Big Books of Summer and 20 Books of Summer -- Kick-off

• The #20BooksofSummer2025 challenge runs from June 1st to August 31st
• Hosts: Annabel @AnnaBookBel and Emma @Words and Peace
• The first rule of 20 Books is that there are no real rules, other than signing up for 10, 15 or 20 books and trying to read from your TBR.
• Pick your list in advance, or nominate a bookcase to read from, or pick at whim from your TBR.
• If you do pick a list, you can change it at any time – swap books in/out.
• Don’t get panicked at not reaching your target.
• Just enjoy a summer of great reading and make a bit of space on your shelves!

I've participated in this challenge for the past ten summers or so, mainly because it keeps me on track with my reading even if I'm off chasing fun in the sun.

My list of possible reads (not a hard and fast list):

1. How to Read a Book by Monica Wood
2. The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel ✔
3. American Pastoral by Philip Roth*
4. Go Tell It On the Mountain by James Baldwin ✔
5. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller*
6. Hamlet by William Shakespeare
7. Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten ✔
8. The Glass Maker by Tracy Chevalier
9. Poems for Tortured Souls by Liz Ison
10. Water, Water by Billy Collins
11. Three Days in June by Anne Tyler ✔
12. The Antidote by Karen Russell
13. The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami ✔
14. Watchmen by Alan Moore ✔
15. We Solve Murders by Richard Osman
16. Oh William! by Elizabeth Strout ✔
17. The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn*
18. Good Night, Irene by Luis Alberto Urrea*
19. Crook Manifesto by Colson Whitehead
20. The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer

I've put * next to the above books I know are longer than 400 pages, making them eligible for my second summer challenge: Big Book Summer Challenge hosted by Sue at Book by Book.

The Details:
Hey, it's summer, this challenge is  ow-key and easy!

• Anything 400 pages or more qualifies as a big book.
• The challenge runs from Memorial Day weekend (starting May 26 this year through Labor Day (September 1st this year).
  
• Choose one or two or however many big books you want as your goal. Wait, did you get that?  You only need to read 1 book with 400+ pages this summer to participate! (though you are welcome to read more, if you want).
• Sign up on the first links list below if you have a blog or YouTube channel, to leave your link so others can find you. 
• No blog? No problem! Just sign up in the comments below or in the Goodreads group in the Sign-Up discussion thread if you don't have a blog or YouTube channel.

Each summer I aim to read 4 big books. Last year I read seven. One never knows what will happen over the course of a summer.

I'm gathering my lists. I'm deciding where I will start. Ready for summer.

-Anne