Reading Challenges

This curated list includes highly-rated and highly-readable books set in the US Island Territories of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the US Virgin Islands.

Armchair travelers will love this list of books set on islands. From the Mediterranean to the Caribbean, and from the tropical South Pacific to the cooler US east coast, this island books includes rom coms, historical fiction, memoirs, travelogues, and more.

Explore the history of the 1930s through the lens of literature with our curated list of books set in this iconic era. From heart-wrenching tales of the Great Depression to gripping espionage thrillers, discover the world of the 1930s and gain a deeper understanding of the tumultuous times that shaped our world.

More than 30 of the best books set in the southeastern US states of Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

More than 30 books set throughout Africa’s diverse countries, including novels, non-fiction, and memoirs.

This great selection of historical fiction books set in the 1920s includes classic novels originally published in the 1920s, plus highly rated new non-fiction and fiction books set in the 1920s.

More than 30 of the best books set in the southwest mountain states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.

The curated list features some of the best books set in Western Europe, including novels, YA, historical fiction, memoirs, and non-fiction reads. The books on this list are rich with atmospheric descriptions that will really transport you to the country of your choice.

A list of the best books set in the 1900s & 1910s, including historical fiction, books written in those decades, and non-fiction books that read like novels.

The brand new Read Around the USA 2023 Reading Challenge will take you to 12 different regions(groups of US states) in a one book per month format. The hosts provide curated book lists for each state.

More than 30 of the best books set in New England, including Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont

The best books set in Antarctica and the Arctic Circle, including novels, memoirs, non-fiction, and more that transport you to the cold.

From books about the Gilded Age in New York to fiction set in the Wild West, and from historical fiction to nonfiction, these are the best book set in the late 19th century, from 1880-1899.

There’s a lot to learn by reading about relationships between characters of different generations. This book list includes novels about intergenerational friendships between characters that are more than a few decades apart in age.

Love to armchair travel? This list of books – each spanning multiple continents – is a great resource for those who want to read around the world.

This list of multigenerational novels contains some of the best books spanning the years from 1910 to present day. There’s a lot to learn by reading expansive stories, memoirs, and novels that span decades to observe how things change over time.

Looking for book characters who are over 90 years old? These books feature 90-something nonagenarians and 100-something centenarians in either novels or non-fiction reads.

This list of North America books includes fiction and non-fiction reads. Armchair travel beyond the US with books set in Canada, Greenland, Mexico, and the Central American countries of Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama.

Looking for the best books set in the 2010s? This book list with descriptions covers many different aspects of life in the last decade.

These book recommendations include both non-fiction memoirs and fictional books with elderly characters in their 80s.

Best Books Set in South America – From books set in Brazil and books set in Argentina to books set in Ecuador and Bolovia, we’ve covered the South American continent in our book recommendations.

The Best Books of the 2000s: These excellent fiction and nonfiction titles are all set between 2000 and 2009

Books with main characters in their 70s. These novels with older characters relect a wide variety of 70-something life experiences.

Looking for books full of 90s nostalgia or books about events in the 1990s? This book list includes both fiction and non-fiction titles.

Books with main characters in their 60s. These middle age fiction novels with older characters relect a wide variety of 60-something life experiences.

25 of the best books set in the 1980s. Historical fiction, non-fiction, memoirs, and books published in the 80s.

Our list of books set in the Middle East includes historical fiction, contemporary fiction, memoirs, and travelogues that will shed light on both the challenges and beauty of modern-day life in this corner of the world.

Books with main characters in their 50s. From middle age fiction to memoirs, these reflect a wide range of 50 something life experiences.

The best books set in Australia or New Zealand. From the beaches to the outback, these titles include novels, historical fiction, memoirs, and non-fiction books.

From historical fiction books about the Seventies to popular books written in the 70s, these are the best books set in the 1970s.