Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge 2019

Every year, more than 16,000 readers participate in the Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge. Honestly, I had never heard of it before, but after reading what it is all about, I got very excited. 
To stay accountable, keep track of your reads, swap ideas for books, etc., the hosts suggest joining the Goodreads group. The members of the group are "impressively well-read" as they put it and I totally agree. You can join the group here: www.goodreads.com/group/show/152458-ultimate-popsugar-reading-challenge. 

So, how does this challenge work?

You get a list of prompts and all you do is select a book for each prompt and then post it the group and/or share on social media or your blog or wherever you like using the #PopsugarReadingChallenge. There are two options: 40 regular prompts and 10 prompts if you want to take it up a notch. You have all year (from January 1 to December 31) to read a book for each of the prompts. You can view and download this year's list of prompts here:
media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/docs/PS18_2019ReadingChallenge_Printable.pdf

It is easy to keep track of your books if you use Goodreads and add tags or add your books to "shelves." 

In my quest to cut down my electronics time, I have started reading before bed, listening to audiobooks during my workouts and runs or while driving my car, picking up a book if I feel the urge to pick up the remote control, and reading more often to my kids.

But what if you are on a budget and can't afford to buy all these books?

Well, you have several options!
The most obvious one is to go to your local library. They often do not only have print versions of books, but also ebooks you can borrow. Just ask them how it works.
Another option is to get a Kindle Unlimited membership. That one is $9.99/month plus tax. These 10 bucks are worth it if you read a bunch of books per month because you can select from about a million titles and thousands of audio books. You can also test the membership 30 days for free. Check it out here:
​www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/hz/signup

You can borrow up to ten titles at a time and there is no time limit for you to read the books.

Another option are local thriftstores and flea markets as well as online thriftstores. My favorite online thriftstores are: 
www.thriftbooks.com/
www.bookdepository.com/ and
​www.booksamillion.com/bargain-books3

Or how about finding a local book club and swapping books?

A fantastic way to not only read books for free, but also read them before they even go officially on sale is to sign up on websites that offer complementary issues of new books in return for an honest review (so-called "Advanced Review Copies" or "ARC"). These providers offer great reads both of new authors and popular ones. Here are two websites that offer ARCs and it is free to sign up:
www.edelweiss.plus/
​(Here you have two options: (1) download review copies and start reading right away and (2) request review copies. The request option requires a brief message explaining why you are interested in a copy.)
www.netgalley.com/
(I found this page even easier than Edelweiss+. You can also request review copies or download and read right away.)
Both of these providers offer review copies from various genres, including fiction, non-fiction, historical fiction, romance, mystery / suspense, personal development, and more.

Follow this blog and see which books I have read and reviewed. You can also check out my (public) photo album on Facebook where I post the books I have finished, a brief description, and my review. You find the album here: 
​www.facebook.com/simone.clark2/media_set?set=a.10156725011106893&type=3

I'm always looking for recommendations or read other readers' opinion about books. So I would be super happy if you posted a comment here and/or in my FB album what you thought of the books or what other books you recommend. 

Happy reading, everyone!!!