This week’s topic for Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, is our reading goals and challenges for 2026.
Last year I said I wanted to be more flexible, to read for enjoyment, and also leave myself time to pick up challenges throughout the year. I didn’t accomplish those goals, as I read more ARCs and focused more on challenges. But I also ended up having more time on my hands than I expected.
My 2025 Reading
In 2025, I read 102 books, compared to 106 in 2024. I read 26 nonfiction books, which is much higher than the 10 I read last year. Overall, I read more nonfiction, more ARCs and backlist books — but fewer books about other countries and fewer series books. My most-read genres were literary, contemporary, romance, fantasy, historical fiction, and memoir. I read 13 books by Jewish authors or primarily about Jewish characters.
I read 52 new-to-me authors. I read 15 books that were part of series, and 6 of these were series I started this year. I read 14 books that were primarily set in countries outside the U.S. and U.K. I read 27 backlist books. According to The StoryGraph, the primary mood of my reading was emotional and reflective. Last year, I read more books that were adventurous, lighthearted and funny. Not surprising, given the year that 2025 was.
I read far more ARCs, more than two a month. Before I say want to reduce that this year, here are some of my favorite books from last year that were ARCs: Happy Land, Black Woods Blue Sky, Sisters in the Wind, Fagin the Thief, A Far Better Thing, As a Jew, I’ll Tell You When I’m Home, and Spell Freedom. Hmmm… that makes me think that ARCs aren’t such a bad thing.
My 2026 Reading Challenges
I always enjoy Book’d Out’s Nonfiction Reader Challenge and I was happy to complete the challenge in 2025, so I’ll be participating again. This year, Book’d Out is also hosting a speculative reading challenge, and I’ve already read two books for that.
I’ll continue to follow the 52 Book Club challenge, which is a set of 52 prompts you have to meet. I like these challenges because for the most part, I can read what I want to, except for a few prompts where I really have to stretch myself.
I’m going to continue tracking my backlist books, which are published in 2024 or earlier and on my TBR before 2024. I don’t have specific goals, but I plan on tracking my progress in the Beat the Backlist challenge and prioritizing these books that have been on my shelf for a while.
In 2025 I established a new reading goal, inspired by my dad, to read more books by Jewish authors. I read 13 books in 2025 and completed 10 prompts, but it was more challenging than I expected. Since the Jewish Genre Reading Challenge doesn’t seem to exist this year, I’ve joined the Jewish Reads 2026 challenge at The StoryGraph, which tracks monthly Jewish reading.
I always try to read from the Women’s Prize longlist for fiction and nonfiction, which come out in February and March. Last year some of my favorite books from these lists were: The Safekeep, All Fours, The Dream Hotel, Nesting, By the Fire We Carry, and Raising Hare.
Blogging and Life Goals
I’m still trying to figure out my next career direction, whether it’s teaching or education policy or something else. I’m prioritizing my health this year, both mental and physical. I’ve been working on strength-building, eating more protein, and drinking more water. I’ve also been working on journaling and essay-writing, and I hope to build on that this year. Last year I posted a “Freewriting Friday” and my goal is to post some non-bookish writing at least once a month.
Those are some of my goals and plans for the year. My challenge page is here. If you’ll be participating in any of these challenges, or you’re hosting a challenge, please share in the comments.
