This challenge is ongoing, and this post will be updated accordingly. Scroll down to see my progress! ✨

I first came across Weldon Owen’s The Ultimate Reading Challenge on social media a few weeks ago. From what I’ve seen, it’s filled with unique book-related challenges written over envelopes of various sizes. If you complete a challenge, you open the corresponding envelope and find a bookish prize!

The Ultimate Reading Challenge is published by Simon & Schuster, who write:

“Level up your reading life with 25 unique literary challenges, and reward yourself with 25 bookish surprises!

This delightful collection of 25 reading challenges and rewards inspires bookworms to live their best reading life. Each pocket inside this portfolio challenges readers to a literary challenge. Once the reader completes a challenge, they can open the pocket to claim their bookish prize. 

Use these challenges to finally tackle your to-be-read pile, check out the books on Bookstagram and Booktok you’ve been dying to read, or discover new and hidden treasures.

The perfect gift for book lovers of all ages, genres, and abilities.”

Sounds fun, right? I think so too! So I bought myself a copy. And it is SO cute!!

25 prompts. 25 prizes!

As I complete each one, I’ll mark it off, show you my prize, link the blog post that fulfilled the challenge, and share my reflections <3

✔️ Read a novella (a short novel typically under 200 pages).

I completed this by reading Nisha J. Tuli’s Wicked Is the Reaper. It’s an adult fantasy romance novella inspired by Beauty and the Beast, and I really enjoyed it! I love reading novellas because they’re typically short, sweet, and perfect for days you don’t have the time or energy to read a full novel. For completing this prompt, I won a cute little bookish luggage tag that says “There are a lot of books in here.” Love it 😹

2) Find and read a book that is much LONGER than your usual reads.

3) Write a letter to someone who has influenced your reading life. This could be a parent, teacher, author, bookstore owner, or friend. It’s okay to make it anonymous.

4) Read in a place you’ve never read before.

5) Read a book you selected based purely on its cover design.

6) Re-read a classic you hated in high school.

7) Attend an author event, in person or virtual.

8) Read a book about a person with a disability.

9) Listen to a reading-themed podcast.

10) Read a book by an author whose ethnicity is different from your own.

11) Read a graphic novel.

12) Re-read a book you loved as a child.

13) Visit your local bookstore and ask a bookseller to recommend a book based on your recent favorites.

14) Read a new book that is primarily intended for children.

15) Go to your favorite section of the library or bookstore; blindly take a book off the shelf and take it home to read.

16) Write down a favorite quote or passage from a beloved book. Display it in your home.

17) Read a book that’s been sitting on your shelf, unread, for more than a year.

18) Ask a family member what book has made a lasting impression on them. Find and read that book.

19) Read a book in a genre you’ve never read before.

20) Gift a copy of your favorite book to a friend or family member – special occasion not required.

21) Read a book that features an indigenous person.

22) Make (or order) a snack or meal described in a book you’ve read.

23) Read a book published this year.

24) Read a book currently on a bestseller list.

25) Participate in a book club, in person or virtually.

If you’re taking part in this challenge as well, let me know which books you’ve read and if you have any recommendations for me!