The Beyond The Bookends’ 2023 Reading Challenge
The 2023 Reading Challenge is here and we are SO EXCITED to be launched our 6th reading challenge since we started the blog. And this year we have a special twist! We will be partnering with Tree House Books for the summer portion of the challenge.
The 2024 Reading Challenge is Here!
Last year’s reading challenge was one of the most popular reading challenges we have ever done. This year, we created a fantastic list of prompts for 2023 after listening to your suggestions and feedback. There were so many amazing options that we had a hard time narrowing it down to just 12.
We think the 2023 Reading Challenge has the perfect combination of fun and thought-provoking reads. We will always provide you with a list of suggested books but, you are always free to read a book of your own choosing.
Are you already participating in the 2024 reading challenge? For more reading challenges, check out the complete list of reading challenges here.
*Post contains affiliate links. Purchases made through links result in a small commission to us at no cost to you.
What is the 2023 Reading Challenge?
We are so excited about our 2023 reading challenge. Each year, we post one prompt per month to help you expand your reading horizons. Join the Beyond the Bookends community as we discuss our picks for the reading challenge, get input from our readers, and help you decide what you want your next read to be. We will be live on Instagram on the last Wednesday of the month at 7:30– hope to see you there!
How does a Reading Challenge work?
Every month we will provide you with a list of books we think you will love. We will provide a range of books from fiction and historical fiction to romances. Feel free to pick one of our suggested books or, if these do not appeal to you, any book of your choice.
How do I Join the Reading Challenge?
It is so easy to join us for the Beyond the Bookends 2023 Reading Challenge. You can simply sign up for our email and download the templates from the subscriber printable library. Every month you can see our recommendations and suggestions for great books to read.
Want The Best FREE Reading Log Printable? Check out our post along with great tips on how to use them.
2023 Reading Challenge by Month
Our biggest hurdle this year was creating a balance of heavy and light books. Within each category, you will find a mix of suggestions so that how heavy the reading challenge becomes is entirely up to you!
You will find out prompts below and you can also find a few trackers to mark off your progress. We will update this post with links to book lists at the beginning of each month.
What Makes the 2023 Reading Challenge Special?
This year we are pleased to be partnering with Tree House Books, a literacy organization in Philadelphia. The mission of Tree House Books is to grow and sustain a community of readers, writers, and thinkers in North Philadelphia. Through multi-programs such as a traveling bookmobile, a neighborhood book delivery program, and on-site literacy services this organization gets books into the hands of children who need them the most.
Our August reading challenge prompt is to read a book about poverty and its impact. During that time we hope to inspire a feeling of gratitude and giving. Since the prompt is also part of the 2023 Summer Reading Challenge, which spans May-August, we will be hosting multiple in-person and virtual events and giving opportunities to raise funds and collect books for this incredible organization all summer long.
Please head here to donate to Tree House Books.
2023 Reading Challenge Book Lists
- January- Read a book coming to the screen in 2023
- February- Read a historical romance
- March- Read a novel about music, bands, and musicians
- April- Read a book about sisters
- May- Read a detective books
- June- Listen to a full-cast audiobook
- July- Read a book set in Italy
- August- Read a book about the impact of poverty
- September- Read a book written by a BIPOC female author
- October- Read a magical realism book
- November- Read a book set in winter
- December- Read a book by your favorite author (here are some of our favorite authors’ books ranked/ in order)
Want to check out the 2022 reading challenge? You can have a look to get some ideas for more great books.
What to Challenge Yourself Even More?
Do you love to read and want to challenge yourself even more? We just started doing mini-book challenges for each season. There is a preview of the Winter 2023 Reading Challenge above. Be sure to head over to our Reading Challenge page for each of the seasonal reading challenges and our famous Summer Reading Bingo!
Quarterly Magazine
We are also bringing back the quarterly magazine. Like last year, the magazine will feature previews of the coming reading challenge prompts and it will also feature highlights for the upcoming book releases.
You’ll get our personal takes on which books we are most excited about broken down by month. Think of it as an easier-to-read, more personal version of our quarterly book release posts. We’ve included some sample pages below.
Instagram Tracker
Share your monthly picks with us over on Instagram. Instagram is where we do most of our book giveaways too, so if you aren’t following us there already, now’s the perfect time to do so.
We have a video tutorial of how to add book covers to the Instagram reading challenge tracker available in our highlights. If you don’t want to track your reads digitally, check out the blank tracker farther down in the post.
Blank 2023 Reading Challenge Tracker
Keep track of the books you read with this handy blank 2023 reading challenge tracker. You can download a copy here.
I’m going to share your 2023 Reading Challenge with a link to this page on my blog this Friday. I like that you aimed for balance between light and heavy reads.