2026 Challenge Speculation

[Nadine in NY]

We don't know anything about the 2026 Challenge ... yet. But soon we will!! PS has teased us with the hint of a garden theme, and the promise of some early reveals this October.

Here's the place to speculate about what you think is coming, and to chat about how you feel about it once it arrives.

[Jennifer W]

With a gardening theme (which I potentially really like!), I expect:

Plants on the cover
Author/character name that is also a flower (Rose, Lily, Iris, etc)
Romance to "bloom" (cynic in me says UGH! lol)

[Fannie]

I like those guesses Jennifer.

I would say something about the color of the cover (green).

Fruit or vegetable in the title.

[Laura Ruth]

We can safely say that there will be something about horses, for the Chinese astrology prompt.

Possibly a book or author's name starting with Z.

[As You Wish]

26th in a series is my guess

[Dubhease]

I hope there is something about iron or marathons for the number 26.

[Laura Ruth]

As You Wish wrote: "26th in a series is my guess"

I hope not! Trying to figure out an author's 24th book had people tearing their hair out last year.

[Nadine in NY]

I'm thinking plants or flowers on the cover, something historical fictiony that involves gardens, and a microhistory of a vegetable.

It's been nine days now since the first tease, I wish they would come back and tell us SOMETHING already!

[Nadine in NY]

As You Wish wrote: "26th in a series is my guess"



That would be difficult!!!

[Victoria]

I could see another book in one sitting prompt come up, especially when paired with a note from them about reading outside in a garden or park.

However, I'm going all in on betting on a nonfiction book about nature/the natural world prompt

[Charlotte]

Getting a teaser about teasers is almost worse than hearing nothing at all! Lol It does seem like a garden theme, maybe a cozy mystery about gardening or flowers on the cover. A book about growth or starting over (i.e. blooming). A book set in Spring.

I'm not personally a fan of gardening (I have a brown thumb), but I do love a good theme and it seems like the past few years have had one.

[Nadine in NY]

Charlotte wrote: "Getting a teaser about teasers is almost worse than hearing nothing at all! Lol It does seem like a garden theme, maybe a cozy mystery about gardening or flowers on the cover. A book about growth o..."



FOR REAL!!

I think she got ahead of herself when she promised teasers all October, and then realized "oops we aren't ready"

I wonder how much workshopping goes into the precise wording of the list?

[Jennifer W]

Lol, we are only halfway through the month! :)

I was also thinking there might be an Italy prompt for the winter Olympics.

[Laura Ruth]

I assume there will be something about sports, and another prompt about music.

[Erica]

A gardening theme... Well I have a black thumb and managed one zucchini this year.
Houseplants and Their Fucked-Up Thoughts: P.S., They Hate You is the closest book I've read in years to a gardening book.

[Nadine in NY]

Jennifer W wrote: "Lol, we are only halfway through the month! :)
"



well yeah, but on Oct 1st she posted: "Some of the best blooms come from early seeds, so we're giving you a head start for 2026. But gardens need tending, so watch this space this month as we sow even more exciting announcements coming soon ..." which made it sound like there'd be announcements throughout the month of October. 17 days into the month and nothing yet. She certainly succeeded in increasing the number of hits her FB group gets each day - I'm sure I'm not the only one who keeps checking!!!