Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge discussion

Hooray! It's that time of year again! Let the sharing of plans for 2025 begin!

My favorite book challenge ever, here we go again.

Read Harder 2025
Progress 13/24 (as of 11 Jun 2025)

✔ 1. Read a 2025 release by a BIPOC author.
Completed 14 Apr 2025 -- The One That Got Away

2. Reread a childhood favorite book.

✔ 3. Read a queer mystery.
Completed 10 Mar 2025-- Knife Skills for Beginners

4. Read a book about obsession.
POSSIBLY? -- Moby-Dick or, The Whale

✔ 5. Read a book about immigration or refugees.
Completed 8 Jun 2025 -- The Wangs vs. the World

6. Read a standalone fantasy book.
PLANNED -- The Bookshop and the Barbarian

7. Read a book about a piece of media you love (a TV show, a movie, a band, etc).

✔ 8. Read literary fiction by a BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or disabled author.
Completed 9 Mar 2025 -- Never Let Me Go

9. Read a book based solely on its setting.

✔ 10. Read a romance book that doesn’t have an illustrated cover.
Completed 10 Jan 2025 -- Natural Selection

✔ 11. Read a work of weird horror.
Completed 10 Jun 2025 -- Her Body and Other Parties: Stories

12. Read a staff pick from an indie bookstore. (Preferably, from your local indie bookstore.)

✔ 13. Read a nonfiction book about nature or the environment.
Completed 6 Apr 2025 -- Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail

14. Read a comic in translation.

15. Read a banned book and complete a task on Book Riot’s How to Fight Book Bans guides.

✔ 16. Read a genre-blending book.

17. Read a book about little-known history.

✔ 18. Read a “cozy” book by a BIPOC author.

19. Read a queernorm book.

✔ 20. Read the first book in a completed young adult or middle grade duology.
Completed 14 Jan 2025 -- The Fourteenth Goldfish

21. Read a book about a moral panic.

✔ 22. Read a holiday romance that isn’t Christmas.
Completed 7 Jan 2025 -- The Holiday Plan

✔ 23. Read a wordless comic.
Completed 21 Feb 2025 -- The Longest Day of the Future

✔ 24. Pick a 2015 Read Harder Challenge task to complete.
#16 Read an audiobook
Completed 7 Mar 2025 -- Bone Magic

2025 Read Harder Challenge
Progress: 22/24

1. Read a 2025 release by a BIPOC author - Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping on a Dead Man by Jesse Q. Sutanto- 4/7/25√
2. Reread a childhood favorite book - Winnie-the-Pooh - 5/5/25√
3. Read a queer mystery - Knife Skills for Beginners -1/2/2025 √
4. Read a book about obsession - With a Vengeance- 6/19/25√
5. Read a book about immigration or refugees - The Love We Found- 3/21/25√
6. Read a standalone fantasy book - This Princess Kills Monsters: The Misadventures of a Fairy-Tale Stepsister- 6/26/25√
7. Read a book about a piece of media you love (show, band, etc.) --
8. Read literary fiction by a BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or disabled author - The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride- 3/17/25√
9. Read a book based solely on its setting (Iceland) - The Lost House- 1/16/25√
10. Read a romance book that doesn’t have an illustrated cover - Atmosphere- 6/6/25√
11. Read a work of weird horror - Horrorstör -2/15/25√
12. Read a staff pick from an indie bookstore (Preferably, from your local indie bookstore - The Poisoned Pen, Scottsdale, AZ) - The Stolen Queen-1/11/25√
13. Read a nonfiction book about nature or the environment - The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year - 1/4/25√
14. Read a comic in translation - She and Her Cat: Stories
15a. Read a banned book - Love, Violet - 5/11/25 √
15b. Complete a task on Book Riot’s How to Fight Book Bans guides (Collection policy & board) √
16. Read a genre-blending book - A Fashionably French Murder- 5/2/25√
17. Read a book about little-known history - The Bluestockings: A History of the First Women's Movement -2/7/25√
18. Read a “cozy” book by a BIPOC author - A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna- 7/17/25√
19. Read a queernorm book - Escape Velocity - 2/4/25 √
20. Read the first book in a completed young adult or middle grade duology - Stargirl- 7/13/25√
21. Read a book about a moral panic - Wake Up and Open Your Eyes- 1/8/25√
22. Read a holiday romance that isn’t Christmas - Easter At The Three Coins Inn -2/9/25√
23. Read a wordless comic - Brave Molly- 7/21/25√
24. Pick a 2015 Read Harder Challenge task to complete - #3 - Short story collection - Show Don't Tell- 2/22/25√

1. Read a 2025 release by a BIPOC author.
Water Moon

3. Read a queer mystery. The Girls I've Been

4. Read a book about obsession. Obsessed: A Memoir of My Life with OCD

5. Read a book about immigration or refugees. Sanctuary

6. Read a standalone fantasy book. The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender

7. Read a book about a piece of media you love (a TV show, a movie, a band, etc). Pure Invention: How Japan Made the Modern World

8. Read literary fiction by a BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or disabled author. Interior Chinatown

9. Read a book based solely on its setting. H.H. Holmes: The True History of the White City Devil

10. Read a romance book that doesn’t have an illustrated cover. Quicksilver

11. Read a work of weird horror. Our Wives Under the Sea

12. Read a staff pick from an indie bookstore. (Preferably, from your local indie bookstore.) Crying in H Mart

13. Read a nonfiction book about nature or the environment. The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian's Art Changed Science

14. Read a comic in translation. Houses with a Story: A Dragon’s Den, a Ghostly Mansion, a Library of Lost Books, and 30 More Amazing Places to Explore

15. Read a banned book and complete a task on Book Riot’s How to Fight Book Bans guides. All Boys Aren’t Blue

16. Read a genre-blending book. A Natural History of Empty Lots: Field Notes from Urban Edgelands, Back Alleys, and Other Wild Places

17. Read a book about little-known history. Chop Fry Watch Learn: Fu Pei-mei and the Making of Modern Chinese Food

18. Read a “cozy” book by a BIPOC author. The Midnight Bargain

19. Read a queernorm book. The Atlas Six

20. Read the first book in a completed young adult or middle grade duology. The Rise of Kyoshi

21. Read a book about a moral panic. The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Caused an Epidemic of Mental Illness

22. Read a holiday romance that isn’t Christmas. Love All Year: A Holidays Anthology

23. Read a wordless comic. The Arrival

24. Pick a 2015 Read Harder Challenge task to complete. I Could Chew on This: And Other Poems by Dogs (read a collection of poetry)

✔️1. Read a 2025 release by a BIPOC author. Vanishing World; might also try Strange Pictures; or The Bewitching
2. Reread a childhood favorite book. The Great Brain
✔️3. Read a queer mystery. The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers; might also try MW by Osamu Tezuka 1st (first) Edition
4. Read a book about obsession. All the Colors of the Dark, or A Tale for the Time Being
5. Read a book about immigration or refugees. How Much of These Hills Is Gold or My Documents
6. Read a standalone fantasy book. The Book of Love; or Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell; or The Ghost Bride
7. Read a book about a piece of media you love (a TV show, a movie, a band, etc). The Same River Twice; or Freaks, Gleeks, and Dawson's Creek: How Seven Teen Shows Transformed Television; or Tune In
✔️8. Read literary fiction by a BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or disabled author. James
9. Read a book based solely on its setting. North Woods
10. Read a romance book that doesn’t have an illustrated cover. Strange Weather in Tokyo
✔️11. Read a work of weird horror. Ring Shout; might also try Mexican Gothic
12. Read a staff pick from an indie bookstore. (Preferably, from your local indie bookstore.)
13. Read a nonfiction book about nature or the environment. The Backyard Bird Chronicles; or An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us
14. Read a comic in translation. Grass; or One Hundred Tales Vol. 1
15. Read a banned book and complete a task on Book Riot’s How to Fight Book Bans guides.
16. Read a genre-blending book. The Bewitching; or Feeding Ghosts: A Graphic Memoir; or The First State of Being; or The Sirens
17. Read a book about little-known history. Judgment at Tokyo: World War II on Trial and the Making of Modern Asia; or Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection
✔️18. Read a “cozy” book by a BIPOC author. The Restaurant of Lost Recipes
19. Read a queernorm book.
20. Read the first book in a completed young adult or middle grade duology. Six of Crows, The House of Dies Drear
21. Read a book about a moral panic. They Came for the Schools: One Town's Fight Over Race and Identity, and the New War for America's Classrooms: An Eye-Opening Education Exposé with a ... the Truth About Public School Privatization
✔️22. Read a holiday romance that isn’t Christmas. Lunar New Year Love Story
23. Read a wordless comic.
✔️24. Pick a 2015 Read Harder Challenge task to complete. James

23/24 as of August 30

✓ 1. Read a 2025 release by a BIPOC author: Goddess Complex by Sanjena Sathian (3 stars)
✓ 2. Reread a childhood favorite book: The Day of the Jackal by Frederick Forsyth (4 stars) (honest to god, this was one of my favorite books when I was eleven or twelve, and I liked the idea of revisiting it as an adult—it holds up!)
✓ 3. Read a queer mystery: The Bell in the Fog by Lev A. C. Rosen (4 stars)
✓ 4. Read a book about obsession: This Is Not a Book About Benedict Cumberbatch: The Joy of Loving Something--Anything--Like Your Life Depends On It by Tabitha Carvan (5 stars)
✓ 5. Read a book about immigration or refugees: What Strange Paradise by Omar El Akkad (4 stars)

6. Read a stand-alone fantasy book: A Thousand Steps into Night by Traci Chee or Year of the Reaper by Makiia Lucier
✓ 7. Read a book about a piece of media you love: The Sense and Sensibility Screenplay and Diaries: Bringing Jane Austen's Novel to Film by Emma Thompson (5 stars)
✓ 8. Read literary fiction by a BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or disabled author: James by Percival Everett (5 stars)
✓ 9. Read a book based solely on its setting: Death in the Air by Ram Murali (3 stars)
✓ 10. Read a romance book that doesn’t have an illustrated cover: Pure Country by Kelly Fox (4 stars)

✓ 11. Read a work of weird horror: Fever Dream by Samanta Schweblin (3 stars)
✓ 12. Read a staff pick from an indie bookstore: People Person by Candice Carty-Williams (4 stars)
✓ 13. Read a nonfiction book about nature or the environment: The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan (4 stars)
✓ 14. Read a comic in translation: Shubeik Lubeik by Deena Mohamed (5 stars)
✓ 15. Read a banned book and complete a task on Book Riot’s How to Fight Book Bans guides: I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez (4 stars)

✓ 16. Read a genre-blending book: Dead Silence by S. A. Barnes (4 stars)
✓ 17. Read a book about little-known history: Nuking Alaska: Notes of an Atomic Fugitive by Peter Dunlap-Shohl (4 stars)
✓ 18. Read a “cozy” book by a BIPOC author: That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon by Kimberly Lemming (4 stars)
✓ 19. Read a queernorm book: The Bruising of Qilwa by Naseem Jamnia (3 stars)
✓ 20. Read the first book in a completed young adult or middle grade duology: The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas (4 stars)

✓ 21. Read a book about a moral panic: The Witches: Salem, 1692 by Stacy Schiff (4 stars)
✓ 22. Read a holiday romance that isn’t Christmas: The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling (3 stars)
✓ 23. Read a wordless comic: The Longest Day of the Future by Lucas Varela (4 stars)
✓ 24. Pick a 2015 Read Harder Challenge task to complete [17. Read a collection of poetry]: Something About Living by Lena Khalaf Tuffaha (4 stars)

1. Read a 2025 release by a BIPOC author. ✓ 05/12
2. Reread a childhood favorite book.
3. Read a queer mystery.
4. Read a book about obsession. ✓ 05/16
5. Read a book about immigration or refugees. (happens under witness protection) ✓ 03/19
6. Read a standalone fantasy book. ✓ 02/17
7. Read a book about a piece of media you love (anime) ✓ 01/09
8. Read literary fiction by a BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or disabled author. ✓ 01/18
9. Read a book based solely on its setting. ✓ 02/02
10. Read a romance book that doesn’t have an illustrated cover. ✓ 04/25
11. Read a work of weird horror. ✓ 09/20
12. Read a staff pick from an indie bookstore. ✓ 06/04
13. Read a nonfiction book about nature or the environment.
14. Read a comic in translation ✓ 01/06
15. Read a banned book and complete a task on Book Riot’s How to Fight Book Bans guides. ✓ 05/02
16. Read a genre-blending book. (historical, mystery) ✓ 02/11
17. Read a book about little-known history.
18. Read a “cozy” book by a BIPOC author ✓ 01/06
19. Read a queernorm book.
20. Read the first book in a completed young adult or middle grade duology. ✓ 07/17
21. Read a book about a moral panic. (witches) ✓ 07/12
22. Read a holiday romance that isn’t Christmas.
23. Read a wordless comic.
24. Pick a 2015 Read Harder Challenge task to complete. (A book that was originally published in another language) (japanese) ✓ 01/10

Completed 22/24

1. Read a 2025 release by a BIPOC author - One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad
2. Reread a childhood favorite book - The Will of the Empress by Tamora Pierce
3. Read a queer mystery - The Potency of Ungovernable Impulses by Malka Older
4. Read a book about obsession - Immaculate Conception by Ling Ling Huang
5. Read a book about immigration or refugees - To Save and to Destroy: Writing as an Other by Viet Thanh Nguyen
6. Read a standalone fantasy book - Brighter than Scale, Swifter than Flame by Neon Yang
7. Read a book about a piece of media you love (a TV show, a movie, a band, etc) - An American Girl Anthology: Finding Ourselves in the Pleasant Company Universe edited by Justine Orlovsky-Schnitzler and K.C. Hysmith
8. Read literary fiction by a BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or disabled author - The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak
9. Read a book based solely on its setting - The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory (Los Angeles)
10. Read a romance book that doesn’t have an illustrated cover - Sky Daddy by Kate Folk
11. Read a work of weird horror - Absolution or The Tainted Cup or They Bloom at Night or Lucky Day
12. Read a staff pick from an indie bookstore - A Forgery of Fate by Elizabeth Lim (Powell’s City of Books)
13. Read a nonfiction book about nature or the environment - The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer
14. Read a comic in translation - Woman, Life, Freedom by Marjane Satrapi, translated by Una Dimitrijevic
15. Read a banned book and complete a task on Book Riot’s How to Fight Book Bans guides - The Testaments by Margaret Atwood (Banned in Orlando, FL; Sanford, FL; Boone, IA; Cedar Falls, IA; Anita, IA; Marion, IA; Madison, VA)
16. Read a genre-blending book - Lucky Day by Chuck Tingle
17. Read a book about little-known history - Black in Blues: How a Color Tells the Story of My People by Imani Perry
18. Read a “cozy” book by a BIPOC author - Ill-Fated Fortune by Jennifer J. Chow
19. Read a queernorm book - Somadina by Akwaeke Emezi
20. Read the first book in a completed young adult or middle grade duology - The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas
21. Read a book about a moral panic - Amateur: A True Story About What Makes a Man by Thomas Page McBee (Trans panic, Crisis of Masculinity)
22. Read a holiday romance that isn’t Christmas - Rules for Ghosting by Shelly Jay Shore (Passover)
23. Read a wordless comic - The Arrival by Shaun Tan
24. Pick a 2015 Read Harder Challenge task to complete - Frostbite: How Refrigeration Changed Our Food, Our Planet, and Ourselves by Nicola Twilley (10. A microhistory)

Completed 24/24 - 7/29/25

✔️1. Read a 2025 release by a BIPOC author.
Olayiwola: Strange Beach
✔️2. Reread a childhood favorite book. - Carroll: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland: Tove Jansson Edition
✔️3. Read a queer mystery. - Cipri: Finna
✔️4. Read a book about obsession. - Haber: Lesser Ruins
✔️5. Read a book about immigration or refugees. - Smith: Summer
✔️6. Read a standalone fantasy book. - Wiswell: Someone You Can Build a Nest In
✔️7. Read a book about a piece of media you love (a TV show, a movie, a band, etc). - Gefter: Cocktails with George and Martha: Movies, Marriage, and the Making of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
✔️8. Read literary fiction by a BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or disabled author. - Ali Smith: Free Love and Other Stories
✔️9. Read a book based solely on its setting. - Herrera: Season of the Swamp (New Orleans)
✔️10. Read a romance book that doesn’t have an illustrated cover - Aciman: Call Me By Your Name
✔️11. Read a work of weird horror. - VanderMeer: Annihilation
✔️12. Read a staff pick from an indie bookstore. (Preferably, from your local indie bookstore.) - Baldwin: Giovanni’s Room (A Cappella Books, Atlanta)
✔️13. Read a nonfiction book about nature or the environment. - Dillard: Pilgrim at Tinker Creek
✔️14. Read a comic in translation. - Toulmé: Hakim’s Odyssey: Book 1: From Syria to Turkey
✔️15. Read a banned book and complete a task on Book Riot’s How to Fight Book Bans guides. - Nabokov: Lolita
✔️16. Read a genre-blending book. - Mallo: The Book of All Loves
✔️17. Read a book about little-known history. - Feldman: Precarious Lease
✔️18. Read a “cozy” book by a BIPOC author. - Mochizuki: The Full Moon Coffee Shop
✔️19. Read a queernorm book. - Wells: All Systems Red
✔️20. Read the first book in a completed young adult or middle grade duology. - Rutkoski: The Midnight Lie
✔️21. Read a book about a moral panic. - Preciado: Dysphoria Mundi
✔️22. Read a holiday romance that isn’t Christmas. - Cooper: A Little Familiar (Samhain/Hallowe'en)
✔️23. Read a wordless comic. - Woodring: The Frank Book
✔️24. Pick a 2015 Read Harder Challenge task to complete - Addonia: The Seers (#8: Author from Africa)

Read a 2025 release by a BIPOC author.
Reread a childhood favorite book. Dune Messiah
Read a queer mystery.
Read a book about obsession.
Read a book about immigration or refugees. Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here: The United States, Central America, and the Making of a Crisis
Read a standalone fantasy book.
Read a book about a piece of media you love (a TV show, a movie, a band, etc). American Comics: A History
Read literary fiction by a BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or disabled author. James
Read a book based solely on its setting. North: Finding My Way While Running the Appalachian Trail
Read a romance book that doesn’t have an illustrated cover.
Read a work of weird horror.
Read a staff pick from an indie bookstore. (Preferably, from your local indie bookstore.) Winter’s Orbit
Read a nonfiction book about nature or the environment.
Read a comic in translation. Under a White Sky: The Nature of the Future
Read a banned book and complete a task on Book Riot’s How to Fight Book Bans guides. Looking for Alaska
Read a genre-blending book.
Read a book about little-known history.
Read a “cozy” book by a BIPOC author.
Read a queernorm book.
Read the first book in a completed young adult or middle grade duology. She Who Became the Sun
Read a book about a moral panic.
Read a holiday romance that isn’t Christmas.
Read a wordless comic.
Pick a 2015 Read Harder Challenge task to complete.

0/24
1. Read a 2025 release by a BIPOC author.
2. Reread a childhood favorite book.
3. Read a queer mystery.
4. Read a book about obsession.
5. Read a book about immigration or refugees.
6. Read a standalone fantasy book.
7. Read a book about a piece of media you love (a TV show, a movie, a band, etc).
8. Read literary fiction by a BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or disabled author.
9. Read a book based solely on its setting.
10. Read a romance book that doesn’t have an illustrated cover.
11. Read a work of weird horror.
12. Read a staff pick from an indie bookstore. (Preferably, from your local indie bookstore.)
13. Read a nonfiction book about nature or the environment.
14. Read a comic in translation.
15. Read a banned book and complete a task on Book Riot’s How to Fight Book Bans guides.
16. Read a genre-blending book.
17. Read a book about little-known history.
18. Read a “cozy” book by a BIPOC author.
19. Read a queernorm book.
20. Read the first book in a completed young adult or middle grade duology.
21. Read a book about a moral panic.
22. Read a holiday romance that isn’t Christmas.
23. Read a wordless comic.
24. Pick a 2015 Read Harder Challenge task to complete

23/24

✔ 1. Read a 2025 release by a BIPOC author:
Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie ★★★★★

✔ 2. Reread a childhood favorite book:
L'ete des confidences et des confitures by Yves Pinguilly ★★★★★

✔ 3. Read a queer mystery:
Nuages baroques by Antonio Paolacci and Paola Ronco ★★★★

✔ 4. Read a book about obsession :
The Vegetarian by Han Kang ★★★★ 1/2

5. Read a book about immigration or refugees:
✔ Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar ★★★★★!
✔ In the Distance by Hernan Diaz ★★★★ 1/2

✔ 6. Read a standalone fantasy book:
Hunted by Meagan Spooner ★★★★ 1/2

✔ 7. Read a book about a piece of media you love (a TV show, a movie, a band, etc):
Accidentally Wes Anderson by Wally Koval

8. Read literary fiction by a BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or disabled author:
✔ Bangkok Wakes to Rain by Pitchaya Sudbanthad ★★★
✔ mãn by Kim Thúy ★★★★
✔ Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi ★★★★
✔ Le pays des autres (In the Country of Others) by Leïla Slimani ★★★★★
✔ Woman at Point Zero by Nawal El Saadawi ★★★★★

✔ 9. Read a book based solely on its setting:
The Guest List by Lucy Foley ★★★★

✔ 10. Read a romance book that doesn’t have an illustrated cover:
Le Barbier de Séville (The Barber of Seville) by Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais ★★★★

✔ 11. Read a work of weird horror:
The Place of Broken Things by Linda D. Addison and Alessandro Manzetti ★★★

✔ 12. Read a staff pick from an indie bookstore. (Preferably, from your local indie bookstore.):
Le Reich de la Lune by Johanna Sinisalo ★★★★★

✔ 13. Read a nonfiction book about nature or the environment:
Tropiques Toxiques (Toxic Tropics: A Horror Story of Environmental Injustice) by Jessica Oublié, Nicola Gobbi, Kathrine Avraam and Vinciane Lebrun ★★★★

✔ 14. Read a comic in translation:
Le tigre des neiges #9 by Akiko Higashimura ★★★★ 1/2

15. Read a banned book and complete a task on Book Riot’s How to Fight Book Bans guides:
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende
La Belle et la bête by Jul after Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont

✔ 16. Read a genre-blending book:
Panorama by Lilia Hassaine ★★★★

17. Read a book about little-known history:
✔ La dernière place by Négar Djavadi ★★★★
La juive de Shanghai by Marek Halter
Black Tudors: The Untold Story by Miranda Kaufmann
L'Impératrice de Pierre by Kristina Sabaliauskaitė
Lenin on the Train by Catherine Merridale

✔ 18. Read a “cozy” book by a BIPOC author:
Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi ★★★

✔ 19. Read a queernorm book:
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers ★★★

✔ 20. Read the first book in a completed young adult or middle grade duology:
The Davenports by Krystal Marquis (Two books in a series, no idea if this is a completed duology though) ★★★

21. Read a book about a moral panic:
Le Cours de Monsieur Paty by Mickaëlle Paty
Crayon noir - Samuel Paty, histoire d'un prof by Valérie Igounet and Guy Le Besnerais

✔ 22. Read a holiday romance that isn’t Christmas:
The Meyersons of Meryton by Mirta Ines Trupp (fits approximately) ★★

✔ 23. Read a wordless comic:
The Arrival by Shaun Tan ★★★★★!

✔ 24. Pick a 2015 Read Harder Challenge task to complete:
La Distinction: Librement inspiré du livre de Pierre Bourdieu by Tiphaine Rivière (a book recommended by someone else + a collection of comic of any kind) ★★★★

BOOKS READ :

Read Harder 2025
Progress 11/24

1. Read a 2025 release by a BIPOC author.

2. Reread a childhood favorite book.
Inherit the Wind: The Powerful Courtroom Drama in which Two Men Wage the Legal War of the Century

✔ 3. Read a queer mystery.
The Dime

✔ 4. Read a book about obsession.
The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession

✔ 5. Read a book about immigration or refugees.
The Sympathizer

6. Read a standalone fantasy book.
The Library at Mount Char
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

✔ 7. Read a book about a piece of media you love (a TV show, a movie, a band, etc).
Sellout: The Major-Label Feeding Frenzy That Swept Punk, Emo, and Hardcore

8. Read literary fiction by a BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or disabled author.
Chain-Gang All-Stars
The Vanishing Half
Klara and the Sun
Homegoing
Crosshairs

9. Read a book based solely on its setting.
A City on Mars: Can We Settle Space, Should We Settle Space, and Have We Really Thought This Through?

10. Read a romance book that doesn’t have an illustrated cover.

✔ 11. Read a work of weird horror.
Bunny

✔ 12. Read a staff pick from an indie bookstore. (Preferably, from your local indie bookstore.)
Verity

✔ 13. Read a nonfiction book about nature or the environment.
World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, and Other Astonishments

14. Read a comic in translation.

✔ 15. Read a banned book and complete a task on Book Riot’s How to Fight Book Bans guides.
American Street

16. Read a genre-blending book.
The Fifth Season
Sorcerer to the Crown
She Who Became the Sun
The Calculating Stars

✔ 17. Read a book about little-known history.
Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World

18. Read a “cozy” book by a BIPOC author.
You Had Me at Hola

✔ 19. Read a queernorm book.
This Is How You Lose the Time War

20. Read the first book in a completed young adult or middle grade duology.
Tess of the Road

21. Read a book about a moral panic.

22. Read a holiday romance that isn’t Christmas.

23. Read a wordless comic.

✔ 24. Pick a 2015 Read Harder Challenge task to complete.
Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982

Read Harder 2025📘 means completed

📘1. Read a 2025 release by a BIPOC author:
Death of the Author
📘2. Reread a childhood favorite book.
Anne of Avonlea
📘3. Read a queer mystery.
The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers
📘4. Read a book about obsession.
Horse
📘5. Read a book about immigration or refugees.
Daughter of Fire
6. Read a standalone fantasy book.
Ariadne
7. Read a book about a piece of media you love (a TV show, a movie, a band, etc).
Rock Me on the Water: 1974—The Year Los Angeles Transformed Movies, Music, Television and Politics
Waiting for the Sun: Strange Days, Weird Scenes, and The Sound Of Los Angeles
📘8. Read literary fiction by a BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or disabled author.
Wandering Stars
📘9. Read a book based solely on its setting. (Armenia)
Three Apples Fell from the Sky
10. Read a romance book that doesn’t have an illustrated cover.
Mansfield Park
📘11. Read a work of weird horror.
The Picture of Dorian Gray
12. Read a staff pick from an indie bookstore. (Preferably, from your local indie bookstore.)
Consider the Lobster and Other Essays
📘13. Read a nonfiction book about nature or the environment.
Walden, or Life in the Woods and On the Duty of Civil Disobedience
📘14. Read a comic in translation.
Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return
📘15. Read a banned book and complete a task on Book Riot’s How to Fight Book Bans guides.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
📘16. Read a genre-blending book.
America Fantastica
17. Read a book about little-known history.
Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland
The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore
18. Read a “cozy” book by a BIPOC author.
Before We Forget Kindness
19. Read a queernorm book.
To Paradise
📘20. Read the first book in a completed young adult or middle grade duology.
Impulse
21. Read a book about a moral panic.
Taboo Tunes: A History of Banned Bands & Censored Songs
The Banned Books Club
Passing
The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Caused an Epidemic of Mental Illness
📘22. Read a holiday romance that isn’t Christmas.
A Match Made for Thanksgiving
📘23. Read a wordless comic:
Yellow Butterfly: A story from Ukraine
📘24. Pick a 2015 Read Harder Challenge task to complete: Published before 1850: A Midsummer Night’s Dream

These are the books I currently have planned for challenge, who knows if they'll stay like this.
1. Read a 2025 release by a BIPOC author. - Cemetery Boys: Espíritu by Aiden Thomas or Katabasis by R.F. Kuang
2. Reread a childhood favorite book. - Another Fine Myth by Robert Asprin
✅3. Read a queer mystery. - Fortune Favors the Dead by Stephen Spotswood
✅4. Read a book about obsession. - Don't Let the Forest In by C.G. Drews
✅5. Read a book about immigration or refugees. - The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong
6. Read a standalone fantasy book. - The Hollow and the Haunted by Camilla Raines
7. Read a book about a piece of media you love (a TV show, a movie, a band, etc). - Pandora's Jar: Women in the Greek Myths by Natalie Haynes
8. Read literary fiction by a BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or disabled author. - Private Rites by Julia Armfield or Churn: An Illustrated Novel-in-Stories by Chloe Chun Seim
✅9. Read a book based solely on its setting. - A Letter to the Luminous Deep by Sylvie Cathrall
✅10. Read a romance book that doesn’t have an illustrated cover. - A Touch of Darkness by Scarlett St. Clair
✅11. Read a work of weird horror. - The Glutton by A.K. Blakemore
12. Read a staff pick from an indie bookstore. - Ancient Rome in Fifty Monuments by Paul Roberts (Mac's Backs Bookstore)
13. Read a nonfiction book about nature or the environment. - Beaverland: How One Weird Rodent Made America by Leila Philip
14. Read a comic in translation. - The Savior's Book Café Story in Another World, Vol. 1 by Kyouka Izumi
15. Read a banned book and complete a task on Book Riot’s How to Fight Book Bans guides. - East of Eden by John Steinbeck (and I intend to vote in my local elections)
16. Read a genre-blending book. - Remember You Will Die by Eden Robins
17. Read a book about little-known history. - Femina by Janina Ramirez
18. Read a “cozy” book by a BIPOC author. - The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh (I'm not sure if this actually counts as "cozy", if I decide it doesn't I'll probably read The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna instead)
19. Read a queernorm book. - Running Close to the Wind by Alexandra Rowland (same problem as above, if it's not actually queernorm I'll read something by Becky Chambers instead)
20. Read the first book in a completed young adult or middle grade duology. - A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin or The Keeper of Night by Kylie Lee Baker
21. Read a book about a moral panic.
22. Read a holiday romance that isn’t Christmas.
23. Read a wordless comic. - Cretaceous by Tadd Galusha or The Longest Day of the Future by Lucas Varela
24. Pick a 2015 Read Harder Challenge task to complete. - The Hands of the Emperor by Victoria Goddard (Read a Sci-Fi Novel)

Book Riot Read Harder Challenge
Jan 1 2025 - Dec 31 2025

☀ Completed 18 / 20

☀ 1. Read a 2025 release by a BIPOC author: Danielle Arceneaux - Glory Daze: A Glory Broussard Mystery
🔺3. Read a queer mystery: Fortune Favors the Dead
☀ 4. Read a book about obsession: the father in "cockfight": Sightseeing
☀ 5. Read a book about immigration or refugees: Everything Sad Is Untrue
☀ 6. Read a standalone fantasy book: The Pleasure of Drowning
☀ 7. Read a book about a piece of media you love (movie Rebecca): Shot With Crimson
☀ 8. Read literary fiction by a BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or disabled author: Zeyn Joukhadar: The Thirty Names of Night
☀ 9. Read a book based solely on its setting: Vanuatu: Road No Good
☀ 10. Read a romance book that doesn’t have an illustrated cover: The Invention of Morel
☀ 12. Read a staff pick from an indie bookstore: MLB: Cry Wolf
🔺13. Read a nonfiction book about nature or the environment: The World We Once Lived In
☀ 14. Read a comic in translation: A Game for Swallows: To Die, To Leave, To Return
☀ 15a. Read a banned book: Ban This Book
* 15b. Complete a task on Book Riot’s How to Fight Book Bans guides: wrote letters to both Senators and House Rep
☀ 16. Read a genre-blending book: travel, food, romance: When the Only Light Is the Moon
☀ 17. Read a book about little-known history: South Korea's Fifth Republic, a military regime that entrenched its power through censorship, torture, and the murder of protesters: Banned Book Club
☀ 18. Read a “cozy” book by a BIPOC author: A Cup of Flour, A Pinch of Death by Valerie Burns
☀ 19. Read a queernorm book: Clap When You Land
☀ 21. Read a book about a moral panic: The Last White Man
☀ 23. Read a wordless comic: The Only Child
☀ 24. Pick a 2015 Read Harder Challenge task to complete: A book by an author from Africa: Sudan: Rania Mamoun: Something Evergreen Called Life

Every year these really do make me "read harder" even though I do read a lot of different genres already!

Completed 23/24

1. Read a 2025 release by a BIPOC author - Give Me a Reason 5/23/25
2. Reread a childhood favorite book. - Oddballs 5/31/25
📚3. Read a queer mystery.
4. Read a book about obsession. - How the Lady Was Won 1/15/25
5. Read a book about immigration or refugees. - Raeni has escaped slavery in Jamaica - Kisses and Scandal 1/17/25
6. Read a standalone fantasy book. - The Halloween Tree 2/2/25
7. Read a book about a piece of media you love (a TV show, a movie, a band, etc). - Walk the Line 6/12/25
8. Read literary fiction by a BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or disabled author. - Thousand Cranes 5/7/25
9. Read a book based solely on its setting. - Harc 1/2/25
10. Read a romance book that doesn’t have an illustrated cover. - Lady Doctor Wyre 2/16/25
11. Read a work of weird horror. Dolly 3/9/25
12. Read a staff pick from an indie bookstore. (Preferably, from your local indie bookstore.) - Just for the Summer 8/4/25
13. Read a nonfiction book about nature or the environment. - Walden or, Life in the Woods 6/26/25
14. Read a comic in translation. Us
15. Read a banned book and complete a task on Book Riot’s How to Fight Book Bans guides. - The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time was challenged. 3/31/25
16. Read a genre-blending book. - Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency 1/11/24
17. Read a book about little-known history. - The Notorious Lord Knightly 1/21/25 (the book in the story actually existed)
18. Read a “cozy” book by a BIPOC author. - The Davenports 3/13/25
19. Read a queernorm book. - Salt Kiss 3/5/25
20. Read the first book in a completed young adult or middle grade duology. - Full Speed to a Crash Landing 5/1/25
21. Read a book about a moral panic. - Fahrenheit 451 4/25/25
22. Read a holiday romance that isn’t Christmas. - pivotal storyline takes place on Beltane - Beauty and the Goblin King 4/2/25
23. Read a wordless comic. - Cats are Weird and More Observations 2/1/25
24. Pick a 2015 Read Harder Challenge task to complete. - A romance novel - Remember When: Clarissa's Story 1/5/25

This year, I've set up a library display showcasing two tasks a month. Readership is not high in this community, but I still hope to win some over!

17/24

Read Harder 2025

1. Read a 2025 release by a BIPOC author.

2. Reread a childhood favorite book.

3. Read a queer mystery.

4. Read a book about obsession.

5. Read a book about immigration or refugees.

6. Read a standalone fantasy book.

7. Read a book about a piece of media you love (a TV show, a movie, a band, etc).
or
8. Read literary fiction by a BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or disabled author.

9. Read a book based solely on its setting.

10. Read a romance book that doesn’t have an illustrated cover.

11. Read a work of weird horror.

12. Read a staff pick from an indie bookstore. (Preferably, from your local indie bookstore.)

13. Read a nonfiction book about nature or the environment.

14. Read a comic in translation.

15. Read a banned book and complete a task on Book Riot’s How to Fight Book Bans guides.

16. Read a genre-blending book.

17. Read a book about little-known history.
18. Read a “cozy” book by a BIPOC author.

19. Read a queernorm book.

20. Read the first book in a completed young adult or middle grade duology.

21. Read a book about a moral panic.

22. Read a holiday romance that isn’t Christmas.

23. Read a wordless comic.

24. Pick a 2015 Read Harder Challenge task to complete.
-A book that is a retelling of a classic story (fairytale, Shakespearian play, classic novel, etc.)

Completed 14/24

✅ 1. Read a 2025 release by a BIPOC author: Homeseeking

✅ 2. Reread a childhood favorite book: A Wrinkle in Time

✅ 3. Read a queer mystery: Ace of Spades

✅ 4. Read a book about obsession: The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession

✅ 5. Read a book about immigration or refugees:book: Exit West

✅ 6. Read a standalone fantasy book: The Monsters We Defy

✅ 7. Read a book about a piece of media you love (a TV show, a movie, a band, etc): Born to Run

✅ 8. Read literary fiction by a BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or disabled author: Chain-Gang All-Stars

✅9. Read a book based solely on its setting: The Sun Walks Down

✅ 10. Read a romance book that doesn’t have an illustrated cover: A Love Song for Ricki Wilde

✅ 11. Read a work of weird horror: Her Body and Other Parties: Stories

✅ 12. Read a staff pick from an indie bookstore. (Preferably, from your local indie bookstore.): Chain-Gang All-Stars

✅ 13. Read a nonfiction book about nature or the environment: The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World

14. Read a comic in translation: Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return or Grass

✅ 15. Read a banned book and complete a task on Book Riot’s How to Fight Book Bans guides: All Boys Aren’t Blue

✅ 16. Read a genre-blending book: The Unmaking of June Farrow

✅ 17. Read a book about little-known history: A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win World War II

✅18. Read a “cozy” book by a BIPOC author: The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches

✅ 19. Read a queernorm book: Somewhere Beyond the Sea

✅ 20. Read the first book in a completed young adult or middle grade duology: Amina's Voice

21. Read a book about a moral panic: Rainbow Black or Now Is Not the Time to Panic

✅ 22. Read a holiday romance that isn’t Christmas: Lunar New Year Love Story

23. Read a wordless comic: The Arrival

✅ 24. Pick a 2015 Read Harder Challenge task to complete: Task 18 A book recommended by someone else -The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters

Read Harder 2025
Progress 21/24

✔️1. Read a 2025 release by a BIPOC author. Blood in the Water
✔️✔️2. Reread a childhood favorite book. The Westing Game and Journey Under the Sea
✔️3. Read a queer mystery. Murder by Memory
✔️4. Read a book about obsession. This Is Not a Book About Benedict Cumberbatch: The Joy of Loving Something--Anything--Like Your Life Depends On It
✔️✔️✔️5. Read a book about immigration or refugees. When Stars Are Scattered and The Newcomers: Finding Refuge, Friendship, and Hope in an American Classroom and Carry On: Poetry by Young Immigrants
✔️6. Read a standalone fantasy book. The Magician’s Daughter
✔️7. Read a book about a piece of media you love (a TV show, a movie, a band, etc). Believe: The Untold Story Behind Ted Lasso, the Show That Kicked Its Way into Our Hearts
✔️8. Read literary fiction by a BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or disabled author. The Sleepwalker's Guide to Dancing
✔️9. Read a book based solely on its setting. The Memory Keeper of Kyiv
✔️10. Read a romance book that doesn’t have an illustrated cover. In Search of a Prince
11. Read a work of weird horror. The Horrible Bag of Terrible Things
12. Read a staff pick from an indie bookstore. (Preferably, from your local indie bookstore.)
✔️13. Read a nonfiction book about nature or the environment. Frog Day: A Story of 24 Hours and 24 Amphibian Lives and Bird Day: A Story of 24 Hours and 24 Avian Lives
✔️14. Read a comic in translation. Shubeik Lubeik and Pupposites Attract, Vol. 1
✔️15. Read a banned book and complete a task on Book Riot’s How to Fight Book Bans guides. Speak
✔️16. Read a genre-blending book. Fourth Wing
✔️17. Read a book about little-known history. The Burning: Black Wall Street and the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921
✔️18. Read a “cozy” book by a BIPOC author. The Second Chance Convenience Store
✔️19. Read a queernorm book. Legends & Lattes
✔️20. Read the first book in a completed young adult or middle grade duology. The Mossheart's Promise
✔️21. Read a book about a moral panic. Banned Together: Our Fight for Readers' Rights
✔️22. Read a holiday romance that isn’t Christmas. The Do-Over
✔️23. Read a wordless comic. Robot Dreams
24. Pick a 2015 Read Harder Challenge task to complete. #6 Different gender author Outcast: Book 1

Progress 0/24

1. Read a 2025 release by a BIPOC author.
2. Reread a childhood favorite book.
3. Read a queer mystery.
4. Read a book about obsession. The Vegetarian
5. Read a book about immigration or refugees.
6. Read a standalone fantasy book.
7. Read a book about a piece of media you love (a TV show, a movie, a band, etc).
8. Read literary fiction by a BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or disabled author.
9. Read a book based solely on its setting.
10. Read a romance book that doesn’t have an illustrated cover.
11. Read a work of weird horror. Every Time We Meet at the Dairy Queen, Your Whole Fucking Face Explodes
12. Read a staff pick from an indie bookstore. (Preferably, from your local indie bookstore.)
13. Read a nonfiction book about nature or the environment.
14. Read a comic in translation.
15. Read a banned book and complete a task on Book Riot’s How to Fight Book Bans guides.
16. Read a genre-blending book.
17. Read a book about little-known history. Franchise: The Golden Arches in Black America
18. Read a “cozy” book by a BIPOC author.
19. Read a queernorm book.
20. Read the first book in a completed young adult or middle grade duology.
21. Read a book about a moral panic.
22. Read a holiday romance that isn’t Christmas.
23. Read a wordless comic.
24. Pick a 2015 Read Harder Challenge task to complete: A collection of short stories. My Mistress's Sparrow is Dead: Great Love Stories, from Chekhov to Munro

0/24

1. Read a 2025 release by a BIPOC author.
Katabasis
2. Reread a childhood favorite book.
3. Read a queer mystery.
4. Read a book about obsession.
5. Read a book about immigration or refugees.
6. Read a standalone fantasy book.
7. Read a book about a piece of media you love (a TV show, a movie, a band, etc).
8. Read literary fiction by a BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or disabled author.
My Friends
9. Read a book based solely on its setting.
10. Read a romance book that doesn’t have an illustrated cover.
11. Read a work of weird horror.
12. Read a staff pick from an indie bookstore. (Preferably, from your local indie bookstore.)
13. Read a nonfiction book about nature or the environment.
14. Read a comic in translation.
15. Read a banned book and complete a task on Book Riot’s How to Fight Book Bans guides.
16. Read a genre-blending book.
17. Read a book about little-known history.
18. Read a “cozy” book by a BIPOC author.
19. Read a queernorm book.
20. Read the first book in a completed young adult or middle grade duology.
21. Read a book about a moral panic.
22. Read a holiday romance that isn’t Christmas.
23. Read a wordless comic.
24. Pick a 2015 Read Harder Challenge task to complete

0/24

1. Read a 2025 release by a BIPOC author.
2. Reread a childhood favorite book.
3. Read a queer mystery. - Jawbone
4. Read a book about obsession. - The Secret History
5. Read a book about immigration or refugees. - Martyr!
6. Read a standalone fantasy book.
7. Read a book about a piece of media you love (a TV show, a movie, a band, etc). - A Love Supreme: The Story of John Coltrane's Signature Album
8. Read literary fiction by a BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or disabled author. - Nossos Ossos
9. Read a book based solely on its setting. - Change
10. Read a romance book that doesn’t have an illustrated cover.
11. Read a work of weird horror. - Zoo
12. Read a staff pick from an indie bookstore. (Preferably, from your local indie bookstore.)
13. Read a nonfiction book about nature or the environment. - The End of Eden: Wild Nature in the Age of Climate Breakdown
14. Read a comic in translation.
15. Read a banned book and complete a task on Book Riot’s How to Fight Book Bans guides.
16. Read a genre-blending book. - Amphigorey
17. Read a book about little-known history. - The Fish That Ate the Whale: The Life and Times of America's Banana King
18. Read a “cozy” book by a BIPOC author.
19. Read a queernorm book. - The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet
20. Read the first book in a completed young adult or middle grade duology. - The Poppy War
21. Read a book about a moral panic. - I'm Starting to Worry About This Black Box of Doom
22. Read a holiday romance that isn’t Christmas.
23. Read a wordless comic.
24. Pick a 2015 Read Harder Challenge task to complete. - The Hunt for Red October (task 22)

0/24
1. Read a 2025 release by a BIPOC author. Isaac's Song By Daniel Black
2. Reread a childhood favorite book. Peter Pan By J.m. Barrie
3. Read a queer mystery.

4. Read a book about obsession. The Vegetarian By Han Kang
5. Read a book about immigration or refugees. The Namesake By Jhumpa Lahiri
6. Read a standalone fantasy book. Under The Whispering Door By T.j. Kline
7. Read a book about a piece of media you Love (a TV show, a movie, a band, etc). Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story by Bono Vox
8. Read literary fiction by a BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or disabled author. My Friends By Matar Hisham
9. Read a book based solely on its setting. Domani, Domani By Francesca Giannone (in Italian is this allowed?)
10. Read a romance book that doesn’t have an illustrated cover. The Thorn Birds By Colleen Mccullough
11. Read a work of weird horror. At The Mountains Of Madness by H.p. Lovecraft
12. Read a staff pick from an indie bookstore. (Preferably, from your local indie bookstore.) As The Women Lay Dreaming by D.S.MURRAY
13. Read a nonfiction book about nature or the environment.

14. Read a comic in translation.

15. Read a banned book and complete a task on Book Riot’s How to Fight Book Bans guides. The Well Of Loneliness by R. Hall
16. Read a genre-blending book. Under The Whispering Door By T.j. Kline
17. Read a book about little-known history. As The Women Lay Dreaming by D.s. Murray
18. Read a “cozy” book by a BIPOC author.

19. Read a queernorm book.

20. Read the first book in a completed young adult or middle grade duology. If I Stay By Gayle Forman
21. Read a book about a moral panic. V13 By E. Carrere
22. Read a holiday romance that isn’t Christmas. How To End A Love Story By Yulin Kuang
23. Read a wordless comic.

24. Pick a 2015 Read Harder Challenge task to complete.

17/24

1. Read a 2025 release by a BIPOC author. The Dream Hotel √
2. Reread a childhood favorite book.
3. Read a queer mystery. Magic, Lies, and Deadly Pies √
4. Read a book about obsession. You Will Never Be Me √
5. Read a book about immigration or refugees. The Wangs vs. the World √
6. Read a standalone fantasy book. A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping
7. Read a book about a piece of media you love (a TV show, a movie, a band, etc). The Meaning of Mariah Carey √
8. Read literary fiction by a BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or disabled author. On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous √
9. Read a book based solely on its setting. Playground √
10. Read a romance book that doesn’t have an illustrated cover. From Scratch √
11. Read a work of weird horror. Monstrilio
12. Read a staff pick from an indie bookstore. (Preferably, from your local indie bookstore.) Beautyland √
13. Read a nonfiction book about nature or the environment. The Light Eaters: How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence Offers a New Understanding of Life on Earth √
14. Read a comic in translation.
15. Read a banned book and complete a task on Book Riot’s How to Fight Book Bans guides. Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West √
16. Read a genre-blending book. Midnight’s Children
17. Read a book about little-known history.
18. Read a “cozy” book by a BIPOC author. Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers √
19. Read a queernorm book. Someone You Can Build a Nest In √
20. Read the first book in a completed young adult or middle grade duology. We Set the Dark on Fire √
21. Read a book about a moral panic. Now Is Not the Time to Panic √
22. Read a holiday romance that isn’t Christmas.
23. Read a wordless comic. The Only Child √
24. Pick a 2015 Read Harder Challenge task to complete. Deep Cuts √

Not entirely sure I'm in, but just in case:

Progress: 22/24

√ 1. 2025 release by a BIPOC author: Blob: A Love Story
√ 2. A childhood favorite: Beezus and Ramona
√ 3. Queer mystery: The Verifiers
√ 4. About obsession: Ambition Monster: A Memoir
√ 5. About immigration or refugees: Solito
- 6. Standalone fantasy: The Kingdoms
√ 7. About a piece of media you love: As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride
√ 8. Literary fiction by a BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or disabled author: Dream Count
√ 9. Based solely on its setting: Easter Island
√ 10. Romance without an illustrated cover: A Love Song for Ricki Wilde
√ 11. Weird horror: The Unmothers
√ 12. Staff pick from an indie bookstore: North Woods
√ 13. Nonfiction about nature or the environment: Fire Weather: A True Story from a Hotter World
√ 14. A comic in translation: Shubeik Lubeik
√ 15. A banned book: Giovanni’s Room
√ 16. Genre-blending book: The Tainted Cup
√ 17. About little-known history: Ghosts Of Gold Mountain: The Epic Story of the Chinese Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad
√ 18. A “cozy” book by a BIPOC author: The River Has Roots
- 19. Queernorm book.
√ 20. First book in a completed young adult or middle grade duology: The Initial Insult
√ 21. About a moral panic: Rainbow Black
√ 22. Holiday romance that isn’t Christmas: Party Favors
√ 23. Wordless comic: Un Océan d'amour
√ 24. A book of short stories (2015 task): The History of Sound

Chronological order:

Tanu's Read Harder Challenge 2025

1. Read a 2025 release by a BIPOC author. The Unworthy by Agustina Bazterrica (?), When Devils Sing: Deluxe Edition by Xan Kaur or The Library at Hellebore by Cassandra Khaw
2. Reread a childhood favorite book. The Serpents of Arakesh by V.M. Jones ✅
3. Read a queer mystery. What Feasts at Night ✅
4. Read a book about obsession. What Lies Between Us by John Marrs ✅
5. Read a book about immigration or refugees. The Strange ✅
6. Read a standalone fantasy book. The Spider and Her Demons by sydney khoo ✅
7. Read a book about a piece of media you love (a TV show, a movie, a band, etc). Nick Drake: The Life by Richard Morton Jack
8. Read literary fiction by a BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or disabled author. Natural Beauty ✅
9. Read a book based solely on its setting. Murder in the Pacific: Ifira Point by Matt Francis ✅
10. Read a romance book that doesn’t have an illustrated cover. Lola & the Millionaires: Part One ✅
11. Read a work of weird horror. Sister, Maiden, Monster ✅
12. Read a staff pick from an indie bookstore. (Preferably, from your local indie bookstore.) - The God of the Woods by Liz Moore ✅
13. Read a nonfiction book about nature or the environment. An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us
14. Read a comic in translation. - TBC - get from KU? Shubeik Lubeik
15. Read a banned book and complete a task on Book Riot’s How to Fight Book Bans guides. Borstal Boy or Giovanni’s Room
16. Read a genre-blending book. - The Reformatory by Tananarive Due ✅
17. Read a book about little-known history. King Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa
18. Read a “cozy” book by a BIPOC author. Lonely Castle in the Mirror ✅
19. Read a queernorm book. - Exit Strategy by Martha Wells ✅
20. Read the first book in a completed young adult or middle grade duology. Tess of the Road
21. Read a book about a moral panic. They Called Us Enemy by George Takei ✅
22. Read a holiday romance that isn’t Christmas. - Eight Dates ✅
23. Read a wordless comic. - TBC - get from KU
24. Pick a 2015 Read Harder Challenge task to complete. - The Strange ✅ (gender)

2025 Read Harder Challenge
Duration: Jan 1 - Dec 31, 2025
0/24 ✔️


✔️1. Read a 2025 release by a BIPOC author.
Junie by Erin Crosby Eckstine 02/27/2025
✔️2. Reread a childhood favorite book.
Arty The Smarty by Faith McNulty 01/30/2025

3. Read a queer mystery.

✔️4. Read a book about obsession.
The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins 01/17/2025

5. Read a book about immigration or refugees.

✔️6. Read a standalone fantasy book.
A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang 03/02/2025

7. Read a book about a piece of media you love (a TV show, a movie, a band, etc).

✔️8. Read literary fiction by a BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or disabled author.
The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan 02/09/2025
✔️9. Read a book based solely on its setting.
The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys 05/27/2025
✔️10. Read a romance book that doesn’t have an illustrated cover.Spring Fever by Mary Kay Andrews 04/24/2025
✔️11. Read a work of weird horror.
Practical Demonkeeping by Christopher Moore 05/31/2025

12. Read a staff pick from an indie bookstore. (Preferably, from your local indie bookstore.)
13. Read a nonfiction book about nature or the environment.
14. Read a comic in translation.

✔️15. Read a banned book and complete a task on Book Riot’s How to Fight Book Bans guides.
Blankets by Craig Thompson 02/25/2025

16. Read a genre-blending book.
17. Read a book about little-known history.

✔️18. Read a “cozy” book by a BIPOC author.
Once Upon a Time in Dollywood by Ashley Jordan 08/15/2025

19. Read a queernorm book.
20. Read the first book in a completed young adult or middle grade duology.
21. Read a book about a moral panic.
22. Read a holiday romance that isn’t Christmas.
23. Read a wordless comic.
24. Pick a 2015 Read Harder Challenge task to complete.

1. Read a 2025 release by a BIPOC author. They Bloom at Night by Trang Thanh Tran
2. Reread a childhood favorite book. A Wrinkle in Time
3. Read a queer mystery. Mystery Magnet by Gregory Ashe
4. Read a book about obsession. Moby-Dick or, The Whale
5. Read a book about immigration or refugees.
6. Read a standalone fantasy book. The City in Glass by Nghi Vo
7. Read a book about a piece of media you love (a TV show, a movie, a band, etc). Never Understood: The Jesus and Mary Chain
8. Read literary fiction by a BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or disabled author. Martyr!
9. Read a book based solely on its setting.
10. Read a romance book that doesn’t have an illustrated cover.
11. Read a work of weird horror. Black Sheep
12. Read a staff pick from an indie bookstore. (Preferably, from your local indie bookstore.)
13. Read a nonfiction book about nature or the environment. Fen, Bog and Swamp: A Short History of Peatland Destruction and Its Role in the Climate Crisis by Annie Proulx
14. Read a comic in translation.
15. Read a banned book and complete a task on Book Riot’s How to Fight Book Bans guides.
16. Read a genre-blending book.
17. Read a book about little-known history. The Fishermen and the Dragon: Fear, Greed, and a Fight for Justice on the Gulf Coast
18. Read a “cozy” book by a BIPOC author. The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong
19. Read a queernorm book.
20. Read the first book in a completed young adult or middle grade duology. The Sunbearer Trials
21. Read a book about a moral panic.
22. Read a holiday romance that isn’t Christmas.
23. Read a wordless comic.
24. Pick a 2015 Read Harder Challenge task to complete.

I haven't done this challenge in a couple of years, thought I'd give it another go!
Julie's Read Harder Challenge 2025
Progress 3/24

1. Read a 2025 release by a BIPOC author.
2. Reread a childhood favorite book. The Westing Game
3. Read a queer mystery.
4. Read a book about obsession.
5. Read a book about immigration or refugees.
6. Read a standalone fantasy book.A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping
7. COMPLETE Read a book about a piece of media you love (a TV show, a movie, a band, etc). Be Ready When the Luck Happens
8. COMPLETE Read literary fiction by a BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or disabled author. Moon of the Turning Leaves
9. Read a book based solely on its setting.
10. Read a romance book that doesn’t have an illustrated cover.
11. Read a work of weird horror.
12. Read a staff pick from an indie bookstore. (Preferably, from your local indie bookstore.) Under Loch and Key
13. Read a nonfiction book about nature or the environment.
14. COMPLETE Read a comic in translation. Death Note, Vol. 1: Boredom
15. Read a banned book and complete a task on Book Riot’s How to Fight Book Bans guides.
16. Read a genre-blending book.
17. Read a book about little-known history.
18. Read a “cozy” book by a BIPOC author.
19. Read a queernorm book.
20. Read the first book in a completed young adult or middle grade duology.
21. Read a book about a moral panic.
22. Read a holiday romance that isn’t Christmas.
23. Read a wordless comic.
24. Pick a 2015 Read Harder Challenge task to complete.

Read Harder

1. BIPOC author 2025 release

2. Reread childhood favorite
Munro Leaf – The Story of Ferdinand
3. Queer mystery
SA Cosby – Razorblade Tears
4. About obsession
Han Kang – The Vegetarian
5. About immigration or refugees
Sabaa Tahir – All My Rage
6. Standalone fantasy
Amal El-Mohtar & Max Gladstone – This Is How You Lose the Time War
7. About beloved media piece (TV show, movie, band, etc)
Imani Perry – Looking for Lorraine Hansberry (author of Raisin in the Sun)
8. BIPOC/LGBT+/Disabled author literary fiction
Salman Rushdie – Quichotte
9. Based solely on setting
Mishima Yukio – Runaway Horses
10. Romance w/o illustrated cover
Nora Roberts – A Will and a Way
11. Weird horror
Keith Rosson – Fever House
12. Indie store staff pick
Patricia Evangelista – Some People Need Killing
13. Nature/environment nonfic
Greta Thunberg – The Climate Book
14. Translated comic
Yazawa Ai – Nana Vol 1
15. Banned + task from How to Fight Book Bans (donating to my local library)
Nic Stone – Dear Martin
16. Genre-blending
Elizabeth James – The Bullet Swallower
17. Little-known history
David Grann – Lost City of Z
18. BIPOC cozy
Krystal Marquis – The Davenports
19. Queernorm
Becky Chambers – A Psalm for the Well Built
20. YA/Middle grade Duology 1st book
Angie Thomas – The Hate You Give
21. About a moral panic
Tahereh Mafi – A Very Large Expanse of Sea
√22. Not-xmas holiday romance
Ai Yazawa – Nana Vol 6
23. Wordless comic
Matt Rhodes – Tellurion
24. 2015 RH retread (Pulitzer winner)
Nicole Eustace – Covered with Night

I just noticed that I read Nana 6 before Nana 1. I've read the manga and watched the anime so many times that I don't need to bother with order anymore.

I'll update my progress throughout the year.

To Be Read

Read a comic in translation. Spy x Family, Vol. 1
Read a holiday romance that isn’t Christmas. The Fall Risk

Completed
2. Pick a 2015 Read Harder Challenge task to complete: A book by or about someone who identifies as LGBTQ - The Empress of Salt and Fortune
5. Read a genre-blending book. Anyone But Her
8. Read a book based solely on its setting. Horrorstör
14. Read a standalone fantasy book. Ink Blood Sister Scribe
17. Read a book about a moral panic. Dark Places
18. Read a nonfiction book about nature or the environment. The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World
20. Read a banned book and complete a task on Book Riot’s How to Fight Book Bans guides. Year of Wonders
21. Read a queernorm book. Navigational Entanglements
23. Read a romance book that doesn’t have an illustrated cover. Persuasion

24. Read a queer mystery. The London Séance Society
30. (8) Read a work of weird horror. Dagon
32. Read the first book in a completed young adult or middle grade duology. Catfishing on CatNet
38. Read literary fiction by a BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or disabled author. Black Cake

47. Read a “cozy” book by a BIPOC author. Viva Durant and the Mystery at the Masquerade Ball
52. Reread a childhood favorite book. The Secret Garden
56. Read a 2025 release by a BIPOC author. Natural Beauty
63. (14, 56) Read a book about obsession. The Getaway
64. (38) Read a book about immigration or refugees. Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here: The United States, Central America, and the Making of a Crisis

93. (17) Read a staff pick from an indie bookstore. (Preferably, from your local indie bookstore.) - The Witch Elm
104. Read a book about a piece of media you love (a TV show, a movie, a band, etc). Poirot and Me

173. Read a book about little-known history. A Fever in the Heartland: The Ku Klux Klan's Plot to Take Over America, and the Woman Who Stopped Them
183. Read a wordless comic. The Arrival

Read Harder 2025 plans
Progress 3/24

1. Read a 2025 release by a BIPOC author.The Baby Dragon Café
2. Reread a childhood favorite book. Anastasia Krupnik
3. Read a queer mystery. Board to Death
4. Read a book about obsession. The Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsession, and the Natural History Heist of the Century or The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession
5. Read a book about immigration or refugees. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures
6. Read a standalone fantasy book.A Sorceress Comes to Call
7. Read a book about a piece of media you love (a TV show, a movie, a band, etc).
8. Read literary fiction by a BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or disabled author.
9. Read a book based solely on its setting.
10. Read a romance book that doesn’t have an illustrated cover. Halloween Boo
11. Read a work of weird horror. HP Lovecraft
12. Read a staff pick from an indie bookstore. (Preferably, from your local indie bookstore.)
13. Read a nonfiction book about nature or the environment.
14. Read a comic in translation. Old-fashioned cupcake
15. Read a banned book and complete a task on Book Riot’s How to Fight Book Bans guides. Anastasia Krupnik
16. Read a genre-blending book.
17. Read a book about little-known history. Flapper: A Madcap Story of Sex, Style, Celebrity, and the Women Who Made America Modern
18. Read a “cozy” book by a BIPOC author. The Baby Dragon Café
19. Read a queernorm book. The Door Into Fire
20. Read the first book in a completed young adult or middle grade duology. A Magic Steeped in Poison
21. Read a book about a moral panic. The Ten-Cent Plague: The Great Comic-Book Scare and How it Changed America
22. Read a holiday romance that isn’t Christmas. Halloween Boo
23. Read a wordless comic. The Way Home
24. Pick a 2015 Read Harder Challenge task to complete. Halloween Boo

reply | flag

Completed 16/24

1. Read a 2025 release by a BIPOC author. Cemetery Boys: Espíritu
2. Reread a childhood favorite book. A Christmas Carol
✔️3. Read a queer mystery. Bury Me When I'm Dead
✔️4. Read a book about obsession. Shattering Dawn
✔️5. Read a book about immigration or refugees. A Long Petal of the Sea
✔️6. Read a standalone fantasy book. Babel
7. Read a book about a piece of media you love (a TV show, a movie, a band, etc). How to Be Perfect: The Correct Answer to Every Moral Question
✔️8. Read literary fiction by a BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or disabled author. Colored Television
✔️9. Read a book based solely on its setting. A Traitor in Whitehall
✔️10. Read a romance book that doesn’t have an illustrated cover. It Takes a Psychic
✔️11. Read a work of weird horror. Mexican Gothic
12. Read a staff pick from an indie bookstore. (Preferably, from your local indie bookstore.)
✔️13. Read a nonfiction book about nature or the environment. The Backyard Bird Chronicles
✔️14. Read a comic in translation. Witch Hat Atelier, Vol. 2
✔️15. Read a banned book and complete a task on Book Riot’s How to Fight Book Bans guides. All Boys Aren’t Blue
✔️16. Read a genre-blending book. Symphony of Secrets
✔️17. Read a book about little-known history. Dancing in the Baron's Shadow: A Novel
18. Read a “cozy” book by a BIPOC author. The Prince and the Dressmaker
19. Read a queernorm book. Somewhere Beyond the Sea
✔️20. Read the first book in a completed young adult or middle grade duology. Tokyo Ever After
21. Read a book about a moral panic. Now Is Not the Time to Panic
✔️22. Read a holiday romance that isn’t Christmas. The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties
23. Read a wordless comic. The Arrival
✔️24. Pick a 2015 Read Harder Challenge task to complete Inheritance

Read Harder 2025
Progress 24/24. COMPLETED: 3/17/25

✔️✔️✔️✔️✔️1. Read a 2025 release by a BIPOC author. (I)Kaua'i Storm, (B)Death of the Author, (B) Loca, (I)Sisters in the Wind, (B) The Unveiling, (B)Dust Settles North

✔️2. Reread a childhood favorite book. Sabriel

✔️✔️✔️✔️✔️3. Read a queer mystery. Murder Most Actual The Mimicking of Known Successes, The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles, Who Is Vera Kelly?, Vera Kelly Is Not A Mystery, Lost and Found, The Nancys, The Last Place You Look, What You Want To See, The Stories You Tell, Once You Go This Far

✔️✔️✔️✔️✔️✔️4. Read a book about obsession. Rebecca, The Safekeep, The Manor of Dreams, After the Ocean, Like Mother, Like Mother, Notes on an Execution
may still read: The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon

✔️✔️✔️✔️✔️✔️5. Read a book about immigration or refugees. (R)Angry Queer Somali Boy: A Complicated Memoir, (R) Ru, (R+I) What Strange Paradise, (I) American Street, (I) Rental House, (I)Stone Angels

✔️✔️✔️6. Read a standalone fantasy book. The Salt Grows Heavy, Someone You Can Build a Nest In, 无双 Peerless
may still read: The Starless Sea

✔️7. Read a book about a piece of media you love (a TV show, a movie, a band, etc). Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation: Mo Dao Zu Shi (Novel) Vol. 1

✔️✔️✔️✔️✔️✔️✔️✔️8. Read literary fiction by a BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or disabled author. (T) Bad Girls, (Bi) You Exist Too Much, (B+D) Model Home, (T)Little Fish, (D) Hunchback, (B) When I'm Gone, Look for Me in the East, (I) Prairie Edge, (T)Woodworking
will likely still read White Mulberry

✔️✔️9. Read a book based solely on its setting. Cameroon: The Impatient, Pottstown, PA: The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store

✔️✔️10. Read a romance book that doesn’t have an illustrated cover. A Sweet Sting of Salt, The Marquis Who Mustn't

✔️✔️✔️✔️11. Read a work of weird horror. Quicksand House, Chlorine, Universal Harvester, Eat the Ones You Love

✔️12. Read a staff pick from an indie bookstore. (Preferably, from your local indie bookstore.) Memory Mambo

✔️✔️✔️✔️13. Read a nonfiction book about nature or the environment. There’s Something In The Water: Environmental Racism in Indigenous & Black Communities, The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World, The Light Eaters: How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence Offers a New Understanding of Life on Earth, Cat Tale: The Wild, Weird Battle to Save the Florida Panther
may also read: Fen, Bog and Swamp: A Short History of Peatland Destruction and Its Role in the Climate Crisis

✔️14. Read a comic in translation. Shubeik Lubeik

✔️✔️15. Read a banned book and complete a task on Book Riot’s How to Fight Book Bans guides. Ace of Spades, Monday's Not Coming

✔️✔️✔️✔️✔️✔️✔️16. Read a genre-blending book. A Tempest of Tea, The Hacienda, A Master of Djinn, The Sun Down Motel, Starter Villain, The Spare Man, Vampires of El Norte

✔️✔️✔️17. Read a book about little-known history. The Women's House of Detention: A Queer History of a Forgotten Prison, Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI, Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America
may still read: Winters in the World: A Journey through the Anglo-Saxon Year

✔️✔️18. Read a “cozy” book by a BIPOC author. (B) That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon (I) Moon of the Turning Leaves (possibly not cozy for most but felt cozy to me)

WHOOPS! belatedly realized that this says Black and Indigenous POC so the below I picked from the discussion thread actually do not count:
Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers (Asian-American), The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches (Asian-British), Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop (Asian, not POC)

✔️✔️✔️✔️19. Read a queernorm book. This Is How You Lose the Time War, A Psalm for the Wild-Built, A Prayer for the Crown-Shy, The Hands of the Emperor, At the Feet of the Sun, The Stardust Grail
may still read. The Priory of the Orange Tree

✔️✔️20. Read the first book in a completed young adult or middle grade duology. Tokyo Ever After, A Magic Steeped in Poison

✔️21. Read a book about a moral panic. The Panic Virus: A True Story of Medicine, Science, and Fear
may still read Under the Eye of Power: How Fear of Secret Societies Shapes American Democracy

✔️22. Read a holiday romance that isn’t Christmas. Four Eids and a Funeral

✔️23. Read a wordless comic. The Only Child

✔️✔️✔️✔️24. Pick a 2015 Read Harder Challenge task to complete. A book that was originally published in another language Peerless: Wu Shuang (Novel) Vol. 1, The Grown-Up, I Who Have Never Known Men, Solitária

books read that fit prompts:

Completed: 13/24

Currently reading: 📚
Finished reading: ✓


✓1. Read a 2025 release by a BIPOC author: Death of the Author ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

✓2. Reread a childhood favorite book: Little Women ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

3. Read a queer mystery. Death in the Spires

4. Read a book about obsession.

5. Read a book about immigration or refugees: Behold the Dreamers

✓6. Read a standalone fantasy book. The Wood at Midwinter ⭐️⭐️⭐️

7. Read a book about a piece of media you love (a TV show, a movie, a band, etc).

✓8. Read literary fiction by a BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or disabled author. The Blueprint ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

✓9. Read a book based solely on its setting. Heartwood ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

10. Read a romance book that doesn’t have an illustrated cover.

✓11. Read a work of weird horror. Such Small Hands ⭐️⭐️⭐️

✓12. Read a staff pick from an indie bookstore. (Preferably, from your local indie bookstore.) All Fours (Powell's books) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

13. Read a nonfiction book about nature or the environment. What Do Bees Think About?

14. Read a comic in translation.

📚15. Read a banned book and complete a task on Book Riot’s How to Fight Book Bans guides. The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives

✓16. Read a genre-blending book: Toward Eternity ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

✓17. Read a book about little-known history: Harlem Rhapsody ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

✓18. Read a “cozy” book by a BIPOC author. What You Are Looking For Is in the Library ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

✓19. Read a queernorm book. A Psalm for the Wild-Built ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

✓20. Read the first book in a completed young adult or middle grade duology. Scary Stories for Young Foxes ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

21. Read a book about a moral panic.

22. Read a holiday romance that isn’t Christmas.

23. Read a wordless comic.

✓24. Pick a 2015 Read Harder Challenge task to complete: an audiobook Conjure Women ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My RH2025 list, sans #12.


1. 2025 BIPOC Release: They Bloom at Night, Trang Than Tran
2. Reread a childhood favorite book: A Wrinkle in Time, Madeline L’Engle
3. Read a queer mystery: The Tainted Cup, Robert Jackson Bennett
4. Read a book about obsession: The Lost City of Z, David Grann
5. Read a book about immigration or refugees: Everyone Who is Gone Is Here, Jonathan Blitzer
6. ✔️Read a standalone fantasy book: Fevre Dream, George R. Martin
7. ✔️Read a book about a piece of media you love (a TV show, a movie, a band, etc)., Counting the Cost, Jill Duggar
8. Read literary fiction by a BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or disabled author: The Book of Night Women, Marlon James
9. Read a book based solely on its setting: The Seamstress of Sardinia, Bianca Potzorno
10. Read a romance book that doesn’t have an illustrated cover: Nineteen Steps, Millie Bobby Brown
11. Read a work of weird horror: Her Body and other Parties, Carmen
12. Read a staff pick from an indie bookstore. TBD
13. Read a nonfiction book about nature or the environment: The Death and Life of the Great Lakes, Dan Egan
14. Read a comic in translation: Your Wish is my Command, Deena Mohamed
15. ⌛️Read a banned book: The Bluest Eye, Toni Morrison
16. Read a genre-blending book: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Tara Jenkins Reid
17. Read a book about little-known history: A Fever in the Heartland, Timothy Egan
18. Read a “cozy” book by a BIPOC author: We’ll Prescribe you a Cat, Syou Ishida
19. Read a queernorm book: A Psalm for the Wild Built, Becky Chamberd
20. Read the first book in a completed young adult or middle grade duology: I Lived on Butterfly Hill, Marjorie Agosin
21. Read a book about a moral panic: Passing, Nella Larson
22. Read a holiday romance that isn’t Christmas: Lunar New Year Love Story, Gene Luen Yang
23. Read a wordless comic: The Arrival, Shaun Tan
24. Self improvement book task: The Let Them Theory, Mel Robbins

Today 0/24

1. Read a 2025 release by a BIPOC author.
2. Reread a childhood favorite book.
3. Read a queer mystery.
4. Read a book about obsession.
5. Read a book about immigration or refugees.
6. Read a standalone fantasy book.
7. Read a book about a piece of media you love (a TV show, a movie, a band, etc).
8. Read literary fiction by a BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or disabled author.
9. Read a book based solely on its setting.
10. Read a romance book that doesn’t have an illustrated cover.
11. Read a work of weird horror.
12. Read a staff pick from an indie bookstore. (Preferably, from your local indie bookstore.)
13. Read a nonfiction book about nature or the environment.
14. Read a comic in translation.
15. Read a banned book and complete a task on Book Riot’s How to Fight Book Bans guides.
16. Read a genre-blending book.
17. Read a book about little-known history.
18. Read a “cozy” book by a BIPOC author.
19. Read a queernorm book.
20. Read the first book in a completed young adult or middle grade duology.
21. Read a book about a moral panic.
22. Read a holiday romance that isn’t Christmas.
23. Read a wordless comic.
24. Pick a 2015 Read Harder Challenge task to complete

Sherri H
Read Harder 2025
1. Read a 2025 release by a BIPOC author. King of Ashes
2. Reread a childhood favorite book. - Misty of Chincoteague
3. Read a queer mystery. Who Is Vera Kelly?
4. Read a book about obsession. The Backyard Bird Chronicles
5. Read a book about immigration or refugees. - The Stationery Shop
6. Read a standalone fantasy book. - Orbital
7. Read a book about a piece of media you love (a TV show, a movie, a band, etc). From Here to the Great Unknown
8. Read literary fiction by a BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or disabled author. - James
9. Read a book based solely on its setting. - The Grey Wolf
10. Read a romance book that doesn’t have an illustrated cover. Somewhere Beyond the Sea
11. Read a work of weird horror. The Only Good Indians
12. Read a staff pick from an indie bookstore. (Preferably, from your local indie bookstore.) All Fours
13. Read a nonfiction book about nature or the environment. - The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World
14. Read a comic in translation. Shubeik Lubeik
15. Read a banned book and complete a task on Book Riot’s How to Fight Book Bans guides. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
16. Read a genre-blending book. The Dark Horse
17. Read a book about little-known history. The Small and the Mighty: Twelve Unsung Americans Who Changed the Course of History, from the Founding to the Civil Rights Movement
18. Read a “cozy” book by a BIPOC author. - Days at the Morisaki Bookshop
19. Read a queernorm book. Somewhere Beyond the Sea
20. Read the first book in a completed young adult or middle grade duology. A Dictionary of Scoundrels
21. Read a book about a moral panic. - And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle
22. Read a holiday romance that isn’t Christmas. - The Pumpkin Spice Café
23. Read a wordless comic. Love in the Library
24. Pick a 2015 Read Harder Challenge task to complete. - Matterhorn. #7 Takes place in Asia.

1. Read a 2025 release by a BIPOC author. The Buffalo Hunter Hunter
2. ✅Reread a childhood favorite book. The Indian in the Cupboard
3. Read a queer mystery. Murder Most Actual
4. ✅Read a book about obsession. The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession
5. Read a book about immigration or refugees. American Dirt
6. Read a standalone fantasy book. The Lost Story
7. Read a book about a piece of media you love (a TV show, a movie, a band, etc). Play Nice: The Rise, Fall, and Future of Blizzard Entertainment
8. Read literary fiction by a BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or disabled author. James
9. Read a book based solely on its setting. Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail
10. ✅Read a romance book that doesn’t have an illustrated cover. The Art of Starting Over
11. ✅Read a work of weird horror. House of Leaves
12. Read a staff pick from an indie bookstore. (Preferably, from your local indie bookstore.) The Eyes Are the Best Part
13. Read a nonfiction book about nature or the environment. Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail
14. ✅Read a comic in translation. The Complete Persepolis
15. Read a banned book and complete a task on Book Riot’s How to Fight Book Bans guides. Slaughterhouse-Five
16. ✅Read a genre-blending book. House of Leaves
17. Read a book about little-known history. Give Her Credit: The Untold Account of a Women's Bank That Empowered a Generation
18. Read a “cozy” book by a BIPOC author. There's Something About Mira
19. Read a queernorm book. Legends & Lattes
20. Read the first book in a completed young adult or middle grade duology. Star Mother
21. Read a book about a moral panic. That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America
22. ✅Read a holiday romance that isn’t Christmas. Royal Valentine
23. ✅Read a wordless comic. The Longest Day of the Future
24. ✅Pick a 2015 Read Harder Challenge task to complete. Task #18: A book that someone else has recommended to you. House of Leaves

4/24
1. Read a 2025 release by a BIPOC author. 
2. Reread a childhood favorite book. PETER PAN by J.M. BARRIE
3. Read a queer mystery. WHEREABOUTS UNKNOWN by M. Doench 
4. Read a book about obsession. THE VEGETARIAN by HAN KANG
5. Read a book about immigration or refugees. THE NAMESAKE by JHUMPA LAHIRI 
6. ✅ Read a standalone fantasy book. UNDER THE WHISPERING DOOR by T.J. KLINE
7. Read a book about a piece of media you Love (a TV show, a movie, a band, etc). THE THIRD GILMORE GIRL by KELLY BISHOP
8. Read literary fiction by a BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or disabled author. MY FRIENDS by MATAR HISHAM
9. Read a book based solely on its setting. LA GATTA E IL GENERALE by NINO HARATASCHWILI
10. Read a romance book that doesn’t have an illustrated cover. THE THORN BIRDS by COLLEEN McCULLOUGH
11. Read a work of weird horror. AT THE MOUNTAINS OF MADNESS by H.P. LOVECRAFT
12. ✅ Read a staff pick from an indie bookstore.  (Preferably, from your local indie bookstore.) AS THE WOMEN LAY DREAMING by D.S.MURRAY
13. Read a nonfiction book about nature or the environment. THE SERVICE BERRY by KIMMERER
14. Read a comic in translation. PERSEPOLIS
15. Read a banned book and complete a task on Book Riot’s How to Fight Book Bans guides. THE WELL OF LONELINESS by R. HALL
16.  ✅ Read a genre-blending book. UNDER THE WHISPERING DOOR by T.J. KLINE
17. ✅ Read a book about little-known history.
AS THE WOMEN LAY DREAMING by D.S. MURRAY 
18. Read a “cozy” book by a BIPOC author. 
HOW TO END A LOVE STORY by YULIN KUANG
19. Read a queernorm book. THE EMPRESS....
20. Read the first book in a completed young adult or middle grade duology. IF I STAY by GAYLE FORMAN
21. Read a book about a moral panic. MINISTRY OF MORAL PANIC by A.L. KOE
22. Read a holiday romance that isn’t Christmas. HOW TO END A LOVE STORY by YULIN KUANG
23. Read a wordless comic. YELLOW BUTTERFLY
24. Pick a 2015 Read Harder Challenge task to complete. A BOOK THAT TAKE PLACES IN Asia THE VEGETARIAN by HAN KANG

Completed 18/ 24

✔️1. Read a 2025 release by a BIPOC author. Isaac's Song Daniel Black
320 p. Read: 3 february Published january 2025
✔️2. Reread a childhood favorite book. 20.000 mijlen onder zee Jules Verne 348 25 april
✔️3. Read a queer mystery.

Als wij schurken waren M.L. Rio 424 p. 15 march

✔️4. Read a book about obsession. De pianiste Elfriede Jelinek 296 p. 28 february
✔️5. Read a book about immigration or refugees.

Dit zijn de namen 303 p. 17 march

✔️6. Read a standalone fantasy book. Het gefluister achter de deur T.J. Klune 440 p. 23. february 2025
✔️7. Read a book about a piece of media you love (a TV show, a movie, a band, etc). Kat & muis Ian Rankin 231 p. 19 march
✔️◾️ 8. Read literary fiction by a BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or disabled author.

Rouwdouwers Falun Ellie Koos 235 p. Read 30 january 2025
Author non binair

✔️◾️9. Read a book based solely on its setting.

Violeta Isabel Allende 322 p. Read: 25 january 2025
Wanted to read fiction on history of Chile

✔️10. Read a romance book that doesn’t have an illustrated cover.
Onder vrienden Linea Maja Ernst 7 july 272

✔️11. Read a work of weird horror.
BloedverwantStuart Neville 296 p. 8 april
Weird and horror
12. Read a staff pick from an indie bookstore. (Preferably, from your local indie bookstore.)
13. Read a nonfiction book about nature or the environment.
✔️14. Read a comic in translation.
Asterix en Cleopatra René Goscinny
✔️15. Read a banned book and complete a task on Book Riot’s How to Fight Book Bans guides. De avonturen van Huckleberry FinnMark Twain 367 p. 21 june
✔️16. Read a genre-blending book.

Paris: de memoires van Abel Sikkink Bert Wagendorp 386 p. Read: 5 february
Mix of memoir, fiction, historical fiction, war, non-fiction…

✔️17. Read a book about little-known history.

Het witte meisje Tony Birch 336 p. 14 march
About the taking 1way of aboriginal children by the Australian gouvernement
18. Read a “cozy” book by a BIPOC author.
✔️19. Read a queernorm book. Het gefluister achter de deur T.J. Klune 440 p. 23. february 2025
✔️20. Read the first book in a completed young adult or middle grade duology.

Tokio voor altijd Emiko Jean 288 p. 30 june

21. Read a book about a moral panic.
22. Read a holiday romance that isn’t Christmas.
23. Read a wordless comic.
✔️24. Pick a 2015 Read Harder Challenge task to complete

11. A YA novel Een van ons liegt Karen M. McManus 300 p. 13 february 2025

Read Harder 2025
23/24

✓ 1. Read a 2025 release by a BIPOC author. I Got Abducted by Aliens and Now I'm Trapped in a Rom-Com
✓ 2. Reread a childhood favorite book. Winnie-the-Pooh
✓ 3. Read a queer mystery. Poisoned Primrose
✓ 4. Read a book about obsession. That Can Be Arranged: A Muslim Love Story
✓ 5. Read a book about immigration or refugees.When the Angels Left the Old Country



✓ 6. Read a standalone fantasy book. Nettle & Bone
✓ 7. Read a book about a piece of media you love (a TV show, a movie, a band, etc). To the Stars
✓ 8. Read literary fiction by a BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or disabled author. Death of the Author
✓ 9. Read a book based solely on its setting. An Island Princess Starts a Scandal
✓ 10. Read a romance book that doesn’t have an illustrated cover. American Dreamer



11. Read a work of weird horror.
✓ 12. Read a staff pick from an indie bookstore. (Preferably, from your local indie bookstore. June, Powell’s) Open Throat
✓ 13. Read a nonfiction book about nature or the environment. When the Earth Was Green: Plants, Animals, and Evolution's Greatest Romance
✓ 14. Read a comic in translation. Mushishi, Vol. 1
✓ 15. Read a banned book and complete a task on Book Riot’s How to Fight Book Bans guides. Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History



✓ 16. Read a genre-blending book. The Tainted Cup
✓ 17. Read a book about little-known history. Strange Fruit, Volume I: Uncelebrated Narratives from Black History
✓ 18. Read a “cozy” book by a BIPOC author. A Love Song for Ricki Wilde
✓ 19. Read a queernorm book. Godkiller
✓ 20. Read the first book in a completed young adult or middle grade duology. Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus



✓ 21. Read a book about a moral panic. Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books
✓ 22. Read a holiday romance that isn’t Christmas. Lunar New Year Love Story
✓ 23. Read a wordless comic. Robot Dreams
✓ 24. Pick a 2015 Read Harder Challenge task to complete. (10. A microhistory) The Henna Artist

Read Harder 2025 Challenge
PROGRESS 10/24

1. Read a 2025 release by a BIPOC author. Oathbound
2. Reread a childhood favourite book.
3. Read a queer mystery. The Power
4. Read a book about obsession.
5. Read a book about immigration or refugees.

6. Read a standalone fantasy book.
7. Read a book about a piece of media you love (a TV show, a movie, a band, etc). Making It So
8. Read literary fiction by a BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or disabled author. Tales from the Café
9. Read a book based solely on its setting. Tales from the Café
10. Read a romance book that doesn’t have an illustrated cover. The Empire of Gold

11. Read a work of weird horror.
12. Read a staff pick from an indie bookstore. (Preferably, from your local indie bookstore.)
13. Read a nonfiction book about nature or the environment.
14. Read a comic in translation.
15. Read a banned book and complete a task on Book Riot’s How to Fight Book Bans guides. Out of Darkness

16. Read a genre-blending book. The Book Thief
17. Read a book about little-known history. The Black Angels: The Untold Story of the Nurses Who Helped Cure Tuberculosis
18. Read a “cozy” book by a BIPOC author.
19. Read a queernorm book. Floating Hotel
20. Read the first book in a completed young adult or middle grade duology.

21. Read a book about a moral panic.
22. Read a holiday romance that isn’t Christmas.
23. Read a wordless comic.
24. Pick a 2015 Read Harder Challenge task to complete.

Read Harder 2025

Books Read 2/24

1. Read a 2025 release by a BIPOC author.
2. Reread a childhood favorite book.
3. Read a queer mystery.
4. Read a book about obsession.
5. Read a book about immigration or refugees.
6. Read a standalone fantasy book.
7. Read a book about a piece of media you love (a TV show, a movie, a band, etc).
8. Read literary fiction by a BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or disabled author.
9. Read a book based solely on its setting.
10. Read a romance book that doesn’t have an illustrated cover.
11. Read a work of weird horror.
12. Read a staff pick from an indie bookstore. (Preferably, from your local indie bookstore.)
13. Read a nonfiction book about nature or the environment.
14. Read a comic in translation.
15. Read a banned book and complete a task on Book Riot’s How to Fight Book Bans guides.
16. Read a genre-blending book. The Gifted and Cursed
17. Read a book about little-known history.
18. Read a “cozy” book by a BIPOC author.
19. Read a queernorm book.
20. Read the first book in a completed young adult or middle grade duology.
21. Read a book about a moral panic.
22. Read a holiday romance that isn’t Christmas.
23. Read a wordless comic.
24. Pick a 2015 Read Harder Challenge task to complete. Task #16
audiobook Diabolical Sword