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20 Books of Summer

Recently, I have not participated in any challenges, due to time restraint, mainly because I have been travelling quite a lot. I think I will have some time in the summer so will join this challenge and try to read 20 books from my TBR.


The challenge has been taken on by AnnaBookBel and Emma of Words and Peace. Head of the their websites for more info. Here is the challenge in short.



  • The #20BooksofSummer2025 challenge runs from Sunday June 1st to Sunday August 31st

  • The first rule of 20 Books is that there are no real rules, other than signing up for 10, 15 or 20 books and trying to read from your TBR.

  • Pick your list in advance, or nominate a bookcase to read from, or pick at whim from your TBR.

  • If you do pick a list, you can change it at any time – swap books in/out.

  • Don’t get panicked at not reaching your target.

  • Just enjoy a summer of great reading and make a bit of space on your shelves!


Here is a Bingo sheet for thos who wants to get some help on the way.




I will be bold and go for 20 books. Here is a preliminary list, which might change. Reading in no particular order.


  1. Aurelius, Marcus - Meditations (NF)

  2. Austen, Jane - Lady Susan

  3. Brook, Timothy - Vermeer's Hat (NF) 

  4. Brooks, Geraldine - Nine Parts of Desire

  5. Byatt, A. S. - The Children's Book

  6. Craike, W.A. - The Brontë Novels (NF)

  7. Desmond/Moore, Adrian/James - Darwin's Sacred Cause, Race, Slavery and the quest for Human Origins (NF)

  8. Edwards, Amelia - A Thousand Miles Up the Nile (NF)

  9. Fitzgerald, Penelope - Edward Burne-Jones - A Life (NF)

  10. Franzen, Jonathan - Freedom

  11. Gabaldon, Diana - The Scottish Prisoner

  12. Geras, Adèle - Ljus och skugga (Facing the Light)

  13. Johannesson, Jan - Experimentet

  14. Koen, Karleen - Och nu ansikte mot ansikte (Now Face to Face)

  15. Laoutaris, Chris - Shakespeare and the Countess

  16. Lucas Correa, Armando - De som färdas om natten (La viajera nocturna/The Night Travellers)

  17. Merriman, Helena - Tunnel 29 (NF)

  18. Oates, Joyce Carol - Blondie

  19. Roy, Arundhat - The God of Small Things

  20. Talbot Rice, Tamara - Tamara - Memoirs of St Petersburg, Paris, Oxford and Byzantium (NF)


This is a mixture without any order. Eight of them are nonfiction and the rest fiction. I have been trying to choose some books that have been on my TBR for a long time. There are a few very thick books here as well. I am not sure I find that many that will fit with the Bingo titles, but never mind.


I will enjoy the reading, I am sure, and will feel happy when some of these books leave my TBR shelves. Looking forward to seeing what you are reading this summer.




5 Comments


Emma @ Words And Peace
10 hours ago

Welcome to summer reading! Great list. I have only read #1, but am intrigued by #20. NB for the Bingo Card: NB: it’s not a 5×5 card, but 4×5, so you have 20 squares, in case you exclusively want to pick your books based on this card.

The horizontal lines have 4 squares, so feel free to complete any 4 square diagonals as well! Here is my list: https://wordsandpeace.com/2025/05/21/20-books-of-summer-2025/

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Guest
May 09

The Children's Book is one of my all-time favourite reads - but it is long!

Brona - This Reading Life

Edited
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Replying to

Yes, I know Brona. That is why it has been on my shelves for long. On top of it, it has a very small text, which I find difficult these days. I did buy the book in a bookshop in Brussels when Byatt was there to talk about her books. She spoke so warmly about it, and it sounded so interesting, that I just had to buy it. With her signature of course.

I am happy that you liked it, I will most likely do the same.

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Stephanie @ Bookfever
May 05

Good luck with your summer challenge. I love a good book bingo!

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Replying to

Thank you Stephanie, I am a fan of bingo even if it is not about books. I have not seen a post from you on the subject. Are you not participating? I don't do many challenges for the moment since I have so many things to use. But this one is 20 books from my TBR, a never ending struggle to read from. Especially, since I added another 11 books during a shopping spree in Paris.

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