Bookish Challenges discussion
Yearly Challenge 2025
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Cats' 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: Emergency Exit Only by Michelle UptonDate: 5/1 3.5�
Task: 2.2
Fit: MC is trying to change her life & achieves personal growth through her efforts
Book: The Mirror by Marlys MillhiserDate: 14/1 4�
Task: 3.3
Fit: recommended by a BookCrossing friend
Book: A Girls' Guide to Winning the War by Annie LyonsDate: 16/1 4�
Task: 2.1
Fit: pub. January 1, 2025
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.
Book: Queen of Sorcery by David EddingsDate: 1/2 3�
Task: 2.3
Fit: major road trip
Book: The Bookseller's Gift by Felicity Hayes-McCoy
Date: 2/2 4�
Task: 2.2
Fit: friendship, family & community
Book: Magician's Gambit by David EddingsDate: 4/2 3�
Task: 2.1
Fit:
Book: When It All Went to Custard by Danielle Hawkins
Date: 5/2 5�
Task: 1.2
Fit: New Zealand author (I'm in Australia)
Book: The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen
Date: 7/2 3.5�
Task: 1.3
Fit: female, internationally known author
Book: Promises in Death by J.D. RobbDate: 8/2 4�
Task: 3.3
Fit: a famous couple & relationship in this universe
Book: Dinner at Rose's by Danielle Hawkins
Date: 11/2 4�
Task: 1.1
Fit: a romance
Book: Killjoy by Ann Cleeves
Date: 16/2 4�
Task: 3.2
Fit: art is a central theme at the Grace Darling Arts Centre
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.
Task: 1.1Book: A Town Called Treachery by Mitch Jennings
Date: 7/3 4�
Fit: mpg mystery
Task: 1.2
Book: The Frangipani Tree Mystery by Ovidia Yu
Date: 5/3 4�
Fit: never been to Singapore
Task: 2.2
Book: The Skeleton Takes a Bow by Leigh Perry
Date: 2/3 3�
Fit: author known for mysteries under more than one psedonym
Task: 2.3
Book: One Day by David Nicholls
Date: 1/3 3�
Fit: I didn't expect that ending
Task: 3.1
Book: Guardians of the West by David Eddings
Date: 4/3 3.5�
Fit: The whole book is a hunt for the kidnappers
Task: 2.1Book: The Blitz Detective by Mike Hollow
Date: 9/3 4�
Fit: detective MC
Task: 3.3
Book: The Rabbits by Sophie Overett
Date: 11/3 2�
Fit: unreliable narrator
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.
Book: Sister of the Bride by Carol QuintoDate: 8/4 2�
Task: 2.2
Fit: Cassie tricks her sister into a voyage of self-discovery
Book: Mr. Jeffries and the Jilt by Joy Reed
Date: 9/4 3�
Task: 3.2
Fit: set in the country
Book: Cold Truth by Ashley Kalagian BluntDate: 13/4 3.5�
Task: 1.3
Fit: MC overcomes the challenge of someone trying to kill her whilst coping with -40° temps
Book: Sunrise Over Mercy Court by Fiona McCallum
Date: 13/4 4�
Task: 2.3
Fit: a hopeful tale, perhaps we can all find that something worth living for no matter what life is throwing at us
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.
Book: A Spirited Bluestocking by Joan OverfieldDate: 1/5 3�
Task: 1.3
Fit: humorous romance
Book: The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself by Michael A. Singer
Date: 3/5 1�
Task: 2.3
Fit:
Book: Club Dead by Charlaine HarrisDate: 5/5 4�
Task: 1.2
Fit: Sookie is quirky & unconventional, although she'd like to be conventional
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.
Task: 2.3Book: A Valentine Embrace by Valerie King, Meg-Lynn Roberts, Olivia Sumner
Date: 3/6 2.5�
Fit: enemies to lovers
Task: 1.3
Book: All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris
Date: 5/6 3.5�
Fit: adapted to TV series
Bookish Challenges
Books mentioned in this topic
Strata (other topics)Treachery in Death (other topics)
Thoroughly Disenchanted (other topics)
Asylum (other topics)
Flying Too High (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Terry Pratchett (other topics)Alexandra Almond (other topics)
J.D. Robb (other topics)
Jack Adams (other topics)
Kerry Greenwood (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.