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2025 Reading Challenge

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Hey there, book lovers! Are you ready to dive into a year filled with incredible stories? I’ve created a brand new reading challenge for 2025, and I’d love for you to join me.

To keep things fun and manageable, I’ve designed the challenge around 12 books — just one a month. Perfect, right? But for those of you who breeze through books, I’ve included an optional six extra books.

I devoured an amazing 28 books in 2024. It was one of my most book-filled years yet, and I loved every moment. You can check out my 2024 reading challenge here and see my absolute favourites from the year here. I’m hoping to read just as many (or maybe even more) in 2025.

I can’t wait to see what treasures 2025 holds for us. Let’s discover some unputdownable reads together — because every bookish journey is better with friends! Are you in? Drop a comment below and let me know if you’re joining the challenge!

Happy reading!

Must read books for Melbourne Mamma’s 2025 Reading Challenge

  • A book with 25 letters in the title
  • A book with food on the cover
  • A book written by someone who uses a pseudonym
  • A bestseller from 2005
  • A book you can finish in one day
  • A book by an Australian author
  • A book starting with the letter M
  • A book with a red cover
  • A book with a two word title
  • A book that has been on your reading list for 3+ years
  • A book with an animal in the title
  • The first book in a series

Extra books to read

  • A 2025 new release
  • One of the books I read in 2024
  • A book you want to read based purely on the cover
  • A book recommended by your local library
  • A book with 500+ pages
  • A book recommended by a celebrity

Let me know if you’re joining the reading challenge in the comments below (put your book titles in the comment section NOT the URL field) and feel free to come back and list the books you read throughout the year and let me know if you enjoyed them or not.

Keep an eye out for the books I’m reading and make sure you tag your own books on social media using #mmreadingchallenge2025

I hope you enjoy my 2025 Reading Challenge

10 Best Books I Read in 2024

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While 2024 didn’t deliver as many standout reads as past years, I still discovered some incredible books along the way. Many of them were by authors I hadn’t read before, which made the journey even more rewarding.

As I look back on the stories I’ve read, narrowing it down to my top 10 favourites wasn’t easy — but it’s always fun to reflect on the books that left a lasting impression.

So, here are the 10 books I enjoyed most in 2024 (in no particular order)…

Listen For The Lie – Amy Tintera

This gripping psychological thriller will keep you guessing until the final page. With its intricate plot and unreliable characters, the book pulls you into a web of secrets, lies, and unexpected twists. The author does a fantastic job creating tension and suspense, making it hard to put down.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Frozen River – Ariel Lawthon

Historical fiction at its best, The Frozen River draws inspiration from the remarkable life of American midwife Martha Ballard and her diary entries from 1785-1812. It tells a gripping story of resilience, justice, and survival that stays with you long after the last page.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Last House on the Street – Diane Chamberlain

I have a bit of a thing for historical fiction and this book ranks among my top favourites. The novel intertwines the lives of two women from different eras, exploring love, loss, and the lasting effects of past wrongs. The dual timeline kept me captivated, gradually unveiling the connections between Kayla’s present and Ellie’s past. This is a powerful tale about how the past shapes the present, the importance of standing up for what’s right, and the unbreakable bonds of community and family.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Paris: The Memoir

Paris’ story was truly eye-opening. I had no idea about the extent of her struggles as I’d always imagined her as the spoiled little rich girl who had an amazing life. It left me with newfound respect for her resilience and strength.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The House of Now and Then – Jo Dixon

I really enjoyed this debut novel by Aussie author Jo Dixon. It’s packed with awesome characters, both good and evil, and I was hooked from the start. Seriously, this book is a must read – it’s just too good to put down.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Seven Year Slip – Ashley Poston

A delightful and heartwarming story about love, time, and second chances. Although romance isn’t my usual genre, I thought this book was fabulous. Plus, anyone who can whip up a lemonade meringue pie is a winner in my eyes. 

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Diamond Eye – Kate Quinn

I absolutely loved this book which brings to life the true story of Lyudmila Pavlichenko, a Soviet sniper during WWII. Mila’s journey from student to war hero is fascinating and the writing captures both the brutal realities of war and the resilience of the human spirit. The pacing is perfect, and the blend of action, heart, and history makes it hard to put down. A must-read for historical fiction fans!

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

The Fire Keeper’s Daughter – Angeline Boulley

This fabulous debut novel from Angeline Boulley combines a coming-of-age story with a thrilling mystery, that delves deep into Native American culture, identity, and resilience. Boulley crafts a compelling tale of identity and self-discovery while navigating complex themes like addiction, justice, and family loyalty.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Flicker in the Dark – Stacy Willingham

This gripping psychological thriller hooked me from the start. The story follows a young woman unraveling dark secrets tied to her family’s past, as she begins to question her own memories. With unexpected twists and complex characters, the book keeps you guessing until the very end.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Girl Who Fell From The Sky – Emma Carey

This emotional and inspiring memoir about resilience, survival, and the power of the human spirit tells the story of recovering from a life-changing skydiving accident is both raw and uplifting, as Emma shares her journey of physical and emotional healing.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Let me know in the comments what books you loved this year? Have you read any of my favourites?

Keep track of other books I love in my Goodreads or #MelbourneMammaBookLove

2024 Reading Challenge

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Hey fellow bookworms! Get ready for an adventure in 2024 because I’ve created the ultimate reading challenge, and I want you to join me! Are you up for the challenge? Let’s make this year a page-turning masterpiece together!

I’ve limited the reading challenge to 12 books to ensure that you don’t feel overwhelmed or find it unattainable as the year unfolds. However, for those eager readers who easily read 12 books in a year, I’ve added an extra six books to the challenge for you.

Guess what? I devoured a whopping 33 books in 2023! It’s officially the most literary action I’ve seen in ages. Dive into my 2023 reading challenge here and sneak a peek at my absolute faves from the year here. I’m hoping to read a similar number this year too.

I can’t wait to get started on this challenge and hopefully find some new favourites that I can’t put down.

Must read books for Melbourne Mamma’s 2024 Reading Challenge

  • A book with 24 letters in the title
  • A book that teaches you something new
  • A celebrity autobiography
  • A book with a yellow cover
  • A book with a one word title
  • A book with chapter titles
  • A book by an author who uses initials in their name
  • A book with a wing(s) on the cover 
  • A bestseller from 2004
  • A book written by an author you read in 2023
  • A book with a house on the cover
  • A book that has been banned

Extra books to read

  • A book written by a first time author
  • One of the books I read in 2023
  • A book written by a famous author who you have never read before
  • A book with an animal on the cover
  • A book that you have a screenshot of in your phone
  • A book with ‘Love” in the title

Let me know if you’re joining the reading challenge in the comments below (put your book titles in the comment section NOT the URL field) and feel free to come back and list the books you read throughout the year and let me know if you enjoyed them or not.

Keep an eye out for the books I’m reading and make sure you tag your own books on social media using #mmreadingchallenge2024

I hope you enjoy my 2024 Reading Challenge

10 Best Books I Read in 2023

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I’ve had the pleasure of reading pretty fabulous books this year. Many of them by authors I’ve never read before either.

As I reflect on my reading journey and the stories I encountered, selecting the top 10 books from my literary adventures in 2023 proved to be quite the challenge.

So, without further ado, here are the 10 books I enjoyed most in 2023 (in no particular order)…

We Begin At The End – Chris Whitaker

When was the last time you read a book that you just couldn’t put down? I started this book one afternoon and at 2.37am, I realised that I was not going to be able to finish it and I needed to go to sleep. As soon as I woke up, I was straight into it and back with Duchess and Walk and their heart-wrenching journey in a small coastal town, where the sins of the past cast long shadows on the present. This book had me laughing one minute and crying the next.

I will miss you Outlaw Duchess Day Radley.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Wild – Kristin Hannah

A touching story about a little girl who emerges from the forest, alone and hungry, and the people who work tirelessly to uncover her identity and help her recover from the trauma of her past. You’ll need tissues for this one!

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Pieces of Me – Kate McLaughlin

Could not put this one down! It was a pretty heavy read (childhood abuse, self-harm and a mental health condition) but I found this story so fascinating and cannot wait to read more from this author.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

RecipeTin Eats Dinner – Nagi Maehashi

I’ve been following Nagi on social media for a number of years, and after making a number of the recipes from her website, I couldn’t wait to try some of the new and exclusive recipes in her first cookbook. Do yourself (and your taste buds) a favour and grab a copy of this asap!!!

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Daisy Jones & the Six – Taylor Jenkins Reid

Love. Love. Loved it! Sex. Drugs. Rock n Roll. This book has it all. And I refuse to believe that the characters in this book are NOT real people.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Defending Jacob – William Landay

Every parents worst nightmare… your child is accused of murder and you know he didn’t do it. This was such a suspenseful read and I couldn’t put it down (finished in less than 24 hrs). I was totally caught off guard by the ending.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Dictionary of Lost Words – Pip Williams

Finally got around to reading this book and I LOVED IT! This wonderful novel beautifully intertwines history, feminism, and the power of words. Set against the backdrop of the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, this novel offers a compelling exploration of the stories that language forgets.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Drowning – T.J. Newman

Wow! This book took me on a nail-biting journey from the first page to the last. The author’s background in the airline industry shines through, adding a layer of authenticity that elevates the story and adds a chilling sense of realism. Could not out this one down.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

All The Dangerous Things – Stacy Willingham

What would you do if you woke in the morning to find that your child has gone missing during the night? Isabelle’s past comes back to haunt her as her search for her son leads to a shocking conclusion. Another fab page turner.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Pretty Girls – Karin Slaughter

First read of the year and my first time reading Karin Slaughter. What a story! So many twists and turns. The violence was quite graphic at times but otherwise I loved it.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Let me know in the comments what books you loved this year? Have you read any of my favourites?

Keep track of other books I love in my Goodreads or #MelbourneMammaBookLove

2023 Reading Challenge

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Attention book lovers! I’ve set myself a fabulous reading challenge for 2023 and I’d love for you to join me.

I’ve only included 12 books in the reading challenge because I don’t want you to commit to something and then feel like it’s unachievable as the year progresses. However, I’ll also include an additional six books for those of you who will have no problem smashing through 12 books (or more) in a year.

I managed to read 29 books in 2022 – which is the most I have read in a very long time. You can check out my 2022 reading challenge here and you can see my favourite reads from 2022 here.

I’m going to try and read 30 books this year – which means less tv bingeing for me!

I can’t wait to get started on this challenge and hopefully find some new favourites that I can’t put down.

Must read books for Melbourne Mamma’s 2023 Reading Challenge

  • A book with 23 letters in the title
  • A book with water on the cover
  • A book with a title starting with ‘The’
  • A book with a three-word title
  • A classic
  • A book you keep seeing
  • A book set in a different time period
  • A book set in the city / town / state where you live
  • A book with a number in the title
  • A bestseller from 2003
  • A book with a green cover
  • A book about an inspirational person

Extra books to read

  • A book you can finish in one day
  • Re-read a favourite book
  • A book you borrowed from a library
  • A book you bought secondhand
  • One of my favourite reads from 2022
  • A crime novel

Let me know if you’re joining the reading challenge in the comments below (put your book titles in the comment section NOT the URL field) and feel free to come back and list the books you read throughout the year and let me know if you enjoyed them or not.

Keep an eye out for the books I’m reading and make sure you tag your own books on social media using #mmreadingchallenge2023

I hope you enjoy my 2023 Reading Challenge.