| Non-human protagonist | Re-read | An author from a country you've never visited | One-word title | Originally published the decade you were born |
| Month or day of the week in the title | Sub-title on the cover | Story within a story | About a person with a disability | Set in a place you'd like to vacation |
| Debut | Collection of poetry | ANY BOOK (free square) | By an author on your previous year's favorites list | Classic |
| With a beautiful cover | Chosen by a celebrity bookclub (at any time) | Set in a country you've never visited | Set in a place you'd like to know more about | By an author on your current year favorites list |
| Recommended on a podcast | On a friend's Favorites shelf | Set in the state where you live | Written under a pseudonym | Recommended in Modern Mrs. Darcy's Summer Reading Guide (any year) |