Take the 2020 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge
Book-Lovers, Don't Miss Out! Take the 2020 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge
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We're not even going to try to play it cool. The sixth annual POPSUGAR Reading Challenge is about to up your 2020 reading game in a big way. In addition to the 40 standard book challenge prompts, we're bringing back the 10 "advanced" prompts for those bibliophiles out there looking for something extra. Are you ready for a plot twist? This year, the advanced section is all 2020-themed, from "a book set in the 1920s" to "a book with a character with a vision impairment or enhancement (a nod to 20/20 vision)."
Another way the 2020 reading challenge is better than ever is that we now have an exclusive POPSUGAR Book Club on Facebook! Join this well-read community of POPSUGAR editors and fellow readers from around the world to swap reading recs for the challenge, reach out when you're stumped on a prompt, share bullet-journaling ideas, or just chat about the latest page-turner you're obsessed with. In fact, one of the prompts is "a book recommended by your favorite blog, vlog, podcast, or online book club," and our members have been actively sharing their reading recs in the group. (Join the group to see the recs!)
We hope this year's challenge broadens your horizons and reboots your love of reading in 2020, maybe even pushing you to read something you never would have picked up before purely based on the "a book you picked up because the title caught your attention" or "a book with a great first line" prompts. Who knows, you may uncover a new favorite genre like bildungsroman, get a fresh perspective from "a book by a trans or nonbinary author," learn something about "a subject you know nothing about," or be transported to "a country beginning with 'C'" that you've always wanted to visit.
Whatever path you take in 2020, we've said it before, and we'll say it again: the point of the POPSUGAR Reading Challenge is to have fun! So who's ready to get started?
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.
If you're looking for an easy way to digitally track and rate the books you've read for the challenge, we'd suggest also joining this Goodreads group made up of readers who participate in the POPSUGAR Reading Challenge every year.
To help you get started, we're also sharing hand-picked suggestions from our editors and Facebook book club members for what to read for all 50 prompts that make up the 2020 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge!
— Additional reporting by Lilli Boice
2020 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge
- A book that's published in 2020
- A book by a trans or nonbinary author
- A book with a great first line
- A book about a book club
- A book set in a city that has hosted the Olympics
- A bildungsroman
- The first book you touch on a shelf with your eyes closed
- A book with an upside-down image on the cover
- A book with a map
- A book recommended by your favorite blog, vlog, podcast, or online book club
- An anthology
- A book that passes the Bechdel test
- A book with the same title as a movie or TV show but is unrelated to it
- A book by an author with flora or fauna in their name
- A book about or involving social media
- A book that has a book on the cover
- A medical thriller
- A book with a made-up language
- A book set in a country beginning with "C"
- A book you picked because the title caught your attention
- A book published the month of your birthday
- A book about or by a woman in STEM
- A book that won an award in 2019
- A book on a subject you know nothing about
- A book with only words on the cover, no images or graphics
- A book with a pun in the title
- A book featuring one of the seven deadly sins
- A book with a robot, cyborg, or AI character
- A book with a bird on the cover
- A fiction or nonfiction book about a world leader
- A book with "gold," "silver," or "bronze" in the title
- A book by a WOC
- A book with at least a four-star rating on Goodreads
- A book you meant to read in 2019
- A book with a three-word title
- A book with a pink cover
- A Western
- A book by or about a journalist
- Read a banned book during Banned Books Week
- Your favorite prompt from a past POPSUGAR Reading Challenge
Advanced
- A book written by an author in their 20s
- A book with "20" or "twenty" in the title
- A book with a character with a vision impairment or enhancement (a nod to 20/20 vision)
- A book set in the 1920s
- A book set in Japan, host of the 2020 Olympics
- A book by an author who has written more than 20 books
- A book with more than 20 letters in its title
- A book published in the 20th century
- A book from a series with more than 20 books
- A book with a main character in their 20s
A book that's published in 2020
A book that's published in 2020
A book that's published in 2020
A book that's published in 2020
A book that's published in 2020
A book by a trans or nonbinary author
A book by a trans or nonbinary author
A book by a trans or nonbinary author
A book by a trans or nonbinary author
A book by a trans or nonbinary author
A book with a great first line
The Water Cure by Sophie Mackintosh
First line: "Once we had a father, but our father dies without us noticing."
A book with a great first line
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
First line: "I was born twice: first, as a baby girl, on a remarkably smogless Detroit day in January of 1960; and then again, as a teenage boy, in an emergency room near Petoskey, Michigan, in August of 1974."
A book with a great first line
A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
First line: "It began the usual way, in the bathroom of the Lassimo Hotel."
A book with a great first line
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
First line: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way – in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only."
A book with a great first line
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
First line: "Everyone in Shaker Heights was talking about it that Summer: how Isabelle, the last of the Richardson children, had finally gone around the bend and burned the house down."
A book about a book club
A book about a book club
A book about a book club
A book about a book club
A book about a book club
A book set in a city that has hosted the Olympics
A book set in a city that has hosted the Olympics
A book set in a city that has hosted the Olympics
A book set in a city that has hosted the Olympics
A book set in a city that has hosted the Olympics
A bildungsroman
A bildungsroman
A bildungsroman
A bildungsroman
A bildungsroman
A book with an upside-down image on the cover
A book with an upside-down image on the cover
A book with an upside-down image on the cover
A book with an upside-down image on the cover
A book with an upside-down image on the cover
A book with a map
A book with a map
A book with a map
A book with a map
A book with a map
A book recommended by your favorite blog, vlog, podcast, or online book club
The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai
"The Great Believers recommended by The Girly BookClub! I follow most of the book clubs out there but always seem to like their picks and Reese Witherspoon's! Especially this one!!" — Kristine
A book recommended by your favorite blog, vlog, podcast, or online book club
He Said/She Said by Erin Kelly
"Yes, Modern Mrs. Darcy has awesome recommendations! I'm going to go with Erin Kelly's He Said/She Said." — Conny
A book recommended by your favorite blog, vlog, podcast, or online book club
Chase Darkness With Me: How One True-Crime Writer Started Solving Murders by Billy Jensen
"I'm definitely going with Chase Darkness With Me by Billy Jensen! Where my fellow Murderinos at?!" — Aby
A book recommended by your favorite blog, vlog, podcast, or online book club
Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts
"Several people in my book communities have been recommending Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts. It's partly the backstory of Maud Baum (wife of L. Frank Baum) and partly a peek into the making of the movie The Wizard of Oz. I have about 40 pages left and have really enjoyed it!" — Sara
A book recommended by your favorite blog, vlog, podcast, or online book club
I Know What You Did Last Summer by Lois Duncan
"I Know What You Did Last Summer by Lois Duncan (recommended by the Strong Female Characters podcast in their "Forgotten Women of Horror" mini-episode series). I've never read her, and never seen the movie, but they did a podcast on her and how much she absolutely hated the movie adaptation. I'm familiar with the movie plot, and now I want to see how the book differs." — Nikki
An anthology
An anthology
An anthology
An anthology
An anthology
A book that passes the Bechdel test
A book that passes the Bechdel test
A book that passes the Bechdel test
A book that passes the Bechdel test
A book that passes the Bechdel test
A book with the same title as a movie or TV show but is unrelated to it
A book with the same title as a movie or TV show but is unrelated to it
A book with the same title as a movie or TV show but is unrelated to it
A book with the same title as a movie or TV show but is unrelated to it
A book with the same title as a movie or TV show but is unrelated to it
A book by an author with flora or fauna in their name
A book by an author with flora or fauna in their name
A book by an author with flora or fauna in their name
A book by an author with flora or fauna in their name
A book by an author with flora or fauna in their name
A book about or involving social media
A book about or involving social media
A book about or involving social media
A book about or involving social media
A book about or involving social media
A book that has a book on the cover
A book that has a book on the cover
A book that has a book on the cover
A book that has a book on the cover
A book that has a book on the cover
A medical thriller
A medical thriller
A medical thriller
A medical thriller
A medical thriller
A book with a made-up language
A book with a made-up language
A book with a made-up language
A book with a made-up language
A book with a made-up language
A book set in a country beginning with "C"
A book set in a country beginning with "C"
A book set in a country beginning with "C"
A book set in a country beginning with "C"
A book set in a country beginning with "C"
A book you picked because the title caught your attention
A book you picked because the title caught your attention
A book you picked because the title caught your attention
A book you picked because the title caught your attention
A book you picked because the title caught your attention
A book published the month of your birthday: January
A book published the month of your birthday: February
A book published the month of your birthday: March
A book published the month of your birthday: April
A book published the month of your birthday: May
A book published the month of your birthday: June
A book published the month of your birthday: July
A book published the month of your birthday: August
A book published the month of your birthday: September
A book published the month of your birthday: October
A book published the month of your birthday: November
A book published the month of your birthday: December
A book about or by a woman in STEM
A book about or by a woman in STEM
A book about or by a woman in STEM
A book about or by a woman in STEM
A book about or by a woman in STEM
A book that won an award in 2019
The Overstory by Richard Powers
Winner of the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for fiction
A book that won an award in 2019
Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo
Winner of the 2019 Booker Prize for fiction
A book that won an award in 2019
Celestial Bodies by Jokha Alharthi
Winner of the 2019 International Booker Prize
A book that won an award in 2019
The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal
Winner of the 2019 Hugo Award for best novel and the 2019 Nebula Award for best novel
A book that won an award in 2019
Down the River Unto the Sea by Walter Mosley
Winner of the 2019 Edgar Award for best novel
A book with only words on the cover, no images or graphics
A book with only words on the cover, no images or graphics
A book with only words on the cover, no images or graphics
A book with only words on the cover, no images or graphics
A book with only words on the cover, no images or graphics
A book with a pun in the title
A book with a pun in the title
A book with a pun in the title
A book with a pun in the title
A book with a pun in the title
A book featuring one of the seven deadly sins: greed
A book featuring one of the seven deadly sins: lust
A book featuring one of the seven deadly sins: envy
A book featuring one of the seven deadly sins: wrath
A book featuring one of the seven deadly sins: pride
A book with a robot, cyborg, or AI character
A book with a robot, cyborg, or AI character
A book with a robot, cyborg, or AI character
A book with a robot, cyborg, or AI character
A book with a robot, cyborg, or AI character
A book with a bird on the cover
A book with a bird on the cover
A book with a bird on the cover
A book with a bird on the cover
A book with a bird on the cover
A fiction or nonfiction book about a world leader
A fiction or nonfiction book about a world leader
A fiction or nonfiction book about a world leader
A fiction or nonfiction book about a world leader
A fiction or nonfiction book about a world leader
A book with "gold," "silver," or "bronze" in the title
A book with "gold," "silver," or "bronze" in the title
A book with "gold," "silver," or "bronze" in the title
A book with "gold," "silver," or "bronze" in the title
A book with "gold," "silver," or "bronze" in the title
A book by a woman of color
A book by a woman of color
A book by a woman of color
A book by a woman of color
A book by a woman of color
A book with at least a four-star rating on Goodreads
A book with at least a four-star rating on Goodreads
A book with at least a four-star rating on Goodreads
A book with at least a four-star rating on Goodreads
A book with at least a four-star rating on Goodreads
A book you meant to read in 2019
A book you meant to read in 2019
A book you meant to read in 2019
A book you meant to read in 2019
A book you meant to read in 2019
A book with a three-word title
A book with a three-word title
A book with a three-word title
A book with a three-word title
A book with a three-word title
A book with a pink cover
A book with a pink cover
A book with a pink cover
A book with a pink cover
A book with a pink cover
A western
A western
A western
A western
A western
A book by or about a journalist
A book by or about a journalist
A book by or about a journalist
A book by or about a journalist
A book by or about a journalist
Read a banned book during Banned Books Week
Read a banned book during Banned Books Week
Read a banned book during Banned Books Week
Read a banned book during Banned Books Week
Read a banned book during Banned Books Week
Your favorite prompt from a past POPSUGAR Reading Challenge
Your favorite prompt from a past POPSUGAR Reading Challenge
The Restaurant at the End of the Universe by Douglas Adams
"I like the next book in a series prompt because I often start series for this challenge but can never find time to read the next one." — Kelly
Your favorite prompt from a past POPSUGAR Reading Challenge
"I love 'a book by an author you've never read before' or 'a debut novel.' It allows looks into genres we love while still discovering something new." — Ingrid
Your favorite prompt from a past POPSUGAR Reading Challenge
Night Film by Marisha Pessl (Fall)
"I loved the 'read a book during the season it is set in' prompt. A guarantee for maximum immersion!" — Conny
Your favorite prompt from a past POPSUGAR Reading Challenge
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
"Reading a childhood classic you've never read. I can't believe how many I haven't read." — Katrina
A book written by an author in their 20s
A book written by an author in their 20s
A book written by an author in their 20s
A book written by an author in their 20s
A book written by an author in their 20s
A book with "20" or "twenty" in the title
A book with "20" or "twenty" in the title
A book with "20" or "twenty" in the title
A book with "20" or "twenty" in the title
A book with "20" or "twenty" in the title
A book with a character with a vision impairment or enhancement (a nod to 20/20 vision)
A book with a character with a vision impairment or enhancement (a nod to 20/20 vision)
A book with a character with a vision impairment or enhancement (a nod to 20/20 vision)
A book with a character with a vision impairment or enhancement (a nod to 20/20 vision)
A book with a character with a vision impairment or enhancement (a nod to 20/20 vision)
A book set in the 1920s
A book set in the 1920s
A book set in the 1920s
A book set in the 1920s
A book set in the 1920s
A book set in Japan, host of the 2020 Olympics
A book set in Japan, host of the 2020 Olympics
A book set in Japan, host of the 2020 Olympics
A book set in Japan, host of the 2020 Olympics
A book set in Japan, host of the 2020 Olympics
A book by an author who has written more than 20 books
A book by an author who has written more than 20 books
A book by an author who has written more than 20 books
A book by an author who has written more than 20 books
A book by an author who has written more than 20 books
A book with more than 20 letters in its title
A book with more than 20 letters in its title
A book with more than 20 letters in its title
A book with more than 20 letters in its title
A book with more than 20 letters in its title
A book published in the 20th century
A book published in the 20th century
A book published in the 20th century
A book published in the 20th century
A book published in the 20th century
A book from a series with more than 20 books
A book from a series with more than 20 books
A book from a series with more than 20 books
A book from a series with more than 20 books
A book from a series with more than 20 books
A book with a main character in their 20s
A book with a main character in their 20s
A book with a main character in their 20s
A book with a main character in their 20s
A book with a main character in their 20s
Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler
As POPSUGAR editors, we independently select and write about stuff we love and think you'll like too. POPSUGAR has affiliate and advertising partnerships so we get revenue from sharing this content and from your purchase.
