Author: Read While It Rains

Like many of you, I have too many books on my physical TBR (let’s not even talk about my Kindle TBR), and I want to get that number down this year.

To help me finally tackle some of the books I’ve been meaning to read, I’ve put together this summer reading challenge to keep myself motivated. I’m going to aim to read 10 books off my TBR over July and August, and I’ve set up a challenge over on Storygraph for anyone else who would like to join!

Here are the 10 prompts and which books I plan to read:

1. A Book Over 500 Pages

The Way of Kings, Part Two by Brandon Sanderson

I bought The Way of Kings Part 1 and 2 in 2019 and then didn’t actually get round to reading Book 1 until this year. I am loving it, and I expect Part 2 to be just as good. They are so intimidating to start but I am excited to get these big books off the TBR.

2. A Book Under 250 Pages

Plays by Anton Chekhov

I have already read most of the plays in this book, but I want to finish it so it is off the TBR for good. I read another Chekhov book last year (About Love and Other Stories) and adored it, so I know this will be highly rated.

3. The Book That’s Been on My TBR the Longest

Runemarks by Joanne Harris

I bought this book in 2018 and I have not read it yet. Why am I like this? I love Chocolat by Joanne Harris- it’s one of my favourite books of all time, but for some reason I haven’t clicked with the first few chapters of Runemarks on the few occasions that I have picked it up and haven’t committed to reading it. That stops now: it will be read this summer, or unhauled.

4. A Book That’s Part of a Series

The Temptation of Magic by Megan Scott

This is a Fairyloot book from 2024. I got it right as I fell pregnant and was dealing with what would be 9 months solid of nausea. I didn’t manage to read much that year, and although this was a book I was really excited for at the time, it’s still sitting on my shelf.

5. A Book That’s Out of My Comfort Zone

Middlemarch by George Eliot

I found a lovely extra-floppy copy of Middlemarch in Barter Books in Alnwick, one of the best book shops out there. That was 5 years ago now and I still haven’t read it, even as it tops Best Books of All Time lists.

7. The Book I’m Most Excited to Read

The Possession of Alba Díaz by Isabel Cañas

I heard of this book from a Books and Lala video and I added it to my TBR straight away. It should be a highly atmospheric and creepy read, which I am really craving.

8. A Book Someone Else Bought for Me

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

I was really interested in reading this series years ago when it first came out but forgot all about it. Then a friend who was moving abroad gave me all her books, and this series was amongst them. That was over two years ago now so I need to finally read it!

9. The Book on My TBR with the Highest Average Rating

Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb

I got this book as a Christmas present from my wishlist. It’s another series that I have heard so much about but still haven’t picked up. Seeing it have such a high rating has made me even more curious to get to it.

If you’re feeling inspired and want to tackle your TBR this summer, why not join in over on Storygraph? On there you can see the prompts and add a book to each, and have a look at what everyone else plans to read too.