The Clock Reading Challenge 2026
12 Books, 12 Months, 12 Numbers — Are You In?
Looking for a fun and flexible reading challenge to keep you motivated in 2026? Want something simple to follow, but still exciting enough to get you chatting with other readers? You’re in the right place — it’s time to join the Clock Reading Challenge 2026!
Disclosure: The FTC Disclosure Provision is a law that requires influencers to disclose when they are being paid to promote a product or service. So please know that if I'm not making money through affiliate links/sponsored content on the post you're currently reading, it's an oversight on my part and will be corrected soon. Read the full disclosure about all the legal stuff here.
About the Clock Reading Challenge
I first launched the Clock Reading Challenge back in 2021, and it’s been one of my favourite yearly reading traditions ever since. Each year, readers from around the world discover amazing books that fit perfectly into the challenge — and you’d be surprised by how many titles include numbers from one to twelve!
If you’re after a challenge that’s achievable and fun, this one’s for you. The concept is simple: read twelve books over the course of the year — one for each number on the clock.
Sounds easy enough, right? Though, fair warning: some numbers are trickier to find than others!
The Challenge
The goal: to read 12 books, each with a number from 1 to 12 in the title.
The officially hashtag for the event: #ClockReadingChallenge
Keeping track of your progress: To make it even more enjoyable, I’ve created a printable Clock Challenge Tracker — a visual “clock” you can fill in as you go. Add each book’s cover to the spot for its number, and by the end of the year, you’ll have a complete clock face made of all your 2026 reads!
You can easily customise or update your tracker using tools like Canva.
Why You’ll Love It
This is a low-pressure, easy-going challenge — no strict deadlines, no guilt if you fall behind.
If you skip a month or two, don’t worry! You can always catch up later. The idea is to encourage more reading in a creative, themed way — not to add stress to your TBR pile.
To help you get started, you can also plan out your TBR (to-be-read) list in advance using this simple template I’ve created.
Need some inspiration for your reading list? I’ve put together a full guide packed with book ideas for every number on the clock — from One to Twelve! Whether you want thrillers, romances, or literary fiction, there’s something for everyone. Check it out here: The Clock Reading Challenge Book Suggestions to find your perfect picks and start building your 2026 TBR. Join the 2026 Clock Reading Challenge
Ready to take part? It’s super simple to join in!
Just leave a comment below letting me know you’ll be participating — and you’re in.
Books: First Lines Fridays 5th December 2025
Every Friday, I like to take a closer look at the lines that start it all — those opening sentences that invite you into another world. Sometimes they’re from books I’ve read, sometimes from titles waiting patiently on my TBR. Can you guess which one I’ve chosen this week?
Disclosure: The FTC Disclosure Provision is a law that requires influencers to disclose when they are being paid to promote a product or service. So please know that if I'm not making money through affiliate links/sponsored content on the post you're currently reading, it's an oversight on my part and will be corrected soon. Read the full disclosure about all the legal stuff here.
Why I Love First Lines Fridays
I'm joining in with First Lines Fridays because it’s a brilliant way to highlight more books from my own collection. Whether it’s a current read or one still on my TBR pile, I love sharing those unforgettable opening lines that instantly grab you.
What is First Lines Fridays?
First Lines Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers hosted by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines?
- Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
- Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
- Finally… reveal the book!
My First Lines Pick For This Week
The first lines of the book:
Camille had settled well in her new house in Birdcage Mews. It had been rather a shock to discover that her husband, Lord Henry Divine, known affectionately to his friends as Harry, had promoted his mistress to potential wife. She had been rather like a dark shadow to Camille, a cloud that hovered just above their union, out of reach and untouchable, and one that could not be dissipated, no matter how much vehemence she threw at it. Harry would not be moved, neither backwards nor forwards. He stuck resolutely to his position, no matter how much she flounced, begged, cried, or even when she threw the Dresden figure at him. It had once been his beloved mother’s, a piece coveted by him for that very reason. He had simply bent down retrieved the jagged pieces from the floor. After giving her a look that would curdle the milk in the silver jug on the tray brought in by the maid for their tea, and who had scuttled out again, so frightened was she of being caught up in the storm, left the room quietly and with such dignity it finally dawned on Camille; there was absolutely nothing she could do to evict the recalcitrant woman from the life they had made together.
Do you know which book this is from? Scroll down to find out!
And the book is...
Book synopsis for The Christmas Tree Murders (Camille Divine #1) by Andrea Hicks
The Christmas trees in Knightsbridge sparkle with festive joy, and there’s nothing more fun than Christmas cocktail parties to ring in the new year of 1922.
Camille Divine, known as Lady Camille Divine, has decorated her little house in Birdcage Mews with glistening decorations and a beautiful Christmas tree, but she has more on her mind than the festive season. Lady Phoebe Carruthers has begged Camille and her maid, Cecily to investigate the disappearance of her personal maid. Then women begin to disappear off the street, their bodies left under the Christmas trees that stand in front of London's most popular landmarks. Something links the women who have been murdered and Phoebe's maid, and Camille is determined to find out what the connection is before another woman is murdered.
She realises there is safety in numbers, that she can do so much more with a team of resolute women by her side, so she recruits some of our old friends, Carrie, Elsie, Dorothy and Ida to help her discover what happened to Phoebe's maid, and why so many women are being murdered in such a brutal way.
Where to find The Christmas Tree Murders (Camille Divine #1) by Andrea Hicks online:
Have you read this book?
Have you read The Christmas Tree Murders by Andrea Hicks? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below! If you enjoy guessing books from their opening lines, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss next week’s First Lines Fridays post.
Christmas Romance Books To Read This Holiday Season
From snowy second chances to cozy small-town flings, these festive romance reads are perfect for cuddling up with this Christmas.
Looking for heartwarming stories to cosy up with this December? Whether you love small-town charm, second chances, or snowy romantic getaways, this list of Christmas romance books is perfect for getting into the festive spirit. From laugh-out-loud rom-coms to touching later-in-life love stories, there’s something here for every holiday reader.
Disclosure: The FTC Disclosure Provision is a law that requires influencers to disclose when they are being paid to promote a product or service. So please know that if I'm not making money through affiliate links/sponsored content on the post you're currently reading, it's an oversight on my part and will be corrected soon. Read the full disclosure about all the legal stuff here.
Why Read Christmas Romance Books?
There’s something magical about curling up with a cosy romance during the holidays — snow-covered towns, twinkling lights, and heartwarming love stories are the perfect festive escape. Whether you're a fan of second-chance love or charming small-town settings, these books will deliver all the Christmas feels.
Looking for more festive reads? Check out our guide to Winter Reads: Books To Get You In The Christmas Mood
Holiday Books For A Festive Read
Wondering what to read during Christmas season? Here's some festive fiction to put you in the holiday mood.
A Sugar Plum Christmas (The Mistletoe Book Club 1) by Susan Hatler
- ASIN : B07XYK2HS1
- Publisher : Hatco Publishing (December 14, 2020)
- Publication date : December 14, 2020
- Print length : 194 pages
City girl Lacey Lane scopes out Christmas Mountain for a potential reality dating show location and gets more than she bargains for when feelings spark with small town guy Jacob Curtis who doesn’t want his hometown exploited for ratings.
City girl and former foster child Lacey Lane arrives in Christmas Mountain to do research for a hit reality dating show she produces. If the location gets approved for filming then she’ll receive a bonus that will allow her to buy her own house—a forever home after a lifetime of moving from place to place.
Jacob Curtis is a small-town guy who doesn’t want his hometown exploited for ratings. Lacey might think he’s her tour guide, showing her all the best places to film her show, but he has a different agenda: show her all the reasons the town wouldn’t appeal to her TV audience.
Lacey catches on quickly to Jacob’s goal to undermine her research and soon they’re engaging in a dance that takes them from one end of Christmas Mountain to the other. Before long, she’s charmed by the town and its people, including Jacob, who is funny, heartfelt, and honest. For once in her life, she’s slowing down long enough to focus on things other than her career.
But when it’s clear Lacey and Jacob have developed feelings for one another, Lacey is torn. Regardless of where the show is filmed, will she return to the city to buy her dream house? Or will she stay in Christmas Mountain and make a home with the man of her dreams?
The Holiday Tree Mystery: Twinkle Lights and Thieves (The Old Town Mysteries Series Book 1) by Kassie Bates
- ASIN : B09B1SP8T5
- Publication date : July 21, 2021
- Print length : 70 pages
Welcome to Old Town, a small, quintessential historic town along Virginia’s Rappahannock River, where everyone knows each other, friends are considered family, the holidays are celebrated with gusto, and an unsolved mystery has lurked in the shadows for nearly forty years…
For years Kitty Parker has dreamed of owning her own shop in her picturesque home of Old Town – so it’s been a dream come true for her and her mother, Sophie, ever since they opened The Holiday Tree and Gifts only a few months before.
A lot of people weren’t sure about the feasibility of a year-round holiday themed gift shop, but if the past few months are any indication, their shop is a hit with the locals and tourists alike. And now that the holiday season is upon them, things are kicking into high gear.
Then one night, Kitty stumbles upon a burglary in progress, and while the would-be thief makes his fast escape she and her mother are left reeling from the destruction he left in his wake, as well as from finding an unexpected link to a nearly forty-year old unsolved case…
*Author’s Note: The Holiday Tree Mystery is a mystery story with a contemporary romance twist that spans the length of three novellas and takes place in a small historic town in Virginia.
Tinsel & Tides: A Later-in-Life Christmas Holiday Romance (Starfish Inn Book 1) by Nina Potter
- ASIN : B0D9FR8DD7
- Publication date : July 26, 2024
- Print length : 71 pages
Olivia Hartley’s high-powered Boston career has always been her top priority, but as the holiday season approaches, burnout looms large. Forced into a reluctant vacation, she finds herself in the charming coastal town of Mistletoe Cove. The picturesque town, adorned with twinkling lights and festive decorations, feels like a world away from her bustling city life.
Jack Sawyer, the town’s harbor master, is a ruggedly handsome local who has spent his life by the sea. His love for Mistletoe Cove is infectious, and as he introduces Olivia to the town’s Christmas traditions, she begins to see life—and love—from a new perspective. Despite her initial resistance, Olivia finds herself drawn to Jack’s warmth and the simple joys of small-town living.
But with her demanding job constantly calling her back to Boston, Olivia faces an impossible choice. Can she let go of her career-driven path to embrace the magic of the holidays and a future filled with love and community?
“Tinsel and Tides” is a heartwarming later-in-life romance that will leave you believing in the power of second chances and the true spirit of Christmas.
This short read is a delightful holiday escape for readers who enjoy a clean romance with mature characters.
Try these festive book tags this holiday season to share your love of Christmas reads.
Jingle Bells and Starlit Seas (Maple Ridge Book 2) by Mary Walden
- ASIN : B0DNYFJ47N
- Publication date : November 24, 2024
- Print length : 258 pages
Amber’s holiday to-do list:Avoid her ex-boyfriend who is now dating her mortal enemy from high school
Enjoy an ‘old-ladies-only’ cruise with her feisty grandmother
and...
Definitely don’t crush on the flannel-wearing hottie who makes a mean hot cocoa.
Too bad that stranger is also Luke ‘Ryder’ Harrison, country music’s scandal-dodging bad boy, who is incognito on the cruise with his grandmother after yet another tabloid scandal. With snowball fights, starlit strolls, and one identity reveal that’ll knock the eggnog out of her hand, this Christmas cruise just got way more interesting.
Jingle Bells and Starlit Seas is a heartwarming romance full of cozy winter vibes and the enchanting beauty of Christmas aboard a winter wonderland on the sea. This HEA guaranteed romance is a delightful break from reality. Perfect for fans of The Pumpkin Spice Cafe.
A Christmas Bloom (Hope Hill Romances Book 1) by May North
- ASIN : B0FKZHMSQ5
- Publisher : Sweet and Later Romances
- Publication date : August 1, 2025
- Print length : 135 pages
A holiday showcase gone wrong, a charming contractor from the past, and a flower shop owner who never expected love to bloom again.At 54, Julie St. James has embraced a quiet, independent life in Hope Hill, the charming town of lavender fields and second chances. As the Christmas season approaches, she’s busy prepping for the beloved Christmas Wedding Showcase—never expecting her highschool sweetheart, Charles Fenwick, to be the event’s contractor.
Charles still has that crooked smile and calm, steady presence, but Julie is determined to keep things strictly professional. Until wedding décor starts mysteriously vanishing, and the two are drawn into solving a cozy holiday whodunit.
As holiday centerpieces go missing and old sparks reignite, Julie must face the past she buried and the future she never thought she’d have. With her shop in trouble, Charles considering leaving Hope Hill again after the season,and secrets threatening the showcase, Julie wonders if she should risk following her heart.
A Christmas Bloom is a heartwarming small-town romance with a dash of mystery, filled with holiday spirit, lifelong friendships, and the sweet surprise of love rediscovered. It is the first book in the Hope Hill Romances series.
Snowflakes and Sparks: A Feel-Good Christmas Romantic Comedy (Old Pine Cove Book 1) by Sophie-Leigh Robbins
- ASIN : B07TZVNSMW
- Publisher : Got It Covered Press
- Publication date : October 3, 2019
- Print length : 240 pages
Uh-oh. I’m in trouble. My new neighbor is the gorgeous guy I shared my first kiss with ten years ago—right before I broke his heart.If your boss ever asks you to run a bookstore in a charming small town, you have the option of saying heck no.
I wish I’d realized this earlier, but it’s too late for me now. I’ve already arrived in Old Pine Cove, the one place on earth I swore I’d never return to. Thank goodness it’s only for the holidays. Don’t get me wrong, managing a bookstore has been a lifelong dream of mine and I do love Christmas. The problem is Alex Denverton opening the door with that smoldering look of his. I never expected to see him again after breaking his heart, let alone live next door to the guy, yet here I am in this giant Christmas pickle.
Now all I want for Christmas is a second chance with him. Surely that isn’t too much to ask for, is it? Yeah, with my luck, I’m not getting my hopes up.
Snowflakes and Sparks is the first book in this feel-good series full of humor and heart by USA TODAY Bestselling Author Sophie-Leigh Robbins. For a funny read you can’t put down, grab your copy today and get transported to the small town of Old Pine Cove.
Candy Cane Crush by Mila Rhodes
- ASIN : B0FY73K3LB
- Publication date : October 29, 2025
- Print length : 105 pages
When big-city journalist Chloe Grant returns to her snowy hometown of Frostbrook, Vermont, it’s supposed to be strictly business — one quick assignment, one biting article, and back to New York. But between the scent of peppermint, twinkling lights, and the familiar warmth of the local candy shop, Chloe discovers that some stories are meant to melt even the coldest hearts.Then there’s Evan Parker — the boy who once made her laugh and now runs the Candy Cane Co-op, turning sugar into art and sweetness into something dangerously real. As the Festival of Lights draws near, Chloe finds herself tangled in more than garlands and deadlines. The town she left behind — and the man she never truly forgot — may just rewrite everything she thought she knew about love, honesty, and home.
✨ Perfect for readers who love:
Cozy small-town holiday romances full of warmth and second chances
Slow-burn chemistry between a grumpy journalist and a cinnamon-sweet candy maker
Snowy nights, festive lights, and heartfelt redemption
Stories like The Christmas Café, In a Holidaze, and The Holiday Swap
Will Chloe trade her headline for happiness? Or will the truth she’s chasing cost her the sweetest love she’s ever known?
How the Hitman Stole Christmas by Katie Reus
- ASIN : B0C9MZ1M1W
- Publisher : KR Press, LLC
- Publication date : October 24, 2023
- Print length : 166 pages
Tis the season for a grumpy-sunshine romance with a side of murder and mayhem!
She hates Christmas and everything that goes with it…
Explosives expert Elliana hates Christmas—and the only good thing about this holiday season is that her gorgeous neighbor seems allergic to shirts and clothes in general. She knows because she’s been watching him for months with her drone. She’s never stalked anyone before, but he not only doesn’t seem to mind, he puts on nightly strip shows just for her. When she finally works up the courage to talk to him, she stumbles right into a murder—that he’s committed.
But this holiday is one she’ll never forget…
According to Theo, the whole murder thing is no big deal—the dead guy needed killing. And while her hot neighbor wants her, protecting her is his main priority. So when she’s targeted, this cinnamon roll hitman kidnaps her for her own good. With a deadly threat hunting them and a hot hitman who keeps handcuffing her to him “for her own protection”, Elliana is starting to reconsider her grinchy stance on the holidays. And when everything finally comes to a head, the results are bound to be…explosive.
🎁 What’s your favourite Christmas romance read? Drop it in the comments and let’s grow this list together! Don’t forget to share this with your fellow festive bookworms.
.jpg "The Clock Reading Challenge 2026")
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%20by%20Andrea%20Hicks.jpg "The Christmas Tree Murders (Camille Divine #1) by Andrea Hicks")
.jpg "First Lines Fridays")
%20by%20Susan%20Hatler%20book%20cover.jpg "A Sugar Plum Christmas (The Mistletoe Book Club 1) by Susan Hatler book cover")
%20by%20Kassie%20Bates%20book%20cover.jpg "The Holiday Tree Mystery Twinkle Lights and Thieves (The Old Town Mysteries Series Book 1) by Kassie Bates book cover")
%20%20by%20Nina%20Potter%20book%20cover.jpg "Tinsel & Tides A Later-in-Life Christmas Holiday Romance (Starfish Inn Book 1) by Nina Potter book cover")
%20by%20Mary%20Walden%20book%20cover.jpg "Jingle Bells and Starlit Seas (Maple Ridge Book 2) by Mary Walden book cover")
%20by%20May%20North%20book%20cover.jpg "A Christmas Bloom (Hope Hill Romances Book 1) by May North book cover")
%20%20by%20Sophie-Leigh%20Robbins%20book%20cover.jpg "Snowflakes and Sparks A Feel-Good Christmas Romantic Comedy (Old Pine Cove Book 1) by Sophie-Leigh Robbins book cover")
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