2025 Challenge Guide

2025 Challenge Guide

Ready to read? Our 2025 challenge has arrived with fifty-two prompts designed to stretch our reading and introduce us to new books, authors, and genres. It is a literary smörgåsbord, and we can’t wait to dive in!

Have a specific question about one of the prompts? From “stream of consciousness narrative,” to “breaks the fourth wall,” or “a crossover,” this #52booksin52weeks challenge has a broad range of prompt types and styles, and we know that sometimes, you just need a little extra explanation. This guide walks readers through EACH of the fifty-two prompts on our 2025 challenge.

Below you’ll find explanations as to what each prompt means, as well as alternative interpretations, ideas, or tips for completing them.

Important Notes:

Use this guide as a tool to help with tricky prompts, but know that it’s not an exhaustive list of ideas. There are always other interpretations and creative ideas for tackling the prompts. Have fun with it! And if you’re still not sure, remember that “If you think a book fits the prompt, it does!”

Keep in mind that everyone completes the challenges differently. You may be super strict with your interpretation of the prompts OR you may enjoy getting creative and thinking outside the box. How you choose to complete this challenge is ultimately up to you. YOUR CHALLENGE, YOUR RULES!

Don’t forget to bookmark this page! We recommend keeping this post close by for when challenge questions arise. This is your go-to spot for all 2025 prompt-related questions. Feel free to direct others here if they have questions too!

Guide to the 2025 Prompts:

1. A pun in the title

What is a pun? A pun is a form of wordplay that explores multiple meanings of a word. It’s often a humorous use of a word or phrase to suggest more than one meaning, or a word that sounds like another word. (For example: “I have no shelf control,” “You Gatsby kidding me,” or “Reading is a novel idea,” are all bookish puns.)

For this prompt, the pun may be found in the title, subtitle, or series title. Titles may differ from region to region, or in different languages. As long as at least one edition has a pun in the title, you can read that book in any translation, format, or edition. While the cozy mystery genre is more prone to having titles with puns, they can be found across all genres.

As a creative interpretation, you may choose a title with a word that contains the word “pun” inside of it. For example: punishment, punctual, acupuncture, punctuation, spunky, punitive, punk, punch, expunge, spun, pundit, puny, etc.

Examples: Better off Thread, State of the Onion, Wishful Drinking, Humble Pi: A comedy of Maths Errors, Tweet Cute

Goodreads list: A pun in the title

2. A character with red hair

This character-based prompt is for any character with red hair (natural or dyed.) They may be the main character or a secondary character. As a non-fiction option, you may also choose a memoir or biography about a historical or modern-day individual with red hair.

Examples: Anne of Green Gables, Fable, Madeline, The Six Wives of Henry VIII, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Goodreads list: A character with red hair

3. Title starts with letter “M”

Our side-quest through the alphabet continues! This year we’re tackling titles that start with the letters, “M” and “N.” For this prompt, choose any title or subtitle that begins with the letter “M.”

It is up to you whether you choose to include definite or indefinite articles (ex: The, A, An.) Alternatively, you may also decide on a series title starting with the letter M.

Examples: My Sister the Serial Killer, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Milk and Honey, The Mouse and the Motorcycle, Mexican Gothic

Goodreads list: Title starts with letter “M”

4. Title starts with letter “N”

For this prompt, any book that starts with the letter N counts! This could be the main title, subtitle, or the series title. As with all our letter prompts, it’s up to you whether or not you choose to count definite or indefinite articles like “The” or “A,” etc.

Examples: The Nickel Boys, Next Year in Havana, Never Coming Home, Notes on an Execution, The Night Circus

Goodreads list: Title starts with letter “N”

5. Plot includes a heist

A heist is another word for a robbery. Heist fiction usually involves an organized, large-scale theft of cash or valuable objects such as jewelry or artwork. These books often feature a charming but motley crew with various skills who undergo intense planning and organization in preparation for the heist. (Think Oceans 11!) They may be striving for revenge, out for financial gain, etc. Similar to mysteries, heists are often fun to watch a seemingly impossible puzzle solved.

This novel could be from the perspective of the individuals committing the heist (many heist novels feature lovable anti-heroes) or include the perspective of a detective trying to catch them. As a non-fiction option, you might also choose a true crime exploration of a famous heist.

The heist may be the main focal point of the plot or a secondary storyline. As long as a heist occurs somewhere within the story (successfully or not) it works toward this prompt.

Examples: Six of Crows, Heist Society, Portrait of a Thief, Artemis, The Great Train Robbery, The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules

Goodreads list: Plot includes a heist

6. Genre One: Set in Spring

The next four prompts on our 2025 challenge may require a bit of extra planning, as they’re connected. The book you choose for prompt six, will influence your choices for prompts seven, eight, and nine. For the next four prompts, we’re asking you to tackle four DIFFERENT genres and four different seasons.

For prompt six, we’re looking for a book set in spring (any genre). Keep in mind that for the next three prompts, we’re asking you to choose different genres than the one you chose for this prompt.

For example, you might decide to read:
– a historical fiction novel set in spring (prompt 6)
– a thriller set in summer (prompt 7)
– a fantasy novel set in autumn (prompt 8)
– and a horror story set in winter (prompt 9).

You can choose any genre you like for each prompt, as long as they’re four different genres. It is up to you whether you consider sub-genres to be the same or different genres. (For example: You may choose a historical mystery, a cozy mystery, a locked-room mystery, and a police procedural. Even though they’re all mysteries (larger genre) they are each also unique sub-genres.)

For prompt six, we’re specifically looking for a book set in Spring. Spring is the season after Winter and before Summer. The book that you choose should be set in Spring but that might look different depending on the setting of the book. (In the northern hemisphere, it is from March to May and in the southern hemisphere from September to November.) It may be fully set in spring or only partially.

Spring may feature within the story (for example: descriptions of flowers blooming, a spring-based holiday, etc.) or not at all (for example: a story set in space but takes place in the month of April.)

It may also take place on another planet, alternate reality, or fantasy world and may look vastly different to what we’re used to but still feature “a time or season of growth or development.” (Miriam-Webster.)

Examples of books set in spring (variety of genres): Tom Lake, Cherry Blossoms in Bloom, Spring, A World of Curiosities, The Secret Garden

Goodreads list: Books Set in Spring (any genre)

7. Genre Two: Set in Summer

Prompts 6-9 are connected. For this prompt, pick a book set in summer but it must be a different genre than the books you choose for prompts 6, 8, and 9. (See the description under prompt 6 for more details.)

Summer definition from Britannica: “Summer, warmest season of the year, between spring and autumn. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is usually defined as the period between the summer solstice (year’s longest day), June 21 or 22, and the autumnal equinox (day and night equal in length), September 22 or 23; and in the Southern Hemisphere, as the period between December 22 or 23 and March 20 or 21. The temperature contrast between summer and the other seasons exists only in middle and high latitudes; temperatures in the equatorial regions generally vary little from month to month.”

The book that you choose should be set in Summer but that will look different depending on where the book is set. It may be fully set in summer or only partially. The seasonal setting may or may not impact the storyline. For books set in other worlds or that take place outside of Earth, you might choose a book set during the hottest part of the year.

Examples: The Summer I Turned Pretty, Every Summer After, Just for the Summer, One Italian Summer, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

Goodreads list: Books set in Summer (any genre)

8. Genre Three: Set in Autumn

Pick a book set in Autumn (Fall) but it must be a different genre than the books you choose for prompts 6, 7, and 9. (See the description under prompt 6 for more details.)

Definition of Autumn from the Cambridge Dictionary: “The season of the year between summer and winter, lasting from September to November north of the equator and from March to May south of the equator, when fruits and crops become ready to eat and are picked, and leaves fall.”

The book that you choose should be set in Autumn (Fall) but that will look different depending on whether the book is set in the northern or southern hemisphere. It may be fully set in Autumn or only partially. The seasonal setting may or may not impact the storyline. For books set in other worlds or that take place outside of Earth, you may choose a book set during the time of year when their harvests occur, etc.

Examples of books set in Autumn (variety of genres): The Only Good Indians, Hallowe’en Party, Nine Liars, Still Life, Cemetery Boys

Goodreads list: Set in Autumn (any genre)

9. Genre Four: Set in Winter

Pick a book set in winter but it must be a different genre than the books you choose for prompts 6, 7, and 8. (See the description under prompt 6 for more details.)

Miriam Webster definition of Winter: “The season between autumn and spring comprising in the northern hemisphere usually the months of December, January, and February or as reckoned astronomically extending from the December solstice to the March equinox.” And from May to September south of the equator.

The book that you choose should be set in winter but keep in mind that this may look different depending on where the book is set. It may be fully or partially set in winter. The seasonal setting may or may not impact the storyline. For books set in other worlds or that take place outside of Earth, you may choose a book set during the coldest part of the year.

Examples: Moon of the Crusted Snow, The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, Beartown, Frozen River, Royal Holiday

Goodreads list: Books set in winter (any genre)

10. Author’s last name is also a first name

For our tenth prompt, we’re looking for an author whose last name (surname) could also be considered a first name. Some examples of last names that are also first names are Lincoln, Harper, Jackson, Carter, Franklin, Blake, Kelly, Hudson, etc. This may be the author’s legal last name or a pseudonym that they publish under.

This prompt will be subjective and vary depending on region, language, and/or personal experience. As always, if you think a book fits the prompt, it does!

Examples: Audrey Blake, Julia Kelly, Walter Scott, Holly Cassidy, Jeneva Rose, Kristin Hannah, Lisa Jewell, Kate Quinn, Alex Finlay, Jennifer Ryan

Goodreads list: Author’s last name is also a first name

11. A prequel

A prequel is a story that precedes existing work. (Coming from the prefix “pre-“ and the word “sequel.”) It is published after a completed narrative but gives backstory to the original work. Prequels often further develop storylines and show the events that led up to the original work. They may expand on worldbuilding or show you a character’s origin story.

The prequel may be a full story or a novella. It may be the prequel to one book or an entire series.

The prequel may be written by an author other than the original author. (Example: Marilla of Green Gables by Sarah McCoy as a prequel to the Anne of Green Gables series by L.M Montgomery.)

It’s up to you whether you choose to read a prequel before or after other books in the series. Some prequels may make more contextual sense to read after finishing the original work, even though they describe events occurring before.

Note that some books may function as a prequel but may still be listed by the publisher in publishing order. (For example, some sets of The Chronicles of Narnia series list The Magician’s Nephew as book one, while others will list it by publication date as book six.) Prequels may be listed as #0.5 in a series or #0 in a series.

Examples: The Magician’s Nephew (The Chronicles of Narnia), The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (The Hunger Games series), Kill Joy (A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder), Concrete Rose (The Hate U Give), Fire & Blood (Game of Thrones)

Goodreads list: A prequel

12. Has a moon on the cover

For this prompt, pick a book with a moon on the cover. The moon may be part of the cover design or the word “moon” in the title, series title, or author’s name. The moon can be any size and in any phase. It may or may not be Earth’s moon.

The title may also contain words with the word moon inside them, such as “honeymoon,” “moonbeam,” “moonlight,” “moonshine,” etc.

Examples: Daughter of the Moon Goddess, Killers of the Flower Moon, Hang the Moon, The Porcelain Moon, The Unhoneymooners

Goodreads list: Has a moon on the cover

13. Title is ten letters or less

Choose any book title that is ten letters or less in length. The title can be more than one word, as long as the total number of letters in the title is ten or less. Whether or not you choose to include subtitles as part of the title length is up to you.

Examples: Widowland, The Women, Finding Me, Happy Place, Mad Honey, Yellowface, Gone Girl

Goodreads list: Title is ten letters or less

14. Climate fiction

The genre Climate Fiction (also known as Cli-Fi or Eco-Fiction) is literature that deals with climate change or environmental-oriented fiction. Climate fiction can be speculative, dealing with future events near or far, or it can take place in the present. It is often used to raise critical questions about the world in which we live.

Climate fiction can be any genre: literary, mystery, thriller, science fiction, etc. For this prompt, we’re specifically looking for climate fiction. However, if you’re attempting to complete this 2025 challenge using only non-fiction reads, you may decide on a non-fiction book about climate.

Examples: The Parable of the Sower, How High We Go in the Dark, The 2084 Report, The Overstory, The Light Pirate, War Girls

Goodreads list: Climate fiction

15. Includes Latin American history

From Britannica: “Latin America is generally understood to consist of the entire continent of South America in addition to Mexico, Central America, and the islands of the Caribbean whose inhabitants speak a Romance language. The peoples of this large area shared the experience of conquest and colonization by the Spaniards and Portuguese from the late 15th through the 18th century as well as movements of independence from Spain and Portugal in the early 19th century.”

For this prompt, choose any book that includes some aspect of Latin American history, fiction or non-fiction. This may be a historical book that is set in Latin America, a non-fiction history book, fiction set in modern-day that references Latin American history, etc. The events featured within the book can be from any historical time period.

Latin America includes Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Puerto Rico, Saint-Barthélemy, Saint-Martin.

Examples: Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent, The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba, On a Night of a Thousand Stars, Inés of My Soul, The Spanish Daughter

Goodreads list: Includes Latin American history

16. Author has won an Edgar Award

The Edgar Allan Poe Awards (commonly called the Edgars) is an award presented by the Mystery Writers of America to honor the best in mystery, suspense, intrigue, and crime. There are multiple categories for each year including but not limited to: Best Short Story, Best Critical / Biographical Work, Best Young Adult, The Mary Higgins Clark Award, Best Novel, Best First Novel, etc.

For prompt sixteen, choose any book published by an author who has won an Edgar award. The author may have won any category in any year. You do not have to read their winning work but may choose any book published by that author.

You can see the full list of past winners here: https://edgarawards.com/all-winners/

Examples: Michael Connelly (Grand Master 2023), Jesse Q. Sutanto (Best Paperback Original 2023), Adrianna Cuevas (Best Juvenile 2024), Anthony Horowitz (Best Episode in a TV series 2023), Danielle Arceneaux (The Lilian Jackson Braun Memorial Award 2024)

Goodreads list: Books by an author who has won an Edgar award

17. Told in verse

Books told in verse are novel-length stories written using poetry instead of prose (the usual sentence and paragraph form.) Books told in verse can be any genre as long as it is a narrative told through poetry. Authors often choose this format to create a very strong emotional connection with the reader.

Examples: The Poet X, Crossover, Brown Girl Dreaming, Clap When You Land, Other Words for Home, Deep Water

Goodreads list: Told in verse

18. A character who can fly

For this prompt, we’re looking for a character who can fly. There are several different interpretations for this prompt, including but not limited to:

A character who has physical wings (Ex: told from the perspective of a bird or winged creature, or a fantasy novel featuring any type of magical winged character).
A character with the power of flight without physical wings (ex: Superman, Thor, Mary Poppins, Peter Pan, etc),
A pilot who flies any type of aircraft. (Aircraft may be powered or unpowered: airplane, helicopter, hang gliding, etc. It may also be fantasy-based or a sci-fi or futuristic aircraft.)

The character may be the main character or a secondary character. Flight may or may not feature heavily within the story. As always, this can be any genre, fiction or non-fiction.

Examples: A Court of Mist and Fury, Unbroken, Katherine: The Wright Sister, Silverwing, The Bees, The Huntress, Fly Girls

Goodreads list: A character who can fly

19. Has short chapters

Any book with short chapters will fit this prompt. What’s the definition of a “short” chapter, you ask? Well, that’s entirely up to you!

It may be “short” in comparison to your regular reads, or it may be that the chapters are less than five pages long. While we’re looking for a book that has short chapters as a whole, some chapters may be longer than others. This is another prompt that will vary widely in definition from reader to reader.

Examples: All the Light We Cannot See, The Inheritance Games, The Da Vinci Code, Jack Reacher series

Goodreads list: Has short chapters

20. A fairy tale retelling

A retelling of a fairy tale is when you take a classic fairy tale (of any origin) and put a new spin on it. These stories may be told in a different genre or with a new twist. Retellings often resonate with modern readers in new ways as authors incorporate current themes, new settings, diverse characters, etc. The fairy tale retelling may keep the original story structure and plot throughout, or it may be barely recognizable from the original by the end.

The retelling may be told from the perspective of a secondary or minor character, villain, introduce a brand-new character, etc. It may also combine multiple fairy tales into one new story.

Examples: Beyond Ivy Walls, Wendy Darling, Cinder, For the Wolf, Daughter of the Moon Goddess, The Bear and the Nightingale, Spinning Silver

Goodreads list: A fairy tale retelling

21. Character’s name in the title

For this prompt, we’re looking for books that include a character’s name in the title (could also be included in the series title or subtitle, particularly for non-fiction picks.) This may be the character’s first, middle, and/or last name, nickname, etc. It could be any character in the book, human or non-human.

Examples: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Queenie, Jane Eyre, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, I am Malala, Cleopatra: A Life

Goodreads list: Character’s name in the title

22. Found family trope

The found family trope is a device in literature in which a non-biologically related group of individuals come together to form their own family. This may also be referred to as a family of choice. They are often brought together through shared experiences or circumstances and emphasize the connections and communities we build for ourselves.

As a creative twist, you may choose to interpret this prompt more literally. It may feature a character who is literally lost and looking for their family (Ex: Lion by Saroo Brierley), someone who is trying to find their birth family, a character who has amnesia and can’t remember who they are or where they come from, etc.

Examples: Howls Moving Castle, Six of Crows, The O’Malley series, Kindling, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, The Lightning Thief, The Lost and the Found

Goodreads list: Found family trope

23. A sprayed edge

A sprayed edge is when the edges of a book are sprayed with color. Sprayed edges may be a solid color or they may include a design, stencil, artwork, or pattern. This is an increasingly popular choice for special editions. Sprayed edges may be a design choice released by the publisher or may be custom artwork added by an artist later. (You can see examples here on Amazon.)

What if I don’t read physical books? All of our challenge prompts can be completed using any type of reading (paperback, hardcover, e-reader, audiobook, etc.) As long as at least one edition of the book has a sprayed edge, you can read that book in any form or edition.

Can I spray a book’s edges and count it? Yes! Get crafty and creative with it! There is some breathtaking artwork being done on book edges, and if that inspires you, we can’t wait to see what you come up with.

There’s an edition with sprayed edges but I don’t have it. Can I read the paperback version or listen on audio instead? Yes! As long as at least one edition of the book has a sprayed edge, feel free to read that book in any form.

How do I find books with sprayed edges? We recognize the fact that some of our prompts can be trickier to find than others, and at first glance, this one seems really tricky! If you’re unable to find a book with sprayed edges, be sure to make use of the amazing 52 Book Club community and ask for help. Search our Facebook group for suggestions (or create a post and ask for ideas), check out our Goodreads lists, visit a local library or bookstore and ask for suggestions there.

You can also visit these links to scroll through and search hundreds of titles. (Remember, you don’t have to purchase the sprayed edge version to read it for this challenge. Any edition counts!)

If you have a beautiful sprayed edge book, don’t forget to snap a photo and share it in our Facebook group or on social media using #the52bookclub2025 — we’d love to see them!

Examples: Apprentice to the Villain, The Rom-Commers, The Perfect Marriage, Onyx Storm, Bloodguard, Beach Read

Goodreads list: A sprayed edge

24. Title is a spoiler

A spoiler is something that gives away a crucial piece of information, that may or may not “spoil” part of the story. For this prompt, we’re looking for titles that feel like a spoiler. (For example, “They Both Die at the End” by Adam Silvera.) The spoiler may be part of the title, subtitle, or series title.

Sometimes you may not know that the title is a spoiler until you’ve finished reading the book. Other times, it’s an intentional, upfront choice by the author or publisher to evoke a specific feeling or presupposition while reading.

How big does the spoiler have to be? Keep in mind that the title does not have to spoil the main part of the plot or a main twist. Many book titles could be considered spoilers for smaller or specific aspects of the story rather than the book as a whole. As always, it’s up to you whether a book fits this prompt or not.

Examples: None of This is True, Around the World in Eighty Days, The Butler Did It, And Then There Were None, The Last Bookshop in London, Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone, The Reappearance of Rachel Price

Goodreads list: Title is a spoiler

25. Breaks the fourth wall

The fourth wall is an imaginary wall that separates the reader from the characters. We as the reader can see and understand the story, but usually characters don’t know of or acknowledge the existence of a reader. When a character breaks the fourth wall, they’re removing the barrier between the reader and themselves. (In movies or theatre, this is often done by looking directly into the camera or at the audience and speaking to them or giving them a knowing look.)

In literature, there are a variety of ways a book may break the fourth wall. One of the most common ways perhaps, is addressing the reader directly. (Think of the famous line from Jane Eyre: “Reader, I married him.”) Narrators may address the reader with side comments or an authorial intrusion. (For example, in The Princess Bride, the narrator uses asides marked in parentheses to comment on the story.)

Breaking the fourth wall is also commonly used in metafiction. Metafiction intentionally references the work’s fictional nature. An example of this is when the narrator or characters are aware of or acknowledge that they are fictional characters.

Books written with a second-person narrative or a “choose your own adventure” story create an interactive experience, bringing the reader into the book, and we would count that for this prompt too.

While there are a variety of interpretations as to what breaking the fourth wall looks like within literature, for this prompt, we’re looking for books that break the barrier between reader and character. It may be something occurring constantly within the book, or only a line or two sprinkled throughout. If you think that’s happening in the story, it counts toward this prompt!

Examples: Jane Eyre, The Monster at the End of this Book, Warcross, Dark Tower series, A Series of Unfortunate Events, The Book Thief

Goodreads list: Breaks the fourth wall

26. More than a million copies sold

For this prompt, we’re looking for books that have more than a million copies sold worldwide. It could have sold over a million copies in one specific country or across multiple countries or regions. It could have hit “one million copies sold” at any point after being released, and it does not have to be within a specific timeframe.

Alternatively, you could also choose an author who has sold more than a million copies of their books in total. (Multiple books combined to equal one million sold, rather than one specific book.)

You could also choose a series that has sold more than a million copies in total. (Across all the books in the series, rather than individually.)

It’s not always easy to find information on how many copies a specific book has sold. Sometimes books will have stickers on the cover saying, “Over a million copies sold.” A quick Google search may be helpful in discovering how many copies a specific book or author have sold.

For more ideas, you can check out this Wikipedia list.

Examples: Don Quixote, a book by Agatha Christie, A Court of Thorns and Roses, The Alchemist, I’m Glad My Mom Died, The Nightingale

Goodreads list: More than a million copies sold

27. Features a magician

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a magician is “one skilled in magic” or “one who performs tricks of illusion and sleight of hand.” For this prompt, we’re looking for a book that features any kind of magician. The magician may actual have magical powers or be a stage magician, illusionist, escape artist, etc.

The magician may be featured as part of the title, cover art, plot, or as a character. If it’s character based, the magician may be the main character or a background / secondary character. The book’s plot may center around magic but it doesn’t not have to. The magician may appear for one scene (in a chapter about a children’s birthday party, for example) or play a key role throughout the entire story.

Examples: The Night Circus, The Magician’s Lie, The Last Magician, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, The Ways We Hide

Goodreads list: Features a magician

28. A crossover (set in a shared universe)

A shared universe is when two or more standalone stories take place in the same world setting with the same continuity. This means that one story has the potential to influence events in another story, or that characters from one standalone novel may bump into characters from another standalone novel. (Note: This is different than books in the same series, although books from separate series may share a universe.)

A shared universe may be created by one author, or may have multiple authors contributing to it. The fun part of a shared universe is that it allows readers to deeply invest in that universe, uncovering subtle crossovers, connected plots, and Easter Eggs.

For this prompt, you may pick a book with a character crossover or character cameo (For example: the main character in book one enters a coffee shop and bumps into the main character from the author’s previous novel). You might choose a location crossover (For example: the main character in one book visits or references a bar owned by a character in another book), or the book may reference events or information from another book. Books in a shared universe may or may not share characters.

Some author’s are very intentional and open about shared universes they have created (such as Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere Universe) while others may leave more subtle Easter Eggs, cameos, or crossover mentions.

As a creative interpretation, any non-fiction read would technically be set in a shared universe.

Examples: Star Wars books, Stephen King’s The Dark Tower series (It, The Stand, Salem’s Lot, etc), Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere Universe (Elantris, Mistborn, Warbreaker, The Stormlight Archive, White Sand), The Last Bookshop in London and The Booklover’s Library, Taylor Jenkins Reid (The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Daisy Jones and the Six, Malibu Rising, Carrie Soto is Back), Abby Jimenez books, Marvel comics

Goodreads list: A crossover (set in a shared universe)

29. Shares universe with prompt 28

This prompt is connected to the previous one (prompt 28.) To complete this prompt, choose a book that is set in the same shared universe as the book you read for prompt 28. These should be standalone novels or books that are not part of the same series.

For example, you may read Katherine Center’s book, The Bodyguard for prompt 28, and then The Rom-Commers for prompt 29, as the characters from one book are mentioned/make a brief appearance in the second.

See prompt 28 for further description as to what a shared universe is.

Goodreads list: A crossover (set in a shared universe)

30. In the public domain

Public domain means that a book is no longer copyrighted and exclusive intellectual property rights no longer exist for that work. Because of this, anyone can legally use or reference those works.

Copyright rules are complicated and have changed over the years. (Most countries currently consider copyright to last for the author’s life plus seventy years. However, books published prior to this law will be subject to different copyright laws.)

Copyright laws will also vary by country. Some books may be in the public domain in the US but not in other countries, or vice versa. For this prompt, as long as a book is in the public domain in at least one country, it counts!

Any book published in the US before 1929 will be in the public domain.

Examples: The Great Gatsby, The Secret of Chimneys, Pride and Prejudice, Mrs Dalloway, Dracula

Goodreads list: In the public domain

31. Audiobook has multiple narrators

For this prompt, we’re looking for books in which the audiobook is narrated by multiple narrators.

The Cambridge Dictionary describes multiple as “having more than one and usually several of something.” Using this definition, any audiobook with two or more narrators will count toward this prompt. However, the more narrators, the merrier!

The audiobook may have multiple narrators throughout the entire book, or may simply have an introduction or bonus content read by a different narrator (or the author.) Books that are written from the point of view of several different characters or multi-timelines, may have multiple narrators.

You can check to see who narrates a specific book by doing a quick search for the audiobook on Amazon Audible.

Do I have to listen to the book on audio? Nope! All of our prompts can be completed using any format of reading (audiobook, physical, e-book, braille, live reading, etc.) Choose an audiobook that fits the prompt, then read that book in any format (paperback, hardcover, e-book, or audio!)

Examples: Daisy Jones and the Six, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, Sea of Tranquility, World War Z, Lincoln in the Bardo

Goodreads list: Audiobook has multiple narrators

32. Includes a diary entry

A diary is a private record, where individuals recount thoughts, feelings, reflections, and daily events. It’s a form of autobiographical writing and may serve as a space for honest self-expression, memory-keeping, goal-tracking, etc.

For this prompt, we’re looking for any book that includes at least one diary entry (in any form.) The entire book may be in diary format (Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl) or it may contain fragments or sections of diary entries. As long as the book includes at least one diary entry, it counts for this prompt.

The title or subtitle may include the word diary, but it doesn’t have to. The diary entries do not have to reference the classic phrase, “Dear Diary.”

As a creative interpretation, the character may reference writing in their diary without actually revealing the contents of said diary.

Examples: I Capture the Castle, The Princess Diaries, Bridget Jones’ Diary, Madly, Deeply: The Diaries of Alan Rickman, Gone Girl, Maude Horton’s Glorious Revenge

Goodreads list: Includes a diary entry

33. A standalone novel

A standalone novel is a complete narrative that exists independently from any other work. It is not part of a series, prequel, trilogy, etc. It quite literally “stands alone.” Similar to a feature film, it’s a finished work on its own.

As a creative interpretation, you might choose a book that was originally intended to be a standalone (For example, The Firm by John Grisham) but received an unexpected sequel years later. This might be particularly applicable for books that had sequels published by authors that weren’t the original author (For example: Scarlet by Alexandra Ripley as a sequel to Margaret Mitchell’s Gone With the Wind.)

To increase the difficulty of this prompt, try a standalone novel in a genre you don’t regularly read!

Examples: On Rotation, Babel, Circe, The House of Eve, Banyan Moon

Goodreads list: A standalone novel

34. Direction in the title

For this prompt, we’re looking for any book with direction in the title. As with all our title-related prompts, this may be included in the main title, subtitle, or series title.

Direction can be cardinal direction (points on a compass: North, South, East, West.)

Direction may also be positional. Positional words describe the location of something in relation to something else. Examples of positional direction words could include: Up, Down, Right, Left, Forward, Front, Back, Backward, Behind, Straight, Ahead, Far, In, On, Above, Below, etc.

You could also choose a title with the word “direction” in the title, subtitle, or series title.

An additional interpretation for this prompt would be to choose a title that is an imperative sentence. (A title that doubles as a command or direction to do something.) For example: “Go Set a Watchman,” “Don’t Let Her Stay,” “Do Not Become Alarmed,” etc. In this case, the entire title is a direction (or command).

Any directional word in the title will count for this prompt, and the word can be in any language.

As a creative interpretation, you may choose a word that has another direction word inside of it. For example, a title word the word “Beast” (contains the word “east” inside.) Other examples include, but aren’t limited to, the words: feast, Easter, awestruck, narrowest, unorthodox, touchdown, downtown, porcupine, frontier, cleft, fright, etc.

Examples: North and South, In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl’s Journey to Freedom, East of Eden, West with Giraffes, The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up

Goodreads list: Direction in the title

35. Written in third person

Our past challenges have had prompts for “written in first person” (2020) and “written in second person,” (2022) so it was only a matter of time before we rounded it off with a “written in third person” prompt.

Third person is a style of writing that uses third-person pronouns such as “he,” “she,” or “they.” It’s a perspective that can follow numerous characters and narrative arcs. Third-person narratives can be all-knowing (third-person omniscient, knowing the thoughts of multiple characters), limited (focused on one character’s thoughts and actions), or objective (narrator reports events without knowing the feelings of characters unless they express them directly.)

Any book told in third person will fit this prompt. The book may be fully told in the third person or have a blend of narrative styles throughout.

Examples: Little Women, The Dream Builders, The Secret War of Julia Child, Throne of Glass, The Prison Healer

Goodreads list: Written in third person

36. Final sentence is less than 6 words long

For prompt 36, choose a book in which the final sentence is less than six words long. It doesn’t matter whether it has one word or five words, as long as it’s less than six, it counts!

It’s also up to you what you consider the final sentence to be. You may decide to count additional content (such as an author’s note or acknowledgements.) It’s also up to individual readers whether or not they would include a phrase like “The End” as the final sentence or not.

Keep in mind that we are an international group of readers who tackle prompts in multiple languages and translations. Some books may fit this prompt in some translations but not others. (For example: The Spanish translation of a certain book has a final sentence that is five words long, while the French translation of that exact same book might have seven words.) As long as at least one edition of the book fits the prompt, you can read that book in any edition, translation, or format.

Examples: Murder in Mesopotamia (Final sentence: “Something like that.”) The Dutch House (Final sentence: “‘Take me inside.'”) The Firekeeper’s Daughter (Final sentence: “Where all journeys begin.”) Where We End & Begin (Final sentence: “‘I think we’ve earned it.'”) The Client (Final sentence: “‘Thank Mark.'”) Within These Walls of Sorrow (Final sentence: “We are the legacy.”)

Goodreads list: Final sentence is less than 6 words long

37. Genre chosen for you by someone else

It’s time to let someone else pick the genre of your next read! For this prompt, get a friend, co-worker, librarian, family member, random stranger, or 52 Book Club member to pick the genre for you. It doesn’t matter who picks the genre, as long as it’s not you! Depending on who you ask, they might keep it broad or narrow it down to a sub-genre. Once they’ve assigned you a genre, you get to pick any book that fits that genre!

Alternative idea: Instead of asking one person to pick, you could also run a poll on one of your personal social media pages and invite all your friends to vote for a genre. Have fun with this!

Goodreads list: *There is no Goodreads list for this prompt*

38. An adventure story

The adventure genre usually features action-packed stories with a protagonist tasked with high-energy, high-excitement, and often dangerous journeys or quests. Adventures can take place in a wide variety of forms. From pirate adventures on the high seas, to tales of arctic exploration, or journeys through space, an adventure story can come in almost genre.

You may also decide on a title with the word “adventure” in it. (Example: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.)

Examples: The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, Ready Player One, The Man in the Brown Suit, Jurassic Park

Goodreads list: An adventure story

39. Has an epigraph

An epigraph is a short quote, saying, or poem at the beginning of a book or chapter. It usually alludes to part of the book’s theme, subject, or mood. Authors may use epigraphs to help create context or introduce information, and can occur in any genre. Epigraph formatting will differ from book to book; they may or may not include quotations or italics. An epigraph may be one line or many lines.

An example of an epigraph from To Kill a Mockingbird: “Lawyers, I suppose, were children once.” —Charles Lamb.

For this prompt, you may choose a book with an epigraph at the beginning of the book, or a book that has epigraphs at the beginning of one or more chapters.

Examples: The Specimen, The Dream Builders, Homegoing, I’ll Be Gone in the Dark, Into Thin Air

Goodreads list: Has an epigraph

40. Stream of consciousness narrative

Stream of consciousness is a narrative style that tries to mimic the way we think. It shows a character’s internal thoughts in a realistic way, often capturing incomplete and non-linear ideas, sensory impressions, incomplete grammar, repetition, etc. It doesn’t just show what a character is thinking but replicates the experience of thinking.

For this prompt, you may choose a book entirely written in stream-of-consciousness narrative, or choose a book that uses stream-of-consciousness for only specific parts or certain characters.

While a stream-of-consciousness narrative is more than just an interior monologue, we always allow creativity for prompts. Some books contain elements of the stream-of-consciousness narrative style (for example: Catcher in the Rye) and you’re welcome to stretch this prompt to include books with a more structured, interior monologue style.

Examples: Beloved, Mrs. Dalloway, The Sound and the Fury, Ulysses, Anna Karenina

Goodreads list: Stream of consciousness narrative

41. Cover font is in a primary color

For this prompt, choose a book with font on the cover that is in a primary color. This may be the title, subtitle, author’s name, endorsement, etc. The cover may contain fonts of various colors. As long as at least part of the cover font is in a primary color, it counts toward this prompt.

What are primary colors? Primary colors are the foundation for creating other colors. They cannot be created by mixing other colors together. Most often, we refer to the primary colors as red, yellow, and blue.

However, there are also different primary color models for light. The variations between the models are due to the differences between additive and subtractive color mixing. For example, the RGB model uses red, green, and blue as its primary colors. The CMY model uses cyan, magenta, and yellow.

For this prompt, it is up to you which primary color (and which primary color model) you’d like to use.

Remember that you do not need to complete this prompt using a physical copy. All of our prompts can be completed using any format or style of reading. Books with various editions may have different cover designs. As long as at least one edition has font on the cover in a primary color you can read that book in any format or edition you’d like.

Examples: Homegoing, The Dream Builders, Parable of the Sower, Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting, Crazy Rich Asians

Goodreads list: Cover font is in a primary color

42) Non-human antagonist

An antagonist is the opposing force in a story. It may be a character, group, force, idea, etc. It is an opposer working against the protagonist’s (leading character’s) goals. This is what creates the main conflict in the story. Traditionally, we think of an antagonist as “the bad guy” or the villain of the story.

For this prompt, we’re looking for a non-human antagonist, but there are a variety of different ways this might appear in a book. Here are a few examples:

Fantasy character — Any non-human, fantasy antagonist will fit this prompt. This may be a physical creature or something less tangible.
Nature — The main antagonist may be a force, like a natural disaster. Examples may include a tornado, storm, volcano, meteor, earthquake, etc.
Hostile environment (Ex: The environment on Mars in The Martian.)
Society — In George Orwell’s 1984, the surveillance state of Big Brother could be considered the non-human antagonist. Other examples of this could include The Hunger Games or The Handmaid’s Tale.
Inner conflict — The protagonist’s insecurities or feelings may create inner conflict that thwarts their goals. This may look like fear, insecurity, anxiety, bitterness, anger, pride, addiction, etc.
Animals — King Kong, Godzilla, etc.
Technology — Technology that has become destructive, etc.
A supernatural antagonist
Disease

An antagonist does not have to be an enemy or nemesis (but they could be.) The purpose of an antagonist within a story is to create conflict. Books may have more than one antagonist. As long as at least one primary or secondary antagonist is non-human, it fits this prompt.

Examples: The Tell Tale Heart, The Hunger Games, A Court of Thorns and Roses, Robinson Crusoe, Hail Mary

Goodreads list: Non-human antagonist

43) Explores social class

Britannica defines social class as, “a group of people within a society who possess the same socioeconomic status.” And “Despite controversies over the theory of class, there is general agreement among social scientists on the characteristics of the principal social classes in modern societies. Sociologists generally posit three classes: upper, working (or lower), and middle.”

Social class is a complex discussion with a wide range of definitions. You can find more information on the topic here.

For this prompt, choose any fiction or non-fiction book that explores social class in some manner or another. It may dive into the differences between social classes, explore social mobility, or highlight one specific social class. The book may discuss the topic directly or touch upon the subject through overall themes, plot, etc. You may choose a book that explores social class at any point in history.

Examples: The Great Gatsby, Class, The Outsiders, The Communist Manifesto, Oliver Twist

Goodreads list: Explores social class

44) A celebrity on the cover

A celebrity is someone who is famous, especially in areas of entertainment (such as films, music, writing, sport, etc.) For this prompt, we’re looking for a celebrity on the cover. This may be a fictional or non-fictional celebrity. They may be on the front or back cover.

There are many different types of celebrities. Examples include (but aren’t limited to): actor, musician, athlete, politician, content creator or influencer, writer, reality TV star, socialite, celebrity chef, royalty, TV host, model, etc. Celebrities will vary from country to country, and your definition may differ from other 52 Book Club members. As long as you feel the description fits the book, it works for this prompt!

Here are some ways you might find books with celebrities on the cover:

Cover graphics: The celebrity may be featured on the cover as part of the cover design itself. This may be a photo or an illustration. It may or may not be a movie-tie in cover. The celebrity may be a real-world celebrity or it may be a representation of a character who is a fictional celebrity in the book.

Title: You may also choose to interpret this prompt as a title that has a celebrity in it. This may be the name of a well-known celebrity (Example: Waiting for Tom Hanks by Kerry Winfrey) or a book title with the word “celebrity” in it.

Author / Endorsement: Additionally, you may choose a book that is written by a celebrity (because their name appears on the cover!) Or you might choose a book that has an endorsement on the cover by a celebrity.

Covers will vary by region and edition. As long as at least one edition of the book has a celebrity on the cover, you can read it in any edition or format for this prompt.

Examples: How to Marry Keanu Reeves in 90 Days, Finding Me, Spare, The Bodyguard, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing

Goodreads list: A celebrity on the cover

45) Author releases more than one book a year

For prompt 45, we’re looking for authors who release more than one book a year. Any book published by an author fitting this description will work toward this prompt.

The author may regularly release two or more books in a calendar year, or may have released two books in a specific year as a one-time occurrence. The books do not have to have been released in 2025 (although that makes for a fun bonus challenge!) You may choose any book by this author (even if the year that that specific book was published, the author only released one book.)

You may also choose an author who regularly co-writes with others (Ex: James Patterson), a pseudonym shared by multiple authors, etc. Novellas and short stories fit this prompt.

Examples: Frieda McFadden, James Patterson, Jaime Jo Wright, Gabrielle Meyer, Stephen King

Goodreads list: Author releases more than one book a year

46) Read in a -ber month

This prompt is a time-specific prompt. Any book read in a “-ber” month will fit this prompt: September, October, November, or December. The book can be any genre or format.

As a creative alternative, you may choose to re-read a book that you’ve previously read in a “-ber” month.

Goodreads list: There is no Goodreads list for this prompt

47) “I think it was blue”

This prompt is an ode to all the times we’ve forgotten the name of a book title, but “I think the cover was blue?”

This is a prompt that invites a wide range of interpretations and creativity. Here are a few ideas:

The word “blue” in the title
A blue spine
Blue cover
Book that “makes you feel blue” (an emotional read, book that makes you cry, etc)
Character or author with first or last name “Blue” (Bluey!)
Related to phrases or idioms with the word blue in it. Examples: Once in a blue moon, out of the blue, blue blood (aristocrat or nobility), blue collar, blue in the face, black and blue, bleeds blue, etc.
A book that you can’t remember the title of (Feel free to ask for help in the Facebook group! We’ll help you solve it!)
Ask a librarian for a blue cover recommendation

Examples: Book Lovers, Eragon, Gathering Blue, Red, White & Royal Blue, One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish

Goodreads list: “I think it was blue”

48) Related to the word “puzzle”

Every year, The 52 Book Club votes on a select few prompts for the following year’s challenge. Prompts 48-51 on this year’s challenge were chosen by you!

For this prompt, we gave 52 Book Club members ten different words to vote on. (Everything from “opulence” to “intergalactic” to ” wanderlust.” You can see the full list here.) The two words that received the most votes were then put into a random draw on YouTube live and we picked one winner — “Related to the word ‘puzzle.'”

Any book related to the word puzzle will fit this prompt. A puzzle may be a game, toy, or problem designed to test ingenuity (for example: a crossword puzzle, logic puzzle, etc) or it may also relate to the state of being puzzled or in a situation that is difficult to understand. (Ex: “That situation was a puzzle to us all!”)

Examples of ways a book might relate to the word puzzle:

The puzzle may appear as part of the cover design (Ex: a puzzle piece on the cover)

The word “puzzle” or the name of a specific type of puzzle may be a part of the title, subtitle, or series title (Example: The Crossword Murders or The Puzzle Box.)

Character related: A character who loves to solve puzzles, a character who expresses feeling “puzzled,” a character named Puzzle (The Last Battle), a detective, etc.

Plot related: Almost any mystery novel could be considered a puzzle and fit this prompt.

There may or may not be actual puzzles within the book for readers to solve.

Examples: The Inheritance Games, The Marlow Murder Club, Murdle, The Woman in the Library, The Puzzle Master

Goodreads list: Related to the word “puzzle”

49) Set in a country with an active volcano

This was our second voter-picked prompt for 2025. For this prompt, we voted on a book set in a specific region, country, or city. “Set in a country with an active volcano” was our winner!

For prompt 49, choose a book set in a country with an active volcano. Active volcanoes have a recent history of eruptions and are likely to erupt again. The volcano may or may not be currently erupting.

Note: There will be different definitions of “active” and that’s okay! Even volcanologists disagree on the exact definitions. A volcano may not have erupted for thousands of years, but still be considered active due to frequent earthquakes, geothermal activity, and/or other signs of activity. For this prompt, you get to decide what makes a volcano “active” or not.

Examples of counties with active volcanoes include (but aren’t limited to): Indonesia, Japan, United States, Russia, Iceland, Chile, Papua New Guinea, Ecuador, Mexico, Philippines, New Zealand, Italy, Tanzania, Australia, etc.

You may choose any book set in any country with an active volcano. The book does not have to be about or feature a volcano, but you may choose to do so as a fun bonus. The book may have a contemporary or historical setting.

Examples: Eruption (USA), Eruption: The Untold Story of Mt. St Helen (USA), The House of the Spirits (Chile), Burial Rites (Iceland), One Italian Summer (Italy)

Goodreads list: Set in a country with an active volcano

50) Set in the 1940s

For our third 2025 members-voted prompt, we voted on a decade that we’d most like to see a book set in. Our top two finalists were “Set in the 1980s” and “Set in the 1940s.” Our winner from the random draw was, “Set in the 1940s.”

For this prompt, choose any book set in the 1940s. It may be fully or partially set in the 1940s.

You may also choose a book that was originally written and/or published in the 1940s with a contemporary setting at that time (even if the year isn’t specifically noted as part of the setting.)

While a majority of books set in the 1940s feature WWII, it does not have to be about the war. To help, we’ve created two separate Goodreads lists for this prompt. One featuring books set in the 1940s that do not feature WWII, and one featuring all books set in the 1940s.

Examples: The Nightingale, The Warsaw Sisters, Betrayal at Blackthorn Park, N or M?, Stuart Little

Goodreads list: Set in the 1940s (includes WWII)
Goodreads list: Set in the 1940s (no WWII)

51) 300-400 pages long

The fourth and final 2025 members-voted prompt was related to page length, and our winning prompt was, “300-400 pages long.”

For this prompt, choose any book that is between 300-400 pages in length. Remember, various editions may have different page counts — and that’s okay! As long as at least one edition falls between 300-400 pages, it counts for this prompt, and you can read that book in any format or edition.

Goodreads or Amazon is an easy place to double-check page numbers for specific books. It is up to you whether you include any bonus content (like sample chapters from upcoming books, authors’ notes, research links, acknowledgments, etc) in your page count or not.

Examples: The Hunger Games, Poldark, The Last Bookshop in London, The Word is Murder, I’ll Be Gone in the Dark

Goodreads list: 300-400 pages long

52) Published in 2025

Our final prompt on the 2025 challenge will come as no surprise to our long-term 52 Book Club members. This prompt is one that we love to wrap up our challenge with as an ode to the new year! For our 52nd prompt, choose any book published in 2025.

This can be any genre or author and may be published at any time from January 1, 2025 until December 31, 2025.

Examples: Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping on a Dead Man, The Bitter End Birding Society, Onyx Storm, Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave, Parents Weekend

Goodreads list: Published in 2025