Blooms & Books Spring Reading Challenge

Happy April everyone! I am kicking off my 30 Days of Blogging for the entire month of April with a fun Spring Reading Challenge for you.

I tend to fall off the wagon during the spring and summer when it comes to keeping up with my TBR because there is so much to do during these months. It’s easier to read when I’m curled up in a cozy blanket avoiding the chilly winter winds, but come spring I often struggle to keep up with my reading. I’m an avid gardener, so instead of sitting around in the house reading a book, I’m probably digging my shovel into a flower pot somewhere. That’s why I’ve come up with this fun Spring Reading Challenge, to share some ideas for keeping up on your reading (even when it’s beautiful outside.)

Without further ado, here is the Blooms & Books Spring Reading Challenge:

1. Listen to an Audiobook while gardening, walking, or otherwise enjoying the weather outside. This is a great way to both stay active and indulge in some fun stories.
2. Read a book in a beautiful, natural space (such as a garden, a park, or in your own backyard.) As long as there aren’t any pesky bugs to annoy you, reading outside can be a wonderful experience.
3. Read a book about personal growth & self-improvement. Whether this is a self-help book, an inspiring non-fiction, a memoir, or a fictional novel that involves a lot of character development, find a book that follows a character as they go through a personal transformation.
4. Discover a debut novel. Reading a book by a “Spring Chicken” author is an exciting way to discover new talent and stretch outside your comfort zone. We all have those authors that we go back to time and time again, but maybe spring is the perfect season to turn over a new leaf.
5. Read a book with a floral cover. Some examples might be The Confidence of Wildflowers by Micalea Smeltzer, The Botanist’s Daughter by Kayte Nunn, or Beautiful Graves by L. J. Shen.
6. Find a book that inspires you creatively. Are you a writer, a musician, an artist, or otherwise a creative individual who is looking for your next muse? Find a book that speaks to your interests and imagination, whether it’s a historical non-fiction about an era or a fictional novel in the same genre, and let yourself be inspired.
7. Join a virtual book club discussion. Goodreads has tons of virtual book clubs that meet in forums or you might find a group that meets on Zoom or Google Meets (or similar.) Find one that reads a genre that you love and join in! Book clubs are a great way to stay motivated to read and provide a lovely outlet for being able to gossip about the book once you’ve finished.
8. Try a genre outside your comfort zone. I know, I know. If you are having trouble reading when life is busy, it can be hard to jump into a genre that you wouldn’t normally gravitate towards. However, challenging yourself to try something completely new to you can be a great way to reinvigorate your desire to read! If you normally read romance, perhaps you should step into a mystery thriller. Or you might even try to hop age groups, such as reading adult fantasy to reading a middle-grade fantasy.
9. Read a book recommended by a friend or family member. Does your sister keep pestering you to read the new YA novel she loves? Or maybe your best friend insists that you will love some obscure title that you aren’t totally sold on? Try something new and indulge them by reading the book with an open mind. You might surprised how much you enjoy it and it is a great opportunity to be able to chat about books with someone you love.
10. Journal about the books you read during your reading journey. If you are a book blogger, share your experiences with your readers. If not, consider jotting down your thoughts in a reading journal. This type of reflection can help you learn more about the books you’ve read and you might even learn something new about yourself.

By participating in the Blooms & Books Reading Challenge, you will be able to keep up on your TBR, try new things, and have plenty of time to enjoy the weather. Try setting a goal for yourself, whether it’s reading 1-3 books or 7-10 books during the season and stick to it. You can do this!

If you choose to participate in the Books & Bloom Reading Challenge and you happen to post about it, share the links to your blog post in the comments below so I can visit your website and cheer you on!

Happy Spring Reading!

And don’t forget to come back tomorrow for more blog posts about reading, writing, and all things books during my 30 Days of Blogging!