2026 Reading Challenge discussion

HERE COMES THE SUN
Duration: August 1 – August 31, 2025

This August let’s bloom where we’re planted. This challenge invites you to explore books that feel like sunshine, encourage growth, or simply make you happy. Whether it’s a story that warms your soul, a character who grows against all odds, or a plot that just makes you smile—if it feels like summer and sunshine, it belongs here. Want to judge a book by its happy cover? Read any book featuring a yellow cover, sunflower, or yellow flowers—those count too!🌻

To join, post a message telling the challenge leader how many books you plan to read. If you are new to our group and/or our group challenges, take a moment to check out the Yearly, Quarterly, Monthly Challenges – Start Here thread for more information on how our challenges are run.

Thank you Charlotte for volunteering to lead .

Here Comes the Sun🌞🌞

Welcome to Here Comes the Sun!

Join this fun monthly challenge where we relax and have fun reading our happy summery books together! Happy reading!!

How to participate:
Post a comment in the thread to let me know you'd like to sign up and how many books you would to read for this monthly challenge.

As you finish your books, you can edit your original sign-up comment to keep track of your progress. You will also need to post a new comment in the thread notating that you have updated your progress and include the message # of your original sign-up comment. You can also change your goal at any time by posting your message # and the new goal.

Here is how an update message could look like:

Update message #x
Progress: 1/10

If you wish to drop out of the challenge, please do not delete your original sign-up comment or any update comments! Just add a new comment to let me know :)

If you want to join the challenge late, you are very welcome to still join! Just sign up like normal. You may use the books that you have read from the start of the challenge date (1. August).

Feel free to ask if you have any questions!!

Have a great time reading and relaxing🌞🌞

🌞🌞Participants: 🌞🌞
Alyssa (# 15) - 0/1
Amy (# 37) - 2/5
Black Cat Bookshelves (# 47) - 0/3
Blākie (# 41) - 0/2
✨Brianna Raquel ✨ (# 28) - 10/10 Completed!
Caraina (# 8) - 5/5 Completed!
Caroline (# 12) - 1/3
Carolyn (# 9) - 5/5 Completed!
Carrie (# 34) - 5/3 Completed!
Charlotte (# 7) - 5/5 Completed!
Chrissie (# 10) - 3/3 Completed!
Ciara (# 31) - 5/5 Completed!
Cristen (# 5) - 1/1 Completed!
Debra (# 17) - 2/2 Completed!
JennH (# 11) - 5/5 Completed!
juls ౨ৎ˖ ࣪⊹ (# 26) - 0/8
Karin (# 43) - 3/3 Completed!
Kristina (# 24) - 6/5 Completed!
Laurie (# 18) - 5/5 Completed!
LinaVer (# 13) - 0/3
Monica (# 35) - 0/5
Rachel (# 29) - 0/8
Sarah (# 20) - 12/12 Completed!
SarahKat (# 58) - 5/5 Completed!
Shari (# 22) - 4/4 Completed!
Susan (# 4) - 4/4 Completed!
Tanu (# 38) - 2/5
TerryJane (# 32) - 8/5 Completed!

🌞🌞Stats:🌞🌞
Participants: 28
Challenges Completed: 18
Book Goal: 130
Books Read: 98
Goal Progress: 75%

🌞🌞Challenges Completed:🌞🌞
✨Brianna Raquel ✨ (# 28) - 10/10 Completed!
Caraina (# 8) - 5/5 Completed!
Carolyn (# 9) - 5/5 Completed!
Carrie (# 34) - 4/3 Completed!
Charlotte (# 7) - 5/5 Completed!
Chrissie (# 10) - 3/3 Completed!
Ciara (# 31) - 5/5 Completed!
Cristen (# 5) - 1/1 Completed!
Debra (# 17) - 2/2 Completed!
JennH (# 11) - 5/5 Completed!
Karin (# 43) - 3/3 Completed!
Kristina (# 24) - 6/5 Completed!
Laurie (# 18) - 5/5 Completed!
Sarah (# 20) - 12/12 Completed!
SarahKat (# 58) - 5/5 Completed!
Shari (# 22) - 4/4 Completed!
Susan (# 4) - 4/4 Completed!
TerryJane (# 32) - 8/5 Completed!

Updated to message 97 on the 3rd of September, 2025

Sign me up for 4! Thx!

Progress: 4/4

🌞1. Finished 8/12/25 Yellow cover
🌞2. Finished 8/21/25 Yellow Cover
🌞3. Finished 8/5/25 Yellow cover
🌞4. Finished 8/8/25 Heart warming Story

This is my first time so if I do it wrong, let me know!

Sign me up for 2 please! (Switched to 1 in message 25)

Progress: 0/1

1. The Map That Leads to You


Started: 8/1/25
Finished: 8/19/25

Welcome Susan and Cristen!!

I'll be here to help if you need anything @Cristen! If you have any questions feel free to let me know, and I can help you if you misunderstand something. Just make sure to read the rules above :D

I'm in for 5 to start with!!

HERE COMES THE SUN
Duration: August 1, 2025 – August 31, 2025

This August let’s bloom where we’re planted. This challenge invites you to explore books that feel like sunshine, encourage growth, or simply make you happy. Whether it’s a story that warms your soul, a character who grows against all odds, or a plot that just makes you smile—if it feels like summer and sunshine, it belongs here. Want to judge a book by its happy cover? Read any book featuring a yellow cover, sunflower, or yellow flowers—those count too!🌻

Progress: 5/5

The Maze Runner James Dashner 8/1/25 - All the characters grow against all odds
The Scorch Trials James Dashner 8/10/25 - Again all the characters grow againts all odds.
Julegrisen J.K. Rowling 8/12/25 - It is a cute childrens book.
The Death Cure James Dashner 8/15/25 - Again all the characters grow against all odds.
The Midnight Library Matt Haig 8/26/25 - It is an inspiring book, and that makes me happy. It also encourages growth.

HERE COMES THE SUN
Duration: August 1, 2025 – August 31, 2025

This August let’s bloom where we’re planted. This challenge invites you to explore books that feel like sunshine, encourage growth, or simply make you happy. Whether it’s a story that warms your soul, a character who grows against all odds, or a plot that just makes you smile—if it feels like summer and sunshine, it belongs here. Want to judge a book by its happy cover? Read any book featuring a yellow cover, sunflower, or yellow flowers—those count too!🌻

Completed: 5/5

1. It's Better This Way - Debbie Macomber 8/13/25
2. Yellow Hibiscus - Tope Omotosho 8/14/25
3. The Seven Year Slip - Ashley Poston 8/23/25
4. Dandelion Wishes - Melinda Curtis 8/28/25
5. Sunflowers in a Hurricane - Anne M Faye 8/29/25

I'm in for 5 Books

1. Yellowface 13/08
2. The Perks of Being a Wallflower 13/08
3. Cold Sunflowers Finished 8/8/25
4. The Art of Sonship: King David had 20 Sons. Only one reigned. Which Son will you be? 21/08
5. The Boy Who Harnessed the WindFinished 22/08

Finished: 2025/08/30

This challenge invites you to explore books that feel like sunshine, encourage growth, or simply make you happy. Whether it’s a story that warms your soul, a character who grows against all odds, or a plot that just makes you smile—if it feels like summer and sunshine, it belongs here.

Progress: 3/3

Happy reads:
Orlando. Eine Biographie (grows against all odds)
Ein Zeichen der Zuneigung 08
Wedding People

other:

Please sign me up for 5.

HERE COMES THE SUN
Duration: August 1 – August 31, 2025

5/5

This August let’s bloom where we’re planted. This challenge invites you to explore books that feel like sunshine, encourage growth, or simply make you happy. Whether it’s a story that warms your soul, a character who grows against all odds, or a plot that just makes you smile—if it feels like summer and sunshine, it belongs here. Want to judge a book by its happy cover? Read any book featuring a yellow cover, sunflower, or yellow flowers—those count too!🌻

1 - Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - I love this book, makes me happy just to read it
2 - The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science by Kate McKinnon 8/20/25 - hilarious plot that made me smile
3 - The Diva Poaches a Bad Egg by Krista Davis 8/24/25 - yellow cover/yellow flowers

4 - Fruits Basket Collector's Edition, Vol. 1 by Natsuki Takaya 8/25/25 - sweet MC makes me (and all the other characters) smile
5 - Yellowface by R.F. Kuang - yellow cover

Please sign me up for 3!

I’d like to sign up for 3 books please 🌞

And I’m going to do re-reads, books that feel like comfort to me and give me all the feels ✨ and some new books that sound like joy 🌼

Progress: 0/3

Choices:

Welcome everyone!!
Happy reading :D

Updated to message 13

Sign me up for 1 book.

Welcome Alyssa!

Updated to message 15

I will sign up for two😊

🌞🌞Here Comes the Sun🌞🌞

5/5 Completed!

🌞 1. The Castaways

🌞 2. The Villa

🌞 3. The Island

🌞 4. The Sunshine Girls

🌞 5. Golden Girl

Welcome Debra and Laurie! You are linked!

Updated to message 18

Sign me up for 12 books

12/12 - COMPLETED

✅1. Twice Shy (18/8/25)
✅2. Harley in the Sky (17/8/25)
✅3. Just Last Night (18/8/25)
✅4. The Soulmate Equation (19/8/25)
✅5. Well Played (20/8/25)
✅6. Hyperbole and a Half (22/8/25)
✅7. A Brief History of Seven Killings (19/8/25)
✅8. American Spy (25/8/25)
✅9. The Plague Stones (21/8/25)
✅10. Pulp (20/8/25)
✅11. Rabbit Cake (23/8/25)
✅12. Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore (22/8/25)

Welcome Sarah!

Updated to message 20

I would like to join for 4 books.

HERE COMES THE SUN
Duration: August 1 – August 31, 2025

Progress: 4 / 4 - COMPLETED 8-19-25

This August let’s bloom where we’re planted. This challenge invites you to explore books that feel like sunshine, encourage growth, or simply make you happy. Whether it’s a story that warms your soul, a character who grows against all odds, or a plot that just makes you smile—if it feels like summer and sunshine, it belongs here. Want to judge a book by its happy cover? Read any book featuring a yellow cover, sunflower, or yellow flowers—those count too!🌻

Welcome Shari!

Updated to message 22

HERE COMES THE SUN
August 01, 2025 - August 31, 2025
Progress: 6/5

Sign me up for 5 books!

✅ 1. Redwall by Brian Jacques
✅ 2. A Hat Full of Sky by Terry Pratchett
✅3. Copper Script by K.J. Charles
✅ 4. Witch King by Martha Wells
✅ 5. The Quick and the Dead by Emma Hinds
✅ 6. Fall Into You by Dylan Morrison

Update to message #5

I decided to just do one book for the challenge instead of 2.

The series I’m reading I’m following along with a show and the show doesn’t end for a few months so I’m just gonna pace myself reading that and just read another for this challenge. :)

HERE COMES THE SUN
August 01, 2025 - August 31, 2025
Progress: 0/8

please sign me up for 8 books

1.Better than the movies. Meglio che nei film
2.Cercando la mia strada
3.Carrie Soto Is Back
4.Happy Place
5.Solo per un'estate. Just for the Summer
6.La formula dell'attrazione
7.Non sarà la solita estate
8.L'enciclopedia delle fate di Emily Wilde

Welcome Kristina and juls ౨ৎ˖ ࣪⊹ You guys are linked!

Sounds good Cristen! Your changes are updated. Have fun with your series! I always love it when I read a good book and am able to watch the series at the same time (if the series is done well).

Updated to message 26

HERE COMES THE SUN
Duration: August 1, 2025 – August 31, 2025

10/10

1. Better Together🌱
2. Spend My Life with You🌱
3. Echo🌱
4. The Co-op🌱
5. It's Not You, It's Them🌱
6. Pride and Prejudice🌱
7. For the Record🌱
8. The Love Dare🌱
9. Greater Secrets🌱
10. Lunar Boy🌱

HERE COMES THE SUN
Duration: August 1, 2025 – August 31, 2025

Reading books that make me happy and I want to read. So if judging books by cover. Don't look at this post 😊

0/8

1.The Game Is Afoot By Elise Bryant
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Welcome ✨ Brianna Raquel ✨ and Rachel!

Updated to message 29

Count me in. I will aim to read five books.

🌞 HERE COMES THE SUN - Monthly Challenge
Duration: August 1 - August 31, 2025
Progress: 8/5



🌞 Mrs. 'Arris Goes to Paris
🌞 Fever Beach
🌞 My Friends
🌞 The Love Haters
🌞 The Secret Life of Sunflowers
🌞 The Bright Years
🌞 Dying to Meet You
🌞 Spectacular Things

Welcome Ciara and TerryJane!! You are added!

It is my pleasure to lead the challenge!

Updated to message 32 on the 31st of July

Please sign me up for 3 books!

📆☀️Monthly Challenges: August - Here Comes the Sun☀️📆

☀️HERE COMES THE SUN ☀️
Duration: August 1 - August 31, 2025
🎉Completed: 5/3

Yellow Covers

✅1. The Perks of Being a Wallflower
✅2. The Soulmate Equation
✅3. Canary Girls
✅4. The Paris Apartment
✅5. Julie Chan Is Dead

Please count me in :)

Progress: 0/5

Welcome Carrie and Monica!!

Updated to message 35 on August 1, 2025

I will read 5 books!
2/5

Yellow Cover:
1.

Happy Book:
1. The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World

In for 5 books please :)

😊 Satyr: A Cozy Fantasy Romance (makes me smile) ✅
😊 The Accidental Honeymoon ✅

Update to message 7

Progress: 1/5

Welcome Amy and Tanu! You guys are linked :D

Updated to message 39 on August 2, 2025

Thanks for the prompt. Please sign me up for 2
~Blākie

Welcome Blākie!!

Updated to message 41 on August 3, 2025

I'm in! I'll start with a goal of three and see how it goes.

This title puts that Beatles song in my head! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKdl-...

From Abbey Road album

3/3
NB I add an emoji in front of the number once I've finished reading a book

☀️1. The Teacher's Funeral: A Comedy in Three Parts by Richard Peck
☀️2. Lessons From Lucy: The Simple Joys of an Old, Happy Dog by Dave Barry
☀️3. The Farm Stand by Amy Clipston

Could you add your finish date to the completion post?

Welcome Karin, and well done with your first book!
Yeah! The titles are the same for the challenge and the song!
Could you add your finish date to the completion post?

Updated to message 43 on August 5, 2025

Update message #4

Progress: 1/4

Charlotte wrote: "Welcome Karin, and well done with your first book!
Yeah! The titles are the same for the challenge and the song!
Could you add your finish date to the completion post?

Updated to message 43 on Au..."

I've never had to do that before in any challenge I've every done or led here, so will try to remember :). I always post my message update the very same day I post the last book to my update message and that date shows on my post--do you use the app and is it different than the website?

I would like to join this challenge! 🥳 can you put me down for three books please. ☀️

Karin wrote: "Charlotte wrote: "Welcome Karin, and well done with your first book!
Yeah! The titles are the same for the challenge and the song!
Could you add your finish date to the completion post?

Updated t..."

Yeah, that works, it just helps me to make sure that the books are completed because some people add books before they finish them. I use the website. Thanks for understanding :D

Welcome Black Cat Bookshelves and well done Susan!!

Charlotte wrote: "Karin wrote: "Charlotte wrote: "Welcome Karin, and well done with your first book!
Yeah! The titles are the same for the challenge and the song!
Could you add your finish date to the completion po..."

Fair enough! I suggest not adding based on a list, but on updates, however, do what works for you! Some members, to save you time, won't post every time they update, but only after a few books or when they are done.

Also, people usually mark it at the top as x/y :)

I'll mark on my list that I use emojis once I finish a book, in case I put in a book I haven't read yet, which isn't likely but has happened :)