I am probably the worst person when it comes to reading challenges. As a mood reader, forcing a TBR on myself is pretty much a guaranteed way to not read any of those books for as long as possible.
Throw in a neurodivergent brain that requires structure to function while also silently screaming “I can do what I want!” when I try to implement that structure myself, and you have someone who really, really struggles to achieve goals.
But that doesn’t stop me from trying! For the last few years I’ve been setting a yearly TBR for myself – think 22 in 22 – where I have one year to get through as many preselected titles as I can. When I saw the prompts for Book Riot’s 2023 Read Harder Challenge I realized that they were perfect for helping me get out of my comfort zone and work through my list of unread books.
The books I’m choosing may not be the ones I use to fill the prompts, but it will be nice to have options as I attempt to read through this list. I’m also only using books that I own copies of or that I know my library has.
1. Light from Uncommon Stars
Read a novel about a trans character written by a trans author.
2. Neverwhere (rec’d VE Schwab)
Read one of your favorite author’s favorite books.
3. The New Queer Conscience (Pocket Change Collective)
Read a book about activism.
4. The Hate U Give
Read a book that’s been challenged recently in your school district / library OR read one of the most-challenged / banned books of the year by a queer and / or BIPOC author.
5. Miss Abbott and the Doctor
Read a completed webcomic.
6. Pretty much anything from 2022
Finish a book you’ve DNFed.
7. The World We Make
Listen to an audiobook performed by a POC of a book written by an AOC.
8. On a Sunbeam
Read a graphic novel/comic/manga if you haven’t before; or read one that is a different genre than you normally read.
9. Parable of the Sower (was originally published by indie publisher, Four Walls Eight Windows)
Read an independently published book by a BIPOC author.
10. This honestly sounds perfect for mood reading so I’ll leave it blank
Read a book you know nothing about based solely on the cover.
11. Heroes’ Feast (Dungeons & Dragons): The Official D&D Cookbook
Read a cookbook cover to cover.
12. An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States
Read a nonfiction book about BIPOC and/or queer history.
13. The Guncle
Read an author local to you.
14. The Alien’s Runaway Omega
Read a book with under 500 Goodreads ratings.
15. The Henna Artist or The Map of Salt and Stars
Read a historical fiction book set in an Eastern country.
16. Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating
Read a romance with bisexual representation.
17. Firekeeper’s Daughter
Read a YA book by an Indigenous author.
18. Everything Is OK (Tung)
Read a comic or graphic novel that features disability representation.
19. Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot
Read a nonfiction book about intersectional feminism.
20. If They Come for Us
Read a book of poetry by a BIPOC or queer author.
21. Somewhere Beneath Those Waves
Read a book of short stories.
22. We Hunt the Flame
Read any book from the Ignyte awards shortlist/longlist/winner list.
23. My Heart Is a Chainsaw
Read a social horror, mystery, or thriller novel.
24. So many to pick from…
Pick a challenge from any of the previous years’ challenges to repeat (a finished fanfic, a book whose movie or TV adaptation you’ve seen, a queer retelling, a book by a disabled author, etc)
That should be everything. Have you ever taken on a reading challenge? What are some books you’d recommend for these prompts?
Happy reading!
Fictional Wanderings 