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The POPSUGAR Reading Challenge 2026

Position your book where tens of thousands of dedicated readers are actively searching for their next obsession.

Popsugar Reading Challenge

What Makes POPSUGAR Different?

The POPSUGAR Reading Challenge is one of the most influential year-long reading movements in the book community,

now in its 12th year. Unlike general reading goals, Popsugar operates on 50 highly specific, creative prompts that

drive readers to actively hunt for books that fit precise criteria. This isn't passive reading, it's an active treasure hunt where your book becomes the prize.

  • 50 unique prompts = creating 50 different discovery opportunities
  • 12 months of sustained = year-long visibility and engagement
  • Multiple platforms = Active communities on Goodreads, StoryGraph, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube
POPSUGAR CHALLENGE 2026

The Mechanics of Discovery

Readers participating in the POPSUGAR Challenge commit to reading 50 books in 2026, each matching one of 50 specific

prompts. These prompts range from straightforward "A book less than 260 pages" to delightfully specific "A book with a character who does Pilates or Lagree" or "A book about a granny hobby".

What This Means for Your Book

When a reader encounters prompt #15: "A book about new beginnings," they don't scroll their existing library they search.

They post in discussion groups asking for recommendations. They browse Goodreads lists. They seek exactly what your book offers.

The January-March Discovery Window

Unlike readers who add books impulsively throughout the year, POPSUGAR participants approach this systematically. The majority build comprehensive TBR (To Be Read) lists during the first quarter of the year, carefully matching books to all 50 prompts. Get your book positioned correctly in January-March 2026, and it sits on their reading list for the entire year.

POPSUGAR CHALLENGE 2026

THE 2026 POPSUGAR READING CHALLENGE : ALL 50 PROMPTS

Regular Prompts
  1. A book where gardening or a garden is central to the plot
  2. A book that features a platonic friendship between a man and woman
  3. A book you meant to read in 2025
  4. A book that starts with the letter "Z"5. A book about women astronauts
  5. A book with an overweight main character whose story isn't about losing weight
  6. A book about a granny hobby
  7. A book about a sexless marriage
  8. A book with a "type C" character
  9. A book about a horse or with a horse on the cover
  10. A book with a dad as the primary caregiver
  11. A book with "pop" or "sugar" in the title
  12. A book featuring a character with a hidden past
  13. A book set in Michigan or written by an author from Michigan
  14. A book about new beginnings
  15. A book less than 260 pages
  16. A book about your favorite event in the Winter Olympics
  17. A love story that defies social boundaries
  18. A book about teen angst
  19. A book with a character who does Pilates or Lagree

21. A book about a bachelorette trip

22. A book about a book club

23. A book you were hoping would fit into a prompt but doesn't

24. A book about postpartum

25. A book that explores influencer culture

26. A book with a character who navigates infertility

27. A book with a character who has curly hair

28. A book about debt

29. A book that takes place during harvesting season

30. A travel ghost story

31. A book that makes you feel FOMO

32. A book with an underwater civilization

33. A book about college

34. A book with a trans or nonbinary protagonist

35. A book that makes you want to travel to Italy

36. A book about a mob (fiction or nonfiction)

37. A book about a pop star

38. A book with any type of fruit on the cover or in the title

39. A book with a character who runs a marathon

40. A book outside your comfort zone

Advanced Prompts

41. A book in a different format than your usual: physical, audio, eBook

42. A book inspired by a real song, album, band, or artist

43. Two books written by real-life partners or spouses (1)

44. Two books written by real-life partners or spouses (2)45. A book that features birding

46. A sapphic comic

47. A book told entirely through letters

48. A book with a shadow daddy

49. A book with a mention of your zodiac sign

50. A book about Afrofuturism

Why POPSUGAR Participants Become Your Best Marketing Team

Readers in the POPSUGAR Challenge don't just read, they share. Constantly.

The Social Sharing Cycle

Phase 1 - Discovery

"Looking for a book about [X]—any recommendations for POPSUGAR #14?"

→ Your book gets mentioned by others who've read it

Phase 2 - Progress Updates

"Just finished prompt #27! Here's what I read:" [posts your book cover on Instagram]

→ Thousands see your book as part of their feed

Phase 3 - List Building

Creates blog post: "My 2026 POPSUGAR Challenge TBR List"

→ Your book appears in curated content that ranks in search results

Phase 4 - Completion Celebration

"I finished all 50 prompts! Here are my favorites:" [your book included in year-end review]

→ End-of-year recommendations drive December/January sales

Multi-Platform Amplification

  • Goodreads Lists. Curated POPSUGAR-specific lists for each prompt (hundreds to thousands of votes/saves)
  • BookTok/TikTok. #popsugar2026 videos showing progress trackers, TBR hauls, and reviews
  • Instagram.  Aesthetic flat lays, reading journal photos, monthly wrap-ups
  • Facebook Groups.  42,845+ members actively discussing and recommending books
  • Blogs.  Thousands of book bloggers document their POPSUGAR journey monthly Image Suggestions:
  • Collage of social media posts showing POPSUGAR challenge content
  • Phone mockup showing TikTok video of reading journal flip-through
  • Instagram grid showing progress posts over multiple months
  • Facebook group screenshots showing recommendation threads (with identifiable info blurred)

Most Books Match Multiple Prompts—We Find Them All

Here's what most authors don't realize: your book probably fits 5-15 different POPSUGAR prompts. The challenge is knowing which ones and positioning your book accordingly.

Our Strategic Advantage:

At BeBookSharp, we don't just identify which prompts your book fits, we strategically position it to maximize discovery!

  • Prompt Analysis: We analyze your book against all 50 prompts and identify every possible match

  • Priority Targeting: We focus on prompts with the highest search volume and lowest competition

  • Strategic List Placement: We get your book added to the Goodreads POPSUGAR challenge lists for relevant prompts

  • Long-tail Optimization: We target "difficult" prompts where readers struggle to find options

POPSUGAR CHALLENGE 2026

Get in touch today for specific package information about how this opportunity can work for you and your book.

 

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