The 52 Book Club: 2026 Challenge discussion

WEEKLY CHECK-IN
January 1, 2026 -- Week 1

2026! We have officially kicked off our 2026 Challenge, and we can't wait to see what book / prompt you all choose to start with this year. Here's to another fantastic, bookish year with you all. 🥳🥳

Prompt 14: Includes a character list
"The Academy"
Because it came off Libby hold last night!

Since I’ve already begun The Names by Florence Knapp I’m using prompt #14 Includes a character list since it has one in the back.

Prompt 28: From a series at least eight books long
"Zodiac Academy"
Zodiac Academy 3: The Reckoning

Starting with some Beatrix Potter, only way I can get all 52 done:
Benjamin Bunny: personification
Tom Kitten: Dust Jacket

As I'm half way through 'Trespasses' by Louise Kennedy, I'm going with prompt 3 "Written without quotation marks", And then I've got "The Artist" by Lucy Steeds lined up for prompt 4 (dustcover)

Prompt 39: True colors by Kristin Hannah. coworker recommended.

I'm in the middle of The Great Fire: One American's Mission to Rescue Victims of the 20th Century's First Genocide by Lou Ureneck which has a character list (and pictures of those characters) and Beyond the Call: The True Story of One World War II Pilot's Covert Mission to Rescue POWs on the Eastern Front by Lee Trimble which has a dust cover. I realized that both of those books feature the true stories of epic rescue missions.

Prompt 17: Author's Bio Mentions a Dog

Travels with Charley: In Search of America by John Steinbeck. I have a vintage copy, which has a wonderful book map, a photo of John & Charley, and of course the dog is part of the bio.

My plan was to choose to start the book All We Thought We Knew by Michelle Shocklee with Prompt 36 - won an award last year. However, I have been wanting to read Through Each Tomorrow by Gabrielle Meyer (Book 6 in the Timeless Series) that I stayed up til midnight last night so I could use a new credit on Hoopla for it. That book will fit Prompt 11 - Requires Suspension of Disbelief. I started both earlier today.

Lindsey wrote: "WEEKLY CHECK-IN
January 1, 2026 -- Week 1

2026! We have officially kicked off our 2026 Challenge, and we can't wait to see what book / prompt you all choose to start with this year. Here's to anot..."

I have started off 2026 with: "Moon of the Crusted Snow" By Waubgeshig Rice. I am using this to complete prompt #39: A Book that Cost You Nothing.

I'm starting with Prompt #1 - set in an ancient civilization - Tom Holland's The Persians.

Starting with prompt 8: Has a 3 syllable word in the title— Lessons in Chemistry. Loving it so far. Happy New Year and Happy New Reads everyone!

I started with prompt #1--set in an ancient civilization. I just finished There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak.

For this one I ended up going with:

Prompt #24: Uneven number of chapters

Book: Every Day I Read: 53 Ways to Get Closer to Books

This had 53 chapters and was such an easy read.

Prompt 28 from a series of at least 8 books. 'Down Among the Sticks and Bones' by Seanan McGuire. Book 2 of the Wayward Children. (Book #14 is scheduled to be published 2026)

My first book for 2026 is The Wind Through the Keyhole by Stephen King, which fits prompt 26) Title in a serif font. I’ll know what other prompts it fits after I read it.

My first book is for Prompt 38 Domestic Fiction. I'm reading Persuasion by Jane Austen

My first book is Prompt 38: Domestic Fiction because I had just started reading Sandwich by Catherine Newman.

My 17 year old and I are working through the prompts together. She wrote each prompt on a popsicle stick and we took turns choosing! I drew Prompt 10 - Spans A Decade Or More and am reading The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab and she picked Prompt 50 - Set In A Castle and will be reading Not Good People by Audra McElyea. We are excited to do the 2026 challenge!

The Great Alone is a Kangaroo word book for prompt #2. Its on my current reading and in one of the Goodreads challenge categories..so triple dipping.

I’ve started two books. Audio: I’m reading, Circle and of Days by Ken Follett (prompt 1) and for Prompt 22 I’m reading The Wizard of Oz. I used an online spinner to select my prompt and 22 it was! I loved all the Wizard of oz books when I was a young reader. Not so much now but I will preserve.

Preserver!!!! Not Preserve as written in my last comment!

I'm starting with Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher, I think it will be my Standalone Fantasy choice.

Prompt 3 Written without quotes Best friends forever by Jennifer Weiner started just after midnight since I was at work and almost finished with it in one day.

Prompt 1: Set in an Ancient Civilization

I started “I,Medusa” on 12/30 and it does perfectly!

My first book this year is from prompt #39 - Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan. Would definitely recommend.

I started reading Elizabeth Widville, Lady Grey: Edward IV's Chief Mistress and the 'pink Queen' by John Ashdown-Hill for prompt #10 Spans a decade or more on New Years Eve, and The Atlas of Atlantis and Other Lost Civilizations: Discover the History and Wisdom of Atlantis, Lemuria, Mu and Other Ancient Civilizations by Joel Levy for prompt #15 A subtitle with commas yesterday, and today I just started reading Puss in Boots for the Read it, Watch it. I am also pairing the Atlantis book with a film.

I'm starting out with prompt 1: Set in an ancient civilization and I'm reading Dragonfruit for it

Written in the 1800s - The Picture of Dorian Gray

Prompt 12: A Genre-Defining Read

I was already reading Say You'll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez.

Finished Prompt #13 (Book face) with Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy ☺️

Kelly_Hunsaker_reads wrote: "Prompt 17: Author's Bio Mentions a Dog

Travels with Charley: In Search of America by John Steinbeck. I have a vintage copy, which has a wonderful book map, a photo of John & Charley, a..."

This was a five star read for me, straight to my favorites shelf! Hope you enjoy it!

I wanted to go in prompt order, but a hold I had at the library for over two months finally came in and it fits prompt 28 - from a series of at least 8 books. The Black Wolf by Louise Penny, it's number 20 in the series. I just love the way she writes, it's so descriptive and really draws you into the story. Anyone else love this series and want to visit Three Pines?

Prompt 19: A nosy neighbor character

I'm reading The Body In The Library by Agatha Christie for it.

This book will also work with prompt 8 - a three-syllable word in the title.

I’m reading The Ten Thousand Doors of January. It fits three different prompts, so I may assign it later, after I’ve read some more books.

Kathleen wrote: "I’m reading The Ten Thousand Doors of January. It fits three different prompts, so I may assign it later, after I’ve read some more books."

Fantasy is usually a hit or miss for me, but I loved this story. It's a fun adventure!

I'm starting with Prompt #14 Includes A Character List. I'm reading Circe by Madeline Miller. It seems really good.

I have two in progress for this challenge:

A publisher that starts with the letter B: The Icarus Hunt (Bantam Spectra)

A book with a map: The Book of Lost Tales 1

I'm starting off my list with prompt #47 A Diacritical Mark On The Cover. I'm reading Snowblind by Ragnar Jónasson.

Started of with Prompt 4 then in a spur of the moment decision last night before bed, added Prompt 44 and fell asleep listening to the audiobook for Prompt 44: Fool Moon by Jim Butcher.

For Prompt 4 I’m using Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham. Have had the book for about a year via BOTM subscription and just now reading it. Lol

#9 - Featuring a Natural Disaster - The Hounding

I am currently reading Eaters of the Dead for Requires a suspension of disbelief prompt.

Hello all!
I’m currently reading Babel by R.F. Kuang which I started just after Christmas…I think it fits with prompt #51- ‘includes a map’. It has a map of Oxford and the Babel Tower at the start. Happy reading!

#35 Character with a secret identity - Hercule Poirot's Christmas by Agatha Christie

STARTED OFF STRONG WITH #1 SET IN AN ANCIENT CIVILIZATION, AND I CHOSE "THE SONG OF ACHILLES", EXCELLENT BOOK! I FINISHED IT UP IN A DAY!

JoJo_theDodo wrote: "Kelly_Hunsaker_reads wrote: "Prompt 17: Author's Bio Mentions a Dog

Travels with Charley: In Search of America by John Steinbeck. I have a vintage copy, which has a wonderful book map,..."

Yes, I loved it. This was a reread. Steinbeck is my favorite author, and I am always happy when someone says they love one of his books.

Prompt #8:
A Three - Syllable word in the title
The Cinnamon Bun Book Store by Laurie Gilmore
Cinnamon

Hi! I'm new to this group. The first book I read for 2026 is Prompt #30, an author related to another author. Better Than We Found It: Conversations to Help Save the World by Frederick and Porsche Joseph. They're married. I know this messes with prompt #31, but I'm going to try to find another book co-authored by a married couple for that one. Maybe Will and Ariel Durant.