Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

2025 Summer Reading Challenge Prompts
June 1 - August 31

5500 points as of August 21

Chips and Dip - 100 points (300 points)
1a. A book in a series
*Classified as Murder (Cat in the Stacks #2) by Miranda James
June 26 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
1b. A book with water on the cover
1c. A book released in 2024 or 2025
*The Wedding People by Alison Espach
July 15 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
1d. A book by a new-to-you author
*Orbital by Samantha Harvey
July 8 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
1e. A humorous book

Drinks Station - 200 points (600 points)
Author's initials are in:
2a. FRESH-SQUEEZED LEMONADE
*The Guncle by Steven Rowley
June 16 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
2b. UNSWEETENED ICED TEA
2c. ROOT BEER SODA
*Written in the Stars (Written in the Stars #1) by Alexandria Bellefleur
August 14 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
2d. FRUIT PUNCH
2e. SPARKLING WATER
*The Tale of Castle Cottage (Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter #8) by Susan Wittig Albert
June 23 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Burger and Hotdog Toppings - 300 points (1500 points)
3a. Ketchup: A book with red on the cover
*Out of Circulation (Cat in the Stacks #4) by Miranda James
July 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
3b. Relish: A book by a favorite author
*The Tale of Oat Cake Crag (Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter #7) by Susan Wittig Albert
June 18 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
3c. Mustard: A book with a military character (serving, retired, or adjacent)
*Claws for Concern (Cat in the Stacks #9) by Miranda James
Bill Delaney (a longlost cousin) served in the Marines for 8 years, as had Charlie’s own father.
August 11 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
3d. Pickles: A book title that includes a word starting with the letter P
*The Pawful Truth (Cat in the Stacks #11) by Miranda James
August 21 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
3e. Cheese: A sentimental book
*Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
It was sentimental to me...
July 13 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Desserts - 400 points (1600 points)
4a. A book with a child main character
*Murder at Somerset House (Wrexford & Sloane #9) by Andrea Penrose
The weasels: 4 children who are main characters/wards of Wrex and Charlotte
July 25 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
4b. A book with a wedding
*No Cats Allowed (Cat in the Stacks #7) by Miranda James
July 31 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
4c. A book that has been nominated for an award
*Open Throat by Henry Hoke
June 10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Nominated for 2023 Barnes and Noble Discover Great New Writers Award, 2024 James Tait Black Memorial Prize (Fiction-shortlisted), 2024 Mark Twain American Voice in Literature Award (longlisted), 2024 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction (finalist)
4d. A book with a cafe, bakery, or restaurant as an important setting
*Arsenic and Old Books (Cat in the Stacks #6) by Miranda James
July 24 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
4e. A book originally written in a language other than English

The Sides - 500 pointsm (1500 pojnts)
5a. Potato salad - A book with more than one point of view
*The Celebrants by Steven Rowley
June 22 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
5b. Mac n' cheese - A book by an author with 10 or more books
*The Tale of Applebeck Orchard (Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter #6) by Susan Wittig Albert
June 15 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
5c. Corn bread - A book originally published before 1900
5d. Deviled eggs - A book with challenging subject matter
*Broken Light by Joanne Harris
Menopause and mind control!
August 3 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
5e. Watermelon - A book over 500 pages