Reading Challenge 2019
Book-Lovers, Brace Yourselves: The 2019 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge Is Here!

Whatever you had planned for 2019, cancel it, because you've got something better to do. The fifth annual POPSUGAR Reading Challenge is here, and it demands your undivided attention.
We're more excited than ever about this year's reading challenge, and we can't wait to show you our fresh batch of 50 book prompts. These include the standard 40 book challenge prompts plus 10 "advanced" prompts for those overachievers out there who are looking for even more ways to push their reading boundaries in 2019.
You're going to need some serious cozy-nook time to get through this list of prompts, so we hope you've got the kettle on and a soft throw at the ready to dive into books set in space and at college, books about hobbies and about ghosts, and both hot-off-the-press novels and beloved favorites. You may even discover a new genre, like "cli-fi" or "LitRPG," or finally get to that book that's been sitting on your TBR pile for months. Just remember: the point of the reading challenge is to get a few more books under your belt, try on some lesser-read genres for size, and — most importantly — to have fun!
First things first: We'd suggest joining this Goodreads group, which is made up of more than 16,000 readers who participate in the POPSUGAR Reading Challenge every year. In addition to keeping you accountable, the group's impressively well-read and supportive members swap book ideas for the prompts and discuss their favorite (and least favorite) reads throughout the year. You'll also be able to track which books you've read and rate them on the site.
Download our printable list here, checking off the books as you go, and pin the handy graphic ahead for reference. Share your progress on Instagram with #popsugarreadingchallenge.
But don't stop there — click through for hand-picked suggestions from our editors for what to read for all 50 prompts that make up the 2019 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge!
— Additional reporting by Zara Patel
2019 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge


A book becoming a movie in 2019

A book becoming a movie in 2019

A book becoming a movie in 2019

A book becoming a movie in 2019

A book becoming a movie in 2019


A book that's published in 2019

A book that's published in 2019

A book that's published in 2019

A book that's published in 2019

A book that's published in 2019


Your favorite prompt from a past POPSUGAR Reading Challenge

Your favorite prompt from a past POPSUGAR Reading Challenge

Your favorite prompt from a past POPSUGAR Reading Challenge

Your favorite prompt from a past POPSUGAR Reading Challenge

Your favorite prompt from a past POPSUGAR Reading Challenge


A book that makes you nostalgic

A book that makes you nostalgic

A book that makes you nostalgic

A book that makes you nostalgic

A book that makes you nostalgic


A book written by a musician (fiction or nonfiction)

A book written by a musician (fiction or nonfiction)

A book written by a musician (fiction or nonfiction)

A book written by a musician (fiction or nonfiction)

A book written by a musician (fiction or nonfiction)


A book you think should be turned into a movie

A book you think should be turned into a movie

A book you think should be turned into a movie

A book you think should be turned into a movie

A book you think should be turned into a movie


A book with at least 1 million ratings on Goodreads

A book with at least 1 million ratings on Goodreads

A book with at least 1 million ratings on Goodreads

A book with at least 1 million ratings on Goodreads

A book with at least 1 million ratings on Goodreads


A book with a plant in the title or on the cover

A book with a plant in the title or on the cover

A book with a plant in the title or on the cover

A book with a plant in the title or on the cover

A book with a plant in the title or on the cover


A reread of a favorite book

A reread of a favorite book

A reread of a favorite book

A reread of a favorite book

A reread of a favorite book


A book about a hobby

A book about a hobby

A book about a hobby

A book about a hobby

A book about a hobby


A book with an item of clothing or accessory on the cover

A book with an item of clothing or accessory on the cover

A book with an item of clothing or accessory on the cover

A book with an item of clothing or accessory on the cover

A book with an item of clothing or accessory on the cover


A book inspired by mythology, legend, or folklore

A book inspired by mythology, legend, or folklore

A book inspired by mythology, legend, or folklore

A book inspired by mythology, legend, or folklore

A book inspired by mythology, legend, or folklore


A book published posthumously

A book published posthumously

A book published posthumously

A book published posthumously

A book published posthumously



A retelling of a classic

A retelling of a classic

A retelling of a classic

A retelling of a classic

A retelling of a classic


A book with a question in the title

A book with a question in the title

A book with a question in the title

A book with a question in the title

A book with a question in the title


A book set on a college or university campus

A book set on a college or university campus

A book set on a college or university campus

A book set on a college or university campus
A book set on a college or university campus


A book about someone with a superpower

A book about someone with a superpower

A book about someone with a superpower

A book about someone with a superpower

A book about someone with a superpower


A book told from multiple character POVs

A book told from multiple character POVs

A book told from multiple character POVs

A book told from multiple character POVs

A book told from multiple character POVs


A book set in space

A book set in space

A book set in space

A book set in space

A book set in space


A book with a two-word title

A book with a two-word title

A book with a two-word title

A book with a two-word title

A book with a two-word title


A book with "love" in the title

A book with "love" in the title

A book with "love" in the title

A book with "love" in the title

A book with "love" in the title


A book by two female authors

A book by two female authors

A book by two female authors

A book by two female authors

A book by two female authors


A book with a title that contains "salty," "sweet," "bitter," or "spicy"

A book with a title that contains "salty," "sweet," "bitter," or "spicy"

A book with a title that contains "salty," "sweet," "bitter," or "spicy"

A book with a title that contains "salty," "sweet," "bitter," or "spicy"

A book with a title that contains "salty," "sweet," "bitter," or "spicy"


A book set in Scandinavia

A book set in Scandinavia

A book set in Scandinavia

A book set in Scandinavia

A book set in Scandinavia


A book that takes place in a single day

A book that takes place in a single day

A book that takes place in a single day

A book that takes place in a single day

A book that takes place in a single day


A debut novel

A debut novel

A debut novel

A debut novel

A debut novel


A book featuring an extinct or imaginary creature

A book featuring an extinct or imaginary creature

A book featuring an extinct or imaginary creature

A book featuring an extinct or imaginary creature

A book featuring an extinct or imaginary creature


A book recommended by a celebrity you admire

A book recommended by a celebrity you admire

A book recommended by a celebrity you admire

A book recommended by a celebrity you admire

A book recommended by a celebrity you admire


A book featuring an amateur detective

A book featuring an amateur detective

A book featuring an amateur detective

A book featuring an amateur detective

A book featuring an amateur detective


A book about a family

A book about a family

A book about a family

A book about a family

A book about a family


A book written by an author from Asia, Africa, or South America

A book written by an author from Asia, Africa, or South America

A book written by an author from Asia, Africa, or South America

A book written by an author from Asia, Africa, or South America

A book written by an author from Asia, Africa, or South America


A book with a zodiac sign or astrology term in the title

A book with a zodiac sign or astrology term in the title

A book with a zodiac sign or astrology term in the title

A book with a zodiac sign or astrology term in the title

A book with a zodiac sign or astrology term in the title


A book with "pop," "sugar," or "challenge" in the title

A book with "pop," "sugar," or "challenge" in the title

A book with "pop," "sugar," or "challenge" in the title

A book with "pop," "sugar," or "challenge" in the title

A book with "pop," "sugar," or "challenge" in the title


A book that includes a wedding

A book that includes a wedding

A book that includes a wedding

A book that includes a wedding

A book that includes a wedding


A book by an author whose first and last names start with the same letter

A book by an author whose first and last names start with the same letter

A book by an author whose first and last names start with the same letter

A book by an author whose first and last names start with the same letter

A book by an author whose first and last names start with the same letter


A ghost story

A ghost story

A ghost story

A ghost story

A ghost story


A novel based on a true story

A novel based on a true story

A novel based on a true story

A novel based on a true story

A novel based on a true story


A book revolving around a puzzle or game

A book revolving around a puzzle or game

A book revolving around a puzzle or game

A book revolving around a puzzle or game

A book revolving around a puzzle or game


A book you meant to read in 2018

A book you meant to read in 2018

A book you meant to read in 2018

A book you meant to read in 2018

A book you meant to read in 2018


A "cli-fi" (climate fiction) book

A "cli-fi" (climate fiction) book

A "cli-fi" (climate fiction) book

A "cli-fi" (climate fiction) book

A "cli-fi" (climate fiction) book


A "choose-your-own-adventure" book

A "choose-your-own-adventure" book

A "choose-your-own-adventure" book

A "choose-your-own-adventure" book

A "choose-your-own-adventure" book


An "own voices" book

An "own voices" book

An "own voices" book

An "own voices" book

An "own voices" book


Read a book during the season it is set in

Read a book during the season it is set in

Read a book during the season it is set in

Read a book during the season it is set in

Read a book during the season it is set in


A LitRPG book

A LitRPG book

A LitRPG book

A LitRPG book

A LitRPG book


A book with no chapters / unusual chapter headings / unconventionally numbered chapters

A book with no chapters/unusual chapter headings/unconventionally numbered chapters

A book with no chapters/unusual chapter headings/unconventionally numbered chapters

A book with no chapters/unusual chapter headings/unconventionally numbered chapters

A book with no chapters/unusual chapter headings/unconventionally numbered chapters


Two books that share the same title (1)

Two books that share the same title (2)

Two books that share the same title (1)

Two books that share the same title (2)

Two books that share the same title (1)

Two books that share the same title (2)

Two books that share the same title (1)

Two books that share the same title (2)

Two books that share the same title (1)

Two books that share the same title (2)


A book that has inspired a common phrase or idiom (e.g., Big Brother from 1984)

A book that has inspired a common phrase or idiom (e.g., "nerd" from If I Ran the Zoo)

A book that has inspired a common phrase or idiom (e.g., "pandemonium" from Paradise Lost)

A book that has inspired a common phrase or idiom (e.g., "yahoo" from Gulliver's Travels)

A book that has inspired a common phrase or idiom (e.g., "robot" from RUR.)


A book set in an abbey, cloister, monastery, vicarage, or convent

A book set in an abbey, cloister, monastery, vicarage, or convent

A book set in an abbey, cloister, monastery, vicarage, or convent

A book set in an abbey, cloister, monastery, vicarage, or convent

A book set in an abbey, cloister, monastery, vicarage, or convent
