This is my third year to participate in the regular Popsugar Reading Challenge, but I had no idea that spin-off challenges even existed! So I was simultaneously excited and anxious when I saw they’d released a SUMMER challenge! Anxious because did I really want to add to the stack of books I was already reading for my regular challenge?? And then I thought, I’ll just give it a try and if I can’t finish it, I’ll use the books I did manage to read for the regular challenge. (If I could find prompts they would fit.) BUT I did manage to cross off all the summer prompts and had fun doing it!

1 – A book with “summer” in the title:

While I didn’t want to double up on my regular and summer Popsugar Challenges, I didn’t mind using the books I read for The Reading Rush. 😉 One Crazy Summer is about three sisters who spend the summer of 1968 in California with the mother they barely know. I highly recommend it!

2 – A book with a summer drink or cocktail on the cover:

You may have to zoom in, but there is a cocktail drink in the left hand of the woman on the cover of Dear Emmie Blue. I loved, loved, loved this book. It was such a refreshing love story.

My Review

3 – A book that takes place in your favorite summer or dream destination:

Love & Luck is set in Ireland. It’s definitely a dream destination! I read Love & Gelato and this one back to back, and they were the perfect summer-reads.

4 – A book about a vacation:

I’ve had Dangerous Girls on my shelf for years, so it was nice to finally cross off this backlist book. I don’t know how I’ve managed to go unspoiled, but I was finally able to see what all the hype was about. It kept me guessing until the end!

5 – A book about an LGBTQ+ protagonist:

Girl, Serpent, Thorn was an ARC I’d received in my subscription box, The Book Hookup, from The Strand Bookstore. The gorgeous cover is what caught my attention when it first came out. While I enjoyed the cultural aspects of the story, I wished there’d been more backstory.

My Review

6 – A book with an item you’d find at the beach in the title:

Strangely, this was the hardest prompt for me to fill when I was picking out books for this challenge. Until finally a lightbulb went off over my head and I realized gelato could probably be found on a beach somewhere. 😉 Love & Gelato is a perfect summer-read set in Italy.

7 – A book with a body of water or pool on the cover:

The Night Swim is the latest mystery/thriller by Megan Goldin. I enjoyed the “ripped from the headlines” podcast host plot.

My Review

8 – A book set at a resort or hotel:

So technically only a small portion of this book is set at a hotel, but this was the other prompt I had such a hard time filling. I’ve had I’ve Got Your Number on my kindle for years, so it’s another one I was happy to cross off the backlist. Even better, I loved it!

9 – A book with a release date in June, July, or August of any year:

One thing I tried very hard to work into my challenge was my reread of The Twilight Saga. I knew I’d be spending a few weeks on it, so I wanted to make it count. It actually wasn’t very hard. Breaking Dawn was published in August of 2008.

10 – A summer-set thriller:

The Vacation, a thriller set in France, was the perfect summer-read!

My Review

11 – A book involving a summer romance:

It was so nice to discover The Bride Test was set in the summer! I’ve been wanting to read this one for awhile.

12 – A book about Black history in America:

I read The Color Purple for The Reading Rush and it fit nicely here, too. Such a powerful book.

13 – A scary book you’d read around a campfire:

So this might seem like a stretch, but vampires are scary. Even the sparkly ones in Twilight.

14 – A book that takes place during the summer before high school or college:

To round out the summer, I did a reread of one of my favorite series, the Just One series by Gayle Forman. A bulk of Just One Day takes place the summer before Allyson starts college.

15 – A book that takes place in a beach town:

Bella does spend a lot of time in La Push in New Moon.

16 – A book with “sun”, “sand”, or “waves” in the title:

Finally a super easy prompt to fill! Midnight Sun was a perfect fit.

My Review

17 – A book with sunglasses on the cover:

I received Anna K in my subscription box from The Book Hookup, as well. It was such a lovely surprise. I enjoyed this one so much. I’m currently doing a giveaway for an extra copy I received, too! 🙂

My Review

18 – A book about camping or summer camp:

Ummm, are you surprised by my choice here?? One of my favorite camping scenes in a book EVER is in Eclipse.

19 – A book classified as a “beach read”:

On the Island is another book that’s been on my shelf for years. There’s a lot of hype around this book. Good and bad. It was definitely entertaining.

20 – A book that makes you “nostalgic” for summer (rereads welcome):

Last but not least is Just One Year, the second book in the Just One series that I reread to say goodbye to summer. <3

While I worried I’d be unable to find all the books off my own shelves to fill these prompts, it was actually fairly easy. Thankfully, the prompts were general enough to work. I had fun with this challenge, and was happy to cross off a few books that had been on my backlist for awhile. 🙂 Did I read any of your favorites? Let me know in the comments!

Happy Wandering!