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 151-155 of 155 (155 new)

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    message 151: by Vanessa (last edited Aug 31, 2019 07:16AM) (new)

    Vanessa Dargain Jennifer wrote: "Since I didn't see this challenge until the middle of August, I'm going to let myself work on this until September 22, the last official day of summer.

    For Beginners
    • Good as gold: Then She Was ..."

    I always end my summer reading challenge on 9/11 as tribute to all the readers ( and their unfinished books ) on United Airlines flight 175 and American Airlines flight 11 . Fantasy is my favorite genre , so I chose "The book is better" category : Eragon /Inheritance cycle . I didn't like any of the 2019 movie adaptations
    Happy summer reading .



    message 152: by Ida (new)

    Ida Why is there no reading challenge for 2020?


    message 153: by Isabelle (new)

    Isabelle yeah, there won't be Summer Reading Challenge this year???


    message 154: by Summer (new)

    Summer (speaking_bookish) Will there be a 2020 version of this reading challenge?


    message 155: by Shelley (new)

    Shelley I love this challenge and am looking forward to do it again next year


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