Book-Lovers, Take the 2019 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge and Have Your Best Year Yet!
:upscale()/2018/11/09/096/n/1922283/3e6e2a8d5be6322a289b30.95285603_.jpg)
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 almost 24,000 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!
Looking for more reading recs? Join our exclusive POPSUGAR Book Club on Facebook to chat about all things books with POPSUGAR editors and fellow readers.
— Additional reporting by Zara Patel
:upscale()/2023/11/17/658/n/1922283/a58dd17e65577d2f902cb2.96926459_c95850df5bec.jpg)
2019 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge
:upscale()/2018/11/21/048/n/1922283/83a5c8b2b5102d22_PS18_2019_ReadingChallenge_PromptHeaders_1.jpg)
:upscale()/2018/10/30/720/n/1922283/87ef36a25bd883f64c8442.42961968_whered-you-go-bernadette-maria-semple.jpg)
A book becoming a movie in 2019
:upscale()/2018/11/21/048/n/1922283/7352968a841d82dd_PS18_2019_ReadingChallenge_PromptHeaders_25.jpg)
:upscale()/2018/11/14/112/n/1922283/7f97396a5beccefd8e0313.65961001_2.jpg)
A book that's published in 2019
Daisy Jones & The Six: A Novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Out March 5)
Here are more books coming out in 2019.
:upscale()/2018/11/21/048/n/1922283/6ef76a45fe7e16db_PS18_2019_ReadingChallenge_PromptHeaders_39.jpg)
:upscale()/2018/11/07/127/n/1922283/1a611505e0851fa4_Seven-Husbands-Evelyn-Hugo-Taylor-Jenkins-Reid.jpg)
Your favorite prompt from a past POPSUGAR Reading Challenge
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid (2017, A Book With a Character's Name)
"Diverse cast of characters, well-written, hooked me in, and I couldn't put it down. Evelyn Hugo is a prime example of a strong woman in a time that didn't allow for one." — Naina
:upscale()/2018/11/21/048/n/1922283/771ae2bd3feb26df_PS18_2019_ReadingChallenge_PromptHeaders_2.jpg)
:upscale()/2018/11/08/804/n/1922283/da0f22ad6069d47c_61KNHXmOrvL.jpg)
A book that makes you nostalgic
:upscale()/2018/11/21/048/n/1922283/c70fb4f6a3947ee4_PS18_2019_ReadingChallenge_PromptHeaders_3.jpg)
:upscale()/2018/11/21/048/n/1922283/19f0a835cf7e9627_PS18_2019_ReadingChallenge_PromptHeaders_4.jpg)
:upscale()/2018/11/21/048/n/1922283/4daf5469715e3ca2_PS18_2019_ReadingChallenge_PromptHeaders_40.jpg)
:upscale()/2018/11/08/137/n/44498184/e28afdbc207ffcd4_980x.jpg)
A book with at least 1 million ratings on Goodreads
:upscale()/2018/11/21/048/n/1922283/88a6702704d56559_PS18_2019_ReadingChallenge_PromptHeaders_5.jpg)
:upscale()/2018/11/19/088/n/1922283/f139cf55fc85b13f_91EFcae8moL.jpg)
A book with a plant in the title or on the cover
:upscale()/2018/11/21/048/n/1922283/ffac947d07bba707_PS18_2019_ReadingChallenge_PromptHeaders_6.jpg)
:upscale()/2018/11/21/048/n/1922283/38b8fe4b99251621_PS18_2019_ReadingChallenge_PromptHeaders_7.jpg)
:upscale()/2018/11/21/048/n/1922283/0af6c84f99221ebc_PS18_2019_ReadingChallenge_PromptHeaders_10.jpg)
:upscale()/2018/11/19/263/n/1922283/b608a6ec6f483032_81v3CH7ZJkL.jpg)
A book with an item of clothing or accessory on the cover
:upscale()/2018/11/21/048/n/1922283/ce962959c037e192_PS18_2019_ReadingChallenge_PromptHeaders_11.jpg)
:upscale()/2018/11/21/048/n/1922283/947df439e4af3ee7_PS18_2019_ReadingChallenge_PromptHeaders_12.jpg)
:upscale()/2018/11/21/048/n/1922283/2fe9bf2e2b9075ac_PS18_2019_ReadingChallenge_PromptHeaders_13.jpg)
:upscale()/2018/11/19/292/n/1922283/375028056f428332_MCDCAPT_EC050.jpg)
A book you see someone reading on TV or in a movie
Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren (seen in Captive)
:upscale()/2018/11/21/048/n/1922283/f06532e2e4e08a44_PS18_2019_ReadingChallenge_PromptHeaders_14.jpg)
:upscale()/2018/11/08/984/n/1922283/f74e204874076bca_ppz.jpg)
A retelling of a classic
:upscale()/2018/11/21/048/n/1922283/73468037552ae863_PS18_2019_ReadingChallenge_PromptHeaders_15.jpg)
:upscale()/2018/11/21/048/n/1922283/feae2dd0417a2b9c_PS18_2019_ReadingChallenge_PromptHeaders_16.jpg)
:upscale()/2018/11/21/048/n/1922283/489fd4e311bc7918_PS18_2019_ReadingChallenge_PromptHeaders_17.jpg)
:upscale()/2018/11/21/048/n/1922283/2a64ab73b70852ee_PS18_2019_ReadingChallenge_PromptHeaders_18.jpg)
:upscale()/2018/11/20/456/n/1922283/de2479e89faf9ff0_91kCcsmXysL.jpg)
A book told from multiple character POVs
:upscale()/2018/11/21/048/n/1922283/dcca90da9be57056_PS18_2019_ReadingChallenge_PromptHeaders_19.jpg)
:upscale()/2018/11/21/048/n/1922283/17a0e52e9d873c34_PS18_2019_ReadingChallenge_PromptHeaders_36.jpg)
:upscale()/2018/11/21/048/n/1922283/9fdb50d232159826_PS18_2019_ReadingChallenge_PromptHeaders_28.jpg)
:upscale()/2018/11/20/910/n/1922283/ee744a08aeac0efb_81OWK6olsoL.jpg)
A book with "love" in the title
:upscale()/2018/11/21/048/n/1922283/9806b9c222e412e9_PS18_2019_ReadingChallenge_PromptHeaders_20.jpg)
:upscale()/2018/11/21/048/n/1922283/c86a1bcd5227b553_PS18_2019_ReadingChallenge_PromptHeaders_21.jpg)
:upscale()/2018/11/08/114/n/1922283/53219ff584ecf6ba_tmp_oXjrTh_ceae2d047af70295_book_review_sweetbitter.jpg)
A book with a title that contains "salty," "sweet," "bitter," or "spicy"
:upscale()/2018/11/21/048/n/1922283/dfb9fd1325a2bb5a_PS18_2019_ReadingChallenge_PromptHeaders_22.jpg)
:upscale()/2018/11/21/048/n/1922283/9cecb513cdcd6b0a_PS18_2019_ReadingChallenge_PromptHeaders_23.jpg)
:upscale()/2018/11/21/048/n/1922283/706100ebc4f3e579_PS18_2019_ReadingChallenge_PromptHeaders_24.jpg)
:upscale()/2018/11/21/048/n/1922283/f31d922e59aaa49a_PS18_2019_ReadingChallenge_PromptHeaders_26.jpg)
:upscale()/2018/11/21/048/n/1922283/3657cbb34a9a6dcc_PS18_2019_ReadingChallenge_PromptHeaders_27.jpg)
:upscale()/2018/11/08/130/n/1922283/3efed5300be6019e_201801171141020390_sbig.jpg)
A book recommended by a celebrity you admire
:upscale()/2018/11/21/048/n/1922283/9d415a11fe4120cf_PS18_2019_ReadingChallenge_PromptHeaders_29.jpg)
:upscale()/2018/11/21/048/n/1922283/d00c7dbc403ffb17_PS18_2019_ReadingChallenge_PromptHeaders_30.jpg)
:upscale()/2018/11/08/141/n/1922283/af866c333632b46a_81JRVdJlEnL.jpg)
A book about a family
:upscale()/2018/11/21/048/n/1922283/d53e05ace7d926d7_PS18_2019_ReadingChallenge_PromptHeaders_31.jpg)
:upscale()/2018/11/21/999/n/1922283/aed8237c5bf5e354eb1c15.11871061_38819868._UY1609_SS1609_.jpg)
A book written by an author from Asia, Africa, or South America
:upscale()/2018/11/21/048/n/1922283/16948870fa5966cf_PS18_2019_ReadingChallenge_PromptHeaders_32.jpg)
:upscale()/2018/11/09/780/n/1922283/3a5936f3c8435642_81Zmpd8EgEL.jpg)
A book with a zodiac sign or astrology term in the title
:upscale()/2018/11/21/048/n/1922283/db1f9002a413ff86_PS18_2019_ReadingChallenge_PromptHeaders_9.jpg)
:upscale()/2018/11/20/977/n/1922283/957c9c176cca0d6b_815Xu6Lcs1L.jpg)
A book with "pop," "sugar," or "challenge" in the title
:upscale()/2018/11/21/048/n/1922283/9c38f0aa65bfc96a_PS18_2019_ReadingChallenge_PromptHeaders_33.jpg)
:upscale()/2018/11/21/048/n/1922283/18c93fa8fa394a1d_PS18_2019_ReadingChallenge_PromptHeaders_34.jpg)
:upscale()/2018/11/09/788/n/1922283/9cd0eb02da6555e0_913MjpeakgL.jpg)
A book by an author whose first and last names start with the same letter
:upscale()/2018/11/21/048/n/1922283/7fb6f1dacd045352_PS18_2019_ReadingChallenge_PromptHeaders_35.jpg)
:upscale()/2018/11/21/048/n/1922283/ff1b6854b1d4b6fd_PS18_2019_ReadingChallenge_PromptHeaders_37.jpg)
:upscale()/2018/11/12/984/n/1922283/ac2e4e385bea009f7a82b5.14308146_JFMB6WC2JBUK2RJBKKVBQCC3BQ.jpg)
A novel based on a true story
:upscale()/2018/11/21/048/n/1922283/23bf1d045c3afe38_PS18_2019_ReadingChallenge_PromptHeaders_38.jpg)
:upscale()/2018/11/20/012/n/1922283/801bddb0911cfe6f_91EnT7TgekL.jpg)
A book revolving around a puzzle or game
:upscale()/2018/11/21/048/n/1922283/2c0a4d7ba75b1fe8_PS18_2019_ReadingChallenge_PromptHeaders_8.jpg)
:upscale()/2018/11/21/048/n/1922283/e3b9d0b4285f123a_PS18_2019_ReadingChallenge_PromptHeaders_41.jpg)
:upscale()/2018/11/12/785/n/1922283/bc1fa8055be9bd753f01d2.69782285_91dTajmVJmL.jpg)
A "cli-fi" (climate fiction) book
New York 2140 by Kim Stanley Robinson
Here are more cli-fi books.
:upscale()/2018/11/21/048/n/1922283/1eef5478dcf0c648_PS18_2019_ReadingChallenge_PromptHeaders_42.jpg)
:upscale()/2018/11/21/048/n/1922283/6b8fe6075100de06_PS18_2019_ReadingChallenge_PromptHeaders_43.jpg)
:upscale()/2018/11/21/048/n/1922283/62c8f1ae17591a0f_PS18_2019_ReadingChallenge_PromptHeaders_44.jpg)
:upscale()/2018/11/09/814/n/1922283/030e6ed20298fe82_nightfilm.jpg)
Read a book during the season it is set in
Night Film by Marisha Pessl (set in the Fall)
:upscale()/2018/11/21/048/n/1922283/42d32968b51bbec3_PS18_2019_ReadingChallenge_PromptHeaders_45.jpg)
:upscale()/2018/11/09/814/n/1922283/200810e2630e1c97_91jFmxYLSsL.jpg)
A LitRPG book
Ready Player One: A Novel by Ernest Cline
Here are more LitRPG books.
:upscale()/2018/11/21/048/n/1922283/ac376f10e45a5a51_PS18_2019_ReadingChallenge_PromptHeaders_46.jpg)
:upscale()/2018/11/20/051/n/1922283/5c46cab540e1deca_91AuFmU8jtL.jpg)
A book with no chapters/unusual chapter headings/unconventionally numbered chapters
:upscale()/2018/11/21/051/n/1922283/f7b00688e2edf487_PS18_2019_ReadingChallenge_PromptHeaders_47.jpg)
:upscale()/2018/11/21/048/n/1922283/c36d20249931a9ed_PS18_2019_ReadingChallenge_PromptHeaders_49.jpg)
:upscale()/2018/11/20/070/n/1922283/c2be33be618e2a5c_13731375_f1024.jpg)
A book that has inspired a common phrase or idiom (e.g., "pandemonium" from Paradise Lost)
:upscale()/2018/11/21/048/n/1922283/b620be86de04ac1e_PS18_2019_ReadingChallenge_PromptHeaders_50.jpg)
:upscale()/2018/11/09/829/n/1922283/15bfd9340839f099_anathem-calca.jpg)