Take the 2021 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge
Don't Miss Out! Take the 2021 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge
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I don't know about you, but we're feeling hopeful about what's to come in 2021. One yearly tradition we're excited to embark on? The seventh annual POPSUGAR Reading Challenge!
This list of 50 fun and unique book prompts will help you accomplish your 2021 reading goals, whether you simply want to read more books this year or you want to diversify your reading by diving into niche genres, discovering lesser-known authors, or branching out of your book comfort zones.
If 50 books sounds like a lot, we break it down for you with 40 standard book challenge prompts and 10 "advanced" prompts for the overachievers out there. For 2021, the advanced section has a new theme we're excited about: your own TBR list! For many of us, our "TBR" (to-be-read) pile is embarrassingly long. In fact, when we reached out to our POPSUGAR Book Club members about their TBR lists (learn how to join the group here!), more than 900 readers said their lists were longer than 20, with some in the thousands! At least this year you'll be able to check off 10 of the books you've been meaning to read, whether they're on your bookshelf, on hold at the library, or just saved in your "want to read" section on Goodreads.
Book-lovers, no matter if this is your first time taking the challenge or you've been a devotee since the beginning, we hope the 2021 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge reinvigorates your passion for reading in the new year and encourages you to learn something about yourself, others, and the world around you. Most importantly, have fun with it! At the end of the day, you make the rules, so feel free to break them.
Ready to get started?
- Download our printable list here, checking off the books as you go, and pin the handy graphic ahead for reference.
- Join the POPSUGAR Book Club on Facebook, a well-read community of enthusiastic POPSUGAR editors and fellow readers from around the world. Swap book picks 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.
- 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.
- Follow POPSUGAR Books on Twitter and share your progress on social with the hashtag #popsugarreadingchallenge.
Now keep reading for the 2021 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge, plus curated book suggestions from our editors and book club members for what to read for all the prompts!
— Additional reporting by Allison Ingrum
2021 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge
- A book that's published in 2021
- An Afrofuturist book
- A book that has a heart, diamond, club, or spade on the cover
- A book by an author who shares your zodiac sign
- A dark academia book
- A book with a gem, mineral, or rock in the title
- A book where the main character works at your current or dream job
- A book that has won the Women's Prize For Fiction
- A book with a family tree
- A bestseller from the 1990s
- A book about forgetting
- A book you have seen on someone's bookshelf (in real life, on a Zoom call, in a TV show, etc.)
- A locked-room mystery
- A book set in a restaurant
- A book with a black-and-white cover
- A book by an Indigenous author
- A book that has the same title as a song
- A book about a subject you are passionate about
- A book that discusses body positivity
- A book found on a Black Lives Matter reading list
- A genre hybrid
- A book set mostly or entirely outdoors
- A book with something broken on the cover
- A book by a Muslim British author
- A book that was published anonymously
- A book with an oxymoron in the title
- A book about do-overs or fresh starts
- A magical realism book
- A book set in multiple countries
- A book set somewhere you'd like to visit in 2021
- A book by a blogger, vlogger, YouTube video creator, or other online personality
- A book whose title starts with "Q," "X," or "Z"
- A book featuring three generations (grandparent, parent, child)
- A book about a social justice issue
- A book in a different format than what you normally read (audiobooks, ebooks, graphic novels)
- A book that has fewer than 1,000 reviews on Amazon or Goodreads
- A book you think your best friend would like
- A book about art or an artist
- A book everyone seems to have read but you
- Your favourite prompt from a past POPSUGAR Reading Challenge
Advanced
- The longest book (by pages) on your TBR list
- The shortest book (by pages) on your TBR list
- The book on your TBR list with the prettiest cover
- The book on your TBR list with the ugliest cover
- The book that's been on your TBR list for the longest amount of time
- A book from your TBR list you meant to read last year but didn't
- A book from your TBR list you associate with a favourite person, place, or thing
- A book from your TBR list chosen at random
- A DNF book from your TBR list
- A free book from your TBR list (gifted, borrowed, library)
A book that's published in 2021
Somebody's Daughter: A Memoir by Ashley C Ford (out 1 June)
Here are more anticipated books coming out in 2021.
A book that's published in 2021
A book that's published in 2021
A book that's published in 2021
A book that's published in 2021
An Afrofuturist book
An Afrofuturist book
An Afrofuturist book
An Afrofuturist book
An Afrofuturist book
A book that has a heart, diamond, club, or spade on the cover
A book that has a heart, diamond, club, or spade on the cover
A book that has a heart, diamond, club, or spade on the cover
A book that has a heart, diamond, club, or spade on the cover
A book that has a heart, diamond, club, or spade on the cover
A book by an author who shares your zodiac sign
A book by an author who shares your zodiac sign
A book by an author who shares your zodiac sign
A book by an author who shares your zodiac sign
A book by an author who shares your zodiac sign
A dark academia book
A dark academia book
A dark academia book
A dark academia book
A dark academia book
A book with a gem, mineral, or rock in the title
A book with a gem, mineral, or rock in the title
A book with a gem, mineral, or rock in the title
A book with a gem, mineral, or rock in the title
A book with a gem, mineral, or rock in the title
A book where the main character works at your current or dream job
A book where the main character works at your current or dream job
A book where the main character works at your current or dream job
A book where the main character works at your current or dream job
A book where the main character works at your current or dream job
A book that has won the Women's Prize For Fiction
A book that has won the Women's Prize For Fiction
A book that has won the Women's Prize For Fiction
A book that has won the Women's Prize For Fiction
A book that has won the Women's Prize For Fiction
A book with a family tree
A book with a family tree
A book with a family tree
A book with a family tree
A book with a family tree
A bestseller from the 1990s
A bestseller from the 1990s
A bestseller from the 1990s
A bestseller from the 1990s
A bestseller from the 1990s
A book about forgetting
A book about forgetting
A book about forgetting
A book about forgetting
A book about forgetting
A book you have seen on someone's bookshelf (in real life, on a Zoom call, in a TV show, etc.)
A book you have seen on someone's bookshelf (in real life, on a Zoom call, in a TV show, etc.)
A book you have seen on someone's bookshelf (in real life, on a Zoom call, in a TV show, etc.)
A book you have seen on someone's bookshelf (in real life, on a Zoom call, in a TV show, etc.)
A book you have seen on someone's bookshelf (in real life, on a Zoom call, in a TV show, etc.)
A locked-room mystery
A locked-room mystery
A locked-room mystery
A locked-room mystery
A locked-room mystery
A book set in a restaurant
A book set in a restaurant
A book set in a restaurant
A book set in a restaurant
A book set in a restaurant
A book with a black-and-white cover
A book with a black-and-white cover
A book with a black-and-white cover
A book with a black-and-white cover
A book with a black-and-white cover
A book by an Indigenous author
A book by an Indigenous author
A book by an Indigenous author
A book by an Indigenous author
A book by an Indigenous author
A book that has the same title as a song
A book that has the same title as a song
A book that has the same title as a song
A book that has the same title as a song
A book that has the same title as a song
A book about a subject you are passionate about
A book about a subject you are passionate about
A book about a subject you are passionate about
A book about a subject you are passionate about
A book about a subject you are passionate about
A book that discusses body positivity
A book that discusses body positivity
A book that discusses body positivity
A book that discusses body positivity
A book that discusses body positivity
A book found on a Black Lives Matter reading list
A book found on a Black Lives Matter reading list
A book found on a Black Lives Matter reading list
A book found on a Black Lives Matter reading list
A book found on a Black Lives Matter reading list
A genre hybrid
A genre hybrid
A genre hybrid
A genre hybrid
A genre hybrid
A book set mostly or entirely outdoors
A book set mostly or entirely outdoors
A book set mostly or entirely outdoors
A book set mostly or entirely outdoors
A book set mostly or entirely outdoors
A book with something broken on the cover
A book with something broken on the cover
A book with something broken on the cover
A book with something broken on the cover
A book with something broken on the cover
A book by a Muslim British author
A book by a Muslim British author
A book by a Muslim British author
A book by a Muslim British author
A book by a Muslim British author
A book that was published anonymously
A book that was published anonymously
A book that was published anonymously
A book that was published anonymously
A book that was published anonymously
A book with an oxymoron in the title
A book with an oxymoron in the title
A book with an oxymoron in the title
A book with an oxymoron in the title
A book with an oxymoron in the title
A book about do-overs or fresh starts
A book about do-overs or fresh starts
A book about do-overs or fresh starts
A book about do-overs or fresh starts
A book about do-overs or fresh starts
A magical realism book
A magical realism book
A magical realism book
A magical realism book
A magical realism book
A book set in multiple countries
A book set in multiple countries
A book set in multiple countries
A book set in multiple countries
A book set in multiple countries
A book set somewhere you'd like to visit in 2021
A book set somewhere you'd like to visit in 2021
A book set somewhere you'd like to visit in 2021
A book set somewhere you'd like to visit in 2021
A book set somewhere you'd like to visit in 2021
A book by a blogger, vlogger, YouTube video creator, or other online personality
A book by a blogger, vlogger, YouTube video creator, or other online personality
A book by a blogger, vlogger, YouTube video creator, or other online personality
A book by a blogger, vlogger, YouTube video creator, or other online personality
A book by a blogger, vlogger, YouTube video creator, or other online personality
A book whose title starts with "Q," "X," or "Z"
A book whose title starts with "Q," "X," or "Z"
A book whose title starts with "Q," "X," or "Z"
A book whose title starts with "Q," "X," or "Z"
A book whose title starts with "Q," "X," or "Z"
A book featuring three generations (grandparent, parent, child)
A book featuring three generations (grandparent, parent, child)
A book featuring three generations (grandparent, parent, child)
A book featuring three generations (grandparent, parent, child)
A book featuring three generations (grandparent, parent, child)
A book about a social justice issue
A book about a social justice issue
A book about a social justice issue
A book about a social justice issue
A book about a social justice issue
A book in a different format than what you normally read (audiobooks, ebooks, graphic novels)
A book in a different format than what you normally read (audiobooks, ebooks, graphic novels)
A book in a different format than what you normally read (audiobooks, ebooks, graphic novels)
A book in a different format than what you normally read (audiobooks, ebooks, graphic novels)
A book in a different format than what you normally read (audiobooks, ebooks, graphic novels)
A book that has fewer than 1,000 reviews on Amazon or Goodreads
A book that has fewer than 1,000 reviews on Amazon or Goodreads
A book that has fewer than 1,000 reviews on Amazon or Goodreads
A book that has fewer than 1,000 reviews on Amazon or Goodreads
A book that has fewer than 1,000 reviews on Amazon or Goodreads
A book you think your best friend would like
A book you think your best friend would like
A book you think your best friend would like
A book you think your best friend would like
A book you think your best friend would like
A book about art or an artist
A book about art or an artist
A book about art or an artist
A book about art or an artist
A book about art or an artist
A book everyone seems to have read but you
A book everyone seems to have read but you
A book everyone seems to have read but you
A book everyone seems to have read but you
A book everyone seems to have read but you
Your favourite prompt from a past POPSUGAR Reading Challenge
Your favourite prompt from a past POPSUGAR Reading Challenge
Your favourite prompt from a past POPSUGAR Reading Challenge
Your favourite prompt from a past POPSUGAR Reading Challenge
Your favourite prompt from a past POPSUGAR Reading Challenge
The longest book (by pages) on your TBR list
The longest book (by pages) on your TBR list
The longest book (by pages) on your TBR list
The longest book (by pages) on your TBR list
The longest book (by pages) on your TBR list
The shortest book (by pages) on your TBR list
The shortest book (by pages) on your TBR list
The shortest book (by pages) on your TBR list
The shortest book (by pages) on your TBR list
The shortest book (by pages) on your TBR list
The book on your TBR list with the prettiest cover
The book on your TBR list with the prettiest cover
The book on your TBR list with the prettiest cover
The book on your TBR list with the prettiest cover
The book on your TBR list with the prettiest cover
The book on your TBR list with the ugliest cover
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
"The cover isn't anything to write home about, but the story and writing are great." — Kaiti S., POPSUGAR Book Club member
The book on your TBR list with the ugliest cover
"I personally don't like the cover of Verity. It's one of the reasons I put off reading it for so long despite the amazing reviews. But I read it for the Reading Challenge and OMG I LOVED IT!!!!" — Jessica G., POPSUGAR Book Club member
The book on your TBR list with the ugliest cover
The Last Flight by Julie Clark
"I hate the cover of The Last Flight, but I loved the book and the subject matters it brought up!" — Kaitlyn N. W., POPSUGAR Book Club member
The book on your TBR list with the ugliest cover
My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
"They're just so odd to me, those pastel colours don't give the same vibe as the actual book at all!" — Abbie F., POPSUGAR Book Club member
The book on your TBR list with the ugliest cover
Child of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky
"The cover was neither here nor there — just okay. I thought the title was cheesy though: Children of Time. It turned out to be a solid 5-star read for me though!" — Karen M. M., POPSUGAR Book Club member
The book that's been on your TBR list for the longest amount of time
The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger
"The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger has been on my Goodreads TBR list for the longest (since 2009 when I joined!). It's one of those classics I just haven't gotten around to reading!" — Tara Block, content director, growth and strategic features
The book that's been on your TBR list for the longest amount of time
Blind Your Ponies by Stanley Gordon West
"Blind Your Ponies by Stanley Gordon West has been on my TBR list for about two years now. I'm halfway through it, but every time I try to read it, I find a new book that steals my attention away. I usually hate starting a new book if I haven't finished the previous book I was reading, but this one might stay on my TBR list for another two years at this rate!" — Lauren Harano, editorial assistant, growth and strategic features
The book that's been on your TBR list for the longest amount of time
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
"So this is almost embarrassing, but I've had The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah on my bookshelf for at least a year. Everyone says amazing things about her work, but for some reason, I just haven't gotten around to reading this specific book yet! Every time I walk by my bookshelf I say to myself, 'Yup, definitely going to read that one next . . . yet I never do!" — Murphy Moroney, staff writer, family
The book that's been on your TBR list for the longest amount of time
The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson
"My husband finished The Warmth of Other Suns last year, and he's raved about it ever since. It's a lengthy book, but I'm determined to read it this year so we can talk about it together." — Lisa Peterson, senior manager, social media
The book that's been on your TBR list for the longest amount of time
Slouching Towards Bethlehem: Essays by Joan Didion
"I've been wanting to truly dive into Joan Didion's work for a while now, and Slouching Towards Bethlehem has always seemed like a great starting point" — Allison Ingrum, editorial operations support associate
A book from your TBR list you meant to read last year but didn't
A book from your TBR list you meant to read last year but didn't
A book from your TBR list you meant to read last year but didn't
A book from your TBR list you meant to read last year but didn't
A book from your TBR list you meant to read last year but didn't
A book from your TBR list you associate with a favourite person, place, or thing
Midwinter Murder: Fireside Tales From the Queen of Mystery by Agatha Christie
"Midwinter Murder: Fireside Tales from the Queen of Mystery is a collection of winter-themed stories by Agatha Christie. It reminds me of the UK, which is one of my favourite places to visit, and it also reminds me of my best friend who's been living in London. I've missed visiting her in 2020, so this would be a comforting read right about now." — Tara Block, content director, growth and strategic features
A book from your TBR list you associate with a favourite person, place, or thing
Shrill: Notes From a Loud Woman by Lindy West
"Shrill: Notes From a Loud Woman by Lindy West was recommended to me by my best friend from childhood and it's been on my list for a couple months now. My best friend loves TV and movies, and being able to connect with her about a book that inspired one of her favourite shows makes it that much more special. I'm looking forward to reading the book and watching Shrill soon." — Lauren Harano, editorial assistant, growth and strategic features
A book from your TBR list you associate with a favourite person, place, or thing
Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen
"I grew up going down the Jersey Shore: it's truly my happy place. When I first saw Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen at the bookstore I bought it immediately. His music reminds me of hanging out at the beach on beautiful summer days. I seriously need to crack this one open." — Murphy Moroney, staff writer, family
A book from your TBR list you associate with a favourite person, place, or thing
Nobody Will Tell You This But Me: A True (as Told to Me) Story by Bess Kalb
"I've been meaning to read Nobody Will Tell You This But Me by Bess Kalb for ages. It's about the matriarchs of Kalb's family, particularly her grandmother, Bobby. A strong-willed but funny woman who always had her granddaughter's back, Bobby reminds me of my own grandma every time I read the description." — Lisa Peterson, senior manager, social media
A book from your TBR list you associate with a favourite person, place, or thing
When Brooklyn Was Queer: A History by Hugh Ryan
"I've been drawn to When Brooklyn Was Queer: A History by Hugh Ryan since it came out. I really crave to learn more about New York City's queer history, an intersection very near to my heart." — Allison Ingrum, editorial operations support associate
A DNF book from your TBR list
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Check out more DNF (did not finish) books from POPSUGAR Book Club members.
A DNF book from your TBR list
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Check out more DNF (did not finish) books from POPSUGAR Book Club members.
A DNF book from your TBR list
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
Check out more DNF (did not finish) books from POPSUGAR Book Club members.
A DNF book from your TBR list
The Antidote For Everything by Kimmery Martin
Check out more DNF (did not finish) books from POPSUGAR Book Club members.
A DNF book from your TBR list
Check out more DNF (did not finish) books from POPSUGAR Book Club members.
A free book from your TBR list (gifted, borrowed, library)
Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk
"I recently swapped books with my brother-in-law, and it was a happy coincidence that he had just finished Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk, which has been on my TBR list this year!" — Tara Block, Content Director, Growth and Strategic Features
A free book from your TBR list (gifted, borrowed, library)
Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Irin Carmon and Shana Knizhnik
"My friends and I always looked up to Ruth Bader Ginsburg (and still do!), and after we read My Own Words by Mary Hartnett, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Wendy W. Williams, we knew we had to read more. We decided to pick up the 2015 book Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Irin Carmon and Shana Knizhnik to learn more about the late Justice. We've been taking turns reading my friend's copy, and now it's finally time for me to start it. I love that my friends and I can not only connect over a book, but learn about an influential woman, her life, and how we can make her legacy live on." — Lauren Harano, editorial assistant, growth and strategic features
A free book from your TBR list (gifted, borrowed, library)
The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
"I asked for The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle for Christmas last year, and my thoughtful husband kindly bought it for me. I've heard such amazing things about the book!" — Murphy Moroney, staff writer, family
A free book from your TBR list (gifted, borrowed, library)
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey
"I participated in a mail book swap earlier this year and received One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Stories set in hospitals of any kind usually aren't my thing, but this is one of those books everyone seems to have already read, so I'm going to give it a try!" — Lisa Peterson, senior manager, social media
A free book from your TBR list (gifted, borrowed, library)
"I received The Food Explorer: The True Adventures of the Globe-Trotting Botanist Who Transformed What America Eats by Daniel Stone for Christmas a few years ago, and it has been on my TBR list ever since!" — Allison Ingrum, editorial operations support associate