bibliobabe

Read more this year

Reading Challenges: Year-Round Ideas, Monthly Prompts & Free Printable Trackers

A reading challenge is the simplest trick I know for reading more — and reading more widely. Instead of vaguely meaning to "read more this year," you get a short list of prompts to fill with books of your choice. Here are the challenges, prompts and printable trackers I use to keep the pages turning all year long.

How a reading challenge works

Every challenge below is just a list of prompts. A prompt is a small, open brief — "a book published this year," "a book recommended by a friend," "a book under 300 pages." You decide which title fills it. There is no required order and no wrong answer; the prompts exist to pull you slightly outside your usual shelf without ever feeling like homework.

Pick a pace you can keep in a busy month, not a heroic one. Twelve books a year — one a month — is a realistic, satisfying target for most readers. If you already read often, try twenty-four, or the classic fifty-two. The best number is the one you will actually finish.

The "Read, Remember, Recommend" fiction challenge

This is bibliobabe's flagship challenge, and the one I come back to every year. It runs on three small habits that turn books you finish into books you actually keep:

  • Read widely — work through the prompts across as many genres as you can.
  • Remember — after each book, write a single line you want to hold onto: a character, an idea, one sentence that stayed with you.
  • Recommend — pass your favourites on to one other reader. Saying why a book worked is the fastest way to remember it yourself.

It is built for fiction but works just as well for memoir and narrative non-fiction. You can read the full prompt list and grab the tracker on the challenge page.

A flexible 12-prompt starter challenge

New to reading challenges? Start here. Twelve prompts, one loose target per month, deliberately broad so almost any book fits:

  1. A book published this year
  2. A book that has been on your shelf for over a year
  3. A book recommended by a friend
  4. A book under 300 pages
  5. A book in a genre you rarely read
  6. A book set in a country you have never visited
  7. A book with a one-word title
  8. A book by an author who is new to you
  9. A book that became a film or series
  10. A re-read of an old favourite
  11. A book chosen entirely by its cover
  12. A book over 500 pages (save it for a slow month)

Reading challenge ideas to make it your own

Once the starter list feels easy, shape the challenge around what you want more of:

  • Genre challenge — one book from a different genre each month, from cosy mystery to literary fiction. A good cure for a reading rut.
  • Around-the-world challenge — a book set in, or written by an author from, a different country each month.
  • Read-your-shelf challenge — only books you already own, no new buys. Your to-be-read pile will thank you.
  • Backlist challenge — skip the new releases and read the books everyone raved about three, five or ten years ago.
  • Seasonal challenge — match the mood: cosy reads in winter, breezy ones for summer.

Free printable reading tracker

Tracking is half the fun. Seeing your prompts fill in, one book at a time, is what keeps the habit alive on the weeks you would rather scroll. A printable on the fridge, a page in your journal or a simple spreadsheet all work — use whichever you will actually open. Our printable tracker has a box for each prompt, the title you filled it with, and a line for the one thing you want to remember.

Tips for actually finishing

  • Start small. Finishing twelve books beats abandoning a fifty-book goal in March.
  • Keep a "did not finish" rule. If a book is a slog by page fifty, set it down guilt-free. Life is short and the to-be-read pile is long.
  • Stack short books for busy months. A 150-page novella still counts.
  • Read with someone. A friend or your book club adds gentle accountability and someone to talk to.
  • Forgive a slump. If reading stalls, our guide on getting out of a reading slump has the resets that work for me.

Whichever challenge you pick, the point is the same: a little structure, a lot of freedom, and a year of books you are glad you read. Once you have a stack of finished titles, the best-books lists are a good place to find what to read next.

Ready to start?

Grab the free printable tracker and take on the 2026 fiction challenge.

Start the challenge →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books should I read in a year?

There is no correct number. A common starting goal is 12 books — one a month — which is realistic for most busy readers. If you already read often, 24 or 52 books a year stretches you without becoming a chore. Pick a target you can hit in your worst month, not your best one.

What is a reading challenge?

A reading challenge is a simple framework that nudges you to read more and read more widely. It is usually a list of prompts (for example, "a book published this year" or "a book set in a country you have never visited") that you fill with titles of your choice over a set period, most often a calendar year.

Are reading challenges good for beginners?

Yes. Beginners do best with a small, low-pressure challenge — around 12 books with flexible prompts. The goal is to build a steady habit, not to win. Starting small and finishing is far more motivating than setting a huge target and stalling in March.

Do I have to read the books in order?

No. Prompts are not a sequence. Match whatever you are reading to whichever prompt fits, in any order. Many readers leave the hardest prompts for last and let the easy ones build momentum early.

Can I count audiobooks and re-reads?

That is your call — it is your challenge. Most readers count audiobooks as full reads, since the story is the same. Re-reads are also fair game unless a prompt specifically asks for a book that is new to you.

What if I fall behind on my reading challenge?

Falling behind is normal and not a reason to quit. Drop the page count, swap a long book for a short one, or simply continue without catching up — finishing eight prompts is better than abandoning all twelve. Progress, not perfection.

How do I track my reading challenge?

A printable tracker, a spreadsheet or a notes app all work. Pick whichever you will actually open. A printable on the fridge or in the back of your journal gives you a satisfying visual of how far you have come.

What is the "Read, Remember, Recommend" challenge?

It is bibliobabe’s year-long fiction challenge: read widely across genres, jot one line you want to remember about each book, then recommend your favourites to another reader. The three steps turn passive reading into books you actually retain and share.

How do I choose books for each prompt?

Start with your to-be-read pile and slot those books into prompts they already satisfy. Fill the gaps from genre lists, friends’ recommendations or your library’s shelves. You do not need to plan all twelve in advance — choosing as you go keeps it fun.

Can I do a reading challenge with friends or a book club?

Absolutely, and it helps. Sharing prompts with friends or your book club adds gentle accountability and gives you people to talk to about each book. A shared tracker or a monthly check-in keeps everyone moving.