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2027 reading challenge: 52 prompts and a printable checklist

Free 2027 reading challenge for adults: 52 book prompts, one a week, with a printable checklist, a 12-book mini challenge and an Excel tracker.

A reading challenge checklist with ticked boxes on a clipboard beside a stack of colorful books, an open book, tea and reading glasses in a sunny reading nook

Choose your challenge

Size

About one book a week, or roughly 40 pages a day for average-length books.

Download the Excel tracker

My 2027 reading challenge

  1. A book under 200 pagesTitle: ______________________
  2. A book you can finish in a weekendTitle: ______________________
  3. A book a friend has been telling you to readTitle: ______________________
  4. A book you own but have never readTitle: ______________________
  5. A book with a one-word titleTitle: ______________________
  6. A book of short storiesTitle: ______________________
  7. A graphic novel or illustrated bookTitle: ______________________
  8. A book that was made into a film or seriesTitle: ______________________
  9. A book you loved as a child, rereadTitle: ______________________
  10. A book set in your own city, state or regionTitle: ______________________
  11. A cozy mysteryTitle: ______________________
  12. An audiobook on your commute or walksTitle: ______________________
  13. A book with a blue coverTitle: ______________________
  14. A book over 500 pagesTitle: ______________________
  15. A classic you always meant to readTitle: ______________________
  16. A book translated from another languageTitle: ______________________
  17. A book by an author from a country you have never visitedTitle: ______________________
  18. A book of poetryTitle: ______________________
  19. A playTitle: ______________________
  20. A book published the year you were bornTitle: ______________________
  21. A book more than 100 years oldTitle: ______________________
  22. A book in a genre you usually skipTitle: ______________________
  23. A book that won a major literary prizeTitle: ______________________
  24. A book by an author who is new to youTitle: ______________________
  25. A memoir by someone very different from youTitle: ______________________
  26. A book about a subject you know nothing aboutTitle: ______________________
  27. A book about habits, focus or timeTitle: ______________________
  28. A history book about a period you know little aboutTitle: ______________________
  29. A science book written for general readersTitle: ______________________
  30. A biography of an inventor, artist or scientistTitle: ______________________
  31. A book about nature or the outdoorsTitle: ______________________
  32. A book about food or cookingTitle: ______________________
  33. A book about money or workTitle: ______________________
  34. A book about the mind or the brainTitle: ______________________
  35. A travel book about a place you want to visitTitle: ______________________
  36. A book about a sport or hobby you enjoyTitle: ______________________
  37. A book about a skill you want to learnTitle: ______________________
  38. An essay collectionTitle: ______________________
  39. A book recommended by someone you admireTitle: ______________________
  40. A book you read outsideTitle: ______________________
  41. A spooky book in OctoberTitle: ______________________
  42. A book set during winterTitle: ______________________
  43. A book set at the beach or by the seaTitle: ______________________
  44. A book with a map insideTitle: ______________________
  45. A book with a character who shares your name or jobTitle: ______________________
  46. A book you pick only by its coverTitle: ______________________
  47. A book recommended by a librarian or booksellerTitle: ______________________
  48. A book everyone was talking about this yearTitle: ______________________
  49. A book you read with someone elseTitle: ______________________
  50. A book from a little free library or used bookstoreTitle: ______________________
  51. A book set in the futureTitle: ______________________
  52. A book to end the year on, chosen by youTitle: ______________________

The short answer

The 2027 reading challenge is a list of 52 prompts, one for each week, such as a book published the year you were born or a book under 200 pages. Pick any book that fits a prompt, tick it off and write the title. Prefer something lighter? The 12-book version asks for one book a month.

All 52 prompts for the 2027 reading challenge

Four groups of 13. Mix them however you like; one book counts for one prompt.

Easy wins

  1. A book under 200 pages
  2. A book you can finish in a weekend
  3. A book a friend has been telling you to read
  4. A book you own but have never read
  5. A book with a one-word title
  6. A book of short stories
  7. A graphic novel or illustrated book
  8. A book that was made into a film or series
  9. A book you loved as a child, reread
  10. A book set in your own city, state or region
  11. A cozy mystery
  12. An audiobook on your commute or walks
  13. A book with a blue cover

Stretch yourself

  1. A book over 500 pages
  2. A classic you always meant to read
  3. A book translated from another language
  4. A book by an author from a country you have never visited
  5. A book of poetry
  6. A play
  7. A book published the year you were born
  8. A book more than 100 years old
  9. A book in a genre you usually skip
  10. A book that won a major literary prize
  11. A book by an author who is new to you
  12. A memoir by someone very different from you
  13. A book about a subject you know nothing about

Learn and grow

  1. A book about habits, focus or time
  2. A history book about a period you know little about
  3. A science book written for general readers
  4. A biography of an inventor, artist or scientist
  5. A book about nature or the outdoors
  6. A book about food or cooking
  7. A book about money or work
  8. A book about the mind or the brain
  9. A travel book about a place you want to visit
  10. A book about a sport or hobby you enjoy
  11. A book about a skill you want to learn
  12. An essay collection
  13. A book recommended by someone you admire

Fun and seasonal

  1. A book you read outside
  2. A spooky book in October
  3. A book set during winter
  4. A book set at the beach or by the sea
  5. A book with a map inside
  6. A book with a character who shares your name or job
  7. A book you pick only by its cover
  8. A book recommended by a librarian or bookseller
  9. A book everyone was talking about this year
  10. A book you read with someone else
  11. A book from a little free library or used bookstore
  12. A book set in the future
  13. A book to end the year on, chosen by you

12-book mini challenge (one a month)

MonthPrompt
JanuaryA book you own but have never read
FebruaryA book under 200 pages
MarchA classic you always meant to read
AprilA book translated from another language
MayA book about habits, focus or time
JuneA book you read outside
JulyA memoir by someone very different from you
AugustA book set at the beach or by the sea
SeptemberA book in a genre you usually skip
OctoberA spooky book in October
NovemberA book everyone was talking about this year
DecemberA book to end the year on, chosen by you

How many pages a day for your challenge?

ChallengePacePages a day (300-page books)
12 booksOne a monthAbout 10
26 booksOne every two weeksAbout 22
52 booksOne a weekAbout 43

Put your reading goal on your 2027 vision board too: a stack of books and the words "Read before bed" make a good tile.

Tips to finish a reading challenge

  1. Read at the same moment every day. After dinner or in bed; a fixed moment beats finding time.
  2. Keep two books going. One easy, one stretch. Pick whichever fits your energy.
  3. Count every format. Print, e-book and audiobook all count here.
  4. Log as you go. Recording progress helped people reach goals in a large review of studies. Use the printable reading log alongside the checklist.
  5. Drop books you do not enjoy. Quitting a book is allowed. Move on to one that fits the prompt better.

Want the habit more than the list? Start the 30-day reading habit plan, or read how many pages to read a day and good reading habits.

Frequently asked questions

How does a reading challenge work?

You get a list of prompts and find a book for each one. Prompts can be done in any order, and one book can count for one prompt. The aim is variety and a steady habit, not speed.

Is 52 books a year realistic?

It means about one book a week, or roughly 40 pages a day for average-length books. If that is too much, use the 12-book version or aim for 26 books, one every two weeks.

Do audiobooks count?

In this challenge, yes. Listening, e-books and print all count. Note the format in your tracker if you like to see your mix.

When should I start?

Any time. The prompts work for any 12 months, so you can start today and finish in a year rather than waiting for January.

Sources and evidence

  1. Mol and Bus (2011): To read or not to read, a meta-analysis of print exposure from infancy to early adulthood — Across 99 studies (N = 7,669), leisure reading was moderately to strongly linked with reading comprehension and spelling.
  2. Harkin et al. (2016): Does monitoring goal progress promote goal attainment? — Recording progress improved goal attainment across 138 studies.

Stay in the loop

New plans, guides and app features, a few times a month at most.