Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge discussion
2026 Read Harder Challenge
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2026 Read Harder plans
2026 Read Harder Challenge# of prompts completed = 4/24
# of books read = 4
My choices below are subject to change.
1. Read a microhistory: The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary
✔️2. Read a book featured on a “best book covers” list: A Confederacy of Dunces - 3/29/26
✔️3. Read a YA book by a Latine author: Woven in Moonlight - 4/5/26
✔️4. Read a novel with a main character who uses they/them pronouns: A Psalm for the Wild-Built - 3/29/26
5. Read a nonfiction book about resistance: Holding the Line: Women in the Great Arizona Mine Strike of 1983
6. Read a gothic novel published in the last ten years: Smothermoss
7. Read a sports book by a woman, trans, or nonbinary writer: One Life
✔️8. Read a classic from the Zero to Well-Read Podcast: To Kill a Mockingbird - 1/17/26
9. Read a romantasy book with a queer and/or BIPOC main character: Fire Spells Between Friends
10. Read a book recently adapted for film, TV, or musical: Turtles All the Way Down
11. Read a book by a d/Deaf author: A Sign of Her Own
12. Read/try a recipe from a cookbook about a culture whose food you’ve never eaten: Korean American: Food that Tastes Like Home
13. Read a nonfiction comic: It Rhymes With Takei
14. Read a work of magical realism or fabulism: Smothermoss
15. Read a book by a librarian: Smothermoss
16. Read a queer picture book: It Rhymes With Takei
17. Read a book about a cult or cults: Arcadia
18. Read a nonfiction book about AI or social media: Superagency: What Could Possibly Go Right with Our AI Future
19. Read a book by an intersex author: The Deep
20. Read a book set in space: Project Hail Mary
21. Read a genre (SFF, horror, mystery, romance) book in translation: Wizard of the Crow: A novel
22. Read a nonviolent true crime book: The Man Who Loved Books Too Much: The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession
23. Read a book by an African author: Wizard of the Crow: A novel
24. Pick a challenge from any of the previous years’ challenges to repeat! - From 2013, read a retelling of a classic: Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister
1. Read a microhistory2. Read a book featured on a “best book covers” list
3. Read a YA book by a Latine author
4. Read a novel with a main character who uses they/them pronouns
5. Read a nonfiction book about resistance
6. Read a gothic novel published in the last ten years
7. Read a sports book by a woman, trans, or nonbinary writer
8. Read a classic from the Zero to Well-Read Podcast
9. Read a romantasy book with a queer and/or BIPOC main character
10. Read a book recently adapted for film, TV, or musical
11. Read a book by a d/Deaf author
12. Read/try a recipe from a cookbook about a culture whose food you’ve never eaten
13. Read a nonfiction comic
14. Read a work of magical realism or fabulism
15. Read a book by a librarian
16. Read a queer picture book
17. Read a book about a cult or cults
18. Read a nonfiction book about AI or social media
19. Read a book by an intersex author
20. Read a book set in space
21. Read a genre (SFF, horror, mystery, romance) book in translation
22. Read a nonviolent true crime book
23. Read a book by an African author
24. Pick a challenge from any of the previous years’ challenges to repeat!
Not entirely sure I'm in . . . . though I said that last year, too! Progress: 16/24
- 1. A microhistory
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- 3. A YA book by a Latine author
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- 5. A nonfiction book about resistance
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- 8. A classic from the Zero to Well-Read Podcast
- 9. A romantasy book with a queer and/or BIPOC main character
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- 12. A cookbook about a culture whose food you’ve never eaten: The Island Kitchen: Recipes from Mauritius and the Indian Ocean
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- 22. A nonviolent true crime book
- 23. A book by an African author
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Chronological order:
1. Read a microhistory - The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America by Erik Larson2. Read a book featured on a “best book covers” list - The Island of Last Things by Emma Sloley
3. Read a YA book by a Latine author - Espíritu by Aiden Thomas
4. Read a novel with a main character who uses they/them pronouns
5. Read a nonfiction book about resistance - Women of the Fairy Tale Resistance: The Forgotten Founding Mothers of the Fairy Tale and the Stories That They Spun by Jane Harrington
6. Read a gothic novel published in the last ten years - Wolf Worm by T. Kingfisher
7. Read a sports book by a woman, trans, or nonbinary writer - The Sport of Kings by C.E. Morgan
8. Read a classic from the Zero to Well-Read Podcast - The Secret History by Donna Tartt
9. Read a romantasy book with a queer and/or BIPOC main character - Apparently, Sir Cameron Needs to Die by Greer Stothers
10. Read a book recently adapted for film, TV, or musical - Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
11. Read a book by a d/Deaf author - True Biz by Sarah Novic
12. Read/try a recipe from a cookbook about a culture whose food you’ve never eaten
13. Read a nonfiction comic - The Woman With Fifty Faces: Maria Lani & The Greatest Art Heist That Never Was by Jonathan Lackman
14. Read a work of magical realism or fabulism - Every Drop Is a Man's Nightmare by Megan Kamalei Kakimoto
15. Read a book by a librarian - Madeleine L'Engle, Smothermoss by Alisa Alering, Bright Objects by Ruby Todd, or A Short Walk Through a Wide World by Douglas Westerbeke
16. Read a queer picture book - Mama and Mommy and Me in the Middle by Nina LaCour
17. Read a book about a cult or cults - The Invisible Hour by Alice Hoffman
18. Read a nonfiction book about AI or social media - The House of My Mother: A Daughter's Quest for Freedom by Shari Franke
19. Read a book by an intersex author - Adam, Mine by K. Ancrum
20. Read a book set in space - Vermilion Sunrise by Lydia P. Brownlow
21. Read a genre (SFF, horror, mystery, romance) book in translation - The Unworthy by Agustina Bazterrica
22. Read a nonviolent true crime book - The Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsession, and the Natural History Heist of the Century by Kirk Wallace Johnson
23. Read a book by an African author - An Orchestra of Minorities by Chigozie Obioma or Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
24. Pick a challenge from any of the previous years’ challenges to repeat! (Read a book with under 500 Goodreads ratings) - Cassandra by Kathryn Gossow
I'm back for my sixth year! This year, my goal is to read mostly library books and books already in my collection.
Completed: 12/24
✔️1. Read a microhistory
Mary Roach: Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers
✔️2. Read a book featured on a “best book covers” list
Caren Beilin: Sea, Poison
3. Read a YA book by a Latine author
Zoraida Córdova: Labyrinth Lost <-- maybe
✔️4. Read a novel with a main character who uses they/them pronouns
Leanne Betasamosake Simpson: Noopiming: The Cure for White Ladies
✔️5. Read a nonfiction book about resistance
Joel Andreas: Addicted to War: Why the U.S. Can't Kick Militarism
✔️6. Read a gothic novel published in the last ten years
Johanna van Veen: Blood on Her Tongue
✔️7. Elyssa Ford and Rebecca Scofield: Slapping Leather: Queer Cowfolx at the Gay Rodeo
8. Read a classic from the Zero to Well-Read Podcast
Zora Neale Hurston: Their Eyes Were Watching God
9. Read a romantasy book with a queer and/or BIPOC main character
Madeline Miller: The Song of Achilles
✔️10. Read a book recently adapted for film, TV, or musical
Amor Towles: A Gentleman in Moscow
11. Read a book by a d/Deaf author
Alison Gervais: The Silence Between Us
12. Read/try a recipe from a cookbook about a culture whose food you’ve never eaten
Marie Kacouchia: Vegan Africa: Plant-Based Recipes from Ethiopia to Senegal
13. Read a nonfiction comic
Edward Sorel: Literary Lives
✔️14. Read a work of magical realism or fabulism
Ta-Nahesi Coates: The Water Dancer
15. Read a book by a librarian
Amy Clampitt: The Kingfisher
16. Read a queer picture book
Tomie dePaola: Oliver Button Is a Sissy
17. Read a book about a cult or cults
Emma Cline: The Girls
18. Read a nonfiction book about AI or social media
Madhumita Murgia: Code Dependent: Living in the Shadow of AI
✔️19. Read a book by an intersex author
Rivers Solomon: An Unkindness of Ghosts
20. Read a book set in space
Douglas Adams: [maybe reread one of the Hitchhiker books?]
21. Read a genre (SFF, horror, mystery, romance) book in translation
Solvej Balle: On the Calculation of Volume, Book IV
✔️22. Read a nonviolent true crime book
Abagnale: Catch Me If You Can: The True Story of a Real Fake
✔️23. Read a book by an African author
Osvalde Lewat: The Aquatics - Cameroon
✔️24. Pick a challenge from any of the previous years’ challenges to repeat!
Adrienne Rich: Diving Into the Wreck <-- 2022: Read an entire poetry collection
9/24 as of April 251. Read a microhistory: Airplane Mode: An Irreverent History of Travel by Shahnaz Habib or The Number Ones: Twenty Chart-Topping Hits That Reveal the History of Pop Music by Tom Breihan
✓ 2. Read a book featured on a “best book covers” list: Bliss Montage by Ling Ma (4 stars)
3. Read a YA book by a Latine author: Very Dangerous Things by Lauren Muñoz or If We Survive This by Racquel Marie
4. Read a novel with a main character who uses they/them pronouns: Canon by Paige Lewis or Mammoths at the Gates by Nghi Vo
✓ 5. Read a nonfiction book about resistance: How to Stand Up to a Dictator by Maria Ressa (4 stars)
6. Read a gothic novel published in the last ten years: Psychopomp & Circumstance by Eden Royce or You Should Have Been Nicer to My Mom by Vincent Tirado
7. Read a sports book by a woman, trans, or nonbinary writer: Coming Home by Brittney Griner or Forward: A Memoir by Abby Wambach
✓ 8. Read a classic from the Zero to Well-Read podcast: Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie (3 stars)
9. Read a romantasy book with a queer and/or BIPOC main character: Faebound by Saara El-Arifi or When the Tides Held the Moon by Venessa Vida Kelley
10. Read a book recently adapted for film, TV, or musical: Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow by Tom King and Bilquis Evely or She Rides Shotgun by Jordan Harper
11. Read a book by a d/Deaf author: Articulate: A Deaf Memoir of Voice by Rachel Kolb or Sounds Like Home: Growing Up Black and Deaf in the South by Mary Herring Wright
12. Read/try a recipe from a cookbook about a culture whose food you’ve never eaten: Pakistan: Recipes and Stories from Home Kitchens, Restaurants, and Roadside Stands by Maryam Jillani or Ghana to the World: Recipes and Stories That Look Forward While Honoring the Past by Eric Adjepong
✓ 13. Read a nonfiction comic: Do Admit: The Mitford Sisters and Me by Mimi Pond (4 stars)
14. Read a work of magical realism or fabulism: The Volcano Daughters by Gina María Balibrera or Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen
15. Read a book by a librarian: Is This a Cry for Help? by Emily R. Austin or How Can I Help You by Laura Sims
✓ 16. Read a queer picture book: Raven's Ribbons by Tasha Spillett and Daniel Ramirez (4 stars)
17. Read a book about a cult or cults: The True Happiness Company: How a Girl Like Me Falls for a Cult Like That by Veena Dinavahi or Cults Like Us: Why Doomsday Thinking Drives America by Jane Borden
✓ 18. Read a nonfiction book about AI or social media: Code Dependent: Living in the Shadow of AI by Madhumita Murgia (5 stars)
19. Read a book by an intersex author: Nobody Needs to Know: A Memoir by Pidgeon Pagonis or Inverse Cowgirl by Alicia Roth Weigel
20. Read a book set in space: Orbital by Samantha Harvey or The Deep Sky by Yumi Kitasei
✓ 21. Read a genre (SFF, horror, mystery, romance) book in translation: The Labyrinth House Murders by Yukito Ayatsuji (1 star)
✓ 22. Read a nonviolent true crime book: The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession by Michael Finkel (4 stars)
✓ 23. Read a book by an African author: Cursed Daughters by Oyinkan Braithwaite (3 stars)
24. Pick a challenge from any of the previous years’ challenges to repeat! [2016: 8. Read a book originally published in the decade you were born]: The Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe or The Color Purple by Alice Walker
1. Read a microhistory Over My Dead Body: Unearthing the Hidden History of America’s Cemeteries2. Read a book featured on a “best book covers” list
3. Read a YA book by a Latine author Futbolista
4. Read a novel with a main character who uses they/them pronouns
5. Read a nonfiction book about resistance Oak Flat: A Fight for Sacred Land in the American West by Lauren Redniss
6. Read a gothic novel published in the last ten years All of Us Murderers by K.J. Charles
7. Read a sports book by a woman, trans, or nonbinary writer
8. Read a classic from the Zero to Well-Read Podcast The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
9. Read a romantasy book with a queer and/or BIPOC main character
✔️10. Read a book recently adapted for film, TV, or musical Box Hill by Adam Mars-Jones
11. Read a book by a d/Deaf author True Biz
12. Read/try a recipe from a cookbook about a culture whose food you’ve never eaten
13. Read a nonfiction comic
14. Read a work of magical realism or fabulism The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov
15. Read a book by a librarian
16. Read a queer picture book
17. Read a book about a cult or cults Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell
18. Read a nonfiction book about AI or social media Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It or Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business
19. Read a book by an intersex author The Safekeep
20. Read a book set in space Of Monsters and Mainframes by Barbara Truelove
21. Read a genre (SFF, horror, mystery, romance) book in translation The Decagon House Murders
✔️22. Read a nonviolent true crime book The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession
23. Read a book by an African author Unbowed
24. Pick a challenge from any of the previous years’ challenges to repeat
11/241. Read a microhistory; Paved Paradise: Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World
2. Read a book featured on a “best book covers” list Audition
3. Read a YA book by a Latine author: The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School
4. Read a novel with a main character who uses they/them pronouns The Bone People
6. Read a gothic novel published in the last ten years: Mexican Gothic
9. Read a romantasy book with a queer and/or BIPOC main character
12. Read/try a recipe from a cookbook about a culture whose food you’ve never eaten
13. Read a nonfiction comic: Logicomix: An Epic Search for Truth
14. Read a work of magical realism or fabulism: Love in the Time of Cholera
15. Read a book by a librarian The Paris Library
20. Read a book set in space: Leviathan Wakes
21. Read a genre (SFF, horror, mystery, romance) book in translation: Death's End
23. Read a book by an African author The Shadow King
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2026 Read Harder challenge - 20/341. Read a microhistory - Girly Drinks: A World History of Women and Alcohol- 4/12/26 √
2. Read a book featured on a “best book covers” list - Heart the Lover
- 2/12/26√3. Read a YA book by a Latine author - TBD
4. Read a novel with a main character who uses they/them pronouns -The House of Now and Then: A Novel
5. Read a nonfiction book about resistance - Banned Book Club - 1/11/26 √
6. Read a gothic novel published in the last ten years -The Storm- 1/4/26 √
7. Read a sports book by a woman, trans, or nonbinary writer - Blade by Wendy Walker- 2/3/26√
8. Read a classic from the Zero to Well-Read Podcast - Madame Bovary
9. Read a romantasy book with a queer and/or BIPOC main character - Until the Clock Strikes Midnight
10. Read a book recently adapted for film, TV, or musical - The Murderbot Diaries: All Systems Red, Artificial Condition, Rogue Protocol, Exit Strategy, Network Effect, Fugitive Telemetry - 3/11/26√
11. Read a book by a d/Deaf author - Heather Gudenkauf -
12. Read/try a recipe from a cookbook about a culture whose food you’ve never eaten - Turkish Delights: Stunning Regional Recipes from the Bosphorus to the Black Sea - 1/1/26 √
13. Read a nonfiction comic - Jane Austen: Her Heart Did Whisper
14. Read a work of magical realism or fabulism -The Astral Library - 2/18/26√
15. Read a book by a librarian -The Man by Laura Sims
16. Read a queer picture book -Jacob's New Dress
17. Read a book about a cult or cults - TBD
18. Read a nonfiction book about AI or social media - The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI: How to Think About Artificial Intelligence―Before It's Too Late
19. Read a book by an intersex author - The Deep by Rivers Solomon
20. Read a book set in space - Gemini: Stepping Stone to the Moon—The Untold Story- 4/1/26√
21. Read a genre (SFF, horror, mystery, romance) book in translation - Dead Weight
22. Read a nonviolent true crime book - The Red Baron of Arizona: The Amazing True Story of James Reavis, Who Perpetrated One of the Greatest Swindles in History - and Almost Stole the State of Arizona from the U.S.
23. Read a book by an African author - Dear Ijeawele, or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
24. Pick a challenge from any of the previous years’ challenges to repeat!
2025: #3 - a Queer Mystery - May Contain Murder- 1/2/26 √
2024: #5- a SF novella - Exit Strategy- 1/6/26 √
2023: #21 - a book of short stories - Hot Chocolate on Thursday - 2/17/26√
2022: #2 - set in a bookstore - This Book Made Me Think of You - 2/6/ 26 √
2021: #24 - with a pet who doesn't Die - Twelve Months- 1/16/26√
2020: #7 - An Historical Fiction not set in WWII - Daughter of Egypt- 3/30/26√
2019: #14 - A cozy mystery - Finlay Donovan Crosses the Line- 3/23/26 √
2018: #23 - a female protagonist over 60 - Mad Mabel - 4/25/26 √
2017: #3 - A book about books - The Ending Writes Itself- 4/15/26 √
2016: #1 - A horror novel - A Box Full of Darkness- 1/24/26 √
2015: #13 - A Romance novel - Anne of a Different Island- 1/18/26√
Progress - 6/241. Read a microhistory—The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann √
2. Read a book featured on a “best book covers” list
3. Read a YA book by a Latine author—The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes √
4. Read a novel with a main character who uses they/them pronouns
5. Read a nonfiction book about resistance
6. Read a gothic novel published in the last ten years
7. Read a sports book by a woman, trans, or nonbinary writer—Let Your Mind Run: A Memoir of Thinking My Way to Victory by Deena Kastor √
8. Read a classic from the Zero to Well-Read Podcast
9. Read a romantasy book with a queer and/or BIPOC main character
10. Read a book recently adapted for film, TV, or musical
11. Read a book by a d/Deaf author
12. Read/try a recipe from a cookbook about a culture whose food you’ve never eaten—Third Culture Cooking: Classic Recipes for a New Generation by Zaynab Issa √
13. Read a nonfiction comic
14. Read a work of magical realism or fabulism
15. Read a book by a librarian
16. Read a queer picture book—Julián Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love √
17. Read a book about a cult or cults
18. Read a nonfiction book about AI or social media
19. Read a book by an intersex author
20. Read a book set in space
21. Read a genre (SFF, horror, mystery, romance) book in translation
22. Read a nonviolent true crime book
23. Read a book by an African author
24. Pick a challenge from any of the previous years’ challenges to repeat!—All the Way to the River by Elizabeth Gilbert √
1.Read a microhistory: Meet Me by the Fountain: An Inside History of the Mall
2. Read a book featured on a “best book covers” list:
3. Read a YA book by a Latine author:
They Both Die at the End
4. Read a novel with a main character who uses they/them pronouns:
Life, Loss, and Puffins
5. Read a nonfiction book about resistance:
Burning the Books: A History of the Deliberate Destruction of Knowledge
6. Read a gothic novel published in the last ten years:
Catherine House
7. Read a sports book by a woman, trans, or nonbinary writer:
Carrie Soto Is Back
8. Read a classic from the Zero to Well-Read Podcast
Vineland
9. Read a romantasy book with a queer and/or BIPOC main character:
City of Vicious Night
10. Read a book recently adapted for film, TV, or musical
Wuthering Heights
11. Read a book by a d/Deaf author
Why Did I Get a B?: And Other Mysteries We're Discussing in the Faculty Lounge
The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music
12. Read/try a recipe from a cookbook about a culture whose food you’ve never eaten
Mooncakes and Milk Bread: Sweet and Savory Recipes Inspired by Chinese Bakeries
📚13. Read a nonfiction comic
Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic
📚14. Read a work of magical realism or fabulism
The Tiger's Wife
15. Read a book by a librarian:
Book Lust
Dear Fahrenheit 451: Love and Heartbreak in the Stacks
📚16. Read a queer picture book:
From the Stars in the Sky to the Fish in the Sea
17. Read a book about a cult or cults:
Big Machine
18. Read a nonfiction book about AI or social media
American Girls: Social Media and the Secret Lives of Teenagers
📚19. Read a book by an intersex author
The Safekeep
20. Read a book set in space:
These Alien Skies
21. Read a genre (SFF, horror, mystery, romance) book in translation:
The Curious Kitten at the Chibineko Kitchen (fantasy)
22. Read a nonviolent true crime book
The Library Book
23. Read a book by an African author:
Cry, the Beloved Country
24. Pick a challenge from any of the previous years’ challenges to repeat!
The Healing Season of Pottery (2024, translated from country you've never visited)
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2026 BookRiot Read Harder Challenge 8/24 completed
1.Read a microhistory - Airplane Mode: An Irreverent History of Travel or Eyeliner: A Cultural History or Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law or The Address Book: What Street Addresses Reveal About Identity, Race, Wealth, and Power or The Taste of Empire: How Britain's Quest for Food Shaped the Modern World or Numbered Lives: Life and Death in Quantum Media
2. Read a book featured on a “best book covers” list -
3. Read a YA book by a Latine author - Gay Titanic in Space or Espíritu or What the River Knows or Graceless Heart or Together We Burn or Lobizona or This Is the Year or They Could Have Named Her Anything
4. Read a novel with a main character who uses they/them pronouns - A Long and Speaking Silence or Let Them Stare or Lark & Kasim Start a Revolution or Phoenix Extravagant
6. Read a gothic novel published in the last ten years -
7. Read a sports book by a woman, trans, or nonbinary writer - On Muscle: The Stuff That Moves Us and Why It Matters or A Physical Education: How I Escaped Diet Culture and Gained the Power of Lifting
11. Read a book by a d/Deaf author - Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker
12. Read/try a recipe from a cookbook about a culture whose food you’ve never eaten - Turtle Island: Foods and Traditions of the Indigenous Peoples of North America by Sean Sherman (Lakota Sioux)
13. Read a nonfiction comic - Do Admit: The Mitford Sisters and Me or Black Cohosh
14. Read a work of magical realism or fabulism - The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki
15. Read a book by a librarian - A World Worth Saving or Stop Me If You've Heard This One or Mostly Dead Things
16. Read a queer picture book -
18. Read a nonfiction book about AI or social media - Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It or Against Technoableism: Rethinking Who Needs Improvement or Unmasking AI: My Mission to Protect What Is Human in a World of Machines or Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman's OpenAI or What Tech Calls Thinking: An Inquiry into the Intellectual Bedrock of Silicon Valley
20. Read a book set in space -
21. Read a genre (SFF, horror, mystery, romance) book in translation -
24. Pick a challenge from any of the previous years’ challenges to repeat!
5/241. Read a microhistory:
Blue: The History of a Color by Michel Pastoureau
✔ 2. Read a book featured on a “best book covers” list:
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
3. Read a YA book by a Latine author :
Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
4. Read a novel with a main character who uses they/them pronouns:
The Bone People by Keri Hulme
5. Read a nonfiction book about resistance:
How to Stand Up to a Dictator by Maria Ressa
How We Learn to Be Brave: Decisive Moments in Life and Faith by Mariann Edgar Budde
6. Read a gothic novel published in the last ten years:
If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio
7. Read a sports book by a woman, trans, or nonbinary writer:
Sneaker Wars: The Enemy Brothers Who Founded Adidas and Puma and the Family Feud That Forever Changed the Business of Sport by Barbara Smit
En route vers le podium ! - Mélanie de Jesus Dos Santos : Le flip de la victoire (Le Club)
8. Read a classic from the Zero to Well-Read Podcast:
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez
9. Read a romantasy book with a queer and/or BIPOC main character:
The Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh
✔ 10. Read a book recently adapted for film, TV, or musical:
Stolen by Ann-Helén Laestadius
✔ 11. Read a book by a d/Deaf author:
True Biz by Sara Nović
12. Read/try a recipe from a cookbook about a culture whose food you’ve never eaten:
I Sleep in My Kitchen: Comfort Food Recipes from My Palestinian American Home: A Cookbook by Mariam Daud
Népal: Récit intime et recettes uniques by Tiana Salles
13. Read a nonfiction comic:
Madeleine, résistante - Tome 1 - La Rose dégoupillée by Dominique Bertail,Jean-David Morvan and Madeleine Riffaud
✔ L'Arabe du futur : Une jeunesse au Moyen-Orient, 1978–1984 (The Arab of the Future: A Childhood in the Middle East, 1978-1984) by Riad Sattouf
✔ Jeune et fauchée by Florence Dupré la Tour
14. Read a work of magical realism or fabulism:
Dictionary of the Khazars by Milorad Pavić
15. Read a book by a librarian:
That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America by Amanda Jones
16. Read a queer picture book:
Julián Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love
17. Read a book about a cult or cults:
Uncultured: A Memoir by Daniella Mestyanek Young
A Well-Trained Wife: My Escape from Christian Patriarchy by Tia Levings
18. Read a nonfiction book about AI or social media:
Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism by Sarah Wynn-Williams
Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It by Cory Doctorow
Le pouvoir des geeks - Comment la contre-culture est devenue une arme politique by Damien Leloup
19. Read a book by an intersex author:
An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon
20. Read a book set in space:
Ma vie sans gravité by Thomas Pesquet
Souvenirs de l'empire de l'atome by Thierry Smolderen
21. Read a genre (SFF, horror, mystery, romance) book in translation:
Girls Who Lie by Eva Björg Ægisdóttir
22. Read a nonviolent true crime book:
Sarkozy-Kadhafi. Des billets et des bombes by Fabrice Arfi and Benoît Collombat
23. Read a book by an African author:
Mrs. Shaw by Mũkoma wa Ngũgĩ
Season of Crimson Blossoms by Abubakar Adam Ibrahim
✔ 24. Pick a challenge from any of the previous years’ challenges to repeat!
A humor book (2019) :
Revenge of the Librarians by Tom Gauld
Literary fiction by a BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and/or disabled author (2025) :
The Sisters by Jonas Hassen Khemiri
BOOKS READ:
1. Read a microhistory2. Read a book featured on a “best book covers” list
3. Read a YA book by a Latine author
4. Read a novel with a main character who uses they/them pronouns
5. Read a nonfiction book about resistance: One Day Everyone Will Always Have Been Against This
6. Read a gothic novel published in the last ten years: Mexican Gothic
7. Read a sports book by a woman, trans, or nonbinary writer: Make Me Commissioner
8. Read a classic from the Zero to Well-Read Podcast: Twilight? It's the only one I haven't read besides Vineland, which I don't want to read
9. Read a romantasy book with a queer and/or BIPOC main character
10. Read a book recently adapted for film, TV, or musical
11. Read a book by a d/Deaf author
12. Read/try a recipe from a cookbook about a culture whose food you’ve never eaten
13. Read a nonfiction comic: Logicomix
14. Read a work of magical realism or fabulism:
15. Read a book by a librarian
16. Read a queer picture book
17. Read a book about a cult or cults
18. Read a nonfiction book about AI or social media: If Anyone Builds It, Everybody Dies
19. Read a book by an intersex author
20. Read a book set in space
21. Read a genre (SFF, horror, mystery, romance) book in translation: Three Body Problem
22. Read a nonviolent true crime book
23. Read a book by an African author
24. Pick a challenge from any of the previous years’ challenges to repeat
1. Read a microhistory Cue the Sun! The Invention of Reality TV2. Read a book featured on a “best book covers” list Flashlight
3. Read a YA book by a Latine author
4. Read a novel with a main character who uses they/them pronouns
5. Read a nonfiction book about resistance Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It
6. Read a gothic novel published in the last ten years The Hounding; or Witchcraft for Wayward Girls
7. Read a sports book by a woman, trans, or nonbinary writer The Real All Americans: The Team That Changed a Game, a People, a Nation
8. Read a classic from the Zero to Well-Read Podcast Hamnet
9. Read a romantasy book with a queer and/or BIPOC main character Water Moon
✔️10. Read a book recently adapted for film, TV, or musical Finding Her Edge
11. Read a book by a d/Deaf author
12. Read/try a recipe from a cookbook about a culture whose food you’ve never eaten
13. Read a nonfiction comic
✔️14. Read a work of magical realism or fabulism We'll Prescribe You a Cat; or Cursed Daughters
15. Read a book by a librarian
16. Read a queer picture book
17. Read a book about a cult or cults The True Happiness Company: A Memoir; or Underground: The Tokyo Gas Attack and the Japanese Psyche
18. Read a nonfiction book about AI or social media The New Age of Sexism: How AI and Emerging Technologies Are Reinventing Misogyny
19. Read a book by an intersex author
20. Read a book set in space The Deep Sky; or The Employees; or The Infinity Particle: A Graphic Novel; or The Last Cuentista
21. Read a genre (SFF, horror, mystery, romance) book in translation Strange Pictures
22. Read a nonviolent true crime book No More Tears: The Dark Secrets of Johnson & Johnson
23. Read a book by an African author Death of the Author
24. Pick a challenge from any of the previous years’ challenges to repeat! Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio
2026 Read Harder ChallengeProgress: 9/24
√ 1. Read a microhistory: The Address Book: What Street Addresses Reveal about Identity, Race, Wealth and Power
_ 2. Read a book featured on a “best book covers” list: The Handmaid's Tale
_ 3. Read a YA book by a Latine author: Um Milhão de Finais Felizes
_ 4. Read a novel with a main character who uses they/them pronouns: Gender Queer: A Memoir
_ 5. Read a nonfiction book about resistance: We Should All Be Feminists
_ 6. Read a gothic novel published in the last ten years: Bunny
√ 7. Read a sports book by a woman, trans, or nonbinary writer: Heated Rivalry
_ 8. Read a classic from the Zero to Well-Read Podcast: Giovanni’s Room
√ 9. Read a romantasy book with a queer and/or BIPOC main character: The House in the Cerulean Sea
√ 10. Read a book recently adapted for film, TV, or musical: Heated Rivalry
_ 11. Read a book by a d/Deaf author: Give Me a Sign
_ 12. Read/try a recipe from a cookbook about a culture whose food you’ve never eaten: Palestinian cuisine: discover recipes of Palestine Flavors of Palestine: A Culinary Journey
_ 13. Read a nonfiction comic: Gender Queer: A Memoir
√ 14. Read a work of magical realism or fabulism: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
_ 15. Read a book by a librarian: Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches
√ 16. Read a queer picture book: Stella Brings the Family
_ 17. Read a book about a cult or cults: Bunny
_ 18. Read a nonfiction book about AI or social media: TBD
_ 19. Read a book by an intersex author: Icarus
√ 20. Read a book set in space: Project Hail Mary
√ 21. Read a genre (SFF, horror, mystery, romance) book in translation: The Vegetarian
_ 22. Read a nonviolent true crime book: O inimigo sem rosto: fraude e corrupção em Portugal
_ 23. Read a book by an African author: We Should All Be Feminists
√ 24. Pick a challenge from any of the previous years’ challenges to repeat! - 2019 #4. A humor book: Everyone You Hate is Going to Die: And Other Comforting Thoughts on Family, Friends, Sex, Love, and More Things That Ruin Your Life
Read Harder 20260/24 Complete
1. Read a microhistory - Rain: A Natural and Cultural History
2. Read a book featured on a “best book covers” list - Oddbody
3. Read a YA book by a Latine author
4. Read a novel with a main character who uses they/them pronouns
5. Read a nonfiction book about resistance
6. Read a gothic novel published in the last ten years
7. Read a sports book by a woman, trans, or nonbinary writer
8. Read a classic from the Zero to Well-Read Podcast
9. Read a romantasy book with a queer and/or BIPOC main character
10. Read a book recently adapted for film, TV, or musical
11. Read a book by a d/Deaf author
12. Read/try a recipe from a cookbook about a culture whose food you’ve never eaten
13. Read a nonfiction comic
14. Read a work of magical realism or fabulism
15. Read a book by a librarian
16. Read a queer picture book
17. Read a book about a cult or cults
18. Read a nonfiction book about AI or social media
19. Read a book by an intersex author
20. Read a book set in space
21. Read a genre (SFF, horror, mystery, romance) book in translation
22. Read a nonviolent true crime book
23. Read a book by an African author
24. Pick a challenge from any of the previous years’ challenges to repeat!
2026 Read Harder ChallengeDuration: Jan 1 - Dec 31, 2026
0/24
1. Read a microhistory
2. Read a book featured on a “best book covers” list
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer 02/07/2026
3. Read a YA book by a Latine author
4. Read a novel with a main character who uses they/them pronouns
5. Read a nonfiction book about resistance
6. Read a gothic novel published in the last ten years
7. Read a sports book by a woman, trans, or nonbinary writer
8. Read a classic from the Zero to Well-Read Podcast
9. Read a romantasy book with a queer and/or BIPOC main character
10. Read a book recently adapted for film, TV, or musical
The First Time I Saw Him by Laura Dave
11. Read a book by a d/Deaf author
12. Read/try a recipe from a cookbook about a culture whose food you’ve never eaten
13. Read a nonfiction comic
14. Read a work of magical realism or fabulism
15. Read a book by a librarian
16. Read a queer picture book
17. Read a book about a cult or cults
Troublemaker
18. Read a nonfiction book about AI or social media
19. Read a book by an intersex author
20. Read a book set in space
21. Read a genre (SFF, horror, mystery, romance) book in translation
The Girl Who Reads on the Métro by Christine Féret-Fleury 02/02/2026
22. Read a nonviolent true crime book
23. Read a book by an African author
24. Pick a challenge from any of the previous years’ challenges to repeat!
✅1. Read a microhistory - Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection✅2. Read a book featured on a “best book covers” list - Dominion
✅3. Read a YA book by a Latine author - Clap When You Land
4. Read a novel with a main character who uses they/them pronouns - What Moves the Dead
5. Read a nonfiction book about resistance - How to Spot a Fascist
6. Read a gothic novel published in the last ten years - The Bewitching
7. Read a sports book by a woman, trans, or nonbinary writer - Good for a Girl: A Woman Running in a Man's World
8. Read a classic from the Zero to Well-Read Podcast - Bartleby the Scrivener
9. Read a romantasy book with a queer and/or BIPOC main character - A Weaver's Heart
10. Read a book recently adapted for film, TV, or musical - Project Hail Mary
11. Read a book by a d/Deaf author - Apparitions
12. Read/try a recipe from a cookbook about a culture whose food you’ve never eaten - Cooking with Imaye: Ethiopian Cuisine Straight from Mom's Kitchen
13. Read a nonfiction comic - Gender Queer
14. Read a work of magical realism or fabulism - Monstrilio
15. Read a book by a librarian - Smothermoss
✅16. Read a queer picture book - Julián Is a Mermaid
17. Read a book about a cult or cults - Breaking Free
18. Read a nonfiction book about AI or social media - Digital Girlhoods
19. Read a book by an intersex author - The Deep
20. Read a book set in space - Project Hail Mary or Fugitive Telemetry
21. Read a genre (SFF, horror, mystery, romance) book in translation - The Night Guest
22. Read a nonviolent true crime book - Catch Me If You Can: The True Story of a Real Fake
23. Read a book by an African author - Purple Hibiscus
24. Pick a challenge from any of the previous years’ challenges to repeat! - 2025-#11: Read a work of weird horror - The Staircase in the Woods
Prompts: 2/24✔1. Read a microhistory - Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection
2. Read a book featured on a “best book covers” list - The Slip or Woodworking
3. Read a YA book by a Latine author -The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School or Brownstone
✔4. Read a novel with a main character who uses they/them pronouns - A Prayer for the Crown-Shy
5. Read a nonfiction book about resistance - A Protest History of the United States
6. Read a gothic novel published in the last ten years - The Bewitching or Starling House
7. Read a sports book by a woman, trans, or nonbinary writer - One Life, The Race to Be Myself: A Memoir, or Fair Play: How Sports Shape the Gender Debates
8. Read a classic from the Zero to Well-Read Podcast - Giovanni’s Room or Midnight’s Children
9. Read a romantasy book with a queer and/or BIPOC main character - Someone You Can Build a Nest In, The Priory of the Orange Tree, or The Ten Thousand Doors of January
10. Read a book recently adapted for film, TV, or musical - Project Hail Mary, Margo's Got Money Troubles, or The One Hundred Nights of Hero
11. Read a book by a d/Deaf author - True Biz
12. Read/try a recipe from a cookbook about a culture whose food you’ve never eaten - Jerusalem: A Cookbook
13. Read a nonfiction comic - Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands, Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History or Feeding Ghosts: A Graphic Memoir
14. Read a work of magical realism or fabulism - The Ten Thousand Doors of January, Remarkably Bright Creatures, or The Master and Margarita
15. Read a book by a librarian - Book Lust, Body Talk: 37 Voices Explore Our Radical Anatomy or That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America
16. Read a queer picture book - Julián Is a Mermaid
17. Read a book about a cult or cults - Death in the Jungle: Murder, Betrayal, and the Lost Dream of Jonestown
18. Read a nonfiction book about AI or social media - The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Caused an Epidemic of Mental Illness
19. Read a book by an intersex author - The Safekeep or Icarus
20. Read a book set in space - An Unkindness of Ghosts or Light from Other Stars
21. Read a genre (SFF, horror, mystery, romance) book in translation- The Empusium: A Health Resort Horror Story or The Three-Body Problem
22. Read a nonviolent true crime book - A Fever in the Heartland: The Ku Klux Klan's Plot to Take Over America, and the Woman Who Stopped Them or Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty
23. Read a book by an African author - Dream Count, Death of the Author or Half of a Yellow Sun
24. Pick a challenge from any of the previous years’ challenges to repeat! - Matrix or Demon Copperhead
Read Harder 2026Progress 24/24. Additional Books Read That Fit: 8
✔️Completed 3/10/2026✔️
✔️1. Read a microhistory Amsterdam's Sephardic Merchants and the Atlantic Sugar Trade in the Seventeenth Century
(Bunk: The Rise of Hoaxes, Humbug, Plagiarists, Phonies, Post-Facts, and Fake News, Curry: Eating, Reading, and Race, Gulag: A History, Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers)
✔️2. Read a book featured on a “best book covers” list The Vanishing Half
(Audition, Sea, Poison)
✔️3. Read a YA book by a Latine author The Survivor Wants to Die at the End,
(On the Wings of la Noche, These Vengeful Gods, This Is the Year)
✔️✔️✔️✔️4. Read a novel with a main character who uses they/them pronouns What Moves the Dead,What Feasts at Night, What Stalks the Deep, The Galaxy, and the Ground Within
(The Black Tides of Heaven, Phoenix Extravagant)
✔️5. Read a nonfiction book about resistance Micro Activism: How You Can Make a Difference in the World without a Bullhorn,
(How to Spot a Fascist, A Kick in the Belly: Women, Slavery and Resistance, Elite Capture: How the Powerful Took Over Identity Politics)
✔️6. Read a gothic novel published in the last ten years Clever Creatures of the Night, dropped Black Rabbit Hall,
( The Toll)
✔️7. Read a sports book by a woman, trans, or nonbinary writer Hot Girls with Balls
(Fair Play: How Sports Shape the Gender Debates)
✔️8. Read a classic from the Zero to Well-Read Podcast Hamnet,
(The Secret History)
✔️9. Read a romantasy book with a queer and/or BIPOC main character A Taste of Gold and Iron,
(Faebound, Sorcery and Small Magics, The Daughters of Izdihar)
✔️10. Read a book recently adapted for film, TV, or musical Interior Chinatown
✔️11. Read a book by a d/Deaf author True Biz
(Dust, Mean Little Deaf Queer: A Memoir, Talk Under Water, The Narrow Road to the Deep North, The Whispering Dark)
✔️12. Read/try a recipe from a cookbook about a culture whose food you’ve never eaten Native American Recipes from the Appalachian Mountains: AAIWV TRIBAL COOKBOOK
(Vibration Cooking or the Travel Notes of a Geechee Girl, Me'a Kai: The Food And Flavours Of The South Pacific )
✔️13. Read a nonfiction comic Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands
✔️✔️14. Read a work of magical realism or fabulism The Wayfinder Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line
(The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina, The Change)
✔️15. Read a book by a librarian These Ghosts Are Family dropped: Smothermoss (Mostly Dead Things)
✔️16. Read a queer picture book The Bi Book
✔️17. Read a book about a cult or cults Slonim Woods 9: A Memoir
(Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism, Daughter of Gloriavale: My Life in a Religious Cult, Velorio)
✔️18. Read a nonfiction book about AI or social media Your Face Belongs to Us: A Secretive Startup's Quest to End Privacy as We Know It
(Atlas of AI: Power, Politics, and the Planetary Costs of Artificial Intelligence)
✔️19. Read a book by an intersex author Icarus dropped A Proper Young Lady
✔️✔️✔️20. Read a book set in space The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, A Closed and Common Orbit, Record of a Spaceborn Few
✔️21. Read a genre (SFF, horror, mystery, romance) book in translation Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead
(Roadside Picnic)
✔️22. Read a nonviolent true crime book Never Saw Me Coming: How I Outsmarted the FBI and the Entire Banking System—and Pocketed $40 Million
(The Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsession, and the Natural History Heist of the Century)
✔️✔️23. Read a book by an African author All Our Names, Cursed Daughters
(Xala, The Orchard of Lost Souls, The Purple Violet of Oshaantu)
✔️24. Pick a challenge from any of the previous years’ challenges to repeat! Read a Book Solely for Its Setting The Last Days of Terranova
,
What a great list! Here are my ideas now, but this list is still a work in progress...Progress: 9/24 books
1. Read a microhistory - Madness: Race and Insanity in a Jim Crow Asylum by Antonia Hylton
2. Read a book featured on a “best book covers” list - The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
x 3. Read a YA book by a Latine author - Brownstone by Samuel Teer and Mar Julia, 2/24/2026, 5*
4. Read a novel with a main character who uses they/them pronouns - Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe
5. Read a nonfiction book about resistance - A Paradise Built in Hell: The Extraordinary Communities That Arise in Disaster by Rebecca Solnit
6. Read a gothic novel published in the last ten years - Bunny by Mona Awad
7. Read a sports book by a woman, trans, or nonbinary writer - On Top of Glass: My Stories as a Queer Girl in Figure Skating by Karina Manta
x 8. Read a classic from the Zero to Well-Read Podcast - The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, 4*, 1/21/2026
x 9. Read a romantasy book with a queer and/or BIPOC main character - The Heartbreak Bakery by A.R. Carpetta, 3*, 1/25/2026
x 10. Read a book recently adapted for TV -Long Bright River by Liz Moore, 4*, 1/3/2026
11. Read a book by a d/Deaf author - The Words in My Hands by Asphyxia
12. Read/try a recipe from a cookbook about a culture whose food you’ve never eaten - Slow Noodles: A Cambodian Memoir of Love, Loss, and Family Recipes by Chantha Nguon
13. Read a nonfiction comic - March: Book One by John Lewis
x 14. Read a work of magical realism or fabulism - Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami, 4.5*, 1/9/2026
15. Read a book by a librarian - The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher Murray or Smothermoss by Alisa Alering
x 16. Read a queer picture book - Door by Door: How Sarah McBride Became America's First Openly Transgender Senator by M. Pincus and M. McKean Gimbel, 3.5*, 1/3/2026
x 17. Read a book about a cult or cults - The Stand by Stephen King, 2/23/2026, 4*
18. Read a nonfiction book about social media - Platform Capitalism by Nick Srnicek
19. Read a book by an intersex author - Trans Liberty Riot Brigade by L.M. Pierce
20. Read a book set in space - Binti by Nnedi Okorafor
x 21. Read a genre (mystery) book in translation - The Tokyo Zodiac Murders by Soji Shimada, 2/19/26, 3*
22. Read a nonviolent true crime book - Duped: Double Lives, False Identities, and the Con Man I Almost Married by Abby Ellin
x 23. Read a book by an African author - Minaret by Leila Aboulela
24. Pick a challenge from any of the previous years’ challenges to repeat!
2023: Read a book of short stories - Jazz and Palm Wine by Emmanuel Dongala.
My books read: 4/241. Read a microhistory
2. Read a book featured on a “best book covers” list
3. Read a YA book by a Latine author
4. Read a novel with a main character who uses they/them pronouns
5. Read a nonfiction book about resistance The Complete Persepolis
6. Read a gothic novel published in the last ten years
7. Read a sports book by a woman, trans, or nonbinary writer
8. Read a classic from the Zero to Well-Read Podcast
9. Read a romantasy book with a queer and/or BIPOC main character
10. Read a book recently adapted for film, TV, or musical
11. Read a book by a d/Deaf author
12. Read/try a recipe from a cookbook about a culture whose food you’ve never eaten
13. Read a nonfiction comic They Called Us Enemy
14. Read a work of magical realism or fabulism
15. Read a book by a librarian
16. Read a queer picture book
17. Read a book about a cult or cults
18. Read a nonfiction book about AI or social media
19. Read a book by an intersex author
20. Read a book set in space
21. Read a genre (SFF, horror, mystery, romance) book in translation
22. Read a nonviolent true crime book
23. Read a book by an African author Theft
24. Pick a challenge from any of the previous years’ challenges to repeat! Enlightenment
Progress 2/241. Read a microhistory
2. Read a book featured on a “best book covers” list https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...
3. Read a YA book by a Latine author
4. Read a novel with a main character who uses they/them pronouns
5. Read a nonfiction book about resistance
6. Read a gothic novel published in the last ten years
7. Read a sports book by a woman, trans, or nonbinary writer
8. Read a classic from the Zero to Well-Read Podcast
9. Read a romantasy book with a queer and/or BIPOC main character
✅10. Read a book recently adapted for film, TV, or musical
11. Read a book by a d/Deaf author
12. Read/try a recipe from a cookbook about a culture whose food you’ve never eaten
13. Read a nonfiction comic
✅14. Read a work of magical realism or fabulism
15. Read a book by a librarian
16. Read a queer picture book
17. Read a book about a cult or cults
18. Read a nonfiction book about AI or social media
19. Read a book by an intersex author
20. Read a book set in space
21. Read a genre (SFF, horror, mystery, romance) book in translation
22. Read a nonviolent true crime book
23. Read a book by an African author
24. Pick a challenge from any of the previous years’ challenges to repeat!
Amanda E.'s Corner
Here we go again! Best Book challenge out there!PROGRESS 0/24
1. Read a microhistory
2. Read a book featured on a “best book covers” list
3. Read a YA book by a Latine author
4. Read a novel with a main character who uses they/them pronouns
5. Read a nonfiction book about resistance
6. Read a gothic novel published in the last ten years
7. Read a sports book by a woman, trans, or nonbinary writer
8. Read a classic from the Zero to Well-Read Podcast
9. Read a romantasy book with a queer and/or BIPOC main character
10. Read a book recently adapted for film, TV, or musical
11. Read a book by a d/Deaf author
12. Read/try a recipe from a cookbook about a culture whose food you’ve never eaten
13. Read a nonfiction comic
14. Read a work of magical realism or fabulism
15. Read a book by a librarian
16. Read a queer picture book
17. Read a book about a cult or cults
18. Read a nonfiction book about AI or social media
19. Read a book by an intersex author
20. Read a book set in space
21. Read a genre (SFF, horror, mystery, romance) book in translation
22. Read a nonviolent true crime book
23. Read a book by an African author
24. Pick a challenge from any of the previous years’ challenges to repeat
1. Read a microhistory2. Read a book featured on a “best book covers” list
3. Read a YA book by a Latine author
4. Read a novel with a main character who uses they/them pronouns
5. Read a nonfiction book about resistance
6. Read a gothic novel published in the last ten years
7. Read a sports book by a woman, trans, or nonbinary writer
8. Read a classic from the Zero to Well-Read Podcast
9. Read a romantasy book with a queer and/or BIPOC main character
10. Read a book recently adapted for film, TV, or musical
11. Read a book by a d/Deaf author
12. Read/try a recipe from a cookbook about a culture whose food you’ve never eaten
13. Read a nonfiction comic
14. Read a work of magical realism or fabulism
15. Read a book by a librarian
16. Read a queer picture book
17. Read a book about a cult or cults
18. Read a nonfiction book about AI or social media
19. Read a book by an intersex author
20. Read a book set in space
21. Read a genre (SFF, horror, mystery, romance) book in translation
22. Read a nonviolent true crime book
23. Read a book by an African author
24. Pick a challenge from any of the previous years’ challenges to repeat
1. Read a microhistory2. Read a book featured on a “best book covers” list - Cursed Daughters
3. Read a YA book by a Latine author - The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School
4. Read a novel with a main character who uses they/them pronouns
5. Read a nonfiction book about resistance - A Little History of the United States
6. Read a gothic novel published in the last ten years - The Thirteenth Child
7. Read a sports book by a woman, trans, or nonbinary writer - The Favorites
8. Read a classic from the Zero to Well-Read Podcast - Little Women
9. Read a romantasy book with a queer and/or BIPOC main character
10. Read a book recently adapted for film, TV, or musical - Long Bright River
11. Read a book by a d/Deaf author
12. Read/try a recipe from a cookbook about a culture whose food you’ve never eaten
13. Read a nonfiction comic
14. Read a work of magical realism or fabulism
15. Read a book by a librarian
16. Read a queer picture book
17. Read a book about a cult or cults
18. Read a nonfiction book about AI or social media
19. Read a book by an intersex author
20. Read a book set in space - Project Hail Mary
21. Read a genre (SFF, horror, mystery, romance) book in translationHot Chocolate on Thursday 22. Read a nonviolent true crime book - No More Tears: The Dark Secrets of Johnson & Johnson
23. Read a book by an African author
24. Pick a challenge from any of the previous years’ challenges to repeat! - 2025 #12 Read a staff pick from an indie bookstore. Theo of Golden
Does anyone know if book riot released their yearly reading tracker? I wanted to know because they include a tab where the reading challenge is listed and makes it really easy to track what tasks you have done. (Also have they removed the search function on their website? I can't seem to find it)
1/24✔️1. Read a microhistory
The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary
2. Read a book featured on a “best book covers” list
Lucky Day
3. Read a YA book by a Latine author
Ruinous Ends
✔️4. Read a novel with a main character who uses they/them pronouns The Heartbreak Bakery
5. Read a nonfiction book about resistance
One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This
6. Read a gothic novel published in the last ten years
Lore Olympus: Volume One
7. Read a sports book by a woman, trans, or nonbinary writer
On Top of Glass: My Stories as a Queer Girl in Figure Skating
8. Read a classic from the Zero to Well-Read Podcast
Midnight’s Children
9. Read a romantasy book with a queer and/or BIPOC main character
One Knight Stand
10. Read a book recently adapted for film, TV, or musical
Long Bright River
11. Read a book by a d/Deaf author
The Words in My Hands
12. Read/try a recipe from a cookbook about a culture whose food you’ve never eaten
The Barbados Cookbook
13. Read a nonfiction comic
The Marvel Book: Expand Your Knowledge Of A Vast Comics Universe
14. Read a work of magical realism or fabulism
Legends & Lattes
15. Read a book by a librarian
16. Read a queer picture book
17. Read a book about a cult or cults
18. Read a nonfiction book about AI or social media
19. Read a book by an intersex author
20. Read a book set in space
A Trade of Blood
21. Read a genre (SFF, horror, mystery, romance) book in translation
22. Read a nonviolent true crime book
23. Read a book by an African author
24. Pick a challenge from any of the previous years’ challenges to repeat!
Replying to Jessica, I haven't seen a new version of the reading tracker this year. I found the download of the tracker from last year and, with some modest changes, updated it for this year. I'm no Excel guru, but with an Excel for Dummies book from the library, was able to do update it successfully.
💖📖💖📖💖📖💖📖💖📖💖📖💖📖💖📖💖📖💖📖💖📖💖📖💖📖💖2026 BOOK RIOT'S READ HARDER CHALLENGE
Acidic Quagga's List - Starts January 1, 2026
🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰
Popsugar Challenge Completion: 7/29, 25%
📖=book 💻=ebook 🎧=audiobook
✔️=like ❌=dislike 💗=love 🌠=rating
➡️=reading (strike)
🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰🟰
1.
Whack Job: A History of Axe Murder by Rachel McCarthy James
Read a microhistory.
2.
So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole
Read a book featured on a “best book covers” list.
3.
Beasts of Carnaval by Rosália Rodrigo
Read a YA book by a Latine author.
4.
📖🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠💗
Read a novel with a main character who uses they/them pronouns.
5.
Wayward Lives, Beautiful Experiments: Intimate Histories of Riotous Black Girls, Troublesome Women, and Queer Radicals by Saidiya Hartman
Read a nonfiction book about resistance.
6.
The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas
Read a gothic novel published in the last ten years.
7.
➡️Roar: How to Match Your Food and Fitness to Your Unique Female Physiology for Optimum Performance, Great Health, and a Strong, Lean Body for Life by Stacy T. Sims
Read a sports book by a woman, trans, or nonbinary writer.
8.
Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie
Read a classic from the Zero to Well-Read Podcast.
9.
This Ends in Embers by Kamilah Cole
Read a romantasy book with a queer and/or BIPOC main character.
10.
📖 🌠🌠❌
Read a book recently adapted for film, TV, or musical.
11.
The Words in My Hands by Asphyxia
Read a book by a d/Deaf author.
12.
Aloha Kitchen: Recipes from Hawai'i A Cookbook by Alana Kysar
Read/try a recipe from a cookbook about a culture whose food you’ve never eaten.
13.
📖 🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠💗
Read a nonfiction comic.
14.
🎧🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠💗
Read a work of magical realism or fabulism.
15.
How Can I Help You by Laura Sims
Read a book by a librarian.
16.
📖💗
Read a queer picture book.
17.
O Sinners! by Nicole Cuffy
Read a book about a cult or cults.
18.
The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Caused an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt
Read a nonfiction book about AI or social media.
19.
The Weight of the Stars by K. Ancrum
Read a book by an intersex author.
20.
A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers
Read a book set in space.
21.
📖🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠💗
Read a genre (SFF, horror, mystery, romance) book in translation.
22.
Confident Women: Swindlers, Grifters, and Shapeshifters of the Feminine Persuasion by Tori Telfer
Read a nonviolent true crime book.
23.
Little Rot by Akwaeke Emezi
Read a book by an African author.
24.
🎧🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠💗
Pick a challenge from any of the previous years’ challenges to repeat!
💖📖💖📖💖📖💖📖💖📖💖📖💖📖💖📖💖📖💖📖💖📖💖📖💖📖💖📖💖
Completed 18/244. Read a novel with a main character who uses they/them pronouns - My Best Friend's Honeymoon
8. Read a classic from the Zero to Well-Read Podcast - Their Eyes Were Watching God
12. Read/try a recipe from a cookbook about a culture whose food you’ve never eaten
15. Read a book by a librarian - Rogues Rush In
17. Read a book about a cult or cults -
23. Read a book by an African author - Matigari
🎧1. Read a microhistory - Whack Job: A History of Axe Murder 4/6/26
🎧2. Read a book featured on a “best book covers” list - Jazz 1/26
✅3. Read a YA book by a Latine author - Northranger: A Modern Graphic Novel Retelling of Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey 2/9/26
✅5. Read a nonfiction book about resistance - Banned Book Club 1/28/26
✅6. Read a gothic novel published in the last ten years - The Last Lady B 2/13/26
🎧7. Read a sports book by a woman, trans, or nonbinary writer - Chase Lovett Wants Me 2/5/26
🎧9. Read a romantasy book with a queer and/or BIPOC main character - The Alien's Battle 2/20/26
🎧10. Read a book recently adapted for film, TV, or musical The Midwich Cuckoos 3/30/26
🎧11. Read a book by a d/Deaf author - The Quiet Ear: An Investigation of Missing Sound 4/15/26
✅13. Read a nonfiction comic - Keep Calm and Do the Snoopy Dance 2/5/26
✅14. Read a work of magical realism or fabulism - Ex Libris 1/2/26
✅16. Read a queer picture book - Proud Dog 3/13/26
✅18. Read a nonfiction book about AI or social media - Damn You, Autocorrect!: Awesomely Embarrassing Text Messages You Didn't Mean to Send 2/8/26
✅19. Read a book by an intersex author - Model Home 4/20/26
🎧20. Read a book set in space - Lost on Oblivion 1/1/26
🎧21. Read a genre (SFF, horror, mystery, romance) book in translation - Tokyo Express 3/23/26
🎧22. Read a nonviolent true crime book - The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession 1/17/26
🎧24. Pick a challenge from any of the previous years’ challenges to repeat! - A Sci-Fi Novel With a Female Protagonist by a Female Author: Read Harder 2018 - Chosen by the Chimera 1/19/26
I never finish, but I always find fantastic books by trying this challenge:2/24
I don't own some of these possible selections yet.
1. Read a microhistory
2. Read a book featured on a “best book covers” list
3. Read a YA book by a Latine author
4. Read a novel with a main character who uses they/them pronouns
5. Read a nonfiction book about resistance - Thomas Becket and His World by Michael Staunton
6. Read a gothic novel published in the last ten years
7. Read a sports book by a woman, trans, or nonbinary writer - Fast Girls: A Novel of the 1936 Women's Olympic Team by Elise Hooper
8. Read a classic from the Zero to Well-Read Podcast
9. Read a romantasy book with a queer and/or BIPOC main character
10. Read a book recently adapted for film, TV, or musical
11. Read a book by a d/Deaf author
✔12. Read/try a recipe from a cookbook about a culture whose food you’ve never eaten - A Very Asian Guide to Malaysian and Singaporean Food by Shuli de la Fuente-Lau. (as a non-cook, I went to a local restaurant and bought Curry Puffs)
13. Read a nonfiction comic
14. Read a work of magical realism or fabulism
15. Read a book by a librarian
✔16. Read a queer picture book - Sharice's Big Voice: A Native Kid Becomes a Congresswoman by Sharice Davids
17. Read a book about a cult or cults
18. Read a nonfiction book about AI or social media
19. Read a book by an intersex author
20. Read a book set in space
21. Read a genre (SFF, horror, mystery, romance) book in translation
22. Read a nonviolent true crime book
23. Read a book by an African author
24. Pick a challenge from any of the previous years’ challenges to repeat! Challenge #13 from 2025: Read a nonfiction book about nature or the environment: An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us ("add book/author" not working right) by Ed Yong
Tracy wrote: "Replying to Jessica, I haven't seen a new version of the reading tracker this year. I found the download of the tracker from last year and, with some modest changes, updated it for this year. I'm n..."Thanks! I wasn't sure if I missed it since I don't check everyday and I could not find the search bar on the site for a deeper dive.
2026 Book Riot Read Harder Challenge 7/241. Read a microhistory
,
,
,
,
,
2.
- DNF,
- 1/6/25 - 4.5 stars,
,
,
,
3. Read a YA book by a Latine author
,
,
4. Read a novel with a main character who uses they/them pronouns
5. Read a nonfiction book about resistance
6. Read a gothic novel published in the last ten years
,
,
,
7.
- 3.5 stars - 3/14/268. Read a classic from the Zero to Well-Read Podcast
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
9. Read a romantasy book with a queer and/or BIPOC main character
- DNF,
,
,
,
,
,
,
- 4 stars - 2/23/2611. Read a book by a d/Deaf author
12. Read/try a recipe from a cookbook about a culture whose food you’ve never eaten
13. Read a nonfiction comic
,
,
,
,
- 3/4/26 - 4.5 stars 15. Read a book by a librarian
16. Read a queer picture book
17.
- 2/6/26 - 4 stars,
18. Read a nonfiction book about AI or social media
- dnf,
,
19. Read a book by an intersex author
,
,
- 3/25/26 - 3.5 stars,
,
,
21. Read a genre (SFF, horror, mystery, romance) book in translation
,
,
,
22. Read a nonviolent true crime book
,
23. Read a book by an African author
,
,
24.
2017 #9. Read a book you’ve read before
,
- 1/9/26 - 5 stars,
I'll be back to update this throughout the year.1. Read a microhistory - Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection - The History of Chocolate
4. Read a novel with a main character who uses they/them pronouns
8. (93) Read a classic from the Zero to Well-Read Podcast - Hamnet - The Secret History
11. Read a book by a d/Deaf author - The Silence Between Us - Apparitions
12. Read/try a recipe from a cookbook about a culture whose food you’ve never eaten - The Island Kitchen: Recipes from Mauritius and the Indian Ocean
13. Read a nonfiction comic - March: Book One - The Golden Voice: The Ballad of Cambodian Rock's Lost Queen
15. Read a book by a librarian
18. Read a nonfiction book about AI or social media
19. Read a book by an intersex author - Model Home
20. Read a book set in space - To Be Taught, If Fortunate
22. Read a nonviolent true crime book - The Art of the Con: The Most Notorious Fakes, Frauds, and Forgeries in the Art World
23. Read a book by an African author - The Golden Ass - The Door to Tamba: A Short Story
(73) Repeat a prompt from the 2022 challenge: Read a book recommended by a friend with different reading tastes
Repeat a prompt from the 2023 challenge: Read an entire poetry collection - The Collected Poems of Audre Lorde
Completed Books
1. Repeat a prompt from the 2015 challenge: An audiobook - They All Fall Down
2. Repeat a prompt from the 2024 challenge: Read a book about books - 84, Charing Cross Road
3. Repeat a prompt from the 2025 challenge: Read a work of weird horror - The Babysitter Lives
4. Repeat a prompt from the 2020 challenge: Read a book that takes place in a rural setting - A Trace of Poison
6. Repeat a prompt from the 2018 challenge: A classic of genre fiction - The Birthmark
9. Repeat a prompt from the 2016 challenge: Read a book of historical fiction set before 1900 - Young Goodman Brown
12. Repeat a prompt from the 2021 challenge: Read a historical fiction with a POC or LGBTQ+ protagonist - The Bell in the Fog
16. Read a genre (SFF, horror, mystery, romance) book in translation - Walking Practice
19. Repeat a prompt from the 2019 challenge: A self-published book - My Lady, Will You Dance?: A Christmas Regency Novella
22. Repeat a prompt from the 2017 challenge: Read a fantasy novel - The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
40. Read a queer picture book - Good Books for Bad Children: The Genius of Ursula Nordstrom
45. Read a YA book by a Latine author - The Poet X
64. Read a gothic novel published in the last ten years - The Widow of Pale Harbor
73. Read a romantasy book with a queer and/or BIPOC main character - Go Luck Yourself
75. Read a nonfiction book about resistance - Giving Up Is Unforgivable: A Manual for Keeping a Democracy
76. Read a work of magical realism or fabulism - We'll Prescribe You a Cat
80. Read a book featured on a “best book covers” list - The Hounding
90. Read a sports book by a woman, trans, or nonbinary writer - Just Call Me “Andi”: Sports Stories from a Trailblazer
93. Read a book recently adapted for film, TV, or musical - Wuthering Heights
97. Read a book about a cult or cults - Paper Cut
Completed 0/241. Read a microhistory.
Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania or Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife or The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary or Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen or Carpathia
2. Read a book featured on a “best book covers” list
3. Read a YA book by a Latine author.
I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter or The House on Mango Street or The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School
4. Read a novel with a main character who uses they/them pronouns
5. Read a nonfiction book about resistance
6. Read a gothic novel published in the last ten years.
The Bewitching or The Daughter of Doctor Moreau or What Stalks the Deep
7. Read a sports book by a woman, trans, or nonbinary writer
8. Read a classic from the Zero to Well-Read Podcast.
Parable of the Sower
9. Read a romantasy book with a queer and/or BIPOC main character.
The Priory of the Orange Tree
10. Read a book recently adapted for film, TV, or musical.
Project Hail Mary or Remarkably Bright Creatures or The Woman in Cabin 10
11. Read a book by a d/Deaf author.
Apparitions or Mooncakes or Show Me a Sign
12. Read/try a recipe from a cookbook about a culture whose food you’ve never eaten.
13. Read a nonfiction comic.
Tomboy or Relish or Brittle Joints
14. Read a work of magical realism or fabulism.
The Master and Margarita or Monstrilio or The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender or The Antidote
15. Read a book by a librarian.
Smothermoss or Book Lust
16. Read a queer picture book
Prince & Knight or Julián is a Mermaid
17. Read a book about a cult or cults.
Dinner for Vampires: Life on a Cult TV Show
18. Read a nonfiction book about AI or social media
The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Caused an Epidemic of Mental Illness or Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It
19. Read a book by an intersex author.
The Deep or Sorrowland or The Safekeep
20. Read a book set in space.
Project Hail Mary
21. Read a genre (SFF, horror, mystery, romance) book in translation
22. Read a nonviolent true crime book
The Library Book
23. Read a book by an African author
24. Pick a challenge from any of the previous years’ challenges to repeat!
📖 - currently reading
✔️ - finished
Read: 0/24 = 0%
★: 0/24
★★: 0/24
★★★: 0/24
★★★★: 0/24
★★★★★: 0/24
Probably because I am working on my phone, but is anyone else having an issue COPYING the list? It has never been an issue but maybe something changed. (I have always used Select, Copy, Paste)
1. Read a microhistory - DONEThe Other Olympians: Fascism, Queerness, and the Making of Modern Sports
2. Read a book featured on a “best book covers” list
Say You'll Remember Me
Lucky Day
The Ministry of Time
3. Read a YA book by a Latine author
On the Wings of la Noche
Espíritu
4. Read a novel with a main character who uses they/them pronouns
Single Player
5. Read a nonfiction book about resistance - DONE
Freedom is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine and the Foundations of a Movement
6. Read a gothic novel published in the last ten years
The Possession of Alba Díaz
The Bewitching
Mexican Gothic
7. Read a sports book by a woman, trans, or nonbinary writer
Uncommon Favor: Basketball, North Philly, My Mother, and the Life Lessons I Learned from All Three
8. Read a classic from the Zero to Well-Read Podcast
Parable of the Sower
9. Read a romantasy book with a queer and/or BIPOC main character
Someone You Can Build a Nest In
The Priory of the Orange Tree
Masquerade
10. Read a book recently adapted for film, TV, or musical - DONE
Margo's Got Money Troubles
Game Changer
11. Read a book by a d/Deaf author
Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law
12. Read/try a recipe from a cookbook about a culture whose food you’ve never eaten
13. Read a nonfiction comic - IN PROGRESS
Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World
14. Read a work of magical realism or fabulism
Babel
The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina
15. Read a book by a librarian - DONE
A Wrinkle in Time
16. Read a queer picture book
17. Read a book about a cult or cults - DONE
The Culting of America: What Makes a Cult and Why We Love Them
18. Read a nonfiction book about AI or social media - DONE
Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism
19. Read a book by an intersex author
Sorrowland
20. Read a book set in space
Nyxia Unleashed
Rogue Protocol
Gideon the Ninth
I Got Abducted by Aliens and Now I'm Trapped in a Rom-Com
21. Read a genre (SFF, horror, mystery, romance) book in translation
Frankenstein in Baghdad
22. Read a nonviolent true crime book
All the President’s Men
No More Tears: The Dark Secrets of Johnson & Johnson
The Man Who Loved Books Too Much: The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession
The Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsession, and the Natural History Heist of the Century
A Fever in the Heartland: The Ku Klux Klan's Plot to Take Over America, and the Woman Who Stopped Them
23. Read a book by an African author
Dream Count
Homegoing
24. Pick a challenge from any of the previous years’ challenges to repeat!
4/241. Read a microhistory Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling
2. Read a book featured on a “best book covers” list The Headmaster
3. Read a YA book by a Latine author Espíritu
✔️4. Read a novel with a main character who uses they/them pronouns A Prayer for the Crown-Shy
✔️5. Read a nonfiction book about resistance A Vindication of the Rights of Woman
6. Read a gothic novel published in the last ten years Jane Steele
7. Read a sports book by a woman, trans, or nonbinary writer Intercepted
8. Read a classic from the Zero to Well-Read Podcast The Bluest Eye
9. Read a romantasy book with a queer and/or BIPOC main character Bloodmarked
10. Read a book recently adapted for film, TV, or musical Frankenstein: The 1818 Text
✔️11. Read a book by a d/Deaf author Everyone Is Watching
12. Read/try a recipe from a cookbook about a culture whose food you’ve never eaten
13. Read a nonfiction comic The American Dream? A Journey on Route 66 Discovering Dinosaur Statues, Muffler Man, and the Perfect Breakfast Burrito: a Graphic Memoir
14. Read a work of magical realism or fabulism The Hummingbird's Daughter
15. Read a book by a librarian A Matter of Murder: A Lizzie & Darcy Mystery
16. Read a queer picture book
17. Read a book about a cult or cults Wonder Valley
18. Read a nonfiction book about AI or social media
19. Read a book by an intersex author The Deep
20. Read a book set in space Platform Decay
21. Read a genre (SFF, horror, mystery, romance) book in translation The Plotters
22. Read a nonviolent true crime book Ballad of the Whiskey Robber: A True Story of Bank Heists, Ice Hockey, Transylvanian Pelt Smuggling, Moonlighting Detectives, and Broken Hearts
23. Read a book by an African author Arrow of God
✔️24. Pick a challenge from any of the previous years’ challenges to repeat! An Unsuitable Heir
Hey everyone, I love all the recommendations from everyone on Goodreads. I wanted to bring to your attention some other lists for the Read Harder prompts from three different libraries. The Daniel Boone Regional Library in Columbia, Mo. has comprehensive lists for every prompt and the prompts from years past (especially useful for prompt #24 this year!) https://dbrl.bibliocommons.com/v2/lis...
Another one is from the New York Public Library, where they have 4 suggestions for every prompt: https://www.nypl.org/blog/2025/12/23/...
(NYPL is part of its blog, if you want to see lists from prior years, google NYPL read harder and the specific year you're interested in.)
Finally, there are the Pima County Library lists, which are still being compiled, but every few days they post a list of recommendations for different prompts. Given their location (Tucson), not surprisingly, they are especially strong on Native American recommendations. https://www.library.pima.gov/readhard...
I hope you enjoy their recommendations as much as I do.
Tracy wrote: "Hey everyone, I love all the recommendations from everyone on Goodreads. I wanted to bring to your attention some other lists for the Read Harder prompts from three different libraries. The Danie..."
Thank you!
4/241. Read a microhistory White Light: The Elemental Role of Phosphorus-in Our Cells, in Our Food, and in Our World
2. Read a book featured on a “best book covers” list
3. Read a YA book by a Latine author
4. Read a novel with a main character who uses they/them pronouns
5. Read a nonfiction book about resistance
6. Read a gothic novel published in the last ten years Starling House ✔️
7. Read a sports book by a woman, trans, or nonbinary writer Chlorine ✔️
8. Read a classic from the Zero to Well-Read Podcast The Secret History ✔️
9. Read a romantasy book with a queer and/or BIPOC main character
10. Read a book recently adapted for film, TV, or musical
11. Read a book by a d/Deaf author Soundtrack of Silence: Love, Loss, and a Playlist for Life
12. Read/try a recipe from a cookbook about a culture whose food you’ve never eaten
13. Read a nonfiction comic
14. Read a work of magical realism or fabulism Monstrilio
15. Read a book by a librarian
16. Read a queer picture book
17. Read a book about a cult or cults The Scammer
18. Read a nonfiction book about AI or social media Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist
19. Read a book by an intersex author
20. Read a book set in space The Apollo Murders
21. Read a genre (SFF, horror, mystery, romance) book in translation
22. Read a nonviolent true crime book Little Bosses Everywhere: How the Pyramid Scheme Shaped America ✔️
23. Read a book by an African author
24. Pick a challenge from any of the previous years’ challenges to repeat!
Completed: 5/24✅ - Finished
* - Currently reading
1. Read a microhistory
2. Read a book featured on a “best book covers” list
3. Read a YA book by a Latine author
✅4. Read a novel with a main character who uses they/them pronouns
A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor by Hank Green
✅5. Read a nonfiction book about resistance
Elbows Up!: Canadian Voices of Resilience and Resistance edited by Elamin Abdelmahmoud
6. Read a gothic novel published in the last ten years
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
7. Read a sports book by a woman, trans, or nonbinary writer
8. Read a classic from the Zero to Well-Read Podcast
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
Vineland by Thomas Pynchon
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie
9. Read a romantasy book with a queer and/or BIPOC main character
✅10. Read a book recently adapted for film, TV, or musical
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir Read: Jan (4 stars)
11. Read a book by a d/Deaf author
Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law by Haben Girma
12. Read/try a recipe from a cookbook about a culture whose food you’ve never eaten
13. Read a nonfiction comic
Polar Vortex: A Family Memoir by Denise Dorrance
14. Read a work of magical realism or fabulism
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez (Also works for #8)
15. Read a book by a librarian
No Crystal Stair or Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshal by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson
✅16. Read a queer picture book
Con tango son tres by Justin Richardson Read: Jan (5 stars)
*17. Read a book about a cult or cults
Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief by Lawrence Wright
18. Read a nonfiction book about AI or social media
The Amazing Generation: Your Guide to Fun and Freedom in a Screen-Filled World by Jonathan Haidt
19. Read a book by an intersex author
Inverse Cowgirl by Alicia Roth Weigel
Born Both: An Intersex Life by Hida Viloria
20. Read a book set in space
Sisterhood of Dune by Brian Herbert
To Be Taught, If Fortunate by Becky Chambers
✅21. Read a genre (SFF, horror, mystery, romance) book in translation
Strange Pictures by Uketsu (mystery, horror)
22. Read a nonviolent true crime book
There Is No Ethan: How Three Women Caught America's Biggest Catfish by Anna Akbari
23. Read a book by an African author
Aké: The Years of Childhood by Wole Soyinka
The Famished Road by Ben Okri
✅24. Pick a challenge from any of the previous years’ challenges
2025 Non-fiction about nature or the environment:
The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan
1 A microhistory - Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void; Salt: A World History; Bitter Chocolate: Anatomy of an Industry2 A book featured on a “best book covers” list -The God of the Woods or Babel; Smothermoss; Hell Followed With Us
3 A YA book by a Latina author- With the Fire on High; Big Chicas Don't Cry (comes with audible listen)
4 A novel with a main character who uses they/them pronouns - An Unkindness of Ghosts A Psalm for the Wild-Built
5 A nonfiction book about resistance -On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century
6 A gothic novel published in the last ten years -If We Were Villains; Smothermoss; Hell Followed With Us
7 A sports book by a woman, trans, or nonbinary writer Ultra Women - Good for a Girl: A Woman Running in a Man's World
8 A classic from the Zero to Well-Read Podcast -The Secret History
9 A romantasy book with a queer and/or BIPOC main character -Children of Blood and Bone
10 A book recently adapted for film, TV, or musical -We Were Liars; Remarkably Bright Creatures; Project Hail Mary
11 A book by a d/Deaf author - True Biz
12 A cookbook about a culture whose food you’ve never eaten
13 A nonfiction comic
14 A work of magical realism or fabulism -The Famished Road; Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World; Brown Girl in the Ring; Smothermoss; Hunting by Stars; Trickster Drift
15 A book by a librarian -Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches; Smothermoss; The Final System
16 A queer picture book
17 A book about a cult or cults -The Girls; Hell Followed With Us
18 A nonfiction book about AI or social media -The Coming Wave: Technology, Power, and the Twenty-first Century's Greatest Dilemma; Code Dependent: Living in the Shadow of AI
19 A book by an intersex author -An Unkindness of Ghosts; A Psalm for the Wild-Built
20 A book set in space -Brown Girl in the Ring; Colony One; Of Monsters and Mainframes; The Darkness Outside Us (Audio)
21 A genre novel in translation -And Miles to Go Before I Sleep; Elena Knows; Snare;Snowblind; Six Four; A Midsummer's Equation; Out;
22 A nonviolent true crime book - The Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsession, and the Natural History Heist of the Century; The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession; There Is No Ethan: How Three Women Caught America's Biggest Catfish; Never Saw Me Coming: How I Outsmarted the FBI and the Entire Banking System—and Pocketed $40 Million
✅23 A book by an African author - Homegoing
24 A prompt from previous years’ challenges - 2018: #23 2018: #23 - Female protagonist over 60 - Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead
1. Read a microhistory2. Read a book featured on a “best book covers” list
3. Read a YA book by a Latine author
4. Read a novel with a main character who uses they/them pronouns
5. Read a nonfiction book about resistance
6. Read a gothic novel published in the last ten years
7. Read a sports book by a woman, trans, or nonbinary writer
8. Read a classic from the Zero to Well-Read Podcast
9. Read a romantasy book with a queer and/or BIPOC main character
10. Read a book recently adapted for film, TV, or musical Lord of the Flies
11. Read a book by a d/Deaf author
12. Read/try a recipe from a cookbook about a culture whose food you’ve never eaten
13. Read a nonfiction comic
14. Read a work of magical realism or fabulism
15. Read a book by a librarian
16. Read a queer picture book Qual è il segreto di papà?
17. Read a book about a cult or cults
18. Read a nonfiction book about AI or social media Love Machines: How Artificial Intelligence is Transforming Our Relationships
19. Read a book by an intersex author
20. Read a book set in space
21. Read a genre (SFF, horror, mystery, romance) book in translation
22. Read a nonviolent true crime book
23. Read a book by an African author
24. Pick a challenge from any of the previous years’ challenges to repeat!
1. Read a microhistory 2. Read a book featured on a “best book covers” list
3. Read a YA book by a Latine author
4. Read a novel with a main character who uses they/them pronouns
5. Read a nonfiction book about resistance
6. Read a gothic novel published in the last ten years
7. Read a sports book by a woman, trans, or nonbinary writer
8. Read a classic from the Zero to Well-Read Podcast
9. Read a romantasy book with a queer and/or BIPOC main character
10. Read a book recently adapted for film, TV, or musical
11. Read a book by a d/Deaf author
✅12. Read/try a recipe from a cookbook about a culture whose food you’ve never eaten Turtle Island: Foods and Traditions of the Indigenous Peoples of North America Made a pesto.
13. Read a nonfiction comic
14. Read a work of magical realism or fabulism
15. Read a book by a librarian
16. Read a queer picture book
17. Read a book about a cult or cults
18. Read a nonfiction book about AI or social media
19. Read a book by an intersex author
20. Read a book set in space
21. Read a genre (SFF, horror, mystery, romance) book in translation
22. Read a nonviolent true crime book
23. Read a book by an African author
24. Pick a challenge from any of the previous years’ challenges to repeat
;
2026 8/24
1. Read a microhistory
2. Read a book featured on a “best book covers” list
3. Read a YA book by a Latine author
4. Read a novel with a main character who uses they/them pronouns
✓ 5. Read a nonfiction book about resistance Black Arms to Hold You Up: A History of Black Resistance
✓ 6. Read a gothic novel published in the last ten years The Daughter of Doctor Moreau
✓ 7. Read a sports book by a woman, trans, or nonbinary writer The Secret to Superhuman Strength
8. Read a classic from the Zero to Well-Read Podcast
9. Read a romantasy book with a queer and/or BIPOC main character
✓ 10. Read a book recently adapted for film, TV, or musical Frankenstein: The 1818 Text
11. Read a book by a d/Deaf author
12. Read/try a recipe from a cookbook about a culture whose food you’ve never eaten
✓ 13. Read a nonfiction comic March: Book One
14. Read a work of magical realism or fabulism
15. Read a book by a librarian
16. Read a queer picture book
✓ 17. Read a book about a cult or cults Carl's Doomsday Scenario
18. Read a nonfiction book about AI or social media
✓ 19. Read a book by an intersex author The Deep
20. Read a book set in space
✓ 21. Read a genre (SFF, horror, mystery, romance) book in translation A Magical Girl Retires
22. Read a nonviolent true crime book
23. Read a book by an African author
24. Pick a challenge from any of the previous years’ challenges to repeat!
Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge 2026 (17/24)✔️1. Read a microhistory: Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection*
✔️2. Read a book featured on a “best book covers” list: Autocorrect: Stories*
(One of the “173 Best Book Covers of 2025” from Literary Hub.)📚3. Read a YA book by a Latine author: The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes
✔️4. Read a novel with a main character who uses they/them pronouns: Lakelore*
✔️5. Read a nonfiction book about resistance: We Refuse: A Forceful History of Black Resistance*
📚6. Read a gothic novel published in the last ten years [2024]: Ghost Mother
✔️7. Read a sports book by a woman, trans, or nonbinary writer: The Game Changer* by Lana Ferguson
✔️8. Read a classic from the Zero to Well-Read Podcast: Vineland*
📚9. Read a romantasy book with a queer and/or BIPOC main character: The Isle in the Silver Sea
✔️10. Read a book recently adapted for film, TV, or musical: Heated Rivalry*
✔️11. Read a book by a d/Deaf author: Can Bears Ski?* by Raymond Antrobus
✔️12. Read/try a recipe from a cookbook about a culture whose food you’ve never eaten: Vegan Vietnamese: Vibrant Plant-Based Recipes to Enjoy Every Day
✔️13. Read a nonfiction comic: March*
✔️14. Read a work of magical realism or fabulism: The Charmed Library*
📚15. Read a book by a librarian: Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches by Audre Lorde
✔️16. Read a queer picture book: Not He or She, I'm Me
📚17. Read a book about a cult or cults: Don't Call It a Cult: The Shocking Story of Keith Raniere and the Women of NXIVM
✔️18. Read a nonfiction book about AI or social media: Momfluenced: Inside the Maddening, Picture-Perfect World of Mommy Influencer Culture*
📚19. Read a book by an intersex author: something by K. Ancrum
✔️20. Read a book set in space: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy*
✔️21. Read a genre (SFF, horror, mystery, romance) book in translation [Mystery]: An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good* (The novel was originally published in Swedish.)
✔️22. Read a nonviolent true crime book: Vanished Smile: The Mysterious Theft of Mona Lisa*
✔️23. Read a book by an African author: Horses of God* by Mahi Binebine
📚24. Pick a challenge from any of the previous years’ challenges to repeat! [Reread a childhood favorite book.]: The Phantom Tollbooth
📖: currently reading
📚: tbr
✔️: read
*: fulfills multiple challenges/goals I’m completing this year
Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
The Water Dancer (other topics)Cursed Daughters (other topics)
Blood on Her Tongue (other topics)
The Book of Form and Emptiness (other topics)
My Best Friend's Honeymoon (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Suzanne Walker (other topics)Tiana Salles (other topics)
Florence Dupré la Tour (other topics)
Jonas Hassen Khemiri (other topics)
K. Ancrum (other topics)
More...
Below are the prompts for easy copying . . .
1. Read a microhistory
2. Read a book featured on a “best book covers” list
3. Read a YA book by a Latine author
4. Read a novel with a main character who uses they/them pronouns
5. Read a nonfiction book about resistance
6. Read a gothic novel published in the last ten years
7. Read a sports book by a woman, trans, or nonbinary writer
8. Read a classic from the Zero to Well-Read Podcast
9. Read a romantasy book with a queer and/or BIPOC main character
10. Read a book recently adapted for film, TV, or musical
11. Read a book by a d/Deaf author
12. Read/try a recipe from a cookbook about a culture whose food you’ve never eaten
13. Read a nonfiction comic
14. Read a work of magical realism or fabulism
15. Read a book by a librarian
16. Read a queer picture book
17. Read a book about a cult or cults
18. Read a nonfiction book about AI or social media
19. Read a book by an intersex author
20. Read a book set in space
21. Read a genre (SFF, horror, mystery, romance) book in translation
22. Read a nonviolent true crime book
23. Read a book by an African author
24. Pick a challenge from any of the previous years’ challenges to repeat!