In late January 2025, I stumbled upon The 52 Book Club’s 2025 Reading Challenge, and on a whim, I decided to give it a try. Some years I devour books by the dozen; other years, life gets in the way and my reading habit dwindles to nearly nothing. But this year was different. After recently giving up a part-time job, I found myself with more precious hours on my hands, and I wanted to fill them with stories—specifically, stories I might never have picked up on my own. The 52 Book Club challenge seemed like the perfect catalyst to expand my literary horizons and push myself to read outside my usual preferences.
The premise is beautifully simple: match one book to each of 52 unique prompts throughout the year. These prompts range from specific elements like “a book with a moon on the cover” to more nuanced requirements such as “a book with stream of consciousness narrative” or “a character with red hair.” It’s essentially a literary scavenger hunt, and I was ready to dive in.
In this post:
Kindle worked great when it was sunny!
My Reading Journey by the Numbers
I kicked off the challenge on January 31st with A Place for Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza, a poignant exploration of a Muslim American family navigating identity, faith, and belonging. The final book I needed to complete the 52 prompts was Dale Carnegie’s classic How to Win Friends and Influence People, which I finished on November 1st. Some books flew by in a single day of absorbed reading, while others—like that Carnegie book—took me weeks or even months to complete as I digested the wisdom in smaller, more manageable chunks.
But here’s the thing about reading challenges: once you get momentum, it’s hard to stop. Throughout the year, I read other books that didn’t fit neatly into the challenge categories, and after completing the 52 prompts in November, I simply kept going. By year’s end, I had read or listened to an impressive 63 books—my best reading year since I started tracking back in 2007! My second-best year was 2023 with 53 books, followed by 2010 with 52. On the flip side, my worst year was 2016, when I managed to finish only two books and 2017 with only six, a stark reminder of how life circumstances can dramatically impact our reading habits.
My reading format breakdown tells an interesting story about my habits: 54% were digital books I read on my e-reader or tablet, 44% were audiobooks that accompanied me during commutes and household chores, and a lonely 1% was a physical paper book. There’s something undeniably convenient about carrying an entire library in your pocket, though I do miss the tactile pleasure of turning physical pages.
The Challenge of the Challenge
Not all prompts were created equal in terms of difficulty. Some were straightforward—I knew exactly which books would work from the start. Others proved surprisingly tricky, particularly those I couldn’t determine until after reading, such as “final sentence is six words or less” or “breaks the fourth wall.” For prompts like these, I found myself turning to Google and Goodreads, searching for lists of books that fit specific narrative techniques like stream of consciousness or fourth-wall-breaking stories. Sometimes I had a book picked for one category and it fell into another that may have been harder to know and I moved it around to give me more flexibility later.
The problem with relying on existing lists, however, is that while plenty of books technically meet these criteria, they aren’t always books I actually wanted to read. You don’t always know a book’s true writing style or structure until you’re already deep into the pages. This led me to make some educated guesses based on books I’d heard about or authors known for specific techniques, but these weren’t necessarily the best matches for the prompts. It was a bit like trying to solve a puzzle with pieces that almost—but not quite—fit.
The Highs and Lows
Every reading year has its standouts and its disappointments. My least favorite book—the only one I awarded a single star—was My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry by Fredrik Backman. Despite Backman’s reputation for heartwarming, quirky storytelling, this particular novel simply didn’t resonate with me. The whimsical fairy-tale framework felt forced, and I struggled to connect with the characters or find the emotional depth that others rave about. Yet since I used this author for Shared Universe, the other book I read, Britt-Marie Was Here, which I read first, I enjoyed more and rated 3 stars.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, I had two books tied for my favorite five-star reads: The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali and All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker.
The Lion Women of Tehran is a sweeping historical novel set against the backdrop of 1950s Iran, following the deep friendship between two young women—Ellie and Homa—whose lives are forever changed by political upheaval and personal betrayals. Kamali weaves together themes of female friendship, forbidden love, political revolution, and the price of freedom with breathtaking emotional resonance. The novel captures a pivotal moment in Iranian history while exploring the timeless bonds between women who dare to dream beyond the constraints of their society.
All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker is a literary thriller that spans decades, following the interconnected lives of a small community shattered by a young girl’s disappearance. Whitaker masterfully combines crime fiction with profound explorations of trauma, redemption, and the ways our past shapes our present. The prose is both haunting and beautiful, the characters deeply flawed and utterly human, and the mystery unfolds with such skillful pacing that I found myself unable to put it down. It’s the kind of book that stays with you long after you’ve turned the final page.
My Reading Profile
Looking at my overall reading statistics reveals some interesting patterns:
Rating Distribution:
- 5 stars: 2 books
- 4 stars: 15 books
- 3 stars: 36 books
- 2 stars: 9 books
- 1 star: 1 book
Genre Breakdown: The challenge pushed me into genres I rarely explore. I read 11 domestic fiction novels, 10 suspense/mystery/thrillers, 8 historical fiction books, and 8 dystopian novels. I ventured into 4 biographies/autobiographies, 3 works of literary fiction, 3 magical realism titles, 2 romances, 2 works of science fiction, 2 young adult novels, 2 nonfiction books, and even 1 business book. There were also 4 general novels, 1 chick-lit, 1 gothic horror, and 1 detective/mystery that rounded out my eclectic reading year.
Why This Challenge Mattered
Writing about a reading challenge might seem silly to some—after all, it’s just books, right? But for me, completing this challenge represents a meaningful accomplishment worth celebrating and documenting on my bucket list. It’s not just about the number of books consumed; it’s about the discipline of maintaining a reading habit, the joy of discovering new authors and genres, and the satisfaction of setting a goal and seeing it through.
I genuinely enjoyed spending hours hunting for books that met specific prompts, diving down rabbit holes of book recommendations, and discovering hidden gems I would have otherwise missed. The challenge sparked conversations with family and friends about what I was reading, leading to wonderful book discussions and shared recommendations. Reading became more social, more intentional, and more adventurous.
Looking Ahead to 2026
The 52 Book Club released their 2026 challenge list in November, and I’ve already been perusing the new prompts. They look challenging in a different way—perhaps more focused on specific genres or time periods—but I’m excited to give it another go. Will I read 63 books again? Maybe not. Will I discover more incredible stories and expand my reading horizons? Absolutely.
The beauty of this challenge is that it’s entirely self-led and pressure-free. There’s no competition, no judgment if you don’t complete all 52 prompts, and complete freedom in how you interpret each category. Whether you’re a voracious reader looking to add structure to your habit or someone hoping to read more in the coming year, The 52 Book Club challenge offers a fun, flexible framework that celebrates reading in all its forms.
As I close the book on my 2025 reading year (pun fully intended), I’m grateful for the stories that transported me, the characters who became friends, and the prompts that pushed me beyond my comfort zone. Here’s to many more pages turned in 2026.
My Complete 2025 Reading Challenge List
| # | Prompt | Author | Title | Rating | Format | Genre | Date Completed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | A Pun in the Title | Donovan Hohn | Moby Duck | ★★★ | Digital | Nonfiction | 07/06/2025 |
| 02 | A Character with red hair | Orhan Pamuk | The Red Haired Woman | ★★★ | Digital | Fiction – Domestic | 06/01/2025 |
| 03 | Title starts with “M” | Silvia Moreno-Garcia | Mexican Gothic | ★★★ | Audio | Fiction – Domestic | 08/03/2025 |
| 04 | Title starts with “The” | Florence Knapp | The Names | ★★ | Audio | Fiction – Literary | 08/20/2025 |
| 05 | Plot Includes a Heist | Steve Hamilton | The Lock Artist | ★★★★ | Audio | Fiction – Suspense/Mystery | 07/24/2025 |
| 06 | Set in Spring | Annie England Noblin | Spring Fling | ★★★ | Digital | Romance | 06/16/2025 |
| 07 | Set in Summer | Christian White | The Ledge | ★★★ | Digital | Fiction – Suspense/Mystery | 05/20/2025 |
| 08 | Set in Autumn | Sarah Addison Allen | First Frost | ★★★ | Digital | Fiction – Fantasy/Magic | 09/27/2025 |
| 09 | Set in Winter | Melanie Benjamin | The Children’s Blizzard | ★★★ | Audio | Fiction – Historical | 09/26/2025 |
| 10 | Author’s last name starts with “C” | Bill Clinton & James Patterson | The First Gentleman | ★★★ | Digital | Fiction – Suspense/Mystery | 08/13/2025 |
| 11 | A Prequel | Suzanne Collins | Sunrise on the Reaping | ★★ | Digital | Fiction – Dystopian | 04/22/2025 |
| 12 | Has a moon on the cover | Fatima Farheen Mirza | A Place for Us | ★★★ | Digital | Fiction – Domestic | 01/31/2025 |
| 13 | Title is ten letters or less | Lisa Brideau | Adrift | ★★★ | Digital | Fiction – Suspense/Mystery | 04/02/2025 |
| 14 | Climate Fiction | Lily Brooks Dalton | The Light Pirate | ★★★ | Audio | Fiction – Dystopian | 05/31/2025 |
| 15 | Includes Latin American setting | Patricia Engel | Infinite Country | ★★★★ | Audio | Fiction – Domestic | 08/28/2025 |
| 16 | Author has won a literary prize | Walter Mosley | Down the River unto the Sea | ★★★ | Audio | Fiction – Suspense/Mystery | 03/06/2025 |
| 17 | Told in Verse | Jason Reynolds | Long Way Down | ★★ | Digital | Novel | 04/28/2025 |
| 18 | A Character Who Cooks/Bakes | Leslye Walton | The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender | ★★★★ | Digital | Fiction – Fantasy/Magic | 10/03/2025 |
| 19 | Has Short Chapters | Christina Dalcher | Vox | ★★★★ | Audio | Fiction – Dystopian | 07/26/2025 |
| 20 | A fairytale retelling | Sarah Henning | The Sea Witch | ★★ | Audio | Fiction – Fantasy/Magic | 04/06/2025 |
| 21 | Character’s name is in the title | Liv Constantine | The Last Mrs. Parrish | ★★★ | Digital | Fiction – Suspense/Mystery | 04/18/2025 |
| 22 | Found family trope | Octavia E. Butler | Parable of the Sower | ★★★ | Digital | Fiction – Dystopian | 03/28/2025 |
| 23 | A Sprayed Edge | Katherine Center | The Rom-Commers | ★★★★ | Audio | Romance | 06/18/2025 |
| 24 | Title is a spoiler | Adam Silvera | They Both Die at the End | ★★★ | Digital | Fiction – Domestic | 04/07/2025 |
| 25 | Breaks the fourth wall | Justin A Reynolds | It’s the End of the World and I’m in My Underwear | ★★★ | Digital | Fiction – Young Adult | 03/18/2025 |
| 26 | More than a million copies sold | Dan Brown | Deception Point | ★★★★ | Digital | Fiction – Suspense/Mystery | 06/14/2025 |
| 27 | Features a magic act | Margarita Montimore | Acts of Violet | ★★★★ | Audio | Fiction – Suspense/Mystery | 07/06/2025 |
| 28 | Shared universe | Fredrik Backman | Britt-Marie Was Here | ★★★ | Audio | Fiction – Domestic | 05/05/2025 |
| 29 | Shared universe | Fredrik Backman | My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry | ★ | Audio | Fiction – Domestic | 05/08/2025 |
| 30 | In the public domain | Herbert George Wells | The Island of Dr. Moreau | ★★ | Digital | Sci-fi | 04/27/2025 |
| 31 | Multiple Narrators | Gabrielle Zevin | Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Tomorrow | ★★ | Audio | Fiction – Young Adult | 05/19/2025 |
| 32 | Includes a diary entry | Susan Beth Pfeffer | Life as We Knew It | ★★★★ | Digital | Fiction – Dystopian | 04/05/2025 |
| 33 | A Standalone Novel | Rachel Khong | Real Americans | ★★★★ | Digital | Fiction – Domestic | 02/27/2025 |
| 34 | Direction in the Title | Robert Morgan | Chasing the North Star | ★★★★ | Digital | Fiction – Historical | 10/04/2025 |
| 35 | Written in the third person | Karin Slaughter | The Silent Wife | ★★★ | Audio | Detective & Mystery | 03/30/2025 |
| 36 | Final sentence is 6 words or less | Brandon Sanderson | Skyward | ★★ | Digital | Sci-fi | 04/12/2025 |
| 37 | A Genre Chosen for You | Dale Carnegie | How to Win Friends and Influence People | ★★★ | Physical | Business/Self-Help | 11/01/2025 |
| 38 | An Adventure Story | Jill Heinerth | Into the Planet | ★★★ | Audio | NF – Biography/Autobiography | 04/25/2025 |
| 39 | Has an Epigraph | Marjan Kamali | The Lion Women of Tehran | ★★★★★ | Digital | Fiction – Domestic | 10/27/2025 |
| 40 | Stream of consciousness | Nicole Krauss | The History of Love | ★★★ | Digital | Novel | 08/29/2025 |
| 41 | Cover Font is in all caps | Jaima Fixsen | The Specimen | ★★★★ | Audio | Fiction – Historical | 08/24/2025 |
| 42 | Non-human antagonist | Bram Stoker | Dracula | ★★★ | Audio | Fiction – Gothic Horror | 07/02/2025 |
| 43 | Explores social class | Stephanie Land | Class | ★★★ | Digital | NF – Biography/Autobiography | 08/20/2025 |
| 44 | Has a Celebrity on the cover | Tom Selleck, Ellis Henican | You Never Know | ★★★ | Digital | NF – Biography/Autobiography | 03/24/2025 |
| 45 | Author releases more than one book per year | Danielle Steel | Neighbors | ★★★ | Audio | Fiction – Domestic | 09/01/2025 |
| 46 | Read in a -ber Month | Hadley Vlahos, RN | The In-Between | ★★★ | Audio | Nonfiction | 09/04/2025 |
| 47 | “I think it was blue…” | Julie Gerstenblatt | Daughters of Nantucket | ★★★ | Audio | Fiction – Historical | 02/19/2025 |
| 48 | Related to the world wars | Kate Quinn | The Rose Code | ★★★ | Audio | Fiction – Historical | 04/15/2025 |
| 49 | Set in a country without vowels | Shari Franke | The House of My Mother | ★★★ | Audio | NF – Biography/Autobiography | 10/07/2025 |
| 50 | Set in the 1940s | Glynis Peters | The Red Cross Orphans | ★★★★ | Digital | Fiction – Historical | 10/10/2025 |
| 51 | 300-400 pages long | Miranda July | All Fours | ★★★ | Audio | Fiction – Literary | 06/17/2025 |
| 52 | Published in 2025 | Joan Fernandez | Saving Vincent | ★★★ | Digital | Fiction – Historical | 09/13/2025 |
| — | (Additional read) | Octavia E. Butler | Parable of the Talents | ★★ | Digital | Fiction – Dystopian | 05/05/2025 |
| — | (Additional read) | William R Forstchen | One Year After | ★★ | Audio | Fiction – Dystopian | 06/22/2025 |
| — | (Additional read) | Danielle Valentine | The Dead Husband Cookbook | ★★★★ | Audio | Fiction – Chick-lit | 09/18/2025 |
| — | (Additional read) | Lily Braun-Arnold | The Last Bookstore on Earth | ★★★ | Audio | Fiction – Dystopian | 10/22/2025 |
| — | (Additional read) | Reese Witherspoon & Harlan Coben | Gone Before Goodbye | ★★★★ | Digital | Fiction – Suspense/Mystery | 11/02/2025 |
| — | (Additional read) | Dan Brown | The Secret of Secrets | ★★★ | Audio | Fiction – Suspense/Mystery | 11/08/2025 |
| — | (Additional read) | Chris Whitaker | All the Colors of the Dark | ★★★★★ | Digital | Fiction – Literary | 11/11/2025 |
| — | (Additional read) | Roseanna M White | The Collector of Burned Books | ★★★★ | Digital | Fiction – Historical | 11/19/2025 |
| — | (Additional read) | Rachel Louise Driscoll | The House of Two Sisters | ★★★ | Digital | Novel | 12/20/2025 |
| — | (Additional read) | Emma Straub | All Adults Here | ★★★ | Digital | Fiction – Domestic | 12/30/2025 |
| — | (Additional read) | Sophie Kinsella | What Does It Feel Like | ★★★ | Digital | Novel | 12/30/2025 |
Summary
Total Books Read in 2025: 63
Challenge Completed: November 1, 2025
Average Rating: 3.1 stars
Curious about my other bucket lists or bigger achievements? Read more here!
Cover photo from Pexels.