The 52 Book Club: 2025 / 2026 Challenge discussion

Welcome to the 2020 Reading Challenge! Let's get to know everyone better.

Share your name, one of your favourite books, and your reading goal for 2020!

I'll go first.

My name is Liz and I am the creator of this annual challenge. (I started it in 2018, so 2020 will be our third year.) There's way too many books to choose a favourite but one of my go-to rereads is always from my Agatha Christie collection -- And Then There Were None. My reading goal for this year is to finally make my way through all the TBR books on my bookshelf! (Bonus if I can fit them all onto the challenge!)

So, welcome everyone! Can't wait to get to know you all better and see what you're reading this year!

Hi all!

My name is Amanda! I'm trying to up my reading game this year because it seems I can never finish the full challenge. Then again I make it kinda tough on myself because I want to try to full fill the list with one book per prompt. Not using one book for other prompts too. So that means 52 different books through the whole year which can be challenge for a lot of people out there.

I also don't read very small paged kinda books either. It's not like I'm trying to I read what I want to read and it just so happens the book is 4-500 pages. Haha.

But I feel great and excited about this year! I think and believe this just may be my year!

Happy Reading all!

Hello, my name is Lindsey! This will be my 3rd year doing this challenge. My goal is to read 150 books next year; 52 for this challenge, everything on Reese Witherspoon's book club, and then I'm trying to get caught up on some of my favorite authors.

My favorite book is The Firebrand by Marion Zimmer Bradley.

I don't really have a TBR shelf, just 4612 books on my "want to read" shelf, in varying degrees of importance. There's so many new things being released each month, on top of older novels that have been recommended, that I know I'll never catch up.

My name is Shirley McAllister. My goal will be 200 books for 2020. I read 180 in 2019 so far. It is my first year to do the challenge so we will see how it goes. I do 4 other challenges so will be going back and forth but 52 will be for this one. I have way to many on my TBR list but will fit them where they fit as I read them. Good Luck to everyone.

My favorite book. That's a difficult one. We will have to go with Gone With The Wind.

Hi everyone! My name is Leigh. I have never done a reading challenge. I’m excited! My goal is 64 books for 2020; this challenge, plus another one that adds an additional book a month.

Hi my name is Carol. This is the first year doing this challenge. In fact, last year is the first year I actually became a “reader”. I am doing this along with the Modern Mrs Darcy Reading Challenge and the Mount TBR challenge. I am hoping to use books that I purchased in 2019 to fulfill most of the list. Hopefully I won’t get to distracted by 2020 releases.

For some reason, I can’t really decide on my favorite book. Hopefully, I will find it in 2020. I really enjoyed Becoming and Upstairs at the White House this year.

Hi, my name is Andree.

It’s going to be my third year doing the challenge. My favourites type of books are historical, historical fiction and horror. I challenge my self to finish the challenge new year again.

I'm Randi, this is my 2nd year doing the challenge. I used to think I wouldn't like doing reading challenges, but last year I came across this one and decided I'd give it a try. I then also added the Popsugar challenge for last year. Now I'm hooked on challenges - it's fun to have some 'direction' for what I'm going to read and to make me branch out to things I might not read otherwise.

A recent favorite book of mine is Beartown. Growing up in a small town I could relate to the politics and so many characters were 'familiar' - and I just got sucked in.

My goal for 2020 is to finish this challenge and the Popsugar challenge, and then I have a list of other challenges that I may try to make my way through if time allows. I think I'll set my Goodreads goal at 75 books this year.

Hi Guys!
I'm Melissa, and live in Iowa but was born and raised in California.
Favorite book is so hard! Today I'll say it's Pretense by Lori Wick. Hers is the only book that made me sob-cry TWICE! I haven't read it in probably 20 years, so I'm interested in reading it again to see how it effects me now.
My reading goal is 96, which is the exact number of pages in a reading journal I found in a thrift store. As a result, I'm doing four different reading challenges, including the Book-Movie Sub-Challenge in this group!
It's going to be a fun year! :)

Hi.. I am Nisha from India. i am an avid thriller fan and have mostly done monthly challenges in other book clubs . This will be my first yearly challenge and I am super excited for it . By doing this challenge I want to try and push myself to read genres out of my comfort zone .

Are you following the order of the challenges or just randomly completed them?

Carol wrote: "Are you following the order of the challenges or just randomly completed them?"

There are no firm rules in this challenge, it's however you want to interpret it. Most of us randomly complete the prompts, but if you want to go in order you can.

I was just curious. I thought it might work for me decide what to read next. I probably will start out that way, but jump around later.

Hi everyone! My goal is to read 200 books this year. I am trying this challenge to get me out of my comfort zone and challenge me to try new genres. I typically read mysteries and fantasy, with occasional young adult books which my daughter insists that I read. I am hoping to use this challenge to read some of the classics which I missed in school.

Hello everyone. I am new to this challenge this year. Last year I was in 3 other challenges, and this year I am adding another 3 onto my plate.
I did just short of 100 books this year and was amazed. So I expect to do better in 2020. As for my challenges, I usually set my goal at 90%. At some points during the year I generally stray from the plan and just start reading whatever I see laying around. You know, taste change, need to just cleanse the palate a bit.

I generally read fantasy - magickal realism and science fantasy. A lot of YA fall into that category. I also like mystery and horror. Not a big fan of bios, historical fiction or romance.

Hi everyone. I am Bettie. This is my third year doing this reading challenge. While reading more than 52 books a year I have never finished all the categories. My goal this year is to read a book from all the categories in this challenge as well as in the Modern Mrs. Darcy reading challenge. I hope to find many of the books for the categories in the many books I have in my TBR pile. My personal reading goal is to read 70 books. I plan on tackling War and Peace this year!! My favorite genre is mystery. Happy reading!!!

I am doing the MMD Reading Challenge also!!! Also doing the 52 Books Challenge. That means I am up for 64 books in 2020. I hope I am not over committing myself. 🤪 Good luck with both.

Hi I’m Ceri, this is my first year doing this challenge. My aim is to read 19 books on my want to read list in accordance to how long the books have been on my shelf. I have a few books on my list that cover approximately 9 prompts plus I have put a few on hold at the library with the plan to borrow more to cover other prompts. I also recently joined a book club. My aim is to read books by authors and in genres I wouldn’t naturally gravitate towards.

My favourite book(s) is the Harry Potter series. I quite like John Grisham and Sherlock Holmes. My fave genre would probably be fantasy/magic

I'm Dana. I've read 74 books for 2019, so shooting for a least 52 for 2020. Looking forward to finding several new favorites.

Hi folks. My name is Lee and this is the first reading challenge I've ever participated in. I have enough unread books on my shelves to last for at least 4yrs of this challenge so my goal is to reduce my stash by 52 books this year. I hope also that I that the books I like will interest some of you.

Hi everyone!
My name is Lindsey, I started off my 2019 wanting to read more I decided to set a difficult goal for myself of 52 books in 52 weeks, seeing as how I had probably read maybe 10 books since graduating high school in 2012. I reached that goal and surpassed it, completing my 2019 with 61/52 read.

For 2020 I wanted to challenge myself even further and read books based on prompts. So I went googling and I found this challenge. So my 2020 goal is to read the 52 books for this challenge, plus as many of the rest of the books in the few books I have in my challenge that are part of series. All together it’s 113 books, but overall I’ll feel accomplished if I read 75 books.

As far as my favorite book, that’s really hard to choose. I found this book series called “The Witchlands” in 2019 and I really enjoyed all of those books.

Hi all! I'm WJ Cintron. This is the first time I participate in this challenge. Looking forward to reading a lot of books from my shelves and a lot of new ones. Last year I couldn't read a lot, I was focused on writing and producing a web series. This year I want to read all the books I couldn't read plus many more. I've joined a couple of challenges all around social media, and I'm very excited about this one!

I'm a member of Litsy, as WJ Cintron where I'll be posting pictures and blurbs as I read on!

Happy readings to all!!!

WJ wrote: "Hi all! I'm WJ Cintron. This is the first time I participate in this challenge. Looking forward to reading a lot of books from my shelves and a lot of new ones. Last year I couldn't read a lot, I w..."

BTW where can we post our TBR list of all the books to keep track of them and report?

Welcome! I think you can go into the different categories and post your books there. It’s fun to see what others are reading and get some ideas too.

Hi my name is Connie and my favourite thing to do is to read. I found this challenge through Facebook so started on the first and have finished 3 books. I am hoping to read 75 books this year with the help of using audiobooks. I have just discovered challenges and am doing four this year but will allow myself to use the same book for more than one challenge but only one category in each. The challenges are a Canadian bingo , 10 nobel prize winners, this one, and a classics challenge. The nobel prize winners will all be classics except one Canadian author so this will help.
Looking forward to getting to know this group.

This group is very quiet. How is everyone doing with the challenge? Right now I am almost done with The Queen of Hearts (medical profession) and Where is Luis Velez?-senior character). Not sure which I will do next.

What category are you reading now?

Carol wrote: "This group is very quiet. How is everyone doing with the challenge? Right now I am almost done with The Queen of Hearts (medical profession) and Where is Luis Velez?-senior character). Not sure whi..."

I just finished A book by Stephen King: The Outsider. It was really good :) Next category will be Book in a Series: Gone by Michael Grant.

I am still debating my Stephen King book. I have never read any of his books. Haven’t picked my book in a series yet either.

Hello, my name is Linda & this is my 1st time doing this particular challenge. This year I have set several goals for myself & I am accomplishing a few of those in my personal life; so I've decided to add more books/book lists to that goal list. I have decided to make a list of books that would interest me from The Classics list. I will try to choose books that I have not read or I may choose books that I have already read, but of course that may have been from my high school or college years.

Hi all! I'm Danielle (she/her) and I'm new to this challenge, and VERY excited!
I tried to do the Seasonal Reading Challenge on here a few times, but it's too cumbersome and I'd forget to post. Anyway, I love to read! I'm 34 and from Massachusetts. One of my favorite books is "I Know This Much Is True" by Wally Lamb, and I hope to read 35 books this year!
Thank you for having me!

hi, i'm traci and i live in the suburbs of Chicago. I am new to this challenge this year. I have alsodecided to try to blog about my reading as well. we will see how well i stick to it, so far it has been a bit of a challenge to keep up the blog and track the different challenges i have signed up for. I hope i don't turn reading into a chore accidentally.

i tend to default to cozy mysteries but have added historical fiction to my interest in the last few years. i enjoy the challenges to try new authors. I am trying to read 75 books this year

My name is Cassie and I'm 25 years old from upstate New York. I have my bachelors in writing and am currently a clerk at my local public library. I am just finding out about this challenge, so I'm going to apply what I've already read in 2020 to the different categories, and then try to finish it out going forward. My reading goal this year is to smash my formal reading goal of 52 books, read at least 12 books I own, and read at least 12 classics. I don't really have an all-time favorite book, but I genuinely enjoyed reading the Harry Potter series for the first time last year (late, I know), and Chelsea Girls by Eileen Myles was another favorite of the year.

Hi, I'm Tamara! I'm originally from Huntsville, AL but now live in California with my husband. Professionally, I'm a digital services librarian at a rural library system in Hanford, California. My favorite book is "Einstein's Dreams" by Alan Lightman.

I love doing reading challenges to see how many books I can read in a year as well as have a goal to push outside my reading comfort zone and read books in genres and topics I wouldn't normally read. I did this challenge last year and really enjoyed it so I'm back for more lol.

My reading goal for 2020 is to read a total of 102 books (52 from this challenge and 50 books from the POPSUGAR Reading Challenge.

Hey ya'll! I am Jeanette and late to the party this year. I am a Virginia native, now living in Oklahoma. I work for Hobby Lobby Corporate (sort of) and sit most of the day. I actually work for the department that builds the store fixtures. Lots of sitting. I have found that I love to listen to audiobooks while I work!

I have loved to read since I was young. I still remember reading Judy Blume as a child/teen and Homecoming by Cynthia Voight. As an adult, I was introduced to Nora Roberts and love reading her novels. I gradually migrated to J.D. Robb and her In Death Series and other crime/detective series.

I am looking forward to participating in the 2021 Reading Challenge with this group. A friend from Weight Watchers recommended it and I am so ready!! I love the idea of pushing myself outside my comfort zone genres. My goal for the rest of this year is to go through as many books on my TBR list from 2016-2018 as I can. I am doing well so far. I have already surpassed my 2020 goal of 45 books.

Hi, I'm Karin and I am joining for the 2021 challenge. I am a Canadian who married an American and is living in Massachusetts. I have three 20 something kids and two are still in college (they are ages 20-25) and all are at home because my eldest has special needs and haven't yet got her set up to move out.

Normally I read about 100-150 books per year, but this year has been a record since keeping track, but the number will probably go back to normal. I have loved reading since I learned how, although once in a great while I go on a reading slump. I have had time in my life read many, many genres, but I find challenges and games help me learn new authors.

PS if you use a device with with autocorrect, it's not said the same as Karen, so if you are speaking perhaps if you try the "CARR in" one like the CVS computer says it, that will work. I do all of my GR stuff on a desktop computer. When I read Karen I assume it's for someone else since there are a number of users with that name in various groups I am in.

Hi All!
My name is Emma and I'm from Canada! I have a love for reading and 2020 gave me the gift of time and the opportunity to read even more. I started following the Facebook group earlier this year but soo glad to be preparing for the 2021 reading challenge (my first ever!) I can't wait to get started... my goal is to complete the challenge of 52 books :)

Emma

Welcome Emma and good luck with the challenge.

Hello everybody! My name is Miren and I'm from Spain. 2020 was my re-encounter with the books, now that I've finished the 2020 Reading Challenge I'm looking forward to start the 2021 one with all of you. My childhood favourite book was The tour around the world in 80 days by Jules Verne, but recently I've discovered and enjoyed Jane Austen's work, so I'll say Pride and Prejudice or Emma will be my favourites right now... My goal for the next year is reading 60 books between this Challenge and others...

Hi, I'm Karen and I live in the northern suburbs of Dallas. I'm a Gen Xer and I live with my youngest daughter (25) and my 5 dogs.

I love to read and I always have. I don't much care for non fiction - I learn by doing, not reading. My favorite genres are thriller, horror, mystery/suspense, and historical fiction.

My favorite book is "All The Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr.

This is my first reading challenge ever and my goal is 100 books for 2021.

Hi, I'm Carla a retired teacher/librarian and elementary school principal. I lost my husband 4 years ago, so live alone and spend a lot, and I mean a lot of time reading.

This challenge looks so interesting and I am looking forward to reading some books that I would not normally pick up. My reading goals would be to complete this challenge, plus finish a couple of series that I started and meandered away from (Angela Marsons, Lisa Regan).

I don't really have a favourite book or author, and am an eclectic reader but not a lover of Sci-Fi, Fantasy, erotica.

*waves to everyone, from a distance, of course.* My name is Mrs. N and I am one half of a duo named N. N. Light. My husband, Mr. N, is the other half and together we're writers, reviewers and totally obsessed with reading. For me, I've been reading ever since I was a little girl. Every Saturday, my mum and I would go to the library and spend the whole morning there. I'd leave with a stackful of books to read over the course of the week. Now, thank heavens, I can just carry around my tablet.

A great big thank you to Lindsay for inviting me to this group and the 2021 challenge.

I read quite a few books in a year, but most of them are for my author promotions business. I decided to do this challenge for my own personal reading.

My reading goals for 2021 are 1000 books for the business and 100 books for personal.

I have quite a few favorite authors and they include: Agatha Christie, Jude Deveraux, Jane Austen, Mary Morgan, Regina Jeffers, Michelle Bryan and more.

I don't have a favorite book but I have several I enjoy rereading. I read A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens every year. Anything by Dame Agatha, especially if it has Poirot in it.

I have a wide variety of genres I enjoy reading and I tend to read all heat levels. My favorite subgenre in romance is Regency. I swear if I could get my hands on a time machine, I'd transport myself and Mr. N to that era.

I can't wait to get started in January. Happy reading, everyone!

Hi Everyone! I'm Shannon and the 2021 challenge will be the first reading challenge I've done- I'm very excited! I normally find myself staying within the same genres, authors, or series so I'm looking forward to being forced outside of my reading comfort zone.

My favorite book is The Children's Blizzard by David Laskin. It's the book that taught me that non-fiction can be just as exciting and thrilling as fiction. I love non-fiction, historical fiction, mystery, and rom-coms. Fantasy, Sci-Fi, and horror have never really interested me.

My goal is to read at least 52 books this year and to complete this challenge!

Hi everyone! My name is Barbara, I'm 30 and from NJ. I love thrillers, memoirs, and autobiographies though I will try just about everything. Last year I only made it halfway through my goal and am looking forward to starting at the beginning of the year in the hopes of meeting my goal of 52 books in 52 weeks along with finishing the Popsugar Challenge. I'm not sure I have a favorite book but I love Stephen King. I'm starting the year off by reading A Promised Land by Barack Obama.

Hello!

My name is Ben, as anyone can tell from my unique username, and I am an avid reader – some say biblioholic, but I don't listen to them. While I've been on Goodreads for quite some time – this is my very first reading challenge and club I joined – thanks Lindsey for the invitation!

My reading goals for 2021 are not so much in number, but subject matter. I would like to read more books written by Canadian and/or East-Asian authors or main characters as I am of East-Asian decent and a Canadian – not sure how much I could find, but I would enjoy doing so.

Like my reading goals, my favorite books aren't individual books, but I favor some genres over others. I love fantasy – the urban fantasy sub-genre, science fiction, auto/biographies, children picture books, comic book nerd – in particular DC Comics and manga (Japanese comics). However, I would try to read everything and anything that peaks my interests.

Ben.

Ben wrote: "Hello!

My name is Ben, as anyone can tell from my unique username, and I am an avid reader – some say biblioholic, but I don't listen to them. While I've been on Goodreads for quite some time – th..."

I love your focus on Canadian authors and there are many great ones as you know. I live in the States now, but hale from BC and try to read at least 10 percent Canadian books per year. Right now I have a couple waiting in the wings here by Canadian authors I haven't read before.

Hi everyone! My name is Kim. 2021 will be my first year for this challenge, although I did a very similar challenge last year through my local library. My goal for this year is 52 books, although I may end up extending that if I reach it early. Last year, because I had so much time off work, I read 107 books! I have way too many favorites to pick just one, but some of my favorite authors are Laura Ingalls Wilder, James Herriot, Nicholas Sparks, Tamera Alexander, A.M. Heath, Anita Paddock, and Marla Cantrell.

I would like to extend a huge Welcome! to all of our new members and our returning members to our 2021 Challenge! Please feel free to introduce yourselves (if you haven't already), let us know what you're reading, what your favorite books have been in the past, and what you're looking forward to in the future!

Thank you for the invitation, Lindsey; hello everyone! I am Lynn in Nova Scotia, Canada, and this is my first year for this challenge. I love books/reading books, but my private TBR stash is huge and keeps growing so I'd like to do some catch-up this year.

I have participated in the Goodreads reading challenge for several years, reading over 1000 books in 2020. Before you fall over, let me tell you that the majority of those were picture books and other children's books (because I got into the habit when I was studying writing children's books), but over 100 were novels. My librarians are kept busy.

I enjoy many different genres, especially fact-based stories and mostly those based on WWII. I don't like horror, erotica, stories riddled with profanity. Some of my favourite reads from last year are: The Forgotten Home Child by Genevieve Graham, Untouchable by Scott O'Connor; The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins, Stepping on the Cracks by Mary Downing Hahn, Water Steps by A. LaFaye, The Eighty-Dollar Champion - by Elizabeth Letts, Anna and the Swallow Man by Gavriel Savit.

I will stop here as I have some reading to do!

Lynn wrote: "Thank you for the invitation, Lindsey; hello everyone! I am Lynn in Nova Scotia, Canada, and this is my first year for this challenge. I love books/reading books, but my private TBR stash is huge a..."

*waves* Hi Lynn! It's great to see you here. Congrats on reading 1000 in 2020. I've joined this challenge too.

N.N. wrote: "Lynn wrote: "Thank you for the invitation, Lindsey; hello everyone! I am Lynn in Nova Scotia, Canada, and this is my first year for this challenge. I love books/reading books, but my private TBR st..."

Hi there! Thanks, and I wish you happy reading this year!