2026 Reading Challenge

Massachusetts Center for the Book has a fun, unique reading challenge to take on in 2026!

Here is how the challenge works:

  • Choose a book that fits the monthly challenge, see below for this month’s suggestions.
  • After you read, fill out this form to tell us about the book.
  • That’s it!
    • If you read at least one book, you will be invited to a year-end celebration hosted by Mass Center for the Book.
    • If you read a book in each of the 12 months, you will be entered in a drawing to win 1 of 2 totes filled with books and Massachusetts goodies.
    • For February’s prompt, you can access the Genre Picker Wheel here!

June: Read a book with a sympathetic villain

Stone Blind : A Novel by Haynes, Natalie
Uprooted by Novik, Naomi
Lady Macbeth : A Novel by Reid, Ava
Someone You Can Build A Nest In by Wiswell, John
My Sister, the Serial Killer : A Novel by Braithwaite, Oyinkan
The Talented Mr. Ripley by Highsmith, Patricia
Assistant to the VIllain by Maehrer, Hannah Nicole
Wicked :  the Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Maguire, Gregory
Hocus Pocus & the All-New Sequel by Jantha, A. W
Artemis Fowl by Colfer, Eoin
Hungerstone : A Novel by Dunn, Kat
Harleen by Sejic, Stjepan
Loki : Where Mischief Lies by Lee, Mackenzi
Nimona by Stevenson, Nd
Starter VIllain by Scalzi, John
VIcious by Schwab, VIctoria
An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good : [stories] by Tursten, Helene
Siren Queen by Vo, Nghi
Hench : A Novel by Walschots, Natalie Zina
Malice by Walter, Heather
I'm Not the Only Murderer In My Retirement Home by Craig, Fergus
Lady Tremaine : A Novel by Hochhauser, Rachel
As Many Souls As Stars : A Novel by Siegel, Natasha
Grendel by Gardner, John
Heartless by Meyer, Marissa