The 52 Book Club's 2026 Reading Challenge - Announcement & TBR

Happy Wednesday everyone! Today I'm sharing my TBR for a brand new challenge for me, The 52 Book Club's 2026 Reading Challenge.  I've seen this around for awhile now, but finally decided to give it a try this year.  I know I'll be doing quite a few challenges in 2026, but what the heck I'll try my best!  Without further ado, keep reading to see what I hope to get to in 2026 for this challenge.  I think I've put together quite a reading list!

1. Set in an ancient civilization

My choice: Horses of Fire (A Novel of Troy #1) by A.D. Rhine - I've really enjoyed other books along these lines recently and I've heard good things about this one.

2. Kangaroo word on the cover

My choice: The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia - This author has become a must-read for me.

3. Written without quotation marks

My choice: Severance by Ling Ma - I've heard a lot of great things about this.  I hope I can figure out the style.

4. Has a dust jacket

My choice: Uther (Arthur the Son #2) by Jack Whyte - I picked this up at a thrift shop a little while ago. I haven't read any of the other books in the series, but I'd still like to at least try this one.

5. Featuring a conspiracy

My choice: Murder on the Orient Express (Hercule Poirot #10) by Agatha Christie - Somehow I've never read this even tough I've seen a few adaptations of it.

6. Title starts with the letter "O"

My choice: Ombria in Shadow by Patricia A. McKillip - This looks like it might be right up my alley.

7. Title starts with the letter "P"

My choice: The Privilege of the Sword (The World of Riverside #2) by Ellen Kushner - I don't know about you, but this might become a favorite.

8. A three-syllable word in the title

My choice: The Enchanted Lies of Céleste Artois by Ryan Graudin - I've really enjoyed other books from this author and this sounds like something a bit different from her.

9. Featuring a natural disaster

My choice: The Storm by Rachel Hawkins - The Villa was pretty great and I would like to try more from this author.

10. Spans a decade or more

My choice: The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See - This has been recommended to me several times and it sounds fascinating.

11. Requires suspension of disbelief

My choice: The Resurrectionist by Kathleen S. Allen - This YA historical horror novel sounds like it will be taking its cues from Frankenstein and I'm here for it.

12. A genre-defining read

My choice: The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick - I've been need to catch up on more from this author.

13. Bookface

My choice: The Last Legacy (The World of the Narrows #3) by Adrienne Young - I've fallen too far behind with Young's books.

14. Includes a character list

My choice: Besieged (The Iron Druid Chronicles #9) by Kevin Hearne - I love this series so much and it will be nice to revisit the world with these short stories.

15. Subtitle with a comma

My choice: For the Love of Europe: My Favorite Places, People, and Stories by Rick Steves - I love watching his show and I've enjoyed the last books I've read from him, so I hope I'll enjoy this just as much.

16. Deus Ex Machina

My choice: The Plot Against America by Philip Roth - I've been told I have to give this one a try, so I might as well for this.

17. Author's bio mentions their dog

My choice: Sinner (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #4) by Maggie Stiefvater - I can't believe I've put this companion novel off for so long.

18. Provokes strong emotion

My choice: The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah - This author has been recommended to me so many times and this seems like as good enough place to start as any.

19. A nosy neighbor character

My choice: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (Hercule Poirot #4) by Agatha Christie - Another one I've been meaning to read for ages.

20. Day of the week in the title

My choice: Mister Monday (The Keys to the Kingdom #1) by Garth Nix - I haven't read enough Garth Nix.

21. Written in the 1800s

My choice: Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne - This is another one where I've seen plenty of adaptions, but have never read the original story.

22. Spotted in a TV series or movie

My choice: Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume - I can't believe I've never read this.  I still remember when Sawyer read it in Lost.

23. Grumpy sunshine trope

My choice: Fire (Graceling Realm #2) by Kristin Cashore - I really liked book one, so I'm on to continue the series..

24. Uneven number of chapters

My choice: Advanced Civilizations of Prehistoric America: The Lost Kingdoms of the Adena, Hopewell, Mississippians, and Anasazi by Frank Joseph - I think this book references some of the mounds in my home state of Ohio so that will be cool to read about.

25. Includes a red herring

My choice: And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie - Another one where I've seen plenty of adaptations, but have never read the original.

26. Title in a serif font

My choice: Pickpockets, Beggars and Ratcatchers: Life in the Victorian Underworld by Kellow Chesney - I got this at a thrift shop awhile ago and it sounds like it will be pretty informative.

27. Two or more authors, one pseudonym

My choice: Magic Bleeds (Kate Daniels #4) by Ilona Andrews - Ilona Andrews is actually a married couple.  I've been meaning to get caught up on this series.

28. From a series at least eight books long

My choice: Silver Borne (Mercy Thompson #5) by Patricia Briggs - It's time I get caught up and there are plenty more books for me to enjoy.

29. Set in the Arctic or Antarctic

My choice: Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing - This could be absolutely fascinating.

30. Author related to another author

My choice: People of Darkness (Leaphorn & Chee #4) by Tony Hillerman - I've really gotten into this series and the tv adaptation.

31. Author related to author in prompt 30

My choice: Spider Woman's Daughter (Leaphorn & Chee #19) by Anne Hillerman - She's his daughter who continued the series.

32. Publisher starting with the letter "B"

My choice: The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray - Sounds pretty cool, if you ask me.

33. A standalone fantasy novel

My choice: Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang - I've been eyeing this one for long enough.

34. Inspired by the top-grossing movie the year you were born

My choice: Indiana Jones and the Dance of the Giants (Indiana Jones: Prequels #2) by Rob MacGregor - I bet you can't guess which movie!

35. Character with a secret identity

My choice: Ruthless Vows (Letters of Enchantment #2) by Rebecca Ross - The first book was quite a pleasant surprise and I'm interested to see where it goes.

36. Award-winning book from last year

My choice: Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell - I was meaning to get to this earlier, but that never happened so better late than never.

37. Started on the 26th of the month

My choice: Winter, White and Wicked (Winter, White and Wicked #1) by Shannon Dittemore - Maybe I'll start it on January 26th.

38. Domestic fiction

My choice: The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah - This is set near Homer, Alaska which is just interesting to me.  Like I mentioned above, this author has been recommended to me lots of times.

39. A book that cost you nothing

My choice: Rising Road: A True Tale of Love, Race, and Religion in America by Sharon Davies - A friend gave me this one, so we'll see what I think of it.

40. Author's first and last name start with the same letter

My choice: The Ragpicker King (The Chronicles of Castellane #2) by Cassandra Clare - I liked book one in this series quite a bit more than I expected to and I'm really looking forward to this sequel.

41. A guide to...

My choice: Bobby Singer's Guide to Hunting (Supernatural Companion Journals)by David Reed - Ah, Bobby! He was one of my favorites from this show.

42. Includes a handwritten interior font

My choice: Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson - I've liked Jackson's YA, now it's time to try her adult novel.

43. A Goodreads recommendation for you

My choice: Dandadan, Vol. 1 (Dan Da Dan #1) by Yukinobu Tatsu - I know some people who are into this too, so I hope I'll like it.

44. Literary Device: Personification

My choice: Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt - Another one that's been recommended to me many times.

45. Biographical fiction

My choice: Fatal Lies (Liebermann Papers #3) by Frank Tallis - I'm catching up on this series this year - and I hope to even start on the tv adaption.

46. Non-fiction about character in prompt 45

My choice: Mortal Secrets: Freud, Vienna, and the Discovery of the Modern Mind by Frank Tallis - It's even written by the same author!

47. A diacritical mark on the cover

My choice: The Possession of Alba Díaz by Isabel Cañas - I loved this author's other books and I can't wait to try this one too.

48. Related to the word "Nemesis"

My choice: Nemesis (Project Nemesis #1) by Brendan Reichs - Well, it's the same word so I hope that counts.  I've had this on my tbr for quite a while now.

49. From the 800s of the Dewey Decimal System

My choice: Poems and Stories by J.R.R. Tolkien - I've seen this at my library and now after I've read The Mythmakers by John Hendrix, I feel like I really ought to give it a try.

50. Set in a castle

My choice: Bitterblue (Graceling Realm #3) by Kristin Cashore - Like I said above, I really liked book one so I need to catch up on the rest of the series.

51. Includes a map

My choice: The Assassin's Blade (Throne of Glass #0.1-0.5) by Sarah J. Maas - I really liked this series and I'm not sure why I skipped this short story collection.

52. Published in 2026

My choice: To Ride A Rising Storm (Nampeshiweisit #2) by Moniquill Blackgoose - Book one was amazing and I needed the sequel yesterday!



Are you participating in this challenge? Have you read any of these books? As always, thanks for visiting my blog and perhaps even commenting down below!