The Bookworm Challenge discussion

It's that time again! We are asking for your suggestions for 2026 challenge prompts.

We love our old favorites, but do not hesitate to suggest something new and/or unusual. I am trimming the survey this year, so only suggestions included in this post will be seen in the survey. The only exception will be if we don't get enough suggestions. In that case, the moderators will choose extras from previous years' unused suggestions. But we have faith in the members of this group! :)

Please post your 2026 ideas for the following:

- Our 12 main challenges *
- Secondary challenge (currently the BINGO card) *
- Monthly specials*
- Non-point challenge (currently "foreign settings")

* this challenge earns points

If you have any thoughts about the groups as a whole, post it here as well and it can be discussed. Or, if you prefer, contact one of the moderators. This year's change to prize winners selection came about because of a request from Wanda. So, see... we do listen and respond!

Ideas post opens: November 12th
Ideas post closes: 11:59 PM CST, December 1st
voting opens: December 7th (you will receive a link to the survey in your messages)
voting closes: 11:59 PM CST, December 13th

Let me know if you have any questions.

I guess I'll get us started. :)

Here are some ideas to be used in any way the group sees fit:

- Gilmore Girls Reading List (GR actually has a list with all of the books.)
- Color coded: Books with the same color on the cover or same color in the title
- Animals: Books with animals on the cover or an animal in the title
- Books adapted to a movie or TV show/miniseries
- Read a series: 5 books from the same book series
- TBR Backlog: Books that have been on your TBR for 2+ years
- One Word Title or Books with 5+ Words in the Title
- Banned Books
- Books set in different decades

I also enjoy these current challenges and wouldn't mind having them again (especially since I didn't do some of them this year):

- Historical Fiction
- Mini Book Chain
- NonFiction
- Season or Weather in title
- Mystery / Thrillers

Hello everyone

I am new here. Very excited to be part of this group. Here are my suggestions for the challenges. Plz excuse me, if I have got things wrong.

Yearly:
1. Transport (Read 5 books set in various forms of transport)
2. Decades (Read 1 book each from 5 different decades)
3. War [Read 5 books (fiction or non-fiction) related to war]
5. Next in the series: Read the next book from 5 different series
6. Translations: Read 1 translated text each from 5 different languages
7. Books from the same publisher
8. Books from your shelves
9. Two-Word Titles
10. Recommended books
11. Books by authors of your own country

Bingo:
1. A date mentioned in the title
2. A flower mentioned in the title
3. A festival mentioned in the title
4. A book set in another world (fantasy, futuristic, space)
5. Mixed-Media novel
6. A book published in the Nineteenth Century
7. A disaster novel
8. A Star Trek novel
9. A book with a pronoun in its title
10. A book with a name in its title
11. Adventure fiction/non-fiction

Monthly:

1. Book with Illustrations
2. Book outside your comfort zone
3. Book by author using a pseudonym

Here are some suggestions, many of which may have already been mentioned.
- books by the same author
- mini chain (this one is my favourite!)
-historical fiction
-biography or memoir
-general nonfiction
-translated from 5 different languages
-published in 5 different decades ( or use for monthly challenge and all books must be from a different decade)
-finger crusher - over 500 pages
- any of the following in the title: colour, number, place name, person's name, plant, animal, occupation, family member, food, weather, day or month,
- anthology
- fantasy
- horror
-thriller/mystery
- book with a tv/movie adaptation
- published before 1900
- winner or nominee for Goodreads Awards
- book by a Nobel Prize winner
- single word titles
- book with a subtitle
- book with multiple authors
- poetry


Bonus Challenges:
I like the Bingo games. They are a good way to use some of the challenges that don't get picked. Also a good push to read a book out of your usual comfort zone.

As "non point" challenges, I have always enjoyed the alphabet challenge using either the book title or the author's name.

Hi! I have a few suggestions for the yearly challenge wich is the one I like most. I'm not a fan of the "chain" or the bingo but prefer bingo to chain.

-set in winter
-one from each continent
-where water plays a major role
-where libraries, bookshops or antiquaries are significant
-books of authors from your country
-re-reads
-poetry
-sci-fi/dystopia/time-travel
-classics
-historical fiction based on a true story
-

Some very good ideas!

I especially like five books translated from five different languages and authors from your own country but to make it a little more challenging for us in the United States, how about five books from your home state if you live in the US.

Always like mystery and scifi.
Non-fiction (because I should read something other than mystery and scifi)
Retellings
Would like to see finger crushers back in the yearly.

I like the Bingo game but willing to try something different.

For the nonpoint list, any we've done in the past would be good. For something different we could do different genres. I was surprised at how many different genres there are. I saw a list of 95.

dystopian
crime (true or fictional)
sci Fi
prize winners
classics
rereads
mythical creatures
alliteration in the title
emotion in the title
published in same year
wildcard
alphabet for non points challenge or publication years
sports
winter/snow/ice theme or setting
5 books that have been on your the the longest
books you own
new to you authors
gr choice awards
book books
same author
an author's debut novel
graphic novels
cover love
sea Setting
based on a true story
haunted houses
retelling
detective/spy book
published in 2025

Hello, everyone! Just a reminder that the 2026 Challenge Ideas closes tomorrow night! This is a great list so far!

I have a couple of suggestions myself, so no judgment for waiting 'til the last minute! :)

I think these would be better suited to the BINGO card, if we have it again.

contraction in word in title (example: don't, can't, we're)
a prompt from another 2026 Goodreads challenge group (ex: Around the Year in 52 Books)
main character has a mental or physical disability

Moderator Rhonda

I like a bingo-type prompt for a
challenge from another Goodreads challenge
or
a book picked as a monthly book club read (maybe even your local one)

I think I'd like the non point challenge to have more definition (like a to z). When it is broader like a foreign country, I sort of forget about that challenge or don't feel the need to "complete" it as that's pretty impossible.

I love the mini book chain. (It's always the one I usually plan first)
and Wildcard seems like a necessity for me.