Have you read something that you really enjoyed and want to give others a reason to try it out because it fits a square? Want to solicit help finding things to read that fit squares? This is a great place to do that.

This thread will contain one top level comment for each Bingo square. In order to preserve the organization and readability of this post, please limit recommendations to only replies on those top-level comments. We will be removing comments that don’t follow this rule for for this specific post.

Markdown Card

A B C D E
1 Number in the Title Author from a Different Continent Featured Creature Minority Author Now a Major Motion Picture
2 Independent Author Set in War Orange Crush Short and Sweet Banned Book
3 Based on Folklore Title: [X] of [Y] FREE SPACE - Off Your TBR Pile LGBTQIA+ Lead Saddle Up
4 New Release Alliterative Title Judge A Book By Its Cover Award Winner Gamble, Game, or Contest
5 Steppin’ Up! Political Late to the Party Cozy Read Jerk with a Heart of Gold

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  • JaymesRS@literature.cafeOPMEnglish
    1·
    5 months ago

    3B Title: [X] of [Y] - The title of the book must feature the format described, such as A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin. HARD MODE: [X] of [Y] and [Z] (the conjunctions can be flexible).

    • ContrariwiseEnglish
      4·
      5 months ago

      Suggestion: Nghi Vo - The Empress of Salt and Fortune; Laini Taylor - Daughter of Smoke and Bone

      My card: Barry Hughart - The Chronicles of Master Li and Number Ten Ox (omnibus)

  • JaymesRS@literature.cafeOPMEnglish
    1·
    5 months ago

    3C FREE SPACE - Off Your TBR Pile: A book that’s been on your TBR list for a long time. HARD MODE: Overlaps with at least one other bingo square theme.

  • JaymesRS@literature.cafeOPMEnglish
    1·
    5 months ago

    4E Gamble, Game, or Contest: Features an organized gamble, game, or contest (life-and-death or otherwise). HARD MODE: Take a gamble on a style or genre of work you don’t typically read, as well.

    • ContrariwiseEnglish
      3·
      5 months ago

      Suggestion: Suzanne Collins - The Hunger Games; Clive Barker - The Damnation Game

      My card: Agatha Christie - The Sittaford Mystery

  • JaymesRS@literature.cafeOPMEnglish
    1·
    5 months ago

    1B Author from a Different Continent: The author(s) resides on a different continent than you do. HARD MODE: The work required translation to be published in your native language.

  • JaymesRS@literature.cafeOPMEnglish
    1·
    5 months ago

    2A Independent Author: Read a work self-published by the author. Any work later published though a conventional publishing house doesn’t count unless you are reading it before the switch, and its rerelease date is after April 30th, 2026. HARD MODE: Not published via Amazon Kindle Direct.

    • ContrariwiseEnglish
      3·
      5 months ago

      My card: Michelle West - Wild Road (est. releasing this month to Patreon backers)

  • JaymesRS@literature.cafeOPMEnglish
    1·
    5 months ago

    2B Set in War: The work takes place with an active war in the foreground or background. The characters do not need to be directly involved in combat, but the war’s presence must be a primary driver of the narrative. HARD MODE: There are more than 2 factions in the war.

    • ContrariwiseEnglish
      3·
      5 months ago

      Suggestion: Joe Haldeman - The Forever War

      My card: Poul Anderson - The High Crusade

  • JaymesRS@literature.cafeOPMEnglish
    1·
    5 months ago

    3E Saddle Up: The narrative revolves around someone whose identity is tied to being a rider of something, such as a horse, dragon, or motorcycle. HARD MODE: The ridden creature/object is treated as a character in its own right.

    • JaymesRS@literature.cafeOPMEnglish
      3·
      5 months ago

      The Temeraire series by Naomi Novik is a bunch of fun if you’re attracted to the idea of what if they had an air force in the Napoleonic Wars, and oh yeah, they are dragons.

    • ContrariwiseEnglish
      3·
      5 months ago

      Suggestion: Anne McCaffrey - Dragonriders of Pern; Mercedes Lackey’s Dragon Jousters series or any of the Heralds books from Valdemar; Rebecca Yarros - Fourth Wing

      My card: using the first suggestion for this square, Naomi Novik - His Majesty’s Dragon

  • JaymesRS@literature.cafeOPMEnglish
    1·
    5 months ago

    1E Now a Major Motion Picture: The work has been adapted into a show or single episode, movie, play, audio drama, or other format. HARD MODE: Watch or listen to the adaptation as well (rewatches are ok!).

    • ContrariwiseEnglish
      3·
      5 months ago

      Suggestion: virtually anything by Jane Austen (so many movies/shows/plays); Gary K. Wolf - Who Censored Roger Rabbit? (warning: not nearly as much fun as the movie Who Framed Roger Rabbit?)

      My card: Jane Austen - Persuasion

  • JaymesRS@literature.cafeOPMEnglish
    1·
    5 months ago

    2C Orange Crush: The title, a prominent element of the cover, or the narrative involves some form of orange (color, word, or fruit). HARD MODE: The work you chose uses multiple types of orange features.

    • ContrariwiseEnglish
      4·
      5 months ago

      Suggestion: Samantha Shannon - The Priory of the Orange Tree; Anthony Burgess - A Clockwork Orange

      My card: Jostein Gaarder - The Orange Girl

      • JaymesRS@literature.cafeOPMEnglish
        2·
        5 months ago

        I looked at this book before, what did you think of it? My brother in law makes wine, and I’ve considered doing it, but I’m more interested in fermentation for foods.

  • JaymesRS@literature.cafeOPMEnglish
    1·
    5 months ago

    4A New Release: New for 2025/2026 (no reprints or new editions). First translations into your language of choice are allowed. HARD MODE: This is the first work you’ve read by this author.

    • JaymesRS@literature.cafeOPMEnglish
      2·
      5 months ago

      The final book of the Fred the Vampire Accountant series by Drew Hayes was supposed to come out last year but was delayed so I’m looking forward to reading that

  • JaymesRS@literature.cafeOPMEnglish
    1·
    5 months ago

    5A Steppin’ Up!: Challenges can come at you quickly, especially for those least prepared. Whether it’s a major leadership position or suddenly being gifted a baby dragon, life is about to get a whole lot harder and more complicated. HARD MODE: The primary PoV does not assume the throne of a monarchy/empire.

    • ContrariwiseEnglish
      3·
      5 months ago

      Suggestion: Christopher Paolini - Eragon

      My card: Alexandra Bracken - Brightly Woven

  • JaymesRS@literature.cafeOPMEnglish
    1·
    5 months ago

    5C Late to the Party: Apparently this is a really popular work, you just haven’t gotten around to it yet. Read a book that you have seen recommended over and over. HARD MODE: Not Harry Potter.

  • JaymesRS@literature.cafeOPMEnglish
    1·
    5 months ago

    3D LGBTQIA+ Lead: A main character identifies as LGBTQIA+. HARD MODE: Includes a significant romantic relationship between characters that identify as LGBTQIA+.

    • ContrariwiseEnglish
      4·
      5 months ago

      Suggestion: any LGBTQIA+ romance, such as TJ Klune - Under the Whispering Door (or pretty much any other book by this author)

      My card: TJ Klune - Wolfsong

  • JaymesRS@literature.cafeOPMEnglish
    1·
    5 months ago

    5B Political: Political movements are a major driver of the work. HARD MODE: From the perspective of machinations in the background, outside the typical positions of power or major government.

    • ContrariwiseEnglish
      3·
      5 months ago

      Suggestion: Jacqueline Carey - Kushiel’s Dart; John Brunner - The Squares of the City

      My card: Cassandra Rose Clarke - Our Lady of the Ice