The 2025 Booktempter's TBR Challenge
Hellllooooo and so we reach another year!
I am sure that like many readers there may has been an accumulation of reading material on your shelves. Personally, I always blame the authors, the publishers, also those other merciless booktempting bloggers and in no way have I helped your bookshelves grow to a level you can feel L-space bending reality.
But all is not lost as I the ever helpful angelic and in no way like Moriarty am always keen to help readers in need and I offer you a simple 12-month long challenge to help you reduce those TBR piles. In the process you’ll learn what is in the TBR stack(s) and hopefully this will help further reductions as we go along.
So for 2025 here are the simple rules
1 – It applies to your TBR pile as it looks at 23:59 31/12/2024. No new books added after that date can be added to the challenges (I do allow you to grow your TBR pile as I am not cruel and my blog is here to help of course)
2 – If you are a blogger, you cannot include ARCs. Sorry, this is for solving your self-induced TBR problems
3 – You can do one challenge a month, or more if you fancy a stretch goal. You do NOT though have to complete them all in the in the month. The idea is to finish them by the end of the year., Do not create unnecessary pressure on yourself
So, what do we have for you this year?
January – First steps
These challenges are about allowing you to treat yourselves. We often have excuses for not reading something so for starting 2025. It nice and easy
You have my permission to read the last book you added to the TBR pile
Imagine getting a book and just reading it straight after, not adding it to a shelf to get dusty!
Stretch Goal
Time travelling – read the oldest book in your TBR pile (this can be in terms of publication or buying date!)
Release the prisoner from their TBR prison!
February – Short and Sweet
For this challenge it is about reading time, learning that you can read just a few pages a day and that is OK
Read 28 short stories - they can be in magazine, anthology or collection form. You don’t even have to finish the books! Just 28 tales to read
Stretch Goal
You started so you finish – you have to finish the magazine, anthologies or collections you chose!
March – Ready Steady Go!
This challenge is about the long haul
Start a series, or the next book in a series that has been lingering on those shelves.
Stretch Goal
No Skipping to the end – finish the series (or at least get to the latest book in it)
April – Easter Eggs
Lets test how many plots you can follow at once
Read a book about stories within stories
Stretch Goal
Treat time – pick a book by an author you love. Treat yourself you’ve earned it
May – The Random Factor
This is about the power of a lucky dip but I’ll help choose it for you
Pick the fifth book you spot in your pile/shelf/ebook library
Stretch Goal
Your turn - You pick a random book – any method you want
June – Use the daylight/long reading night
This caters for those of us who have long days or short nights across the planet
Read the longest book in the TBR pile
Stretch Goal
Halfway there living on a prayer - Find the middle of your TBR pile - read that book!
July – Travelling broadens the mind
Lets spread your wings
Can you read a book by an author from the other side of the world from you? Try to look outside the US or UK though!
Stretch Goal
Morer travelling - Can you read a book set in another country than your own (real or imaginary)?
August – Take a trip?
For this I want you outside your reading comfort zone.
Read a book that is in a genre you don’t usually read
Stretch Goal
Get back home – read a book from your favourite genre
September – Just the facts
As its time to get back to school let’s learn something
Read a non-fiction book
Stretch Goal
Lessons will be learnt – Can you read a tale of revenge?
October – Trick and Treat
Let’s go classical for this month
Read something spooky!
Stretch Goal
Bring in the harvest – can you find a book ending a series in your pile?
November – lets go Indie!
Let’s go short fiction and also explore outside the big press
Can you read four novellas by an independent publisher (not one of the big 5)
Stretch Goal
Can you real an independent publisher novel?
December – Say Thank you
Let’s respect those who have been kind to us
Can you read a book that was gifted to you?
Stretch Goal
Can you pick a book you wanted to treat yourself to and never got around to reading?
