Case You Missed It challenge and you will read a book each month from the last 12 years.  So Jan is 2013 and Dec 2024.  They have curated lists of recommendations as well.  I will note the book for the particular year when listing it below.

Read the rainbow

   Another straightforward challenge that involves picking books based on either their title or the cover.  It is hosted by Bev on the MyReadersBlock blog.  

#ColorCoded2025

Progress 0/9

1. Read book with "Blue" (or a shade of blue):   
2. Read a book with "Red" (or a shade of red):
3. Read a book with "Yellow" (or a shade of yellow): 
4.  Read a book with "Green" (or a shade of green):
5. Read a book with "Brown" (or a shade of brown):
6. Read a book with "Black" (or a shade of black):
7. Read a book with "White" (or a shade of white):
8. Read a book with any other color:
9. Read a book a word/image that implies color (rainbow, polka dot, etc)

Post my reviews on this site

Let's count the hours

 

 Here's a fun challenge based on numbers in the titles.  The idea is to fill out the clock face over the year

It is hosted by Jo Linsdell on her blog  

It is closely related to the Deck of Cards challenge tracked here.  

#ClockReadingChallenge

1.  
2.  
3.  
4.  
5.  
6.  
7.  
8.  
9.  
10.  
11.  
12.  

Audiobooks 25

  

  Sometimes the books I want to read are only available in audio format through the library so this helps with trying to "read" more audiobooks.  Additionally, in 2024 I would really like to continue spending more time listening to audiobooks while walking and exercising.  

This is hosted by Kimberly at  Caffeinated Book Reviewer and Jen at That's What I'm Talking About  This will be my 4th year attempting this challenge.  I am going to increase my goal to 

• Socially Awkward (Don’t talk to me) 15-20

#2025AudiobookChallenge

There is also a mini challenge being held in June for Audiobook month.  

Books Listened to this year

Progress  0/15

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A to Z for me

  

 A to Z Tracking 

Once again I plan to participate in 2 A-Z tracking challenges for Titles and the one for Authors as well.  I will track them both on this combined tracking page.  The tracking for the challenge can be done on the facebook page.  

The title and author based challenges are hosted by Dolly at EscapewithDollyCas   These are Alphabet Soup and Author Alphabet Soup.  

Read books starting with A to Z.  For the tougher letters (Q, X and Z)  you can count if they fall anywhere in the title. Exclude "the", "a" or "an" from beginning of title when assigning letters

  

• Books can be from any Genre. 
• Use #AlphabetSoupChallenge or #AlphabetSoupAuthorChallenge on social media
• All formats of books acceptable
• Cross overs with other challenges permissible

• Runs Jan 1- Dec 31

• Authors-  First, Middle or Last name counts  
  

A fun twist I found at the Challenge Factory on Goodreads is an A to Z from main characters.  I am going to add that to this tracking as well.  Sounds like a great way to keep better track of my characters names

Updates for reads on Titles  and Author

Travels through the Pages

 Once again I am going to try to visit all 50 states plus various countries through challenges this year.   The main state-based one is hosted by Lori on her blog EscapewithDollyCas  in her Literary Escapes Challenge.  Use the #LiteraryEscapes when reading books for this challenge.   There is a  FB page to share your reads on and to get ideas from others.  

I have decided to combine my tracking on this page to include the Book Girls Guide challenges for US states and world regions.  They have targeted areas for each month and would also apply to this challenge so it just makes sense to streamline here.  They include reading lists for each of the months on their site and will update each of the lists mid-month before that destination.  So Feb lists will be updated mid Jan.  There's a FB page to interact with other challenge participants.  After you have read a book for the month there is a location to share your read on their site  Intl / US books

Jan  Arctic & Antarctica/ New England MA, ME, NH,   RI, VT

Feb Western Europe / Southwest  AZ, CO, NM, UT, WY

Mar Africa /  Southeast AL, GA, FL, SC, TN

Apr Islands  / Heartland IA, KS, KY, MO, NE

May Eastern Europe & Russia  / Northeast CT, DE, NJ, NY, PA

Jun Australia & New Zealand /  South Central AR, LA, MS, OK, TX

Jul   Southern Asia /  Pacific CA, HI, NV, OR, WA

Aug   Northern Asia / Northern AK, ID, MT, ND, SD

Sep Transportation  /  Eastern Appalachian DC, MD, NC, OH, VA, WV

Oct Middle East  / Upper Midwest IL, IN, MI, MN, WI

Nov  North America / US Territories (includes all five)

Dec South America  / Traveling the USA

I have found a European based travel challenge on Rose City Reader which tracks how many European destinations you visit either through the author or the setting.  I am trying for 4 Star  Link for Reviews 

• 
  
  FIVE STAR (DELUXE ENTOURAGE): Read at least five books by different European authors or books set in different European countries.

• FOUR STAR (HONEYMOONER): Read four qualifying books. <= Goal

• THREE STAR (BUSINESS TRAVELER): Read three qualifying books.

• TWO STAR (ADVENTURER): Read two qualifying books.

• ONE STAR (PENSIONE WEEKENDER): Read just one qualifying book.

Additionally, on Goodreads there is the Around the World in 80 books which has both US Roadtrip and Global challenges.   The idea is to diversify where your books are set.   There is a perpetual Global one that goes by Circumnavigation.  My global tracker for 2023 is Tourist Travels which meant I could read any books in any order after starting with a US-based book.  There are harder and easier challenges within this global option as well. They also host some prompt-based challenges called Magic Squares.  Many of these prompts are different from most of the other challenges.  

My Circumnavigation tracker   At this point I have traveled to all 9 regions and 46 different countries since 2020.

These are the links to my 2025 travels 

Tourist Travels 2025:  I'm going for Frequent Flier

Here is my US Roadtrip for 2025  

Literary Escape updates on FB

European reading updates 

Book voyage and Read US FB page;  

My book passport in 2025

States Visited so Far: 1/51

Additional Countries:1

European Countries: 1/4

Alabama  

Alaska 

Arizona   IDEA: Scottsdale Heat (Laura Black Mysteries, #1)

Arkansas 

California 

Colorado   

Connecticut  

 

Delaware IDEA: the unbearable book club for unsinkable girls by Julie Schumacher / Hope Never Dies

District of Columbia

Florida  

Georgia 

Hawaii  

Idaho 

 Illinois 

Indiana  

 Iowa 

Kansas IDEA:  Gluten for Punishment (A Baker's Treat, #1)

Kentucky 

Louisiana  IDEA: The Physicists’ Daughter

Maine:  

 Maryland  IDEA:  A Cookie Before Dying

Massachusetts  

Michigan 

Minnesota 

 Mississippi  

Missouri   

Montana  

Nebraska IDEA: Death by Dissertation

Nevada 

New Hampshire  IDEA:  Mad Honey

 New Jersey  

New Mexico 

New York  

1. 
   

North Carolina  

1. 
   
2. 
   

North Dakota IDEA: The Night Watchman; See Also Murder; The Children's Blizzard

Ohio  

1. 
   
2. 
   

 Oklahoma   IDEA: Meera Patel series

Oregon  

1. 
   

Pennsylvania  

Rhode Island  

 S Carolina  IDEA:    

South Dakota  IDEA: Nearly Departed in DeadwoodTennessee  

Texas  

1. 
   

 Utah  IDEA:  The Final Arrangement (Flower Shop Mystery, #1)

Vermont  

1. 
   

 √ Virginia  Bound for Murder by Victoria Gilbert Blog Post and Goodreads Review 1/5/25 

 Washington 

1. 
   

West Virginia  IDEA:  No Filter (Barks & Beans Cafe Cozy Mystery #1)

Wisconsin 

1. 
   

 Wyoming  IDEA: Sign Off

US Territories:  

Additional Countries Visited:

Europe:  

1. Hungary:  Golden Hour by Brett Battles   Blog Post and Goodreads Review 1/1/25 

Asia: