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·
    2 months ago

    5E Jerk with a Heart of Gold: A significant figure may be rude, gruff, or even insufferable; however, beneath all that, a surprising kindness shows in the right moments. Maybe they are bad at the whole feelings thing, are doing it to hide a deep pain or maintain a position of responsibility, or maybe it’s just all a façade, but their actions ultimately reveal a core of genuine caring. HARD MODE: Not A Man Called Ove/Otto.

    • Contrariwise@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
      4·
      2 months ago

      Suggestion: Margaret Owen - Little Thieves

      My card (I struggled to find something for this square that wasn’t romance, then gave up. I plan to try a couple of books, then the other recommendation here if I make it to this square and don’t have any luck…): Marina Dyachenko, Sergey Dyachenko - Vita Nostra; Grace Draven - Entreat Me

    • JaymesRS@literature.cafeOPMEnglish
      2·
      2 months ago

      I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the Scholomance series by Naomi Novik and I have the last one yet to read. The main character definitely qualifies for this.

      It’s in the budding wizard goes to wizard school type genre, but is in a world where those budding wizards are exceptionally vulnerable to evil magical creatures that would like to consume them, and as such, the school is incredibly harsh and many don’t make it out Prior to the events of the trilogy.

  • JaymesRS@literature.cafeOPMEnglish
    1·
    2 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).

    • Contrariwise@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
      4·
      2 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·
    2 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·
      2 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.

    • Contrariwise@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
      3·
      2 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·
    2 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·
    2 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.

  • JaymesRS@literature.cafeOPMEnglish
    1·
    2 months ago

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

    • Contrariwise@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
      4·
      2 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·
    2 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
    1·
    2 months ago

    4D Award Winner: Has won a notable and widely regarded literature award. HARD MODE: More than one award.

  • JaymesRS@literature.cafeOPMEnglish
    1·
    2 months ago

    1D Minority Author: The author is a member of a generally underrepresented or marginalized demographic where you live, such as LGBTQIA+ or BIPOC. HARD MODE: Belongs to more than one minority group.

  • JaymesRS@literature.cafeOPMEnglish
    1·
    2 months ago

    1C Featured Creature: A sentient non-humanoid is the primary PoV, or a non-humanoid creature holds such a prominent role that the work would be completely different without them. Examples: Call of the Wild by Jack London or Old Yeller by Fred Gipson. HARD MODE: Not a sci-fi/fantasy creature.

    • JaymesRS@literature.cafeOPMEnglish
      3·
      2 months ago

      Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Buxton was a fun take on an apocalypse book, from the perspective of the animals that are left behind. So my plan is to slot the sequel Feral Creatures in here.

    • Contrariwise@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
      3·
      2 months ago

      Suggestion: Richard Adams - Watership Down; Richard Adams - The Plague Dogs; Kenneth Grahame - The Wind in the Willows

      My card: Richard Adams - Shardik

  • JaymesRS@literature.cafeOPMEnglish
    1·
    2 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.

  • JaymesRS@literature.cafeOPMEnglish
    1·
    2 months ago

    1A Number in the Title: The work must have a number in the title that’s not a just a volume/version number. Example: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid. HARD MODE: Only numbers in the title.

    • JaymesRS@literature.cafeOPMEnglish
      2·
      2 months ago

      The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton is a fun murder mystery with a groundhog’s day aspect

      My plan for this one is to go hard mode and read 11/22/63 by Steven King. I’ve heard it’s good. It’s also a crossover with Motion Picture.

      I like crossovers where I can find them because it lets me reshuffle them.

  • JaymesRS@literature.cafeOPMEnglish
    1·
    2 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.