Bookish Challenges discussion

🧭 The Exploration Reading Challenge



“Adventure begins at the edge of your comfort zone — or your TBR pile.”

January is all about fresh starts, bold journeys, and getting a little lost (in stories, of course). From hidden cities to starry skies, this challenge takes you across maps, timelines, and ideas — one page at a time.

Each of the 20 prompts has two tasks. Pick your path and explore! 🌍✨

Sign-ups are open until Jan 31st.
The challenge is open-ended.

The Challenge

1. Please copy the list of tasks in the below message and post it in this thread. No new thread will be created.

2. This challenge is for 20 books, one for each place in the list. Each of them has 2 tasks and you need to read for one of the two tasks. You can read in any order. For each completed task, you will receive one point. Additionally, you will receive 5 points for completing 10 books and 10 points for all 20 books.

3. Skips:
You have 1 free skip available - just let me know which task you would like to use it for in the Q&A thread and read a book that meets the general guidelines instead.
For more skips:
Spend 2 points to skip a task and read one of the remaining 38 tasks instead. Example: You want to skip no.1 entirely, so you read for of both tasks of no.5 (one to complete no. 1 , another to complete no. 5).
Spend 5 points to skip a task and read a book that meets the general guidelines instead.

4. Sample completion post below each book completed in your message

Title:
Author:
Date Completed:
Task:
How it fits:

5. If you don't have a personal point account thread yet, request one here.

6. Only books completed from Jan 01, 2026 will be accepted.

Go explore: x /20

1. Wanderlust 🌍

✈️ a. Read a book set in a country you’ve never visited
🧳 b. Read a book that takes you on a journey (road trip, pilgrimage, expedition… anything with blisters and discovery)

2. Deep Sea Dive 🌊

🐚 a. Read a book set on or near the ocean
🔱 b. Read a book that dives into secrets, mysteries, or the things we keep buried

3. Into the Wild 🌲

🦌 a. Read a book set in the wilderness — forest, desert, or snowy nowhere
🔥 b. Read a survival story

4. Mapmakers 🗺️

📜 a. Read a book with a map inside — real or fictional
🏔️ b. Read a story about discovery, exploration, or charting the unknown

5. The Language of the World 💬

🗣️ a. Read a translated book
📖 b. Read a book where communication play a big role (think love letters, journalists, linguists, or very talkative parrots)

6. The Explorer’s Journal ✍️

📓 a. Read a memoir, biography, or travelogue
💌 b. Read a story told through letters, diaries, or other found formats

7. Skyward Bound ☁️

🚀 a. Read a book involving flight or space travel
🌈 b. Read a book that lifts your spirits — something joyful, hopeful, or heartwarming

8. Hidden Cities 🏙️

🏛️ a. Read a book set in a city you’ve never read about before
🌆 b. Read a book that uncovers a city’s secrets — the alleys, the underworld, or the locals-only corners

9. Time Travelers ⏳

⌛ a. Read a book set in another era
🕰️ b. Read a time-travel story — paradoxes and headaches encouraged

10. The Unknown Path 🚶‍♀️

👀 a. Read a book you know nothing about — no reviews, no blurbs, total mystery
🎯 b. Read a debut novel

11. The Curiosity Cabinet 🧪

🦋 a. Read a book featuring a strange or fascinating object
🧠 b. Read a book that teaches you something new or random (trivia welcome!)

12. The Cartographer’s Compass 🧭

🔄 a. Read a book that changes direction midway (plot twist, genre shift, mood swing)
💫 b. Read a book that helps you find your true north — motivational, reflective, or just grounding

13. Beneath the Stars 🌌

🌙 a. Read a book with stars, moon, or galaxies on the cover
✨ b. Read a story that explores dreams, destiny, or cosmic “what ifs”

14. Crossing Borders 🚢

🌍 a. Read a book by an author from a different continent
🗺️ b. Read a book that blends cultures, languages, or traditions

15. The Lost Civilization 🏛️

🔍 a. Read a historical fiction or archaeological mystery
🪶 b. Read a book inspired by myth, legend, or ancient lore

16. Portals & Passageways 🌀

🚪 a. Read a portal fantasy or a story with hidden worlds
🔄 b. Read a book that symbolizes change, transformation, or second chances

17. The People You Meet 🤝

💬 a. Read a book about friendship, community, or found family
👣 b. Read a book with a character wildly different from you — new perspective, new world

18. The Explorer’s Mistake 🗯️

🧨 a. Read a book where taking a risk backfires (oops)
😳 b. Read a book that pushes you outside your comfort zone — scary genre, dense classic, guilty pleasure, anything

19. Return Home 🏡

🍵 a. Read a book about homecoming, reunion, or rediscovery
🇮🇳 b. Read a book set in your own country or hometown

20. The Next Horizon 🌅

📖 a. Read a book that feels like a “new beginning” — first in a series, debut, or fresh genre
🎇 b. Read a book that makes you excited for the year ahead

Participants
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Res

Go explore
Completed: 20/20 COMPLETED 20/01/2026

✅1. Wanderlust 🌍

✈️ a. Read a book set in a country you’ve never visited
Title: Raven Black
Author: Ann Cleeves
Date Completed: 03/01/2025
Task: ✈️ a. Read a book set in a country you’ve never visited
How it fits: Set in the Shetland Islands where I have never visited
🧳 b. Read a book that takes you on a journey (road trip, pilgrimage, expedition… anything with blisters and discovery)

✅2. Deep Sea Dive 🌊

🐚 a. Read a book set on or near the ocean
Title: Holy Island
Author: L.J. Ross
Date Completed: 04/01/2026
Task: 🐚 a. Read a book set on or near the ocean
How it fits:Set on an island
🔱 b. Read a book that dives into secrets, mysteries, or the things we keep buried

✅3. Into the Wild 🌲

🦌 a. Read a book set in the wilderness — forest, desert, or snowy nowhere
🔥 b. Read a survival story
Title: Haunted House
Author: J.A. Konrath
Date Completed: 05/01/2025
Task: 🔥 b. Read a survival story
How it fits: Characters need to survive a night in a haunted house

✅4. Mapmakers 🗺️

📜 a. Read a book with a map inside — real or fictional
🏔️ b. Read a story about discovery, exploration, or charting the unknown
Title: Peter Pan
Author: J.M. Barrie
Date Completed: 02/01/2026
Task: 🏔️ b. Read a story about discovery, exploration, or charting the unknown
How it fits: The Darling children explore Neverland

✅5. The Language of the World 💬

🗣️ a. Read a translated book
Title: The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing
Author: Marie Kondō
Date Completed: 11/01/2026
Task: 🗣️ a. Read a translated book
How it fits: Translated from Japanese
📖 b. Read a book where communication play a big role (think love letters, journalists, linguists, or very talkative parrots)

✅6. The Explorer’s Journal ✍️

📓 a. Read a memoir, biography, or travelogue
💌 b. Read a story told through letters, diaries, or other found formats
Title: The Christmas Appeal
Author: Janice Hallett
Date Completed: 16/01/2026
Task: 💌 b. Read a story told through letters, diaries, or other found formats
How it fits: Told through correspondenses -emails, letters etc.

✅7. Skyward Bound ☁️

🚀 a. Read a book involving flight or space travel
Title: The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
Author: Douglas Adams
Date Completed: 13/01/2026
Task: 🚀 a. Read a book involving flight or space travel
How it fits: Involves space travel
🌈 b. Read a book that lifts your spirits — something joyful, hopeful, or heartwarming

✅8. Hidden Cities 🏙️

🏛️ a. Read a book set in a city you’ve never read about before
🌆 b. Read a book that uncovers a city’s secrets — the alleys, the underworld, or the locals-only corners
Title: Aunty Lee's Delights
Author: Ovidia Yu
Date Completed: 01/01/2025
Task: 🌆 b. Read a book that uncovers a city’s secrets — the alleys, the underworld, or the locals-only corners
How it fits: Aunty Lee's is a locals-only restaurant

✅9. Time Travelers ⏳

⌛ a. Read a book set in another era
🕰️ b. Read a time-travel story — paradoxes and headaches encouraged
Title: Outlander
Author: Diana Gabaldon
Date Completed: 02/01/2025
Task: 🕰️ b. Read a time-travel story — paradoxes and headaches encouraged
How it fits: Claire randall travels back in time

✅10. The Unknown Path 🚶‍♀️

👀 a. Read a book you know nothing about — no reviews, no blurbs, total mystery
Title: The Circadian Code: Lose Weight, Supercharge Your Energy, and Transform Your Health from Morning to Midnight: Longevity Book
Author: Satchin Panda
Date Completed: 06/01/2026
Task: 👀 a. Read a book you know nothing about — no reviews, no blurbs, total mystery
How it fits: Did not know about how the circadian code influences us so much
🎯 b. Read a debut novel

✅11. The Curiosity Cabinet 🧪

🦋 a. Read a book featuring a strange or fascinating object
Title: Dying to Meet You
Author: S.C. Stokes
Date Completed: 07/01/2026
Task: 🦋 a. Read a book featuring a strange or fascinating object
How it fits: Features Odin's sword with magical properties
🧠 b. Read a book that teaches you something new or random (trivia welcome!)

✅12. The Cartographer’s Compass 🧭

🔄 a. Read a book that changes direction midway (plot twist, genre shift, mood swing)
Title: To Speak for the Dead
Author: Paul Levine
Date Completed: 14/01/2026
Task: 🔄 a. Read a book that changes direction midway (plot twist, genre shift, mood swing)
How it fits: Originally Dr Roger Stanton is tried for malpractice then it is found that victim was murdered and he is then arrested for murder
💫 b. Read a book that helps you find your true north — motivational, reflective, or just grounding

✅13. Beneath the Stars 🌌

🌙 a. Read a book with stars, moon, or galaxies on the cover
Title: Space Murder
Author: N.L. Haverstock
Date Completed: 17/01/2026
Task: 🌙 a. Read a book with stars, moon, or galaxies on the cover
How it fits: Stars on cover
✨ b. Read a story that explores dreams, destiny, or cosmic “what ifs”

✅14. Crossing Borders 🚢

🌍 a. Read a book by an author from a different continent
Title: Strawberry Sin
Author: Rosie A. Point
Date Completed: 11/01/2026
Task: 🌍 a. Read a book by an author from a different continent
How it fits: Rosie A. Point is from North America, I am in Australia
🗺️ b. Read a book that blends cultures, languages, or traditions

✅15. The Lost Civilization 🏛️

🔍 a. Read a historical fiction or archaeological mystery
Title: The Frangipani Tree Mystery
Author: Ovidia Yu
Date Completed: 20/01/2026
Task: 🔍 a. Read a historical fiction or archaeological mystery
How it fits: MPG Historical fiction
🪶 b. Read a book inspired by myth, legend, or ancient lore

✅16. Portals & Passageways 🌀

🚪 a. Read a portal fantasy or a story with hidden worlds
🔄 b. Read a book that symbolizes change, transformation, or second chances
Title: Nemesis
Author: Agatha Christie
Date Completed: 16/01/2026
Task: 🔄 b. Read a book that symbolizes change, transformation, or second chances
How it fits: Michael Rafiel is exonerated of a previous crime and has a second chance

✅17. The People You Meet 🤝

💬 a. Read a book about friendship, community, or found family
👣 b. Read a book with a character wildly different from you — new perspective, new world
Title: Of Human Bondage
Author: W. Somerset Maugham
Date Completed: 03/01/2025
Task: 👣 b. Read a book with a character wildly different from you — new perspective, new world
How it fits: MC Philip Carey is an orphan who travels to Paris to try and make it as an artist

✅18. The Explorer’s Mistake 🗯️

🧨 a. Read a book where taking a risk backfires (oops)
Title: Father's Day Murder
Author: Leslie Meier
Date Completed: 10/01/2026
Task: 🧨 a. Read a book where taking a risk backfires (oops)
How it fits: Lucy is caught when she is searching Lou's room thinking he is passed out drunk
😳 b. Read a book that pushes you outside your comfort zone — scary genre, dense classic, guilty pleasure, anything

✅19. Return Home 🏡

🍵 a. Read a book about homecoming, reunion, or rediscovery
Title: Blazing Summer
Author: Denise Grover Swank
Date Completed: 05/01/2026
Task: 🍵 a. Read a book about homecoming, reunion, or rediscovery
How it fits: Summer Butler returns to her hometown of Sweet Briar and reunites with her family
🇮🇳 b. Read a book set in your own country or hometown

✅20. The Next Horizon 🌅

📖 a. Read a book that feels like a “new beginning” — first in a series, debut, or fresh genre
Title: Cut & Run
Author: Madeleine Urban
Date Completed: 01/01/2025
Task: 📖 a. Read a book that feels like a “new beginning” — first in a series, debut, or fresh genre
How it fits: First in series
🎇 b. Read a book that makes you excited for the year ahead

GO EXPLORE
x/20

1. Wanderlust 🌍

✈️ a. Read a book set in a country you’ve never visited
Title: Antarctica
Author: Kim Stanley Robinson
Date Completed: 1/8/2025
Task: 1a
How it fits: I would love to visit there, but that is the one place I can never afford to go.

🧳 b. Read a book that takes you on a journey (road trip, pilgrimage, expedition… anything with blisters and discovery)

2. Deep Sea Dive 🌊

🐚 a. Read a book set on or near the ocean
Title:Grania: She-King of the Irish Seas
Author: Morgan Llywelyn
Date Completed: 1/16/2026
How it fits: The story of Grace O Malley, a 16th-century female pirate.

🔱 b. Read a book that dives into secrets, mysteries, or the things we keep buried

3. Into the Wild 🌲

🦌 a. Read a book set in the wilderness — forest, desert, or snowy nowhere
🔥 b. Read a survival story

4. Mapmakers 🗺️

📜 a. Read a book with a map inside — real or fictional
Title: The Witch at the Edge of the Wood
Author: Liz Delton
Date Completed: 1/19/2025
How it fits: Map before chapter one.

🏔️ b. Read a story about discovery, exploration, or charting the unknown

5. The Language of the World 💬

🗣️ a. Read a translated book
Title: Last Train to Istanbul
Author: Ayşe Kulin
Date Completed: 1/18/2026
How it fits: Translated from Turkish

📖 b. Read a book where communication play a big role (think love letters, journalists, linguists, or very talkative parrots)

6. The Explorer’s Journal ✍️

📓 a. Read a memoir, biography, or travelogue

💌 b. Read a story told through letters, diaries, or other found formats
Title: The Journals of Alexander Mackenzie: Exploring Across Canada in 1789 & 1793
Author: Alexander Mackenzie
Date Completed: 1/2/2026
Task: 6b.
How it fits: It is a series of journal entries.


7. Skyward Bound ☁️

🚀 a. Read a book involving flight or space travel
🌈 b. Read a book that lifts your spirits — something joyful, hopeful, or heartwarming

8. Hidden Cities 🏙️

🏛️ a. Read a book set in a city you’ve never read about before
🌆 b. Read a book that uncovers a city’s secrets — the alleys, the underworld, or the locals-only corners

9. Time Travelers ⏳

⌛ a. Read a book set in another era

🕰️ b. Read a time-travel story — paradoxes and headaches encouraged
Title: The Accidental Time Travelers Collective, Volume 1
Author: Kiersten Marcil
Date Completed: 1/3/2026
Task: 9b.
How it fits: A collection of time-travel short stories

10. The Unknown Path 🚶‍♀️

👀 a. Read a book you know nothing about — no reviews, no blurbs, total mystery
Title: The Tavern Between Worlds
Author: Sora Pels
Date Completed: 1/4/2026
Task: 10a.
How it fits: This book was given to me by a friend, and I was told, “You will like it, just read it." Unfortunately, I did not.

🎯 b. Read a debut novel

11. The Curiosity Cabinet 🧪

🦋 a. Read a book featuring a strange or fascinating object
🧠 b. Read a book that teaches you something new or random (trivia welcome!)

12. The Cartographer’s Compass 🧭

🔄 a. Read a book that changes direction midway (plot twist, genre shift, mood swing)
💫 b. Read a book that helps you find your true north — motivational, reflective, or just grounding

13. Beneath the Stars 🌌

🌙 a. Read a book with stars, moon, or galaxies on the cover
Title: Right Ascension
Author: David Derrico
Date Completed: 1/14/2026
How it fits: Nebula on the cover
✨ b. Read a story that explores dreams, destiny, or cosmic “what ifs”

14. Crossing Borders 🚢

🌍 a. Read a book by an author from a different continent
Title: The Blanket Cats
Author: Kiyoshi Shigematsu
Date Completed: 1/1/2026
Task: Read a book by an author from a different continent.
How it fits: The author is Japanese. Japan is part of the Asian continent.

🗺️ b. Read a book that blends cultures, languages, or traditions

15. The Lost Civilization 🏛️

🔍 a. Read a historical fiction or archaeological mystery
🪶 b. Read a book inspired by myth, legend, or ancient lore

16. Portals & Passageways 🌀

🚪 a. Read a portal fantasy or a story with hidden worlds
🔄 b. Read a book that symbolizes change, transformation, or second chances

17. The People You Meet 🤝

💬 a. Read a book about friendship, community, or found family
👣 b. Read a book with a character wildly different from you — new perspective, new world

18. The Explorer’s Mistake 🗯️

🧨 a. Read a book where taking a risk backfires (oops)
😳 b. Read a book that pushes you outside your comfort zone — scary genre, dense classic, guilty pleasure, anything

19. Return Home 🏡

🍵 a. Read a book about homecoming, reunion, or rediscovery
🇮🇳 b. Read a book set in your own country or hometown

20. The Next Horizon 🌅

📖 a. Read a book that feels like a “new beginning” — first in a series, debut, or fresh genre
🎇 b. Read a book that makes you excited for the year ahead

1. Wanderlust 🌍

✈️ a. Read a book set in a country you’ve never visited
🧳 b. Read a book that takes you on a journey (road trip, pilgrimage, expedition… anything with blisters and discovery)

2. Deep Sea Dive 🌊

🐚 a. Read a book set on or near the ocean
🔱 b. Read a book that dives into secrets, mysteries, or the things we keep buried

3. Into the Wild 🌲

🦌 a. Read a book set in the wilderness — forest, desert, or snowy nowhere
🔥 b. Read a survival story

4. Mapmakers 🗺️

📜 a. Read a book with a map inside — real or fictional
🏔️ b. Read a story about discovery, exploration, or charting the unknown

5. The Language of the World 💬

🗣️ a. Read a translated book
📖 b. Read a book where communication play a big role (think love letters, journalists, linguists, or very talkative parrots)

6. The Explorer’s Journal ✍️

📓 a. Read a memoir, biography, or travelogue
💌 b. Read a story told through letters, diaries, or other found formats

7. Skyward Bound ☁️

🚀 a. Read a book involving flight or space travel
🌈 b. Read a book that lifts your spirits — something joyful, hopeful, or heartwarming

8. Hidden Cities 🏙️

🏛️ a. Read a book set in a city you’ve never read about before
🌆 b. Read a book that uncovers a city’s secrets — the alleys, the underworld, or the locals-only corners

9. Time Travelers ⏳

⌛ a. Read a book set in another era
🕰️ b. Read a time-travel story — paradoxes and headaches encouraged

10. The Unknown Path 🚶‍♀️

👀 a. Read a book you know nothing about — no reviews, no blurbs, total mystery
🎯 b. Read a debut novel

11. The Curiosity Cabinet 🧪

🦋 a. Read a book featuring a strange or fascinating object
🧠 b. Read a book that teaches you something new or random (trivia welcome!)

12. The Cartographer’s Compass 🧭

🔄 a. Read a book that changes direction midway (plot twist, genre shift, mood swing)
💫 b. Read a book that helps you find your true north — motivational, reflective, or just grounding

13. Beneath the Stars 🌌

🌙 a. Read a book with stars, moon, or galaxies on the cover
✨ b. Read a story that explores dreams, destiny, or cosmic “what ifs”

14. Crossing Borders 🚢

🌍 a. Read a book by an author from a different continent
🗺️ b. Read a book that blends cultures, languages, or traditions

15. The Lost Civilization 🏛️

🔍 a. Read a historical fiction or archaeological mystery
🪶 b. Read a book inspired by myth, legend, or ancient lore

16. Portals & Passageways 🌀

🚪 a. Read a portal fantasy or a story with hidden worlds
🔄 b. Read a book that symbolizes change, transformation, or second chances

17. The People You Meet 🤝

💬 a. Read a book about friendship, community, or found family
👣 b. Read a book with a character wildly different from you — new perspective, new world

18. The Explorer’s Mistake 🗯️

🧨 a. Read a book where taking a risk backfires (oops)
😳 b. Read a book that pushes you outside your comfort zone — scary genre, dense classic, guilty pleasure, anything

19. Return Home 🏡

🍵 a. Read a book about homecoming, reunion, or rediscovery
🇮🇳 b. Read a book set in your own country or hometown

20. The Next Horizon 🌅

📖 a. Read a book that feels like a “new beginning” — first in a series, debut, or fresh genre
🎇 b. Read a book that makes you excited for the year ahead

🧭 The Exploration Reading Challenge
1/1/26 - open
15/20

1. Wanderlust 🌍
🧳 b. Read a book that takes you on a journey - a road trip from Oklahoma to NY with a pair on a killing spree
Devoted in Death by J.D. Robb 3/1 4★

2. Deep Sea Dive 🌊
🔱 b. Read a book that dives into secrets, mysteries, or the things we keep buried - lots of these
Murder in the Cathedral by Kerry Greenwood 5/1 4.5★

3. Into the Wild 🌲
🦌 a. Read a book set in the wilderness — forest, desert, or snowy nowhere
🔥 b. Read a survival story

4. Mapmakers 🗺️
🏔️ b. Read a story about discovery, exploration, or charting the unknown
All the Weyrs of Pern by Anne McCaffrey 9/1 4★

5. The Language of the World 💬
📖 b. Read a book where communication play a big role - cyberstalking via email, a fairly new thing in the 90s
Cyberkiss by Sally Chapman 3/1 2.5★

6. The Explorer’s Journal ✍️
📓 a. Read a memoir, biography, or travelogue
💌 b. Read a story told through letters, diaries, or other found formats

7. Skyward Bound ☁️
🌈 b. Read a book that lifts your spirits — something joyful, hopeful, or heartwarming
Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot 1/1 5★

8. Hidden Cities 🏙️
🏛️ a. Read a book set in a city you’ve never read about before - Buenos Aires
Death Flight by Sarah Sultoon 4/1 3★

9. Time Travelers ⏳
⌛ a. Read a book set in another era
The Widows of Broome by Arthur W. Upfield 8/1 4★

10. The Unknown Path 🚶‍♀️
🎯 b. Read a debut novel
Redstone Station by Therese Creed 17/1 4★

11. The Curiosity Cabinet 🧪
🦋 a. Read a book featuring a strange or fascinating object - the King's true crown has some very unusual properties, & weighs very heavy
Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett 2/1 5★

12. The Cartographer’s Compass 🧭
🔄 a. Read a book that changes direction midway (plot twist, genre shift, mood swing) - becomes darker & more dangerous
Whitsunday Dawn by Annie Seaton 15/1 3.5★

13. Beneath the Stars 🌌
🌙 a. Read a book with stars, moon, or galaxies on the cover
✨ b. Read a story that explores dreams, destiny, or cosmic “what ifs”

14. Crossing Borders 🚢
🗺️ b. Read a book that blends cultures, languages, or traditions
Ming and Flo Fight for the Future by Jackie French 10/1 4★

15. The Lost Civilization 🏛️
🔍 a. Read a historical fiction
Murder at Almack's by Jo Ann Ferguson, Mona Gedney, Valerie King 7/1 2★

16. Portals & Passageways 🌀
🔄 b. Read a book that symbolizes change, transformation
The Shortest History of the Crown by Stephen Bates 17/1 4★

17. The People You Meet 🤝
💬 a. Read a book about friendship, community, or found family
👣 b. Read a book with a character wildly different from you — new perspective, new world

18. The Explorer’s Mistake 🗯️
🧨 a. Read a book where taking a risk backfires (oops)
😳 b. Read a book that pushes you outside your comfort zone — scary genre, dense classic, guilty pleasure, anything

19. Return Home 🏡
🇮🇳 b. Read a book set in your own country or hometown
The Obsession by Nora Roberts 12/1 3.5★

20. The Next Horizon 🌅
📖 a. Read a book that feels like a “new beginning” — first in a series
The Giver by Lois Lowry 10/1 3★

04/20

1. Wanderlust 🌍
✈️ a. Read a book set in a country you’ve never visited
🧳 b. Read a book that takes you on a journey (road trip, pilgrimage, expedition… anything with blisters and discovery)

2. Deep Sea Dive 🌊
🐚 a. Read a book set on or near the ocean
🔱 b. Read a book that dives into secrets, mysteries, or the things we keep buried

3. Into the Wild 🌲
🦌 a. Read a book set in the wilderness — forest, desert, or snowy nowhere Sundial by Catriona Ward - set in desert
🔥 b. Read a survival story

4. Mapmakers 🗺️
📜 a. Read a book with a map inside — real or fictional A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas - map inside
🏔️ b. Read a story about discovery, exploration, or charting the unknown

5. The Language of the World 💬
🗣️ a. Read a translated book
📖 b. Read a book where communication play a big role (think love letters, journalists, linguists, or very talkative parrots)

6. The Explorer’s Journal ✍️
📓 a. Read a memoir, biography, or travelogue
💌 b. Read a story told through letters, diaries, or other found formats

7. Skyward Bound ☁️
🚀 a. Read a book involving flight or space travel
🌈 b. Read a book that lifts your spirits — something joyful, hopeful, or heartwarming

8. Hidden Cities 🏙️
🏛️ a. Read a book set in a city you’ve never read about before
🌆 b. Read a book that uncovers a city’s secrets — the alleys, the underworld, or the locals-only corners

9. Time Travelers ⏳
⌛ a. Read a book set in another era Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel - set in Old India
🕰️ b. Read a time-travel story — paradoxes and headaches encouraged

10. The Unknown Path 🚶‍♀️
👀 a. Read a book you know nothing about — no reviews, no blurbs, total mystery
🎯 b. Read a debut novel

11. The Curiosity Cabinet 🧪
🦋 a. Read a book featuring a strange or fascinating object
🧠 b. Read a book that teaches you something new or random (trivia welcome!)

12. The Cartographer’s Compass 🧭
🔄 a. Read a book that changes direction midway (plot twist, genre shift, mood swing)
💫 b. Read a book that helps you find your true north — motivational, reflective, or just grounding

13. Beneath the Stars 🌌
🌙 a. Read a book with stars, moon, or galaxies on the cover
✨ b. Read a story that explores dreams, destiny, or cosmic “what ifs”

14. Crossing Borders 🚢
🌍 a. Read a book by an author from a different continent
🗺️ b. Read a book that blends cultures, languages, or traditions

15. The Lost Civilization 🏛️
🔍 a. Read a historical fiction or archaeological mystery
🪶 b. Read a book inspired by myth, legend, or ancient lore

16. Portals & Passageways 🌀
🚪 a. Read a portal fantasy or a story with hidden worlds
🔄 b. Read a book that symbolizes change, transformation, or second chances King of Wrath by Ana Huang - MC goes through a big change / transformation

17. The People You Meet 🤝
💬 a. Read a book about friendship, community, or found family
👣 b. Read a book with a character wildly different from you — new perspective, new world

18. The Explorer’s Mistake 🗯️
🧨 a. Read a book where taking a risk backfires (oops)
😳 b. Read a book that pushes you outside your comfort zone — scary genre, dense classic, guilty pleasure, anything

19. Return Home 🏡
🍵 a. Read a book about homecoming, reunion, or rediscovery
🇮🇳 b. Read a book set in your own country or hometown

20. The Next Horizon 🌅
📖 a. Read a book that feels like a “new beginning” — first in a series, debut, or fresh genre
🎇 b. Read a book that makes you excited for the year ahead

Go explore: 5/20

✔1. Wanderlust 🌍
✈️ a. Read a book set in a country you’ve never visited
Hell Yeah by Elle Kennedy - 14 Jan 2026 - Set in Canada, which I never visited
🧳 b. Read a book that takes you on a journey (road trip, pilgrimage, expedition… anything with blisters and discovery)

2. Deep Sea Dive 🌊

🐚 a. Read a book set on or near the ocean
🔱 b. Read a book that dives into secrets, mysteries, or the things we keep buried

3. Into the Wild 🌲

🦌 a. Read a book set in the wilderness — forest, desert, or snowy nowhere
🔥 b. Read a survival story

4. Mapmakers 🗺️

📜 a. Read a book with a map inside — real or fictional
🏔️ b. Read a story about discovery, exploration, or charting the unknown

✔5. The Language of the World 💬
🗣️ a. Read a translated book
Het zesde slachtoffer by James Patterson - 17 Jan 2026 - Translated from English to Dutch
📖 b. Read a book where communication play a big role (think love letters, journalists, linguists, or very talkative parrots)

✔6. The Explorer’s Journal ✍️
📓 a. Read a memoir, biography, or travelogue
Radio Cachot - Overleven binnen de muren van een Vlaamse gevangenis by Fred Klee - 17 Jan 2026 - The author tells about his life in prison --> autobiography
💌 b. Read a story told through letters, diaries, or other found formats

7. Skyward Bound ☁️

🚀 a. Read a book involving flight or space travel
🌈 b. Read a book that lifts your spirits — something joyful, hopeful, or heartwarming

8. Hidden Cities 🏙️

🏛️ a. Read a book set in a city you’ve never read about before
🌆 b. Read a book that uncovers a city’s secrets — the alleys, the underworld, or the locals-only corners

9. Time Travelers ⏳

⌛ a. Read a book set in another era
🕰️ b. Read a time-travel story — paradoxes and headaches encouraged

10. The Unknown Path 🚶‍♀️

👀 a. Read a book you know nothing about — no reviews, no blurbs, total mystery
🎯 b. Read a debut novel

11. The Curiosity Cabinet 🧪

🦋 a. Read a book featuring a strange or fascinating object
🧠 b. Read a book that teaches you something new or random (trivia welcome!)

12. The Cartographer’s Compass 🧭

🔄 a. Read a book that changes direction midway (plot twist, genre shift, mood swing)
💫 b. Read a book that helps you find your true north — motivational, reflective, or just grounding

13. Beneath the Stars 🌌

🌙 a. Read a book with stars, moon, or galaxies on the cover
✨ b. Read a story that explores dreams, destiny, or cosmic “what ifs”

14. Crossing Borders 🚢

🌍 a. Read a book by an author from a different continent
🗺️ b. Read a book that blends cultures, languages, or traditions

15. The Lost Civilization 🏛️

🔍 a. Read a historical fiction or archaeological mystery
🪶 b. Read a book inspired by myth, legend, or ancient lore

✔16. Portals & Passageways 🌀
🚪 a. Read a portal fantasy or a story with hidden worlds
Zilvergaren by Naomi Novik - 7 Jan 2026
How it fits: This story features a hidden world through the magical, icy realm of the 'Staryk', a fey people connected to winter and silver, which literally appears as an ice path to the human world.
🔄 b. Read a book that symbolizes change, transformation, or second chances

17. The People You Meet 🤝

💬 a. Read a book about friendship, community, or found family
👣 b. Read a book with a character wildly different from you — new perspective, new world

18. The Explorer’s Mistake 🗯️

🧨 a. Read a book where taking a risk backfires (oops)
😳 b. Read a book that pushes you outside your comfort zone — scary genre, dense classic, guilty pleasure, anything

19. Return Home 🏡

🍵 a. Read a book about homecoming, reunion, or rediscovery
🇮🇳 b. Read a book set in your own country or hometown

✔20. The Next Horizon 🌅
📖 a. Read a book that feels like a “new beginning” — first in a series, debut, or fresh genre
Anna O. by Matthew Blake - 11 Jan 2026
How it fits: this is the debut novel of this author
🎇 b. Read a book that makes you excited for the year ahead

Go explore: 9 /20

✅✅1. Wanderlust 🌍

✅✅✈️ a. Read a book set in a country you’ve never visited

Read 1/1 -- set in Lebanon
🧳 b. Read a book that takes you on a journey (road trip, pilgrimage, expedition… anything with blisters and discovery)

✅✅2. Deep Sea Dive 🌊

✅✅🐚 a. Read a book set on or near the ocean

Read 1/7
Ocean front wedding and murder!
🔱 b. Read a book that dives into secrets, mysteries, or the things we keep buried

✅✅3. Into the Wild 🌲

🦌 a. Read a book set in the wilderness — forest, desert, or snowy nowhere
✅✅🔥 b. Read a survival storyline

Read 1/5
The narrator survives and earthquake and quest to get home — against all odds

✅✅ 4. Mapmakers 🗺️

📜 a. Read a book with a map inside — real or fictional
✅✅🏔️ b. Read a story about discovery, exploration, or charting the unknown

Read 1/8
When the guards leave and the women escape they find they are the only survivors in this world and they must learn to navigate the planet for their survival.


5. The Language of the World 💬

🗣️ a. Read a translated book
📖 b. Read a book where communication play a big role (think love letters, journalists, linguists, or very talkative parrots)

6. The Explorer’s Journal ✍️

📓 a. Read a memoir, biography, or travelogue
💌 b. Read a story told through letters, diaries, or other found formats

7. Skyward Bound ☁️

🚀 a. Read a book involving flight or space travel
🌈 b. Read a book that lifts your spirits — something joyful, hopeful, or heartwarming

✅✅ 8. Hidden Cities 🏙️

✅✅🏛️ a. Read a book set in a city you’ve never read about before

Read 1/13 — I never read a book set in or about Hong Kong
🌆 b. Read a book that uncovers a city’s secrets — the alleys, the underworld, or the locals-only corners

✅✅9. Time Travelers ⏳

✅✅⌛ a. Read a book set in another era

Read 1/15 — set in the mid 21st century
🕰️ b. Read a time-travel story — paradoxes and headaches encouraged

10. The Unknown Path 🚶‍♀️

👀 a. Read a book you know nothing about — no reviews, no blurbs, total mystery
🎯 b. Read a debut novel

✅✅11. The Curiosity Cabinet 🧪

🦋 a. Read a book featuring a strange or fascinating object
✅✅🧠 b. Read a book that teaches you something new or random (trivia welcome!)

Read 1/16 — this book really taught me a lot about Palestine and what is happening there.

12. The Cartographer’s Compass 🧭

🔄 a. Read a book that changes direction midway (plot twist, genre shift, mood swing)
💫 b. Read a book that helps you find your true north — motivational, reflective, or just grounding

13. Beneath the Stars 🌌

🌙 a. Read a book with stars, moon, or galaxies on the cover
✨ b. Read a story that explores dreams, destiny, or cosmic “what ifs”

14. Crossing Borders 🚢

🌍 a. Read a book by an author from a different continent
🗺️ b. Read a book that blends cultures, languages, or traditions

✅✅15. The Lost Civilization 🏛️

🔍 a. Read a historical fiction or archaeological mystery
✅✅🪶 b. Read a book inspired by myth, legend, or ancient lore

read 1/2 much is inspired by mythology especially “The Golem” who is the villain

16. Portals & Passageways 🌀

🚪 a. Read a portal fantasy or a story with hidden worlds
🔄 b. Read a book that symbolizes change, transformation, or second chances

17. The People You Meet 🤝

💬 a. Read a book about friendship, community, or found family
👣 b. Read a book with a character wildly different from you — new perspective, new world

✅✅ 18. The Explorer’s Mistake 🗯️

✅✅🧨 a. Read a book where taking a risk backfires (oops)

Read 1/4 -- Lo's decision to take a risk and help Carrie backfires as she is set up and ends in jail
😳 b. Read a book that pushes you outside your comfort zone — scary genre, dense classic, guilty pleasure, anything

19. Return Home 🏡

🍵 a. Read a book about homecoming, reunion, or rediscovery
🇮🇳 b. Read a book set in your own country or hometown

20. The Next Horizon 🌅

📖 a. Read a book that feels like a “new beginning” — first in a series, debut, or fresh genre
🎇 b. Read a book that makes you excited for the year ahead

Go explore!
Book completed: 15/20

1. Wanderlust 🌍
Book/Author: Blaze
Author: Donna Grant
Date completed: 1/16/2026
Task: ✈️ Read a book set in a country you’ve never visited
How it fits: Set in England, where I have never been.

2. Deep Sea Dive 🌊
Book/Author: He Loves Me Knot
Author: Annabelle McCormack
Date completed: 1/6/2026
Task: 🐚 Read a book set on or near the ocean
How it fits: Set on a beach resort of Costa Rica.

3. Into the Wild 🌲
🦌 a. Read a book set in the wilderness — forest, desert, or snowy nowhere
🔥 b. Read a survival story

4. Mapmakers 🗺️
Book/Author: Neon Gods
Author: Katee Robert
Date completed: 1/2/2026
Task: 📜 Read a book with a map inside — real or fictional
How it fits: Map of Olympus city in front.

5. The Language of the World 💬
Book/Author: The Historian
Author: Elizabeth Kostova
Date completed: 1/11/2026
Task: 📖 b. Read a book where communication play a big role (think love letters, journalists, linguists, or very talkative parrots)
How it fits: Features many letters and journal entries to tell the story.

6. The Explorer’s Journal ✍️
Book/Author: Gone Girl
Author: Gillian Flynn
Date completed: 1/4/2026
Task: 💌 Read a story told through letters, diaries, or other found formats
How it fits: Part of the story is told by Amy Elliott's journals.

7. Skyward Bound ☁️
Book/Author: Bound by the Ice Dragon
Author: Alyx X.
Date completed: 1/17/2026
Task:🚀 Read a book involving flight or space travel
How it fits: Tessa travels from planet Earth to planet Hydronia.

8. Hidden Cities 🏙️
🏛️ a. Read a book set in a city you’ve never read about before
🌆 b. Read a book that uncovers a city’s secrets — the alleys, the underworld, or the locals-only corners

9. Time Travelers ⏳
Book/Author: Secrets of a Scottish Isle
Author: Erica Ruth Neubauer
Date completed: 1/14/2026
Task: ⌛ Read a book set in another era
How it fits: Set in 1927.

10. The Unknown Path 🚶‍♀️
👀 a. Read a book you know nothing about — no reviews, no blurbs, total mystery
🎯 b. Read a debut novel

11. The Curiosity Cabinet 🧪
Book/Author: Too Old for This
Author: Samantha Downing
Date completed: 1/7/2026
Task: 🧠 Read a book that teaches you something new or random.
How it fits: Apparently when you stab someone, the sound the skin makes as the knife cuts through it makes a pop. Or at least, you know, thus sayeth the serial killer in this book. Is this macabre AF? Totally. But those are the types of facts that rent space in my brain.

12. The Cartographer’s Compass 🧭
Book/Author: In Praise of Wasting Time
Author: Alan Lightman
Date completed: 1/18/2026
Task: 💫 Read a book that helps you find your true north — motivational, reflective, or just grounding
How it fits: Motivating and encouraging, explaining why leisure is important and leads to higher creativity and productivity overall.

13. Beneath the Stars 🌌
Book/Author: Slashing Through the Snow
Author: Jacqueline Frost
Date completed: 1/8/2026
Task: 🌙 Read a book with stars, moon, or galaxies on the cover
How it fits: A sky full of stars on the cover. Stars on top of Christmas trees.

14. Crossing Borders 🚢
Book/Author: The Girl in the Tree
Author: Şebnem İşigüzel
Date completed: 1/16/2026
Task: 🌍 Read a book by an author from a different continent
How it fits: Author from the Asian side of Turkey. I'm in North America.

15. The Lost Civilization 🏛️
Book/Author: The Girl Who Saved Christmas
Author: Matt Haig
Date completed: 1/12/2026
Task: 🪶 b. Read a book inspired by myth, legend, or ancient lore
How it fits: Inspired by the myths and legends surrounding Santa Clause / Father Christmas.

16. Portals & Passageways 🌀
🚪 a. Read a portal fantasy or a story with hidden worlds
🔄 b. Read a book that symbolizes change, transformation, or second chances

17. The People You Meet 🤝
Book/Author: The Princess and the Fangirl
Author: Ashley Poston
Date completed: 1/13/2026
Task: 💬 Read a book about friendship, community, or found family
How it fits: About fandom communities and the people in them and the famous people/characters they are about.

18. The Explorer’s Mistake 🗯️
Book/Author: My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Date completed: 1/1/2026
Task: 😳 Read a book that pushes you outside your comfort zone
How it fits: I don't typically read or even enjoy short stories, so this was a definite shift for me.

19. Return Home 🏡
Book/Author: How My Neighbor Stole Christmas
Author: Meghan Quinn
Date completed: 1/10/2026
Task: 🍵 Read a book about homecoming, reunion, or rediscovery
How it fits: Storee Taylor returns to a town she loved as a child, Kringletown, Colorado, to help take care of her aunt after a hip replacement.

20. The Next Horizon 🌅
📖 a. Read a book that feels like a “new beginning” — first in a series, debut, or fresh genre
🎇 b. Read a book that makes you excited for the year ahead

Go explore: 5/20

1. Wanderlust 🌍

✈️ a. Read a book set in a country you’ve never visited
🧳 b. Read a book that takes you on a journey (road trip, pilgrimage, expedition… anything with blisters and discovery)

✅ 2. Deep Sea Dive 🌊
Title/Author: Cursebreakers by Madeleine Nakamura
Date Completed: 10/1
Task: Read a book that dives into secrets, mysteries, or the things we keep buried
How it fits: Adrien uncovers the mystery of why seemingly random people end up in magical comas.

3. Into the Wild 🌲

🦌 a. Read a book set in the wilderness — forest, desert, or snowy nowhere
🔥 b. Read a survival story

4. Mapmakers 🗺️

📜 a. Read a book with a map inside — real or fictional
🏔️ b. Read a story about discovery, exploration, or charting the unknown

✅ 5. The Language of the World 💬
Title/Author: Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow
Date Completed: 14/1
Task: Read a translated book
How it fits: I read this in Dutch translation (the original is in English)

6. The Explorer’s Journal ✍️

📓 a. Read a memoir, biography, or travelogue
💌 b. Read a story told through letters, diaries, or other found formats

7. Skyward Bound ☁️

🚀 a. Read a book involving flight or space travel
🌈 b. Read a book that lifts your spirits — something joyful, hopeful, or heartwarming

8. Hidden Cities 🏙️

🏛️ a. Read a book set in a city you’ve never read about before
🌆 b. Read a book that uncovers a city’s secrets — the alleys, the underworld, or the locals-only corners

9. Time Travelers ⏳

⌛ a. Read a book set in another era
🕰️ b. Read a time-travel story — paradoxes and headaches encouraged

10. The Unknown Path 🚶‍♀️

👀 a. Read a book you know nothing about — no reviews, no blurbs, total mystery
🎯 b. Read a debut novel

11. The Curiosity Cabinet 🧪

🦋 a. Read a book featuring a strange or fascinating object
🧠 b. Read a book that teaches you something new or random (trivia welcome!)

✅ 12. The Cartographer’s Compass 🧭
Title/Author: Kapot by Louisa Reid
Date Completed: 7/1
Task: Read a book that changes direction midway (plot twist, genre shift, mood swing)
How it fits: You discover something that drastically changes the meaning of the entire story midway.

13. Beneath the Stars 🌌

🌙 a. Read a book with stars, moon, or galaxies on the cover
✨ b. Read a story that explores dreams, destiny, or cosmic “what ifs”

✅ 14. Crossing Borders 🚢
Title/Author: The Future Widows' Club by Rhonda Russell
Date Completed: 12/1
Task: Read a book by an author from a different continent
How it fits: The author is from North America, I'm in Europe.

15. The Lost Civilization 🏛️

🔍 a. Read a historical fiction or archaeological mystery
🪶 b. Read a book inspired by myth, legend, or ancient lore

16. Portals & Passageways 🌀

🚪 a. Read a portal fantasy or a story with hidden worlds
🔄 b. Read a book that symbolizes change, transformation, or second chances

17. The People You Meet 🤝

💬 a. Read a book about friendship, community, or found family
👣 b. Read a book with a character wildly different from you — new perspective, new world

✅ 18. The Explorer’s Mistake 🗯️
Title/Author: Hell Followed With Us by Andrew Joseph White
Date Completed: 6/1
Task: Read a book that pushes you outside your comfort zone — scary genre, dense classic, guilty pleasure, anything
How it fits: I don't usually read horror, this was definitely a scary genre!

19. Return Home 🏡

🍵 a. Read a book about homecoming, reunion, or rediscovery
🇮🇳 b. Read a book set in your own country or hometown

20. The Next Horizon 🌅

📖 a. Read a book that feels like a “new beginning” — first in a series, debut, or fresh genre
🎇 b. Read a book that makes you excited for the year ahead

Go explore: x /20

1. Wanderlust 🌍

✈️ a. Read a book set in a country you’ve never visited
🧳 b. Read a book that takes you on a journey (road trip, pilgrimage, expedition… anything with blisters and discovery)

2. Deep Sea Dive 🌊

🐚 a. Read a book set on or near the ocean
🔱 b. Read a book that dives into secrets, mysteries, or the things we keep buried

3. Into the Wild 🌲

🦌 a. Read a book set in the wilderness — forest, desert, or snowy nowhere
🔥 b. Read a survival story

4. Mapmakers 🗺️

📜 a. Read a book with a map inside — real or fictional
🏔️ b. Read a story about discovery, exploration, or charting the unknown

5. The Language of the World 💬

🗣️ a. Read a translated book
📖 b. Read a book where communication play a big role (think love letters, journalists, linguists, or very talkative parrots)

6. The Explorer’s Journal ✍️

📓 a. Read a memoir, biography, or travelogue
💌 b. Read a story told through letters, diaries, or other found formats

7. Skyward Bound ☁️

🚀 a. Read a book involving flight or space travel
🌈 b. Read a book that lifts your spirits — something joyful, hopeful, or heartwarming

8. Hidden Cities 🏙️

🏛️ a. Read a book set in a city you’ve never read about before
🌆 b. Read a book that uncovers a city’s secrets — the alleys, the underworld, or the locals-only corners

9. Time Travelers ⏳

⌛ a. Read a book set in another era
🕰️ b. Read a time-travel story — paradoxes and headaches encouraged

10. The Unknown Path 🚶‍♀️

👀 a. Read a book you know nothing about — no reviews, no blurbs, total mystery
🎯 b. Read a debut novel

11. The Curiosity Cabinet 🧪

🦋 a. Read a book featuring a strange or fascinating object
🧠 b. Read a book that teaches you something new or random (trivia welcome!)

12. The Cartographer’s Compass 🧭

🔄 a. Read a book that changes direction midway (plot twist, genre shift, mood swing)
💫 b. Read a book that helps you find your true north — motivational, reflective, or just grounding

13. Beneath the Stars 🌌

🌙 a. Read a book with stars, moon, or galaxies on the cover
✨ b. Read a story that explores dreams, destiny, or cosmic “what ifs”

14. Crossing Borders 🚢

🌍 a. Read a book by an author from a different continent
🗺️ b. Read a book that blends cultures, languages, or traditions

15. The Lost Civilization 🏛️

🔍 a. Read a historical fiction or archaeological mystery
🪶 b. Read a book inspired by myth, legend, or ancient lore

16. Portals & Passageways 🌀

🚪 a. Read a portal fantasy or a story with hidden worlds
🔄 b. Read a book that symbolizes change, transformation, or second chances

17. The People You Meet 🤝

💬 a. Read a book about friendship, community, or found family
👣 b. Read a book with a character wildly different from you — new perspective, new world

18. The Explorer’s Mistake 🗯️

🧨 a. Read a book where taking a risk backfires (oops)
😳 b. Read a book that pushes you outside your comfort zone — scary genre, dense classic, guilty pleasure, anything

19. Return Home 🏡

🍵 a. Read a book about homecoming, reunion, or rediscovery
🇮🇳 b. Read a book set in your own country or hometown

20. The Next Horizon 🌅

📖 a. Read a book that feels like a “new beginning” — first in a series, debut, or fresh genre
🎇 b. Read a book that makes you excited for the year ahead

All completed
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...