Find Your Comfort Reads: The 2021 Reading Challenge

Hi Bookish Besties! If there was ever a year when we need books to bring both comfort and connection, it’s 2021. I remember curling up with a blanket and a stack of novels, grateful for the way stories made me feel less alone. That’s what inspired me to put together the 2021 Reading Challenge—12 prompts that give us structure but still leave room for whimsy and mood-reading.

This reading challenge is perfect whether you’re reading 50+ books a year, trying to finish just a handful, or picking up books again after a long break.

What Is the 2021 Reading Challenge?

The 2021 reading challenge is a year-long set of 12 prompts designed to help you:

• Rediscover your reading joy
• Explore new genres and authors
• Carve out space for comfort and connection

You can follow the prompts month by month, or mix and match whenever inspiration strikes.

Theme: Reading for Comfort and Connection

The theme for 2021 was simple—choose books that nourish you, challenge you, and help you feel connected to the world around you. For me, that meant mixing in childhood favorites with stories that took me far beyond my daily life.

2021 Reading Challenge Prompts

Here are the 12 prompts that guided my reading that year:

• A book you have been gifted
• A book from your favorite author
• A book from a trusted source (like a librarian, blogger, or close friend)
• A childhood favorite
• An immigrant story
• A book you’ve been meaning to read forever
• A genre you don’t typically read
• A book you chose purely because of its cover
• A book about books or the reading life
• A book in translation
• A book set in a country you want to visit
• A book “everyone” has read, but you haven’t yet

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Bonus Challenge

If you were feeling ambitious, you could double or triple up on prompts. For example, I read two immigrant stories that year—one contemporary and one historical—and it deepened the way I connected with both.

Do You Have to Finish Every Prompt?

Not at all. The 2021 reading challenge was always about inspiration, not pressure. I encouraged readers to pick what resonated most. Some people did all twelve, others tackled just a handful, and both approaches were a success.

How to Join the 2021 Reading Challenge

1. Pick Your Prompts – Choose the ones that excite you the most.
2. Track Your Progress – I used a journal, but apps like Goodreads or StoryGraph work too.
3. Share and Connect – Post updates with the hashtag #BiblioLifestyleChallenge or drop your reading plans in the comments.

Why I Loved the 2021 Challenge

Looking back, the 2021 reading challenge helped me slow down and savor books in a way I hadn’t in years. Reading an old childhood favorite reminded me why I first fell in love with stories, while trying genres I rarely pick up stretched my reading comfort zone. Most importantly, it gave me a sense of connection—with authors, with other readers, and with myself.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve been thinking about starting a challenge—or even revisiting old prompts—the 2021 reading challenge is still a wonderful guide. It encourages you to seek out comfort while gently nudging you toward discovery. Let’s chat in the comments—I’d love to hear your 2021 picks and which ones still linger with you today.