The Ultimate Fall Reading Challenge for Fantasy + Romantasy Readers: 9 Reading Prompts to Curate Your Most Magical 2026 Fall TBR
Happy Fall, book lovers! The Books are my Third Place Fall Reading Challenge is back! Cozy sweater weather, whiffs of pumpkin spice and apple cider (the better scent IMO) in the air, and the perfect time of year to read Fantasy books. Yes, of course we read them all year round, but Fantasy Fall feels magical every year. Somehow a fantasy book doesn’t hit quite as hard poolside in 90 degrees. It can, but we all know cozied up by a fire or under blankets is the best way to fall in love with new book boyfriends, or a new found family.
If reading more fantasy and romantasy books this Fall is a priority for you (of course other genres are welcome), and you’re wanting to make some more book friends, consider this your open invite to join the BAMTP Fall Reading Challenge with 9 prompts to curate an amazing Fall TBR List. Yes, it’s completely free to join. Below you’ll find links to the Fall Reading Challenge prompts on Storygraph if you’d like to keep track there, plus FREE Canva social templates to share your TBR and progress throughout this Fall.
Sometimes you need that extra nudge or helping hand in meeting your reading goals, or maybe you’re just getting back into reading after years. This reading challenge is here for casual readers as well. We have a chat in the Discord for readers to connect with others, and if people are up for it, perhaps some Silent Reading Club meetups in the Discord.
As mentioned above, there are nine prompts, and while most are fantasy book focused, I’ve kept them general enough so you have the freedom to curate a perfect and well-rounded Fall TBR. If you want to sneak in books outside of the fantasy genre, many of the prompts will still work, so feel free to get creative.
Fall Reading Challenge Prompts:
A highly anticipated Fall release
A book featuring an ancient library, campus, or secret society
A book by a POC Author
A book with orange, brown, or green on the cover
A comfort read/a book you think will be one
A book from a genre you don’t normally read
A book that has F-A-L-L letters in the title (doesn’t need to be in order)
A book with vampires or werewolves
A classic you’ve been meaning to read
Where to find everything to join in on this Fall Reading Challenge:
How to Participate in the Reading Challenge:
Choose a book you want to read for each of the nine prompts.
Read them during the Challenge dates from the start of Fall on September 22nd, to the end on December 21st
Track your progress on Storygraph, or use the tracker template.
Share the Challenge and your progress on Booktok and Bookstagram (don’t forget to tag @booksaremythirdplace)!
Fall Reading Challenge Book Recommendations:
A highly anticipated Fall release
A book featuring an ancient library, campus, or secret society
A book by a POC Author
A book with orange, brown, or green on the cover
A comfort read/a book you think will be one (a comfort read is so personal, so here are a few of my favorites)
The Bridge Kingdom and The Traitor Queen by Danielle L. Jensen
A book from a genre you don’t normally read
A book that has F-A-L-L letters in the title (doesn’t need to be in order)
A book with vampires or werewolves
Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Canas
I Am Legend by Richard Matheson
Six Scorched Roses by Carissa Broadbent
A classic you’ve been meaning to read
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (seriously, if you haven’t read this yet, I’m BEGGING)
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
The Odyssey by Homer
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
Some Quick Tips for Reading More Fiction this Fall:
Set a Daily Reading Schedule to make it a habit:
If you have a particular time of day you love to read, make it a priority on your calendar. Maybe it’s early morning before the kids are up. Or perhaps you’re a night owl and you like to get cozy with your favorite blanket at night to read. Or maybe you enjoy audiobooks while you’re doing chores around the house. Whatever your preference, making it a daily habit will help you maximize the amount of reading time you get done each day.
DNF, baby:
Don’t let people make you feel guilty for not finishing a book. There’s no point in continuing to read a book you’re hating. Or honestly, maybe you’re just bored. Let it go, and pick up something you might love! To put in in perspective, the average adult in the U.S. reads 12 books a year. Let’s say you’ve got another 50 years left to read. That’s only 600 more books in a lifetime! Why waste those on books you aren’t enjoying? Trust me, I struggle with wanting to complete everything I’ve started too, but I’ve gotten much better at DNF’ing and recognizing when a book just isn’t for me. And it’s made me so much happier. Even if you read many more than 12 a year, time is the only thing we can’t get more of. Don’t waste it. P.S. Goodreads FINALLY listened to us and created a permanent DNF shelf option! Shelf away!
Always Carry a Book with You:
We’re bookworms, we already do this, right? But if you’re new to reading, keep a book or Kindle with you wherever you go. Or you can always download reading apps on your phone and read from there if you don’t have an e-reader. You never know when you'll have a few minutes to read – while waiting for an appointment, during a lunch break, at the beach, or commuting. Audiobooks are also so easy to have handy on your phone anywhere. Here’s 11+ audiobook platforms and apps to check out if you’re looking to add audiobooks to your reading repertoire.
Create the Coziest Reading Nook:
Find or create a cozy spot in your home where you can escape into your books. A comfortable chair, good moody lighting, a spot for snacks, and maybe even some background music can enhance your reading experience. Check out the freebies page here on BAMTP for some fun reading playlists. YouTube also has some pretty great background music.
Join Reading Sprints and Challenges:
Participate in challenges like this one! Or join a reading sprint or silent book club in your city. These timed reading sessions are like SSR (Silent Sustained Reading) like you did in school, and are so fun! Plus, you can meet new book friends. And of course, everyone is welcome to join the BAMTP Discord community (you get the join link when you sign up for this Summer Reading Challenge).
Mix It Up:
Don’t be afraid to mix genres and formats. Switch between audiobooks, e-books, and physical books to keep things interesting and fit reading into different parts of your day. I almost always have multiple formats of books going at any one time. I especially love listening to non-fiction on audio.
Buddy Read with Friends:
Partner with a friend or maybe someone you meet in the Challenge. Share your Challenge TBR to connect with others reading the same book (a few have already done this in the Discord chat)! Discussing what you're reading with others can deepen your understanding and enjoyment of the book, but I never want it to feel like homework, so you won’t see any deadlines here. Read at your own pace.
Track Your Progress:
Use the Reading Tracker and Challenge progress tracker templates to keep track of your progress throughout this Fall, and feel amazing about all the books you’re reading. You can also join the public challenge on Storygraph if you’d like to use that to track your progress (there’s a bonus prompt on this one!)!
Since this is community focused, sharing your progress and participation via social media + the Discord is key and helps us hold each other accountable throughout the Fall! Our hashtag for our reading Challenges is: #BAMTPreadingchallenge on Instagram + TikTok, and those who finish the Challenge, share it, and tag @booksaremythirdplace will get a special discount perk for anything from the Valor & Lore Shop!
Happy reading, and hopefully see you in the Discord or on social. I can’t wait to see what you add to your Fall TBRs! Regardless, I love helping people discover a love for reading, finding amazing reads, and of course, connecting with the BAMTP community. I hope everyone is looking forward to a wonderful Summer of reading!
Fall Reading Challenge FAQ
What is a fall reading challenge?
A fall reading challenge is a seasonal reading challenge that gives readers prompts or categories to help them choose books to read during autumn months. Usually, many of the prompts relate to that season.
How many books should I read for a fall reading challenge?
There are 9 prompts, but obviously nothing is required. You can read all of them or one. Or if you’re a book dragon like me, you’ll probably read more. You can also always update the books you want to read for each prompt if you’re a mood reader and want to change your mind. For the BAMTP reading challenge, you can complete as many prompts as you'd like.
What are good books to read in fall?
Some of the most popular fall reading categories, according to me and my observations hehe, include cozy fantasy, epic fantasy, dark academia, gothic fiction, mystery, romance, and books set during autumn. You’ll find many recommendations in my lists above, but obviously you can choose anything to add to your TBR that fit the prompts.
Can I use audiobooks for the fall reading challenge?
Yes, of course. I almost always do my reading as immersive reading where I read my physical or ebook with the audiobook at the same. All forms of reading are valid!
Do I have to read all 9 books?
No, of course not. :) But I’ll be proud of you if you do!
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