Well folks, here we go again! Have you already set your reading goals for the year?

I actually haven’t. What I am about to say next would usually horrify my Type-A self but… I am not setting any reading goals for 2026.

Okay, I have picked myself up off the floor now.
Don’t get me wrong, there are definitely things I would like to achieve with my reading this year, but I’m not setting any hard goals this time. Last year my goals were a little looser than they had ever been, and I was less fussed about actually completing them. I ended up having one of the best reading years I’ve ever had. I learned that I am actually something of a mood reader, and I don’t really like having to read something in a set time to check a box.

Lets look at what I actually achieved from the goals I set at the start of 2025…

✿ I wanted to focus on reading books I already owned. I did that a little bit, but my library also expanded quite a lot. New books are exciting!

✿ I wanted to keep a reading journal. Yeah, this didn’t last past February.

✿ I wanted to read more diversely in genre and representation. I did this! I read from a lot of different genres, a lot of my reads had LGBTQIA+ or disability rep, and I read from more POC authors than in 2024.

✿ I wanted to read everything my friends recommended to me. I absolutely did not do this. I read a handful of them, but nowhere near even half.

✿ I wanted to complete r/Fantasy Book Bingo. This doesn’t actually finish until April, and I am on track to complete it in time.

✿ I wanted to read 50% of the picks for a nature book club I am in. I ended up reading 5/12 of the books, so I just missed that one.

So… yeah. I didn’t do so great at completing my goals. I’m not mad about it since I read some great stuff. However, it tells me that while I thrived off setting reading goals in the past, I have very much changed and moved on from that version of myself.

What does this mean for my 2026 reading plans then?

Instead of actual goals with fixed numbers, I have written a list of things I would like to remember when I am picking what to read next.

• Try and read what I already own.
  • I did a count, and I have 175 books owned that are unread across my physical and digital libraries. I’d love to see this number reduced by 2027!
  • This should help me keep on top of my expanding collection by unhauling read books I no longer want, and hopefully means I will finally finish some series!
• Browse through my book lists if I am feeling uninspired.
  • My friends have recommended me some excellent books and I’d love to read more of them. This is no longer a challenge, just a list.
• Don’t neglect non-fiction.
  • I read some amazing stuff in 2025 and I have so many more I’d like to get to! Ideally, I’d love to read at least one a month, but I’m not putting pressure on myself to do that.
• Participate in r/Fantasy Book Bingo 2026.
  • A given, since I am a mod over there, but this seems to be the only challenge I am routinely able to do. I always have a blast reading for it.
  • As for completing the current card, I have thrown away my original plan and populated it with other books from 2025. I have 6 books left to read now, which is totally doable by April.

That’s my list! No actual goals, no readathons, no book clubs, just things to keep in my mind when I am browsing for my next read.

A final note on reading goals is that you might see I’ve set a number goal on both StoryGraph and Pagebound. I do that because I don’t like leaving it unfilled, but I am also not about to set it at an unrealistic number. I’ve gone for 36 this year, less than half my overall total for 2025, and if I don’t reach it? I really don’t care! (I’m also not above lowering it if I need to.)

Other Bookish Wishes…

Again, I am avoiding the word goals!

Aside from reading, I obviously want to keep up with the blog! I’m not going to pressure myself into typing away when I have other work to be doing, but ideally I’ll be able to keep up with reviews and LTB Fridays. This blog brings me a lot of joy, even if I don’t get a single comment sometimes!

Elsewhere on the internet, I would love to participate more in discussions on Pagebound. I joined it in September and it’s such a sweet, happy place to discuss books with others. Just look at it! Come and join me here!

That’s it really. I am excited for the year ahead and all the lovely books that lie in my future!
Have you set any reading goals for 2026?