Beat the Backlist
An Annual Reading Challenge
Do you have books on your to-read list that already released? Do you struggle to get to those backlist books with all the new releases each year? Do you enjoy relaxed reading challenges you can do at your own pace? Then it’s time to beat your backlist!
About the Challenge
Started in 2017, the Beat the Backlist reading challenge is all about focusing on books that were published in the previous year or earlier. With so many amazing books released each year, it’s easy to get swept up in what’s coming and forget the books that have already published, and our to-read lists continue to grow!Share your reading progress with the challenge tag #BeatTheBacklist!
This website is displaying information for the 2026 challenge. Please refer to the 2025 Challenge Info page if you're still working on it!
Challenge Guidelines
The challenge runs from January 1 to December 31 each year.
The book must be published in the previous year or earlier.
You must start and finish a book in the challenge year to count it.
Any format, any genre. Re-reads count, you don’t have to own the book, and you can join at any time. Track your BTB reading separately or pair it with another reading challenge!Using the optional reading prompts? It’s one book per prompt!
Are you ready to show your backlist who’s boss?
How to Participate
There is no official website to sign up for the Beat the Backlist challenge. You can simply participate on your own, declaire your intent to participate online, join the reading challenge on StoryGraph, etc.
| Decide how you want to participate | Whether you want to track your progress on StoryGraph, make a Goodreads shelf, declare your participation on social media, create a blog post, or say nothing at all, you’re welcome to join in! |
| Link back to the challenge | If you’re posting anywhere online, please help others find the challenge by linking back to this website and/or using the tag #BeatTheBacklist. |
| Start reading! | Read books published prior to the current challenge year and show your TBR who’s boss! |
Extras
Graphics & Printables
Looking for additional motivation or a harder reading challenge? Try tackling the Beat the Backlist reading prompts! These come in bingo and list format, and you can choose between 24 prompts (perfect for reading 2 books/month) and 52 prompts (that’s a book a week!).Reading prompts are OPTIONAL for this challenge.You can grab downloadable graphics and printables of the prompts below, track them in the provided spreadsheet (or make your own!), or use the StoryGraph challenge tracker.
Click the images or labels to download
Challenge Icons & Banners
Prompt Bingo Cards & Lists
Reading Prompts
The reading prompts for Beat the Backlist are entirely optional but available for those who like the extra challenge/motivation!
Prompts listed are for the 2026 challenge.
Head to the 2025 challenge info for the current year's prompts.
| Prompt | Description |
|---|---|
| 10, 10, 10s across the board | title has 10+ words |
| 2025 debut | an author's first book that released in 2025 |
| a game of cat or mouse | cover features a cat or mouse, or the story is like a cat and mouse game |
| acronyms | there are a lot of acronyms in the story or the title includes one |
| all the colors | rainbow cover (has at least 4 rainbow colors) |
| an apple a day | features apples in the story, on the cover, or anywhere in between |
| anthology of shorts | collection of short stories and/or poetry |
| are you feeling lucky? | that character is facing some extreme luck (or lack thereof) |
| award winner | this book won an award of any kind |
| BFFs | features 2+ best friends as main or important side characters |
| blast from the past | book featuring a historical setting |
| book and beverage | this book features or reminds you of your favorite drink |
| celebrity author | the book is by a well-known figure |
| classics past or present | classic novel or retelling of a classic |
| collector of fine goods | the main character collects something |
| disaster strikes! | book features a natural disaster |
| end of an era | last book in a series |
| faking it | at least 1 character is pretending in some way |
| fave author rec | a book recommended by one of your favorite authors |
| food brings everyone together | a book about food or featuring food prominently |
| genre blender | combines 2+ genres together |
| I don't think that's a dog... | a character has an unusual pet |
| I like 'em chonky | more than 542 pages |
| I reject your reality | a speculative fiction book |
| international super spy | story about a spy, espionage, a character going undercover, etc. |
| it's been a decade | been on your TBR 10+ years |
| it's getting hot in here | title/subject involve something hot |
| it's so shiny | title includes a type of metal |
| let the games begin | about or featuring gaming, a specific game, or a competition |
| lights, camera, action! | book-to-screen or about movies/TV shows |
| locked away | someone/something is under lock and key |
| love is in the air | a book about or featuring a prominent subplot about love (in any form) |
| novella sweet spot | between 150-200 pages |
| oh the places you will go | place name in title |
| opposites attract | featuring any kind of opposites coming together |
| plant friend | nature acts as a sort of character in the story |
| reading in parallel | the story features multiple timelines |
| recs in real life | recommended by a family member or close friend |
| sibling squabbles | the story is about siblings (who may or may not get along...) |
| spooky scary skeletons | the book fits any part of the prompt (your pick!) |
| super duper! | character has supernatural powers |
| temporarily contemporary | portal/time travel |
| the -ologist | written by an expert in their field |
| the most beautiful cover | the art on this book cover stands above the rest to you |
| throwback to the good ol' days | a favorite childhood read - could be yours, a friend's, a family member's, your choice! |
| timeless romance | book features a love spanning generations |
| title starts with L | book title starts with the letter L |
| to the moon | about or featuring anything space related in the story or on the cover |
| truly uncanny | there's something not quite right about this character/place... |
| we're going on an adventure, Charlie! | a book about an adventure/journey |
| weird science | about or inspired by strange or unusual real world science |
| you can't tell anyone | about or featuring a secret society/group |
2025 Challenge
Still working on this year's challenge? No worries! You can find all the information below for this year. This page will remain through the end of 2025.
Links
Graphics & Printables
Reading Prompts
| Prompt | Description |
|---|---|
| a bargain poorly made | protagonist enters a bad bargain |
| a chapter by any other name | “Chapter One” is all well and good but let’s find some books with their own titles |
| a title written in the stars | book title contains a celestial body (sun, moon, star, etc.) |
| a wild exploration | a book about exploring nature/the wild |
| academia-mania | whether you like it light, dark, or just vibing with a school/university setting, time to get back to the classroom! |
| as seen on social media | a book discovered through social media |
| baker’s dozen | about or including baking, or if you’re feeling rebellious, any book where the number 13 is important |
| based on or inspired by a true story | some amount of truth influenced this book |
| between 275 – 325 pages | yes, it’s that specific |
| beyond your perspective | a book that highlights a perspective from a group of people different from you |
| break the rules | characters are breaking the rules (whether or not they get in trouble is another matter…) |
| can’t be trusted | the narrator who can’t be trusted by the reader, a character who can’t be trusted by their peers, there’s really no trust to be had here! |
| celebrity book club pick | a book that was chosen by any celebrity book club |
| character is an educator | someone’s about to learn something from this character |
| childhood favorite re-read | return to your faves once more |
| city skyline on the cover | a vision of a city stretches across this book cover |
| companion novel | a book connected/related to another book but not a prequel or sequel |
| cover features a weapon | any weapon will do as long as it’s on the cover |
| extra, extra! | a book with extras! maps, glossary, behind the scenes content, etc. |
| family business | a story following members of a single family |
| historically horrific | a little horror, a little history, the exact combination and interpretation is up to you |
| it’s cozy time | anything and everything with cozy vibes |
| language has power | stories about language, words, the power of such things, you get the idea |
| less than 100 pages | keeping it short and sweet |
| librarian rec | get thyself to a library! (or other means of connecting with a librarian) |
| more than 30 chapters | there should be at least 31 chapters in the book |
| more than 600 pages | we love a good doorstopper |
| name of the game | book titles that are names or names of games |
| not first, nor last | a book that’s in the middle of a series (not the first book or the last) |
| not your typical genre | try something new! like a book in a genre you don’t typically read |
| oldie but a goodie | for those books that are 20+ years old |
| on your TBR for over a year | as of the time you’re starting it, you’ve had this book on your TBR for at least a year |
| opening line includes an animal | mythical or real world, any animal is fair game as long as it’s mentioned |
| originally written in another language | translated works and others that are written in a language other than your primary one |
| prequel/sequel | a book that comes either before (prequel) or after (sequel) in a series |
| shared (zodiac) sign | a book with a publication date that shares a zodiac sign with you |
| silhouette on the cover | you can see the outline of something or someone but can’t make out what it is |
| sky-high | these characters are taking flight in some way |
| someone’s morally gray… | one of the characters makes some very questionable decisions |
| something upside down on the cover | an object or person is upside down from their usual state |
| standalone debut | exactly what it sounds like, an author’s debut novel that is also a standalone |
| sweet treats | the story, cover, or title reminds you of something sweet or gives you those good feelings of a sugar high |
| that’s not supposed to talk | in which something that shouldn’t be sentient is now a character in its own right |
| this book is a hoot! | whether it’s simply funny or features an owl, it counts |
| tiniest on the TBR | the shortest book on your to-read list |
| title includes a type of flower | any flower is fair game as long as it’s in the title |
| title starts with “v” | not “u” or “w”, the first word should start with “v” |
| unusual transportation | characters use a form of transportation that’s uncommon, unusual, or doesn’t exist in our world (anymore) |
| way back in 2020 | so many books got missed that year so let’s show some of those 2020 releases love |
| weather the storm | a story or book title related to weather |
| weird is the word | interpret however you like but make sure it’s WEIRD |
| year of the snake | books published in the lunar zodiac year of the snake |