Summer has a way of making reading feel more relaxed and enchanting. Maybe it’s the longer days, the slower evenings, or the simple joy of sitting outside with a good book. Now imagine adding friends into the mix – not just reading on your own, but sharing the experience, the laughs, the surprises, and the “you have to read this” moments. That’s where a Summer reading challenge comes in – it can turn an ordinary pastime into a season of memorable moments.
A book challenge with friends isn’t about competition or rushing through pages. Instead, it’s all about connecting and adding a spark of playfulness to reading. It turns reading into an adventure – a friendly game – rather than just another task crammed into a busy schedule.
The goal of this challenge isn’t to read the most books – it’s to enjoy them more. To laugh about unexpected plot twists, bond over favorite characters, and maybe discover a story that stays with you long after Summer ends.
The “Hot Girls Summer Reading Challenge”
Now is the time! The sun is out, the vibes are high… welcome to the Hot Girls Summer Reading Challenge! It’s hot, it’s Summer, we’re girls – and we’re fully leaning into the energy. Here are some ideas to get you started on a Summer of reading fun!
Choose Your Challenge Members
To get started, determine who is going to join you in your challenge. It can be a handful of friends or a larger circle – whatever feels comfortable. Of course, your challenge members don’t have to be limited to your gal pals – invite those guys, too!
TIP: Make it a couples’ reading challenge with you and your husband, along with your “couple” friends.
Choose a Platform
Next, choose a platform where everyone can connect easily. This could be as simple as a private Facebook Group, a group in Slack or Discord, or even a friend chat group in iMessage or via SMS texts.
TIP: Of course, you CAN meet in person, too! That’s even MORE fun! Float in a pool, hop in a boat, hit the beach, or find your favorite chair on a patio – all great places to meet.
Set the Dates
Set the dates for your challenge. For example, your challenge could start on the unofficial start of Summer (May 25 – Memorial Day) and run through the unofficial end of Summer (September 7 – Labor Day). You decide what works best for your group.
Goal
The goal of the “Hot Girl Summer Reading Challenge” is to complete four challenges by the end of the Summer.
Each member chooses their own four challenges from the list below.
Encourage everyone to share what they’re reading, quick thoughts about the books, favorite quotes, or even their favorite reading spot. Short, low-effort posts keep everyone engaged without making it feel like a chore.
Challenge Categories to Choose From
Here are 13 challenges to choose from – each person picks the four they want to do. The bonus “wild card” challenges are optional (but fun).
Beach Read
- Read a book with a bright or summery cover, or a book set on vacation
- Post a picture of your book alongside your sandals or beach footwear
Literary Libations
- Pair your book with a themed drink (mocktails count)
- Post a picture of your drink
Judge a Book by Its Cover
- Pick a book you know NOTHING about
- Share your expectations versus reality
One-Sitting Sprint
- Read a book in one day
- Share how many pages are in the book
Main Character Moment
- Read a book where the main character inspires you
- Share your “main character energy” takeaway
Conspiracy Theory
- Read a book with a conspiracy theory theme
- Share your opinion on whether or not this theory could be true, and why
Read It Your Way
- Try a different format (audiobook, ebook, etc.)
- Share your thoughts about that format (preferred? not for you? etc.)
Now Playing
- Read a book that was turned into a movie or television show
- Which was better – the book, or the show?
Outside and Unplugged
- Read outside (pool, patio, park, etc.)
- Post a picture of your outdoor reading spot
Trope You Love (or Hate)
- Read a trope you love or hate (enemies to lovers, found family, small town, second chance, etc.)
- Share your thoughts
Random Pick
- Let fate choose your book (use a random generator, blind date with a book, thrift store find, etc.)
- Share “why I never would’ve picked this… and what happened”
Shake and Bake
- Read a book that features a natural disaster (for example, earthquakes, wildfires, tornadoes, avalanches, etc.)
- Share a part of the story that had the biggest impact on you
Around the World
- Read a book set in a different country
- Share a fun fact about the setting
Bonus “Wild Card” Challenges
These “Wild Card” challenges are for extra fun, and they are optional.
- Read a book recommended by another member
- Read a book published the year you were born
- Re-read a favorite and see if it still hits
- DNF (did-not-finish) a book guilt-free and explain why
Points System
Award points with the table below.
- Standard challenge: 10 points
- Photo or post included: +5 points
- Bonus/wild card challenge: 15 points
- Comment on someone else’s post: +2 points
Prizes
You don’t have to dole out actual physical prizes – although you can if you want. Just winning one of these titles is enough of a fun “prize”.
- “Hot Girl Reader” – the reader who earns the most points
- “Best Vibes” – the member with the funniest/most aesthetic posts
- “Plot Twist Pick” – the member with the most surprising book
Weekly Engagement Ideas
Here are some ideas to keep everyone engaged and excited about the challenge. Post these ideas once a week to your group, and have fun!
- “What are you reading this week?” – a weekly check-in
- Create Polls – for example: favorite trope, best character, etc.
- Start a short discussion thread about the book(s) everyone is reading
- Have people post their favorite quotes from the week
- Have members write mini reviews of their books – just 1-2 sentences to keep it easy
What Makes This Special
This Summer reading challenge is meant to be fun. Here’s what makes this challenge special.
- The challenge is low pressure – no one falls behind and can read at their own pace
- The challenge encourages discovery (like your thrift store find)
- The challenge builds connection through sharing experiences with your friends
- Because the challenge is short and easy, it works perfectly with busy Summer schedules
Additional Resources
- Free Ebooks – There is no need for anyone to purchase books for your Summer reading challenge – just use Libby to read ebooks for free!
- Free Trial to Kindle Unlimited – You don’t have to have a Kindle to get a free trial to Kindle Unlimited – just use your phone or tablet. Kindle Unlimited allows you to read books for free.
- Book Ideas – Need ideas for books you might want to read? Here’s a list of books I’m either currently reading or have read and enjoyed. You can also see my book list on GoodReads.
There you have it! If you decide to do this challenge with your friends, post a comment below and let me know how it’s going. And if you have additional ideas to share, make sure to leave a comment.
Let the challenge begin!!!
