Reading challenges have become increasingly popular on Instagram and bookish social media over the past few years. Where once hardcore readers may have scoffed at the notion of letting some pre-determined challenge dictate their reading, now bookstagrammers and readers are actively seeking out interesting and varied book prompts to shape their yearly reading goals.

The #readingchallenge hashtag brings up millions of results on Instagram showing readers tackling various challenges. And shopping sites like Etsy now sell printable challenge lists and trackers to help book lovers complete their chosen reading quests.

So why have reading challenges blown up recently? They provide focused goals for picking reading material, introduce new authors and genres, and add an element of fun community engagement. With so many great books out there, challenges help break indecision and give direction. And sharing your challenge journey on social media builds accountability.

The basic premise of a reading challenge is simple enough – complete a set of reading prompts or tasks within a certain timeframe, usually the calendar year. Challenges may suggest specific book titles to read, genres to try, authors to check out, etc. The prompts give your reading selection an element of variety and discovery you may not encounter on your own. You’re encouraged to read both in and outside your comfort zone.

To participate, you simply print or lookup the challenge prompts, then make an effort to incorporate those books into your reading over the course of the year. As you finish them, you can share reviews and updates with other challenge-takers online, comparing notes and celebrating successes. It becomes both a solo and social reading experience.

Popular Reading Challenges

When it comes to reading challenges, there are so many great options out there to choose from. But a few standouts seem to have become classics in the bookish internet realm. These challenges have stuck around because they strike a balance between being interesting but also achievable. They expand your reading horizons while also letting you still pick books you’ll enjoy.

One perennial favorite is the Popsugar Reading Challenge. Popsugar magazine creates this yearly challenge consisting of 40+ book prompts that range from simple to obscure. It’s meant to get readers sampling different genres, formats, and topics. Some examples of prompts are reading a book with a known pseudonym, a book recommended by a family member, a book with at least a 4-star rating on Goodreads, and a book with a map in it. While 40 books may seem intimidating, readers can pare it down to a more manageable number that fits their reading speed.

Book Riot’s Read Harder Challenge is another oft-attempted challenge, especially by seasoned readers looking to push their boundaries even further. There are 24 tasks focusing on diversity, indie presses, and overlooked voices. Some of the criteria includes reading an #OwnVoices book, a book in translation, an allegory, and a book of colonial or postcolonial literature. The Read Harder tasks definitely require more effort to complete, but they can broaden your reading worldview.

For an auto-generated set of challenges personalized to your reading history and TBR, check out Storygraph. Their algorithms will suggest challenges to you like “Step Outside Your Comfort Zone” or “Read More Nonfiction”. It’s an easy way to shake up your reading habits and discover new-to-you books and authors.

Tips for Completing Challenges

Embarking on a reading challenge can seem daunting, but with a bit of planning, it becomes much more manageable. Here are some tips for making the most out of your reading challenge experience:

• Set a reasonable goal for the number of books or challenges you want to complete. Don’t feel like you need to finish the entire challenge if that’s unrealistic for you. Scaling it to 15 or 20 prompts is fine.
• Enlist friends, a book club, or an online community like Bookstagram to tackle it together. Having a reading challenge buddy system helps motivate you when the enthusiasm starts lagging mid-year. You can discuss books, swap recommendations, and cheer each other on.
• Document your progress with photos and reviews on a profile like Goodreads. Sharing your thought process and completions publicly keeps you accountable. And it allows others to discover and applaud your challenge books.
• Take notes on authors or subjects you enjoyed from the challenge so you can seek out similar reads after. Track stand-out books in a list or journal. The challenge may uncover new favorites you’ll want to continue exploring.
• Don’t be afraid to make substitutions or tweak the prompts to better suit your personal interests and reading style. The challenges are meant to guide and inspire, not overwhelm. So make them work for you.
• Check items off the challenge list as you go to give a sense of accomplishment. If you track your progress visually, you’ll be motivated to keep filling in the blanks.

Reading challenges push us out of ruts and expose readers to new worlds. With some dedicated effort, you may find yourself a more adventurous reader by year’s end. Take on a challenge and see where it leads you. And enjoy discovering unexpected bookish treasures along the way.

Conclusion

Reading challenges have exploded in popularity for good reason. They provide a variety of benefits that enrich our reading lives in ways we may not expect. When embarking on a challenge, you’re not just completing arbitrary tasks – you’re immersing yourself in engaging experiences.

One major perk of challenges is that they introduce us to authors, genres, and subjects we likely wouldn’t encounter on our own. Stepping outside your go-to reading style pushes you intellectually and emotionally. You expand perspectives, knowledge, and interests.

Challenges also inject fun and friendly competition into reading. Comparing accomplishments and reviewing prompt books with other readers creates community. You feel connected over this shared journey to read more widely and intentionally.

And for those who have trouble sticking to goals or need structure, challenges provide reading accountability. You want to keep up with fellow challenge-takers which motivates you to finish more books. Your TBR stops being theoretical and becomes a concrete to-do list.

While any challenge has value, it’s about choosing the right fit for you. Seek out challenges that include the majority of prompts that pique your curiosity, not overwhelm it. Start small your first go-around and build on it.

There are so many amazing challenges to explore like Book Riot’s Read Harder, PopSugar’s Reading Challenge, Bookish Bingo, Read the Nobels, and countless more. Check out challenge generators from HowManyOfMe.com and TBR to find additional options.

Reading challenges remind us of the pure joy of following our interests down new literary paths. They reignite our passion for books and lead us to uncover fresh perspectives. Accept the challenge and see where it takes your reading this year.