Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

THE 52 TOPICS OF THE 2025 ATY READING CHALLENGE
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

I'm attempting the challenge twice once with an audio book (first linked book) and once with a print book (second linked book).

1. A book from a genre that starts with A, T, or Y
🎧
📖
2. A book with a primarily red, green or blue cover
•
📖Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan 3/1/2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
3. A book that fits a prompt suggestion for this year that did not make the list (ToB)
🎧Metallic Realms by Lincoln Michel 2/7/2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
📖The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy 3/19/2026 ⭐⭐⭐
4. A book by a new-to-you author
🎧Too Soon by Betty Shamieh 1/14/2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
•
5. A book you want to read because of something you read in 2025
🎧The Catch by Yrsa Daley-Ward 3/23/2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
•
6. A book related to blood, sweat, or tears
•
•
7. A book with a character who appears in more than one book
•
•
8. A book set in Africa, Asia, or Australia
•
•
9. A book with a number, ordinal, or iterative numeral in the title
🎧Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros 3/2/2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
📖The Ten Year Affair by Erin Somers 2/21/2026 ⭐⭐⭐
10. An award winning book
•
•
11. A history or historical fiction book
•
•
12. A book with cover text that is NOT black or white
🎧Audition by Katie Kitamura 1/7/2026 ⭐⭐
•
13. An author's second/sophomore book
•
•

14. A book related to a painting by Vincent Van Gogh
•
•
15. A book you've wanted to read for a long time
•
•
16. A book featuring a character with a similar occupation to one of the Clue/Cluedo characters
🎧If You Love It, Let It Kill You by Hannah Pittard 2/14/2026 ⭐⭐⭐
•
17. A book set in the wellness or beauty industries
•
•
18. A book with a location in the title
🎧Lonesome Dove: A Novel by Larry McMurtry 2/21/2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
📖 Fonseca by Jessica Francis Kane 1/2/2026 ⭐⭐⭐
19. A book related to yesterday
•
•
20. A book related to today
•
•
21. A book related to tomorrow
•
•
22. A book by a Korean or Korean-diaspora author
•
•
23. A book with a road trip or long journey
🎧The Passenger Seat by Vijay Khurana 2/12/2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
•
24. A book that is either frothy or gothy
•
•
25. A book from the 1001 Books to Read Before You Die list
•
•
26. A book with a Z in the title and/or author name
•
📖Flesh by David Szalay 3/24/2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

continued

27. A nonfiction book
•
•
28. A book related to a resistance, rebellion, or revolution
•
📖The CIA Book Club: The Secret Mission to Win the Cold War with Forbidden Literature by Charlie English 4/22/2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
29. A vacation book
•
•
30. The most recently published book by an author and a book from that same author's backlist: Frontlist Book
•
•
31. The most recently published book by an author and a book from that same author's backlist: Backlist Book
•
📖Bunny by Mona Awad 3/4/2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
32. A novella of 100-250 pages
🎧The Mind Reels by Fredrik deBoer 2/22/2026 ⭐⭐⭐
•
33. A book with an Indigenous character or author (character)
•
📖 The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones 1/19/2026 ⭐⭐
34. A book with a window on the cover
🎧 A Wonderful Christmas Crime by Jacqueline Frost 1/1/2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
•
35. A book where all or part of the action takes place in a library, a museum, a school, or another public building
•
•
36. A book with a primary character who is a woman over 40
•
📖Dear Debbie by Freida McFadden 4/20/2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
37. A book that includes a science topic
•
•
38. A book that's part of a series
•
•

39. A book connected in some way to the "Queen of Crime", Agatha Christie
•
📖4:50 from Paddington by Agatha Christie 2/4/2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
40. A book that has a punctuation mark in the title
•
•
41. A mystery or true crime book
•
•
42. A book set in an isolated location
🎧The Unveiling by Quan Barry 4/16/2023 ⭐⭐⭐
•
43. A book involving survival
🎧The Burning Heart of the World by Nancy Kricorian 3/12/2026 ⭐⭐⭐
•
44. A book with a symbol of death on the cover
•
•
45. A book connected to "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen
🎧Wind and Truth by Brandon Sanderson 2/18/2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
•
46. A book that is not a novel
•
•
47. A book with "this", "that", "these", or "those" in the title
•
📖Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret by Benjamin Stevenson 2/15/2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
48. A book with something edible in the title
•
•
49. A second book for your favorite prompt
🎧Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros 3/27/2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
•
50. A book with a bird on its cover
🎧The Correspondent by Virginia Evans 1/10/2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
•
51. A book published in 2026
•
•
52. A book related to the name of one of Santa's reindeer
•
•

extra

Ideas

1. A book from a genre that starts with A, T, or Y (Time Travel)-
No Time Like the Past by Jodi Taylor
2. A book with a primarily red, green or blue cover
3. A book that fits a prompt suggestion for this year that did not make the list (A book connected to iron)-
Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
4. A book by a new-to-you author
5. A book you want to read because of something you read in 2025 (ToB shortlist)-

6. A book related to blood, sweat, or tears
7. A book with a character who appears in more than one book-
The Dark Tower by Stephen King
8. A book set in Africa, Asia, or Australia
9. A book with a number, ordinal, or iterative numeral in the title-
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

10. An award winning book (Royal Society Science Book Prize (2021))-
Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds & Shape Our Futures by Merlin Sheldrake
11. A history or historical fiction book-
The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton
12. A book with cover text that is NOT black or white
13. An author's second/sophomore book-
The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose
14. A book related to a painting by Vincent Van Gogh

15. A book you've wanted to read for a long time
16. A book featuring a character with a similar occupation to one of the Clue/Cluedo characters
17. A book set in the wellness or beauty industries
18. A book with a location in the title

19. A book related to yesterday (Classic)-
20. A book related to today (Contemporary)-
21. A book related to tomorrow (Futuristic)-
Immortal in Death by J.D. Robb
22. A book by a Korean or Korean-diaspora author-
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
The Dog Who Dared to Dream by Sun-mi Hwang

23. A book with a road trip or long journey
24. A book that is either frothy or gothy-
No Roast for the Weary by Cleo Coyle
25. A book from the 1001 Books to Read Before You Die list-
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
26. A book with a Z in the title and/or author name-
The Zorg: A Tale of Greed and Murder That Inspired the Abolition of Slavery by Siddharth Kara

27. A nonfiction book
28. A book related to a resistance, rebellion, or revolution-
A Place of Greater Safety by Hilary Mantel
29. A vacation book
30. The most recently published book by an author and a book from that same author's backlist: Frontlist Book
31. The most recently published book by an author and a book from that same author's backlist: Backlist Book

32. A novella of 100-250 pages
33. A book with an Indigenous character or author
34. A book with a window on the cover-
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
35. A book where all or part of the action takes place in a library, a museum, a school, or another public building-
Booked on Murder by Allison Brook
36. A book with a primary character who is a woman over 40

37. A book that includes a science topic
38. A book that's part of a series
39. A book connected in some way to the "Queen of Crime", Agatha Christie
40. A book that has a punctuation mark in the title-
What Could Possibly Go Wrong? by Jodi Taylor

41. A mystery or true crime book
42. A book set in an isolated location
43. A book involving survival
44. A book with a symbol of death on the cover-
Misfortune Cookie by Vivien Chien

45. A book connected to "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen
46. A book that is not a novel
47. A book with "this", "that", "these", or "those" in the title
48. A book with something edible in the title
49. A second book for your favorite prompt (3. A book that fits a prompt suggestion for this year that did not make the list: A book posted in one of the ATY Best Book of the Month threads in 2025 or 2026)-

50. A book with a bird on its cover-
Still Life by Sarah Winman
51. A book published in 2026
52. A book related to the name of one of Santa's reindeer-
Thunderstruck by Erik Larson

2026 ToB shortlist

Blob: A Love Story by Maggie Su 12/14/2026 ⭐⭐⭐12/29/2025

Endling by Maria Reva 12/12/2025 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Katabasis by R.F. Kuang 12/14/2026 ⭐⭐⭐

Too Soon by Betty Shamieh 1/14/2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones 1/19/2026 ⭐⭐

Metallic Realms by Lincoln Michel 2/7/2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

2026 ToB longlist

We Do Not Part by Han Kang 12/8/2025 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans 1/10/2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

January

I'm thinking of completing all the prompts twice this year. Once with an audio book and once with a print. We shall see if I actual am able to complete it twice.

4. A book by a new-to-you author
🎧Too Soon by Betty Shamieh 1/14/2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

12. A book with cover text that is NOT black or white
🎧Audition by Katie Kitamura 1/7/2026 ⭐⭐

18. A book with a location in the title
📖 Fonseca by Jessica Francis Kane 1/2/2026 ⭐⭐⭐

33. A book with an Indigenous character or author (character)
📖 The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones 1/19/2026 ⭐⭐

34. A book with a window on the cover
🎧 A Wonderful Christmas Crime by Jacqueline Frost 1/1/2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

50. A book with a bird on its cover
🎧The Correspondent by Virginia Evans 1/10/2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

February

3. A book that fits a prompt suggestion for this year that did not make the list (ToB)
🎧Metallic Realms by Lincoln Michel 2/7/2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

9. A book with a number, ordinal, or iterative numeral in the title
📖The Ten Year Affair by Erin Somers 2/21/2026 ⭐⭐⭐

16. A book featuring a character with a similar occupation to one of the Clue/Cluedo characters-
🎧If You Love It, Let It Kill You by Hannah Pittard 2/14/2026 ⭐⭐⭐

18. A book with a location in the title
🎧Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry 2/21/2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

23. A book with a road trip or long journey
🎧The Passenger Seat by Vijay Khurana 2/12/2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

32. A novella of 100-250 pages
🎧The Mind Reels by Fredrik deBoer 2/22/2026 ⭐⭐⭐

39. A book connected in some way to the "Queen of Crime", Agatha Christie
📖4:50 from Paddington by Agatha Christie 2/4/2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

45. A book connected to "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen
🎧Wind and Truth by Brandon Sanderson 2/18/2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

47. A book with "this", "that", "these", or "those" in the title
📖Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret by Benjamin Stevenson 2/15/2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

March

2. A book with a primarily red, green or blue cover
📖Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan 3/1/2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

3. A book that fits a prompt suggestion for this year that did not make the list (ToB)
📖The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy 3/19/2026 ⭐⭐⭐

5. A book you want to read because of something you read in 2025
🎧The Catch by Yrsa Daley-Ward 3/23/2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

9. A book with a number, ordinal, or iterative numeral in the title
🎧Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros 3/2/2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

26. A book with a Z in the title and/or author name
📖Flesh by David Szalay 3/24/2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

31. The most recently published book by an author and a book from that same author's backlist: Backlist Book
📖Bunny by Mona Awad 3/4/2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

43. A book involving survival
🎧The Burning Heart of the World by Nancy Kricorian 3/12/2026 ⭐⭐⭐

49. A second book for your favorite prompt
🎧Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros 3/27/2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

April

28. A book related to a resistance, rebellion, or revolution
📖The CIA Book Club: The Secret Mission to Win the Cold War with Forbidden Literature by Charlie English 4/22/2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

30. The most recently published book by an author and a book from that same author's backlist: Frontlist Book
📖We Love You, Bunny by Mona Awad

36. A book with a primary character who is a woman over 40
📖Dear Debbie by Freida McFadden 4/20/2026 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

42. A book set in an isolated location
🎧The Unveiling by Quan Barry 4/16/2023 ⭐⭐⭐