Reading Challenge 2025

We are entering into the third year of Mercer County Library System’s annual Reading Challenge. Welcome to everyone who is taking the challenge for the first time and those of you who have already participated! A reading challenge is “a way to discover books outside your normal reading habits.” There are 24 prompts to give you ideas of what to read in 2025 and 1 bonus prompt to read a book written by an author featured on the MCLS podcast, Behind the Books. The 2025 prompts are:

Read a book....

1...Set in a foreign county

2...Already on your bookshelf (or to read list) waiting to be read

3...That was made into a movie or TV show

4...Has 500 or more pages

5...With a magical element

6... Is a Banned Book (as a librarian for a list or go to ALA’s Banned & Challenged Books page)

7...About sports

8...About current events

9...Won or was a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize

10...Purchased from a Friends of the Library book sale or sale cart

11...That you previously did not finish

12...That was published posthumously

13...Epistolary novel or collection of letters

14...Reread a book you read as a kid or teen

15...Has an element in the title (i.e. David Copperfield)

16...Takes place in Europe

17...By an author with a color as part of their name

18...Title begins with the letter I

19...An alternative history (fiction or non-fiction)

20...Set in spring

21...A holiday novel

22...A western

23...With cats or dogs featured

24...Takes place in California

Bonus prompt…By an author featured on our Behind the Books podcast

 

Visit our website for a list of the prompts to print or save. You’ll see social media posts about the challenge throughout the year – we’d love to hear your thoughts on the books you’ve discovered! There is also a Good Reads group to share your titles and reviews.

If you have the prompts but still aren’t sure where to start, library staff at all our branches are here to help! We provide readers’ advisory in person and through our Personalized Picks service. We also have online tools available to find titles for the Challenge and all your other reading needs. NoveList Plus is a great place to discover read-alikes for your favorite titles and authors; NextReads newsletters bring new and forthcoming titles, gems from the shelves, and sleepers right to your inbox.

- Andrea at Hopewell