07 February 2025

300 TBR Prompts to Help You Decide What to Read Next

Written by: Melissa Ng

Bookish

What Are TBR Prompts?

Ever stared at your bookshelf for way too long, trying to decide what to read next? That’s where TBR prompts come in.

TBR (To Be Read) prompts give you a fun, structured way to choose your next book instead of overthinking it for half an hour and then giving up to scroll TikTok.

They help you make progress on your reading list, push you out of your comfort zone, and make picking a book way more interesting.

If your TBR pile is getting out of hand (and let’s be real, whose isn’t?), this might be exactly what you need.

Preview of the printable 300 TBR Prompts PDF with the text "Printable Reading Challenge" and "300 TBR Prompts To Help You Read More".

How To Use TBR Prompts

There are a few ways to use TBR prompts, depending on how chaotic you want the process to be.

TBR Jar – Write different prompts on small pieces of paper, chuck them in a jar, and pull one out when you need to pick your next book.
Random Number Generator – Assign numbers to your prompts and let an online generator pick for you.
Spreadsheets & Apps – If you love a good spreadsheet (who doesn’t?), you can organise your prompts digitally and use a random selection tool.
The Rule of Fate – Ask a friend to pick a prompt for you. If you hate their choice, you’ll realise what you actually want to read. Win-win.

No matter which method you choose, the key is to not cheat.

If you’re picking and re-picking until you get the book you already had in mind, you may as well just choose it in the first place.

A grey cat playing with a jar of TBR prompts on a wooden table. Paper strips with reading prompts are scattered around.

Duke helps pick the next book to read from the TBR jar. Which prompt will it be?

Download Your Free Printable TBR Prompts PDF

To make things easy, I’ve put together a free printable PDF with 300 TBR prompts you can download and use for your own TBR jar.

Print it, cut it up, and let the jar decide what you’re reading next.

Simply sign up to my newsletter (don’t worry, I promise I won’t spam you) and I’ll email you a copy of the PDF.

300 TBR Prompts For Every Reader

Here’s a breakdown of 300 TBR prompts to suit every kind of reader.

Whether you like reading outside your comfort zone or just need to make a dent in your never-ending pile, there’s something here for you.

Genre-Based Prompts

Setting-Based Prompts

A book set during a festival or holiday
A book set on an island
A book about a journey or road trip
A book set in a school
A book set in a dystopian future
A book set at sea
A book set in a fictional kingdom
A book set in your home country
A book set in the countryside
A book set in a workplace
A book set near a famous world landmark
A book set on a different planet
A book set in a magic school
A book set in a country you've never visited
A book where the main character moves to a new city
A book set in a high school
A book set in space
A book set in a forest or woods
A book set in the 1900s
A book set in the 2000s
A book set in the 2010s
A book set in the 2020s.
A book that revolves around New Year’s Eve
A book set at a wedding
A book set during a war
A book set in a city
A book set in a place you’d love to visit
A book set in a small town
A book set in the future
A book set on a train or plane
A book set underground
A book with a gothic setting
A book that matches the current season

Character-Based Prompts

A book with a morally grey main character
A book featuring a strong female lead
A book with a main character over 60
A book told from the villain's perspective
A book with a main character on a quest
A book with a non-human main character
A book featuring a character with a disability
A book about a group of friends
A book featuring LGBTQIA+ characters
A book with a character who is a doctor or healer
A book with a character who is a thief
A book featuring a royal family
A book where a character is an assassin
A book where the main character is seeking revenge
A book where a character is immortal
A book where a character has lost their memory
A book where a character inherits an unusual item
A book with a psychic character
A book with a rebellion or resistance group
A book featuring spies
A book where the character has a secret identity
A mystery book featuring secret societies
A book with a detective character
A book with a diverse cast of characters
A book with a journalist solving a crime
A book with animals as key characters
A book with witches or wizards
A book where the main character has amnesia
A book where the main character has an interesting job

Author-Based Prompts

A debut book written by a new author
A book by a BIPOC author
A book by an author you've never read before
A book by your favourite author
A book by an author under 30
A book by an author over 50
A book by a famous author
A book by a celebrity
A book by an author from your country
A book co-written by two authors
A book by an author who uses a pseudonym
A book by an LGBTQIA+ author
A book with a dedication that makes you smile
A translated book

Plot-Based Prompts

A book featuring time travel
A book about friendship
A book based on a true event
A book that revolves around a secret
A book about an unsolved mystery
The first book in a series
A summer romance book
A book involving a heist
A book with a prophecy or chosen one
A book where technology has changed society
A book with two points of views
A book inspired by folklore or fairy tales
A book with a curse that needs to be broken
A book that spans multiple generations
A book featuring a competition
A book about a family secret
A book that features dragons
A book that explores grief or loss
A book inspired by a true crime story
A book about a second chance
A book that will take you on an adventure
A book featuring a breakup
A book that starts with a death
A book with a time loop
A book that features your favourite trope
A book about books
A romance book with a single parent
A book like your favourite TV show
A second chance romance book
A sports romance book
A summer holiday read
A book about a topic unknown to you
A book that features the forbidden love trope
A book about self-discovery
A book with multiple timelines
A book about sibling relationships
A book about a crime in a small town
A book with the enemies-to-lovers trope
A book that explores mental health issues
A book with the fake dating trope
A book like your favourite movie
A book that features a haunted house
A book that features a magical object
A book that features aliens
A book with two timelines
A book that features artificial intelligence
A book with a map
A book with a prologue
A book with an epilogue
A book with an intriguing first line
A book inspired by mythology or legends
A book with the love triangle trope
A book that starts with a boring first line
A book that starts with a flashback
A book that includes diary entries or letters
A book with footnotes or annotations
A book with multiple points of view

Cover & Title-Based Prompts

Book Format & Ownership-Based Prompts

A book you bought because of the title
A book that's been on your TBR the longest
A book you received as a gift
A book you bought on impulse
A second-hand book
A book you bought because of the cover
A book you DNFed
A book you forgot you owned
Listen to an audiobook
An eBook
A hardback book
A paperback book
A book that completes a series you've started
A classic you’ve been avoiding
A book from the library
A book that's part of a trilogy
A book with more than 500 pages
A book that's part of a duology
A book with short chapters
A book with long chapters
A book with illustrated chapter headings
A book with numeral chapter numbers (1,2,3)
A book with lettered chapter numbers (One, Two, Three)
A book with roman numeral chapter numbers (I, II, III)
A self-published book
A book published by a small or independent press
A book originally self-published but has been picked up by a traditional publisher
A book over 100 years old
A book you think is too long
A book you’ve been avoiding
A classic you’ve never finished
A book adapted into a movie or TV show
A book from a series you loved as a kid
A book that is more than 1,000 pages
The most recently published book
The last book added to your TBR
A book that’s part of a series you haven’t finished
A book published before you were born
A book released last year
A book released this year
The third book on your TBR
Reread a childhood favourite book
A book with less than 300 pages

Awards, Reviews & Popularity-Based Prompts

A book that won an award
A book that's been on a bestseller list
A book with mixed reviews
A book that's trending on social media
A book featured in a famous book club (e.g., Reese's Book Club)
A book that's won a Goodreads Choice Award
A book with an average rating of 4.5 and above
A book with the least reviews on Goodreads
A book with the most reviews on Goodreads
A book you predict will be 5 stars
A book you predict you'll rate low
A book that critics consider a "must-read"
The last book recommended to you
A book recommended by a celebrity
A book recommended by a friend
A book you’ve been looking forward to reading

Creative Ways to Pick a TBR Prompt

If you want to mix things up even more, here are a few extra ways to pick your next book using TBR prompts:

Use a TBR Prompt Generator – There are online tools that randomly suggest prompts for you. Great if you don’t want to deal with writing them all down yourself. I quite like the one made by hey, reader!
Roll a Dice – Assign numbers to prompts and let the dice decide.
Poll Your Friends – Let your mates (or your pet!) vote on what you should read next (and then immediately regret it when they pick something you didn’t want).
Follow a Reading Challenge – Monthly or yearly reading challenges often have built-in prompts that help you mix up your selections.
Go with the Algorithm – Look at your Goodreads or Fable “Want to Read” list and pick the book with the highest rating.

A grey cat resting beside a jar of TBR prompts on a wooden table, looking up with bright yellow eyes.

Duke takes a break while keeping the TBR jar safe. Time to choose a prompt!

Why Use TBR Prompts?

Still not convinced? Here’s why TBR prompts are a game-changer:

They stop you from overthinking – No more standing in front of your bookshelf feeling overwhelmed.
They help you read more widely – You’ll end up picking up books you’d usually ignore.
They make reading more fun – Gamifying your reading makes it feel less like a chore and more like an adventure.
They help you tackle your backlog – If your TBR list is out of control, prompts help you get through it faster.

A close-up of a jar filled with TBR prompts on a wooden table, with selected prompts like “released last year” and “set in space” shown nearby.

A peek at the TBR jar and some fun prompts to inspire your next read

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I create my own TBR prompts?

Start with things that interest you. You can focus on genres, themes, cover elements, or personal challenges (e.g., “read a book published the year I was born”). The more specific, the better!

What if I don’t like the book I pick from a prompt?

You have two options: give it a go or pick again. There’s no rule saying you have to read something just because a tiny piece of paper told you to.

How often should I update my TBR prompts?

Whenever you feel like it! If your current prompts start feeling stale, swap them out for fresh ones.

Final Thoughts

TBR prompts are a great way to make choosing your next book easier (and a bit more fun).

Whether you’re using a TBR jar, a generator, or just picking at random, they’ll help you get through your reading list without the endless decision-making.

Happy reading!

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