May 2025 Mini-Challenge
Who’s hungry for some good books? We’re inviting you to dinner, so grab a menu, pick your books, and let’s satisfy those cravings for our next five-star read.
How does this May mini-challenges work?
For this month’s mini challenge, we’ve prepared a three-course menu for you.
On the menu, you’ll find three courses, each marked as “starter,” “main,” or “dessert.” Each course has either two or three prompts listed under it. Choose one prompt from each course (for a total of three prompts). This means you’ll choose one starter, one main, and one dessert. Match one book to each of your choices for a total of three books for this mini.
For more details, check out this YouTube walkthrough we’ve put together, or keep reading!
I’m new here! What are mini-challenges?
Mini-challenges are smaller month-long reading challenges, usually comprised of three prompts built around a specific theme. Mini-challenges are released sporadically throughout the year and not every month has one. Match one book to each of the prompts and have fun reading!
To ensure you don’t miss any future 52 Book Club mini-challenges, don’t forget to sign up for e-mails!
May Mini-Challenge Stickers:
May mini-challenge stickers are available now at PlanItWithStickers.com as a one-time purchase. This optional add-on includes two sticker sheets themed around this month’s mini and is perfect for those who enjoy journaling or using physical trackers to record their mini-challenge reads. You can find all the purchase details at www.planitwithstickers.com!
May 2025 Mini-Challenge:
For this May mini, we’re inviting you to complete three out of the seven prompts. (One from the starter, one from the main, and one from the desserts, for a total of three reads this month.)
STARTER:
Choose One
1) Seasonal Salad: A leafy, green cover
2) Slow-roasted tomato soup: A slower-paced story
MAIN:
Choose One
3) Seafood Sharing Platter: Buddy read with a friend
4) Chef’s Passport Plate: An author from a country you’ve never visited
Dessert:
Choose One
5) Baked Alaska: Set in Alaska
6) Tiramisu: Set in Italy
7) Pavlova: Set in New Zealand
Pick one prompt from the starters, one from the main, and one from the dessert (three prompts). Then match one book to each of those prompts (for a total of three books). Share your picks in our Facebook group, Goodreads group, or on Instagram using the hashtag #the52bookclub2025. You can also find these listed as bonus prompts on our StoryGraph challenge.
Graphics & Printables:
Need some suggestions?
1) (Starter) Seasonal Salad — A leafy, green cover: For our starter course, you can either choose a seasonal salad or a slow-roasted tomato soup. For this seasonal salad option, we’re looking for a book with a leafy, green cover. Books chosen for this option should have a green cover and /or have some form of foliage on them.
As always, it is entirely up to you to decide how much foliage the cover should have. It is also up to you how much green (and what shade) counts toward this prompt. You may choose a cover where foliage and leaves are prominent, or the “leafy” aspect may be a forest scene from further away. Alternatively, you may have much more prominent leaves but there may be only a few pops of green on the cover. As long as you think the cover feels “leafy” and “green,” it works for this prompt.
As a creative alternative, you may choose a title with the word “green” in it or the name of some sort of foliage in the title, such as “fern,” “forest,” etc.
As with all our cover-related prompts, keep in mind that different editions may have different covers. As long as at least one edition fits the “leafy, green” description, you can read that book using any edition and in any format.
Goodreads list: A leafy, green cover
2) (Starter) Slow-roasted tomato soup — A slower-paced story: The second option for our starter course is a slower-paced story. Slower-paced stories usually immerse us in the narrative with their rich and in-depth characters, descriptive worldbuilding, and beautiful writing. We may not be feverishly flipping pages or sitting on the edges of our seats, but that doesn’t mean it’s not an enjoyable read — we’re just revelling in a slower pace.
Unsure about a book’s pacing? Storygraph has a helpful feature where you can filter books based on their pacing (slow, medium, or fast). While the definition of “slower paced” may vary from reader to reader, typically, slower-paced stories include more introspection, psychology, and details. The emphasis will likely be more character-based than plot-based.
Goodreads list: A slower-paced story
3) (Main) Seafood Sharing Platter — Buddy read with a friend: Our first option for our mains is a seafood sharing platter. And what better fit for that than a buddy read with a friend!
For this prompt, you can choose any book and any genre you like — as long as you buddy read it with a friend! This can be whatever definition of “friend” you like. They do not have to be an in-person friend. New friends in The 52 Book Club Facebook group work too!
What is a buddy read? Buddy reads allow you and a friend to experience reading a book together at the same time. There are many different forms and ways of participating in buddy reads, and we’re leaving those details up to you. (Example: You may choose to read an assigned set of chapters or pages each day and then discuss daily, or every few days. You may meet up in person, video chat, or message in a chat group.)
Looking for a buddy? We’ve shared a post in The 52 Book Club Facebook group to help you find a reading partner. You can find that here.
*There is no Goodreads List for this prompt*
4) (Main) Chef’s Passport Plate — An author from a country you’ve never visited: For our second option under mains, we’re looking for an author from a country you’ve never visited. It doesn’t matter which country the author is from, as long as it’s a country that you’ve never visited. The author may or may not currently reside in that country. The book does not have to be set in the country that the author is from, but it may be.
*There is no Goodreads List for this prompt*
5) (Dessert) Baked Alaska — Set in Alaska: There are three options to choose from under desserts. Our first dessert prompt was inspired by the actual name of the dish, Baked Alaska. (Fun fact: While the origin story of baked Alaska is disputed, many sources agree that it was named to celebrate the acquisition by the United States of the former Russian territory of Alaska in 1867.) So, for this option, we’re looking for a book set in Alaska.
The book can be set anywhere in Alaska and during any time period. It may be fully or only partially set there. The book may be any genre, fiction or non-fiction.
Goodreads List: Set in Alaska
6) (Dessert) Tiramisu — Set in Italy: Our second dessert prompt was inspired by the location where this dessert was created. “Tiramisu is a dessert of Italian origin, that blends layers of espresso and liqueur-soaked sponge cake with a filling of mascarpone cheese and is then topped with cocoa powder.” (Britannica)
If you’ve decided to choose this dessert prompt, pick any book set in Italy. The book may be set anywhere in Italy and may be set during any time period, historical or contemporary. It may be fully or only partially set there. The book may be any genre, fiction or non-fiction.
Goodreads List: Set in Italy
7) (Dessert) Pavlova — Set in New Zealand: “Pavlova is a meringue-based dessert of Australian and New Zealand origin that is commonly topped with whipped cream and fruit and served at holidays.” (Britannica) New Zealanders and Australians compete for ownership of pavlova but since we’ve already had a prompt for a book “Set in Australia” on our 2023 challenge, we’re travelling to New Zealand for this prompt!
Choose any book set in New Zealand during any time period, historical or contemporary. This may be fully or partially set in New Zealand. The book may be any genre, fiction or non-fiction.
Bonus points if you eat Pavlova while reading. 😉
Goodreads List: Set in New Zealand
Mini-challenge tips:
1) Do I have to complete this challenge in May?
Nope! Feel free to complete this mini-challenge whenever you like. Some members prefer to focus on finishing the main 2025 challenge first, and then go back to complete all the minis afterward. Others enjoy the added challenge of completing mini-challenges in the month they’re released. Do whatever works for you!
2) Is this a part of the main 52 books in 52 weeks challenge?
Yes and no. Mini-challenges are related to our 52 books in 52 weeks challenge but are also completely optional. Some members may decide to complete the full challenge and all the minis. Other members may choose to skip mini-challenges or to complete some of the minis but not all of them. Some challenge participants might only be joining in for the minis. It’s up to you how (or if) you’d like to participate.
3) Can I use the same books as my 52 book challenge?
It all depends on your personal reading goals! You can choose to read these books in addition to your regular 52 Book Club reads (this mini-challenge makes 63 prompts for 2025), or you can double up and combine them with prompts still left on your 2025 list. Your challenge, your rules!
Happy reading, book friends!