Why 24-Hour Readathons Are the Latest Social Media Trend—Plus Tips for Hosting Your Own

Wouldn’t it be great to drop everything and read all day? We sure think so! With 24-hour readathons—a new trend where you read as much as you can over 24 hours—that dream can easily be turned into reality. Readathons have been blowing up thanks to social media, and the best part is that there’s no set way to do them. Feeling inspired and want to try one out? Keep scrolling to learn more about 24-hour readathons and our best tips for success!

What are 24-hour readathons?

“24-hour readathons are when friends decide to read as much of a book as they can within a 24-hour timeframe,” says book pro Cassie Malmo, founder of Malmo Public Relations , a boutique book PR firm. If you’re feeling ambitious, you can also try to read more than one book.

When it comes to selecting reading material for the challenge, Malmo notes that sometimes participants choose a book from a TikTok challenge prompt or a book the group wants to read together. Alternatively, each participant can pick something off their own TBR (to be read) list.

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Even though this trend isn’t a solo event, the desired result is up to the individual. People who have done this challenge have different goals: Some want to see how many pages they can read, some want to see how many books they can read cover to cover and others simply want to toss their phones aside and focus on uninterrupted reading time.

How to participate in a readathon

If you want to have a readathon, all you have to do is gather with friends and grab a book you won’t be able to put down. The readathon can be virtual or in person.

“Friends can read different formats if they want to; there could be scheduled video calls or you could share real-time reactions or updates with how far you've read,” says Malmo. “There are so many possibilities!”

Tips for 24-hour readathon success

Hosting or participating in a 24-hour readathon requires a bit more planning than just cracking open a new book. Here are our best tips for getting as much reading done as possible.

Prep in advance

Whether that means blocking a weekend out in your calendar, going shopping for a new book or setting aside a couple of choices, it’s important to prepare for a 24-hour readathon ahead of time.

Choosing your books—a mix of genres and formats—before you participate in a readathon helps save time, eliminates decision fatigue and allows you to start reading immediately.

Find a cozy space

If you’re hosting a large group, you want everyone to be comfortable. Set up a space where everyone has room to sit, lie down or stretch out when they need to take a break from reading. Pillows and blankets are also a must for extra coziness.

You can also decorate with candles, play calming music in the background or incorporate anything else you prefer when reading.

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Stock up on snacks

Reading takes energy, and what better way to replenish that energy than with snacks? Ordering takeout or being prepared with your favorite snacks can help when you’re hunkering down and reading.

This could be part of the prepping process, or everyone could head out to the store. Whichever way you do it, stocking up on your favorite munchies, easy grab-and-go foods, or even some caffeine can maximize your reading.

Schedule breaks

While you can stay awake for the entire 24-hour reading period, it’s not recommended. Instead, decide what works best for you. Maybe you’ll read several chapters before stopping or set a timer to see how much you can get done.

You can take naps, discuss your progress with the other participants, go to the bathroom and return to your book when ready. Setting alarms is helpful here so you don't lose track of time.

Need something to read for your 24-hour readathon? These long books are perfect for this occasion!

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