Bookish Challenges discussion
Yearly Challenge 2025
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Jasmine's Yearly Challenge 2025
January - New Beginnings
Level 1
1. A book by an author you've never read before.
✅2. A book that starts a new series.
3. A book by a debut author.
Level 2
1. A book published in 2025.
✅2. A book about personal growth or change.
3. A book with "new," "begin," or "start" in the title.
Level 3
1. A book set during the start of a new year or a new season.
✅2. A book set in the future or involving a fresh start.
3. A book recommended by someone else to "start your year right."
Book: Southern RubyAuthor: Belinda Alexandra
Date completed: 04/01/25
Task: Level 2/2
How it fits: Ruby has to change her appearance to be able to support her family and be able to keep her standing in high society for her families sake in the 1950's.
Book: Jail BreakAuthor: Ross Greenwood
Date completed: 07/01/25
Task: Level 3/3
How it fits: MC leaves prison and tries to start a fresh in a new city
Title: The Nurses of Eastby EndAuthor: Anna Jacobs
Date completed:
Task: 1/2
How it fits: New series 1st book
February - Love Around the World
Level 1
✅1. A romance novel or a book with a love story.
✅2. A book set in a different country than the one you live in.
✅3. A book by a diverse or international author (your interpretation).
Level 2
✅1. A book with a pink or red cover (50%+).
✅2. A book about friendship, family, or other non-romantic love.
✅3. A book with a travel element (road trip, vacation, etc.).
Level 3
1. A book with "heart," "love," or "passion" in the title.
✅2. A book with food, music, or art as a central theme.
3. A book with a famous couple or relationship at its core.
Title: Birds in FlightAuthor: Anni Taylor
Date completed: 02/02/25
Task: L2/3
How it fits: MC goes on a road trip to find out what happened to her mother who disappeared when she was a child.
Title: Abroad in Japan: Ten Years In The Land Of The Rising SunAuthor: Chris Broad
Date completed: 02/02/25
Task: L1/2
How it fits: Book is set in Japan
Title: Yes No Maybe SoAuthor: Becky Albertalli
Date completed: 03/02/25
Task: L1/1
How it fits: YA romance novel
Title: The Perfumist of ParisAuthor: Alka Joshi
Date completed: 08/02/25
Task: L1/3
How it fits: The author was born in Jodhpur, India
Title: HorseAuthor: Geraldine Brooks
Date completed:
Task: L3/2
How it fits: Horse painting found at a road side turns out to be of a famous historical race horse and is worth a lot of money. Story is based around the horse and the museum discoveries concerning it including various paintings and the horses skeleton.
Title: The Wolf DenAuthor: Elodie Harper
Date completed:
Task: L2/2
How it fits: Amara and Dido are both slaves in a brothel but care about each other like sisters
March - Mysteries & Adventures
Level 1
1. A mystery, thriller, or adventure book.
✅2. A book set in a place you've never visited.
✅3. A book with a one-word title.
Level 2
✅1. A book with a detective or amateur sleuth.
✅2. A book by an author known for mysteries or thrillers.
✅3. A book with a plot twist you didn’t see coming.
Level 3
✅1. A book featuring a chase or hunt.
✅2. A book with "dark," "shadow," or "hidden" in the title.
3. A book with an unreliable narrator.
Book: IdentityAuthor: Nora Roberts
Date completed: 01/03/25
Task: L3/1
How it fits: Gavin takes Morgan's identity steals all her money, life and kills her BFF instead of her...Gavin is hunted by the FBI while he builds up to seeking his revenge for missing his mark...he keeps killing.
Book: Graves on the FensAuthor: Joy Ellis
Date completed: 03/03/25
Task: L2/1
How it fits: Nikki is a detective
Title: The Good DogAuthor: Simon Rowell
Date completed: 07/03/25
Task: L2/2
How it fits: Simon Rowell is known for his Zoe Mayer series of Detective books
Title: Cat & Mouse
Author: James Patterson
Date completed: 06/03/25
Task: L2/3
How it fits: Has a gruesome ending and twists before.
Title: WhitethornAuthor: Bryce Courtenay
Date Completed: 23/03/25
Task: L1/3
How it fits: One word title
Title: The Mountain Shadow
Author: Gregory David Roberts
Date Completed: 18/03/25
Task: L3/2
How it fits: Shadow is mentioned in the title of this book
Title: The Ghost Ship
Author: Kate Mosse
Date Completed: 12/03/25
Task: L1/2
How it fits: book is based around the canary islands for part of the story. I have never been there.
April - Blossoming Stories
Level 1
✅1. A book with flowers, trees, or nature on the cover.
✅2. A book with a predominantly green cover.
3. A book where a character overcomes a challenge.
Level 2
✅1. A book about growth or transformation.
2. A book about self-discovery.
3. A book that feels "uplifting" or hopeful.
Level 3
1. A book with "spring" or "bloom" in the title.
✅2. A book set in a rural or nature-focused setting.
✅3. A book inspired by or involving mythology.
Title: White GardeniaAuthor: Belinda Alexandra
Date Completed: 07/04/25
Task: L1/1
How it fits: flowers on cover
Title: The Seven
Author: Chris Hammer
Date Completed: 12/04/25
Task: L3/2
How it fits: Set in rural Australia
Title: Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic WorldAuthor: Max Lucado
Date Completed: 16/04/25
Task: L2/1
How it fits: How to live without anxieties and find peace, giving everything to The Lord.
Title: The Secret History of ChristmasAuthor: Bill Bryson
Date Completed: 17/04/25
Task: L3/3
How it fits: Christmas is a mythical as it comes
Title: Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your FamilyAuthor: Paul David Tripp
Date Completed: 28/04/25
Task: L2/2
How it fits: Parenting guide for Christians to find strength and guidance in The Lord to bring up their children in the way that they should go.
May - May We Laugh?
Level 1
1. A humorous or lighthearted book.
✅2. A book with a quirky or unconventional protagonist.
3. A romantic comedy.
Level 2
1. A book by a comedian or featuring comedic elements.
2. A book that made someone else laugh (get a recommendation!).
✅3. A book with an animal on the cover or in the story.
Level 3
1. A book with "funny," "laugh," or "smile" in the title.
2. A satirical book or one poking fun at society.
✅3. A book with a bright, cheerful cover.
Title: RetributionAuthor: Sarah Barrie
Date Completed: 02/05/25
Task: L1/2
How it fits: Lexi Winter is a very quirky trainee police officer who used to be a prostitute among other things.
Title: The Perfumer's SecretAuthor: Fiona McIntosh
Date Completed: 11/05/25
Task: L3/3
How it fits: bright and cheerful cover with flowers
Title: The Knitting Club at Wagtail RidgeAuthor: Janet Gover
Date Completed:
Task: L3/3
How it fits: Alpaca on cover
June - Across the Genres
Level 1
✅1. A book with multiple perspectives.
2. A book published before the year 2000.
3. A book adapted into a movie or TV series.
Level 2
1. A book outside your usual favorite genre.
✅2. A book that blends two or more genres (e.g., fantasy romance, sci-fi thriller).
3. A book featuring a genre-specific trope (e.g., enemies-to-lovers, chosen one, locked-room mystery).
Level 3
1. A book by an author who writes in multiple genres.
✅2. A book that is hard to classify into a single genre.
3. A book that redefines or subverts its genre.
Title: Face OffAuthor: David Baldacci
Date completed: 01/06/25
Task: L1/1
How it fits: lots of stories by different authors in one book, so lots of perspectives.
Bookish Challenges
Books mentioned in this topic
In a Sunburned Country (other topics)The Forgotten Letters of Esther Durrant (other topics)
Unexpected Blessings (other topics)
The Death of Mrs. Westaway (other topics)
Mary, Mary (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Bill Bryson (other topics)Kayte Nunn (other topics)
Barbara Taylor Bradford (other topics)
Ruth Ware (other topics)
James Patterson (other topics)
More...
Sign-ups are open throughout 2025.
The challenge will end on December 31, 2025.
The Challenge
1. Comment here to sign up and I will create a challenge thread for you. You can sign up at any point during the year but only for the months that are left. Example: If you join in January, you will be able to participate in the months January-December. If you join in March, you will be able to participate in the months March-December.
2. Each month, I will post prompts surrounding a specific theme to your thread. There will be 9 prompts each month, divided into 3 levels. For the completion of a level 1 prompt, you will receive 1 point. For level 2, you will receive 2 points and for level 3 it will be 3 points.
To receive each month's Book Award, please complete one prompt in each level. You can complete as many prompts as you want and are able to and in any order. Note that only books completed in the respective months will be accepted.
3. You have 3 free skips throughout the challenge but you can only use one free skip each month. To skip a prompt, please read a book that meets the general guidelines.
If you are out of free skips or want to use another skip in that month, you can either:
- spend 2 points to complete a prompt from a previous month,
- spend 3 points to complete a prompt from the current month twice or
- spend 5 points to read a book that meets the general guidelines.
4. Please make a completion post in your thread using this template:
Book:
Author:
Date completed:
Task:
How it fits:
5. If you don't have a personal point account thread yet, request one here.