I was gathering my thoughts on what to write this morning, and thought, oh hey, I haven’t done a reading challenge update in a while….turns out I haven’t updated since February. Whew doggie, I have a lot to update. I finally added some new shelves for each reading challenge on my Goodreads account. Given that I have so many to share with y’all, you’re just getting titles today! 😀

As you’re looking through and see a book you want to buy, please use my Amazon shopping link. This will give us a small percentage of what you order at no additional cost to you. It’s a super small percentage too, so just think of it as funding out Krispy Kreme doughnut runs. Or if all y’all buy, a road trip!

Links to all of the reading challenges are below.

Book #24 – My Friend Fear: Finding Magic in the Unknown – this fulfilled a memoir or biography about a person who doesn’t look like you on the #bewellread challenge.

Book #25 – Chasing Light: Michelle Obama Through the Lens of a White House Photographer – this fulfilled a book with a weather element in the title in the Popsugar Reading Challenge.

Book #26 – The Edge of the World: A Visual Adventure to the Most Extraordinary Places on Earth – this fulfilled a book set in a country you want to visit in the The Mommy Mannegren 52 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge.

Book #27 – Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince – this fulfilled a book you borrowed or that was given to you as a gift in the Popsugar Reading Challenge.

Book #28 – Edible Ensembles: A Fashion Feast for the Eyes, from Banana Peel Jumpsuits to Kale Frocks – this fulfilled a book that’s published in 2018 in the Popsugar Reading Challenge.

Book #29 – The Color of Pixar – this fulfilled a book chosen solely by its cover in the The Mommy Mannegren 52 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge.

Book #30 – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – this fulfilled a book with over 600 pages in the The Mommy Mannegren 52 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge.

Book #31 – Rover: Wagmore Edition – this fulfilled a book with non-human characters in the The Mommy Mannegren 52 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge.

Book #32 – Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts 1 & 2 – this fulfilled a book that is a stage play or musical in the Popsugar Reading Challenge.

Book #33 – The Book Thief – this fulfilled a book that’s more than 500 pages in the Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge.

Book #34 – Where’d You Go, Bernadette – this fulfilled a book set in a country that fascinates you in the Popsugar Reading Challenge. This was so fun to read, since I work for Lori Gross of The Antarctic Experience. I enjoyed it so much, that I made her read it too. 🙂

Book #35 – Great Lies to Tell Small Kids – this fulfilled a book with a six word title in the The Mommy Mannegren 52 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge.

Book #36 – Loads More Lies To Tell Small Kids – this didn’t fit in any of my challenges, but was super funny.

Book #37 – Sober Mercies: How Love Caught Up with a Christian Drunk – this fulfilled a book about mental health in the Popsugar Reading Challenge. This was such a great book about alcoholism and being a Christian too. I’ve tried to read memoirs about alcoholism for inspiration for my memoir, but none of them really stuck, this one did.

Book #38 – DROPKICKromance – this fulfilled a book recommended by someone with great taste in the Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge.

Book #39 – The Witch Doesn’t Burn In This One – this fulfilled a book by a favorite author in the Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge.

Book #40 – T-Rex Trying and Trying: The Unfortunate Trials of a Modern Prehistoric Family – this didn’t fit in any challenge.

Book #41 – Poorly Drawn Lines: Good Ideas and Amazing Stories – this didn’t fit in any challenge.

Book #42 – Random Illustrated Facts: A Collection of Curious, Weird, and Totally Not Boring Things to Know – this didn’t fit in any challenge.

Book #43 – Uglies – this fulfilled the first book in a trilogy in the The Mommy Mannegren 52 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge.

Book #44 – Let’s Get Visible: How To Get Noticed And Sell More Books – this fulfilled an e-book in the The Mommy Mannegren 52 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge.

Book #45 – Pretties – this fulfilled a science fiction novel in the The Mommy Mannegren 52 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge.

Book #46 – Specials (Uglies, #3) – this fulfilled a book with a one-word title in the #bewellread challenge.

Book #47 – Peter Pan – this fulfilled a classic you’ve been meaning to read in the Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge.

Book #48 – @NatGeo: The Most Popular Instagram Photos – this fulfilled a book about nature in the Read Harder Challenge.

Book #49 – Let Me Lie – this fulfilled a book about death or grief in the Popsugar Reading Challenge.

Book #50 – Can Somebody Please Scratch My Back? – this didn’t fit in any challenge, but I had to read it cus it was illustrated by one of my fav illustrators, Liz Climo.

Book #51 – Every Note Played – this fulfilled a book published in 2018 in the The Mommy Mannegren 52 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge.

Book #52 – Everything, Everything – this fulfilled a book that’s been on the New York Times Bestseller for more than 10 weeks in the The Mommy Mannegren 52 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge.

Book #53 – Herding Cats – this fulfilled a book about a topic you’re passionate about in the The Mommy Mannegren 52 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge.

Book #54 – What’s It Like in Space?: Stories from Astronauts Who’ve Been There – this fulfilled a book recommended by a librarian in the The Mommy Mannegren 52 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge.

Book #55 – Creative Pep Talk: Inspiration from 50 Artists – this fulfilled a memoir, biography, or a book of creative nonfiction in the Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge.

Book #56 – Afterworlds – this fulfilled a book with characters who are twins in the Popsugar Reading Challenge.

Book #57 – The Spark and the Grind: Ignite the Power of Disciplined Creativity – this fulfilled a book already in your bookshelf in the The Mommy Mannegren 52 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge.

Book #58 – The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain – this fulfilled a historical non-fiction book in the The Mommy Mannegren 52 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge.

Book #59 – Take Me with You – this fulfilled a book recommended by a librarian or indie bookseller in the Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge.

Book #60 – You Are a Badass at Making Money: Master the Mindset of Wealth – this fulfilled a book by an author with the same first or last name as you in the Popsugar Reading Challenge.

Book #61 – Amazing Fantastic Incredible: A Marvelous Memoir – this fulfilled a memoir or biography about a person who doesn’t look like you. This was a fantastic graphic novel about Stan Lee. If you’re into comics, check this bad boy out.

Book #62 – Tribe of Mentors: Short Life Advice from the Best in the World – this fulfilled a book with a cover you hate in the Read Harder Challenge. I have to say, this might be one of the best books I’ve read this year. I love Tim Ferris and everything he puts out. I highly recommend this book, if you want to pick up a copy, use this link, it will give us a little percentage.

Book #63 – You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life – this fulfilled your favorite prompt from the 2015, 2016, or 2017 Popsugar Reading Challenges in the Popsugar Reading Challenge. I picked a book with a subtitle.

Links to all of the reading challenges:
The 2018 Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge
The 2018 #BWELLREAD Reading Challenge
The 2018 Popsugar Reading Challenge
The 2018 Read Harder Challenge
The Mommy Mannegren 52 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge

Again, if you want to check out and buy any of these books, please use my Amazon shopping link. This will give us a small percentage of what you order, and it encourages me to write super long book posts like this. 😀

Here are my current stats:
Books read – 63
Pages read – 16,024
2018 Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge – 8/12
The 2018 #BWELLREAD Reading Challenge – 4/12
The 2018 Popsugar Reading Challenge – 18/50
The 2018 Read Harder Challenge – 4/24
The Mommy Mannegren 52 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge – 22/52

I’ve learned a lot about myself, my businesses, how to view the world, and childlike wonder about things through my readings. You might be thinking, “holy crap, does she do ANYTHING but read?” But here’s the thing. I don’t feel like I read that much. I read out of three books in the morning for about 15-30 minutes as part of my morning routine. I might read a fiction book during the day, if I’m really into it. I’ll listen to audiobooks while I drive. I’ve started to listen to audiobooks in the evenings when I’m playing games on my phone. THIS is a game changer right here. I knocked out book #63 SO fast because of this new habit. Depending on the day and my brain capacity for more information, I’ll spend an hour or two reading at the end of my work day and evening. Since we don’t watch TV and have little to care for in our home, we have more time to focus on things like this. One thing I’m working on this year is ruthlessly saying no to things so I can say “oh heck yea” like Jenna Marbles for the precious few. Reading gives me wings (no Red Bull needed). It shows me worlds and personalities and thoughts I wouldn’t have experienced on my own. It gives inspiration to my blog, my books, my social media posts, and my life. It shows me what is possible. Having reading challenges to do also pushes me to expand my scope even more. I hope that this post gives you even a taste for reading and opens your eyes to what’s possible. And that you really do have time to read.

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