Quick Summary:
- The 2026 NoveList Reading Challenge theme is “Find What You Like”.
- Each month spotlights a different genre with curated book lists.
- Free resources include a yearly overview. Libraries will find more materials, including a customizable reading tracker in LibraryAware.
At NoveList, our motto is "read what you like". People know what they like to read — or what they've liked so far. Maybe they've written off horror and romance because they assume those genres are not for them. But what if the right books, with just the right mix of elements they love, could change a reader's mind?
That’s where we come in! NoveList helps your readers identify what they love about books across genres. For the 2026 Novelist Reading Challenge, we’re inviting your library and your patrons to join us on a journey of reading exploration to "Find What You Like."
Terrific tools to discover what you like all year
Each month, we’ll spotlight a different genre and share a curated list of books that showcase its variety. Whether your readers are married to mysteries or science fiction skeptics, they’ll find books that surprise them; they may even change how they view genres.
Instead of sharing all twelve lists at once, as we've done in the past, we will roll out the first half in early December and the second half in early June. That way, you can plan a little ahead if you want, but you'll also have something new to look forward to!
Along with a list of books for each month, we've also made a few goodies for you in LibraryAware. That includes a reader tracker, social media graphics, and an email that is ready to send... all you have to do is add a subject line.
Want to get a sneak peek at the monthly genre challenges for the whole year? Scroll down for a free download of the overview, which you can use as a flyer or display sign at your library!
Yaika Sabat is the Manager of Reader Content & Services at NoveList. She is currently reading Scream with Me: Horror Films and the Rise of American Feminism (1968-1980) by Eleanor Johnson.
