Take On the Goodreads Summer Reading Challenge!

Posted by Marie on May 20, 2019
For book lovers who want to stretch their reading goals this season, our exclusive summer reading challenge is here to help. Below you'll find prompts for beginners who want to get their feet wet and additional prompts for experts who want a deeper dive. You can also download a PDF version here. Happy reading!

For Beginners


  • Good as gold: Read a book that won a Goodreads Choice Award.

  • The book is better: Read a book being adapted for TV or film this year.

  • Short & sweet: Read a book with less than 100 pages (or a book you can finish in one sitting).

  • On the bandwagon: Read one of the most read books right now on Goodreads.


  • Actually want to read: Read a book that's been on your Want to Read shelf for more than a year.

  • Not from around here: Read a book set in a different culture from your own.

  • In the friend zone: Read a book that a friend has recommended.

  • It takes two: Read a coauthored book.


  • Wheel of format: Read a book in a format that you don’t normally read in (­a graphic novel, poetry, a play, an audiobook, etc.).

  • New voices: Read a debut novel.

  • Past love: Reread a book you loved when you were younger.

  • Armchair traveler: Read a book set in a destination you want to visit.


  • Expert-Level Additions

  • Stay awhile: Read a book with more than 500 pages.

  • Stranger than fiction: Read a nonfiction book published this year.


  • Tongue-tied: Read a translated book.

  • No place like home: Read a book that appears in your Goodreads newsfeed.

  • Continental drift: Read a book set on every continent.

  • Genre explorer: Read a book from a genre you've never read before.

  • Reading roulette: Read the third book you see on your Want to Read shelf.

  • Primary reading: Read a book with a number or color in the title.

  • Back to school: Read a book about a subject you don't know much about.




  • Check out the complete guide to Summer Reading, including:
    Summer Reading Recommendations from Favorite Authors
    Goodreads Staffers Share Their Summer Reading Picks
    The Hottest Books of Summer

    Comments Showing 51-100 of 155 (155 new)


    message 51: by Sara (new)

    Sara Hernández When does this challenge begin and when it does finish?


    message 52: by Barbara (last edited May 24, 2019 08:20PM) (new)

    Barbara Ferrara Erin wrote: "A book set on every continent? Suggestions please!!!!"

    Any particular continent? What kind of book do you like? The Brief History of the Dead, by Kevin Brockmeir is a fantasy adventure novel and the main story has stayed with me for years. You can check off your Antarctica box.


    message 53: by Samadrita (last edited May 24, 2019 09:33PM) (new)

    Samadrita Okay, I am in too. This sounds wonderful.

    But there isn't a way of posting our updates on the challenge or a challenge completed badge? Because, that would have been nice.


    message 54: by Brenda (new)

    Brenda T. Anaya Lovely, I'd be really glad to begin this challenge reading Circe


    message 55: by Jennifer (new)

    Jennifer Erin wrote: "A book set on every continent? Suggestions please!!!!"

    If you're up for non-fiction, you could always read a book that discusses Pangea...

    Such as Earth: An Intimate History. Or, since the dinosaurs lived on Pangea, The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs: A New History of a Lost World. Or anything on biogeography.

    I know some people would consider this "cheating" but all of today's continents were incorporated into Pangea, so I think it should count :)


    message 56: by Mariuca (new)

    Mariuca Great! Just what I needed ^^


    message 57: by Jesha (new)

    Jesha I am joining! I know I won't be able to get to all of these but I'm excited to try


    message 58: by Christina (new)

    Christina I'm really excited to start this, I loved last years challenge. I'm not too sure about the book set on every continent.... I guess I might be reading 7 books to check that off.
    Also, if anyone has a suggestion for nonfiction published this year, I'd love to hear it. I looked at a couple of lists of this year's best nonfiction and nothing really jumped out at me.


    message 59: by Cordula (new)

    Cordula Good Omens The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Terry Pratchett
    What if a books fits to more than one categorie?
    Like “Good Omens”, for instance.
    It’s coauthored, it’s adapted for tv this year, and it’s been on my reading list for quite a while, so three goals at once.
    Would this be considered cheating? 🤔


    message 60: by Lucie (new)

    Lucie Moulton Might be a stretch...but is it possible to link up the challenge in order to appear on each person’s page in order to write in as we go...? I certainly could print pdf or create a link of my own. Just wondered if we could continue documenting challenge through GR platform much like I do to catalogue the yearly read.


    message 61: by Jennifer (new)

    Jennifer Christina wrote: "if anyone has a suggestion for nonfiction published this year, I'd love to hear it. I looked at a couple of lists of this year's best nonfiction and nothing really jumped out at me. ."

    I'd recommend Midnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World's Greatest Nuclear Disaster.


    message 62: by Meghan (new)

    Meghan I'm not always great with reading challenge since I am a mood reader but this sounds great. I'm starting on June 1st and going to the end of September. I started my pile of books but I'm struggling on a few. Can't wait to start!


    message 63: by Tsukio (new)

    Tsukio Do Booktubers count as friends? xD


    message 64: by Melissa (new)

    Melissa Veras Can you please clarify the Continental drift challenge? Do we need to read 5/7 books?


    message 65: by Meghan (new)

    Meghan I think I found a loophole and/or cheat for the continental option. The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin. It take place on a supercontinent. Just in case anyone was struggling with a choice.


    message 66: by Nancy N (new)

    Nancy N My time frame for this is during the “summer season” time of Memorial Day to Labor Day. Just finished my first category, reading Educated for the Good as Gold. OMG, what a book!!!!


    message 67: by Aneta (new)

    Aneta This challenge sounds fun - too bad that there isn't a better way to track it other than general updates. It'd be fun to have a similar tab to yearly challenges.


    message 68: by Alli (new)

    Alli The Book Giraffe I am not sure when this starts but my summer from College has already started so I am going to go ahead and start!


    message 69: by TraceyL (new)

    TraceyL I've started already. I figured that the start of the challenge is when this was posted.


    message 70: by Martynas (new)

    Martynas Petkevičius Cordula wrote: "Good Omens The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Terry Pratchett
    What if a books fits to more than one categorie?
    Like “Good Omens”, for instance.
    It’s coauthored, it’s adapt..."


    I personally don't think that would be cheating at all, at least from the wording of the challenge. Besides, how realistic is it to read 20+ books during summer?


    message 71: by Laura (new)

    Laura Can one book count for multiple categories?


    message 72: by read it twice (new)

    read it twice Gizem-in-Wonderland wrote: "Tracey wrote: "Is there a specific place to post about our progress, or just download the PDF and check it off for ourselves? It would be nice to have an easy way to share it on my feed."

    I was th..."
    I wish I could like this comment :)


    message 73: by Ami (new)

    Ami Morrison Yacoob wrote: "Are there any suggestions for books that cover "Read a book set on every continent"?"

    I'd look at action adventure stuff... like Clive Cussler or something... A lot of those action adventure type stories are glob trotting adventures.

    Alright, since there is no official date for start and end, I think I will follow the traditional summer months of June, July and August. :D Looking forward to starting this, although some of them seem like they might be a little bit of a challenge.


    message 74: by Victoria (new)

    Victoria could you please make something to track it like with the general reading challenge :(


    message 75: by Isabelle (new)

    Isabelle whaat?! beginners have to read more books?! unbeliveable ;)


    message 76: by Cordula (new)

    Cordula Laura wrote: "Can one book count for multiple categories?"

    I think so =)


    message 77: by Elizabeth (new)

    Elizabeth Green Aya wrote: "What does "Read a book set on every continent" mean?"

    I was wondering if that meant one book in each continent or if that was one book that was set on every continent in the same book.


    message 78: by Cordula (new)

    Cordula Martynas wrote: "Besides, how realistic is it to read 20+ books during summer?"
    If it’s a VERY rainy summer ... ^^


    message 79: by TraceyL (new)

    TraceyL Elizabeth wrote: "Aya wrote: "What does "Read a book set on every continent" mean?"

    I was wondering if that meant one book in each continent or if that was one book that was set on every continent in the same book."


    I took it as reading 7 books, although I guess if you find 1 book that hits all 7 that would count too.


    message 80: by Jasmine (new)

    Jasmine Jennifer wrote: I'd recommend Midnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World's Greatest Nuclear Disaster.

    Thank you for the suggestion! I've added it to my looong list of books to be read.


    message 81: by Erin (new)

    Erin Shannon wrote: "Some of these I just can't do, I already read in every format, and a genre I've never read before? I'm the kind of person that reads everything I can get my hands on, can't think of a genre I haven..."

    Maybe modify it to a genre you don't read a lot of? I think that's a fair and reasonable adjustment to make.


    message 82: by Erin (new)

    Erin Cordula wrote: "Good Omens The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Terry Pratchett
    What if a books fits to more than one categorie?
    Like “Good Omens”, for instance.
    It’s coauthored, it’s adapt..."


    I personally won't use one book for more than one category...of the same challenge. But I'm now participating in three different challenges, so I will use one book for more than one challenge. Bit it's totally up to you how you tackle it, I would say.


    message 83: by Erin (new)

    Erin Isabell wrote: "whaat?! beginners have to read more books?! unbeliveable ;)"

    No. The advanced is the beginner list PLUS the additional books.


    message 84: by Tweller83 (new)

    Tweller83 Tsukio wrote: "Do Booktubers count as friends? xD"

    I count them as "friends" - go for it!


    message 85: by Tweller83 (new)

    Tweller83 https://youtu.be/BGcoty1q43g
    #QueerLit Readathon. Can't find my original post to reply to the question someone asked about what it is. Kathy Trithardt and two more booktube creators host this readathon.


    message 86: by Michelle (new)

    Michelle Snow Where do you find the "Most Read" books?


    message 87: by Shaun (last edited May 28, 2019 02:16AM) (new)

    Shaun Victoria wrote in message 77: "could you please make something to track it like with the general reading challenge :("

    The best way to track the Summer Reading Challenge would be via the downloadable PDF. Even though we're not looking to create a feature for this challenge akin to the yearly reading challenge feature, you could always create a custom shelf for it (named for example "Summer RC 2019") and add your summer challenge books there. I hope this information helps!


    Michelle wrote in message 89: "Where do you find the "Most Read" books?"

    You can find Most Read Books in May by clicking here! For future reference, you'll find future posts like these under Browse > News and Interviews. 👀


    message 88: by Aneta (new)

    Aneta Shaun wrote: "Victoria wrote in message 77: "could you please make something to track it like with the general reading challenge :("

    The best way to track the Summer Reading Challenge would be via the downloada..."


    Too bad you’re not looking into feature like the yearly challenge - tracking it via pdf is not fun at all and not social at all like goodreads usually is. Equally - separate shelf is not fun feature at all. I think you missed big opportunity here as most people keep bringing up that they’d like the challenge feature.


    message 89: by Jennifer (new)

    Jennifer Aneta wrote: "Shaun wrote: "Victoria wrote in message 77: "could you please make something to track it like with the general reading challenge :("

    The best way to track the Summer Reading Challenge would be via..."


    How about tracking it through the 2019 Reading Challenge - maybe adding it to your Corner or something? Or maybe even convincing a moderator to set up a special place for it within the 2019 Reading Challenge?


    message 90: by Aneta (new)

    Aneta Jennifer wrote: "Aneta wrote: "Shaun wrote: "Victoria wrote in message 77: "could you please make something to track it like with the general reading challenge :("

    The best way to track the Summer Reading Challeng..."


    I’d love to have a special place for it within the general reading challenge.


    message 91: by Jennifer (last edited May 29, 2019 10:38AM) (new)

    Jennifer For everyone who wants to track the Summer Reading Challenge, here's a group in the 2019 Reading Challenge:
    https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...


    message 92: by Sarah (new)

    Sarah Furan Tracey wrote: "Antarctica, North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia/South Pacific.

    I know that depending on where you live in the world, you consider different places to be continents, b..."


    I would like help finding a book set on every continent! Who has suggestions????


    message 93: by Sarah (new)

    Sarah Furan Yacoob wrote: "Are there any suggestions for books that cover "Read a book set on every continent"?"

    I need help with that one too!


    message 94: by Sarah (new)

    Sarah Furan Ana wrote: "So I created a group for this challenge. It's just a beginning. I hope to add all the prompts later during the day and hopefully some more content.
    https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/......"


    Thanks for creating this! This page is awesome! I've joined up.


    message 95: by Jasmine (new)

    Jasmine I'm a slow reader, and have a huge pile of books I want to read this year. I don't think I will actively do the challenge, but I'll see if any of the books I read fit the challenge. I have joined the group, though.


    message 96: by Vicki (new)

    Vicki I joined up then left because it had so much to do and I'm trying to cut back on challenges this year but I would like to try it Jan. 2020
    Great group.


    message 97: by Sarah (new)

    Sarah Furan Yacoob wrote: "Are there any suggestions for books that cover "Read a book set on every continent"?"

    I found :
    Far and away : reporting from the brink of change : seven continents, twenty-five years by Andrew Solomon.


    message 98: by read it twice (new)

    read it twice Hi everyone,
    Books that I put on my goodreads summer reading challenge TBR might help others.
    So I picked
    Asia - The astonishing colour of after
    Africa - My sister, the serial Killer
    Europe - The unlikely pilgrimage of harold fry
    Australia - The rosie project
    Antarctica - Where'd you go Bernadette
    North America - The handmaid's tale
    South America - The diary of Frida Kahlo
    Also I picked Americanah for Armchair traveler prompt which also spans in Africa, north america and Europe so that can be a good pick if you want one book for more prompts. Hope this helps.


    message 99: by Cátia Santos (last edited Aug 21, 2019 07:44AM) (new)

    Cátia Santos I’m in!

    Mixing the beginners Challenge with the expert one... i’ll updating my choices here!

    Good as gold: Into the Water
    The book is better: Read a book being adapted for TV or film this year.
    Short & sweet: The Grownup
    On the bandwagon: Read one of the “most read” books right now on Goodreads.
    Actually want to read: Read a book that's been on your Want to Read shelf for more than a year.
    Not from around here: Read a book set in a different culture from your own.
    In the friend zone: Read a book that a friend has recommended.
    It takes two: Lazarus
    Wheel of format: The Complete Maus
    New voices: El silencio de la ciudad blanca
    Past love: A Clockwork Orange
    Armchair traveler: El laberinto de los espíritus

    Stay awhile: La desaparición de Stephanie Mailer
    Stranger than fiction: Read a nonfiction book published this year.
    Tongue-tied: Read a translated book.
    No place like home: Read a book that appears in your Goodreads newsfeed.
    Continental drift: Read a book set on every continent.
    Genre explorer: The Silent Companions
    Reading roulette: Read the third book you see on your Want to Read shelf.
    Primary reading: Read a book with a number or color in the title.
    Back to school: A Pocket History of Ireland

    Good readings to everyone!


    message 100: by Catarina (new)

    Catarina Azevedo (mais_que_ler) When it starts and finish?


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