2023 Reading Challenges Roundup: Completed and Failed
(Updated: )
- end of the year
- reading challenges
For 2023, I brought back reading challenges into my life. Let’s see which ones I actually finished.
Completed Challenges
Goodreads
Goal 272/200 Books 100%

COYER (Clean Out Your E-Reader)
Goal 20/20 Books 100%
- The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon (1/21/23)
- The Vampire Villain by Melody Raven (4/6/23)
- The Library of the Unwritten by AJ Hackwith (5/24/23)
- Barbarian Lover by Ruby Dixon (5/25/23)
- The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker (6/15/23)
- The Bees by Laline Paull (7/22/23)
- Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton (7/19/23)
- Wasted Words by Staci Hart (7/27/23)
- 56 Days by Catherine Ryan Howard (9/7/23)
- Devil to Pay by Jeaniene Frost (9/1/23)
- Home for the Holidays by Jeaniene Frost (9/1/23)
- Cinders by Michelle D. Argyle (9/13/23)
- The Haunting of Winchester Mansion by Alexandria Clarke (9/27/23)
- Girls of Brackenhill by Kate Moretti (10/6/23)
- Ark by Veronica Roth (11/24/23)
- Summer Frost by Blake Crouch (11/24/23)
- Emergency Skin by NK Jemisin (11/24/23)
- You Have Arrived at Your Destination by Amor Towles (11/25/23)
- The Last Conversation by Paul Tremblay (11/25/23)
- Randomize by Andy Weir (11/25/23)

Seasonal - Fall
Goal 25/25 Books 100%
- 5 Books in a Series ✓
- Bound by Flames by Jeaniene Frost (9/23/23)
- Into the Fire by Jeaniene Frost (10/5/23)
- A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas (10/4/23)
- Preacher Vol. 1 (10/22/23)
- Brutal Prince by Sophie Lark (11/2/23)
- 5 Spooky Books ✓
- Mister Magic by Kiersten White (9/24/23)
- Episode Thirteen by Craig DiLouie (10/10/23)
- This Delicious Death by Kayla Cottingham (10/7/23)
- The Ghost Tree by Christina Henry (10/20/23)
- The Seventh Bride by T. Kingfisher (10/13/23)
- 5 Kindle/Ebooks ✓
- The Haunting of Winchester Mansion by Alexandria Clarke (9/27/23)
- Girls of Brackenhill by Kate Moretti (10/6/23)
- Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher (10/14/23)
- Ark by Veronica Roth (11/24/23)
- Summer Frost by Blake Crouch (11/24/23)
- 3 Kid Read Alouds ✓
- Echo Mountain by Lauren Wolk (10/4/23)
- Beanstalker and Other Hilarious Scarytales by Kiersten White (10/11/23)
- Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt (10/21/23)
- 3 Nonfiction ✓
- The Kingdom of Prep by Maggie Bullock (9/22/23)
- Savage Appetites by Rachel Monroe (10/19/23)
- Unlikeable Female Characters by Anna Bogutskaya (11/15/23)
- 2 Audiobooks ✓
- Nothing But Blackened Teeth by Cassandra Khaw (10/21/23)
- White Cat by Holly Black (10/26/23)
- 2 Random Library Picks ✓
- Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher (9/28/23)
- The Boyfriend Candidate by Ashley Winstead (9/29/23)

Seasonal - Summer
Goal 25/25 Books 100%
- 3 Unread Shelf Books ✓
- This Side of the Grave by Jeaniene Frost (7/14/23)
- Eternal Kiss of Darkness by Jeaniene Frost (7/26/23)
- Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala (9/21/23)
- 3 Buddy Reads / Book Club Selections ✓
- The Bees by Laline Paull (7/22/23)
- Adult Assembly Required by Abbi Waxman (7/15/23)
- Anatomy by Dana Schwartz (7/25/23)
- 3 MG/YA Books ✓
- Don’t Turn Out the Lights (6/29/23)
- Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings (6/29/23)
- Camp Red Moon by R.L. Stine (7/21/23)
- 3 Kid Read Alouds ✓
- Wildoak by CC Harrington (8/24/23)
- The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan (9/13/23)
- Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert O’Brien (8/18/23)
- 3 Audiobooks ✓
- The Curator by Owen King (6/27/23)
- Starship Titanic by Douglas Adams and Terry Jones (6/28/23)
- The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick (6/29/23)
- 3 Retreat Purchases or Recs ✓
- Sister, Maiden, Monster by Lucy A Snyder (7/19/23)
- Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron (7/22/23)
- Break Your Glass Slippers by Amanda Lovelace (8/15/23)
- 3 Nonfiction ✓
- Pathogenesis by Jonathan Kennedy (7/25/23)
- Hey Hun by Emily Lynn Paulson (8/2/23)
- The Things We Make by Bill Hammack (9/8/23)
- 2 Books in a Series ✓
- The Duchess Takes a Husband by Harper St. George (6/24/23)
- Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton (7/19/23)
- 2 Random Library Choices ✓
- Tread of Angels by Rebecca Roanhorse (7/3/23)
- The Widow of Pale Harbor by Hester Fox (7/7/23)

Kid Read Alouds
Goal 20/20 Books 100%
- Samantha Spinner and the Super Secret Plans by Russell Ginns (1/11/23)
- My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George (1/20/23)
- The Year of the Dog by Grace Lin (1/19/23)
- Winterhouse by Ben Guterson (2/9/23)
- Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson (2/3/23)
- The Bears on Hemlock Mountain by Alice Dagliesh (1/23/23)
- Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate (2/16/23)
- A True Home by Kallie George (2/23/23)
- The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis (3/8/23)
- Argos by Ralph Hardy (3/11/23)
- The House at Pooh Corner by A.A. Milne (3/22/23)
- The Strangers by Margaret Peterson Haddix (4/8/23)
- Midsummer’s Mayhem by Rajani LaRocca (4/14/23)
- The Greatest Gift by Kallie George (4/11/23)
- The Last Shadow Warrior by Sam Subity (5/14/23)
- The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (6/5/23)
- Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater (5/18/23)
- The Deceivers by Margaret Peterson Haddix (6/4/23)
- Wildoak by CC Harrington (8/24/23)
- Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert O’Brien (8/18/23)

Seasonal - Winter
Goal 25/25 Books 100%
- 5 Graphic Novels/Comic Trades
- Ducks by Kate Beaton (1/11/23)
- Lore, Olympus Vol. 3 by Rachel Smythe (1/25/23)
- The Me You Love in the Dark by Skottie Young and Jorge Corona (1/22/23)
- Lady Mechanika Vol. 7 (1/27/23)
- The Dollhouse Family (1/28/23)
- 5 Scifi/Fantasy Books
- Court of the Vampire Queen by Katee Robert (1/11/23)
- Ghostly Echoes by William Ritter (1/13/23)
- The End and Other Beginnings by Veronica Roth (1/18/23)
- One Foot in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost (1/20/23)
- Lost in the Moment and Found by Seanan McGuire (2/4/23)
- 3 Buddy Reads (CR and Nerdy Bookish Friends)
- The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon (1/21/23)
- Babel by RF Kaung (2/22/23)
- A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers (3/18/23)
- 3 Nonfiction Books
- Paradise Falls by Keith O’Brien (1/16/23)
- A Literary Education by Emily Cook (1/24/23)
- Death in the Air by Kate Winkler Dawson (2/25/23)
- 3 Romance
- Misadventures of a Curvy Girl by Sierra Simone (1/12/23)
- It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey (1/26/23)
- Never Fall for Your Fiancee by Virginia Heath (2/5/23)
- 2 Classics
- Timemaster by Robert L. Forward (2/24/23)
- The Beautiful and Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald (3/14/23)
- 2 Middle Grade
- Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack (1/25/23)
- Anya and the Nightingale by Sofiya Pasternack (2/3/23)
- 2 Historical Fiction
- Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez (2/14/23)
- The Light in Hidden Places by Sharon Cameron (3/18/23)
Failed Challenges

UnRead Shelf
Goal 28/50 Books 56%
- January: Comfort - Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost (1/19/23)
- February: Courage - Babel by R.F. Kuang (2/22/23)
- March: Enough - The Beautiful and Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald (3/14/23)
- April: Delight - Crossings by Alex Landragin (4/29/23)
- May: Curious - Cinders & Sparrows by Stefan Bachmann (5/12/23)
- June: Explore - Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen (6/17/23)
- July: Joy - Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez (7/8/23)
- August: Immerse - The Keeper of Night by Kylie Lee Baker (8/18/23)
- September: Remember - Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manasala (9/21/23)
- October: Influence - The Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas (10/18/23)
- November: Nurture - Underground Airlines by Ben H. Winters (11/21/23)
- One Foot in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost (1/20/23)
- Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt (1/24/23)
- At Grave’s End by Jeaniene Frost (1/27/23)
- Lady Mechanika Vol. 7 (1/27/23)
- The Thousandth Floor by Katharine McGee (3/23/23)
- Weyward by Emilia Hart (3/28/23)
- The Night Ship by Jess Kidd (4/8/23)
- Destined for an Early Grave by Jeaniene Frost (4/21/23)
- First Drop of Crimson by Jeaniene Frost (4/28/23)
- Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young (7/5/23)
- This Side of the Grave by Jeaniene Frost (7/14/23)
- The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer (7/12/23)
- Sister, Maiden, Monster by Lucy A Snyder (7/19/23)
- Eternal Kiss of Darkness by Jeaniene Frost (7/26/23)
- Cruel Seduction by Katee Robert (9/19/23)
- Starling House by Alix E. Harrow (10/24/23)
- Thistlefoot by GennaRose Nethercott (10/29/23)

Book of the Month Cleanout
Goal 11/12 Books 91.7%
- Babel by R.F. Kuang (2/22/23)
- Weyward by Emilia Hart (3/28/23)
- Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen (6/17/23)
- Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young (7/5/23)
- Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez (7/8/23)
- The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer (7/12/23)
- The Keeper of Night by Kylie Lee Baker (8/18/23)
- Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manasala (9/21/23)
- The Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas (10/18/23)
- Starling House by Alix E. Harrow (10/24/23)
- Thistlefoot by GennaRose Nethercott (10/29/23)

The 52 Book Club
Goal 46/52 Books 88.5%
- A Book with a Subtitle - You Need to Lose Weight by Aubrey Gordon (3/26/23)
- Featuring an Inheritance - Never Rescue a Rogue by Virginia Heath (2/11/23)
- Title Starting with “G” - The Getaway by Lamar Giles (3/30/23)
- Title Starting with “H” - Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey (2/28/23)
- Title Starting with “I” - Icebreaker by Hannah Grace (6/25/23)
- Under 200 Pages - Lost in the Moment and Found by Seanan McGuire (2/4/23)
- A City or Country Name in Title - The Siren of Sussex by Mimi Matthews (5/5/23)
- Dystopian Fiction - The Stranded by Sarah Daniels (3/4/23)
- A Book with a Dedication - A House with Good Bones by T. Kingfisher (5/4/23)
- Takes Place During the Roaring Twenties - The Beautiful and Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald (3/14/23)
- A Book About Secrets - Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt (1/24/23)
- High Fantasy - The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon (1/21/23)
- Published Posthumously - Starship Titanic by Douglas Adams and Terry Jones (6/28/23)
- A Survival Story - A Lush and Seething Hell by John Hornor Jacobs (2/8/23)
- Set in Australia - Acid for the Children by Flea (3/22/23)
- Featuring One of the “Seven Deadly Sins” - Priest by Sierra Simone (1/31/23)
- By a Caribbean Author
- Set During a War Other Than WWI or WWII - Timeline by Michael Crichton (9/16/23)
- Typographic Cover - VenCo by Cherie Dimaline (5/30/23)
- A Book About Siblings - Well Traveled by Jen DeLuca (2/10/23)
- A Second-Hand Book - Underground Airlines by Ben H. Winters (11/21/23)
- A Body-Positive Message - A Merry Little Meet Cute by Julie Murphy & Sierra Simone (2/9/23)
- An Alliterative Title - Miss Benson’s Beetle by Rachel Joyce (5/27/23)
- Nordic Noir
- A Fashionable Character - A Tempest at Sea by Sherry Thomas (5/26/23)
- Has an Epilogue - The Deal by Elle Kennedy (1/13/23)
- Newbery Medal Winner - The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate (9/13/23)
- Includes a Funeral - Immortality by Dana Schwartz (7/28/23)
- Sends You Down a Rabbit Hole - The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher (4/25/23)
- An Author with a Same Name Town as You - The First Bright Thing by JR Dawson (8/23/23)
- Set in a Workplace - Come as You Are by Jess K. Hardy (2/23/23)
- Published by Macmillan - The First Bright Thing by JR Dawson (8/23/23)
- A Banned Book
- Featuring Mythology - The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi (3/8/23)
- A Book You Meant to Read Last Year - The Mistake by Elle Kennedy (2/25/23)
- Chapters have Cliffhangers - Station Eternity by Mur Lafferty (3/3/23)
- Written in Present Tense - Anya and the Nightingale by Sofiya Pasternack (2/3/23)
- An Enemies-to-Lovers Plot - Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood (7/13/23)
- The Final Book in a Series - The Dire King by William Ritter (1/28/23)
- Written by a Comedian
- A Character Who is a Refugee - Beautiful Country by Qian Julie Wang (8/16/23)
- Time in the Title - The End and Other Beginnings by Veronica Roth (1/18/23)
- A Book “Everyone” has Read - The Mountain the Sea by Ray Nayler (3/11/23)
- A Contemporary Setting - How to Fake It in Hollywood by Ava Wilder (5/20/23)
- First Word in the Book is “The” - The Crane Husband by Kelly Barnhill (4/26/23)
- Script Font on the Spine - Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradal (5/23/23)
- Set in the City of Dublin
- A Book by Octavia E. Butler
- Books on the Cover - The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna (8/4/23)
- Related to the Word “Murder” - Silent Came the Monster by Amy Hill Hearth (7/29/23)
- Doesn’t Fit Any of the Other 51 Prompts - Ducks by Kate Beaton (1/11/23)
- Published in 2023 - The Drift by CJ Tudor (3/25/23)

Romanceopoly
Goal 37/39 Books 94.9%
- Sleuth Street (Mystery/Thriller where main character is a detective or PI) - My Killer Vacation by Tessa Bailey (3/15/23)
- Library (Free Choice) - Never Rescue a Rogue by Virginia Heath (2/11/23)
- Killer Crescent (Mystery/Thriller of choice) - Radiant Sin by Katee Robert (4/5/23)
- The Bar (Main character works at or owns a bar) - Sweet Little Lies by Jill Shalvis (2/15/23)
- Winter (Winter holiday book) - A Merry Little Meet Cute by Julie Murphy & Sierra Simone (2/9/23)
- Flirts Corner (Contemporary author you haven’t tried before) - Come as You Are by Jess K. Hardy (2/23/23)
- BFF’s House (Friends to Lovers) - Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey (2/28/23)
- Amour Avenue (Contemporary romance with an Illustrated cover) - Well Traveled by Jen DeLuca (2/10/23)
- Passion Place (Slow Burn or Instant Heat Contemporary Romance) - Priest by Sierra Simone (1/31/23)
- Post Office (Set in a different country) - The Secret Society of Tea and Treason by India Holton (6/7/23)
- Courtship Row (Read a historical romance with a clinch cover) - Unmasked by the Marquess by Cat Sebastian (8/9/23)
- Burger Joint (Read a book where one of the main characters is in the food industry, for example, a chef, food critic or a restaurant or food truck owner) - When in Rome by Sarah Adams (5/9/23)
- The Cobbles (Historical romance with a rake) - Never Fall for Your Fiancee by Virginia Heath (2/5/23)
- Past Eaves (Read the historical romance that catches your interest) - The Siren of Sussex by Mimi Matthews (5/5/23)
- Spring (Read a book that has an animal on the cover) - Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez (4/15/23)
- Fang Alley (Paranormal where one of the main characters is a vampire) - Court of the Vampire Queen (1/11/23)
- Library (Free Choice) - The Score by Elle Kennedy (3/24/23)
- Fated Folly (Read a paranormal romance with a bit of magic in it) - Twice Tempted by Jeaniene Frost (9/12/23)
- The Vault (Paranormal with the main character on the cover) - Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost (1/19/23)
- Haunted House (Read a monster romance or something spooky) - The Dragon’s Bride by Katee Robert (11/3/23)
- Ever Afters St. (Read a sapphic romance) -
- Farmers Market (Where one of the main characters is a farmer or rancher or cowboy) - Misadventure of a Curvy Girl by Sierra Simone (1/12/23)
- Rainbow Row (Read a romance featuring an LGBTQIA+ main character) - The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen by KJ Charles (8/8/23)
- Lovers Lane (Read a male/male romance) - The Queer Principles of Kit Webb by Cat Sebastian (6/9/23)
- Summer (Water on the Cover; Set at the Beach) - It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey (1/26/23)
- Action Avenue (Read a fantasy from your TBR) - The Dark King by Gina L. Maxwell (4/8/23)
- City Lane (Read a fantasy that doesn’t involve magic) - Cruel Seduction by Katee Robert (9/19/23)
- The Gym (Read the longest book on your TBR) - Snowed in for Christmas by Jaqueline Snowe (12/2/23)
- Journeys End (Read a fantasy with a cover that takes your breath away) - The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna (8/4/23)
- Emergency Services (Main Character is a part of emergency services {I’m counting Archer’s job}) - Accidentally on Purpose by Jill Shalvis (2/17/23)
- Campus Corner (Set in college/university) - The Deal by Elle Kennedy (1/13/23)
- Soldier Street (Read a book where one of the main characters are in the military) - Blue Sky Cowboy Christmas by Joanne Kennedy (12/21/23)
- Library (Free Choice) - How to Fake It in Hollywood by Ava Wilder (5/20/23)
- Beau Boulevard (Read a young adult book of your choice) - The Prince and the Apocalypse by Kara McDowell (10/26/23)
- Autumn (Read a book that has either: A red or gold cover; or, Has trees and leaves on the cover; or, Has a cozy vibe) - Role Playing by Cathy Yardley (11/29/23)
- The Office (Read a romance where the characters meet at work) - The Fine Print by Lauren Asher (5/17/23)
- Star Harbour (Read a sci fi where one of the main characters is an alien) -
- Coffee Shop (Read a book that has been recommended to you!) - A Touch of Darkness by Scarlett St. Clair (4/11/23)
- Outer Space (Read a sci fi with the “mars needs women” trope) - Barbarian Lover by Ruby Dixon (5/25/23)

Finishing the Series
Goal 8/10 Books 80%
- ACOTAR by Sarah J. Maas ✓
- A Court of Silver Flames (10/4/23)
- Jackaby by William Ritter ✓
- Ghostly Echoes (1/11/23)
- The Dire King (1/28/23)
- Night Huntress by Jeaniene Frost ✓
- Halfway to the Grave (1/19/23)
- Happily Never After (8/12/23)
- One Foot in the Grave (1/20/23)
- At Grave’s End (1/27/23)
- Destined for an Early Grave (4/21/23)
- This Side of the Grave (7/14/23)
- One Grave at a Time (8/29/23)
- Up from the Grave (9/15/23)
- Heartbreaker Bay by Jill Shalvis ✓
- Sweet Little Lies (2/15/23)
- Accidentally on Purpose (2/17/23)
- Chasing Christmas Eve (2/18/23)
- Holiday Wishes (2/21/23)
- About that Kiss (3/9/23)
- Hot Winter Nights (3/29/23)
- Playing for Keeps (8/5/23)
- Wrapped Up in You (8/11/23)
- Night Huntress World ✓
- First Drop of Crimson (4/28/23)
- Eternal Kiss of Darkness (7/26/23)
- Night Prince ✓
- Once Burned (9/6/23)
- Twice Tempted (9/12/23)
- Bound by Flames (9/23/23)
- Into the Fire (10/5/23)
- The Austens
- Wasted Words (7/27/23)
- A Thousand Letters
- Love, Hannah
- Love Notes
- Pride and Papercuts
- The Doomsday Books
- The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen (8/8/23)
- A Nobleman’s Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel
- Regency Imposters ✓
- Unmasked by the Marquess (8/9/23)
- A Duke in Disguise (8/24/23)
- A Delicate Deception (11/18/23)
- The Sinister Summer ✓
- Vampiric Vacation (8/12/23)
- Camp Creepy (8/25/23)
- Menacing Manor (8/30/23)

Seasonal - Spring
Goal 23/25 Books 80%
- 5 Scifi/Fantasy Books ✓
- The Thousandth Floor by Katharine McGee (3/23/23)
- The Night Ship by Jess Kidd (4/8/23)
- The Crane Husband by Kelly Barnhill (4/26/23)
- Arch-Conspirator by Veronica Roth (5/10/23)
- Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett (5/18/23)
- 5 Romance ✓
- The Score by Elle Kennedy (3/24/23)
- Hot Winter Nights by Jill Shalvis (3/29/23)
- Radiant Sin by Katee Robert (4/5/23)
- The Dark King by Gina L. Maxwell (4/8/23)
- A Touch of Darkness by Scarlett St. Clair (4/11/23)
- 5 Middle Grade Books
- Cinders & Sparrows by Stefan Bachmann (5/12/23)
- Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes by Jonathan Auxier (6/6/23)
- Silver People by Margarita Engle (6/11/23)
- TBD
- TBD
- 4 Kindle Books ✓
- The Vampire Villain by Melody Raven (4/6/23)
- Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez (4/15/23)
- Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradel (5/23/23)
- I, Robot by Isaac Asimov (5/17/23)
- 3 Nonfiction Books ✓
- Acid for the Children by Flea (3/22/23)
- You Need to Lose Weight by Aubrey Gordon (3/26/23)
- Come as You Are by Emily Nagoski (4/22/23)
- 3 Buddy Reads / Book Club Selections ✓
- The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal (4/14/23)
- The Library of the Unwritten by AJ Hackwith (5/24/23)
- The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker (6/15/23)