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2025 Reading Challenges

Tobe Buffenbarger

2025 Reading Challenges

  • Goodreads Challenge

  • UnRead Shelf Project

  • Kid Read Aloud

  • Finishing the Series

  • Nonfiction Reader

  • Quarter of a Century

  • Retreat Recommendations

  • Read Around the USA

  • Romanceopoly

  • She Reads Romance

  • COYER

  • Fairytale Retelling

  • Cover Lover

  • Books to Movies

GoodReads Challenge (200) - I’m sticking with my usual 200 books for this overall goal. .

UnRead Shelf (50) - My seventh(?) year participating in this particular challenge. Last year I did decently and want to keep up that momentum. You can find more information about this challenge at The Unread Shelf.

Kid Read Alouds (50) - Continuing with this challenge again this year. We have some great read aloud choices for the spring semester. And I’m sure that I’ll pick some great titles for the fall semester.

Finishing the Series (20) - I’m hoping to finish 20 series this year. I have a long, long list of series that I’ve already started and haven’t finished yet. I want to prioritize those in my reading this year.

Nonfiction Reader (12) - I definitely need to get more nonfiction back into my reading. I’m hoping to get to at least one nonfiction a month. More information at Book’d Out..

Quarter of a Century (25) - As we move into the second quarter of the century, I want to go back and read at least one book from each of the preceding years. I went through my Goodreads and highlighted some interesting books to put on the potential list.

Retreat Recommendations (12) - Over the past few years, I’ve received some great recommendations from a variety of friends. And yet, so many of those recommendations are still sitting unread. I need to prioritize those.

  1. The Sisters of the Winter Wood by Rena Rossner

  2. Off with Her Head by Eleanor Herman

  3. Pandora by Susan Stokes Chapman

  4. The Kiss Quotient by Helen Huang (I chose for February’s book club selection)

  5. Empress for All Seasons by Emiko Jean

  6. The High Cost of Free Parking by Donald Shoup

  7. The Heaven and Earth Grocery Story by James McBride

  8. James by Percieval Everett

  9. The House at Riverton by Kate Morton

  10. The Bird King by G. Willow Wilson

  11. Murder Your Employer by Rupert Holmes

  12. There There by Tommy Orange

  13. The Governess by Anne Serre

  14. The Rook by Daniel O’Malley

  15. What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

  16. Divinity 36 by Gail Carriger

  17. Tess of the Road by Rachel Hartman

  18. Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

  19. The Adventures of Amina al-Sarafi by Shannon Chakraborty

Read Around the USA (50) - Such a stretch goal, but I’m going to try and read one book from every state this year. More information at The Book Girl’s Guide..

Romanceopoly (37) - I somehow missed this one last year, but I’m back this year. I read a ton of romance and am excited to get back into this challenge. More information at Romanceopoly.

She Reads Romance (12) - Another romance reading challenge for this year. More information at She Reads Romance.

COYER (Clean Out Your E-Reader) (20) - Goodness knows that I have too many books on my Kindle app. It’s time to start attempting to reduce that number. More information at Because Reading.

Cover Lover (50) - I love the idea of a challenge focusing on cover designs. I definitely judge a book by its cover. More information at Bloggin’ ‘bout Books..

Fairytale Retelling (12) - I always love fairy tale retellings and this challenge is perfect for me. More information at Charity Rau.

Books to Movies (12) - I thought I would resurrect a favorite challenge for me. I love reading the books before seeing the movie version.

I Read Horror (12) - I happened upon this challenge and immediately had to add it to my round up of challenges. I can’t wait to dive into some great horror this year.

I also decided to create my own spice meter for romance books. A 1-5 scale seemed too limiting for the types of books I read. So I expanded it to 8 levels with corresponding explanations. I will be rating all of my romance books on this new scale.

My rating system:

  • 5 stars - loved it, will tell everyone (or almost everyone) to read it

  • 4 stars - liked it, would recommend to certain people

  • 3 stars - okay book, but maybe not something i would recommend, maybe not a book for me, but I see merit

  • 2 stars - disliked it

  • 1 star - finished the book, but hated it! will rant to anyone about why I hated this one