The adult reading challenge encourages adult readers, ages 18 and up, to read more books, discover new authors and genres, and develop or deepen their love of reading.
There are 30 categories to choose from. Read a book from 15 categories to complete the challenge and earn a prize. Read a book from all 30 categories to earn a bonus prize.
You can track your progress by using the app Beanstack for reading challenges. You can download the app or use it in a browser. As you finish each category, add the title of the book you read to that category’s badge on Beanstack.
You can also track what you read with the challenge bookmark, which is available at the library’s Reference and Fiction desks.
Categories
1) Book that's been on your TBR the longest
2) Historical fiction recommended by a librarian
3) Graphic nonfiction
4) By an Asian-American author
5) Includes a non-binary character
6) A banned book
7) Released in 2024
8) By or related to Jane Austen
9) From a library display
10) City setting impacts plot
11) A short story collection
12) From one of the "punk" genres
13) A religion you don't practice
14) A Hugo, Printz, or Booker-award nominee or winner
15) Related to pets
16) Includes a monster
17) Afrofuturism or Africanfuturism
18) Your favorite color in the title or cover
19) About the life of an artist
20) Poetry written by a U.S. Poet Laureate
21) By or related to Shakespeare
22) About running, hiking, or walking
23) Related to the ocean
24) A one-word title
25) Mythology retelling that is NOT Greek or Roman
26) A popular author you haven't read
27) A psychological thriller
28) A middel grade novel
29) Set in or about a library
30) Orem Reads 2025 book
Want to keep a copy of the challenge catergories with you? Print this handy list for easy reference.
Frequently Asked Questions
The library uses the app Beanstack for reading challenges. You can download the app or use it in a browser. As you finish each category, add the title of the book you read to that category’s badge on Beanstack.
You can also track what you read with the challenge bookmark, which is available at the library’s Reference and Fiction desks.
If you want to be entered into the prize drawing and earn the completion prize, you do need to use Beanstack to record what you read.
If you just want to complete the challenge for personal satisfaction, you don’t have to record in Beanstack.
There are two types of prizes: the completion prizes and the drawing prizes. Completion prizes are earned by reading 15 or 30 books. Drawing prizes are won by entering tickets as badges are earned in Beanstack.
Completion prizes will be available in early autumn. Drawing prizes will be added throughout the challenge; they will be awarded at the end of the challenge and available to be picked up in January 2026.
The categories are listed on the bookmark, the Beanstack challenge, and the Collection Spotlights.
No. These are just suggestions. You can interpret the categories in your own way and choose what you think fits.
Most of the categories have a recommendation list. You can see the lists on the library website, library.orem.gov, by clicking on “Spotlights” and then “Reading Challenges.”
Print, e-book, audio, and e-audiobooks all count towards the challenge. You can read fiction or nonfiction books from the adult OR teen section. This year there is also one category for middle grade/junior fiction.
No. As long as the book is written for adults or teens, it counts.
You can read either a library copy or a personal copy. If the library does not have a book you would like to read, you can submit a request for the library to purchase it.
Use the hashtag #opladultreadingchallenge2025 and make sure to tag @oremlibrary.
After you've read the required 15 books and logged them on Beanstack, you may pick up your completion prize at the fiction desk in the south wing of the library beginning in early autumn. The date that completion prizes are available will be announced on the library’s social media and by email. Winners of the ticket drawings will be contacted via email in January 2026 with pick-up instructions.