I am a member of a group on Goodreads called Life of a Book Addict (LOBA). My favorite LOBA challenge is the annual “12 + 4” challenge. It is an individual challenge where between early November and December 31 of each year, you list 12 books, plus 4 alternatives that you commit to read during the next year. You cannot count books read before January 1st. You cannot make any changes to the list after December 31st. If you read any 12 books (alternates included) you have completed the challenge. There are no awards if you do or penalties if you don’t read the books. I should have my 2020 “12 +4” challenge completed within the next two weeks. I will then give myself a pat on the back.

As we have all learned this year, many things, including our reading preferences, can change without warning. That can make it harder to commit to 16 specific books. My 2021 “12 +4” Challenge list is all fiction. I think being shut-in during Covid-19 has made me want escapism over realism. I am sure I will read non-fiction in 2021, including ones chosen my PALS book club. I expect the Mark Sullivan book to read like non-fiction since it is based on a true story, just as his last novel, Beneath A Scarlet Sky.

To be honest, my biggest yearly challenge is trying not to buy new books when I own so many I haven’t read. I usually make it about mid-January before I fail this challenge.

The graphic for this post is called 12 Books to Read that will be published in 2021. I have already reviewed some of them. All but one of the others are part of my 12 + 4 challenge.

Kerrin’s 2021 “12 + 4” Challenge

CLASSICS

1. The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett (1929)
2. Invasion of the Body Snatchers by Jack Finney (1955)

A few of the BOOKS I OWN BUT HAVEN’T READ

3. Fair and Tender Ladies by Lee Smith (1988)
4. A View Across the Rooftops by Suzanne Kelman (2019)
5. Brave Girl, Quiet Girl by Catherine Ryan Hyde (2020)
6. The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel (2020)
7. The Lost Lights of St. Kilda by Elisabeth Gifford (2020)
8. Where the Lost Wander by Amy Harmon (2020)

BOOKS TO BE RELEASED IN 2021

9. What Could Be Saved by Liese O’Halloran Schwarz. I have the ARC of this and must read and review by January 12, 2021. Looks like this going to be my FIRST book of 2021.
10. The Sweet Taste of Muscadines by Pamela Terry. I have the ARC of this and must read and review before 3/16/2021.
11. The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan I have the ARC and need to read and review by February 23, 2021.
12. One Two Three by Laurie Frankel I have the ARC of this and must read and review before April 27, 2021.

Alternates (All 2021 Releases)

1. The Rose Code by Kate Quinn (ARC requested several weeks ago, but neither approved or denied. My fingers are still crossed). I will read this even if I don’t get a free copy since I love Kate Quinn. It will be released on March 9, 2021.
2. The Last Green Valley by Mark T. Sullivan, who wrote Beaneath A Scarlett Sky. I have the ARC and must read and review by May 4, 2021.
3. Eternal by Lisa Scottoline. I have the ARC of this and must read and review by March 23, 2021. This is my first ARC from Edelweiss! The rest are all from Netgalley.
4. Murder With a View by Diane Kelly, to be published on February 9, 2020. I have the ARC of this book, too. Diane Kelly is a very good friend of mine. I love to read her books. Next month I will publish the list of books I read for Diane and Melissa Bourbon’s Book Warriors Facebook Annual Challenge.

What is on your “To Be Read” List?

Is your TBR list in your head, written down anywhere, on Goodreads, or non-existent?

Do you participate in any book challenges?

Please comment! I would love to know more about your reads.

And now for my Recipe For Readers recommendation:

Chicken Saltimbocca