2024 Challenge Guide
Our 2024 challenge is here with fifty-two new prompts designed to challenge each of us! Some years are trickier than others, and we think that 2024 will definitely help push us to try new authors and genres.
Have a question about one of the prompts? You’re in the right place! This #52booksin52weeks challenge has a broad range of prompt types and styles, and we know that sometimes, you just need a little extra explanation. This guide walks readers through EACH of the fifty-two prompts on our 2024 challenge. Not only will it explain what each prompt means, it will also offer suggestions, ideas, or alternative interpretations for completing them.
Things to remember:
Use this guide as a tool to help with tricky prompts, but know that it’s not an exhaustive list of ideas. There are always other interpretations and creative ideas for tackling the prompts. Have fun with it! And if you’re still not sure, remember that “If you think a book fits the prompt, it does!”
Keep in mind that everyone completes the challenges differently. You may be super strict with your interpretation of the prompts OR you may enjoy getting creative and thinking outside the box. How you choose to complete this challenge is ultimately up to you. YOUR CHALLENGE, YOUR RULES!
Bookmark this page! We recommend keeping this post close by for when challenge questions arise! This is your go-to spot for all 2024 prompt-related questions. Feel free to direct others here if they have questions too!
The 2024 Prompts:
1. Locked-room mystery
A locked room mystery is a popular sub-genre of detection fiction, in which a crime is committed but there is seemingly no way for the culprit to have gotten in or out of the room . (For example: Someone is murdered but the door has been locked from the inside and the victim was the only one with a key. How was it done?) There are two types of locked-room mysteries. The first type is when a crime is discovered behind an actual locked door (as mentioned above.) The second takes place in a larger isolated area – like an island, a remote country house cut off by a snowstorm, a boat in the middle of the ocean, etc. There are a limited set of suspects and often (but not always) there are multiple murders, increasing the suspense. Murder is the most common crime featured within locked-room novels, however, an alternative may be a locked-room mystery that is centered around a heist, theft, or other seemingly “impossible” mystery. Examples: Murder on the Orient Express , And Then There Were None , The Hunting Party , One by One , Shiver Goodreads List: A locked-room mystery
2. Bibliosmia: A smelly book
Bibliosmia may or may not officially appear in your dictionary yet, but those with a penchant for bookish words will love this one! Bibliosmia can be defined as “the smell or aroma of a good book” or “the act of smelling books.”
All our prompts can be completed using any format of reading, and this prompt does not mean that you have to physically smell a book (unless you want to, of course!) This is one of those prompts that invites you to get super creative, and we look forward to seeing what you come up with. To help you get started, here are a few ideas for how one might complete this prompt:
A book that has that “good book smell.”
A book you read but didn’t enjoy. ( “This book stinks!” )
A book you enjoyed but that has bad reviews from others. (It stinks!)
A non-fiction read about the science and sensation of smell.
A bookish character within the book who mentions “book smell” or “bibliosmia.”
Smell is often associated with memory. You may pick a nostalgic read that reminds you of a specific time (or book) in your life.
A book with words like, “Smell,” “Scent,” or “Aroma” in the title.
Capture that “new book smell” by reading a newly released book (in any format!)
Capture that “old book smell” by reading a classic (in any format.)
A novel that heavily relies on scents / smells for descriptions within the narrative.
A character with hyperosmia (an extremely heightened sense of smell.)
A character who works with scents (perfumist, aromatherapist, sommelier, etc.)
A cover design featuring something smelly (either positive or negative association). For example: Garbage, candles, perfume, fish, flowers, garlic, feet, smoke, coffee, etc.
For a freebie: Light “a book scented candle” while you read a book of your choice.
Examples: Perfume , Nose Knows , Flush , The Perfumist of Paris , The Secret of Scent , The Scent Keeper Goodreads List: Bibliosmia: A Smelly Book
3. More than 40 chapters
For this prompt, the book must contain more than forty chapters . The chapters can be any length or style, as long as there are at least forty-one of them. It is up to you whether or not you decide to include epilogues or afterwords into this count. Examples: Private Moscow , Desert Star , Outlander , A Time to Kill , Mummy Darlings Goodreads List: More than 40 chapters
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4. Lowercase letters on the spine
If you take a quick look at the closest bookshelf, you’ll notice that most book titles are written using upper case letters (also known as capital letters) on the spine. However, for this prompt, we’re looking for books with lowercase letters on the spine. Lowercase letters are the “small letters” in the alphabet. The only requirement for this prompt is that lowercase letters appear on the spine. This may be the main title, author’s name, or any other words that appear on the spine. It can be in any style or type of font as long as it’s lowercase. The entire title may be in lowercase letters (For example: the winemakers wife) or it may be a mix of upper and lowercase (For example: Such a Pretty Girl). As with all our prompts, this can be completed using any format of reading and/or read in any language. As long as one edition of the book has lowercase letters on the spine, you can use it toward this prompt. Examples: Ghosts , The Bookish Life of Nina Hill, The Simple Wild , The Connellys of County Down Goodreads List: Lowercase letters on the spine
5. Magical realism
Masterclass defines magical realism as: “Magical realism is a genre of literature that depicts the real world as having an undercurrent of magic or fantasy. Within a work of magical realism, the world is still grounded in the real world, but fantastical elements are considered normal in this world. Like fairy tales, magical realism novels and short stories blur the line between fantasy and reality.” Put another way, magical realism is set in the world in which we live but they contain magical elements that are considered normal . It has also been described as “literary fiction with a dash of fantasy” or a book in which “fantasy slips into everyday life.” Note: Understanding and classifying magical realism can be tricky. There will always be debate about whether certain books fit under “magical realism” or simply “fantasy.” For example: If you web search whether or not Harry Potter or The Night Circus is magical realism, you’ll find articles arguing both for and against. And that’s okay! We leave the final decision regarding a specific book in your capable hands. Remember that some of us approach the prompts with very strict interpretations, while others love flexibility. Ultimately, if you think a book fits the prompt, it does! Examples: The Midnight Library , One Hundred Years of Solitude , Beloved , Remarkably Bright Creatures , One Italian Summer , The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie, Like Water for Chocolate Goodreads List: Magical realism
6. Women in STEM
STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and math. Books matching this prompt can be either fiction or non-fiction, but should feature a woman or women who work in/are involved with STEM. It may be a memoir or feature a fictional character, but STEM should play an important part in the character’s life or in the theme of the book overall. Examples: Lessons in Chemistry , Hidden Figures , Lab Girl , The Only Woman in the Room , The Kiss Quotient Goodreads List: Women in STEM
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7. At least four different POV
We’re highlighting the four in 2024 and looking for a book with at least four different points-of-view . This means that we’re reading from the perspective of at least four different characters throughout the novel. Sometimes books with multiple POV can feel confusing, but when they’re done well, they can also really enhance the story. What this looks like will vary from book to book. Some novels may separate different points of view by chapter. (Example: One chapter from character A’s perspective, the next from character B, then C, and so on…) Other books may have multiple perspectives within the same chapter. The book may prominently feature the perspective of one character and only be sporadically broken up by other perspectives, or it may divide points of view evenly. You may have characters from different time periods, or they may all be within the same setting. The different POV may or may not be human. As long as there are at least four different points of view, the book works toward this prompt! Examples: Game of Thrones , House Rules, Someday I’ll Find You , The Last Party , Crazy Rich Asians Goodreads List: At least four different POV
8. Features the ocean
Books matching this prompt must feature the ocean in some form or another. The book will likely be set on or near the ocean, but it is up to individual readers how deeply the ocean ties into the main story. Any ocean in our world, or in a fantasy or alternate world, will work for this prompt. The ocean may appear as part of the cover design. Your choice for this prompt may also include words in the title like, “Ocean,” “Sea,” “Tide,” “High Seas,” etc. You may pick a character who loves to surf, is an oceanographer or fisherman, or lives or rides on a boat or submarine. The ocean may tie into the symbolism of the book, or it might be as simple as a location the characters visit. While there is a difference in the geographic definitions of “sea” and “ocean,” for this prompt we would consider the two interchangeable. Examples: The Island of Sea Women , Life of Pi , The Outlaw Ocean , The Dragonfly Sea , Into the Planet Goodreads list: Features the ocean
9. A character-driven novel
Novels can generally be broken down into either plot-driven or character-driven stories. For this prompt, we want the characters and their inner conflicts, personal journeys, growth, and overall character arcs to be the main focus of the book. How do I tell the difference between character-driven or plot-driven novels? Character-driven stories will focus more on character development than plot . A plot-driven novel focuses on the things a character goes through, whereas character-driven novels explore why the character acts or makes the decisions they do . Plot-driven novels may have more external conflicts and use devices like plot twists, in comparison to character-driven novels which focus on inner conflict, compelling character arcs, and strong backstories. Examples: The Secret Life of Bees , A Man Called Ove , A Little Life , East of Eden , The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo Goodreads List : A character-driven novel
10. Told in non-chronological order
A book told in non-chronological order or with a non-linear narrative means that the story is told in a different order than it occurs in time . It doesn’t progress in a straight line from beginning to end but jumps around. There are endless ways for books to be told in a non-chronological fashion. This may include flashbacks or flashforwards, reverse order (told backward), or even time travel. The book may open with a scene from later in the book to build suspense and intrigue, or it may be a dual-timeline novel with parallel storylines across multiple generations and time periods. It’s up to you what style or type of non-linear narrative you want to choose. Examples: Oona Out of Order , All the Missing Girls , The Time Traveler’s Wife , Cassandra in Reverse , The People We Meet on Vacation Goodreads List: Told in non-chronological order
11. Title starting with the letter “K”
Since our 2020 challenge, we’ve been working on completing a “challenge within the challenge” and reading our way through titles starting with each letter of the alphabet. This year, we’re up to the letter K. For this prompt, any book title that starts with the letter K counts! This could be the main title, subtitle, or even the series title. It’s up to you whether or not you choose to count definite or indefinite articles like “The” or “A,” etc. Fun fact: Wondering where the letter “J” went? Our 2023 challenge ended with the alphabet challenge prompt, “Title starting with the letter “I.” So where’s the letter J? It already appeared on our 2019 challenge! (Hats off to The 52 Book Club superfans who already caught that detail!) Examples: Kindred , The Kite Runner , Kingdom of Ash , Kafka on the Shore , Killers of a Certain Age Goodreads List: Starting with the letter “K”
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12. Title starting with the letter “L”
For this prompt, any book that starts with the letter L counts! This could be the main title, subtitle, or even the series title. As with all our letter prompts, it’s up to you whether or not you choose to count definite or indefinite articles like “The” or “A,” etc. Examples: Little Women , Les Miserables , A Long Petal of the Sea , The Last Chance Library , The Lightning Thief Goodreads List: Title starting with the letter “L”
13. An academic thriller
Academic thrillers (may also be known as Dark Academia) is a sub-genre within the thriller, suspense, or mystery genres . These books tend to have moody and mysterious narratives and take place on the campus of a university or boarding school. Often times there is a tight-knit group of friends or classmates who are bound together by a dark secret of some sort. Celadon Books says, “Think: darkened libraries, cloak-and-dagger campus societies, looming Gothic towers, and college quads buzzing with intrigue.” As a “lighter” interpretation, you may forego the darker themes and instead choose any book or mystery set on a school campus. Creatively, you may decide on an academic read that you find “thrilling.” Examples: In My Dreams I Hold A Knife , Never Saw Me Coming , The Maidens , It Girl , The Plot Goodreads list: An academic thriller
14. A grieving character
For this character-based prompt, we are looking for a character who is grieving . Grief comes in many different forms and is displayed in a variety of ways, and our reads will reflect that. Reads may be as heavy or light-hearted as you desire. The character can be either a main character or a secondary character. The grief aspect can play a main role in the plot and character development, or it may be something that is mentioned but not deeply explored. Characters may be mourning the death of a loved one or pet, grieving a broken relationship, grieving over societal or global injustices, mourning a life change like a move, loss of employment, not getting into the school of their choice, etc. Any type of loss that a character is grieving works toward this prompt. It is up to you to decide how central to the story you want the theme of grief and loss to be. You may also choose a memoir about an individual grieving a loss, or interpret this prompt as any non-fiction book about grief. Examples: Can You Just Sit With Me , Lincoln in the Bardo , The Hate U Give , A Grief Observed , Atlas of the Heart Goodreads List: A grieving character
15. Part of a duology
A duology is a series comprised of only two books. The books are usually by the same author (but not always) and must be related to each other in some way. For this prompt, you can read either book one or book two of the duology. While we’re particularly looking for a duology that was intentionally written to only have two books total, you may decide to get creative and pick a series that currently has two books (and for which a third is assumed but hasn’t been announced or released yet.) You may also pick a book that started out as a standalone, but was so popular the author decided to release a sequel years later. Examples: Gone with the Wind / Scarlett , The Firm / The Exchange , This Savage Song / Our Dark Duet , Fable / Namesake , Six of Crows / Crooked Kingdom Goodreads List: Part of a duology
16. An omniscient narrator
What is an omniscient narrator? Omniscient means “all-knowing.” Omniscient narrators know what is happening at all times throughout the book . They know the thoughts, feelings, and backstories of all the characters (or a specific character or character group for limited omniscient.) Usually, omniscient narrators are written in third person (he/she/they/them) but there are a few exceptions to this. ( For example, The Book Thief , which is narrated by death.) A few tips for working out whether or not you have an omniscient narrator: – Does the voice remain the same throughout the novel? You may explore the perspectives of multiple characters, but the narrator’s voice should use the same language and tone while exploring the story with each character. – Whose perspectives do we see? Books with omniscient narrators often have multiple, varied perspectives. You may see the thoughts or feelings from multiple characters, even in the same scene. – Is the narrator all-knowing? Is there anything in the book that the narrator doesn’t know? Does the narrator provide details about what’s happened in the past and what’s currently happening? Are we being told things that the characters couldn’t or wouldn’t know? For example: You may see sentences like: “Little did he know , the killer was already waiting for him…” – Web search! When in doubt, a quick web search with the book title “+ narration style” may help clarify whether or not you have an omniscient narrator. Examples: The Lord of the Flies , Beloved , Middlemarch , Where the Crawdads Sing , Everything I Never Told You , Dune Goodreads List: An omniscient narrator
17. Nominated for The Booker Prize
The Booker Prize is a literary award given for the “best novel written in the English language, which was published in the United Kingdom or Ireland.” This prompt is for any book that has been nominated for a Booker Prize. This may be the final winner, or a book that was shortlisted or longlisted from any year. You can find the nominees based on Prize Years here. The first Booker Prize was won in 1969. You may choose any nominee from any year. The book may or may not have ultimately gone on to win the Booker Prize for that year. Regardless of the fact that the Booker Prize is for the “best novel written in the English language,” you do not have to read your copy in English, your copy may have been translated into any language. You can find the list of winners and shortlisted work here . Examples: The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida , The Promise , Shuggie Bain , The Testaments , Milkman Goodreads List: Nominated for The Booker Prize
18. An apostrophe in the title
An apostrophe is a punctuation mark used to indicate possession or to represent omitted letters . (Example: Sarah’s Key ) Books that fit this prompt will have an apostrophe somewhere in the title. It could also be found in the subtitle or series title.
Note: Sometimes books have alternate titles in different regions. As long as the book title in at least one region has an apostrophe in it, that book will work toward this prompt regardless of the edition or format you’re reading. Examples: Are you there God? It’s me, Margaret , My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry , Lady Chatterley’s Lover , The Nazi Officer’s Wife , A Midsummer Night’s Dream Goodreads List: An apostrophe in the title
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19. A buddy read
What is a buddy read? A buddy read is when you agree to read the same book at the same time as someone else, so that you can discuss it together. Buddy reads are a great way to discuss a book in depth with a friend or group of friends. You may complete your buddy read prompt virtually or in person. Buddy reads can have a set schedule to follow or can be open ended. (For example: You may assign certain chapters to be read on or by certain dates, and discuss as you go along. Or you may keep it more open ended and say, “Let’s aim to finish the book by the end of the month and discuss when we finish!”) It’s up to you what you want your buddy read to look like. Any book, genre, or author will work with a buddy read. You may count a book that you read with a book club, a book that you read aloud to a family member, participate in a 52 Book Club readalong, etc. Note: Over the course of 2024, we have four different 52 Book Club readalongs planned. The readalongs will take place in January, April, July, and October of 2024. Participating in any one of these readalongs will count toward this prompt. If you haven’t yet signed up for e-mails , be sure to do so, so that you don’t miss any readalong announcements! Hint : Have a book but no buddy? Reach out on the Facebook group or Instagram and ask if anyone wants to buddy read it with you. This is a great opportunity to make some new bookworm friends! Then, set up a spot to chat (example: Facebook messenger) and work through the details of your buddy read. When will you start? When will you aim to finish? Will you chat as you go along or after? Set up the buddy read however works best for you and your friend! Examples: Any book will fit this prompt, as long as it’s read with a buddy! Goodreads List: There is no Goodreads list for this prompt.
20. A revenge story
The dictionary.com definition of revenge is, “The action of inflicting hurt or harm on someone for an injury or wrong suffered at their hands.” Books meeting this prompt will feature a character taking or enacting revenge for some reason. The book may feature the word “Revenge” in the title. The revenge may be carried out by the protagonist, or by a secondary character attempting to destroy or overthrow the main character. While it is up to you to decide what you classify as a “revenge story” we would consider it to be part of the main plot point or overarching theme of the book. Examples: The Count of Monte Cristo , The Revenge List , Hamlet , Gone Girl , The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest Goodreads List: A Revenge story
21. Written by a ghostwriter
What is a ghostwriter? A ghostwriter is someone who is paid to write a book that someone else will be credited for . They often try to emulate the voice and style of the individual they’re writing for, and they may or may not get credit for their work on the cover or in the copyright. Ghostwriting can take a variety of forms. Celebrities, politicians, or famous personalities will often use ghostwriters to write their memoirs or a tell-all. Publishers may also use ghostwriters to increase the number of books written by a well-known, highly marketable author (for example, the later books in the Babysitter’s Club series by Ann M. Martin) or by an author who’s since deceased. (For example: Robert Ludlum died in 2001, but Jason Bourne books continue to be published with Ludlum’s name on the cover.) Ghostwriters may also be used to write new books for an established series where the author is a pseudonym (like Carolyn Keene in the Nancy Drew series, or Franklin W. Dixon in the Hardy Boys.) Or, they may be used to write spin-off books for a popular television series (such as the Richard Castle books or Murder She Wrote mysteries.) Authors who use ghostwriters aren’t always transparent about that fact. It’s up to you whether you pick a book that is definitely known to have been written by a ghostwriter, or a book in which it is rumored but not proven to have been written by one. As always, if you think a book fits the prompt, it does! Getting creative with this prompt, you may also choose a book that features a character who is a ghostwriter, a book with an unnamed narrator, or a non-fiction read about ghostwriting. Examples: Spare , Heat Wave , Open , Shoe Dog , The Tower Treasure , Nineteen Steps Goodreads List: Written by a ghostwriter
22. A plot similar to another book
The next two prompts are closely tied together. For this first one, we want you to pick a book that has a plot similar to another book. This is another prompt that is open to broad interpretation. It’s up to you how similar the books should be or what those similarities are. Maybe they’re very similar on the surface level, but the style and details within are vastly different. It may be a retelling or spin-off of a popular myth or fairytale, or a case in which one author accuses another of plagiarism. The books may have similar covers, titles, or genre – or they may be completely different. It may even be two books by the same author. The comparison between books may also be made by the publisher, “For fans of…” or “If you liked _____, you’ll love this!” Books often have similar themes, tropes, and storytelling methods. How specific you want to get for this prompt is up to you! As always, if you think a book fits the prompt – it does! Examples: The Giver of the Stars and The Bookwoman of Troublesome Creek , A Rip Through Time and A Murder in Time , The Woman in the Window and Saving April Goodreads List: Books with similar plots
23. The other book with the similar plot
Prompt 23 is closely tied to the previous one, #22. For this prompt, we want you to read the other book with the similar plot. So if Book A and Book B have similar plots, and you read Book A for prompt 22, we want you to now read Book B for prompt 23. The point of this isn’t to feel like you’re reading the same book twice, but to look at some of the similarities and differences that naturally occur between books. Of these two, which did you like more? Were they actually similar? Or what it just surface-level similarities? Was one inspired by the other? These are all things to think about and explore while reading this book. Examples: See prompt #22 above Goodreads List: This list is the same as prompt #22 above
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24. A cover without people on it
This is a cover-related prompt for books without people on them . It may be an abstract cover, a cover with a landscape scene, objects on the cover, a title-only cover, etc. It doesn’t matter what the cover looks like, so long as there are no people on it. Note that different book editions may have different cover art. For example: Books published in the UK often have different covers than books published in the US or Australia. As long as at least one edition has a cover without people on it, the book works toward this prompt and can be read in any format or edition. Creative interpretation : Since the word “people” is plural, you might get creative with this prompt and pick a cover that has only one person on it. For more strict interpretations, however, we would look for books without anyone on the cover. Examples: Pineapple Street , Mad Honey , Age of Vice , The Innocents , The Measure Goodreads List: A cover without peo
