Are you looking for some New Year’s resolutions or challenges? Look no further because I dare you to participate in my 2023 New Year Reading Challenge!
Plus you get a free printable bookmark to keep track of the challenge so it’s never far away. Just check off each category as you read.
*Note: This post contains affiliated links from which I will earn a small kickback. Thank you for your support!*

What is the 2023 Reading Challenge?
It’s basically just a list of categories and you have to pick a book that fits each one. Check off a book for each category and you will have completed the challenge!
There are 31 categories on this reading challenge. That’s 2-3 books a month to finish by the end of the year.
Why do a Reading Challenge?
If you are an avid reader, I don’t think you really need an answer to this question (ha!), but let me go over some reasons for you.
- Everyone has a couple genres that they usually stick to and like to read the most. This challenge is meant to get you out of your comfort zone a bit and read some new genres.
- It also is meant to diversify the authors you are choosing and the formats you are reading in. My list includes BIPOC authors, Indigenous authors, audiobooks, non-fiction and fiction picks.
- Plus it’s just plain fun for us readers to challenge ourselves sometimes and not be just picking books off our endless tbr lists!

The 2023 Reading Challenge List!
Without further ado, here is the With Love, Melissa 2023 Reading Challenge!
- A book that’s blue
- Makes you laugh
- Based on real events
- Published the same month you read it (i.e. brand new)
- Short story collection from a Native American/Indigenous author
- Sci-Fi from a BIPOC author
- A classic
- A non-fiction nature/science book
- Takes place in the area you live (i.e. NYC, San Fran, London, closest city or general state)
- Listen to a non-fiction audiobook
- Feminist non-fiction
- A cosy foodie mystery
- A book about books
- A book of poetry
- A graphic novel
- A YA fantasy novel
- A book by a celebrity
- A romance
- A translated book
- A self-help book
- Memoir/Biography of a person you want to learn about
- An Epistolary novel
- A fairy tale retelling
- A novel with magical realism
- A domestic thriller
- True crime about a scammer or con artist
- A book recommended by a friend
- A book with time travel
- Revisit a favorite children’s book
- An author’s debut novel
- A novel that talks about mental health (the main character has anxiety, depression etc)
Get Involved!
Share the books you are reading for the reading challenge on Instagram, Facebook, Youtube Shorts, Tiktok, and Pinterest and tag me @withlovemelissashop!
As the new year goes on I’ll be sharing people’s picks on social media and posting new book lists on my blog for you to have ideas what to read.
Plus there’s an intro to the challenge Youtube video below and I’ll be doing a video at the end of the year to go over how the challenge went.
Let’s have some fun together!
Reading Challenge Instagram Template
Pin This!
Please Comment and Share!
As always, let me know what you think in the comments with a rating and review. I would love to hear your feedback and your comments help other people to see my blog so thank you! Tag me on social media too @withlovemelissashop.
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Look at other ways you can support me that are not monetary related here. Any support you can give means the world because it allows me to do what I love!
Check out my Books page for all my bookish posts and reading lists!
Archive Dive!
Reading Challenge on Youtube
2023 Reading Challenge
Materials
- A book that's blue
- Makes you laugh
- Based on real events
- Published the same month you read it
- Short story collection from a Native American author
- Sci-Fi from a BIPOC author
- A classic
- A non-fiction nature/science book
- Takes place in the area you live in
- Listen to a non-fiction audiobook
- Feminist non-fiction
- A cozy foodie mystery
- A book about books
- A book of poetry
- A graphic novel
- A YA fantasy novel
- A book by a celebrity
- A romance
- A translated book
- A self-help book
- A Memoir/Biography of a person you want to learn about
- An Epistolary novel
- A fairy tale retelling
- A novel with magical realism
- A domestic thriller
- True crime about a scammer or con artist
- A book recommended by a friend
- A book with time travel
- Revisit a favorite children's book
- An author's debut novel
- A novel about mental health