This post was originally sent through my author newsletter on July 7th, 2023. To subscribe to my newsletter and receive up-to-date news, musings, and more, click HERE.
Last week, I reminisced about the summer reading challenges I used to do as a kid. This week, I want to share that I've picked a challenge for myself to complete this year!
When I was Googling summer reading challenges for adults, I came across so many different versions of the idea. Some were as simple as "Read one book a month." Well, I usually read at least a book a week. Other challenges were targeting specific genres of books, but I was searching for something a little more varied. Finally, I encountered BookBub's challenge graphic on Instagram:
That's more like it!
BookBub is a website that offers book discounts and recommendations. It's one of those places all of us authors cross our fingers to get featured! In fact, two of my author friends recently had a book show up on a BookBub list: The Antiquity Affair by Lee Kelly and Jennifer Thorne, which I finished just last week, is highlighted in the blog post "You'll Dig These 9 Action-Packed Books About Archaeologists." (I did dig this book, BookBub!)
Long story short, I was clicking around on BookBub a few days ago when I found this graphic, read the nine prompts, and decided this was my challenge. And The Antiquity Affair will be my first crossed-off square, since it was recommended on the BookBub blog! Off to a great start.
Now comes the part where I assess my TBR stack and my library holds list to see if there's anything else that fits one of the challenge prompts. If it does, it moves to the front of the queue. For prompts I'm less certain of, I'll have to do some research and ask around.
On that note: let me know if you have a recommendation for a historical novel set before the 20th century or a thriller set in a vacation destination! I'm super excited for both of those categories.
I'll share in my newsletter each week this summer which category I've crossed off and what I thought of the book. Also, for the purposes of this challenge, I'm considering summer to run until Labor Day. I finished The Antiquity Affair on July 2nd, and I know I recommended it last week, but I really did love it.
Want to join me in this reading challenge? What's your favorite prompt from this grid, and what book would you choose to accomplish it?
~Kathryn
What I'm:
Reading: The Royals Next Door by Karina Halle. My sister gave me this rom-com when we were together for the 4th of July. (In return, I gave her Trish Doller's Off the Map!) The Royals Next Door is about a woman who has a Harry-and-Meghan-ish royal couple move in next door to her remote Canadian island home. Almost immediately, sparks fly with the couple's Personal Protective Officer. I'm about halfway through, and it's fun so far!
Listening to: I wasn't really listening to Taylor Swift in 2010, when "Speak Now" released, so I'm actually excited to dive into the "Taylor's Version" re-release. It's new music to me... ;)
Loving: My daughter enjoyed a ton of cousin time over the 4th of July. Here she is with her littlest cousin, whom she absolutely adores, checking out the giraffes at the zoo.
