The New Year’s Resolution Reading Challenge

This is actually my first book blog challenge, so thank you so much Paige @ YA Books Daily for tagging me in this wonderful, and sparkling new challenge! 2021 is finally upon us, and it means a fresh new start for most of us. This New Year’s Resolution Reading Challenge is a great way to discover new books, but to also finally tackle the huge TBR pile I have accumulated over the years.

RULES

• Link back to the original creator (The Corner of Laura) and link back to the challenge page (otherwise, the original creator won’t get a notification).
• Thank whoever tagged you and link back to their post.
• Tag 5 or more other people.
• Read books that fit the description. Laura put some recommendations in the original post to help you pick but you can read anything that fits the brief!
• The deadline for the challenge is six weeks after you were originally tagged (which, statistically, is the point when 80% of people give up their New Year’s Resolutions) e.g. if you were tagged in the original tag, the deadline is 12th February.
• Post a wrap-up when you’re done to show how you got on.

EXERCISE: A BOOK WITH 500 PAGES OR MORE (IN ANY EDITION). BONUS CHALLENGE—READ A BOOK WITH 800 PAGES OR MORE.

The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

This is actually one of the book series I wanted to get into in 2020, but then it never happened. So The Gentleman Bastards series is something I’m definitely prioritizing this year, and it doesn’t hurt that the first book is already a whopping 722 pages. A couple of my closest friends also highly recommends this series to me, so it’s a win-win situation.

---

LEARN A NEW SKILL: A BOOK FROM A GENRE YOU NEVER USUALLY READ. BONUS CHALLENGE—BOOK FROM A GENRE OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE THAT WAS PUBLISHED IN 2020/21.

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

I was introduced to Agatha Christie’s works And Then There Were None last year by my mystery-thriller loving friends, so when I told them I enjoyed it, they pushed me to read her Murder on the Orient Express. I always wanted to expand my repertoire in reading mystery-thrillers, so I think Agatha Christie’s books are a great way to explore the genre more.

---

SAVE MONEY: READ A SECOND-HAND BOOK OR ANY BOOK YOU DIDN’T PAY FULL PRICE FOR. BONUS CHALLENGE—READ A LIBRARY BOOK.

Rachel, Out of Office by Christina Hovland

I actually got an ARC of this book a few weeks ago, and I’m about to start it next week before its release on January 25th. The adorable cover with the dogs and witty blurb about a haggard workaholic who desperately need a vacation definitely got me interested in checking this one out, and it’s a good break from all the heavy and huge fantasy novels I have in my to-read list.

---

REDUCE STRESS: READ A HAPPY BOOK OR ANYTHING THAT LEAVES A SMILE ON YOUR FACE. BONUS CHALLENGE—READ A HAPPY BOOK ABOUT REDUCING STRESS/TACKLING MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS.

The Secret to Dating your Best Friend’s Sister by Meghan Quinn

I loved Meghan Quinn’s Boss Man Bridegroom, so if this book is going to feature the Bram and Julia (who made an adorable cameo appearances in that book), then I’m absolutely sure this book will make me laugh out loud and swoon. Bram’s antics in Rath’s book was already hilarious, how much more if he’s starring in his own novel.

---

TRAVEL MORE: A BOOK SET IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY (OR EVEN WORLD!). BONUS CHALLENGE—BOOK THAT WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN ANOTHER LANGUAGE.

The Brass Queen by Elizabeth Chadsworth

I’m adding another ARC that I received in my list. Set in my ever favorite Victorian London, this steampunk urban fantasy caught my eye the first time I saw it, and the stellar reviews from other people who were fortunate enough to get an advance copy made me excited for this book even more. It’s pure steampunk (which I love) with a lot of funny characters and bizarre machines and inventions made me feel like this book will be my cup of tea.

---

SPEND MORE TIME WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS: READ A BOOK RECOMMENDED BY YOUR IRL/ONLINE FAMILY AND/OR FRIENDS. BONUS CHALLENGE—READ A BOOK YOU WOULDN’T HAVE PICKED UP OTHERWISE.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

I’ve been on the quest to read a lot of Neil Gaiman’s books since last year, and it’s so hard to choose from all the titles he currently has. Luckily for me, one of my closest friends loves his books, and I have managed to read majority of her recommendations last year. Now, she’s recommending The Graveyard Book to me, which is not normally my type of go to: middle grade and horror. But I trust her enough to give this one a chance.

---

STOP PROCRASTINATING: A BOOK THAT’S BEEN ON YOUR TBR FOR OVER A YEAR. BONUS CHALLENGE—THE BOOK AT THE VERY BOTTOM OF YOUR TBR.

Grave Mercy by Robin Lafevers

This first installment in a trilogy meets both of requirements – its at the most bottom part of my goodreads tbr and I’ve had it on my shelves for years (it’s also still wrapped in plastic and in pristine condition). So to be able to finally give this book a chance would be great – especially since it’s a YA medieval fantasy series featuring assassin nuns.

---

FOCUS ON SELF-CARE: A BOOK WHERE MENTAL HEALTH IS CENTRAL. BONUS CHALLENGE—READ A SELF-HELP BOOK AND TRY OUT ONE OF THE PIECES OF ADVICE IT GIVES. LET US KNOW HOW IT WENT IN YOUR WRAP-UP POST!

The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

I wasn’t exactly sure what book to read for this item, but then I remembered watching one of Merphy Napier’s videos wherein she included this book in her top favorites of 2020. It a classic 16-page short story about a woman battling with her demons who ends up being locked up in a room covered in yellow wallpaper as a form of treatment. Her high praises were more than enough to convince me to check this one out.

---

SCREW RESOLUTIONS, I QUIT!: RE-READ AN OLD FAVOURITE. BONUS CHALLENGE—RE-READ AN ENTIRE SERIES.

The Crown’s Game by Evelyn Skye

I already started to reread the first book of this duology a couple of days ago because I want to refresh my memory regarding it before finally getting into its second book. I remember really loving this when I first read it years ago, so I’m hoping that my reread will relieve those feelings, and that I will enjoy the next book.

---

I’m tagging the following people to do this challenge:

• Lenn @ Dusty Promises
• Riza @ Pages and Coffee Cups
• Kira @ Kira Jeanette
• Leo @ Leosthetics
• Alex @ The Enthralled Bookworm
• Wendy @ Written in Wonder
• Diane @ Readers_North
• and anyone else who wants to do this challenge! Feel free to do it too, and tag us so we can see your answers and progress!