Good Morning Reader,

I'm Italian-American and a New Englander. I am always judging. However, if my overflowing bookshelves could stare me down, they'd look like this:

Or this:

I don't know about you, but my bookshelves are judging me. It's time to change that.

Bonus June to August TBR Pile Reading Challenge

Our goal is to clear out our TBR (to-be-read) piles. You know, the books that have been accumulating on your physical and digital shelves for years. It's time to read them, and I hope this challenge makes that less daunting. We are in this one together.

✨ While the dates say June to August for those who prefer a deadline, please feel free to work on this one throughout all of 2026. ✨

Bonus June to August topics include:

• Oldest In Pile - Read the book that has been sitting in your TBR pile for the longest amount of time or has the oldest publication date.
• Brightest Cover - Pick the book with the most colorful or brightest cover (and share a photo in our Facebook group).
• Don't Remember Why It Is In Your Pile - I don't know about you, but my ebooks and physical bookshelves have a few books that I'm not sure why I wanted to read them...or how they got there.
• Favorite Cover - Judge that book by its cover; pick the most appealing.
• Free Space - Take the opportunity to clear up an extra book on your shelves or use the free space, literally. A few more Uncorked Reader suggestions I ran out of space for include: shortest pages, newest to your TBR pile, given as a gift, recommendation from someone else, or a book that intimidates you.
• Started But Tabled - Maybe this isn't a DNF (did not finish); maybe you just weren't in the mood. Pick up a book you started but decided you'll come back to.
• Impulse Buy - I cannot NOT buy a book in an indie bookstore, whether I need it or not. This could be an impulse buy or borrow from a LFL (little free library). Let us know why you wanted it, too!
• Digital Format - While my home office bookshelves are overflowing, my e-reader is looking pretty intimidating, too. Don't even get me started on my Libby holds lists... Maybe this is an audiobook for you.
• Most Pages - Grab the book with the most pages; good luck!

How To Participate

• Upload this bingo card to any app or editing program that you like. The size is 1000px by 1500px. If you prefer using Canva, here is a link to easily edit this template (just upload your book covers).
• I've added this bonus challenge to The StoryGraph at the bottom of our current one (after the Iceland prompts).
• This bingo card is posted to our Facebook group, Uncorked Readers.
• Keep up with everything on The Uncorked Librarian here.

One Last Reminder For Our Group Read Discussion Starting ✨ TODAY ✨ (May 29th)

As we transition into summer for my-side-of-the-world readers with this new challenge, don't forget our casual group discussion of Wild Dark Shore starts today in Uncorked Readers.

🦭 How It Will Work 🦭

Each day, I'll post several discussion threads labeled with a letter (A, B, C, etc.), starting at 6:30 AM EDT through 7:30 or 8:00 AM EDT. Each lettered post is its own conversation.

Reply to whichever questions spark something for you. Facebook is Facebook, so you may have to dig for these posts in the group. I will try to pin that day’s questions under the ‘featured section,’ too, and they will be labeled under the ‘group reads’ category. I only have so much control, so it will not be perfect.

You don't have to answer every question, and there are no wrong answers. Jump in wherever you want throughout the weekend.

📆 Friday, May 29 - Overall impressions (Posts A–C)

📆 Saturday, May 30 - Characters (Posts D–G)

📆 Sunday, May 31 - Setting & reflection (Posts H–J)

I cannot wait to hear what you thought of Wild Dark Shore and see what's been sitting in your TBR piles. Keep these challenges and book discussions coming with a small tip here.