Good morning, bookpups๐พ How are you today? Are you ready for another year of alphabet-inspired reading? I know I am! Let’s get ready for the 2021 AtoZ Reading Challenge!
UPDATE May 9, 2021!
Due to a bit of confusion, reviews for this challenge will be able to be linked-up in one of TWO ways: in the COMMENTS section of THIS BLOG POST or in the comments of THIS FACEBOOK POST. The InLinkz linky has been shut down (it looks like people were just using it to link-up their sign-up posts anyway – which go in the COMMENTS section of this post ๐ ). If you have any questions at all, there are step-by-step instructions on THIS BLOG POST. Happy reading!
The weather here is turning cooler (I hate you, Mr. Winter) and the little minions are heading back to school (any other mamas terrified as I am??) so guess what that means? Time for another AtoZ Reading Challenge! Like I said last year, I think the AtoZ Challenge is about the only thing I like when it comes to the end of the year (well, that and Christmas books … and movies … and the food around the holidays … wait, will there be holidays this year??)
Let’s rewind, shall we?
We earn from qualifying purchases through our affiliate links. Read our full disclosure โ> here.
What is the AtoZ Reading Challenge?
If you’re new here, this is probably the first question on your lips … am I right? The answer is super simple …
The AtoZ Reading Challenge is a laid-back, year-long reading challenge. It encourages readers to choose a book starting with each letter of the alphabet.
We started this challenge back in 2018 as a way to fill in the gaps of our Review Indexes. In Year Four, we’re finally sticking to the description and making this a laid-back challenge. 26 books, optional mini-challenges, and a Facebook Group full of booklovers.
Yes, the AtoZ Challenge is in its 4th year!
I am so shocked and excited about this! The AtoZ Challenge is starting its 4th year! Over the last three years, we’ve switched blogs twice, been forced to change the End of the Year Giveaway because of a scammer, and made quite a few little tweaks to the challenge along the way. Now, as we start Year Four, I think we’ve FINALLY got most of the kinks worked out ๐ค
The Mini-Challenges Are Staying!
We have had so much fun with the mini-challenges (fondly referred to as minis) this year that we’ve decided to keep them going ๐ Like 2020, we’re going to make things simple and have a master list for the minis.
JANUARY – A book you purchased in 2020 but didn’t read
FEBRUARY – A book with non-romantic love (siblings, parent-child, friendships)
MARCH – A book written by a person of a different race than you
APRIL – A book with an Autistic main character (April is Autism Awareness)
MAY – A book about a nurse (Nat. Nurses Week 2021 is May 6-12)
JUNE – A co-written book (2 authors)
JULY – A Christmas book (Christmas in July!)
AUGUST – A book by an Indie author (self-published or independent)
SEPTEMBER – A memoir/biography
OCTOBER – A book written by a new-to-you author
NOVEMBER – A book outside your normal genre
DECEMBER – A backlist title (published BEFORE Jan 1, 2021)
End of the Year Giveaway
Yes, the End of the Year Giveaway is another thing we are keeping. As with previous years, each book submitted to the challenge link-up will be entered for a chance to win ONE BOOK OF YOUR CHOOSING ON AMAZON OR BOOK DEPOSITORY, UP TO A $25 USD VALUE. (No purchase necessary to win). We will not be giving away a gift card (like we did the first year … that one bit us in the ass).
AtoZ Challenge on Social Media
If you’d rather participate in the 2021 AtoZ Reading Challenge on social media, there are a couple different ways to do that …
Join the Bookstacked Readers Group on FB (we will post mini-challenge prompts and you can share your reviews here)
Use the #2021AtoZReadingChallenge hashtag on Instagram (or Twitter, if you like … we don’t use Twitter, though)
And that’s it ๐ Sign-up for the 2021 AtoZ Reading Challenge in the comments below, share the post so others can join us, and share your challenge TBR!
111 Comments
Sounds like fun! Iโm making a note of this and definitely participating in 2021. ๐
We’d be happy to have you join us!
I am participating in the A to Z challenge for 2021. I follow you on Facebook. I tried to sign up on here as well, but couldnโt figure out how to do it.
This is all that’s necessary. Just declare your participation ๐
Iโm not good with reading challenges. Iโm too much of a mood reader.
That’s why I like to take the whole year to do a challenge, and not in the month that might be specified. Still, it’s fun to try to fill in the prompts with the books I WANT to read!
Sounds like fun
I am so lazy, I always start this great guns and then start to forget the last few letters ๐ I need to clean up my act and finish up my 2020 list!
I’m about halfway through the list and actually pretty proud of myself (usually, I only read a couple books and then completely forget about participating).
So it’s not just me then ๐
Sounds fun, I’m in.
Great!
I am so excited to try this again! Hoping 2021 will be a better reading year!
I would like to join the challenge this year.
I absolutely love reading challenges and participate in several of them each month.
That’s awesome! I am a big slacker when it comes to challenges, even my own!
I’d love to join you on this. I love reading challenges.
I’m in again!
Sounds like fun.
I know I have a lot of the letters done for both the a to z and the children’s a to z, but I just have not linked those books to the challenges yet.. ๐
The year is still open ๐ You have until the end of December to link up.
๐ i hope to link up soon!!
Stumbled on your site looking for reading challenges for the new year. I’m in and hoping for a better year in 2021.
You and I both! I’m glad that you found us ๐ This is the first year I have even come close to finishing the AtoZ Challenge (and we’re the ones who created it!). How sad is that?
This looks like fun, count me in!
First time participant, I love these challenges because it helps me organize my TBR. Do we have to do it in the alphabet order?
Absolutely not! Any order works ๐ I am planning to do the most difficult letters first next year. But who knows!
I’ll take as many challenges as I can get, cuz I figure I need to stick more books into mental slots!
I’m so in, I usually fail at reading challenges cause I tend to be an “in the moment” picker. But I want to break that cycle next year. ๐
So excited to join….
i started before I joined, what do you do for letters that you can’t find a book you want to read?
Ask for recommendations. The goal is to read one book with a title beginning with each letter.
Iโd like to join ! I was just accepted to the Facebook group!
I was looking for reading challenges for 2021 and this caught my eye. I am signing up! TY for hosting.
Looking forward to this challenge in 2021. Joined your FB group as well.
Yes! Definitely joining in!
I wold love to join this for 2021.
I am so ready for a clean slate so excited for 2021! Going to be the year I crush my TBR
I will participating too, 2021 will be my third year doing this challenge!
I just found your your challenge through girlxoxo and am excited to add you to my challenges for 2021. I will be doing my challenge posts on my blog soon and will link back to this site
ps can you please delete my previous comment with my last name ๐
Not a problem ๐ Welcome to the challenge!
How about feb reading a book by a person of color.
For most caucasian readers, this would be March’s mini-challenge (a person of a different race than you). We aren’t going to promote one race over the other, as that is only prolonging the separation.
Sounds like fun!
So for the mini challenges you have to do one each month correct
Yes ๐ But they aren’t required.
I am looking forward to this challenge and the mini challenges as well.
Joining in for 2021 but will be logging everything on Goodreads, as I don’t have Facebook! Is there a goodreads group?? Thank you for putting together a lovely reading challenge!
There’s not a GR group. I’ll see what else we can come up with ๐ Most of our participation is going to be on FB or Instagram.
Looking for a challenge that doesn’t box me in too much.. I want to like what I’m reading! I think I’d like to give this challenge a try!
I’ve posted my blog entry announcing my participation for this year. Thanks for hosting
https://titlesurfingwithtraci.blogspot.com/2020/11/alphabet-fun.html
I will sign right up, this sounds very fun! I’ll plan on joining the FB group, but most of my participation will be on Instagram (@PopCultureLiterary) with cross-posts to Litsy (@KenyaZero).
Sounds fun! Just wanted to let you know that I posted this challenge on my new reading challenge central blog – readyforareadingchallenge.blogspot.com.
Thanks so much! We appreciate it ๐
Iโm in! Excited, this will be my first challenge!
First year participating, but eager to jump in.
Is commenting all we need to do to join? Iโm excited to give this a try!!
Absolutely ๐ You’re in!
Super excited to participate!
Sounds like fun – I will do my best ๐
Can’t wait to get started!
So excited to participate in this challenge!
Looking forward to trying it again this year!!
I’d love to do this, please count me in.
I am signing up for this challenge and really looking forward to it. Here’s my sign up post (I am avoiding FB these days so thought I’d leave the link here). http://www.helensbookblog.com/2020/12/2021-to-z-reading-challenge-sign-up.html
Iโm in – excited to be participating this year! Onward to books and 2021!!!!
I’m IN
I am going to do it!
Cannot wait to participate in 2021! I’m planning participating in the mini challenges as well!
I am in again. I joined last year in March and only got 8 books done. Goal this year is to improve on that!
I am joining in.
I love a good challenge. I’m in!
Yes count me in for the challenge again this year!
Looking forward to trying this challenge. Here is my sign-up link https://cdnbookworm.blogspot.com/2021/01/a-to-z-reading-challenge-2021.html
I’d like to sign up! (So excited that I accidentally found your blog again from another book blog. I couldn’t finish 2020’s challenge, ever since your old website went down.) I was extremely surprised to find your new blog — and VERY HAPPY!! Thanks for doing this challenge again.
We moved everything over to this blog. So sorry for the confusion about the old website. This one is here to stay and we’re so glad you’ve found us again!
I’m in again. I got so close in 2020.
I got to 17 … hopefully I’ll get closer in 2021 ๐
I enjoyed playing in 2020 and look forward to another round through the alphabet this year. Such fun!
I will be joining! What a great challenge that I can do while reading what I want.
I am going to give this challenge a try.
Canโt wait to join in this year
I *think* I already commented, but wanted to check back with my link to my books!
Excited to do this one again this year! https://frominktopaper.com/2021/01/02/2021-reading-challenges/
Iโve got my mom and sisters on board! Weโre excited!
I’m doing it! Looking forward to the mini challenges too!
This sounds like fun and simple, too! I’m in!
Here’s the link to my blog page about this challenge.
https://finishingtheseries2020.blogspot.com/2021/01/2021-to-z-reading-challenge.html
I would like to join!
Signing up for the challenge
Hi. I’d love to sign up for the challenge. Just wanted to know about book titles starting with the articles: A, A, & The. Do we disregard the articles?
Example: Book title is “A Monkey’s Banana”. This book would be classified as “Monkey’s Banana, A” and would fall under “M”. Does that make sense? This is the same for An and The, as well ๐
Thanks. This is what I wanted to know. A couple more: What about pesky letters like X and Q? And do we link up the books as we review them or just a wrap-up post at the year’s end? Sorry to bother you like this but this is the first time I am doing this challenge.
You can link the books anytime you like. The linky is open all year long and there will only be one linky. And what about X and Q? Do you need recommendations or … ?
Joining the AtoZ Challenge for the first time, though I’ve had my eye on it for a while! Here’s my 2021 Challenges page:
https://bookbybook.blogspot.com/p/2021-reading-challenges.html
Thanks for hosting the challenge – I’m looking forward to it!
Sue
Book By Book
Hello. Here’s my sign-up post for the challenge: https://ahotcupofpleasureagain.wordpress.com/2021/01/10/sign-up-atoz-reading-challenge/
Really looking forward to the challenge. Thanks for hosting.
Quick question! As I read each book for the AtoZ reading challenge, should I drop my review links anywhere? or should I just keep updating the list on my blog until the end of the year?
That is entirely up to you. There’s only one link-up for the year so it doesn’t make much of a difference ๐
I’ll join you! The A to Z Challenge is just what I need this year… not sure how many mini challenges I’ll complete, but I’ll aim for a few! Will link up a post soon.
Hi! Sign me up for your a-z challenge please! Iโm also doing popsugar, mount tbr and virtual mount tbr on goodreads, and maybe the book hoarder challenge on Facebook as well but I read 100 books last year so one more challenge couldnโt hurt ๐
Definitely in for this one
I’ll be joining. Sign me up.
Hello, this looks like a great challenge and I would love to join x
Looking forward to participating in this challenge ๐
This looks like fun. I am doing the 2021 Popsugar challenge, but thought it might be fun to throw in another challenge with it. Figured I could back fill and then add to it!
I have completed all the letters!
https://jannghi.blogspot.com/2020/09/2021-atoz-reading-challenge-4th-annual.html
Wow Jamie, that is incredible!!! Congratulations ๐
I am down!!!
I’m a bit late in the day but can I still join? I should be able to cross off quite a few letters up to now and will try to join some of the mini challenges too!
Absolutely! You’re very welcome ๐
I would love
To join!!