20 Books of Summer is back! With new hosts

When Cathy of 746 books announced last year that she would not host 20 Books of Summer this year after ten successful years, Emma of Words and Peace and I both volunteered to take it on. Summer reading IS the 20, 15 or 10 Books challenge to us! We couldn’t let Cathy’s wonderful challenge fall by the wayside.

So this is your first call to start planning…

  • 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!

We’ll have monthly summary posts where you can add progress reports and recommendations. The final one at the at the beginning of September will stay open for a while to catch all the last reviews.

Emma has designed some super new logos, and for the first time we’ve done one specially for our Antipodean friends for whom it is winter rather than summer! Resize them to fit your needs. Emma has also made a book bingo card to match your reads for more fun too.

If you’re planning to join in please do add your blog / planning post link to the Mr Linky below the logos and bingo card now, which’ll help us keep track, and you can use the hashtag #20BooksofSummer2025 on your socials.

117 thoughts on “20 Books of Summer is back! With new hosts

  1. MarketGardenReader/IntegratedExpat says:

    I was just thinking yesterday that May was a good month to think about my 20 books, but would there be a host, and lo and behold, what should I find in my inbox this morning but your announcement. I’m getting excited already. Thank you so much for stepping into the breach, with Emma. The logos are so summery and wintery!

  2. Elle says:

    So glad to see that you and Emma are taking this on! The new logos are absolutely gorgeous (I like that there’s now an antipodean version too). I’ll have to get to thinking about my list!

  3. litlove says:

    I was sorry not to take part in this last year when I returned to blogging, and so was delighted to see this pop up in my inbox today. I’ve already made a list…. is that too soon???

  4. kaggsysbookishramblings says:

    Glad you’ve taken this one on, Annabel. I’m tempted to do this every year, because I always read more than 20 books during the period, but I am notoriously rubbish at sticking to any kind of plan. But I will follow everyone else’s progress with great interest! 😀

  5. AnnaBookBel says:

    I can’t stick to plans either which is why I cheat – but all the books I include in my 20 have been in my TBR since last year.

  6. Karen says:

    Yay! I am wanting to join in again this year I think! I will work on a list and get it posted. 🙂 By the way, I love these new logos! So awesome!

  7. Sonia says:

    Thank you for doing this. I have never joined in with the blogging part, but have always enjoyed the challenge of tackling older books from my TBR pile.

  8. kimbofo says:

    Thank you, thank you, thank you for not forgetting us down here in the Southern Hemisphere! I love the winter logo and hope to take part, as I’m already reading as many books as I can from my TBR throughout the year!

    • AnnaBookBel says:

      Excellent news. If you’d like a 10 or 15 winter – I’m sure Emma can do them too…

  9. Karen Mace says:

    wonderful to see it continuing! My Summer wouldn’t be complete without it so very excited to be joining in again!! Now to start making my list of TBR’s haha!! x

  10. mallikabooks says:

    Thrilled that you and Emma are taking over 20Books. I’m going to try the full 20 again–let’s see. Just linked my blog as of now: have yet to plan which 20!

  11. WordsAndPeace says:

    This is so exciting to see so many people ready to join! And glad some just couldn’t resist the logos – designed with AI of course, as you can imagine. I’ll be preparing my list soon too!

  12. Liz Dexter says:

    Thank you for keeping this going! I will be doing a starter post but it might be on 1 June as I know my theme but haven’t quite assembled my book pile yet …

  13. S says:

    I’m discovering your blog after Cathy’s announcement. I’m so glad you’re continuing this fun summer adventure. I’ll be joining with 20 as in the previous years. Now I need to work on my list!!

  14. Emma says:

    It’s wonderful that you’ll host this event, it’s so much fun.
    Thanks to Emma and you for organizing it. 🙂

  15. That Library Girl says:

    I am soooooo excited to be joining! I aim for 20 books in the summer, so I’ll do that again this year. And I am super happy that the challenge Cathy started will not be lost!

  16. Joanne says:

    Oh fabulous! I do enjoy this challenge. I use it to help me get to my ‘own books’ if you know what I mean! Will start thinking about my list soon!

    • WordsAndPeace says:

      I did the BINGO card this way, so it would contain 20 books – in case some readers wanted to exclusively choose their books with that.
      Anyway, a horizontal line is 4 cases, so, you can also choose any diagonal with 4 cases – more choices then!

  17. Margaret says:

    Thanks to you and Emma for taking on hosting this challenge. I’m not making a list this year as I never stick to it, but I’m hoping to read lots of my TBRs.

    • Emily Jane says:

      I am very excited about this! I entered last year and managed 8/10 books in the timeframe. I am hoping to do better this year!

      Have a lovely weekend!

      Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog

  18. Deborah says:

    I love this challenge. I find it really motivates me to crack on with my back list books. Thanks to you both for taking it on.

  19. Isabella Ann of The Painted Caravan says:

    Hello Annabel, I was so glad to hear that Cathy’s wonderful challenge will be continuing this year! I am very excited to be taking part again and I have been busy creating my list of books. I will be attempting to read 15 this Summer, we will see though! Happy reading to you, Isabella Ann

  20. Kate W says:

    Thanks for hosting! Took me a while to narrow down my choices but I’m ready to go (and hoping that what I’m reading at the moment will be neatly and conveniently finished on May 31st!)

  21. Joanne says:

    I’ve added my link today. Looking forward to lots of lovely summer reading. Good luck with your challenges everyone! ☀️😎📚

  22. Susan says:

    Thanks Annabel for hosting. I just added my link. I’m excited about my picks and hope it will be a great summer of reading. Cheers!

  23. Becki Smith Bayley says:

    Hoping to join in with you and the other new host! I haven’t done this challenge previously. Leaving this tab open so I can remember to come back later 🙂 Thanks!

  24. Jan Hicks says:

    This has always been a fun and satisfying challenge for me – this will be my 7th and I’m so pleased you and Emma have taken it on, Annabel. I’ve just added my planning post to Mr Linky and have my eye on the first book already.

  25. Calmgrove says:

    I shall be aiming for the least ambitious goal of ten books (but I’m sure I’ll surpass that) and eschewing listing book titles (I like to keep my options open); all I want to add is to say thank you both for continuing this meme – it becomes something to aim for and perhaps overshoot!

  26. rosemarykaye says:

    At the eleventh hour as usual, I have assembled my stack and posted my post. This time I’ve tried to be as unambitious as possible, in an attempt not to set myself up for the usual failure to finish – so on this basis many of my books this year are short, easy, reads. Let’s see if that works!

    I couldn’t add the new logo as I could only find it as a webpage and I don’t seem to be able to save those. I’m quite sure there’s a way for those who understand these things – sadly I’ll never be one of those people!

  27. amanda says:

    Always fun to participate, I’m happy to see you and Emma are taking this on this year. Hopefully this is the kick I need to get back to more regular blog habits.

  28. HCNewton says:

    Thanks for keeping this alive–it’s really helped me a lot over the years to focus on a set number of books (generally that I’ve been meaning to get to and somehow not doing so).

  29. ShellieJ says:

    I’m running behind signing up! Do I have to be signed up by tomorrow, June 1st? Will the sign up Linky be open a few more days? I’m working on my sign up post tonight and tomorrow if so. Thanks! And thanks for hosting this looks fun 🙂

    • AnnaBookBel says:

      Of course not! This is the most relaxed challenge ever. Just have fun reading this summer.

  30. louloureads says:

    Thank you for hosting! I hadn’t planned to join in, but the fun of making my list and anticipating all that great summer reading has got the better of me. I’m taking it very easily though, with a list of twenty and plans to choose ten from the list, and only review a few!

  31. volatilemuse says:

    Hello Annabel and Emma. Thanks so much for taking on the hosting of this excellent summery challenge. I’m looking forward to reading my books – mostly 🙂

  32. Sarah @ MarketGardenReader/IntegratedExpat says:

    My possibles are listed and stacked upon the shelf after a complete rethink. My post is posted and I’m ready for the off. I’m so glad you and Emma decided to co-host. Emma’s logos are so summery (and wintery). I can’t wait to see them all over my WordPress feed. I’m not sure if I’ve shared the correct URL to the Linky. I added my home page instead of the link to my challenge post. 😖 My 20 Books of Summer post is https://marketgardenreader.wordpress.com/2025/06/03/20-books-of-summer-2025/

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