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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.

10 Best Books I Read in 2022

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I’ve read some pretty great books this year, so when it came to choosing the 10 best books I read in 2022, I knew the decision was not going to be easy.

I always aim to read of variety of books in my 2022 Reading Challenge, so I’m never sure if I’m going to find lots of books I love or only a couple.

In no particular order, here are the 10 best books I read in 2022.

The Winners – Fredrik Backman

This is the final book in the Beartown series and even though I couldn’t wait to read it, I wasn’t looking forward to saying goodbye to the characters I’ve grown to love.

I knew that this book was going to break my heart but after sitting on my bedside table for a couple of months, I couldn’t put it off any longer – and I LOVED IT!!!

It’s no secret that Fredrik Backman is my favourite author, so if you haven’t read any of his books, I highly recommend that you do – in fact, read them ALL.


The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue – V.E. Schwab

I was so intrigued by the blurb for this book and it did not disappoint.

It was so wonderful, so heartbreaking, and a such beautifully written story that will stay with me for a very long time.

I will never forget you Addie LaRue.


The Things We Cannot Say – Kelly Rimmer

I’ve read quite a bit of historical fiction over the past few years and this book would have to be one of my absolute favourites.

Inspired by Aussie author Kelly Rimmer’s own family history, The Things We Cannot Say unearths a tragic love story and a family secret whose far-reaching effects will alter lives forever.

⚠️ Warning: You will NEED tissues for this one ???


The Lincoln Highway – Amor Towles

Such a beautiful story about the unbreakable bond between two young brothers, and their journey through America in the 1950s.

My first Amor Towles book and I cannot wait to read his others.


The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo – Taylor Jenkins Reid

I absolutely LOVED this book and am so excited to learn that it is being made into a movie. Evelyn – you were definitely a force to be reckoned with and I cannot wait to see who will play you on the big screen.

My first time reading Taylor Jenkins Reid and I’ll definitely be reading more of her work.


Verity – Colleen Hoover

I finally see what all the fuss is about – this book is brilliant!!!

If you haven’t already read ‘Verity’ – add it to your list NOW.

This book sure was ‘unputdownable’ and I was so blown away by the ending that I had to go back and reread the last chapter, just to make sure that my mind wasn’t playing tricks on me.


The Nightingale – Kristin Hannah

Another fabulous historical fiction story, that had me sobbing (ugly Kim K style) into my pillow.

This one has been on my reading pile for quite a while and I’m so glad that I finally got around to reading it.

Now I cannot wait to see the movie adaption with the Fanning sisters playing the lead roles.


Wrong Place Wrong Time – Gillian McAllister

How far would you go to stop your child from committing murder? ?

Would you travel back in time to stop the crime? ?

Couldn’t put this one down! Loved it!


The Soulmate – Sally Hepworth

Another terrific book by Sally Hepworth, that I finished in less than 24 hours.

Full of love, lies and loss, this story will keep you guessing until the very end.

Nothing better than local authors and locally based stories.


My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She’s Sorry – Fredrik Backman

Fredrik Backman has done it again! I seriously love everything this man writes.

This heartwarming story was full of intriguing characters and a little protagonist that I couldn’t help but love.

Not quite what I expected but terrific just the same.


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⁣⁣What books have you loved this year? Have you read any of my favourites?

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

2022 Reading Challenge

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Attention book lovers! I’ve set myself a reading challenge for 2022 and I’d love for you to join me.

I’ve only included 12 books in the challenge because I know what it’s like to be a busy mum. However, I’ll also include an additional six books for those of you who will have no problem smashing through 12 books in one year.

Spending another year in and out of lockdown meant I had a bit more time to read in 2021 and I managed to read 28 books. You can see which ones were my favourites here. You can see how I went in my 2021 reading challenge here.

I’m going to try and read 28 books again this year. I’ve just started a new migraine treatment too, so hopefully, I’ll have fewer migraines and it will be easier for me to read more.

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

Must read books for 2022 Reading Challenge

  • A book with 22 letters in the title
  • A book with an animal on the cover
  • A bestseller from the 1990s
  • A book with a pretty cover
  • A book with “good” or “bad” in the title
  • A book recommended by someone on Instagram or Facebook
  • A book written by a local author
  • A book with a colour in the name
  • A book with gold lettering
  • A book with more than 600 pages
  • A book that has been translated from another language
  • A book being made into a movie this year

Extra books to read

  • A historical fiction book
  • A book published in 2022
  • A guilty pleasure book
  • A book that will improve your life
  • One of my favourite reads from 2021
  • A different book by an author that you read in 2021

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 #mmreadingchallenge2022

I hope you enjoy my 2022 Reading Challenge.

2021 Reading Challenge

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Attention book lovers! I’ve set myself a reading challenge for 2021 and I’d love for you to join me.

I know what it’s like to be a busy mum (ie not have much time for reading), so I’ll only include 12 books in the challenge. However, I’ll also include an additional six books for those of you who will have no problem smashing through 12 books in one year.

As a chronic migraine sufferer, I don’t read as many books as I’d like too but thanks to an almost six-month lockdown here in Melbourne (#bloodycovid), I actually managed to read 30 books in 2020.

I’m not sure how this year will pan out, but I’m aiming to read 25 books this year.

You can see how I went in my 2020 reading challenge here.

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10 Great Books for Tweens

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19 great books for tweens

If you’ve been following me for a while, you will know that my daughter LOVES to read.

She showed a love of reading from a very young age and now that she is 12, she’s churning through books faster than I am.

As she’s gotten older, I’ve found it increasingly harder to find great books for tweens that are age appropriate. There seems to be a fine line between being suitable for 10-12 year olds and then suitable for teens (15+).

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