N.E.W.T.s readathon TBR

In an extremely typical “me-move”? Well, I’m doing another readathon. In a month which I will spend one half travelling, and the other half correcting exams. Oh – and because I can’t ever make any choices? Why, naturally, I’m opting to do the version that’ll get my N.E.W.T.s readathon TBR to make life as hard on me as possible. Also known as: I’m opting for the career that requires me to read at least 17 books. So that’s fun.

My career

So what is the N.E.W.T.s readathon exactly? Well, it’s basically the sequel to the O.W.L.s readathon, which I took part in during April. And as I said then – I don’t want to limit myself. So I’ll just choose the career that requires you to get the largest number of N.E.W.T.s. Keep those options open, you know?

Anyways, in April I opted to go for the Alchemist option. You know, if I got all O.W.L.s at that point, I could still decide by the time August came around… Bad news: August’s just about here. And I’ve still not decided what career I want to go for.

So, to make things easier on myself (easier – hah!) I’m going to try and get the N.E.W.T.s for two different careers. And yes, I totally set up a spread sheet to see which two careers I could get the broadest range of N.E.W.T.s with,while still technically limiting myself to two careers only.

Alchemist

My first option was, naturally, the alchemist. You need to get 5 O’s and 1 E for this one, so that already gave me a pretty broad range, you know?

Ancient Runes: O

A: Ehwaz – partnership: read recommended by a friend

• It’s Not Me, It’s You, Mhairi McFarlane (I mean, it was a gift, so if that’s not a recommendation, I don’t know what is – Goodreads)

E: Book written in past tense

• Any of the Baby-Sitters Club-books (Goodreads)
• Alternately: any book I’m reading that happens to be written in the past tense as well 🙂

O: Book that has been on your TBR for ages

• The mermaid’s voice returns in this one, Amanda Lovelace (it’s been on there since about a year before it’s publication date, does that count? – Goodreads)
• A Study in Charlotte, Brittany Cavallaro (This one’s also been on my TBR since before it’s publication date – 3.5 years ago. It has to count – Goodreads)

Arithmancy: O

A: Book that ends on an even page number

• The Wedding Party, Jasmine Guillory (320 pages – Goodreads)

E: Read a standalone

• It’s Not Me, It’s You, Mhairi McFarlane (Goodreads)
• Screen Queens, Lori Goldstein (Goodreads)
• The Unhoneymooners, Christina Lauren (Goodreads)

O: Book that’s longer than 350 pages

• Fix Her Up, Tessa Bailey (exactly 400 pages, how perfect a fit can it be? – Goodreads)
• The Paper & Hearts Society, Lucy Powry (at 355 pages, this is such a perfect one for this, because it’s exactly long enough to fit the challenge, but short enough to hopefully not be too long – Goodreads)

Astronomy: E

A: Moon on the cover or anywhere in the title

• Destination Moon, Hergé OR Explorers on the Moon, Hergé (Tintin comics, and I love that series… So reading these? Not a punishment :p – Goodreads)
• To The Moon and Back, Jill Mansell (I love her books, and I already read this one before, so hopefully I should be able to make my way through it a bit faster on the second time – Goodreads)

E: Word “night” in book title or series name

• One Starry Night, Tilly Tennant (I actually really struggled with this one. My first instinct was to reread either The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time or The Night Circus, but I don’t really want to reread the first one, and the second took me a while to read the first time… Which is basically like the number one thing you don’t want to read during a readathon, right? Anyways, so this is like the one that stood out to me more. And it’s almost time to start my Christmas reading anyways – Goodreads))

O: Read a sci-fi book (or book with stars on the cover)

• The Paper & Hearts Society, Lucy Powry (there’s lovely sparkle-stars on this cover, and I’ve been wanting to read it since I heard of its planned release – Goodreads)

Herbology: O

A: Mandrake! Quick, put your headphones on! listen to an audiobook (if not: green cover)

• I’m planning on trying the Audible trial in August, so I’ll see what that brings me
• If Audible doesn’t work out, I have a children’s book by Bart Moeyaert, who is one of the most awared Flemish writers from the last little while – he even got the Astrid Lindgren-award this year. I mean, the Noble price for children’s lit, narrated his own story? Yes, please!

E: Read a book between 350-390 pages

• 99 Percent Mine, Sally Thorne (368 pages to be exact. Perfectly within the required bracket – Goodreads)

O: Read a book with a flower on the cover

• Soft in the Middle, Shelby Eileen (What a gorgeous cover, by the way! And I really feel that I’ll like the content of this poetry collection – Goodreads)
• The Secret Cove in Croatia, Julie Caplin (All the flowers on the side of the page… How much more perfect for this challenge could this book be? – Goodreads)
• Whichmore, Tahere Mafi (gorgeous red roses on top of a black-and-white background? Yes please – Goodreads)

Potions: O

A: Pollyjuice potion: read your friend’s favourite book!

• This is so difficult! I’m going to have to ask around and then decide based on that!

E: House ingredient: book with a cover in your Hogwarts colour

• Field Notes on Love, Jennifer E. Smith (I’m a Ravenclaw or a Hufflepuff, depends on the day, the mood, and the weather. Either way – for the sake of this one? I’m a Ravenclaw, and I match the blue of this book’s cover – Goodreads)
• I Wanna Be Where You Are, Kristina Forest (Another one for my inner Ravenclaw – but what lovely blue it is! – Goodreads)

O: Book that starts with a prologue

• How will I know this until I start reading the book though?

Transfiguration: O

A: Read a book with LGBTQA+ representation

• Her Royal Highness, Rachel Hawkins (F/F – Goodreads)
• How Not To Ask a Boy to Prom, S.J. Goslee (M/M – Goodreads)
• Tell Me How You Really Feel, Aminah Mae Saf (F/F – Goodreads)

E: Read a book that’s not a first in the series

• Whichwood, Tahereh Mafi (the second book in the Furthermore-series – Goodreads)
• The Wedding Party, Jasmine Guillory (the third part in the The Wedding Date-series – Goodreads)
• Her Royal Highness, Rachel Hawkins (the second part in the Royals-series – Goodreads)

O: McGonagall does not mess around! Read a book over 500 pages

• Eeeuh… This is the n°1 challenge I feel like I will probably fail on. I honestly have no idea what I’d read for this, but whatever it is? It’ll be a wild card, that’s for sure!

Hogwarts professor

Now, I’m not saying I cheated per se. But, you know – I did play around a bit to get the broadest possible range of N.E.W.T.s. In general, for this occupation, you need to get an O for the subject you want to teach, as well as an E in DADA and two A’s in secondary subjects. I mean – this one was just begging for me to add to my curriculum, right?

Charms: O

A: Read a book that you think has a gorgeous cover

• Soft in the Middle, Shelby Eileen (I mean, those flowers, that art, … – Goodreads)

E: Read a comic/graphic novel/manga (or book under 150 pages)

• I’m keeping this one for a freeby – just because this is one that should be a relatively quick read if I go for one of the comics I already own. Which, let’s be real… I might need that :p

O: Spongify (softening charm) – read a paperback book

• This will be a wild card – something to allow me to feel as if I actually have some decisive power in my life :p

DADA: E

A: Book that’s black under the dust jacket

• This may just be the one that gets me – because I don’t really own that many books that have dust jackets? Let alone, that are black underneath? Please help!

E: Gilderoy’s memory charm – first book you remembered just now from your TBR

• My mind just went “the ARCs! Must read the ARCs!” So apparently ARCs it’ll be!

O: Cornish pixie! Swat it away with a book written by an English author or set in England

History of Magic: A

A: Read a fantasy

• Option 1: Whichwood, Tahereh Mafi (if I don’t read it for another prompt – Goodreads )

B: Read a book that includes a map

• Any of the Narnia-books, C.S. Lewis (Goodreads)

O: Tom Riddle’s diary: fond memory – reread a favourite (or read a classic)

• More Narnia. 100% (Goodreads)

Muggle Studies: A

A: Cover that includes an actual photo element (person, item, place, etc.)

• Girl Logic: The Genius and the Absurdity, Iliza Schlesinger (a picture of the author’s face should count, I’m sure – Goodreads)
• The Dating Proposal, Lauren Blakely (Goodreads)
• Tell Me How You Really Feel, Aminah Mae Saf (Goodreads)
• Somewhere Only We Know, Maurene Goo (Goodreads)

E: Book set in our real world

• The majority of the books in this N.E.W.T.s Readathon TBR would actually fall into this category – so I’m going to keep this one as a) a freeby and b) for when I can’t face the other books I’m supposed to be reading :p

O: Book written by a person of colour

• Pride, Prejudice and Other Flavors, Sonali Dev (Look, give me a Jane Austen-retelling anyday, okay? – Goodreads)
• Tell Me How You Really Feel, Aminah Mae Saf (F/F – Goodreads)
• Somewhere Only We Know, Maurene Goo (Goodreads)

For those of you that kept track – yes, that means I need to read 24 books. In a month. And I need to read them from Acceptable, through Exceed Expectations, to Outstanding. Which should be fun, considering I hate being forced to read a certain book. I mean, I did try to get some overlap in – as well as some options – to counteract that dislike. It worked in April, but I’m quite curious to see where it’ll get me this time round!

Anyways – what’s on your N.E.W.T.s readathon TBR? Any books in particular you’re excited about? And what career are you aiming at? Be sure to let me know below!

-Saar