Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

Preliminary list, subject to change and adaptation, as usual.

√1. A book with a cover that has an image of something that starts with A, T, or Y
Der Trip: Du hast dich frei gefühlt. Bis er dich fand
(Tree-lined road on the cover)
√2. A prompt suggestion for this year that did not make the list
Follow Me
(A book about or involving modern media)
√3. A book connected to something mentioned in the Do Re Mi song
Set This House in Order
Connection: Multiple Personality disorder > "Me, a name I call myself"
4. A book set underground, under sea or in an underworld
The Untold Story
√5. A book with a weird or intriguing title
A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking

6. A book with a serpentine element on the cover
The Essex Serpent
7. A book by an author that uses 3 names
Sea of Tranquility
(By Emily St. John Mandel)
√8. A collection of short stories or novellas, essays, poetry, or a mix of various brief writings
Fragile Things
9. A book that has been long-listed for the Tournament of Books in any year
Teufelszeug
(Horns)
√10. A book about witches, goddesses, or nuns
Witch Hunt

√11. A book set in a fictional location
The Summer I Turned Pretty
12. A book by an Irish author
Das Herz von Dublin
By Maeve Binchy
√13. A book involving a "group" with at least 4 members that's not a family
In My Dreams I Hold a Knife
14. A science fiction or fantasy novel written by a woman
A Court of Wings and Ruin
√15. A book of secrets, lies, or deception
Im Schatten der Lüge
(The Wicked Girls)

√ 16. A book that fits a prompt from the 2016 ATY list
The next book in a series you're reading
The Blissfully Dead
√17. A history or historical fiction book set prior to 1925
Die Gargoyles von Notre Dame 2
√18. A book set primarily in nature
The Cabin in the Woods
√19. A book with a cover that has a building or cityscape
They Both Die at the End
20. A book with an animal, vegetable (plant), or mineral in the title
The Last Coyote
The Dark Rose

√21. A book connected in some way to any collective noun for animals
Tiefe Narbe
(Literally, "Deep Scar"; related to "Murder")
22. A translated novel from Asia
Spiral
23. A book that involves art, music, dancing, or acting
The Empire
√24. A book with a main character who is a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess, or a criminal
Love, Theoretically
√25. A book with waves on the cover
The Devil and the Dark Water

√26. A book by an author with a common noun in their name
Einsame Nacht
(By Charlotte Link)
√27. A book set in the winter
Die Einladung
√28. Two books with a pair of opposites in their titles: BOOK 1
We'll Always Have Summer
√29. Two books with a pair of opposites in their titles: BOOK 2
Cruel Winter with You
√30. A monster book
Das Letzte, was du hörst

√31. A book with a coastal setting
Ship Wrecked
√32. A mystery or true crime book
The Devil in the White City. Murder, Magic and Madness at the Fair That Changed America
√33. A book by an author you enjoyed but haven't gotten around to reading again for some time
The Final Girl Support Group
√34. A book title that could be a country song
It's Not Summer Without You
√35. A book from the NPR “Books We Love” lists
Bright Young Women

√36. A book with a common household object on the cover
Yours Truly
(Pens and notebooks on the cover)
√37. A book featuring adult friendships
Death is Not Enough
√38. Two books with a connection from different genres: BOOK 1
Die Akte Zodiac - Gesamtausgabe
(Fiction: thriller based on a true case)
√39. Two books with a connection from different genres: BOOK 2
True Crime Best of Wahre Verbrechen – Echte Kriminalfälle: Ein erschütterndes Portrait menschlicher Abgründe. (True Crime International)
(Non-fiction: true crime)
√40. A book you'd consider a comfort read
Enemies with Benefits


√41. A book that involves digging up the past
One for Sorrow
√42. A book set in a manor, mansion, or estate
The Heiress
√43. A book whose title has ten or fewer letters
Death Blow
√44. A haunting book
Little Creeping Things
√45. A book by an author whose publishing career spans at least ten years
Fake

√46. A book related to one of the traditional full moon names
The Hunter
(Hunter's Moon)
√47. A book relating to fire
Novemberfeuer
(Literally, “November Fire”)
√48. A book with a character dealing with death
As Good As Dead
√49. A book that deals with time travel, alternate universes, or alternate timelines
The Evil Twin
√50. A book posted in one of the ATY Best Book of the Month threads in 2024 or 2025
Hidden Pictures

√51. A book published in 2025
Erebos 3
√52. A book with sunset vibes on the cover
The Only Survivors

Anniversary List Bonus Challenge

√1. 2016: A book originally written in a language other than English:
Dónde enterré a Fabiana Orquera
√2. 2017: A book whose title doesn’t contain the letter “E”:
Das Haus am Potomac
(Stillwatch)
√3. 2018: An author’s debut book:
That's Not My Name
√4. 2019: A book related to one of the elements on the periodic table of elements:
The Sun Down Motel
(Neon sign on cover)
√5. 2020: A book with an emotion in the title:
Kalte Angst
(Literally, “Cold Fear”)
√6. 2021: A book related to a code word from the NATO Phonetic Alphabet:
The Psychopath Next Door
Main character is a father = Papa
√ 7. 2022: A book that uses all 5 vowels in the title and/or author’s name:
The Half-Life of Ruby Fielding
8. 2023: A book whose author has published more than 7 books:
√Toter Schrei
(Literally, “Dead Scream”)
√9. 2024: A book that has been in your TBR for over a year:
Into the Dark
√10. 2025: A book involving a "group" with at least 4 members that's not a family
Das Dinner – Alle am Tisch sind gute Freunde. Oder?

Anniversary Challenge finished 8/26/2025

Rejects challenge: For every book read this year that was not part of the main ATY challenge (Popsugar challenge, ATY seasonal challenges, spontaneous reads).

√Two books with sequential numbers in the title (2)
Ready Player Two

√A book with a competent main character
Phoenix Burning

√A book set in a country without a monarch
Schlangen im Paradies

√A book title or author’s first or last name starting with J
Die Triffids

√Three books by authors from three different continents (Europe)
Die Tote in der Wand

√A book with dungeons, donjons, or in high dudgeon
Bound in Brass

√A book involving one or more animals
Who Censored Roger Rabbit?

√A book with a theme of starting over
Neuanfang. Eine Kurzgeschichte zum Thriller »Tränennacht«

√A book with a “Y” connection
Say You're Sorry

√A book told from multiple character POVs
Say No More

√A book from an animal or child's point of view
The Strike Squad: Adventures in the Secret Soccer League Soccer Books for Kids 8-12

√A book involving love
Say Goodbye

√A book with (at least) 25 chapters
Mind Games: Dieses Spiel wirst du verlieren

√A book published in a quarter-century year (e.g. 1925, 1950, 1975, 2000, 2025)
Teufels Tanz

√A book by an author with a short last name (4 letters or fewer)
The Comeback

√A book with an alliterative title
Loathe to Love You

√A book with a character who is not heterosexual OR cis-gender
Cemetery Boys

√Three books by authors from three different continents (Asia)
The Kamogawa Food Detectives

√Three books by authors from three different continents (Australia)
The Other World

√A book related to space travel, the goddess Artemis, or one of her spheres of influence
Artemis

√A book with royalty
Queen Charlotte

√A book by an author who shares a last name with a famous non-writer
Nimm dich in acht

√A book with a character who works in law enforcement
Cause to Kill

√A book written by an author who is at least 65 years old at time of publication
Spürst du den Todeshauch

√A book that plays with perceptions of reality
Der Buick

√A book with an indefinite article in the title
A Mother's Lie

√A book about a strong woman
A Killer's Code

√A book with an ensemble cast
Die Auszeit

√A book featuring a protagonist who is in mid-life
The Spy Coast

√A book involving an island
Mind Games

√A book about books
Eight Perfect Murders

√A book inspired by mythology, legend, folklore, or fairytale
Geekerella

√A book with a weird or intriguing title
The Nobleman's Guide to Scandal and Shipwrecks

√A book with a tv or film adaptation
The Haunting of Hill House

√A book set during a revolution, revolt, or rebellion
Die Gargoyles von Notre Dame

√A book that is the last in its series
Die Gargoyles von Notre Dame 3

√A book with a title that is only a name or nickname
Sweetmeat

√Two books with sequential numbers in the title (1)
One Shot

√A book by an author whose publishing career spans at least ten years
Double Cross

A book featuring your favorite color on the cover
In Bloom

√A book suggested to you by an AI model (ChatGPT and Co.) based on any prompt you give to it
Hex

√A book with a main character who is an outsider
Some Girls Are

√A book with an East-West connection
Never

√A book related to a Stephen King book
Mary: An Awakening of Terror

√A book where something has disappeared or is disappearing
The Summer She Went Missing

√A book with an occupation in the title
Der Lehrer

A historical fiction novel
The Marriage Portrait

A book related to time
Das Schwärmen von tausend Bienen

A book set wholly or partly in an underworld
Hell Bent

A book with a primarily red, green or blue cover
Running Club

A book with any connection to a song
We Sold Our Souls

A book related to "civil rights" or human rights
Americanah

A book with a protagonist who is a different gender than the author
The Curator

A book where you hope or expect to learn something new
And the Mountains Echoed

A book related to hotels, haughtiness, hotheads, humour, or Fawlty Towers
Silver Bay

A book involving the pursuit of happiness
Great Expectations

A book set before 1900
Zwanzig Jahre später

A book or author that has been controversial
The Hallmarked Man

A book with a negation in the title
Don't Turn Around

TBD
The Summer Guests

TBD
The Secrets of Us

TBD
Die Rachsüchtige

TBD
Der Puppenwald

TBD
Die falsche Patientin

TBD
Das geheime Zeichen (Ein Evelyn-Holm-Thriller)