The New Year’s Resolutions Reading Challenge 2022

The challenge is back! Same challenge as last year and same prompts but, now, in 2022. I did have a little debate with myself about whether I should bring this back again but, on balance, I decided that it would be a good idea.

As before, these prompts are based on some of the most popular New Year’s Resolutions and I’ve added some recommendations for each prompt. The one I intend to read for the challenge is in bold and the rest are books I’ve already read and loved.

Rules

• Link back to the original creator (The Corner of Laura) and link back to this page (otherwise, the original creator won’t get a notification).
• Thank whoever tagged you and link back to their post
• Tag 5 or more other people.
• Read books that fit the description. I’ve put some recommendations in the original post to help you pick but you can read anything that fits the brief.
• The deadline for the challenge is six weeks after you were originally tagged (which, statistically, is the point when 80% of people give up their New Year’s Resolutions) e.g. if you were tagged on January 1st, the deadline is 12th February.
• Post a wrap-up when you’re done to show how you got on.

The Challenge

Exercise More

This one’s pretty straightforward. Just pick a book that’s got 500 pages or more in any edition. You can opt for an audiobook too so long as at least one print edition is more than 500 pages too.

Bonus challenge: Read a book more than 800 pages or longer in any edition.

Recommendations: The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon / The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang / The King of Crows by Libba Bray

Learn a New Skill

This’ll be different for everyone. For me, a book outside my comfort genre would be crime fiction or contemporary romance. Again, I’ve gone for crime for the sake of recommendations.

Bonus Challenge: Read a book outside your comfort genre that was published in 2020/2021.

Recommendations: The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman / Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie / A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

Save Money

As before, any book you didn’t pay full price for counts. It can be a second-hand book, a charity shop book or a book you bought in a sale. Just so long as you paid less than the RRP, it counts!

Bonus challenge: Read a library book – you don’t have to pay anything for those!

My Pick: The Princess and the Fangirl by Ashley Poston (this one’s from the Audible Unlimited catalogue so I didn’t have to pay any extra credits or money for it)

Reduce Stress

Another subjective one. It can be a new book or an old favourite. It can be an uplifting story or a non-fiction book on happiness. Just read something that’s a fun read and leaves a smile on your face.

Bonus challenge: Read a happy book about reducing stress/tackles mental health problems.

Recommendations: Heartstopper by Alice Oseman / The Tea Dragon Society by Kay O’Neill / China Rich Girlfriend by Kevin Kwan

Travel More

Travelling is still (still!) off the cards at the moment but, at least, books can still take us away to more pleasant places. So, pick a book that’s set anywhere outside your own country or even outside this world and enjoy the escapism.

Bonus challenge: Read a book was originally published in another language.

Recommendations: The Forever Sea by Joshua Phillip Johnson / The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee / The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa

Spend More Time With Family and Friends

Anything that your family or friends (online or offline) recommended will fit. Books you received as Christmas/birthday/any occasion presents absolutely count too.

Bonus challenge: Read a recommended book that you wouldn’t have picked up otherwise.

My Pick: Monstress Volume 6 by Marjorie Liu (got this one for Christmas this year)

Stop Procrastinating

Scroll down to the bottom of your TBR or reach right to the back of your bookshelves and find the book that’s been sitting around for over a year. No time like the present!

Bonus challenge: Read the book at the very bottom of your TBR.

My Pick: The Guinevere Deception by Kirsten White

Focus on Self-Care

The last two years have stretched our mental health. Sometimes, it’s been stretched it to the limit and we need something to bring us back to a more relaxed state. This doesn’t have to be a non-fiction book or a self-help book. It can be a fiction book where mental health is one of the major issues. Anything where mental health is central to the book is fine.

Bonus Challenge: Read a fiction book where the main character battles with mental health problems, which are sensitively represented.

Recommendations: Notes on a Nervous Planet by Matt Haig / Heartstopper Volume 4 by Alice Oseman / Verona Comics by Jennifer Dugan

Screw Resolutions, I Quit!

Resolutions are made to be broken and finding new books to read is hard so cosy up with an old favourite. You deserve it.

Bonus Challenge: Re-read an entire series.

My Pick: Ash by Malinda Lo

I tag:

• Rachel @ A Bookworm’s Paradise
• Zezee @ Zezee With Books
• Here Be Dragons
• Anoushka @ Dipped In Ink
• Anna @ Starlightkosmos
• And anyone else who wants to start the year with a good reading challenge! No pressure to complete the challenge but I hope you enjoy it!

I hope to see you again very soon.