2026 Challenge Guide
Have a question about a prompt on our 2026 challenge? Whether it’s a prompt called “bookface” or one “inspired by the top-grossing movie the year you were born,” this #52booksin52weeks challenge has a wide range of prompts, and we know that sometimes, you just need a little extra explanation. This guide will walk you through each of the fifty-two prompts on this year’s 2026 challenge.
Below you’ll find explanations as to what each prompt means, as well as alternative interpretations, ideas, Goodreads lists, and/or tips for completing this challenge.
Important Notes:
- This guide is not an exhaustive list of ideas. Treat it as a tool for prompts you’re unsure about, but remember, there are always other interpretations and creative ideas for tackling this challenge. Have fun with it! After all, one of our main challenge mottoes is, “If you think a book fits the prompt, it does!”
- Keep in mind that everyone completes the challenges differently. You may be super strict with your interpretation of the prompts OR you may enjoy getting creative and thinking outside the box. How you choose to complete this challenge is ultimately up to you. YOUR CHALLENGE, YOUR RULES!
Don’t forget to bookmark this page! We recommend keeping this post close by for when challenge questions arise. This is your go-to spot for all 2026 prompt-related questions. Feel free to direct others here if they have questions, too!
1. Set in an ancient civilization
According to Britannica Kids, “Ancient civilization refers specifically to the first settled and stable communities that became the basis for later states, nations, and empires.” Examples of prominent ancient civilizations include Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, the Indus Valley Civilization, Ancient China, Ancient Rome, Ancient Greece, etc.
For this prompt, choose a book that is either fully or partially set within any ancient civilization. This may also be a non-fiction read about an ancient civilization or an individual who lived in one.
You may also choose a book set in an ancient civilization from another world or an alternate universe.
Examples: The Red Tent by Anita Diamant, Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff, The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, Mistress of Rome by Kate Quinn, Secrets of the Nile by Tasha Alexandra
Goodreads List: Set in an ancient civilization
2. Kangaroo word on the cover
Kangaroo words are words that contain the letters of a synonym within them, with the letters appearing in the same order. The contained synonym is called a “joey word” (reference to how kangaroos carry their offspring in their pouches).
For example, inside the word “chicken” is its synonym, “hen.” (CHICKEN)
For this prompt, we’re looking for any kangaroo word on the cover. This may be a word in the title or subtitle, part of an endorsement or blurb on the front or back cover, the author’s last name, or it could be part of the cover design or art (for example: a chicken on the cover).
Examples of some kangaroo words and their joeys include: astound (stun), capsule (case), catacomb (tomb), charisma (charm), destruction (ruin), fragile (frail), encourage (urge), instructor (tutor), observe (see), precipitation (rain), community (county; city), chariot (car; cart), deteriorate (die; rot), loneliness (loss; oneness), alone (lone, one), container (can; tin), clue (cue), barren (bare), because (as), before (ere), etc.
You can find a more extensive list of Kangaroo words here: https://kangaroowords.com/list/
Readers looking for a strict interpretation of the prompt may decide to only use the kangaroo word, rather than a joey word. Other members may decide to use joey words to complete this prompt. Your challenge, your rules!
Examples: The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah, The Barren Grounds by David Alexander Robertson, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han, Peach Blossom Spring by Melissa Fu, A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson
Goodreads List: Kangaroo words on the cover
3. Written without quotation marks
A quotation mark is a set of punctuation marks used to designate the beginning and end of dialogue. (“Like this,” for example.) Some authors intentionally choose to create books without quotation marks as a stylistic choice.
For this prompt, choose any book that’s written without quotation marks. As with all our prompts, you may choose to read this book in any format. If this stylistic choice feels disorientating while reading, listening on audio may be helpful. The book may be fully or only partially written without quotation marks.
Examples: Normal People by Sally Rooney, News of the World by Paulette Jiles, The Road by Cormac McCarthy, The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen, LaRose by Louise Erdrich
Goodreads List: Written without quotation marks
4. Has a dust jacket
A dust jacket is a removable outer cover, usually made of paper, that protects a book’s cover and spine from dirt and damage. Dust jackets typically include all the standard cover information, and the side flaps may feature the book blurb or biographical information about the author. Dust jackets are found primarily on hardcover editions.
For this prompt, choose any book that has a dust jacket. You do not have to read the edition with the dust jacket. As long as at least one edition has a dust jacket, feel free to read that book in any format.
Some readers enjoy wrapping their books in paper to protect them. As a creative interpretation, you may choose any book that you’ve personally wrapped in a dust jacket or book sleeve.
Examples: Gone Before Goodbye by Harlan Coben & Reese Witherspoon, Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins, Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros, The Poisoned King by Katherine Rundell, The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
Goodreads List: Has a dust jacket
5. Featuring a conspiracy
According to the Cambridge Dictionary, a conspiracy is “the activity of secretly planning with other people to do something bad or illegal.” This may be a conspiracy to commit murder, treason, to cover up a crime, etc. Any book featuring multiple characters secretly planning or conspiring to commit a crime would fit this prompt.
You may also choose a book featuring a conspiracy theory (a belief that some influential or controlling organization or group is secretly responsible for a notable event or phenomenon). Many thrillers or action stories involve uncovering larger conspiracies (may also be called paranoid thrillers). Books fitting this description may also be non-fiction about conspiracies, or a fictionalized version of a real conspiracy theory. (For example: Untold Story by Monica Ali, a novel about Princess Diana faking her own death).
You might also choose a book in which a conspiracy revolves around the author. (For example, Steig Larsson, author of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and conspiracy theories around his death.)
The word conspiracy may or may not appear in the title, subtitle, or book blurb.
Examples: 1984 by George Orwell, The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown, The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum, The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb, Love and Other Conspiracies by Mallory Marlowe
Goodreads List: Featuring a conspiracy
6. Title starts with the letter “O”
We’re continuing our secondary challenge, working through the alphabet. This year we’ve got titles that start with the letters “O” and “P.” For this prompt, choose any title or subtitle that begins with the letter “O.”
It is up to you whether you choose to include definite or indefinite articles (for example: The, A, An). Alternatively, you may also decide on a series title starting with the letter O.
Examples: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey, Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens, Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng, Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, O is for Outlaw by Sue Grafton
Goodreads List: Title starts with the letter “O”
7. Title starts with the letter “P”
For this prompt, choose any title beginning with the letter “P.” It is up to you whether you choose to include definite or indefinite articles (The, A, An). You may also decide on a series title starting with the letter P.
Examples: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, The Princess Bride by William Goldman, Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler, Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder, The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory
Goodreads List: Title starts with letter “P”
8. A three-syllable word in the title
A syllable is a unit of speech; it’s a smaller sound that makes up words. Syllables are sometimes called the “beats” of a word, and you may find them more easily by clapping out a word. Collins Dictionary says, “A syllable is a part of a word that contains a single vowel sound and that is pronounced as a unit. So, for example, ‘ book’ has one syllable, and ‘ reading’ has two syllables.”
For this prompt, we’re looking for books with a three-syllable word in the title (or subtitle).
Examples of common three-syllable words include: abandoned, another, anytime, apartment, butterfly, curious, innocent, chocolate, experiment, family, happiness, history, mystery, etc. You can find a larger list of three-syllable words here.
Some regions may publish the same book under alternative titles. As long as at least one edition (any language) has a three-syllable word in the title, you may read that book using any edition or format.
Examples: The Apollo Murders by Chris Hadfield, The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose, Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel, Detective Aunty by Uzma Jalaluddin, The Family Experiment by John Marrs
Goodreads List: A three-syllable word in the title
9. Featuring a natural disaster
A natural disaster is a destructive event caused by natural forces, such as earthquakes, floods, volcanic eruptions, tornadoes, wildfires, hurricanes, droughts, avalanches, tsunamis, etc. Natural disasters aren’t human-driven driven but they do often have a harmful impact on a society or the surrounding community.
Books fitting this prompt may be fiction or non-fiction. It may be set in our world, a fantasy world, or an alternate universe. The book may be primarily focused on events surrounding the natural disaster, or the natural disaster may be a secondary plot point.
A natural disaster may or may not appear in the cover art or title.
Examples: The Love Haters by Katherine Center, Pompeii by Robert Harris, Last Light Over Galveston by Jennifer L. Wright, Eruption by Michael Crichton, The Big Burn: Teddy Roosevelt and the Fire that Saved America by Timothy Egan
Goodreads List: Featuring a natural disaster
10. Spans a decade or more
For this prompt, we’re looking for books that span a decade or more. (A decade is a period of ten years.)
This may be a book that follows the life of a single character, individual, or family (either fiction or non-fiction) or a book that flashes forward or backward in time. It may or may not be a dual-timeline. The time period covered within the book should be at least ten years.
Examples: The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue by V.E. Schwab, Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi, The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel, Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
Goodreads List: Spans a decade or more
11. Requires suspension of disbelief
Suspension of disbelief is when readers temporarily allow themselves to believe something that isn’t true or that doesn’t appear to be especially plausible. Readers set aside critical thinking for a moment to enjoy a work of fiction.
There are a wide variety of ways that suspension of disbelief can occur within books. Some genres naturally require readers to suspend disbelief (fantasy, sci-fi, alternate history, etc.). Other books may ask readers to suspend disbelief when it comes to events the characters encounter or survive. (For example, we sometimes say, “The ending on that thriller was fun, but definitely required suspension of disbelief! It would never happen that way in real life!”)
Examples: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, Guess Again by Charlie Donlea, In This Moment by Gabrielle Meyer, The Poisoner’s Ring by Kelley Armstrong, The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Goodreads List: Requires suspension of disbelief
12. A genre-defining read
For this prompt, we’re looking for books that define the genre. These are books (or authors) that played foundational roles in the development or creation of genres or specific sub-genres. This may be one of the first books ever written in that genre, or a book that played a key role in popularizing the genre for a mass market.
Some authors have played integral roles in the development of specific genres (For example, Jules Verne and science fiction). In that case, any book by those authors may be considered genre-defining.
Personal definitions of what is considered a “genre-defining read” will vary widely from individual to individual, and that’s okay!
Examples: Lord of the Rings by J.R.R Tolkien (epic fantasy), 1984 by George Orwell (dystopian), Dune by Frank Herbert (sci-fi), Dracula by Bram Stoker (gothic), Presumed Innocent by Scott Turow (legal thriller), The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie (specific sub-genre – no spoilers here, though!)
Goodreads List: A genre-defining read
13. Bookface
“Bookface” refers to the online trend where individuals line up the cover of a book to their own faces or matching body parts, creating a seamless transition. (You can see some examples here!) Covers fitting this description will likely have a face or part of a body on it. This may be a photo or an illustration.
For this prompt, pick a book that has a “bookface” worthy cover. (You don’t have to create a bookface photo with it but be sure to share in The 52 Book Club’s Facebook Group or tag us on socials, if you do!)
As with all our prompts, keep in mind that you can complete this prompt using any format or edition of book. Cover art varies widely from edition to edition or country to country. As long as at least one edition meets the “bookface” description, you can read that book in any edition or format.
Examples: Talking as Fast as I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls (and Everything in Between) by Lauren Graham, Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montimore, Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver, Hair Like Mine by LaTashia M. Perry, I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai
Goodreads List: Bookface
14. Includes a character list
A character list is a catalogue of characters, usually found at the beginning of a book. It often includes character names and a short description of who they are or how they are connected to one another.
For this prompt, choose any book which includes a character list.
Some editions may contain character lists, while other editions of the same book may not. As long as at least one edition contains a character list, feel free to read that book using any edition or format.
Examples: War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy, One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
Goodreads List: Includes a character list
15. Subtitle with a comma
For this prompt, we’re looking for books with at least one comma in their subtitle. A comma is a punctuation mark in a sentence indicating a pause or used to separate items.
A subtitle is a secondary title that provides additional information to clarify the book’s content, theme, or purpose. Subtitles are most commonly found in non-fiction but may occasionally be found in fiction as well.
Keep in mind that different editions or books published in other regions may have alternate subtitles. As long as at least one edition has a comma in the subtitle, you can choose to read that book using any edition or format.
Examples: Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand, The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland by Jim DeFede, The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America by Erik Larson, The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz by Erik Larson, The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary by Simon Winchester
Goodreads List: Subtitle with a comma
16. Deus Ex Machina
Deus ex machina is a plot device in which a seemingly unsolvable problem is abruptly solved by an unexpected and unlikely event. For example, imagine our protagonist is being chased by an antagonist. Just when all hope seems lost, the antagonist is suddenly struck and killed by lightning.
Deus Ex Machina can feel like an “easy fix” for bringing about a resolution to a plot and may feel unsatisfactory or ill-conceived. It’s important to note that Deus Ex Machina is different than a plot twist.
A common example of Deus Ex Machina is the “it was all a dream” reveal at the end of a book.
For this prompt, you might also choose a book with the term Deus Ex Machina in the title, subtitle, or series title, or a book that discusses or mentions the term “Deus Ex Machina” within it.
The term Deus Ex Machina originates from ancient Greek theatre, where a crane was used to lower actors playing gods onto the stage to resolve an unsolvable conflict. As a creative interpretation for this prompt, you might choose any book in which divine intervention appears as part of the plot.
Examples: Lord of the Flies by William Golding, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling, The Dark Tower series by Stephen King, Little Red Riding Hood, As You Like It by Shakespeare
Goodreads List: Deus Ex Machina
17. Author’s bio mentions their dog
An author’s bio is a short biography telling us a little more about the author. This could highlight where they’re from, any major writing achievements, hobbies and fun facts, other written work, etc. Oftentimes, authors will also include a sentence or two about their family – and for this prompt, we’re specifically looking for an addition about their dog. Example: “She lives with her husband and two dogs, Sam and Pippin.”
You can read any book by an author whose bio mentions their dog. (The dog may be referenced in general; it does not have to be mentioned by name.)
Authors’ bios are often listed on the back cover of the book, but may also appear on a book flap or in the final few pages of a book. An author’s website, Goodreads, or Amazon are all excellent locations for finding an author’s bio.
Bios are regularly updated and the biography that appears on one book may not be the same as the bio on the author’s previous book. As long as at least one version of their bio mentions their dog, you can read any book by that author in any edition or format.
Examples: Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez, Neon Gods by Katee Robert, What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez, The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan
Goodreads List: Author’s bio mentions their dog
18. Provokes strong emotion
For prompt eighteen, we’re looking for books that stir up big emotions in readers (fear, anger, joy, sadness, disgust, etc.) Some books evoke strong emotions due to the content they discuss. Other times, it may be due to a strong connection with the characters and a deep resonance for what they’re experiencing, etc. This is a very subjective prompt and it’s up to you to classify what a “strong” emotion feels or looks like while reading.
Also note that while the book may be one that provokes a strong emotion within you, it also could be a book that has evoked strong emotion in other readers. This may be a “controversial” read that has very passionate responses for or against, a book that has hundreds of reviews saying that the readers were left “sobbing at the final page,” or a horror story that your best friend said they had to sleep with the lights on after reading.
It doesn’t matter what the emotion is, who experienced it, or what that looks like while reading – we’re just looking for books that create a big, emotional response!
Examples: The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson, A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano
Goodreads List: Provokes strong emotion
19. A nosy neighbour character
A nosy neighbour is someone who is overly interested in their neighbours’ personal lives. These individuals often pry into personal business by spying on or observing private activities. They may ask invasive questions, eavesdrop, gossip with other neighbours, document comings or goings in the neighbourhood, or try to insert themselves into personal events or circumstances.
For this prompt, choose any book with a “nosy neighbour” character. This is a common stereotype character, often present in mysteries or cozy mysteries, but found in a wide variety of genres. This may be the primary or a secondary character, and their role may or may not have a significant role in the overall plot.
Examples: Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave by Elle Cosimano, The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn, Miss Marple series by Agatha Christie, The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins, Detective Aunty by Uzma Jalaluddin
Goodreads List: A nosy neighbour character
20. Day of the week in the title
For this prompt, choose any book that includes a day of the week in the title or subtitle. Days of the week in English are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.
Note that titles may vary in different publishing regions or languages. As long as at least one edition includes the day of the week in the title, you can read a copy of that book in any edition, format, or language.
Examples: The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman, Sold on a Monday by Kristina McMorris, Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life’s Greatest Lesson by Mitch Albom, The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs, Live from New York: An Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live by Tom Shales, James Andrew Miller
Goodreads List: Day of the week in the title
21. Written in the 1800s
Any book written between 1800 – 1899 will fit this prompt.
Note: We’re looking for books written and published in the 1800s. However, due to the wording of this specific prompt, there may be specific cases where a book was written in the 1800s but was discovered or published later or published posthumously in the 1900s or onwards.
Readers looking for out-of-the-box interpretations might decide to read a book about an 1800s author (for example, a fictionalized retelling of Charles Dicken’s life or featuring Jane Austen) as a character who lives in the 1800s and is writing books. Another creative interpretation may be a non-fiction book about books written in the 1800s, or about authors who wrote in the 1800s.
Examples: The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, Dracula by Bram Stoker, A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
Goodreads List: Written in the 1800s
22. Spotted in a TV series or movie
Have you seen a character in a movie or TV series reading a book? Let’s read what they’re reading! For this prompt, we’re looking for books that make an appearance in any TV series or movie. This may be a character who mentions the book, a character actually seen reading the book, a book as a prop in the background, etc.
For a list of the 408 (!!) books appearing in the TV show Gilmore Girls, click here!
And, if you’re watching a movie or TV series and happen to catch a book in there somewhere, don’t forget to add it to our Goodreads list or snap a picture and share it in our Facebook group!
Examples: The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, spotted in The Shining; Ivanhoe by Walter Scott spotted in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking spotted in Harry Potter and the Prison of Azkaban; James Joyce’s Ulysses spotted in Gilmore Girls; The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath spotted in The Simpsons
Goodreads List: Spotted in a TV series or movie
23. Grumpy sunshine trope
The grumpy sunshine trope is a popular pairing in romance novels where one character is moody, surly, and cynical (grumpy) and the other is cheerful, bubbly, and upbeat (sunshine.) This is a subset of the “opposites attract” dynamic and follows along as the sunshine character slowly softens the rough edges of the grumpy character.
While this trope is most commonly found within the romance genre, it can also be found within other genres like fantasy, science fiction, historical fiction, and contemporary fiction.
It does not have to be a romantic pairing and may feature a cynical character paired with an upbeat character as platonic friends, co-workers, individuals on a quest, etc. (For example: A Man Called Otto by Fredrik Backman is a grumpy/sunshine friendship.) This trope may also be part of the main plot (romance) or simply a secondary plot point like in Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo.
Examples:It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey, The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center, Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas, The Hating Game by Sally Thorne, The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin, Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
Goodreads List: Grumpy sunshine trope
24. Uneven number of chapters
For this prompt, choose any book with an uneven number of chapters. (An uneven number is also known as an “odd number.” It’s any number that cannot be divided by two to produce a whole number. Example: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, etc.)
While many books have numbered chapters, some do not. Books with numbered chapters will be an easier option for this prompt, but readers may also decide to track or physically count the number of chapters in books with unnumbered chapters.
Books may contain an epilogue or a similar style “bonus” chapter. Even in numbered books, these are often unnumbered, and it’s up to individual readers as to whether or not they count towards the final chapter total.
As always, remember that chapters may vary by edition. As long as at least one edition has uneven chapters, you can choose to read that book using any edition or format.
Examples: The House of Cavanaugh by Polly Dugan, Murder at the Black Cat Cafe by Seishi Yokomizo, The Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart, The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry
Goodreads List: Uneven number of chapters
25. Includes a red herring
A red herring is a literary device in which clues or false leads are used to distract from the true solution. This is most often found within the mystery or thriller genres and is used to keep the audience in suspense and prevent them from predicting the outcome.
Red herrings may be a physical clue for characters to discover (for example, a pair of gloves planted at the scene of a crime to throw off investigators), but they may also be pieces of information the author has planted to throw off readers.
According to MasterClass.com, “The journalist William Cobbett is credited with originating the term ‘red herring’ in an 1807 story. Cobbett criticized the press for prematurely reporting Napoleon’s defeat, and compared that act to using strong-smelling, smoked red herrings to distract dogs from another scent. Cobbett was accusing the press of intentionally using a fallacy to distract the public.”
In a very literal sense, a red herring is also “a herring cured by salting and slow smoking to a dark brown colour.” (Merriam-Webster) As a creative interpretation, you may choose a book in which a physical red herring makes an appearance within the story.
Examples: The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown, The Final Problem by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie, The Girl Who Was Taken by Charlie Donlea, The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Goodreads List: Includes a red herring
26. Title in a serif font
A serif font is a typeface that includes small decorative strokes, or “serifs,” at the end of its longer letter strokes. (In contrast to a sans-serif font, which doesn’t have these lines.) Examples of common serif fonts include Times New Roman, Garamond, and Georgia.
You can see an example of what a serif font looks like on this Canva article here.
For this prompt, we’re looking for a title that is in a serif font. This may be the main title or a subtitle. It may be on the front cover or, as an alternative creative option, in the back blurb or the opening pages.
Various editions or publishing regions may have different cover designs, titles, or title fonts. As long as at least one edition has a serif font, you can read that book using any edition or format.
Examples: Bonds of Hercules by Jasmine Mas, The Widow by John Grisham, The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez, We Did Ok, Kid by Anthony Hopkins, Mona’s Eyes by Thomas Schlesser
Goodreads List: Title in a serif font
27. Two or more authors, one pseudonym
A pseudonym is when an author writes under a fictitious name. This is also known as a “pen name.” For this prompt, we’re looking for two authors who write together under one pseudonym. This may be a combination of their names (for example, best friends Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billing write under the pseudonym Christina Lauren, using both of their first names) or a completely fictitious name unrelated to the author’s legal names.
We’re also looking for two or more authors writing under the same pseudonym. This may be two or more individuals who work on writing the same book together, or a group of authors who each ghostwrite a different book in a series under the same name (for example, Carolyn Keene and the Nancy Drew series).
Examples: Audrey Blake, Christina Lauren, Carolyn Keene, James S. A. Corey, Charles Todd, Sydney Croft, Lewis Padgett, Erin Hunter, Nicci French, P. J. Tracy, Perri O’Shaughnessy, P.J. Parrish, Lars Kepler, Ilona Andrews, Ambrose Parry, Franklin W. Dixon,
Goodreads List: Two or more authors, one pseudonym
28. From a series at least eight books long
For prompt twenty-eight, we’re looking for a book from a series that is at least eight books long (a series that has eight or more books total). Once you pick your series that is eight or more books long, you can read any book from that series.
It is up to individual readers whether they decide to include spin-offs, prequels, specially released novellas, etc, as part of a series’ total book count. (For example: The Throne of Glass series has seven main books plus novellas.) The series may be written by the same author or by multiple authors.
As a creative interpretation, you might choose a series that currently has fewer than eight books released but for which the eighth book will be published soon or a series in which the author has announced on social media that they have a signed book deal for book eight or onwards. (For example: As of November 2025, Gabrielle Meyer’s Timeless series currently has six books in the series, but she’s announced that book seven is arriving in Spring 2026, and book eight is following in 2027.)
Examples: A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton, Still Life by Louise Penny, The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner, Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie, Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear, Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Goodreads List: From a series at least eight books long
29. Set in the Arctic or Antarctic
According to National Geographic, the Arctic is defined as “…the northernmost region of Earth. Most scientists define the Arctic as the area within the Arctic Circle, a line of latitude about 66.5° north of the Equator. Within this circle are the Arctic Ocean basin and the northern parts of Scandinavia, Russia, Canada, Greenland and the U.S. state of Alaska.”
In contrast, the Antarctic is opposite to the Arctic. National Geographic says, “The continent of Antarctica makes up most of the Antarctic region. The Antarctic is a cold, remote area in the Southern Hemisphere… The Antarctic also includes island territories within the Antarctic Convergence.”
For this prompt, we’re looking for books set either in the Arctic or the Antarctic (Antarctica). This may be on ice, land, or in the surrounding waters. Books should be either partially or fully set within these regions. As always, this may be fiction or non-fiction, and may be set in parallel or alternate universes.
Examples: The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman, The Terror by Dan Simmons, The Arctic Fury by Greer Macallister, Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple, Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy, An Arctic Story: The Animals of the Frozen North by Jane Burnard
Goodreads List: Set in the Arctic or Antarctic
30. Author related to another author
Prompts thirty and thirty-one are connected. The choice you make for prompt thirty will impact the book you read in prompt thirty-one.
For this prompt, we’re looking for an author related to another author. This means that they are connected in some way — usually by birth, adoption, marriage, etc. They may be a closer relative: married, siblings, cousins, or grandparents. Or they may be a more distant relation: great-aunt, second cousins three times removed, ex-stepmother, etc. (For example, according to online sources, Meghan Markle is distantly related to Shakespeare.)
Our two authors from prompts thirty and thirty-one may or may not write books together.
As a less literal interpretation, you may choose two authors who are more generally “related.” (For example, sometimes we say, “The police are looking for anyone related to the suspect for more information.”) This could mean two authors who are close friends (C.S. Lewis or Tolkien), colleagues, robbed the Louvre together, etc.
Examples: (Sisters Emily Brontë, Charlotte Brontë and Anne Brontë) (Alice Walker and her daughter Rebecca Walker) (Mary Shelley, her poet husband Percy Bysshe Shelley, her parents Mary Wollstonecraft and William Godwin) (Stephen King, his wife Tabitha King, and his son Joe Hill) (Rhys Bowen and her daughter, Clare Broyles) (sisters Elizabeth Gilbert and Catherine Gilbert Murdock), (sisters Liane, Jaclyn, and Nicola Moriarty) (mother / daughter, Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark) (siblings Ann Brashares and Ben Brashares)
Goodreads List: Author related to another author
31. Author related to author in prompt 30
Prompt thirty-one is connected to the previous prompt. We want you to choose an author related to the author in prompt thirty. (For example, if you read Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights for the previous prompt, you might choose a book by her sister, Charlotte Brontë, for this one.)See the previous prompt description for more details on what it means to be “related” to another author, or for further examples.
Goodreads List: This Goodreads list is shared with prompt 30
32. Publisher starting with the letter “B”
Rather than featuring a specific publisher on this year’s challenge, we’re asking you to choose any publisher whose name begins with the letter “B.” This could include publishing houses or imprints.
Examples of publishers and imprints beginning with the letter “B” include: Berkley, Bloomsbury, Bantam Books, Bethany House, Blackstone, Baker, Brilliance, B&H Publishing, Borealis Press, Ballantine Books, Bellevue Literary Press, Black Dog Publishing, Black Ink Collective, Black Sparrow Press, Blackwell Publishing, Brill Publishers, Brimstone Press, etc.
The publisher may or may not be currently publishing or releasing books.
Some books may have different publishers in various regions or for different editions. As long as at least one edition is published by a publisher starting with the letter “B,” you can read that book using any format or edition.
As a creative option, some friends may choose a publishing house beginning with B but an imprint from that house beginning with a different letter.
Examples: Funny Story by Emily Henry (published by Berkley, imprint of Penguin), Crescent City by Sarah J. Maas (Bloomsbury Canada), The Premonition at Withers Farm by Jaime Jo Wright (Bethany House), Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Ballantine)
Goodreads List: Publisher starting with the letter “B”
33. A standalone fantasy novel
A standalone novel is a book that is not part of a larger series. It’s a book that can literally “stand alone” as it’s completely self-contained. It has a definite plot arc completed within the book, and loose ends are all tied up as there are no sequels or follow-up books.
Fantasy is a genre of books featuring magical or supernatural elements. It’s often set in a fictional or imaginary world with its own rules, creatures, and history. (Although it may also be partially set in our world, or a version of our world with fantasy elements.) Fantasy may include non-human races and magical beings like dragons, fae, wizards, elves, etc.
Fantasy is a genre that inclines itself toward series, and many of the top-selling fantasy novels on the shelves today are part of a series. However, for this prompt, we’re looking for a book that is a standalone fantasy novel.
Most standalone novels are not part of a series; however, there are exceptions to every rule, and some series are designed to be a series of standalone novels. (For example, The Priory of the Orange Tree was written with the intention of being a standalone novel. It has a complete story arc. Later, the author also wrote a standalone prequel. Both novels can be read on their own without having to read the other.)
Examples: The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow, A Thousand Steps into Night by Traci Chee, Gallant by V.E. Schwab, Rust in the Root by Justina Ireland, Lore by Alexandra Bracken
Goodreads List: A standalone fantasy novel
34. Inspired by the top-grossing movie the year you were born
For all of our friends who like to get really creative with their challenge, this prompt is for you! For this prompt, we’re looking for a book that is somehow inspired by the top-grossing movie the year you were born.
Top grossing means that it earned the most money at the box office that year. These stats may vary depending on whether you’re looking at global box office stats, or stats for individual countries or continents. (It’s up to individual readers which stat they decide to use.)
To find which movie was top-grossing the year you were born, do a quick Google search for, “Top grossing movie in _____.” You may find several different answers, and that’s okay. Choose the one that you think was top-grossing based on your personal research.
Some movies are based on books or have a book version written after the release of the movie. You’re welcome to read those (if applicable for your birth year), but it’s not required.
For this prompt, any part of your top-grossing film can inspire your book choice. This may be part of the plot, setting, theme, characters, a pivotal scene in the movie, actors, title, etc.
As an example: The highest-grossing movie of 1995 was “Toy Story.” You could choose any part of that movie as your inspiration. For example: A book about Pixar, cowboys, Buzz Aldrin, toys coming to life, a plot about a family that’s moving, a character who delivers pizza, a character who feels insecure about a new kid in their friend circle, etc. You might read a book with the word “Toy” or “Story” in the title. It might be a book about or mentioning an actor in the movie (Tom Hanks or Tim Allen.) You get to choose which part of the movie inspires you, so get as creative as you like!
Remember, if you think a book fits, it does! This prompt will vary widely for each participating member, not only due to the different birth years, but also due to what part of the movie inspires us.
Goodreads List: There is no Goodreads list for this prompt
35. Character with a secret identity
Prompt thirty-five is a character-based prompt. We’re specifically looking for a primary or secondary character with a secret identity.
A secret identity is when a character hides their true name. There are a variety of reasons why a character might have a secret identity. Some examples include: superheroes, resistance fighters in a war, detectives working undercover, a celebrity trying to live “off-grid” for a while, a criminal covering their tracks, a character pretending to be someone they’re not for specific gain, a character with a hidden past, an underage teenager trying to sneak into a club, characters at a masked ball, etc.
The secret identity may play a key role in the plot or story as a whole, or it may only be featured in a specific scene.
Examples: Through Each Tomorrow by Gabrielle Meyer, The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston, The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave
Goodreads List: Character with a secret identity
36. Award-winning book from last year
For this prompt, we’re looking for any award-winning book from last year. (Note: This will vary slightly depending on which year you’re completing this challenge. For the sake of this guide, we’ll refer to “last year” as 2025.)
Any book that won an award from last year counts toward this prompt – and there are a few different ways to interpret this prompt. This may be a book that was published in 2024 but physically won the award in 2025, a book that was both published and awarded in 2025, or a book published in 2025 but continuing to win awards in 2026 and beyond.
The book may have won any award, from any country, in the previous year. For larger awards with multiple categories, the book may have won any of the main or sub-categories. If they’re a winner, they count toward this prompt!
Examples of popular book awards include: Pulitzer Prize, Booker Prize, Nobel Prize in Literature, National Book Award, the Goodreads Choice Award, the Women’s Prize for Fiction, Edgar Award, Lambda Literary Award, Hugo Award, Nebula Award, Giller Prize, Newbery Medal, etc.
Examples: Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar (Winner of the Dayton Literary Peace Prize for Fiction), James by Percival Everett (Pulitzer Prize Winner, Fiction), The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett (Winner of the Hugo Award for Best Novel), Native Nations by Kathleen DuVal (Winner of the Pulitzer Prize in History), Soldiers and Kings by Jason De León (Winner of the National Book Award for Nonfiction)
Goodreads List: Award-winning book from 2025
37. Started on the 26th of the month
This prompt is a bit of a free space on this year’s challenge, as you can read any book you like, as long as you start it on the 26th of the month. Whether you start January 26th, December 26th, or any of the months in between is entirely up to you!
The book does not have to be finished on the 26th of the month. When in the day you start and how much of the book you read on the 26th is entirely up to you. (Reading the opening sentence a minute before midnight? Or starting at dawn and finishing the entire novel in a day? That’s entirely up to you!)
Goodreads List: There is no Goodreads List for this prompt
38. Domestic fiction
According to Masterclass, “Domestic fiction is a genre that rose to prominence in the mid-nineteenth century. Sometimes referred to as sentimental fiction or women’s fiction, domestic fiction focuses on the domestic lives of young, typically middle-class women learning to make their way in the world. The plot and conflict of these books often center around courtship, family life, marriage, and childbearing.”
While traditional domestic fiction was a key part of the 19th century, modern domestic fiction can range from heartwarming stories about family and interpersonal relationships to domestic thrillers. A domestic thriller is a sub-genre which use the intimate setting of a home to build suspense and subvert the idea of home as a place of safety.
As a twist on the genre, you could use any fiction set within the home for this prompt.
Examples: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty, The Push by Ashley Audrain, Where’d You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple, Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Goodreads List: Domestic fiction
39. A book that cost you nothing
For this prompt, we’re looking for a book that you got for free. This may be a book you borrowed from the library or from a friend, a book you found in a Little Free Library, a book gifted to you as a present, a free ARC from a publisher or author, etc. Any book and any format that costs you nothing works for this prompt!
You may receive a book for free, but decide to read it in a different format than your free copy.
Please note, while we love free books, we also love supporting our authors! They work so hard to write the books that we enjoy so much. Please avoid illegal downloads or free digital copies of books not in the public domain when sourcing for this prompt.
Goodreads List: There is no Goodreads list for this prompt
40. Author’s first and last name start with same letter
For prompt forty, we’re looking for an author whose first and last names start with the same letter of the alphabet. (For example, Rick Riordan’s first and last names both start with the letter “R.”)
Some authors may write under a shortened form of their first name or with a nickname. (For example: the author’s full, legal name might be “Elizabeth,” but the author could choose to write under “Beth” or “Liz.”) You can decide whether to use the full form of their legal first name or their shortened nickname when deciding if their first and last names start with the same letter.
If an author uses a pseudonym with shared first and last name letters, you can use them for this prompt regardless of their legal name.
Similarly, if an author’s legal name shares the same letter but they use an alternative pseudonym for writing, you can use their legal name for this prompt.
An author may be published under more than two names. (Example: F. Scott Fitzgerald) As long as their first and last name start with the same letter, second names or middle names do not have to start with the same letter.
Examples: Marissa Meyer, Rick Riordan, Rainbow Rowell, Lois Lowry, Megan Miranda, Clive Cussler
Goodreads List: Author’s first and last name start with the same letter
41. A guide to…
Have you seen the title trend, “A ______’s Guide to ______?” (For example: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.)That trend is the inspiration behind this prompt!
There are a couple of different ways to interpret this prompt:
– Any guidebook: Webster’s dictionary defines a guidebook as “a book that gives useful information about a particular subject. Especially: a book of information for travellers.” For this prompt, you may choose a guidebook featuring a specific country or location for travel.
– Guidebooks help guide readers and may contain information about any particular subject. For example, you may consider a book like Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing a book like The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life by Mark Manson, as a guide for life or for a specific area of life.
– You may also choose any book with the word “Guide” in the title or subtitle. This could include the format “A _______’s guide to ________” or it may simply be the word “guide.”
If the book is intended to act as a guide to something (for yourself or other readers, either seriously or tongue-in-cheek) you can use it toward this prompt. (The 52 Book Club’s 2026 Challenge Guide, perhaps?)
Examples: A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Mayhem by Manda Collins, Lonely Planet Guidebooks, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson, A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting by Sophie Irwin, A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons by Kate Khavari, The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix
Goodreads List: A guide to…
42. Includes a handwritten interior font
A handwritten font is a type of font that appears to be handwritten (also known as a script font). Some books contain handwritten fonts as a way to distinguish between letters, notes, clues or codes, different characters, etc. For this prompt, we’re looking for a handwritten font appearing somewhere within the interior of the book.
The book may be fully published with a handwritten font, or it may be scattered throughout. This may appear as part of the body of text or as a title or header. As long as the font occurs at least once, somewhere within the interior of the book, it counts toward this prompt.
Handwritten fonts come in a variety of styles and may appear as a beautiful, flowing script, messy block letters, or anything in between.
As long as at least one edition has an interior handwritten font, you can read that book using any format or edition.
Examples: Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs, S by J.J. Abrams and Doug Dorst, An Absolute Casserole: The Taskmaster Compendium by Alex Horne, I Love You: Recipes from the heart by Pamela Anderson
Goodreads List: Includes a handwritten interior font
43. A Goodreads recommendation for you
Let Goodreads help pick your next read with its custom recommendations based on your previous reading choices.
To find your recommendations on Goodreads, click “Browse” and then click “Recommendation.” Goodreads customizes recommendations based on books you’ve rated or read, shelves you’ve created, etc. If your recommendations don’t feel accurate, try updating your Goodreads shelves with books you’ve read and/or want to read.
For readers who do not use Goodreads, you can either create an account (perfect opportunity to join our 52 Book Club Goodreads Group) or use personal recommendations from a different book website. (For example: You might use Amazon, Storygraph, BookBub, Kobo, other book retailers, etc, as most offer recommendations based on reading choices, past purchases, or books you’ve recently looked at.)
If you don’t use any online book websites, you may choose to use a book from any of the past or present Goodreads Choice Awards as a “recommendation.”
Goodreads List: There is no Goodreads List for this prompt
44. Literary Device: Personification
Personification is a literary device that gives human qualities, actions, or feelings to inanimate objects, animals, or abstract ideas figuratively. For this prompt, we’re looking for books that include personification.
Personification appears in small ways in everyday speech and writing. For example, when we say, “That cake is calling my name!” or “The skyscraper stood tall, looming over them.” The cake doesn’t actually “call” us, and the skyscraper isn’t “standing,” but we use human descriptors to make it more vivid, descriptive, or relatable.
Personification is different than anthropomorphism (for example: talking animals) or when non-human objects display literal human traits and are capable of human behaviour. However, likely, a book that contains anthropomorphism may also contain instances of personification.
Books chosen for this prompt may have personification used throughout, or you may pick a book with a specific line or paragraph where the author uses personification.
Examples: Moby-Dick by Herman Melville, Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare, Call of the Wild by Jack London, The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
Goodreads List: Literary device: personification
45. Biographical fiction
Biographical fiction is a genre where history and fiction collide. It blends historical fact with creative storytelling to tell the story of a real person’s life. It reimagines events and creates fictional but plausible dialogue and scenes, using creative license and imagination to fill in historical gaps.
For this prompt, we’re looking for any historical fiction novel. This is one of the few prompts where we’re specifically asking for fiction rather than non-fiction. (Don’t worry, non-fiction readers, the next prompt is for you!)
Prompts forty-five and forty-six on this year’s challenge are connected. The book you choose for this prompt will impact your next prompt, too.
Biographical fiction usually has our real-world individuals as prominent characters. However, as a creative twist, you may also choose a book in which a real-world individual makes a brief cameo or acts as a secondary character within the story.
The book might be a fictionalized retelling of this individual’s entire life story, or only feature a specific key event or part of their life.
Some books may be more fiction than biography. These books include historical figures and a few key personal facts about them, but heavily fictionalize their life story or experiences (ex, making them into amateur detectives solving murders) or creating entirely alternate universes for them. (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith.)
Some biographical fiction will read more like a novel, while some may read more like non-fiction.
Examples: West with the Night by Beryl Markham (non-fiction) and Circling the Sun by Paula McClain (biographical fiction); Six Wives: The Queens of Henry VIII by David Starkey (non-fiction) and Katherine of Aragon: The True Queen by Alison Weir (biographical fiction); An Autobiography by Agatha Christie (non-fiction) and The Mystery of Mrs. Christie by Marie Benedict (biographical fiction); Thomas Cromwell: The Untold Story of Henry VIII’s Most Faithful Servant by Tracy Borman (non-fiction) and Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel (biographical fiction)
Goodreads List: Biographical fiction
46. Non-fiction about character in prompt 45
This prompt is connected to the previous prompt, forty-five, and is the one prompt on our 2026 challenge where we’re specifically asking for a non-fiction read. (A great opportunity for some of us to stretch our reading habits!)
Whichever historical figure was featured in your previous prompt, read a non-fiction book about that character. The book may be fully or only partially about that individual. (For example: You may read a biography about Amelia Earhart, or a book on early female aviators in which she’s featured in one chapter.)
For readers who struggle with non-fiction, you may decide to read children’s non-fiction, a graphic non-fiction book, etc.
Examples: West with the Night by Beryl Markham (non-fiction) and Circling the Sun by Paula McClain (biographical fiction); Six Wives: The Queens of Henry VIII by David Starkey (non-fiction) and Katherine of Aragon: The True Queen by Alison Weir (biographical fiction); An Autobiography by Agatha Christie (non-fiction) and The Mystery of Mrs. Christie by Marie Benedict (biographical fiction); Thomas Cromwell: The Untold Story of Henry VIII’s Most Faithful Servant by Tracy Borman (non-fiction) and Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel (biographical fiction)
Goodreads List: Non-fiction about character in prompt 45
47. A diacritical mark on the cover
A diacritical mark refers to any mark, shape, stroke, or sign added or attached to a letter. It may change the letter’s pronunciation, show where to add stress, or differentiate it from other words.
Some examples of letters with diacritical marks include: é â đ ø ğ ė å ñ
For this prompt, we’re looking for a book with a diacritical mark on the cover. This can be any part of the cover (title, author’s name, book blurb, endorsement, publisher’s name, etc.)
Some languages use diacritical marks more frequently than others. As long as at least one edition contains a diacritical mark on the cover, you can read that book using any edition or format.
Examples: Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, The Door by Magda Szabó, Where Sleeping Girls Lie by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, The Snowman by Jo Nesbø, The Fiancée by Kate White
Goodreads List: A diacritical mark on the cover
48. Related to the word “Nemesis”
This prompt was voted upon and chosen by 52 Book Club members. Each week in September, we released a new poll for a prompt on our 2026 challenge, and “Nemesis” won our first poll. (You can see our winners and runner-ups here!) To have your say in future challenges, don’t forget to sign up for e-mails!
Nemesis is an opponent or rival that is difficult to defeat; an archenemy. It can also represent a force or event that brings about someone’s downfall or ruin. In mythology, Nemesis is the Greek goddess of divine retribution.
For this prompt, we’re looking for any book related to the word “nemesis.” This may be related to the title, theme, plot, characters, etc.
Examples: Nemesis by Agatha Christie, The Hating Game by Sally Thorne, Nemesis by Jo Nesbø, Moriarty by Anthony Horowitz, Vicious by V.E. Schwab
Goodreads List: Related to the word “Nemesis”
49. From the 800s of the Dewey Decimal System
This prompt was voted upon and chosen by 52 Book Club members. Dewey Decimal System is a library classification system named after Melvil Dewey. There are ten main classes, and each class is further divided into additional sub-classes.
For this prompt, we’re looking for books in the 800s of the Dewey Decimal System. Dewey assigned all literature to the 800s, including poetry, plays, essays, and fiction. Most libraries shelve their fiction in a separate area, but keep their poetry and plays in the 800s.
The 800s are divided as follows:
800 Literature, rhetoric, and criticsm
810 Collections in American English
820 Collections in English & Old English
830 Collections in other Germanic languages
840 Collections in French, Occitan, Catalan
850 Collections in Italian, Romanian, and related languages
860 Collections in Spanish and Portuguese
870 Collections in Slavic languages
880 Collections in Scandinavian languages
890 Collections in other languages
For an easier option, most fiction fits under this prompt. To make it more challenging, try something outside of your regular reading habits (a play, essay, type of poetry, etc.)
Examples: Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister, The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien, Strangers in Time by David Baldacci, The Names by Florence Knapp, One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune
Goodreads List: From the 800s of the Dewey Decimal System
50. Set in a castle
This was a prompt voted upon by 52 Book Club members. For this setting-based prompt, we’re looking for books that are either fully or partially set in a castle. This may be either fiction or non-fiction. It may be set in any time period and any location (fantasy or real world). The castle may or may not be habitable.
Examples: Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones, The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon, A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin, Selection by Kiera Cass, The Women in the Castle by Jessica Shattuck
Goodreads List: Set in a castle
51. Includes a map
For this prompt, we’re pulling from The 52 Book Club vault. “Includes a Map” first appeared on our 2022 challenge, and was chosen to reappear on this 2026 challenge by our 52 Book Club members.
Pick any book that includes a map. This may be fiction or non-fiction. Maps usually appear at the beginning of a book, but may also be included on the cover, inside the front cover, as an insert in the book, or within the general content. Maps come in a variety of styles.
As long as at least one edition includes a map, you can read that book using any format or edition.
Examples: The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien, A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin, Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne, The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon, The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni
Goodreads List: Includes a map
52. Published in 2026
Our final prompt on our 2026 challenge will come as no surprise to our long-term 52 Book Club readers. We’re looking for a book published in 2026. This may be any book originally published from January 1, 2026, until December 31, 2026.
Note that some books may have different publishing dates depending on the region. As always, it’s up to you to decide if a book fits the prompt or not.
This is a great opportunity to try one of those new releases you’ve had your eye on!
Examples: The Astral Library by Kate Quinn, Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth, The Mountains We Call Home by Kim Michele Richardson, Caller Unknown by Gillian McAllister, All in Her Hands by Audrey Blake
Goodreads List: Published in 2026
Did you come up with any fun, creative twists for this year’s challenge? Share in the comments!