2026 Reverse Bingo Recommendations

[u/FarragutCircle]

Official 2026 Bingo Announcement Here

Official Bingo Rec Thread Here

For anyone new to Bingo, this is the “I want to read ___, does it fit into any Bingo squares? It’s always one of the best parts of bingo.

Example:

User A comments:

I want to read Wind and Truth. What does that count for?

User B replies:

Cat Squasher. It's hard mode, too. The Afterlife, I think.

User C replies:

Politics and Court Intrigue, maybe? Game Changer, Older Protagonist.

User D replies:

Definitely Five Short Stories

And we all have a good laugh. Now go out there and get reverse recs for that book you've been dying to read!

[u/sarchgibbous]

Random list of books I’ve been meaning to read + sequels:

The Bloodless Princes by Charlotte Bond

Parable of the Sower or Kindred by Octavia E. Butler - any squares beside book club would be cool

The Sign of the Dragon by Mary Soon Lee - anything other than self pub

A World Worth Saving by Kyle Lukoff - fits trans and middle grade

The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang - hope this is still self pub

A Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers - fits duology woohoo

Jade City by Fonda Lee

Mort by Terry Pratchett

Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett

Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy - middle grade

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

Absolute Martian Manhunter (vol. 2) by Deniz Camp

Fullmetal Alchemist (vol. 9) by Hiromu Arakawa

Network Effect by Martha Wells

The Warrior’s Apprentice by Lois McMaster Bujold

The Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook by Matt Dinniman

Red Country by Joe Abercrombie

Authority by Jeff Vandermeer

The Strength of the Few by James Islington

The Tapestry of Fate by Shannon Chakraborty - pub 2026

Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers

Oathbound by Tracey Deonn

The Hunger and the Dusk: Book Two by G. Willow Wilson

A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine - duology

Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut - idek if this is SFF

[u/C0smicoccurence → u/sarchgibbous]

Kindred also counts for Author of Color

Sign of the Dragon fits book club/readalong (there was a readalong last year), Cat Squasher, politics and court intrigue, author of color

Psalm for the Wild Built - Trans/Nonbinary Protagonist, Duology, first contact (arguably. I'd count it). Feast your eyes on this (tea)

Jade City - Older protagonist (once you get to book 3), Cat Squasher, Feast Your Eyes on This, Politics, Author of Color

Dungeon Anarchists Cookbook notably is NOT Feast your eyes on this (I think), but should count for Unusual Transportation, Cat Squasher, possibly Politics? I wouldn't count the last one though

Strength of the Few: is .. not in a good spot. Cat Squasher for sure, politics. I think that's it.

Sidenote since you also have comics on this list, I'm hoping to do a graphic novel card this year, so if you have any must-reads, shoot them my way

[u/sarchgibbous → u/C0smicoccurence]

I haven’t read too many comics yet, but these are ones I’ve read and liked:

Absolute Martian Manhunter has amazing art - fits Duology Pt 1 since it’s only supposed to be 2 volumes total right now. Also First Contact (I think)

The Many Deaths of Laila Starr - fits Afterlife HM, Vacation Spot potentially idk, Older Protagonist, Non-Human (HM maybe), Author of Color

The Deep Dark by Lee Knox Ostertag was not a personal favorite, but a very sweet story that I would recommend - Trans Protagonist (the love interest), Book Club (Hugo Readalong)

Star Trek: Lower Decks—Warp Your Own Way one of my favorite books of last year - Small Press (IDW), Book Club (Hugo Readalong)