Reading Challenge

20 Books of Summer 2024

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22 Comments on 20 Books of Summer 2024

Hosted by Cathy at 746books, 20 Books of Summer is an annual challenge to read and review 20 books from your TBR. This year, the challenge runs from 1 June to 1 September.

Now in its tenth year, this is a challenge that I’ve been taking part in since 2019 and it’s one that I really enjoy. I love the flexibility and the complete lack of pressure, as those taking part can reduce the number of books they want to read – ten or fifteen is absolutely fine is twenty just isn’t going to work out – and can swap titles in and out at will. While reading twenty books has never been that much of an issue, reviewing them in the specified time frame is always the real challenge from my perspective.

Despite being able to swap titles, I’m not going to name the full twenty that I’m planning to read at this stage, but here are a few that I’d like to get in the next three months.

I’m trying to read one non-fiction book a month, and I’m hoping to get to the following titles over the summer:

  1. The Golden Mole and Other Vanishing Treasure by Katherine Rundell
  2. Other Minds: The Octopus and the Evolution of Intelligent Life by Peter Godfrey-Smith
  3. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

I’m also hoping to revisit a few previously read titles. It’s the twentieth anniversary of Cloud Atlas which is a favourite of mine, and this seems like a good time to reread it. And, sequels have recently been published for Shades of Grey and The Book of Lost Things, and I’d like revisit both titles to get the most out of the sequels, Red Side Story and The Land of Lost Things respectively.

  1. Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
  2. Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde
  3. The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly

I would also like to clear my backlist (which I define as books purchased prior to this year) over the summer, including the following:

  1. The Stranding by Kate Sawyer
  2. Lily by Rose Tremain
  3. No. 23 Burlington Square by Jenni Keer
  4. She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan

I will, of course, read a few newer acquisitions as well, which might include:

  1. Close to Death by Anthony Horowitz
  2. You Are Here by David Nicholls
  3. Enlightenment by Sarah Perry
  4. Weirdo by Sara Pascoe

I’ll leave the remaining six spots open for now, to be decided nearer the time.

What do you think? Is there anything here that you’ve read, or that you want to read? Are you taking part in 20 Books of Summer? Let me know in the comments! 😎

22 comments

    1. I’m very much a mood reader – it’s more a statement that I intend to take part. Based upon previous years, I might anywhere between zero and ten of these. That’s part of what makes it a great challenge 🙂

    1. Thank you! There’s a lot of love for No. 23 Burlington Square, so I’m really looking forward to it 🙂

    1. Cloud Atlas is a favourite of mine. It’s 20 years since it was first published, and at least 10 since I read it, so I think it’s time for a reread! x

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  6. I’m really struggling to put together a list this year, but I’m determined to join again! I hope you enjoy Burlington Square as much as I did. Good luck, Jo! xx

    1. It’s taken me a few iterations! At least you can make changes if you do put a list together!

      There’s a lot of love for No. 23 – really looking forward to it!

      Happy reading x

  7. What a tempting list of books! I always have problems whittling my list down to 2024; I’ve got 36 at the moment and keep spotting other books on my shelf that I could easily add. I loved Cloud Atlas, but would choose one of the other David Mitchells I haven’t read yet. In fact. I think Bone Clocks might be on my list. Jasper Fforde is hilarious and I would love to read the new David Nicholls as One Day was brilliant, both the book, read long ago, and the Netflix series.

    1. It’s so difficult, isn’t it? It’s one of the reason I stop short of naming the full 20 – even with only 14, I’m not confident of reading them all!

      Cloud Atlas is one of my favourite books. It’s twenty years since it was first published, and I’ll be seeing David Mitchell discussing it at this year’s Hay Festival. It seemed like a good opportunity to reread it. I’m a huge fan of his, with Black Swan Green another stand out.

      Happy reading!

  9. I have a lovely hardcover, illustrated edition of The Golden Mole – it looks and sounds dellightful.

    I’ll be curious to hear what you think of the Sarah Perry. I really enjoyed The Essex Serpent but haven’t tried any of her others yet…

    1. The paperback version of the The Golden Mole is lovely, so I can imagine that the hardback is quite special.

      The Essex Serpent is my favourite of Perry’s so far, but Enlightenment sounds excellent – I’m really looking forward to reading it.

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  11. All of these look so good! I’m definitely adding some to my TBR list. And that’s another wonderful thing about this challenge — apart from giving me the motivation to read more, I get so many great book recommendations, too. Best of luck with the challenge!

    1. Thank you! And yes – I’ve been admiring other reader’s lists, and finding plenty of inspiration myself. Happy reading! 🙂

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