A Year of Bookish Adventures: Seasonal Bookish Bucket Lists
- staceydfaubion
- Mar 30
- 10 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
If you’re anything like me, your love for books extends beyond just reading—you want to experience the magic of books in every season. That’s why I’ve created these Bookish Bucket Lists to inspire cozy, creative, and meaningful reading habits all year long!
Whether you're sipping cocoa by the fire in January or pressing flowers between the pages of a book in April, there’s always a way to make reading even more special.
January: Cozy Reading Goals
Winter is the perfect season to curl up with a good book, set new goals, and create a reading routine. Here are some ways to make the most of those chilly days:
Buy a New Book: Not going to lie, this will be a monthly prompt! LOL.
Read in a Coffee Shop: This may or not be an excuse to buy a favorite beverage. (wink)
Create a Reading Plan: Get yourself organized for a fantastical year of books!
Buy Cozy Reading Socks: Socks & books are the perfect pair(ing)!
Start a Book Journal: Track your progress & look back in December & be amazed!
Read a Classic: Do the hard things first is this prompt's motto!
Set a reading goal: Challenge yourself with a number of books to read this year.
Read by the fire: Nothing beats a cozy fire and a great book.
Get a Library Card: Just in case you don't have one, this is your motivation.
Light a candle & read: Set the mood for a relaxing evening.
February: For the Love of Books
February is the month of love, and what better way to celebrate than by diving into a swoon-worthy romance? Whether you’re indulging in a classic love story, discovering a new rom-com, or writing love letters to your favorite fictional characters, this month is all about embracing the heart of reading. Light a candle, grab a cozy blanket, and let yourself get lost in a book that makes your heart skip a beat!
Create a book nook: Every book lover's home deserves a book nook!
Visit an Indie bookstore: Support the fellow book aficionado in your community.
Share a book with a friend: The best friends are book friends.
Read a love story: Love is in the air! Capture the moment in book form.
Buy a new reading mug: It is almost impossible to enjoy reading time without your favorite beverage by your side.
Join a book club IRL or online: You will never regret this decision.
Buy a new book: You knew this prompt was coming!
Start a list of good books: Instead of a TBR list, create a Great Books list so you always have a handy recommendation.
Read a book with a strong female MC: Romance novels are all about the female lead, make her a strong one!
Put a book of poetry on your nightstand: Read your love a sweet nothing before bedtime each night to add a little romance to your life.
March: Luck, Adventure & Middle Grade Magic
March is a month of luck and literary nostalgia! Whether you're searching for a story filled with adventure and good fortune or celebrating Middle Grade March, this is the perfect time to dive into heartwarming, whimsical, and inspiring reads. From magical tales to childhood favorites, middle-grade books have a way of reminding us why we fell in love with reading in the first place. So grab a lucky charm (or a library card), and let's get reading!
Read aloud to a child: Ensure the love books lives on to the next generation!
Pair a book & spring bouquet: This is my favorite book pairing.
Go to a book event: Grab your bookish friends and go to a book signing or author talk. You'll gain so much insight into the books you love.
Read a middle grade book: It's Middle Grade March & this genre never disappoints!
Spring clean your bookshelf: This comes first!
Donate a book: This comes second.
Go thrifting for books: Now you have room for these!
Buy a new green book: And this one too!
Read a book with "Luck" in the title: If you're stuck on this one, may I suggest We Were the Lucky Ones It was so gooooood!
Enjoy a day reading in bed: If it's going to rain, you may as well read!
Pair a book & spring scented candle: A rain scented candle may go well with your rainy day in bed.
April: A Springtime Refresh
Spring is all about renewal, and what better way to refresh your reading life than with some book-inspired activities?
Spend an entire day reading: Give yourself permission to escape into a book for hours. Buy flowers to press: Then, press them into a book for a lovely keepsake.
Create book-inspired art: Express your love for a book through creative art.
Clean your bookshelves & donate: Spring cleaning, bookworm style!
Read a book in the Christian genre: Easter is the perfect time to rekindle your faith.
Buy a new reading mug: Mugs are a book-lover's necessity. Treat yourself!
Read outside: You've been cooped up all winter, it's time to greet the outdoors again!
Listen to an audiobook: While you're outside, go for a walk & listen to a good story!
Read a free book: Trade books with a friend and be blessed.
May: Celebrating Mom, Spring, & Stories
There’s something about May—flowers bloom, the days stretch a little longer, and the world seems to slow down just enough for us to pause and enjoy a good book. It’s the perfect setting for our May Bookish Bucket List: a whimsical, intentional way to savor the beauty of stories, support authors, and spread some literary love.
Leave a book behind: One person's lost book is another reader's lucky day!
Sign up for an author newsletter: Inbox full? Not when it’s filled with bookish joy!
Share a book online: Post about your fav read—it deserves its moment in the spotlight!
Read an award-winning book: See if the critics have it right!
Buy a new bookish shirt: Dress like the literary hero you are.
Read & Walk with an audiobook: Plot twists hit different when you’re dodging squirrels.
Create your summer TBR: Nothing says summer like big book stacks & unrealistic expectations.
Gift a book to Mom: Flowers wilt—books say "I love you" on every page.
Start a library for a child: Build a bookish starter pack for the next generation of story lovers.
Buy a pretty book: Judge the cover. Buy the book. No regrets.
June: Bookish Summer Vibes
Summer is here, and it's the perfect time to soak up the sun and some epic stories. Whether heading to the beach or staying close to home, this June Bookish Bucket List is packed with simple bookish adventures to kick off your summer of books!
Donate to your closest Little Free Library (#LFL): Surprises are the best treasure.
Read at your favorite Coffee Shop: Summers are for relaxing!
Leave a review: Your 5-star words might save someone from a 1-star reading slump!
Read a book on your TBR: It's time to stop ghosting that book you've been ignoring.
Buy a beach read: Sunscreen, flip-flops, & a steamy paperback are summer essentials.
Create a book-inspired drink: Bonus points for naming it something punny!
Donate books to your school: Clear your shelves- future readers are waiting!
Read a book with your love: Couples who read together avoid awkward small talk.
Gift a book to Dad: Give his "Back in My Day" stories a plot twist.
Create book-inspired art: Let time float by and your creativity soar high.
July: Bookish Fun in the Sun
Create a reading playlist: Let freedom sing! Make a soundtrack to match your current read or set the vibe for any reading sesh.
Post about your latest read: Wave your bookish flag! Share your latest read and let your reading community know if it’s a five-star firecracker or a dud.
Pack a book & a picnic: Soak up the sun and the story—bring a blanket, some snacks, and your current read to your favorite patch of paradise.
Take a bookish road trip: Hit the open road with books in your bag and adventure on your mind—bonus points if you visit an American author’s hometown.
Send someone book mail: Declare your independence from boring mail—brighten a friend’s day with a surprise book-shaped package—because stories are better when shared.
Start your Christmas book list: Christmas in July? Yes, please! It’s never too early to plan your bookish gifts.
Read a historical fiction: Honor the past by diving into a story set in another time—maybe even around 1776, if you're feeling extra patriotic.
Watch a book-to-movie adaptation: Pop some popcorn and watch your favorite novel come to life on screen (and yes, you’re allowed to say the book was better).
Buy a limited-edition book: Celebrate life, liberty, and the pursuit of beautiful book covers—snag that collector’s edition you’ve been eyeing!
Do a buddy read: Unite for a buddy read! Choose a book and read alongside a friend—because reading together is better than reading alone.
August: Back-to-School Bookish Fun
Let's not despair the end of summer—instead, let's lean into the bookish vibes back-to-school season brings. Have a grand time checking off every item on this August Bookish Bucket List. Who knows, August may be your new favorite month!
Annotate a Favorite Book: Dissect all the goodness of that book you love!
Tuck a Note in a Child's Lunch: Slip a little love & a bookish quote into their PB&J-powered day.
Start a Book Journal: So helpful when you can't remember anything about the book you finished last week.
Read Under the Stars: If you're going to read into the wee hours of the night, you might as well have a good view.
Start a Book Club: If the kids are getting academic, shouldn't you?
Go on a Bookish-Inspired Field Trip: If the kids get field trips, shouldn't you? lol
Read a Banned Book: Enjoy the perks of adulthood!
Buy a New Book Tote: After all, every great story deserves to travel in style.
Gift Books to a Classroom Library: Share the magic of stories you love.
Create an Outdoor Reading Nook: Why limit your reading to indoor spaces?
September: Time to Fall into the Books!
September is here, and with it comes crisp mornings, cozy evenings, and the perfect excuse to lean into all things bookish. This month’s bucket list is filled with cozy, creative, and autumn-inspired ways to celebrate reading. Let’s make fall feel like the ultimate reading season!
Read by a Fire: Pick a book as crackling, hot as the fire you'll be snuggled up next to.
Go on a Bookstore Crawl: Who needs bar hopping when you can shelf-hop instead!
Press a Leaf & Turn it into a Bookmark: Capture the spirit of Autumn between the pages.
Read a Collection of Poetry: A beautiful new season begs for inspired words!
Start a Fall-Themed TBR: Time to swap out beach reads for pumpkin-spice page-turners.
Listen to an Audiobook on a Crisp Walk: Let a good story be your companion as the leaves crunch underfoot.
Buy a Cozy Reading Blanket: Because every reader deserves a cocoon of comfort.
Create a Book-Inspired Dessert: Bring your favorite story to life in the sweetest way.
Designate 1 Day for Reading Only: As if an autumn day couldn't get any better, we went and made it MORE perfect!
Give Your Bookshelves a Fall Makeover: Add some pumpkins, fake leaves, and boom—you’re now a Pinterest board or a Bookstagram post!
October: It's Cozy Season!
The best month of the year is finally here! Books and fall go together like sweaters and pumpkin spice—an absolutely perfect pair. October is made for cozy nights, spooky reads, and little bookish traditions that make the season extra special. This month’s Bookish Bucket List is packed with fun ways to celebrate autumn while keeping your love of reading at the center of it all.
Go on a blind book date: Let a book choose you by its wrapping, not its cover.
Designate a screen-free night: Give Netflix the night off and let your bookshelf shine.
Buy a new reading pillow: Because your back deserves a happily-ever-after too.
Press a leaf bookmark: Capture autumn between the pages—literally.
Read a thriller: Nothing says spooky season like a heart-pounding page-turner.
Annotate a beloved book : Scribble in the margins like you’re writing secret love notes to literature.
Create a fall bookstack for Insta or home décor: Pumpkin spice your shelves with a seasonal stack.
Carve a bookish pumpkin: Turn your jack-o’-lantern into a literary legend.
Dress up as your favorite literary character for Halloween: Why be a witch when you could be Katniss?
Start a journal of book quotes: Collect the words that give you all the feels.
November: Embracing Living Slowly
November is the month for slowing down, savoring stories, and sprinkling a little extra cozy into our reading lives. This list is designed to help you celebrate the season with warmth, gratitude, and a good dose of bookish charm. So, grab your favorite blanket, pour something warm, and let’s make reading part of the way we rest, reflect, and rejoice this month.
Post your Top 10 Books of 2025 – Because reflecting on great reads is basically a literary gratitude list.
Stay up late reading – Turn off the alarm and turn one more page—sleep is optional, story joy is not.
Read a nonfiction book – Trade fiction for facts and feed your mind something new and nourishing.
Read your favorite classic by candlelight – Channel your inner Austen or Brontë and make reading feel downright romantic.
Visit an indie bookstore on Good Friday – Support small, sip something seasonal, and bask in that new-book smell.
Buy a picture book for every child on your Christmas list – Because stories are the coziest gifts that never outgrow their magic.
Bake a treat inspired by a favorite read – Literary baking: where imagination meets butter and sugar.
Leave a good book behind on a park bench – Be a secret literary Santa—share a story and make someone’s day.
Create a bookish centerpiece – Stack your favorite reads, add twinkle lights, and call it art.
Write a handwritten thank-you to your favorite author – Because gratitude never goes out of style (and authors love real mail).
December: A Bookish Christmas
December feels like it was made for readers—twinkle lights, cozy blankets, and fuzzy socks. This month's bucket list manages to capture all the magic of the season and the enchantment of books. So, add a little sparkle to your Christmas and have fun checking off each item on the list.
Buy a new reading lamp- Illuminate your nook for those "just one more chapter" nights.
Bake bookish cookies- Whisk together your love of stories with sugar.
Make a book-inspired gingerbread house- Build the sweetest bookstore ever!
Read a Christmas book- Escape into a world where snow always falls, cocoa never goes cold, & everyone gets a happily-ever-after.
Create a book ornament- Give your favorite books a place of honor on your tree.
Watch Little Women- Make this classic comfort movie a tradition.
Create a literary Christmas tree- The TBR finally gets to stand tall & shine- literally.
Plan next year's reading- Carefully craft the perfect reading plan you'll abandon by mid- January.
Read by Christmas lights- Because twinkle lights are the superior form of mood lighting.
Gift everyone on your list a book- Nothing says "love" more than forcing your obsession on family & friends.
More Seasonal Bucket Lists to Come!
These are just a couple of the seasonal Bookish Bucket Lists I’ve put together. Each season has its own unique way of enhancing our reading lives, from twisty summer beach reads to autumn nights spent with cozy mysteries, from fresh spring romances to long winter nights lost in thick historical fiction novels.
Which bucket list activity are you most excited to try? Let me know in the comments!
Happy reading,
Stacey Faubion
If you want to brush up on book and reading-related acronyms, check out 100 Terms for Book Lovers and Bookstagrammers!
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