6 Readathons and Reading Challenges to Start Prepping for in 2023

At the beginning of a brand new yr, I’m all the time hopeful — nay, overzealous and unhinged — about what number of books I can really learn in the entire yr. But it’s a lot enjoyable to flip the web page, begin brand-new, and dive proper into the problem! And once I get behind on my studying objectives, studying challenges and readathons are a good way I make up a while and knock out a number of of my studying objectives. I additionally like to take part in readathons that may assist broaden my studying into extra various and inclusive areas. Focused readathons just do that — assist readers spend time discovering and studying books that broaden horizons and will not be on the high of bestseller lists however must be learn broadly all the identical. 

Readathons occur all yr lengthy and are hosted all throughout the web, from influencers and bloggers to large popular culture websites, like Pop Sugar’s annual studying problem and Book Riot’s personal Read Harder problem. But when you’re wanting for extra readathons to strive your hand at, there are lots on the market. 

Here are six readathons occurring all through 2023 to assist you to sort out your toppling TBR piles and stretch your studying objectives to department you out of your consolation zones.

The Unread Shelf Project Readathon (Yearlong 2023)

Whitney from the Unread Shelf Project hosts this annual readathon to assist and encourage readers to sort out their current TBR piles at house with out including to the stack. Featuring lovely printables, lists, and challenges, this readathon is ideal for readers who’ve a large backlog of books and are prepared to do one thing about it.

Anyone can take part at any time, and with no set limits on variety of books, sorts of books, or hours wanted to full, this can be a nice problem to leap in at any time to sort out no matter studying objectives you could have.

Winter “All the Feels” Readathon (January 1–31)

The San Diego Public Library hosts this winter readathon, encouraging readers to expertise feelings, sit with ideas, and really feel the emotions throughout this readathon. Big, sweeping romance books, nonfiction about stress and nervousness, and the books that make you sob are all nice selections for this readathon, and the library encourages readers of all ages to take part. Not solely are you able to take part by studying books and logging studying hours, however in addition they encourage exercise time like expressing your emotions by way of artwork or taking a quiet stroll to let your ideas maintain you firm.

Some advisable grownup books for this readathon are All the Feels by Olivia Dade, Awayland by Ramona Ausubel, An Ocean of Minutes by Thea Lim, and The Book of Moods by Lauren Martin. Recommended youngsters’s books embody The Boy with Big Feelings by Britney Winn Lee and Your Name Is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow.

The Queer Lit Readathon (2023 Dates TBD)

Hosted by Rogan Shannon, this readathon at the moment has 4 classes to learn all year long — two weekends and two full weeks. Readers can take part nevertheless they like, however this readathon contains BINGO playing cards and challenges for readers to broaden their horizons and department out into new queer books, like studying a e book that includes a trans femme character, a e book about queer pleasure, or a style mash-up that options queer characters.

The readathon’s Instagram options queer e book suggestions year-round, and advisable books for this readathon embody Let’s Talk About Love by Claire Kann, In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan, and Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera.

Disability Readathon (April 1–30)

The Disability Readathon, hosted by Erin Hawley and Anna Goldberg, challenges readers to choose up books by and about disabled individuals. Disabled persons are underrepresented in literature, and this readathon goals to spotlight these books and authors for extra visibility and to present the intersectionality current in the incapacity group. They additionally need non-disabled readers to higher perceive how incapacity suits into their very own lives and how to take away biases about disabled individuals.

The readathon runs by way of the month of April and options challenges and video games alongside the best way to maintain readers motivated. Some suggestions for this readathon embody Year of the Tiger by Alice Wong, Continuum by Chella Mann, Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert, and Disfigured by Amanda Leduc.

Read Caribbean Books Readathon (June 1–30)

2023 would be the fifth yr for the annual June Caribbean readathon, hosted by Cindy of Book of Cinz. This readathon encourages readers to choose up books about and by Caribbean authors all month lengthy. Cindy additionally hosts a e book membership and is a prolific Bookstagrammer.

Some suggestions for Read Caribbean are These Ghosts Are Family by Maisy Card, Hungry Ghosts by Kevin Jared Hosein, and The Islands by Dionne Irving.

Book Riot’s Read Harder Challenge (Yearlong 2023)

We can’t discuss readathons with out mentioning Book Riot’s very personal Read Harder problem. Featuring 24 duties that invite readers to broaden their studying horizons and push their boundaries, this readathon lasts all yr lengthy and has beforehand featured challenges like studying a romance with a protagonist over age 40 or studying a new-to-you literary journal.

There’s even a Read Harder e-newsletter that may ship you suggestions for every class to get you began in your readathon journey.

While you’re prepping for all these upcoming readathons, take a look at these recommendations on how to hack readathons or invent your individual readathon by utilizing these weekly readathon prompts.