The ultimate list of book prompts to help you create your next reading challenge!
Reading challenges are fun, aren’t they? They help you stretch your reading muscles and find great books you may normally not have picked up. They’re also a great way to help you make your way through a never-ending TBR list.
There are plenty of amazing reading challenges (including several here at Good Books Great Life), but you may want to create your own for yourself, your book club, or even a group of friends. That’s way I’ve created this HUGE list of reading challenge prompts to help you create your own challenge.
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How to Create Your Own Reading Challenge With This List
It’s likely you’ll not want to tackle a list of 365 reading challenges. (If you do, go for it!). This list is designed to pick and choose reading prompts in order to create a list of any length.
If you want to create a year-long reading challenge, choose 52 prompts (for 1 book a week) or 12 prompts (for one book a month).
Maybe, you just want a short commitment, so choose four prompts for a month-long reading challenge.
But, don’t limit yourself! Choose any amount of reading challenge prompts that you would like. You can pick the prompts that inspire you, or you can choose completely randomly. Even though my list is in a random order, I’ve numbered it so that you can use a random number generator to help pick your reading prompts.
365 Reading Challenge Prompts
Here’s your list of reading challenge prompts! I hope it inspires your reading life.
If the prompt is in blue, you can click it to find some book suggestions for that prompt.
1.Historical fiction about American history
5. A mystery set outside the United States or United Kingdom
7. A memoir by a BIPOC author
8. A house is one of the main characters, setting, or an important part of the book
9. A book about marriage or relationships
10. An alternative history
11. YA (young adult) science fiction book
12. A book about a road trip or a long voyage
13. A book about hygge
14. A gritty mystery
15. Nonfiction book about American history
16. A narrative nonfiction
17. A book about a long-distance relationship
18. A book set in a Mediterranean country
19. A Victorian romance
20. A book set in Hollywood
21. A book that inspired a tv show
22. Middle grade science fiction book
23. A celebrity memoir
24. A nonfiction book about Africa
25. A historical fiction book set in an Asian country
26. An epic fantasy
27. A book set in New England
28. A book set in Scandinavia
29. A book about social justice issues
30. A paranormal mystery
31. The title begins with a W
32. The title begins with a C
33. A mythology retelling
34. A book set in a hotel, inn, or bed & breakfast
35. The title begins with a T
36. A light-hearted book
37. A historical mystery
38. A book set in or about the theater
39. A book set in the future
40. A book about Hollywood history
41. A book about social media
42. A middle grade classic
43. Literary fiction book
44. Historical suspense book
45. A book set in the fall/autumn
46. A book set in winter
47. A memoir about motherhood
48. A book about one of the characters in Hamilton
49. YA magical realism book
50. A nonfiction book
51. An Edgar Award winner (or nominee)
52. A holiday novel
53. A book with a protagonist with a disability
54. A Western
55. A book of poetry
56. A book set in China
57. A friends-to-lovers romance
58. A romantic comedy (rom-com) book
60. A slow burn romance
61. A nonfiction book about a medical subject
62. The title begins with an R
63. A book set at the turn of the century (near 1900)
64. A collection of short stories
66. A book about witches
67. A book set in Russia
68. The title begins with a P
69. Middle grade book featuring BIPOC character(s)
70. A book inspired by Sherlock Holmes
71. A gothic romance
72. An OWN Voices book
73. A nonfiction book about mental illness
74. A police procedural
75. Foodie fiction
76. A book with a color in the title
77. A book set in Paris
78. A book featuring an ocean voyage
79. Nonfiction book about LGBTQ issues or history
80. A feminist book
81. A book set in the Pacific Northwest
82. A book published in the 1990s
83.The first book in a very long series (20+ books)
84. A nonfiction book about technology
85. A book set in a mountain area
86. The title begins with an O
87. A book of essays
88.A romance set in Europe
89. Middle grade book written by a BIPOC author
90. A book about a character on a journey
91. A book about overcoming obstacles
92. A book about productivity or planning
93. Middle grade fantasy book
94. A book set in Alaska
95. Historical fiction about World War One
96. A book about a female detective
97. A thick book with 500+ pages
98. A debut novel
99. A book published in the 1980s
100. A book with a woman’s name in the title
101. The title begins with a D
102. A debut novel by a popular author
103. Middle grade novel with no adults
104. A Goodreads Award winner or nominee
105. A book set in Appalachia
106. A wilderness mystery or suspense book
107. A family memoir
108. A book set in the American West
109. Historical fiction that takes place between World War I and World War II
110. Nonfiction book about health or the human body
111. A book set in Italy
113. A book about or set in publishing
114. A book set in a National Park, forest, or wildlife area
115. Magical realism novel
116. A book set in SE Asia
117. Historical fiction about the Great Depression or Dust Bowl
118. A novella
119. A book that focuses on kindness
120. A book with an older protagonist
121. A biography about an author
122. A book which is a continuation of an author’s work after their death
123. A book about or set in a library
124. A current events book
125. A book about or set in a zoo or animal rescue
126. A memoir about sports
127. YA historical fiction book
128. A book set in India
129. A Booker Prize winner or nominee
130. A book about survival
131. A book set in or about a restaurant
132. The title begins with a B
133. A nonfiction/fiction pairing (two books about the same subject)
134. A Pulitzer Prize winner or nominee
135. A book set in Ireland
136. Southern noir
137. Nonfiction book about the military or war
138. The title begins with an I
139. Nonfiction book about an event that happened in your lifetime
140. A book set in the 1950s
141. True crime book
142. A book about about Black history
143. A nonfiction book about pop culture
144. The title begins with an A
145. A deep dive nonfiction book
146. A book set in the Middle East
147. A funny memoir
148. A nonfiction book about science
149. An author’s sophomore book (2nd book)
150. A nonfiction book about 9/11
151. A nonfiction book about the outdoors
152. A book about standing up to a bully
153. A book that spans decades
154. YA LGBTQ book
155. A book about grief/loss
156. A microhistory
157. A book by a Canadian author
158. A book set in the American South
159. A book set in Australia
160. A spy novel
161. A British mystery
162. Historical fiction about British history
163. A book by an Indie author
164. A mystery set in a library
165. A book about the immigrant experience
166. A book about friendship
167. A book about characters on a vacation
168. A book set in Central America
169. A book about sports
170. The title begins with an M
171. A book with nonhuman characters
172. A book set in the 1960s
173. Middle grade nonfiction book
174. The title begins with an N
175. The title begins with an E
176. A Jane Austen retelling
177. A nonfiction book about Asian history
178. A book set in the American midwest
179. YA award winner
180. Nonfiction book about environmental science
181. Nonfiction book about words, linguistics, or dictionaries
182. A legal thriller
183. Nonfiction book about art history
184. A book set in the 1920s
185. A book about ancient Greece
186. YA book featuring BIPOC characters
187. A book with a lengthy title
188. LGBTQ fiction book
189. Historical fiction about South America
190. A middle grade book
191. A protagonist is a teacher/professor
192. A book about the Holocaust
193. A book written by a Latinx author
194. A dystopian novel
195. A book set in the 1700s
196. The title begins with a Q
197. A fantasy novel
198. A classic mystery
199. A book about the media or by a media personality
200. Middle grade realistic fiction book
201. A book set in a cold climate
202. A nonfiction book about writing
203. A banned (or challenged) book
204. A fantasy stand-alone book (not part of a series)
205. A cozy mystery
206. A book set in a coastal town
207. A book about books or bookstores
208. A book told from multiple character’s point of view
209. A Regency romance
210. A book set in New York City
211. A book set in the summer
212. A book by an Indigenous author
213. A gothic novel
214. The title begins with an F
215. The title begins with a V
216. YA fantasy novel
217. The title begins with an S
218. A book about politics or a politician
219. A book about the environment
220. A science fiction book
221. A book with a month in the title
222. A book with a title that is a question
223. A book featuring an amateur detective
224. A historical romance
225. A book set at an university
226. A from from 1000 Books to Read Before You Die
227. A nonfiction book about women’s suffrage
228. A book about the Olympic Games or an Olympic sport
229. A book with a strong female protagonist
230. A book with a day of the week in the title
231. An adventure novel
232. Middle grade award winner
233.The title begins with a G
234. A post-apocolypic novel
235. A book featuring a wedding
236. An enemies-to-lovers romance
237. A book set in London
238. The author was born after the year 2000
239. A book set in California
240. A book set in Japan
241. A middle grade book about friendship
242. A book about mental health
243. A book about codebreaking or secret codes
244. YA romance book
245. A romance featuring an older couple
246. A nonfiction book about history
247. Historical fiction that takes place in multiple countries
248. Historical fiction set before 1700
249. A book about siblings
250. A National Book Awards winner or nominee
251. A memoir about mental illness
252. A book about racism
253. A book set in Mexico
254. A nonfiction book about animals
255. The title begins with an H
256. Historical fiction about medicine or medical professionals
257. A small town romance
258. A Hugo award winner or nominee
259. A cabin in the woods novel (book set in the middle of nowhere)
260. A political thriller
261. A book set in Hawaii
262. A book published in the 1800s
263. Middle grade mystery
264. The first book in a middle grade series
265. A romance featuring books or a book store
266. A memoir about a historical event or war
267. Nonfiction book about food
268. A travel memoir
269. A book written by a woman BIPOC author
270. Humorous fiction book
271. A mystery featuring a furry sleuth
272. A book made into a movie
273. YA realistic fiction book
274. A nonfiction book about real life royals
275. A book in verse
276. A book about Cuba or Cuban Americans
277. A book with a protagonist in the medical field
278. An anthology
279. A book about a real or fictional queen
280. A Shakespeare retelling
281. A domestic thriller
282. A book with non-romantic love (parent/child, siblings, etc.)
283. An American classic
284. A book set in an African country
285. A book about wine/vineyards
286. A mystery featuring cats
287. An urban fantasy
288. A second chance romance
289. A book with a number in the title
290. A book about a female spy
291. Nordic noir
292. A Reese’s Book Club pick
293. A royal romance
294. A book about a hobby
295. The first book in a mystery series
296. A book about time travel
297. A book about music/musicians or written by a musician
298. A biography about a famous American
299. A romance set in Great Britain
300. A book with a doctor detective
301. A book set in a tropical climate
302. The title begins with a Y
303. A business book
304. A book written in first person point of view
305. YA mystery book
306. A book set in Washington DC
307. Historical fiction about slavery
308. A book about Asian Americans
309. A book with dual timelines
310. A biography
311. A book set in South America
312. A spooky book
313. Middle grade historical fiction
314. Historical fiction about a little known event
315. A foodie cozy mystery
316. A book with an autistic main character
317. A book about simplicity/organizing
318. A nonfiction book about reading
319. A book about a lost city or civilization
320. Middle grade magical realism
321. Historical fiction about the American Revolution
322. The title begins with a U
323. A YA (young adult) book
324. A book about or set in the fashion industry
325. The title begins with a K
326. Written by an author that uses initials
327. A book about or with horses
328. A book with a pet as the main characer
329. A book set on an island
330. A book about search and rescue
331. Mystery novel
332. A book about the Civil Rights Movement
333. Historical fiction about World War Two
334. The title begins with an L
335. Nonfiction book about personality types
336. The first book in a YA series
337. Nonfiction book about natural history
338. A seaside romance
339. A popular book club pick
340. A beach read
341. A “crafty” cozy mystery (about a craft like quilting, knitting, etc.)
342. An epistolary novel
343. A book about an orphan(s)
344. A fairy tale retelling
345. A book with a puzzle in the plot
346. A book set during or about medieval times
347. A mystery featuring a private investigator
348. A book published in the 1970s
349. A psychological thriller
350. A book about a love triangle
351. A book with a one-word title
352. A Read With Jenna Book Club pick
353. Historical fiction about European history
354. A coming of age novel
355. A multigenerational family saga
356. A biographical fiction novel
357. A book about starting over
358. A book about coffee or coffee shops
359. A book by multiple authors
360. A stand-alone mystery (not in a series)
361. YA book written by a BIPOC author
362. A Newbery Award winner or nominee
363. A nonfiction book about space
364. A book set in the Caribbean
365. A trilogy
Are you ready to create your own reading challenge? I’d love to know which of these reading challenge prompts that you pick!
You May Also Be Interested in These REading Challenges
Around the World Reading Challege
April 2021 Mini Reading Challenge
The Ultimate Reading Challenge for Women at Scale It Simple
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