20 Books of Summer is back again this year! Created by Cathy of 746 Books, it’s now hosted by Annabel of AnnaBookBel and you can find all the details on Annabel’s blog here, including some beautiful new graphics and a book bingo card. There’s also a winter version depending on which part of the world you live in!
This year’s event runs from Monday 1st June to Monday 31st August and once you’ve signed up for 10, 15 or 20 books (even 5 if you prefer), the rules are very flexible. You can make a list in advance or read at whim – and if you do make a list, you can change it at any time.
I’ve been trying to decide how to approach this year’s challenge. I usually try to stick to a list of 20 books, but I’ve taken part every year since 2017 and have only actually completed my list once – last year, when I allowed myself more flexibility by just listing 14 books in advance and keeping the other six slots free. So, this year I’m going to take the pressure away even more and only list 10 books, with the rest to be chosen as I go along.
First, there’s my Classics Club Spin book, The Persian Boy by Mary Renault, and then there are two books I have lined up for the Read Christie challenge in July and August. I also hope to join in with some of the other events taking place this summer, such as Reading the Meow, Paris in July and Women in Translation Month. I have some books on my NetGalley shelf that have recently been published or are due to publish over the summer, and as most of my reading tends to be fiction, I’m going to aim to read at least two or three nonfiction books for the challenge as well.
Here’s my (partial) list:
BOOKS 1-10
1. The Persian Boy by Mary Renault
2. The Rose and the Yew Tree by Mary Westmacott
3. By the Pricking of My Thumbs by Agatha Christie
4. The Unicorn Hunters by Katherine Arden
5. The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett
6. The Lost Château by Dinah Jefferies
7. This Immortal Heart by Jennifer Saint
8. The Crownless Queen by Elizabeth Chadwick
9. No Fair Maidens by Kim Willis
10. This Dark Night by Deborah Lutz
BOOKS 11-20
The remaining ten books will be chosen later and could be anything – but I do have two rules: for a book to count towards 20 Books of Summer it must have already been on my shelf (or Kindle) prior to the challenge starting and I must write and post my review before the challenge ends. I’ve created a page to keep track of my progress which you can see here.
I’m looking forward to getting started. Are you taking part in 20 Books of Summer/Winter this year?
She Reads Novels 
Good Luck, Helen!
Thanks, Sandra!
Great list so far, I’ve left Christie for a couple of months but I do miss her! A good idea as well to set up a separate page!
I’ve only managed to read two Christie books for the Read Christie challenge so far this year, so I’m looking forward to reading some more over the summer.
That’s a good plan! I posted about my list here https://librofulltime.wordpress.com/2026/05/12/20-books-of-summer-2026/ and I’ve just remembered I haven’t added the books to my special page I have for all the iterations, where I share links to all the books. I just went for the 20 oldest books on my TBR this year which is a slightly dull way of picking them but frankly needed doing! Have fun with yours …!
I’m sure I’ll read 20 books this summer, but I haven’t taken part in this challenge, I guess because I’ve never viewed summer reading as different from my other reading. I can’t believe how many Agatha Christie books have been popping up that I never heard of before. And now you have another one! The book about Emily Brontë looks particularly interesting.
I don’t really think of my summer reading as any different either, but I usually join in anyway as I do like making lists even if I have trouble sticking to them! And yes, the Emily Brontë biography should be interesting.
Oh, I meant to mention how beautiful the banner for the event is this year.
Yes, it is!
Always a fun challenge. And I think it’s important to give yourself flexibility when it comes to your summer reading list because your mood can change, especially when you come across a shiny new read. At least that always happens to me. ;D
Yes, I’ve found that making a list of 20 books just doesn’t work for me – I get too distracted by other books. I’m hoping that just listing 10 and choosing the others later will be more manageable!
This looks like a great TBR and sounds like such a fun event. I’m tempted to join in and curious about some of the events you’ve mentioned.
I’m hoping to read The Unicorn Hunters soon too, it sounds so good 😍 and I’m very curious about The Calamatiy Club. I hadn’t heard of No Fair Maidens and will definitely be looking that up too. The only one I’ve already read from your list I had mixed feelings about but I did enjoy it overall and tbh I think it suffered from following on from Aphrodite In Pieces 🙈 I’m definitely waiting a couple of months now before trying Phoenicia Rogerson’s Aphrodite book.
I look forward to seeing what else you pick up for the unselected ten and hope you have a lovely time joining in.
Thank you. I’m looking forward to reading all of these but I think I’m most excited about The Unicorn Hunters as I loved Katherine Arden’s other books. I’m sorry you had mixed feelings about the Aphrodite book – I don’t think I’ve read any others about Aphrodite so I don’t have anything to compare it to, which will hopefully help.
She definitely has a way with words and blends history and the supernatural together beautifully 😍 and I really hope it goes more smoothly for you. I’ll definitely be curious to hear what you think.
I’ve given myself flexibility this year too. I like your semi-structured approach; that could be an idea for me next year depending on how this year goes
I do like making lists, but trying to stick to a list of 20 is almost impossible for me. A shorter list with the option to choose the rest as I go along seems a lot more manageable. Good luck with your approach!
Good plan Helen, good luck!
Thank you!
Looks like a nice mix of which I have read exactly zero! I like the idea of giving yourself some flexibility in the second half.
I know from experience that I’m never going to complete this challenge without allowing myself some flexibility! Sticking to a list of 20 is just too restrictive for me, but I should be able to manage 10.
Good luck and I hope you enjoy whatever you read for this challenge! I have also signed up again and I will have my list of 10 books up soon! 😎
Thank you! I’ll look out for your list.
I am taking part in the challenge. I like the idea of having some short books on the list to complete the challenge.
Good luck, Deb. I think it’s best to avoid putting too many very long books on the list!