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 [2] (learn how to join the group here [3]!), 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 [4].
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 [5], checking off the books as you go, and pin the handy graphic ahead for reference.
- Join the POPSUGAR Book Club on Facebook [6], 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 [7] made up of readers who participate in the POPSUGAR Reading Challenge every year.
- Follow POPSUGAR Books on Twitter [8] and share your progress on social with the hashtag #popsugarreadingchallenge [9].
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 [10] (out 1 June)
Here are more anticipated books coming out in 2021 [11].
A book that's published in 2021
Leaving Isn't the Hardest Thing: Essays by Lauren Hough [12] (out 13 April)
A book that's published in 2021
What's Mine and Yours by Naima Coster [13] (out 1 April)
A book that's published in 2021
A History of Scars: A Memoir by Laura Lee [14]
A book that's published in 2021
The Committed by Viet Thanh Nguyen [15]
An Afrofuturist book
Binti by Nnedi Okorafor [16]
An Afrofuturist book
Rosewater by Tade Thompson [17]
An Afrofuturist book
Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor [18]
An Afrofuturist book
The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin [19]
An Afrofuturist book
Afrofuturism: The World of Black Sci-Fi and Fantasy Culture by Ytasha L. Womack [20]
A book that has a heart, diamond, club, or spade on the cover
On the Noodle Road: From Beijing to Rome, With Love and Pasta by Jen Lin-Liu [21]
A book that has a heart, diamond, club, or spade on the cover
The Queen of Spades and Other Stories by Alexander Pushkin [22]
A book that has a heart, diamond, club, or spade on the cover
Cards on the Table by Agatha Christie [23]
A book that has a heart, diamond, club, or spade on the cover
Diamonds Are Forever by Ian Fleming [24]
A book that has a heart, diamond, club, or spade on the cover
Finna: Poems by Nate Marshall [25]
A book by an author who shares your zodiac sign
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou [26] (Aries)
A book by an author who shares your zodiac sign
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald [27] (Libra)
A book by an author who shares your zodiac sign
The Shining by Stephen King [28] (Virgo)
A book by an author who shares your zodiac sign
White Teeth by Zadie Smith [29] (Scorpio)
A book by an author who shares your zodiac sign
Wow, No Thank You.: Essays by Samantha Irby [30] (Aquarius)
A dark academia book
Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas [31]
A dark academia book
Confessions by Kanae Minato [32]
A dark academia book
We Wish You Luck by Caroline Zancan [33]
A dark academia book
The Emperor of Ocean Park by Stephen L. Carter [34]
A dark academia book
Dead Poets Society by N. H. Kleinbaum [35]
A book with a gem, mineral, or rock in the title
The Pearl by John Steinbeck [36]
A book with a gem, mineral, or rock in the title
How Much of These Hills Is Gold by C. Pam Zhang [37]
A book with a gem, mineral, or rock in the title
The Obsidian Mirror by K. D. Keenan [38]
A book with a gem, mineral, or rock in the title
Saving Ruby King by Catherine Adel West [39]
A book with a gem, mineral, or rock in the title
Forever Amber by Kathleen Winsor [40]
A book where the main character works at your current or dream job
An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth by Chris Hadfield [41]
A book where the main character works at your current or dream job
Going Into the City: Portrait of a Critic as a Young Man by Robert Christgau [42]
A book where the main character works at your current or dream job
Save Yourself by Cameron Esposito [43]
A book where the main character works at your current or dream job
Eat a Peach: A Memoir by David Chang [44]
A book where the main character works at your current or dream job
My Own Words by Ruth Bader Ginsburg [45]
A book that has won the Women's Prize For Fiction
Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell [46]
A book that has won the Women's Prize For Fiction
An American Marriage: A Novel by Tayari Jones [47]
A book that has won the Women's Prize For Fiction
Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie [48]
A book that has won the Women's Prize For Fiction
A Girl Is a Half-Formed Thing by Eimear McBride [49]
A book that has won the Women's Prize For Fiction
The Tiger's Wife by Téa Obreht [50]
A book with a family tree
Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family by Robert Kolker [51]
A book with a family tree
The Lying Life of Adults by Elena Ferrante [52]
A book with a family tree
A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler [53]
A book with a family tree
Commonwealth by Ann Patchett [54]
A book with a family tree
The House We Grew Up In by Lisa Jewell [55]
A bestseller from the 1990s
Paradise by Toni Morrison [56]
A bestseller from the 1990s
Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes by Tony Kushner [57]
A bestseller from the 1990s
Holes by Louis Sachar [58]
A bestseller from the 1990s
Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton [59]
A bestseller from the 1990s
The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien [60]
A book about forgetting
Goodbye, Vitamin by Rachel Khong [61]
A book about forgetting
Before I Go to Sleep by S. J. Watson [62]
A book about forgetting
Waiting for Godot: A Tragicomedy in Two Acts by Samuel Beckett [63]
A book about forgetting
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart [64]
A book about forgetting
Still Alice by Lisa Genova [65]
A book you have seen on someone's bookshelf (in real life, on a Zoom call, in a TV show, etc.)
St. Marks Is Dead: The Many Lives of America's Hippest Street by Ada Calhoun [66] (as seen on Tom Hanks's bookshelf [67])
A book you have seen on someone's bookshelf (in real life, on a Zoom call, in a TV show, etc.)
The Nix by Nathan Hill [68] (as seen on Anna Wintour's bookshelf [69])
A book you have seen on someone's bookshelf (in real life, on a Zoom call, in a TV show, etc.)
Time Zero by Carolyn Cohagan [70] (as seen on Amy Poehler's bookshelf [71])
A book you have seen on someone's bookshelf (in real life, on a Zoom call, in a TV show, etc.)
Waiting to Exhale by Terry McMillan [72] (as seen on Regina King's bookshelf [73])
A book you have seen on someone's bookshelf (in real life, on a Zoom call, in a TV show, etc.)
Raw: My Journey Into the Wu-Tang by Lamont "U-God" Hawkins [74] (as seen on Charlamagne tha God's bookshelf [75])
A locked-room mystery
They All Fall Down: A Thriller by Rachel Howzell Hall [76]
A locked-room mystery
Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam [77]
A locked-room mystery
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman [78]
A locked-room mystery
Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty [79]
A locked-room mystery
No Exit by Taylor Adams [80]
A book set in a restaurant
Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O'Nan [81]
A book set in a restaurant
Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly by Anthony Bourdain [82]
A book set in a restaurant
The Dishwasher by Stéphane Larue [83]
A book set in a restaurant
Number One Chinese Restaurant by Lillian Li [84]
A book set in a restaurant
Crescent by Diana Abu-Jaber [85]
A book with a black-and-white cover
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates [86]
A book with a black-and-white cover
Intimations: Six Essays by Zadie Smith [87]
A book with a black-and-white cover
A Promised Land by Barack Obama [88]
A book with a black-and-white cover
Is This Anything? by Jerry Seinfeld [89]
A book with a black-and-white cover
The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz by Erik Larson [90]
A book by an Indigenous author
There There by Tommy Orange [91]
A book by an Indigenous author
Heart Berries: A Memoir by Terese Marie Mailhot [92]
A book by an Indigenous author
The Tao of Raven: An Alaska Native Memoir by Ernestine Hayes [93]
A book by an Indigenous author
The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee: Native America From 1890 to the Present by David Treuer [94]
A book by an Indigenous author
The Things She's Seen by Ezekiel Kwaymullina and Ambelin Kwaymullina [95]
A book that has the same title as a song
All about Love by bell hooks [96]
A book that has the same title as a song
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro [97]
A book that has the same title as a song
Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin [98]
A book that has the same title as a song
Layla by Colleen Hoover [99]
A book that has the same title as a song
I Believe in a Thing Called Love by Maurene Goo [100]
A book about a subject you are passionate about
No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference by Greta Thunberg [101]
A book about a subject you are passionate about
It's Bigger Than Hip Hop: The Rise of the Post-Hip-Hop Generation by M K Asante [102]
A book about a subject you are passionate about
Home Cooking: A Writer in the Kitchen by Laurie Colwin [103]
A book about a subject you are passionate about
How to Kill a City: Gentrification, Inequality, and the Fight For the Neighbourhood by P.E. Moskowitz [104]
A book about a subject you are passionate about
The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown [105]
A book that discusses body positivity
Fattily Ever After: A Black Fat Girl's Guide to Living Life Unapologetically by Stephanie Yeboah [106]
A book that discusses body positivity
One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London [107]
A book that discusses body positivity
Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert [108]
A book that discusses body positivity
Other F Word: A Celebration of the Fat & Fierce by Angie Manfredi [109]
A book that discusses body positivity
Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body by Roxane Gay [110]
A book found on a Black Lives Matter reading list
So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo [111]
A book found on a Black Lives Matter reading list
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander [112]
A book found on a Black Lives Matter reading list
Freedom Is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, and the Foundations of a Movement by Angela Y. Davis [113]
A book found on a Black Lives Matter reading list
Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge [114]
A book found on a Black Lives Matter reading list
They Can't Kill Us All: Ferguson, Baltimore, and a New Era in America's Racial Justice Movement by Wesley Lowery [115]
A genre hybrid
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe [116]
A genre hybrid
Midnight Riot by Ben Aaronovitch [117]
A genre hybrid
Love at First Like by Hannah Orenstein [118]
A genre hybrid
Get in Trouble: Stories by Kelly Link [119]
A genre hybrid
Welcome to Night Vale by Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor [120]
A book set mostly or entirely outdoors
The Boy From the Woods by Harlan Coben [121]
A book set mostly or entirely outdoors
Into the Forest by Jean Hegland [122]
A book set mostly or entirely outdoors
Found: A Life in Mountain Rescue by Bree Loewen [123]
A book set mostly or entirely outdoors
Timothy; Or, Notes of an Abject Reptile by Verlyn Klinkenborg [124]
A book set mostly or entirely outdoors
Alone on the Wall by Alex Honnold [125]
A book with something broken on the cover
Crush by Tracy Wolff [126]
A book with something broken on the cover
In the Dream House: A Memoir by Carmen Maria Machado [127]
A book with something broken on the cover
Eleven Broken Pencils by V. Schroeder [128]
A book with something broken on the cover
Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage [129]
A book with something broken on the cover
Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler [130]
A book by a Muslim British author
Exit West by Mohsin Hamid [131]
A book by a Muslim British author
Bird Summons by Leila Aboulela [132]
A book by a Muslim British author
Sofia Khan Is Not Obliged by Ayisha Malik [133]
A book by a Muslim British author
Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie [134]
A book by a Muslim British author
The Map of Love by Ahdaf Souief [135]
A book that was published anonymously
Primary Colours: A Novel of Politics by Anonymous [136]
A book that was published anonymously
The Arabian Nights edited by Muhsin Mahdi and translated by Husain Haddawy [137]
A book that was published anonymously
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley [138]
A book that was published anonymously
Diary of an Oxygen Thief by Anonymous [139]
A book that was published anonymously
Go Ask Alice by Anonymous [140]
A book with an oxymoron in the title
Alone Together: Love, Grief, and Comfort in the Time of COVID-19 by Jennifer Haupt [141]
A book with an oxymoron in the title
Open Secrets by Sheila Kohler [142]
A book with an oxymoron in the title
Falling Upwards: How We Took to the Air by Richard Holmes [143]
A book with an oxymoron in the title
Bittersweet by Miranda Beverly-Whittemore [144]
A book with an oxymoron in the title
The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine by Michael Lewis [145]
A book about do-overs or fresh starts
The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi [146]
A book about do-overs or fresh starts
Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano [147]
A book about do-overs or fresh starts
The New Life of Hugo Gardner by Louis Begley [148]
A book about do-overs or fresh starts
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear [149]
A book about do-overs or fresh starts
Openly Straight by Bill Konigsberg [150]
A magical realism book
The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey [151]
A magical realism book
Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez [152]
A magical realism book
Like Water for Chocolate: A Novel in Monthly Instalments with Recipes, Romances, and Home Remedies by Laura Esquivel [153]
A magical realism book
Eva Luna by Isabel Allende [154]
A magical realism book
Beloved by Toni Morrison [155]
A book set in multiple countries
You Exist Too Much by Zaina Arafat [156]
A book set in multiple countries
Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan [157]
A book set in multiple countries
Worldwalk by Steven M. Newman [158]
A book set in multiple countries
Conversations With Friends by Sally Rooney [159]
A book set in multiple countries
The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants by Ann Brashares [160]
A book set somewhere you'd like to visit in 2021
Songs of Joshua Tree: An Odyssey Through the Music History of the Park and Its Surrounds by Lauren Beth Eisenberg Davis [161]
A book set somewhere you'd like to visit in 2021
Five French Hens by Judy Leigh [162]
A book set somewhere you'd like to visit in 2021
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed [163]
A book set somewhere you'd like to visit in 2021
World Travel: An Irreverent Guide by Anthony Bourdain and Laurie Woolever [164]
A book set somewhere you'd like to visit in 2021
Here Comes the Sun by Nicole Dennis-Benn [165]
A book by a blogger, vlogger, YouTube video creator, or other online personality
Is You Okay? by Glozell Green [166]
A book by a blogger, vlogger, YouTube video creator, or other online personality
Binge by Tyler Oakley [167]
A book by a blogger, vlogger, YouTube video creator, or other online personality
I Just Want to Pee Alone by Some Kick Ass Mom Bloggers [168]
A book by a blogger, vlogger, YouTube video creator, or other online personality
The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl by Issa Rae [169]
A book by a blogger, vlogger, YouTube video creator, or other online personality
Trans Mission: My Quest to a Beard by Alex Bertie [170]
A book whose title starts with "Q," "X," or "Z"
Queer (In)Justice: The Criminalization of LGBT People in the United States by Joey Mogul, Andrea Ritchie, and Kay Whitlock [171]
A book whose title starts with "Q," "X," or "Z"
X: A Novel by Ilyasah Shabazz and Kekla Magoon [172]
A book whose title starts with "Q," "X," or "Z"
Zorro by Isabel Allende [173]
A book whose title starts with "Q," "X," or "Z"
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values by Robert M. Pirsig [174]
A book whose title starts with "Q," "X," or "Z"
Quicksand by Nella Larsen [175]
A book featuring three generations (grandparent, parent, child)
All Adults Here by Emma Straub [176]
A book featuring three generations (grandparent, parent, child)
The Jetsetters by Amanda Eyre Ward [177]
A book featuring three generations (grandparent, parent, child)
East of Eden by John Steinbeck [178]
A book featuring three generations (grandparent, parent, child)
The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende [179]
A book featuring three generations (grandparent, parent, child)
Who Does She Think She Is? by Benilde Little [180]
A book about a social justice issue
Five Days: The Fiery Reckoning of an American City by Wes Moore [181]
A book about a social justice issue
Begin Again: James Baldwin's America and Its Urgent Lessons for Our Own by Eddie S. Glaude [182]
A book about a social justice issue
Hood Feminism: Notes From the Women That a Movement Forgot by Mikki Kendall [183]
A book about a social justice issue
Carceral Capitalism by Jackie Wang [184]
A book about a social justice issue
Black on Both Sides: A Racial History of Trans Identity by C Riley Snorton [185]
A book in a different format than what you normally read (audiobooks, ebooks, graphic novels)
The Autobiography of Malcolm X: As Told to Alex Haley by Malcolm X and Alex Haley, performed by Laurence Fishburne (audiobook)
A book in a different format than what you normally read (audiobooks, ebooks, graphic novels)
The Body Is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love by Sonya Renee Taylor [186] (ebook)
A book in a different format than what you normally read (audiobooks, ebooks, graphic novels)
Hot Comb by Ebony Flowers (graphic novel)
A book in a different format than what you normally read (audiobooks, ebooks, graphic novels)
There Is No Right Way to Meditate: And Other Lessons by Yumi Sakugawa [187] (illustrated)
A book in a different format than what you normally read (audiobooks, ebooks, graphic novels)
The Invisible Life of Addie Larue by V. E. Schwab [188] (hardcover)
A book that has fewer than 1,000 reviews on Amazon or Goodreads
The Goodbye Diaries: A Mother-Daughter Memoir by Marisa Bardach Ramel and Sally Bardach [189]
A book that has fewer than 1,000 reviews on Amazon or Goodreads
22 Minutes of Unconditional Love by Daphne Merkin [190]
A book that has fewer than 1,000 reviews on Amazon or Goodreads
Sexual Science: The Victorian Construction of Womanhood by Cynthia Russett [191]
A book that has fewer than 1,000 reviews on Amazon or Goodreads
Conditional Citizens: On Belonging in America by Laila Lalami [192]
A book that has fewer than 1,000 reviews on Amazon or Goodreads
If I Had Two Wings: Stories by Randall Kenan [193]
A book you think your best friend would like
Big Friendship: How We Keep Each Other Close by Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman [194]
A book you think your best friend would like
Friends and Strangers by J. Courtney Sullivan [195]
A book you think your best friend would like
It's Not All Downhill from Here by Terry McMillan [196]
A book you think your best friend would like
Swing Time by Zadie Smith [197]
A book you think your best friend would like
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan [198]
A book about art or an artist
Beyond the Gender Binary by Alok Vaid-Menon [199]
A book about art or an artist
Luster by Raven Leilani [200]
A book about art or an artist
Metropolitan Stories by Christine Coulson [201]
A book about art or an artist
The Art of Love: The Romantic and Explosive Stories Behind Art's Greatest Couples by Kate Bryan [202]
A book about art or an artist
It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini [203]
A book everyone seems to have read but you
The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates [204]
A book everyone seems to have read but you
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens [205]
A book everyone seems to have read but you
Normal People by Sally Rooney [206]
A book everyone seems to have read but you
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead [207]
A book everyone seems to have read but you
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman [208]
Your favourite prompt from a past POPSUGAR Reading Challenge
More Than Enough: Claiming Space For Who You Are (No Matter What They Say) by Elaine Welteroth [209] (2020, A book by or about a journalist)
Here are the previous prompts, for reference: 2015, 2016 [210], 2017 [211], 2018 [212], 2019 [213], 2020 [214]
Your favourite prompt from a past POPSUGAR Reading Challenge
Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches by Audre Lorde [215] (2019, A book with a two-word title)
Here are the previous prompts, for reference: 2015, 2016 [216], 2017 [217], 2018 [218], 2019 [219], 2020 [220]
Your favourite prompt from a past POPSUGAR Reading Challenge
Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi [221] (2018, A book that was being read by a stranger in a public place)
Here are the previous prompts, for reference: 2015, 2016 [222], 2017 [223], 2018 [224], 2019 [225], 2020 [226]
Your favourite prompt from a past POPSUGAR Reading Challenge
George Orwell: A Life in Letters by George Orwell [227] (2017, A book of letters)
Here are the previous prompts, for reference: 2015, 2016 [228], 2017 [229], 2018 [230], 2019 [231], 2020 [232]
Your favourite prompt from a past POPSUGAR Reading Challenge
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros [233] (2016, A book you haven't read since high school)
Here are the previous prompts, for reference: 2015, 2016 [234], 2017 [235], 2018 [236], 2019 [237], 2020 [238]
The longest book (by pages) on your TBR list
Dune by Frank Herbert [239]
The longest book (by pages) on your TBR list
Freedom by Jonathan Franzen [240]
The longest book (by pages) on your TBR list
Life After Life by Kate Atkinson [241]
The longest book (by pages) on your TBR list
The Patriots by Sana Krasikov [242]
The longest book (by pages) on your TBR list
Fingersmith by Sarah Waters [243]
The shortest book (by pages) on your TBR list
The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka [244]
The shortest book (by pages) on your TBR list
Poke the Box: When Was the Last Time You Did Something For the First Time? by Seth Godin [245]
The shortest book (by pages) on your TBR list
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry [246]
The shortest book (by pages) on your TBR list
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll [247]
The shortest book (by pages) on your TBR list
The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman [248]
The book on your TBR list with the prettiest cover
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia [249]
The book on your TBR list with the prettiest cover
Little Blue Encyclopedia (For Vivian) by Hazel Jane Plante [250]
The book on your TBR list with the prettiest cover
Love in Colour: Mythical Tales From Around the World, Retold by
Bolu Babalola [251]
The book on your TBR list with the prettiest cover
Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender [252]
The book on your TBR list with the prettiest cover
All Our Shimmering Skies by Trent Dalton [253]
The book on your TBR list with the ugliest cover
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara [254]
"The cover isn't anything to write home about, but the story and writing are great." — Kaiti S., POPSUGAR Book Club member [255]
The book on your TBR list with the ugliest cover
Verity by Colleen Hoover [256]
"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 [257]
The book on your TBR list with the ugliest cover
The Last Flight by Julie Clark [258]
"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 [259]
The book on your TBR list with the ugliest cover
My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante [260]
"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 [261]
The book on your TBR list with the ugliest cover
Child of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky [262]
"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 [263]
The book that's been on your TBR list for the longest amount of time
The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger [264]
"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 [265]
"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 [266]
"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 [267]
"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 [268]
"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
Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid [269]
A book from your TBR list you meant to read last year but didn't
Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson [270]
A book from your TBR list you meant to read last year but didn't
Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld [271]
A book from your TBR list you meant to read last year but didn't
The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd [272]
A book from your TBR list you meant to read last year but didn't
The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult [273]
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 [274]
"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 [275]
"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 [276]
"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 [277]
"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 [278]
"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 [279]
Check out more DNF (did not finish) books from POPSUGAR Book Club members [280].
A DNF book from your TBR list
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern [281]
Check out more DNF (did not finish) books from POPSUGAR Book Club members [282].
A DNF book from your TBR list
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith [283]
Check out more DNF (did not finish) books from POPSUGAR Book Club members [284].
A DNF book from your TBR list
The Antidote For Everything by Kimmery Martin [285]
Check out more DNF (did not finish) books from POPSUGAR Book Club members [286].
A DNF book from your TBR list
Life of Pi by Yann Martel [287]
Check out more DNF (did not finish) books from POPSUGAR Book Club members [288].
A free book from your TBR list (gifted, borrowed, library)
Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk [289]
"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 [290]
"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 [291]
"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 [292]
"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)
The Food Explorer: The True Adventures of the Globe-Trotting Botanist Who Transformed What America Eats by Daniel Stone [293]
"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