I've been visiting Stranger Things filming locations since 2019, and it's seriously one of my favorite things to do and explore. Below, I've developed a 3-day itinerary if you're in the area and looking to explore. Some of these can be pulled apart if you're around for more than three days, or even condensed more if needed. 

Hopefully this helps you explore and have fun. Keep reading for the full details.

Day 1: West and South Atlanta 

For the past decade, I've participated each year in the Popsugar Reading Challenge. I always liked it because it gave me the opportunity to read books already on my shelves but to also try and discover other books by satisfying specific prompts. Usually there are about 50 prompts, and while I almost always read more than 50 books each year, I find it so hard to complete all the PS Reading Challenge prompts. They can sometimes be vague, or I have a hard time finding a book I'm interested in based on the prompts available. 

While I'll still be working towards the PS Reading Challenge in 2026, I am really delighted this year to be completing the Bookish Reading Challenge! Bookish is a small bookstore in Atlanta that focuses on authors "in the margins" - authors who are women, BIPOC, trans, queer. It's an honest must-visit Atlanta-area bookstore, with an absolute joy of an owner. So that's just one of the reasons I'm delighted to participate in this particular challenge.

I'm also excited because it's different than any other challenge I've seen before. In this challenge, 134 books have been sorted into 16 categories, but to complete the challenge, you don't have to read them all. Instead, the objective is to really just find new-to-you books that have been thoughtfully curated about different categories with diverse authors and stories. These aren't all brand new, just released books either, which makes this particularly diverse. Additionally, there are incentives to win. Read at least one book in at least 12 of the 16 categories to win a tote bag, and read at least 24 books from the list (no category requirement) for a t-shirt. It's actually genius, because then these totes and tees become marketing for the store. I. AM. OBSESSED.

One caveat - these do need to be NEW TO YOU books, so I've had to cross-out some books below, which I've already read in the past (here's looking at some favorites like Stars and the Blackness Between Them and The Shining). For books to count towards the challenge, they need to be read in 2026. I do have plans for other categories, and some to figure out along the way. I'll be double-dipping with the 2026 PS Reading Challenge, as well as trying to narrow down my Netgalley books for review. There are others that have just been on my TBR forever that I haven't gotten to, and this will give me that push to read them this year. 

 

Time is the weirdest concept because it feels like this year was incredibly and horribly long - the amount of books I read surprised even me, but then life with a toddler is so weird because it feels like she was just born yesterday and now she's two. Regardless of how long or short the year was, 2025 has ended and we're moving into a new year, which means new reading challenges (see here was what to expect in 2026 for the Popsugar Reading Challenge, plus a new local challenge I'll be working on this year).

I surpassed my Goodreads challenge of 52 books, with a whomping 96 books, but let's see how I fared on the 2025 Popsugar Reading Challenge.

 

2025 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge prompts

 

01. A book about a POC experiencing joy and not trauma 
The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory

02. A book you want to read based on the last sentence 
Hum by Helen Phillips

03. A book about space tourism

04. A book with two or more books on the cover or "book" in the title 
The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer

05. A book with a snake on the cover or in the title 
Consensual Hex by Amanda Harlowe

06. A book that fills your favorite prompt from the 2015 PS Reading Challenge
The Babysitter's Coven by Kate Williams (prompt: author with your same initials)

07. A book about a cult 
Dinner for Vampires by Bethany Joy Lenz

08.A book under 250 pages
Carefree Black Girls by Zeba Blay

09. A book that features a character going through menopause 
Want edited by Gillian Anderson

10. A book you got for free 
Girl in Snow by Danya Kukafka

11. A book mentioned in another book 
Royal Holiday by Jasmine Guillory (mentioned in: Prince of the Palisades)

12. A book about a road trip 
Off the Map by Trish Doller

13. A book rated less than three stars on Goodreads 
If I Stopped Haunting You by Colby Wilkens

14. A book about a nontraditional education 
A Neon Darkness by Lauren Shippen

15. A book that an AI chatbot recommends based on your favorite book 

16. A book set in or around a body of water 
Black Tide by KC Jones

17. A book about a run club 
We Loved to Run by Stephanie Reents

18. A book containing magical creatures that aren't dragons 
Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix

19. A highly anticipated read of 2025 
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab

20. A book that fills a 2024 prompt you'd like to do over (or try out) 
Firebreak by Nicole Kornher-Stace (prompt: set in the future)

21. A book where the main character is a politician 
Party of Two by Jasmine Guillory

22. A book about soccer 

23. A book that is considered healing fiction 
You've Found Oliver by Dustin Thao

24. A book with a happily single woman protagonist 
The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer

25. A book where the main character is an immigrant or refugee 
Breakup from Hell by Ann Dávila Cardinal

26. A book where an adult character changes careers 
Aftertaste by Daria Lavelle

27. A book set at a luxury resort 
Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews

28. A book that features an unlikely friendship 
The Meadowbrook Murders by Jessica Goodman

29. A book about a food truck 
Get Lost with You by Sophie Sullivan

30. A book that reminds you of your childhood 
Sunny Side Up by Katie Sturino

31. A book where music plays an integral part of the storyline 
Full Flight byAshley Schumacher

32. A book about an overlooked woman in history 

33. A book featuring an activity on your bucket list 
My Best Friend's Honeymoon by Meryl Wilsner

34. A book written by an author who is neurodivergent 
A Room Called Earth by Madeleine Ryan

35. A book centering LGBTQ+ characters that isn't about coming out 
What the Woods Took by Courtney Gould

36. A book with silver on the cover or in the title 
The Eyes are the Best Part by Monika Kim

37. Two books with the same title (1) 

38. Two books with the same title (2) 

39. A classic you've never read 
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

40. A book about chosen family 
P.S. I Hate You by Lauren Connolly

 

Advanced Prompts 

Easy 

41. A book by the oldest author in your TBR pile 

42. A book with a title that starts with the letter Y 
You Belong to Me by Hayley Krischer

43. A book that includes a nonverbal character 
Penitence by Kristin Koval

44. A book you have always avoided reading 
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Medium 

45. A book with a left-handed character 
Penitence by Kristin Koval

46. A book where nature is the antagonist 
Palm Meridian by Grace Flahive

47. A book of interconnected short stories 
Something to Look Forward To by Fannie Flagg

Hard 

48. A book that features a married couple who don't live together 
For Better or Cursed by Kate Williams

49. A dystopian book with a happy ending 
All the Water in the World by Eiren Caffall

50. A book that features a character with chronic pain
Misery by Stephen King

 

Ultimately, I met 43 of the 50 prompts, including all but one of the 10 advanced prompts. So I'd say I did well overall. You can find my star ratings for all these books, as well as some more detailed reviews on my Goodreads page. 

My Instagram highlights feature mini reviews for all of these books.

 

I love a good reading challenge, and since 2016, I've been heavily following the Popsugar Reading Challenge, which means this year will be my tenth year participating in the same reading challenge, which prompts change each year based on a particular theme. What I've noticed the past several years is a lot of take on things like the letter of the alphabet that coincides with the year (for example, this year, a book that starts with the letter "Z"- the 26th letter of the alphabet), so I'm curious what that will look like come 2027. 

I'm always excited to work towards completing this prompts, but I don't know I've ever completed all 50. I always read more than 50 books, but they don't always reflect the prompts. This year, I'll also be completing an Atlanta-local Bookish challenge, so I'm curious to see how that will change things this year. For the Popsugar challenge, it's all about bragging rights, but the Bookish challenge comes with some incentives (like tote bags and t-shirts, depending on how many books from the list you read).

Looking ahead, I have some plans for some prompts, while others have me a bit nervous (the shadow daddy one for instance - I'm not a reader of romantasy so far, so let's see how that goes).

01. A book where gardening or a garden is central to the plot

I swear my wish list stays the same between birthdays and Christmas, year to year. I just remove the things I got in the meantime and maybe add an item or two. While I certainly want some things, I tend to keep it practical. I want less the older I get. And I mostly spend my own money on food or the kiddo. I cut this list closer to Christmas each year, too, oftentimes missing big shopping days like Black Friday - or in the case of this year, Black Friday has come like a week earlier than usual. But whatever. Here are the things I’ve been eyeing that I’m not up to buying for myself. I swear some of these things are less than $20.



I always love comfy outfits, and matching sets are a favorite. They just look so put together. There are cute sets from Aerie and Old Navy or tons of more size-inclusive boutique brands. I particularly like these from Shop Taby or these from Dressed in Lala. I wear a 2X. 

In addition to matching sets, I’m always interested in low-key, subtle accessories, like a new Apple Watch band (series 8, 45mm) or a solid gold anklet that will last for years to come.


Most of what I want tends to fall into the category of “home.” I’m always trying to organize or make the space a more functional place to live.

Right now, my shoes are on a shoe rack in the entryway, but we also need a space to hang bags and jackets. So I’d love to replace the shoe rack with a hall tree, which functions as both things! I think this one is nice and spacious, while also being quite affordable.

We could also really use new food storage. We bought our current set 10+ years ago for cheap on Black Friday, and we’ve certainly got some good use out of it, but they’ve been through it. I like this Pyrex glass set, but I’m open to other options that look nice and have a nice quality.

Also in the kitchen, I would love a Nespresso machine. I used one for several days while staying at a hotel in Toronto a few years ago, and haven’t stopped thinking about it since. The drinks it creates are worlds better than the Keurig. These small space-saving options are some of the more affordable ones, and come in fun colors.

Outside, we need an extra long water hose, something like 200 ft, since our only spigot is at the front of the house and doesn’t reach around. And boy, let me tell you - true adulting is putting a water hose on your wishlist.

I’d love some fun picture frames, something with character. I typically like to find unique options at thrift stores, but often, places like TJ Maxx have cute options too. I’d love a variety of sizes for pictures of our sweet girl and for family portraits. I’d also love a gift card to somewhere like Framebridge, where I can opt for custom framing options.

Speaking of pictures, I absolutely need a hard drive to store thousands of photos, specifically of our daughter, in case something ever happens to the iCloud. I really like this LaCie option or this one from Samsung, but I’m not hard drive expert, so I’m totally open on this front.

Not quite “home,” but somewhere else I spend a lot of time is my car. I’ve wanted a cargo cover for years, but it seems like such an unnecessary expense, so in the wishlist it goes year by year. I’m not too picky here either, as long as it fits a 2019 Prius.

One of the cheapest things on my list is also the most challenging to find - first edition original Goosebumps books. I’m working on completing my collection of Goosebumps novels, but they can be kind of interesting finds. When I find them, it’s typically at thrift stores or yard sales, and it can take some digging. Online, they’re more often available on resale sites like Mercari or eBay, and can be found on Etsy too. But online, it’s more difficult to confirm the first edition status. I just definitely don’t want the newer reprints of the books.