Happy 2025!

And wow, I can’t believe that we’ve been doing this travel reading challenge for 8 years! It started as a simple project with friends, grew into a larger project with friends and friends of friends, and now we have a small community of of book and travel lovers.

I continued my reading streak in 2024 and, according to my Kindle app, have read on 759 consecutive days and for 338 weeks. I’m proud of that streak and not just for the gamification part of it (although I do worry that when I’m changing lots of time zones and don’t have wifi that it will break my streak).

You can take a look at the 2024 challenge, along with all the books that I read here. It spans a variety of genres, some heavy duty nonfiction, some light and breezy fiction. I try to mix it up, but I have an abiding appreciation for historical fiction, smart detectives, and glamorous destinations, and an evolving appreciation for urban fantasy and memoirs.

I’m generally a Kindle reader. I like having dozens of books (actually hundreds) at hand. It makes for light packing, it slips into a purse, and with the reading app, I can synch it up to all my devices. I have the Kindle Paperwhite. It adjusts to various light situations, so I can read it in a darkened airplane cabin or the bright light of a beach.

I have the Kindle Oasis and love it. I upgraded to this version last year. If you’re not ready to step up to this price point or aren’t sure you’ll use an e-reader all the time, the entry-level Kindle is a great start. A refurbished version is also an option.

Because I’m also a frugal reader, I get a lot of my e-books from my local library (where I usually have 10-15 books on hold) and only purchase when I absolutely can’t wait to read a new release. Check your local library’s online services – I bet you have this available as well, whether through a proprietary app or the Libby App.

I always purchase hard copies of guidebooks, though. There’s something about having one that I can write in, underline, and refer back to on future trips.

Speaking of guidebooks – you know that I wrote one, right? Secret Seattle was released during covid so you might have missed it.

This reading challenge is designed for those who enjoy traveling and learning more about the world. It seems I’m always queuing up a book about someplace I’m going or someplace I’ve been.

The basic reading challenge has a pace of two books per month, for a yearly total of 24 books. The advanced portion of the reading challenge adds on another six books, bringing the yearly total to 30 books. It’s a doable number and gives you a way to be mindful of your reading choices.

The challenge is self-paced. Read what you want, when you want. There’s no order you must follow. Fiction or non-fiction, both are great. Feel free to interpret the list in any way you wish, choosing the type of books that you enjoy. However, I also hope you’ll be encouraged to try some new authors and genres, and will add new voices to your reading list – that’s part of the fun of the challenge.

For suggestions of what to read, lively discussions about our favorite books, and recommendations of what to take along on your next trip, please join the Facebook Group. We talk about books, authors, reading, travel, and all the great stuff of life. You’re welcome to join us there. And don’t worry – it’s a no-spoiler kind of place.

You can also sign up for our monthly newsletter in the subscription box on the challenge home page. We anticipate monthly updates with recommendations on what to read, new releases, reading information and suggestions. We’ve gotten better about sending it our regularly.

Are you up for the challenge?

Basic Challenge (an average of two books per month)

  1. A book by an author from Sub-Saharan Africa
  2. A book set in or about Antarctica
  3. A book set in or about Turkiye
  4. A book set in or about incarceration or written by an inmate
  5. A book set in a country you’ve visited
  6. A book about siblings
  7. A book with a title that starts with the letter K
  8. A book about a solo traveler
  9. A book that makes you feel like you’ve traveled to the setting, even though you’ve never been there
  10. A book that teaches you something about a new destination
  11. A book that is a coming of age story
  12. A book by a self-published author
  13. A book that features dragons or mystical creatures
  14. A book with a title that is a complete sentence
  15. A book that is a character driven novel
  16. A book told in non-chronological order
  17. A book with a cover that doesn’t include people
  18. A book with the word “secret” in the title
  19. A book set in a cold climated
  20. A book that is a modern spy novel
  21. A book set in a country currently experiencing war
  22. A book that is a multi-generation story
  23. A book that is an urban fantasy
  24. A book with a purple colored cover

Advanced Challenge (an additional six books)

  1. A book that is a memoir
  2. A book about something recently in the news
  3. A book that is a translation
  4. A book from the 2024 Booker award long list (find the list here)
  5. A book featuring rich people problems
  6. A book with an epistolary format

You can download a pdf of the list here, using it as a reference and tracking sheet.

I’m starting the challenge with the book The Secret War of Julia Child for the prompt a book with the word “secret” in it.

I’ll be tracking what I’ve read here on this post, so check back often.

May your new year be filled with lots of wonderful books!

Save to your favorite Pinterest boards and let the reading begin!