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 by Austine Decker, 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!
Follow the challenge on social media through the BTB pages and #BeatTheBacklist
Guidelines
The challenge runs from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025
The book must be published in the previous year or earlier
You must start and finish the book in 2025 for it to count
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?
Join the Challenge
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, tagging @BeatTheBacklist on social media, and/or using the tag #BeatTheBacklist.
Start reading!
Read backlist books from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025 and show your TBR who’s boss!
Reading Prompts
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.
Prompt List and Descriptions
| 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 |
Bonus Content
Graphics & Printables
Snag bingo cards and list graphics for the optional reading prompts (color and printer-friendly versions included!)
Tracking Spreadsheet
Do you like tracking your reading in a spreadsheet? Grab this year’s tracker via Google sheets.
Join the BTB Community
Visit the Beat the Backlist community on Discord to chat about books, get ideas for prompts, and encourage each other !
Add BTB on StoryGraph
StoryGraph is a great alternative to using Goodreads. Track your reading challenges including Beat the Backlist!
Have a question about the challenge?
Complete the form with your question and the challenge host will get back to you soon!