2025 Book Bingo Reading Suggestions
Get reading suggestions for each category of 2025 Adult Book Bingo. Browse booklists created by our librarians and other sources for suggestions.
2025 Booklists
See reading suggestions for every category of 2025 Book Bingo!
Suggested by a Library worker
- Shelf Talk: Shelf Talk is the Library’s staff blog where we share lots of great book and Library news.
- Seattle Staff Faves 2024: Fiction Part 1, Fiction Part 2: SPL staff select their favorite fiction titles published in 2024.
- Seattle Staff Faves 2024: Nonfiction: SPL staff select their favorite nonfiction titles published in 2024.
SAL Speaker (Past or Present)
- SAL Speaker (Past or Present): A list of books for the SAL Speaker (Past or Present) selected by Library workers.
- SAL Archive: The Seattle Arts & Lectures current and archived events offer a wide array of authors to choose from.
Grief
- Book Bingo NW 2025: Grief: A list of books about grief selected by SPL staff.
- Next Chapter: Grief (Fiction): A list of novels tackling the topic of grief selected by SPL staff.
- Next Chapter: Grief (Nonfiction): A list for nonfiction reads tackling the topic of grief selected by SPL staff.
PNW Nature
- Book Bingo NW 2025: Pacific Northwest Nature: A list of books about Pacific Northwest nature selected by KCLS staff.
- Pacific Northwest Natural History - Flora, Fauna, and more: A list of books on the flora and fauna of the PNW created by SPL Seattle Room librarians.
Censorship
- Book Bingo NW 2025: Censorship: A list of books about censorship selected by SPL staff.
- Nonfiction Books About Censorship: A 2022 Book Riot article featuring nonfiction reads on censorship.
Author from Another Continent
- Book Bingo NW 2025: Author from another continent: A list of books written by authors from outside North America selected by KCLS staff.
- 9 Great American Novels by Authors Born in Other Countries ‹ Literary Hub: A 2018 LitHub article on 9 Great American Novels by Authors Born in Other Countries.
- Popular Books Outside the United States | Book Riot: A 2022 Book Riot article on Popular Books Outside the United States.
- Seattle Picks: International Fiction: A list of books by international authors selected by SPL staff, featuring many authors from other continents.
Suggested by an Independent Bookseller
- Indie Next: Independent booksellers highlight great books in the Indie Next list via Indiebound.org.
- Bookshop.org: An online bookstore that provides proceeds to local independent bookstores and offers multiple lists for browsing.
Flower on the Cover/In Title
- Book Bingo NW 2025: Flower on the cover/in the title: A list of books with flowers on the cover or in the title selected by SPL staff.
- Books With Floral Covers to Brighten Your Shelf | Penguin Random House: A Penguin Random House post on Books With Floral Covers to Brighten Your Shelf.
Intergenerational Friendship
- Book Bingo NW 2025: Intergenerational Friendship: A list of books about intergenerational friendship selected by KCLS staff.
- 8 of the Best Books About Intergenerational Friendships: A 2024 Book Riot article highlighting novels about intergenerational friendships.
- 8 Books About Cross-Generational Friendships: A 2020 Electric Lit article about intergenerational friendship reads.
New-to-You Format
- Hoopla: Try graphic novels and comics, as well as e-books, on Hoopla!
- Overdrive/Libby: New to e-books or e-audiobooks? Download the Libby app and explore!
Dystopia
- Book Bingo NW 2025: Dystopia: A list of dystopian titles selected by KCLS staff.
- 30 Dystopian Novels By and About Women ‹ Literary Hub: A 2017 LitHub article on 30 Dystopian Novels By and About Women.
- The Future Is Now: 40 of the Best Dystopian Novels | Book Riot: A 2023 Book Riot article on the 40 Best Dystopian Novels.
Found Family
- Book Bingo NW 2025: Found Family: A list of books about found family selected by SPL staff.
- 20 Must-Read Books About Found Family | Book Riot: A 2019 Book Riot article on 20 Must-Read Books About Found Family.
- 28 Incredible Books with the Found Family Trope: An Epic Reads article on 28 Incredible Books with the Found Family Trope.
Resistance
- Book Bingo NW 2025: Resistance: A list of books about resistance selected by SPL staff.
- The Path Forward, Part 1: Resource texts centering transformative thought and action ideas around creating social change from an SPL Librarian.
- The Path Forward, Part 2: Resource texts centering transformative thought and action ideas around creating social change from an SPL Librarian.
Humor
- Book Bingo NW 2025: Humor: A list of humorous books selected by KCLS staff.
- The ultimate summer reading list: 15 funny books to make you laugh | Books | The Guardian: A 2024 Guardian article on 15 Books to Make You Laugh.
- 15 funny books for when you need some relief from a heavy world: A 2024 article from blogger Modern Mrs. Darcy suggests a range of humorous books.
Disability
- Book Bingo NW 2025: Disability: A list of books about disability selected by SPL staff.
- 20 Must-Read Fiction and Nonfiction Books about the Disability Experience: A 2023 Guardian article of 20 Must-Read Fiction and Nonfiction Books About the Disability Experience.
- The Disability Readathon: A website about a readathon with a focus on disabled authors and creators.
- The Disability Readathon Recs - Google Docs: A Google doc with titles from the Disability Readathon.
Great Escapes
- Book Bingo NW 2025: Great Escapes: A list of books about great escapes selected by KCLS staff.
- Top 10 Escapes in Books: A 2019 Guardian article on the Top 10 Escapes in Books.
- 14 Armchair Travel Books Offering Idyllic Literary Getaways: A 2024 Everand article on Armchair Travel Books Offering Idyllic Literary Getaways.
Monsters
- Book Bingo NW 2025: Monsters: A list of books about monsters selected by SPL staff.
- “A Monster Can Look Like Whatever It Wants”-- The Allure of Literary Monsters: A 2023 LitHub article on the allure of literary monsters.
- 31 Fairly Obscure Literary Monsters: A 2014 Electric Literature article on obscure literary monsters.
- Nonfiction About Witches, Ghosts, and Other Odd Creatures: A 2023 Book Riot article on nonfiction about witches, ghosts, and other odd creatures.
- True Crime on Crime Reads: True crime articles and essays on the Crime Reads website.
BIPOC historical fiction/nonfiction (BIPOC=Black, Indigenous, and People of Color)
- Book Bingo NW 2025: BIPOC Historical Fiction/Nonfiction: A list of BIPOC historical fiction or historical nonfiction selected by KCLS staff.
- 20 Must-Read Indigenous Historical Fiction Books Set on Turtle Island: A 2023 Book Riot article on must-read Indigenous historical fiction.
- Native American Nonfiction: An SPL staff created list of Native American nonfiction.
- Historical Fiction by Black Authors: A Penguin Random House list of historical fiction by Black authors.
- 2025’s Best Historical Fiction, BIPOC Edition: A 2025 Book Riot article on the best BIPOC historical fiction.
- Historical Fiction set in Asia: A 2025 Five Books article on historical fiction set in Asia.
Hope
- Book Bingo NW 2025: Hope: A list of books about hope selected by KCLS staff.
- Inspirational Books to Rekindle Hope: A Penguin Random House of inspirational books to rekindle hope.
- 14 Writers Choose One Book That Gives Them Hope in a Dark Time: A 2019 LitHub article on books that give authors hope.
- 10 Booker-nominated Books to Make You Hopeful for the Future: Closing out 2024, The Booker Prize suggested ten books - former prize winners or nominated titles - that provide hope for the future and the possibility of new beginnings.
Gender Bender
- Book Bingo NW 2025: Gender Bender: A list of books that bend gender selected by SPL staff.
- Trans Rights Readathon: An annual community created event with curated booklists featuring transgender characters.
- The Best Gender-Flipped Retellings: A 2021 Book Riot article on gender flipped retellings.
Other Reading Suggestions
- Your Next Five Books: Ask our librarians for a personalized reading list tailored to your interests!
- NoveList Plus: Browse this extensive database to get reading suggestions by author, subject and more.