Sometimes, deciding what to read next can feel a bit overwhelming. If you’re like me and love a bit of structure (or just a fun challenge), having a list of prompts can make choosing a book so much easier.
I’ve pulled together a mix of ideas to help inspire your next pick, whether you’re looking for something new, nostalgic, or completely out of your comfort zone.
Reading Challenge
To kick-start your 2025 reading journey you might want to consider a reading challenge. For a simple one, consider the Goodreads Reading Challenge. Simply choose how many books you want to read in a year, track your progress, and celebrate your achievements.
You might also want to try the Backlog Challenge. If your TBR pile is threatening to topple over, this challenge is perfect. Make a commitment not to buy any new books and focus on working your way through the ones you already own. It’s satisfying, budget-friendly, and clears shelf space for future favourites.
TBR Jar
I love this idea. Write down all the books on your TBR on separate slips of paper, pop them into a jar, and pick one at random when you’re ready to start your next read. It’s a fun and spontaneous way to tackle your list!
Join a Book Club
Make bookish friends and let someone else pick your next read for you! A book club can introduce you to titles you might never have considered.
Book Recommendations
Ask friends, family, or even scroll through social media to discover your next favourite read.
Book Club Recommendations
Take inspiration from well-known book club lists, such as Richard and Judy’s Book Club or Between the Covers. These lists often highlight a mix of new releases and timeless favourites.
Finish an Author’s Backlist
Loved an author’s work? Heard great things about someone new? Challenge yourself to read their entire back catalog and you might just discover a new all-time favourite along the way.
Reading Prompts
If you’re still looking for more inspiration, here’s a list of 70 book prompts to help you explore new genres, revisit old favourites, and discover unexpected treasures.
- Read a book with a one-word title
- Read a book set in your hometown
- Read the next book you see someone read in public
- Read a book about WW1
- Read a modern retelling of a classic
- Read a book by a female author
- Read a book with time travel
- Read a book that takes place in another world
- Read the shortest book on your TBR
- Read a book with your favourite colour on the cover
- Read a memoir
- Read a book about nurses
- Read a book featuring a famous person
- Read a book that has won an award
- Read a sequel
- Read a book with stars on the cover
- Read a book about books
- Read a book that takes place in the future
- Read a translated work
- Read a book inspired by a historical event
- Read the next book in a series
- Read a young adult novel
- Read a book with a protagonist that’s at least 50 years old
- Read a book about witches or witch trials
- Read a book set in multiple time periods
- Read a book set in Australia
- Read a book by an Irish author
- Read a non-fiction book
- Read a book you meant to read last year
- Read a book about friendship
- Read a book with a person on the cover
- Read a book based on a true story
- Read a book about Old Hollywood
- Read a book club read
- Read a book with a place in the title
- Read a book by a BIPOC author
- Read a book about the civil rights movement
- Read a book published in 2024
- Read a book you bought because you liked the cover
- Read a book with an unreliable narrator
- Read a book about aviation
- Read a book published in the 1800s
- Read a book set in Japan
- Read a book with a number in the title
- Read a book set in a country you’d like to visit
- Read a book that inspired a musical
- Read a book set in your favourite season
- Read a book released in the last month
- Read the book that has been on your TBR the longest
- Read a book recommended by your favourite author
- Read a book by multiple authors
- Reread a book you read in school
- Listen to an audiobook
- Start the first book in a new series
- Read a book published the year you were born
- Read a book set in a country you’ve never been to
- Read a book about an animal
- Read an epistolary novel
- Read a book that was turned into a TV show
- Read a book with less than 200 pages
- Read from a genre you don’t usually read
- Read a book about women’s rights
- A book written at least 100 years ago
- A book at least 500 pages long
- A book that became a movie
- A book with a neurodivergent character
- A book recommended by a book seller
- Read a friend’s favourite book
- A book published before you were born
- Read a debut novel