So, book lovers, what are your thoughts on reading challenges? Obviously, I adore them. Even when I don't finish them (which is most of the time), I still have a ball finding books that fit prompts, making check marks on challenge lists, and seeing others challengers' progress. It's just...fun. This year, I'm patting myself on the back a bit because I actually did pretty well with all of my challenges. Just because I only completed a few of them doesn't mean I didn't expand my reading horizons, find some great books to read, and have myself a good ole time. My kids say I have no idea what real fun is. I can't imagine why...

Let's start with my successes. My biggest one is first:

2021 Reading Challenge

Susan has completed her goal of reading 200 books in 2021!

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203 of 200 (100%)

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Boom! For the first time ever, I met (and surpasses, thank you very much) my goal of reading 200 books in a year. I love tracking my reading with Goodreads. 

Update:  I thought I hadn't reached my goal with this year's Craving for Cozies Reading Challenge, but then I took a closer look at the rules. I signed up for the "Peckish" level, which requires reading 1-25 cozies. With 12 read, I'd say I met my goal. Sweet.

I didn't do quite as well on these:

Sadly, I did not finish my own challenge. For shame! You can read my wrap-up post for all the deets on this one.

I've yet to ever complete this yearly challenge. It features 50 main book prompts and 10 advanced ones. How did I do with the 2021 challenge? 

42 / 52 books. 81% done!

Not too shabby, thank you very much. There are A LOT of prompts in this one and I'm kind of anal about fulfilling them with exactness. So, yeah.

Booklist Queen's annual challenge has 52 prompts. How many did I complete?

44 / 52 books. 85% done!

Again, not too bad. 

As its name indicates, the 52 Club's annual reading challenge involves knocking out 52 reading prompts. How many did I get?

48 / 52 books. 92% done!

So close!

All in all, I did pretty well with my reading challenges. I'm proud of my 2021 efforts.

Stay tuned to see which reading challenges I'm tackling in 2022. Also, if you're a reading challenge fanatic like I am, definitely check out my other blog, where I list all the reading challenges I can find in the book blogosphere. If you're hosting one that I haven't mentioned there yet, please let me know so I can add it to the database.

- About a war other than World War II Finding Junie Kim by Ellen Oh

- Takes place before 1800 The Outlaws of Sherwood by Robin McKinley

- Set in a country you do not live in Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

- Main character travels on a ship, train, or covered wagon Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan

- Set in a decade you don't usually choose to read about Cuba in My Pocket by Adrianna Cuevas

- A major holiday is celebrated A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus

- Takes place in a city or region where you have lived The Island at the End of Everything by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

- Features time travel to the past Houdini and Me by Dan Gutman

- About a historical disaster, natural or otherwise Luck of the Titanic by Stacey Lee

- With a proper noun in the title Premeditated Myrtle by Elizabeth C. Bunce

- Features a real female hero from the past

- Book that relates somehow to your own family history (the main character emigrates from the same country your ancestors did, the MC participates in a historical event your family member did, about someone you're related to, etc.) Beyond the Mapped Stars by Rosalyn Eves

- Written by a BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) author We Are Not Free by Traci Chee

- Features a main character with a different ethnicity, religion, or culture than your own The Length of a String by Elissa Brent Weissman

- Has an animal on the cover Bluebird by Sharon Cameron

- A ghost story Ophie's Ghosts by Justina Ireland

- Features a castle or an old house

- Set in South or Central America

- A mystery The Lost Girl of Astor Street by Stephanie Morrill

- Set in the decade that one of your parents was born in War and Mollie McGonigle by Karen Cushman

- Concerns an event of historical significance that happened during your lifetime (or your parents' lifetimes if you were born after 2000)

- Features a search for gold or other kinds of treasure Behind the Masks by Susan Patron

- A person in period clothing on the cover Boston Jane by Jennifer L. Holm

- Based on a true story Lifeboat 12 by Susan Hood

For the one of you who asked, no, I will not be bringing the challenge back next year. I wasn't a very good hostess this year and I've got other projects to focus on in 2022. We'll see what happens in 2023!

For the two other participants in the challenge, here's a final Linky to use for posting any reviews or wrap-up posts related to the challenge. Thanks again for hanging in there with me. I appreciate the support! Oh, and if you did finish the challenge and I owe you a book, please let me know.

Wishing all of my book blogging friends across the globe a very Merry Christmas! Whether or not you celebrate, enjoy the holiday break. God bless you with peace, joy, and love today and always.