With the new year underway and the first month nearly behind us, are you ready to elevate your 2025 reading aspirations?

As an avid reader, this season always ignites my enthusiasm – with a whole year ahead, the reading options are limitless. Can I surpass last year’s count of 50 books? (All signs suggest yes, especially since I’ve taken on the role of YSL News’s Books reporter.) Will I finally dig into the books gathering dust on my shelf? Can I make better use of my local library?

I hope you share this sentiment and want to take on our exciting book challenge: a fun bingo card filled with categories to help you expand your reading horizons. The cherry on top? You could snag a $100 gift card to Bookshop.org if you enter before March 21.

No need to feel disheartened if you don’t achieve bingo this time – YSL News also plans to host a Spring Book Challenge from March 22 to June 20.

How to Join the YSL News Book Challenge

The Winter Book Challenge is open until March 21. Anyone who participates and sends in their completed bingo card will be entered into a giveaway for a gift card. The winner will be contacted via email within five business days of the drawing. You can find all the contest rules here. Participants must be 18 or older to enter.

The bingo card features spaces like “read a book set in a country you’ve never visited” and “read a book with a color in the title.” It also includes broader categories such as “romantasy,” “classic,” or “a book you already own.” This design allows readers from all genres to take part.

To submit your bingo card, fill out this entry form, providing your contact details and the titles of the books you’ve read to complete the challenge. For instance, you could tick off five books and complete the entire top row, or use the free space in the center and check off four additional boxes. Remember, each square must relate to a different book – you cannot use one book for multiple squares!

Here’s an example of how I would complete the Winter bingo card:

• Fiction: “Intermezzo” by Sally Rooney
• Translated literature: “I Who Have Never Known Men” by Jacqueline Harper
• Free space
• Book recommendation from a local bookseller: “Long Island Compromise” by Taffy Brodesser-Akner
• Has a color in the title: “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison

We’d love to see your completed bingo card shared on social media with us tagged (@usatodaylife) (here’s an example of how I created mine on my Instagram story by taking screenshots of and pasting book covers), but don’t forget to submit the entry form to be eligible for the giveaway.

Need help finding your next read? YSL News Books is here to assist.

Preferences vary, and YSL News Books has a range of genres to suggest. If you enjoy romantasy, be sure to explore our recommended reads after “Fourth Wing” by Rebecca Yarros. If you’re in the mood for something light-hearted with endearing characters, consider a “cozy mystery” or a “cozy fantasy” book. Alternatively, check out our list of the most anticipated reads for 2025. For those interested in popular titles, take a look at YSL News’s Best-selling Booklist.

Clare Mulroy is the Books Reporter, focusing on exciting new releases, engaging with authors, and exploring the reading culture.