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Uncorked Reading Challenge 2021: Read Around The World

Are you looking to read more diversely and travel via a good book or two? And, are you craving a low-key online community and manageable 2021 reading challenge?

Take our Uncorked Reading Challenge 2021 for book lovers and wanderlusters. This reading challenge has 12 themes — one for each month.

Find books to inspire travel, inspirational fiction and nonfiction, and diverse, international reads. Book suggestions will be both heavy and fluffy.

Read as much or as little as you like each month within the theme. Skip a month if you need.

And, grab book ideas for each topic in our newsletter and Facebook Group, Uncorked Readers.

The Uncorked 2023 Reading Challenge is here.

Uncorked Reading Challenge 2021 with globe on top of green and red books
Don’t miss our Uncorked Reading Challenge 2021 with books to inspire diverse reading and travel.

This year, we will also have quarterly group reads where we will vote on a book to read and discuss the title in our Facebook group. This past fall, we read The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell.

Whenever you are on social media talking about the Uncorked Reading Challenge 2021, be sure to use the hashtag #UncorkedReading2021 and tag me @theuncorkedlibrarian (@theuncorkedlib on Twitter).

Are you ready to read more and travel around the world via a good book this 2021? Let’s get started with our 2021 Reading Challenge for travelers, wanderlusters, and tipsy readers!

Uncorked 2021 Reading Challenge with 12 themes by month
Never forget each month’s theme. Save our 2021 Reading Challenge to your phone or Pinterest.

Uncorked Reading Challenge 2021 Monthly Themes

These are each month’s themes for our 2021 reading challenge. Travel around the world and read more diversely.

June 2021 – Book With A Beverage In The Title

Are you up for the challenge? Find a book with a beverage in the title.

October 2021 – True Crime Nonfiction

True crime and red wine? In October, let's dive into some more creepy nonfiction.

November 2021 – Book Inspired By Norse Mythology

For history lovers, find a book inspired by Norse mythology.

December 2021 – Multicultural Rom-Com

This one is for romance lovers -- grab a multicultural romance and comedy.

P.S. Don’t miss our Best Books of 2020 reading list — which is sure to help you with our Uncorked 2021 Reading Challenge categories.

If you are looking to say on top of newer books for this 2021 reading challenge, head over to our most-anticipated 2021 book releases here.

Don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter. We will email book suggestions for each topic around the 1st and 15th of the month.

Join The Uncorked Reading Challenge Today


Travel around the world with the Uncorked Reading Challenge. Get the best book and movie recs straight to your inbox. Sign Up Now.

Here Is A Sneak Peek Of The Uncorked Reading Challenge 2021 Book Suggestions That Will Go Straight To Your Inbox Each Month

Every month, we will send you book suggestions and an image to save to Pinterest and your phone. Here’s a sneak peek at January through June’s 2021 Reading Challenge book recommendations.

Uncorked January Reading Challenge 2021 Book Suggestions
February 2021 Reading Challenge Book Suggestions
March 2021 Reading Challenge Book Suggestions For Historical Fiction With Inspiring Women, including Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly, Kindred by Octavia Butler, The Island Of Sea Women by Lisa See, The Lost Girls Of Paris by Pam Jenoff, Fifty Words For Rain by Asha Lemmie, and The Book Of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd
April 2021 Reading Challenge with book recommendations for 'book set on a train' theme like The Girl On A Train by Paula Hawkins, Murder On The Orient Express by Agatha Christie, Violet by SJI Holliday, Slow Train to Guantanamo by Peter Millar, Riding the Iron Rooster by Paul Theroux, A Night on the Orient Express by Veronica Henry

May 2021 Reading Challenge with book recommendations for a 'book set in India' like A Burning by Megha Majumdar, The Inheritance Of Loss by Kiran Desai, The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi, The God Of Small Things by Arundhati Roy, Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie, The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga, The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri
June Reading Challenge 2021 with book suggestions for a 'book with a beverage in title' like Like Water For Chocolate by Laura Esquivel, Black Coffee by Agatha Christie, Tequila Mockingbird by Tim Federle, The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See, Water for Elephants bu Sara Gruen, The Book of Tea by Okakura Kakuzo, Drinking Coffee Elsewhere by ZZ Packer

Uncorked Reading Challenge 2021 Bookmark

This year, we have a 2021 Reading Challenge Bookmark just for you!

Uncorked Reading Challenge 2021 Bookmark with 12 book themes by month
Cheer’s to reading more in 2021. Click and drag this image to your desktop to print.

2021 Reading Challenge Facebook Group

Last year, our readers asked for a private Facebook group to talk about what we were all reading each month.

Along with our bi-weekly newsletter — filled with book lists and book suggestions — join our bookish online community for even more fabulous book recommendations from all of our readers.

Everyone and anyone is free to post in this group:

Uncorked Readers On Facebook
Don’t forget to join our optional Facebook for the 2021 Reading Challenge, Uncorked Readers.

We’ll also talk about group reads, have polls for future reading, and just chat about everything books, booze, and travel.


If you didn’t participate last year, don’t forget to join the 2021 Reading Challenge mailing list. All 2020 members will automatically receive the 2021 printable Reading Challenge & bi-weekly book recs.

Join The Uncorked Reading Challenge Today


Travel around the world with the Uncorked Reading Challenge. Get the best book and movie recs straight to your inbox. Sign Up Now.


Happy 2021 Reading!

Last year’s reading challenge was our first, and what a blast. I cannot wait to read with all of you throughout our 2021 Reading Challenge.

Don’t forget to sign-up for our newsletter filled with reading challenge suggestions and blog updates. I promise never to spam you, and I’m told that TUL’s newsletters are the best part of our website.

Uncorked Reading Challenge 2021 List with themes by month and picture of a globe in front of bookshelves
Participating in our Uncorked Reading Challenge 2021? Save this challenge on Pinterest or to your phone, and never forget what to read each month.

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Priya @ Tabula Rasa

Friday 22nd of January 2021

This is a great challenge! Little late, but joining in!

Christine

Friday 22nd of January 2021

Thanks so much! Welcome!

Charles Bishop

Wednesday 20th of January 2021

Wow! Reading Challenge. But I before reach your post, I saw an article about audiobooks. This time I have a question for this topic. Which is the best for me Book reading or Listening to audible books.

Christine

Wednesday 20th of January 2021

Hey Charles, I think both can be great. If you have long commutes or take road trips, audiobooks are fantastic. Audiobooks are also great for chores and cooking -- podcasts, too. If you like to read before bed or take a book with you to appointments, physical books are nice.

Franklin Cobos

Wednesday 20th of January 2021

I love Book of the Month! Thanks for this challenge. This month I picked The Survivors. Because I am in the mood for thrillers my add ons were The Broken Girls and Goodnight Beautiful!

Christine

Wednesday 20th of January 2021

Book of the Month has been great! I am waiting for Goodnight Beautiful from the library. This past month, I selected The Removed, which incorporated Cherokee folklore.

Kathy

Monday 4th of January 2021

I didn’t post really last year but followed along and did the reading challenge! I’m so excited for this year!!! I’ve read some great books that i might not have heard about or considered.

Christine

Sunday 10th of January 2021

Thank you so much for participating last year and joining our 2021 reading challenge. I'm excited for this year, too. I loved everyone's reading challenge theme suggestions.

Megan

Friday 4th of December 2020

Awesome challenge! I’ll definitely be participating!

Christine

Friday 4th of December 2020

Thank you, and welcome! I'm excited for a year of fabulous reading.