This 2026 Reading Challenge includes 25 prompts to help keep you on track with reading this year. If you’re looking for motivation to read more and explore different genres, you’ll love this simple reading challenge.
How this reading challenge works
- Download the list of 25 prompts for books to read this year. You can also make your own checklist in a bullet journal or other fun notebook if you want.
- During 2026, read 25 books that fit the prompts on this list. Check them off the list as you go and keep track of the books you read. Feel free to get creative with matching books to prompts.
- Let me know what you’re reading in the comments section or tag me on instagram @oldfashionedinspiration!
It’s that easy! Reading 25 books in a year means reading one book every two weeks, which does involve some time management skills. But when you think about how much time we spend on our phones or watching TV, I think you’ll find you actually have more time than you think (I know I have!). Although reading requires some mental effort, once you find a genre you like and a subject you’re interested in, it becomes so enjoyable!
With this reading challenge, hopefully you’ll be able to make reading a regular part of your life and find some new favorites along the way. If you’re having trouble finding books to fit a prompt, here are a few ideas to help get you started. Think of these as a starting point, and feel free to get creative with matching books to prompts!
A mystery: Page-turning novels full of cliff hangers, red herrings, and hidden clues are hard to put down! These are perfect for when you are trying to get back into reading after a break. Agatha Christie and Edgar Allan Poe have written some of my favorite mysteries.
A dystopian novel: I can’t lie, these are hard for me to read. However, they can be moving and thought-provoking, making them well worth it. George Orwell’s 1984 or Lois Lowry’s The Giver are classic dystopian novels to try.
Book set during the Revolutionary War: It’s America’s semiquincentennial anniversary this July, which means it’s the perfect year to read about the Revolutionary War. A few of my favorites include Dear George, Dear Mary by Mary Calvi and Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes.
Book less than 100 pages: Just because a book is short doesn’t make it any less meaningful or memorable! If you’re struggling to find a good book, Christmas stories are often short and sweet. 🙂
Book longer than 400 pages: These can be challenging, but so rewarding once you finish them! For accountability, try reading a longer book with a friend or listening to a podcast about it to keep you engaged and excited about the book. Last year, I read Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset (1100 + pages!!), but even for how long it was, I couldn’t put it down.
Book published this year: Look for a new book by a favorite author or try a debut novel!
Book that will be released as a movie this year: There are so many movie adaptations of books coming out this year – The Odyssey, Wuthering Heights, and Sense and Sensibility just to name a few. Make sure to read the book before you watch the movie. 🙂
Book about a place you’d like to visit: If you dream of traveling the world, books can take you there in your imagination when your budget can’t.
Book that takes place in your state: It’s so fun to read a book and be able to picture where it takes place! I recently read The Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah, which she set in the Olympic Rain Forest, and it gave me a whole new perspective on that area of my state.
An American classic: Again, it’s an excellent year to learn about and celebrate America, so why not read a book by one of our country’s great authors? Try out The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, Little Women by Louisa Alcott, or Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe.
Book about going on an adventure: Feel free to interpret this prompt however you like! From knights in shining armor to modern-day explorers, so many stories will fit this category.
Book about a mountain: Mountains create the perfect setting for adventure, mystery, and excitement. A few of my favorite books involving mountains include Echo Mountain by Lauren Wolk, My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George, and No Summit Out of Sight by Jordan Romero.
Book with an animal protagonist: There is something so unique and enjoyable about seeing the world from an animal’s perspective. Growing up, I loved reading books like Alice’s Farm by Maryrose Wood, The Green Ember by S. D. Smith, and The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate.
A play: Of course, reading a play doesn’t have nearly the same effect as seeing it performed, but this will give you an excuse to watch the play afterwards! Find a genre you enjoy – whether it be comedy, tragedy, or historical drama – and have fun with it. Personally, I love Shakespeare’s comedies – Much Ado about Nothing, Taming of the Shrew, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Classic you never read in school: Everyone has that book in the back of their mind that they know they should have read at some point, but never did. Whether it’s The Great Gatsby or War and Peace, this is your year to change that!
Book with a food in the title: Find something light-hearted to enjoy like Love and Gelato by Jenna Welch, try a classic novel like The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, or pick a children’s book like If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff.
New book by an author you love: If you’re interested in reading all the works of a particular author, this is a great prompt for you! I’m hoping to read more of C. S. Lewis or L. M. Montgomery this year. 🙂
Book about someone who overcame a disability: Reading about the world from someone else’s perspective can make you grateful in new ways and re-frame how you treat others. Try a memoir like Born Lucky by Leland Vittert, or a novel like Wonder by R. J. Palaccio or Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper.
Book that you read with a friend: Reading books together makes them 10 times more enjoyable! Whether you join a book club or just read aloud with your family, find at least one other person to share a book with this year.
Book you judged by its cover: You looked at the outside of the book, thought you probably wouldn’t like it, and read it anyway. If you absolutely hate the book once you’re halfway through, you don’t have to finish it, but at least give it a try. 🙂
Book including foreign words or phrases: Is there a language that you’d love to learn but never have? While you likely won’t pick it up from just one book, exposing yourself to new languages can make you curious and encourage you to learn more on your own. Pro Tip: Find a book that has a glossary in the back or footnotes with translations so that you don’t spend more time on Google Translate than you do reading the book. 🙂
Book about a butler: My parents LOVE Downtown Abbey, and we joke that my dad missed his calling as a butler like Mr. Carson. I was somewhat surprised to realize that there are several wonderful books about butlers. Try The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro or P. G. Wodehouse’s series about Jeeves and Wooster.
Book about a scientist: The dedication, curiosity, and deductive reasoning that great scientists develop always amazes me. Try reading Her Hidden Genius by Marie Benedict or Hidden Figures by Margot Shetterly.
Book you wish would never end: Hopefully, this year you find at least one book that leaves you wishing you could keep reading it forever. 🙂
Your choice!
Looking for more book recommendations?
If so, look at past reading challenges or book lists for ideas:
Let me know what you’re reading in the comments section or tag me on instagram @oldfashionedinspiration!
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