Join the 2019 Summer Reading Challenge

Today we are kicking off a summer reading challenge for adults! My friend Keri and I have teamed up for a summer reading program that is designed to help motivate you to read more this season! Download the Summer Book Bingo card and you can win some prizes when you get a BINGO!

Summer Reading Challenge

Summer is underway at our house and one of the first things we did this week is make a trip to the library. All of my kids signed up for the local library’s summer reading program. It is one of our favorite summer traditions. Our library makes it fun for the kids and offers incentives for every 5 books (or 5 30-minute reading sessions). It is a great way to get the kids on board with reading all summer long.

But, summer reading challenges are NOT just for the kids! Are you looking for a fun and friendly challenge that will get YOU reading more this summer? Join us for a GROWN UP Nine Week Summer Reading Challenge! Kids learn by example and what better get your kids to read more than by seeing you read!

The summer reading challenge is easy! Just download the BINGO card and pick a row (diagonal, up or down) to complete. Once you completely check off an entire row, you have a BINGO!

Rules of the Summer Reading Challenge BINGO:

The 2021 Summer Reading Challenge will kick off on June 15th. Sign up today to be sure to be in the challenge!

1. Complete a BINGO row either up, down or diagonal.
2. Contact Keri or I via Instagram (TAG us with a picture of your completed row) OR if you do not have Instagram, e-mail me at jaclyn@coffeepancakesanddreams.com include a picture of your BINGO card (honor system).
3. Each time you get a BINGO, you will be entered into the drawing for a $25 Amazon gift card.
4. You can NOT count the same book for multiple categories. One book per square.
5. The summer reading challenge ends on August 14th. So complete as many BINGOS as you can!

Adult Summer Reading List Ideas

Each week I’ll be sure to share some of the books I’m reading! I know how helpful it is to get book recommendations. You might be surprised by some of the categories on the Reading BINGO card. Not only do we hope to read more, but also to get out of our typically reading genre. So, you will be pushed to try some new book categories.

Don’t worry, I’m sharing some ideas for some of the categories that you might struggle on.

You can also check out my Book Recommendations Pinterest Board for book suggestions for all ages!

 

Books I’ve Read This Year

I definitely would like to make more time for reading. But, I just looked at my  summer reading list and I was happy to realize that I have read 12 books this year. So about two books per month!

I’ve indicated which category the book which fall under the Summer Reading Challenge BINGO card! Some books would fall into multiple categories, but you can only count a book one time on the BINGO card.

Book Thief (Book set in a war/Young Adult Book/Book made into a movie)

This book has been around for awhile but I picked it up at Half Priced Book store in the Young Adult section. The book follows the story of a young girl during WWII. While it is a dark and sad setting, there is a lot of hope and inspiration to the story. I still need to pass it on to my 12 year old who I think would be ready for this story.

Year of Fog (Beach/summer read/Mystery)

I also grabbed this book at a discount as it has been around awhile. While maybe not a true mystery book, it is a suspenseful story about a missing child. It has a beach/summer read quality too it as well. It was a quick and easy read that kept me interested.

The Actor’s Life (Biography/Non-Fiction)

My husband and I watched the entire Office series on Netflix earlier this year, so I was interested in reading Jenna Fisher’s  new book. While her book is intended for those that want to become professional actors, she talks a lot about her rise to fame including some tidbits about her time on The Office. It is a great insider’s look at the highs and lows of becoming a celebrity. I really enjoyed her book!

 

Why Not Me? (Biography/Funny Book)

I also read another The Office alum’s book, Mindy Kaling’s, Is Everyone Hanging Out But Me? Kaling offers a very funny look into her life growing up and also her time on The Office. I have to admit that biographies are one of my favorite book genres, so I always love reading about other people’s stories, especially celebrities.

Hillbilly Elergy (Biography)

My husband recommended this book to me and I ended up downloading it as an audio book. This autobiography offers a look into the lives of people in the poor Appalachian Region of Ohio and Kentucky. While the author is a success story, he provides a strong case for why it is so hard to rise out of poverty. A very thought provoking story that I have thought about a lot since reading.

 

Carry On (Book with a friendship theme/Biography)

One of my favorite and most memorable books I have read this year. Lisa Fenn tells the story of two African American boys growing up in poverty and their strong friendship that helps them through their tough childhoods. This book is a true story and the author forms a strong connection to the boys while writing the story. It is rated five star on Amazon, so I am not the only one who thinks this is a great book.

 

A Spark of Light (NY Times Bestseller)

I love most of Jodi Piccoult’s books but I’ll be honest that this particular one was not my favorite of hers. There were a lot of characters to follow who seemed to have similar stories. It took me a few months to finish this one. 

Sing You Home (Book by my favorite author)

I read another book this year by my favorite author Jodi Piccoult. In my opinion,  Sing You Home was much better read than a Spark of Light. It was an interesting story line read with several surprising twists.

Slay Like a Mother (Self Help/Motherhood)

This book was gifted to me to review but I truly did enjoy it. While there are a lot of empowering type books for moms, this one struck me as very approachable and relatateble. Slay Like a Mother helps you identify your own self doubts as a mom and a woman and then helps you to tackle those areas of your life!

Where the Crawdads Sing (NY Times Best Seller/Book that has been recommended to me)

This is the most recent book I have finished and is another five star book on Amazon. So good that I did not want the story to end. I wonder if this book will become a movie as it feels like one that could easily be made for a movie.

Before We Were Yours (Historical Fiction)

This was another GREAT book that I read this year, although I admit that I got a slow start to it. I couldn’t put it down after I got through a few chapters. A sweet and sad story about siblings set in the 1950s. While the specific story isn’t true, there are historical and true elements of the story. If you like Where the Crawdads Sing, you will probably like this book.

RELATED POSTS: YOUNG ADULT BOOKS THAT ARE GREAT FOR MOMS TOO!

Be sure to join our Summer Reading Challenge and then get started on your summer reading list!