To be honest, I don’t even remember why or how I started the Summer Reading Challenge. I think I saw some templates on Canva and as I was playing around with it, the idea for a summer reading challenge popped up. Not a very inspiring story 😂

But it did result in twenty prompts and twenty books read for those prompts. It did feel like shouting into the abyss at times because I was the only person really doing the challenge, but it was entertaining nonetheless.

And the most important part: I read outside of my comfort zone.

I don’t know about other bookworms, but I know that I’m always talking about wanting to expand my reading. To start reading in other genres. Every time I read a mystery or a thriller, poetry or something other than fantasy and romance, I’m like, “I enjoyed this a lot, I should read more.”

I never do.

With the Summer Reading Challenge though, I did read outside of my usual picks. Most of it was still fantasy and contemporary, but they were books I wouldn’t have picked if I didn’t need to fulfill the prompts.

I found that aiming to meet these prompts allowed me to think about what I’m reading. The book I’m choosing. I actively sought out verse novels, book to film adaptation, books with various representations, even a book with the prompt “about food” (which, to be honest, I included because I wanted to read Hungry Hearts).

With the Summer Reading challenge, I read more differently and discovered a lot of new books I wouldn’t have otherwise. Some of them were great, some were not. But the important thing was that I read them and experiences those stories.

This has made me want to join more challenges like this. I defiantly recommend trying out these types of challenges to expand your reading selections!

Have you participated in a reading challenge before? Did you like it? How do you expand your reading selection, or do you also struggle to move away from tried and loved genres?

Let’s talk in the comments!

Thank you for reading and see you next time ❤