Tackling the Pile of Shame: A Reading Challenge

keithy23's profile picture keithy23 Host

19 participants (144 books)

01 Jan 2025—31 Dec 2025

Overview

Have you ever started a book, set it aside, and somehow never picked it back up? Maybe life got busy, the timing wasn’t right, or you just weren’t feeling it. We all have them—those books sitting in our “pile of shame*,” waiting for a second chance.

This year, I’m challenging myself (and anyone who wants to join!) to tackle those unfinished reads. The goal? To finally finish 10 books that I’ve softly DNF’d and give them the attention they deserve.

Whether you’ve got a handful of books you’ve paused on or an entire stack calling your name, this challenge is for anyone who wants to turn unfinished pages into completed stories. Let’s dust off those books and see where the journey takes us—because it’s never too late to finish what we started!

Are you ready to face your pile of shame? Let’s do this together!

*quoted by Emily Fox

Challenge Books

All books added
Writers & Lovers by Lily King

Writers & Lovers

Lily King

320 pages • 2020 • 47 editions

fiction contemporary literary romance emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced
The Shoes Come First by Janet Leigh

Jennifer Cloud #1

The Shoes Come First

Janet Leigh

286 pages • 2015 • 1 edition

fiction fantasy romance adventurous lighthearted mysterious fast-paced
The Crafternoon Sewcial Club by J.C. Williams

The Crafternoon Sewcial Club

J.C. Williams

344 pages • 2021 • 4 editions

fiction contemporary emotional funny lighthearted slow-paced
Trouble in Nuala by Harriet Steel

The Inspector de Silva Mysteries #1

Trouble in Nuala

Harriet Steel

200 pages • 2016 • 5 editions

fiction historical mystery mysterious slow-paced
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Annie Barrows, Mary Ann Shaffer

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Annie Barrows, Mary Ann Shaffer

289 pages • 2008 • 149 editions

fiction historical romance emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
Destiny by Chas Williamson
Destiny
—
Chas Williamson

Destiny

Chas Williamson

missing page info • 2 editions

emotional lighthearted medium-paced
A Cruise to Murder by Dawn Brookes

A Rachel Prince Mystery #1

A Cruise to Murder

Dawn Brookes

358 pages • 2018 • 4 editions

fiction crime mystery mysterious fast-paced
The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan

The Kane Chronicles #1

The Red Pyramid

Rick Riordan

516 pages • 2010 • 129 editions

fiction fantasy middle grade adventurous funny fast-paced
The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty

The Exorcist #1

The Exorcist

William Peter Blatty

379 pages • 1971 • 130 editions

fiction classics horror dark tense medium-paced
The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson

Mistborn #2

The Well of Ascension

Brandon Sanderson

590 pages • 2007 • 198 editions

fiction fantasy adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced