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Welcome to the first ever Reading With Allison Reading Challenge Guide!
Most of my reading challenge prompts are straightforward, but occasionally you may need an explanation for a prompt. The guide is not meant to be a recommendations list, although I may point you toward a few books here and there!
If you’re new to the Read With Allison Reading Challenge, you can check out all the details here.
Make sure you bookmark this page so you can refer back to the reading challenge guide when a prompt has you stumped!
1. Book Released in January (Any Year)
Read a book published in January of any year. You can choose to tackle a backlist book or a new 2026 book release.
I post a new book releases list the first day of every single month!
Related: Book Release Lists By Month, January 2025 New Book Releases
2. Five Star Prediction
Read a book you think you will rate 5 stars on Goodreads, Storygraph, social media, etc.
Does it still count if you don’t end up rating the book 5 stars? Yes! The point is to read a book you think you will love.
3. Received as a Gift
Read a book you received as a gift for any occasion. You may immediately think Christmas or birthday gift, but a book from an author or publisher also counts!
4. 2025 Bestseller
Read a book that was on any bestseller list in 2025. Amazon, Barnes and Noble, New York Times, People Magazine, whatever! If it was considered a bestseller on a list somewhere, it counts!
5. Book Released in February (Any Year)
Read a book published in February of any year. You can choose to tackle a backlist book or a new 2026 book release.
Related: February 2025 New Book Releases
6. Bought Over a Year Ago
Read a book you purchased over a year ago. It can be a physical book, audiobook, or ebook. Any book you spent money on over a year ago counts!
Now what you consider a year ago might vary. For example, if you tackle this prompt in February 2026, you would want to pick a book you read prior to February 2025. But if you wait until December 2026, you could read any book you purchased in 2025.
7. Genre: Romance
My general rule for a genre prompt is if Goodreads lists the genre on the book page, then it counts for that genre.
So if you read a contemporary fiction book that is also tagged as romance, you can count it for this prompt (or any genre prompt on the list)!
8. Sweet Treat on the Cover
Time to be a bit of a detective! Inspect your book covers carefully and find a book with a sweet treat on the cover. It can be super obvious or a small detail.
Sweet treats include cakes, pies, cookies, ice cream, candy, coffee, milkshakes, doughnuts, etc.
9. Released in March (Any Year)
Read a book published in March of any year. You can choose to tackle a backlist book or a new 2026 book release.
Related: March 2025 New Book Releases
10. From a Subscription Box
The most commonly asked question about this prompt is, “Do I have to have a book box subscription for this prompt?” Nope!
You can read a book that was featured in a book box even if you did not receive that book from the book box. For example, Katabasis by R. F. Kuang was the September Fairyloot book. You can read any copy of Katabasis and count it for this prompt, even if you did not get a copy from Fairyloot. Any format works as well-physical, ebook, or audiobook!
Related: Is a Book of the Month Subscription Worth It?
11. Genre: Fantasy
My general rule for a genre prompt is if Goodreads lists the genre on the book page, then it counts for that genre.
So if you read a romance book that is also tagged as fantasy, you can count it for this prompt (or any genre prompt on the list)!
12. Recommended by a Friend or Family Member
This prompt is meant to get you talking about books with your friends and family! Hopefully at least one person is a reader and gives you a book recommendation.
13. Features Fresh Beginnings
I consider this the first challenging prompt of the challenge! This prompt is not a one size fits all theme in books.
A fresh beginning could mean:
- A character moving to a new place to start over
- A new relationship forming between characters (romance or friendship)
- A self help book meant to help you start a new habit
14. Released in April (Any Year)
Read a book published in April of any year. You can choose to tackle a backlist book or a new 2026 book release.
Related: April 2025 New Book Releases
15. Has a Cover You Love
Anything goes for this prompt! If you love the cover, it fits the prompt.
16. Set in a Country You’ve Never Visited
This prompt is pretty straightforward! Read a book set in any country you’ve never visited. Diversify your reading and learn about another culture!
17. Genre: Contemporary Fiction
My general rule for a genre prompt is if Goodreads lists the genre on the book page, then it counts for that genre.
Contemporary fiction has always been a topic of debate-what actually counts? To me it is a book with a realistic plot and set in the present day.
So if you read a mystery book that is also tagged as contemporary fiction, you can count it for this prompt (or any genre prompt on the list)!
18. Released in May (Any Year)
Read a book published in May of any year. You can choose to tackle a backlist book or a new 2026 book release.
Related: May 2025 New Book Releases
19. Book You’ve Seen Someone With in Public
Time to touch grass! We get so many book recommendations from screens.
This prompt encourages you to visit your local bookstore, library, or coffee shop and see what others are reading!
20. Number in the Title
Read a book that includes a number in the title. It can be written out in words or as a number.
21. Book You Own Multiple Copies Of
This prompt may be a stretch for some readers, but I almost guarantee you’ve owned a book twice at some point!
You can use a book you currently own two copies of or a book you’ve owned a copy of in the past and repurchased later. The formats do not have to be the same! You can own the physical book, audiobook, and/or ebook.
22. Released in June (Any Year)
Read a book published in June of any year. You can choose to tackle a backlist book or a new 2026 book release.
Related: June 2025 New Book Releases
23. Genre: Thriller
My general rule for a genre prompt is if Goodreads lists the genre on the book page, then it counts for that genre.
So if you read a mystery book that is also tagged as a thriller, you can count it for this prompt (or any genre prompt on the list)!
24. Book With Travel in the Plot
Read a book about characters traveling. This can be any genre too! Characters often travel in fantasy books, not just contemporary fiction!
They could be taking a vacation, traveling from one town to another for work, taking a roadtrip, flying, cruising, etc. Any form of travel for any reason counts!
25. Has a Cover With No People On It
The illustrated people trend has taken over book covers lately, especially in romance! Find a book that does not have people on it for this reading challenge prompt.
26. Author Shares Your Initials
I brought this prompt back after a couple of years! It can be tricky, so you may want to plan for it early.
Find a book by an author who has the same first and last initials as you. For example, my initials are AJ so I could read a book by Abby Jimenez for this prompt.
27. Released in July (Any Year)
Read a book published in July of any year. You can choose to tackle a backlist book or a new 2026 book release.
Related: July 2025 New Book Releases
28. Book With Multiple POVs
For this reading challenge prompt, you will need to read a book with multiple narrators or perspectives. Multiple POVs is common across all genres, but especially fantasy and romance! As long as the story unfolds from more than one point of view, it counts!
29. Genre: Sci-Fi
My general rule for a genre prompt is if Goodreads lists the genre on the book page, then it counts for that genre.
Don’t be intimidated by sci-fi! You can find books that are not hard sci-fi for this prompt.
So if you read a thriller book that is also tagged as a sci-fi, you can count it for this prompt (or any genre prompt on the list)!
30. Reread a Favorite Book
Sometimes we are so distracted by the flashy new releases that we never revisit our favorite books. Make a reread a priority during the 2026 reading challenge!
31. Released in August (Any Year)
Read a book published in August of any year. You can choose to tackle a backlist book or a new 2026 book release.
Related: August 2025 New Book Releases
32. Six Words in Title
Start counting words! Read a book with six words in the title. Any length word counts (so words like the, an, and, it, etc all count as a word for this prompt).
33. Next Book in a Series You Need to Continue
I am notorious for starting series and never finishing them, especially when the series is still being published! Make the next book in a series a priority in your 2026 reading.
If you aren’t in the middle of a series, then you can start a new series for this prompt.
34. By a 2026 Debut Author
This is your chance to discover a potential new favorite author! Read an author’s debut novel for this prompt, but it must be a novel that was originally published in 2026.
35. Released in September (Any Year)
Read a book published in September of any year. You can choose to tackle a backlist book or a new 2026 book release.
Related: September 2025 New Book Releases
36. Genre: Young Adult
My general rule for a genre prompt is if Goodreads lists the genre on the book page, then it counts for that genre.
So if you read a fantasy book that is also tagged as a young adult, you can count it for this prompt (or any genre prompt on the list)!
37. Set on an Island
Island/isolated setting thrillers are some of my favorites, but you can read any genre for this prompt! As long as part of the book takes place on an island, it counts!
Examples:
- The Island by Adrian McKinty
- Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins
- The House in the Cerulean Sea by T. J. Klune
38. Book That Feels Cinematic
This is a prompt that you may not be able to fill until you start reading a book. A book feels cinematic when you can picture everything happening like you are watching a movie. This could be a very descriptive book or a book with a lot of action. If you think the book would play out well as a movie, then it counts for this prompt!
Examples:
- Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
- Widow’s Point: The Complete Haunting by Richard and W. H. Chizmar
- Ward D by Freida McFadden
39. Book With a Blue Spine
Find a book on your shelves that has a blue or mostly blue spine. If you primarily read audiobooks or ebooks, that’s okay! Just visit the bookstore or library and peruse the spines!
40. Released in October (Any Year)
Read a book published in October of any year. You can choose to tackle a backlist book or a new 2026 book release.
Related: October 2025 New Book Releases
41. Genre: Horror
My general rule for a genre prompt is if Goodreads lists the genre on the book page, then it counts for that genre.
So if you read a literary fiction book that is also tagged as horror, you can count it for this prompt (or any genre prompt on the list)!
42. Book You Bought on Vacation
Any book you have ever purchased while on vacation or traveling counts for this prompt! I take day trips often and almost always visit a bookstore when we are out of town.
If you don’t currently have any unread books you’ve bought on vacation, then consider this your sign to take a trip and buy a book while you’re gone!
43. Book That Makes You Feel Cozy
My immediate thought for this reading challenge prompt is a small town romance, but that may not be what you consider cozy! Think stories that are heartwarming and comforting-like a warm hug on a cold day.
Cozy mysteries and cozy fantasy books are gaining popularity in the book community. These genres would also count for this prompt.
44. Released in November (Any Year)
Read a book published in November of any year. You can choose to tackle a backlist book or a new 2026 book release.
Related: November 2025 New Book Releases
45. Title Starts With The Letter ‘F’
For this prompt, choose any book with a title starting with the letter ‘F.’ It is up to you if you want to include articles like A, An, or The as the first word in a title or not.
46. Book You’ve Been Saving For “The Right Time”
I am notorious for buying or preordering books that I am super excited about and then putting off reading them for the perfect time to read that book.
So this is your chance to read that book you’ve been holding on to for whatever reason!
47. Book From Your Most Anticipated List
Read a book you are excited for! It could be a preorder or a book you’ve had on your TBR and just haven’t gotten around to yet.
48. Released in December (Any Year)
Read a book published in December of any year. You can choose to tackle a backlist book or a new 2026 book release.
Related: December 2025 New Book Releases
49. 2026 New Release
For this reading challenge prompt, you can read any book first published in 2026.
50. Genre: Dystopian Fiction
My general rule for a genre prompt is if Goodreads lists the genre on the book page, then it counts for that genre.
So if you read a young adult book that is also tagged as dystopian fiction, you can count it for this prompt (or any genre prompt on the list)!
51. Book With a Positive Message
Reading is not only a way to learn-it is a way to escape! For this prompt, read a book that has a positive or uplifting theme or message. This book should make you feel happy or inspire you.
Examples:
52. Book That Doesn’t Fit The Other 51 Prompts
And the final prompt of the 2026 reading challenge is to read a book that doesn’t fit the other 51 prompts.
Obviously the book you choose could fit one of the genre or published in X month prompts, but this is your chance to read a book that wouldn’t fit any of the other prompts on the list!
Try to find something that would not fit the other challenge prompts if possible! But consider this a wildcard spot on your 2026 reading challenge.
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