So along with the Beat the Backlist challenge, I thought that it might be fun to attempt the 2021 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge as well. I really love the prompts this year and there is a pretty active Facebook group and a Goodreads group, which will help to keep me motivated. There are quite a few prompts, and I do not want to plan them all out in advance, but I will share a few that I have some idea of what I am going to read. It is nice because I think I will be able to overlap the Beat the Backlist prompts with a few of these.
Click here to read more about the challenge.
1. A book that published in 2021
This is an easy one! I am sure I will read plenty of books published next year. Look out for my most anticipated reads of 2021. I will be posting that soon!
2. An Afrofuturist book
Seeing as The Fifth Season was one of my favourite books of the year, I am so excited to continue on with the series!
3. A book that has a heart, diamond, club, or spade on the cover
I have mixed feelings about Christina Lauren, but I will always read their books because they are quick and entertaining reads. The Soulmate Equation sounds like it has a lot of potential. I love that the main character is in STEM!
4. A book by an author who shares your zodiac sign
I know nothing about Joyce Carol Oates, but Blonde has been on my TBR for awhile. There is something about Marilyn Monroe that intrigues me and I know that Brad Pitt is producing the movie. Oates birthday is June 16th, which makes her a Gemini!
5. A dark academia book
If We Were Villains has been on my TBR for ages. I love anything to do with Shakespeare, so I am excited to finally get to it in 2021.
6. A book with a gem, mineral, or rock in the title
Jade City has received a lot of buzz lately and it is being adapted, so of course I have to read it. I found a hardback for $8 and I was so excited. I have a feeling I am going to love this one.
7. A book where the main character works at your current or dream job
I am a freelance editor, which makes The Editor a must read for me. I cannot believe I haven’t picked it up yet!
8. A book that has won the Women’s Prize for Fiction
I found a copy of The Lacuna in a little free library and I wasn’t sure when I would get to it, so I am excited that this prompt will give me excuse to pick it up. I know nothing about this other than the fact that it is written by Barbara Kingsolver.
9. A book with a family tree
Someone told me that A Discovery of Witches has a family tree, which made me even more excited to read it. I have a feeling I will be received the boxset as a gift this year, so 2021 is the year I read the whole series.
10. A bestseller from the 1990s
Girl With a Pearl Earring came out in 1999 and it has always intrigued me.
11. A book about forgetting
I have had The Book of M on my shelves for awhile. The phenomenon within this story is actually called The Forgetting, so I think it is the perfect choice for this prompt.
12. A book you have seen on someone’s bookshelf (in real life, on a Zoom call, in a TV show, etc.)
Escape from Camp 14 is my brother’s favourite book and I look at it every time I see his shelves. A fellow bookstagrammer recommended it to me recently, so I will definitely be borrowing it from my brother’s shelf in 2021.
13. A locked-room mystery
I feel like most of the locked-room mysteries that I know are by Agatha Christie, but I wanted to read something a little different. I have had my eye on Six Wakes for awhile, and I think you could consider it a locked-room mystery set in space.
14. A book set in a restaurant
I have a feeling that I will be reading a lot of food memoirs in 2021, starting with Eat a Peach by David Chang. Chang owns a restaurant empire, so a perfect fit for this prompt.
15. A book with a black-and-white cover
All of Erik Larson’s books have been on my TBR for awhile. I am hoping to get to a few of them in 2021!
16. A book by an indigenous author
I meant to get to Black Sun this year, so it is definitely a priority for 2021. I also have the audiobook! I have heard so many incredible things and I am excited to get to it.
17. A book that has the same title as a song
You Should See Me in a Crown is another book I meant to get to this year and I know it is so beloved. It is also a Billie Eilish song.
18. A book about a subject you are passionate about
Like I said, 2021 is going to be the year of the food memoir. I am passionate about food and cooking, so it is fun to read about professionals’ experiences in that world. Ruth Reichl is a food critic, which I think it so interesting. This would also work for the dream job prompt!
19. A book that discusses body positivity
I have heard some incredible things about this book! I think we can all use a dose of self-love.
20. A book on a Black Lives Matter reading list
Caste has been everywhere lately and it is one I definitely one I want to read in 2021. I have heard it is both well researched and well written. I have a feeling I will take a lot away from this one.
21. A genre hybrid
I have been told that The Golem and the Jinni fits into a plethora of genres, from historical fiction to magical realism to romance. I am so intrigued!
22. A book set mostly or entirely outdoors
This year I discovered a love for books that are part memoir, part nature writing, and so many people have recommended The Salt Path to me. Look at that cover! The author went on a 630 mile walk, so I think it is safe to assume that the majority of her story takes place outdoors.
23. A book with something broken on the cover
I have heard that The Library at Mount Char is weird in the best way- that is my kind of book! I think the burned book pages on the covers counts as something broken.
24. A book by a Muslim American author
Leave the World Behind has been receiving some mixed reviews, but I am so intrigued by the premise. I also have the audiobook.
25. A book that was published anonymously
I am struggling to come up with a book for this one! I would love any recommendations you have.
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This sounds like a lot of fun, I’m tempted to try to do it too. I had terrible luck with reading challenges this year but maybe this would be a fun one to try.
I’m not great at them either but I am not going to put too much pressure on myself. Just for fun!
Good luck and happy reading! 🙂
Thank you!
You’ll feel you walked that 600+ miles and need chap stick by the time you are finished with Salt Path! 😂😂😂
That makes me even more intrigued to read it! Definitely on the list for January.
It was amazing! Enjoy!
Sounds interesting! I’m definitely going to try this challenge 😉 plus all your selected books are amazing!
Awesome! I’m so looking forward to all the books I have planned for next year.
Good luck with the challenge! I’ll also be taking part, like the last few years. I just recently found the Facebook group you mentioned and I must say, it’s helped me so much.
Thank you! The Facebook group really is fantastic.
If We Were Villains is such a good read, I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did.
I have really high hopes for that one!
I always want to do this … but I never succeed … maybe I’ll try again … I’m such a mood reader that challenges like this are so hard for me!
I’m trying not to put too much pressure on myself! It’s funny because I looked back at this year’s prompts and I have completed a lot of the challenges without trying, which was reassuring.
That’s super cool! I think I’m going to find a reading challenge that isn’t as many books ha-ha. I want to do SOME kind of challenge, but I have NO idea if 52 books is feasible for me lmao! Sims 4 takes up WAY too much of my time …
Ahh Sims 4! I still need to buy the latest expansion.
It’s legit my favourite expansion so far 🥰 I love it so much!!
I cannot wait to plan out my books!!! I have 1.5 books left to finish this years and then I’ll let myself look at all the prompts!! haha. It’s such a fun one and the Facebook and Goodreads groups are fabulous!
That’s amazing!! I love this year’s prompts. Can’t wait to see the books you choose!
Yes, they are really good!! I’m trying to see which books fit both challenges!! haha