Jax Stacks Reading Challenge: Mid-Point Check In + Genre Mode

Jax Stacks Romance!

1. A book read by a Library Book Club in 2026
   1. Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Yang
   2. Lore Olympus. Volume 1 by Rachel Smythe
2. A book on an "everyone should read this" list
   1. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
   2. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
3. A book in the Zine, Local Author, or Indie Florida collections
   1. Pucking Around by Emily Rath
   2. Girl with No Name by Archer Grid
4. A book that fits a previous year's challenge category
   1. From 2025: a graphic novel: 
   2. The Princess and the Grilled Cheese by Deya Muniz
   3. From 2025: a book with a neurodivergent character: 
   4. The Extraordinaries by TJ Klune
5. A book that takes places over 24 hours (or less)
   1. Time and Time Again by Chatham Greenfield
   2. Time Loops and Meet Cutes by Jackie Lau
6. A book with a "punny" title
   1. Dungeons and Drama by Kristy Boyce
   2. The Nightmare Before Kissmass by Sara Raasch
   3. My Mechanical Romance by Alexene Follmuth
   4. Love at First Spite by Anna Collins
   5. The Dos and Donuts of Love by Adiba Jaigirdar
7. A book set somewhere you have lived or visited
   1. Only Lovers in the Building by Nadine Gonzalez (Florida, Miami)
   2. Haunted Ever After by Jen DeLuca
8. A book written by or about a celebrity
   1. Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade
   2. Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman
9. A book about the Olympics or an Olympian
   1. Deep End by Ali Hazelwood
10. A Bildungsroman or a coming-of-age story
    1. All-Nighter by Cecilia Vinesse
    2. On Again, Awkward Again by Erin Kelly
    3. And They Were Roommates by Page Powars
11. A western, fiction or nonfiction
    1. Wild Love by Elsie Silver
    2. Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage

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Jax Stacks Thrillers!

1. A book by a 2026 Lit Chat Author:
   1. Best Day Ever by Kiara Rouda
2. A book read by Library Book Club:
   1. Nine Lives by Peter Swanson
   2. Ararat by Christopher Golden
3. A book on an “Everyone Should Read This” list:
   1. Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
   2. The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
4. A book in the Zine, Local Author, or Indie Florida Collections:  
   1. Dear Vicky by Octavia Grant
   2. Blue Avenue by Michael Wiley
5. A book with an Unreliable Narrator:
   1. Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney
   2. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
6. A book that fits a Previous Year’s Challenge:
   1. From 2025: 1^st in a series: The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
   2. From 2024: LGBTQIA+ Protagonist: Bath Haus by P.J. Vernon
7. A book that takes place within 24 Hours or Less:
   1. No Exit by Taylor Adams
   2. The Guest List by Lucy Foley
8. A book with “Punny” Title:
   1. Home Is Where the Bodies Are by Jeneva Rose
   2. Kills Well With Others by Deanna Raybourn
9. A boo Witten by or about a Celebrity:
   1. Retreat by Krysten Ritter
   2. You Better Watch Out by James Murray
10. A book about the Olympics or an Olympian:
    1. Private Games by James Patterson
    2. End Game by Jeffrey Archer
11. A Bildungsroman or a Coming-of-Age story:
    1. The Shining by Stephen King
    2. A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
12. A Western, fiction or nonfiction:
    1. No Country For Old Men by Cormac McCarthy
    2. Open Season by C.J. Box

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Jax Stacks Mystery Novels!

1. A book by a 2026 Lit Chat Author:
   1. When Ghosts Come Home by Wiley Cash
2. A book read by a Library Book Club in 2026:
   1. Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie (Novel Pursuits Book Club)
3. A book on an "Everyone Should Read This" list: 
   1. Still Life by Louise Penny
4. A book in the Zine, Local Author, or Indie Florida collections: 
   1. Blue Avenue by Michael
5. A book with an Unreliable Narrator: 
   1. It Ends at Midnight by Harriet Tyce
6. A book that fits a Previous Year's Challenge Category: 
   1. From 2025: a mystery set outside the U.S.: 
   2. Better the Blood by Michael Bennett
7. A book that Takes Place Over 24 hours (or less): 
   1. The Paris Diversion by Chris Pavone
8. A book with a "Punny" Title: 
   1. The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter
9. A book set Somewhere You Have Lived or Visited: 
   1. Fever Beach by Carl Hiaasen
10. A book by or about a Celebrity: 
    1. As the Wicked Watch by Tamron Hall
11. A Bildungsroman or a Coming-of-Age story: 
    1. Dial A for Aunties by Jessie Q. Sutanto
12. A Western, fiction or nonfiction: 
    1. Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke

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Jax Stacks Weird Girl Fiction Novels!

1. A book by a 2026 Lit Chat author: 
   1. The Wedding People by Alison Espach
2. A book read by a Library Book Club in 2026: 
   1. Night’s Edge by Liz Kerin
3. A book from a Library display: 
   1. Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield
4. A book on an "Everyone Should Read This" list: 
   1. Bunny by Mona Awad
5. A book with an Unreliable Narrator: 
   1. My Husband by Maud Ventura
6. A book that fits a Previous Year's Challenge category: 
   1. From 2024: a book in translation, written in the 21st century:
   2. Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata
7. A book Suggested by a Friend or Family Member: 
   1. My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
8. A book with a "Punny" Title: 
   1. Motherthing by Ainslie Hogarth
9. A book set Somewhere You Have Lived or Visited: 
   1. My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh
10. A book Written by or about a Celebrity:   
    1. Looker by Laura Sims
11. A book that you Haven't Read by Your Favorite Author: 
    1. We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
12. A Bildungsroman or a Coming-of-Age story: 
    1. The Lamb by Lucy Rose

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Jax Stacks Western Novels!

1. A book Read by a Library Book Club in 2026:  
   1. The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones
2. A book from a Library Display:  
   1. The Silver Bullets of Annie Oakley by Mercedes Lackey
3. A book on an “Everyone Should Read This” list:  
   1. Valentine by Elizabeth Wetmore
4. A book in the Zine, Local Author, or Indie Florida Collections:  
   1. The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
5. A book with an Unreliable Narrator: 
   1. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
6. A book that fits a Previous Year’s Challenge Category:  
   1. From 2022: A book adapted to TV show or movie:
   2. True Grit by Charles Portis
7. A book suggested by a Friend or Family Member:
   1. Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey
8. A book that Takes Place over 24 Hours or less:  
   1. Dead Man’s Walk by Larry McMurtry
9. A book with a “Punny” Title:  
   1. At Whit’s End by Bailey Hannah
10. A book set Somewhere You Have Lived or Visited:  
    1. A Land Remembered by Patrick D. Smith
11. A book written by or about a Celebrity:  
    1. Clint Eastwood: A Biography by Richard Schickel
12. A book you Haven’t Read by your Favorite Author:  
    1. The Texas Murders by James Patterson
13. A Bildungsroman or a Coming-of-Age story:  
    1. The Red Pony by John Steinbeck
14. A Western, fiction or nonfiction:  
    1. The Virginian by Owen Wister

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Jax Stacks Graphic Novels!

1. A book by a 2026 Lit Chat Author: 
   1. How to Talk to Your Succulents by Zoe Persico
2. A book read by a Library Book Club: 
   1. Scott Pilgrim by Brian Lee O’Malley
3. A book from a Library Display: 
   1. This Was Our Pact by Ryan Andrews
4. A book on an “Everyone Should Read This” list: 
   1. Maus by Art Spiegelman
5. A book in the Zine, Local Author, or Indie Florida Collection: 
   1. A Strange Day by Damon Hurd
6. A book that fits in a Previous Year’s Challenge category
   1. From 2025: a retelling of another book or story: 
   2. Snow, Glass, Apples by Neil Gaiman
7. A book suggested by a Friend or Family Member:  
   1. Locke and Key. Vol. 1 Welcome to Lovecraft by Joe Hill
8. A book that Takes Place over 24 Hours or Less: 
   1. Every Day by David Leviathan
9. A book with a Punny Title: 
   1. Out of Left Field by Jonah Newman
10. A book set Somewhere You Have Lived or Visited: 
    1. The Reaper of St. George Street by Andre R. Frattino
11. A book Written by or about a Celebrity: 
    1. They Called Us Enemy by George Takei
12. A book about the Olympics or an Olympian: 
    1. Victory. Stand! by Tommie Smith
13. A Bildungsroman or Coming-of-Age story: 
    1. Fun Home by Alison Bechdel
14. A Western, Fiction or Nonfiction: 
    1. The Sixth Gun: Book 1: Cold Dead Fingers by Cullen Bunn

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Jax Stacks Sci-Fi Novels!

1. A book with an unreliable narrator:
   1. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
2. A book that fits a previous year's challenge category:
   1. From 2025: A book featuring a Neurodivergent character:
   2. Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant
3. A book that takes place over 24 hours (or less):
   1. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? By Phillip Dick
   2. Orbital by Samantha Harvey
4. A book set somewhere you have lived or visited:
   1. Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer (set in fictional Florida)
   2. Otaku by Chris Kluwe (set in Miami/Florida)
   3. Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom by Cory Doctorow
5. A Bildungsroman or a coming-of-age story:
   1. Strange Bedfellows by Ariel Slamet Ries
   2. When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill
6. A western, fiction or nonfiction:
   1. Red Rising by Pierce Brown
7. A book by or about a celebrity: 
   1. Holy Cow: A Modern-Day Dairy Tale by David Duchovny
   2. OM., Mother of Madness by Emilia Clarke
8. A book on an "everyone should read this" list:
   1. Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman
   2. Or find a list like the "75 Best Sci-Fi Books of All Time" (Esquire)
9. A book with a "punny" title:
   1. Of Monsters and Mainframes by Barbara Truelove
10. A book in the Zine, Local Author, or Indie Florida collections
    1. The Reset by Daniel Powell (available in print and as an e-book)
    2. Watch our Lit Chat Interview with Daniel Powell on YouTube
11. A book read by a Library Book Club in 2026
    1. Whalefall by Daniel Kraus
    2. Picked by the Discovery Book Club at Pablo Creek Library

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Jax Stacks LitRPG and Gamelit Novels!

1. A book from a library display
   1. Rabbits by Terry Miles
2. A book on an "everyone should read this" list
   1. He Who Fights with Monsters (series) by Shirtaloon
3. A book in the Zine, Local Author, or Indie Florida collections
   1. Exquisite Corpse: A Collaboration Zine by Miles Taylor
4. A book with an unreliable narrator
   1. The Dark Lord of Crafting: Book 3 by William Myrl
5. A book that fits a previous year's challenge category
   1. From 2025: a graphic novel: The System Apocalypse (series) by Tao Wong
6. A book suggested by a friend or family member
   1. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
7. A book with a "punny" title
   1. Dungeons and Drama by Kristy Boyce
   2. Heir Today, Pawn Tomorrow by Eric Ugland
8. A book set somewhere you have lived or visited
   1. Beware of Chicken: A Xianxia Cultivation Novel by Casualfarmer
9. A book you haven't read by your favorite author
   1. Operation Bounce House by Matt Dinniman
10. A Bildungsroman or a coming-of-age story
    1. Unsouled: Cradle Volume 1 by Will Wight
11. A western, fiction or nonfiction
    1. Infinite Dusk: Cowboy Necromancer 1 by Harmon Cooper

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Make Your Plan

If you need help keeping track, pick up a Jax Stacks Reading Challenge bookmark - available at your local library. If you complete the challenge before December 31, 2026: Snap a picture of your completed bookmark and send it to [email protected] to claim a prize!

All winners receive a 50% off coupon to the Friends of the Jacksonville Public Library Bookstore. You may also choose from a Jax-Stacks-branded reusable canvas tote, ceramic mug, journal, or stainless tumbler (while supplies last). 

Get Even More Book Recommendations

1. Find recommendations from other readers on the Jax Stacks StoryGraph Challenge.
2. Check out or add books to the group bookshelf on our Jax Stacks Goodreads Challenge!
3. Sign up for The Book Hookup and get recommendations via email from popular genres.
4. Use the free tools on Novelist Plus to find read-alikes for your favorite titles and authors.
5. See all Forthcoming Books, New Fiction and New Nonfiction on the Library's catalog.