Goodreads Reading Challenge Mid-Year Update 2020

Last updated on 24 January 2023

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Middle of the year means it’s time for a Goodreads Challenge update!

Each year I take part in the Goodreads Reading Challenge. It’s a challenge you set for yourself on the website, Goodreads, and aim to read that many books throughout the duration of the year. Back in January, I challenged myself to read 60 books.

With a goal of 60 books, including the 5 Vow To Read books that we list on Blogger’s Bookshelf, and also a Vow of 5 books to reread this year, with Rants and Reviews podcast, it’s 10 books more than I picked for the year 2019. So far, I’m not doing very well on the VTR or the VTRR lists, but in terms of numbers, not too shabby! As of the end of June, I’ve read 32 books, and Goodreads tells me I’m 53% through the challenge already, and two books ahead. Check out what I’ve read, and what I am ‘supposed to’ read come December 31st.

Books vowed to read 3/5

A Court of Mist and Fury, by Sarah J Maas
The Near Witch, by Victoria Schwab
The Vanishing Deep, by Astrid Scholte
Loki: Where Mischief Lies, by Mackenzi Lee
The Hand on the Wall, by Maureen Johnson

Actually quite proud of myself for reading three of my Vow To Read list so far! Usually, it’s a mad scramble at the end of the year to even reach three, let alone finish the list. So here’s hoping in the next six months I can up A Court of Mist and Fury and Loki: Where Mischief Lies.

Books viewed to reread 1/5

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, by JK Rowling
The Name of the Star, by Maureen Johnson
A Darker Shade of Magic, by VE Schwab
Pumpkinheads, by Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks
Fangirl, by Rainbow Rowell

So far I’ve only read one of these five books: The Name of the Star. But I’m planning on picking up A Darker Shade of Magic once again in October for our book club theme (‘a book you’ve previously given 5-stars to’), and I also plan to pick up Pumpkinheads in October, because it’s a fall-themed book, and when better to read a fall-themed book than in Southern Hemisphere spring, amiright? For Fangirl, I’m feeling like it’s unlikely I’ll get to it (on the re-read list for the third year in a row, 2021?), but hopefully, I’ll re-read Chamber of Secrets in the coming months.

Top 5 books so far

The Toll, by Neal Shusterman
The Vanishing Deep, by Astrid Scholte
Chain of Gold, by Cassandra Clare
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Hand on the Wall, by Maureen Johnson

Despite having a top-five favourites list, I actually haven’t given out many 5-stars this year so far. These have mostly been 4s and 4.5s, but I did love every single one of these books, and I highly recommend them.