Welcome to this week's edition of Top Ten Tuesday which is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week the theme is Goals for 2026 (Bookish or not! Share your reading goals, personal goals, etc.)
Last year was the first time in years that I had set actual goals, and to be honest I am pretty much going to have the same goals this year, so this week's post is going to be both a review of how I went last year and what I am planning this year.
My Goodreads goal for 2025 was to read 104 books, and I easily met this goal. I ended up reading 171 book for this year. This was helped by the fact that I didn't go back to work until August. This year I am going to set the same goal as last year. It is definitely doable even though I am now back at work. I don't want to make it any higher.
Read more Australian authors - I have been reading a lot more British authors, and have found some that I really love, but I do need to make some more space for new to me Aussie authors as well Last year I read 40 books by Australian authors and I would love to read even more this year!
Read more historical fiction - Given I host the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge, I really should read more. Last year I read around 50 historical fiction novels, so I am hopeful that I can read more this year! If I read more Aussie historical fiction books then I could kill two birds with one stone!
Review both of those when I do read them - I am never going to go back to reviewing every single book I read, but I do want to make a concerted effort to read both of the two types I mentioned above. I did pretty well a this last year, particularly when I wasn't working.
I committed to doing the chapter a day War and Peace readalong, so one of my goals was to make sure I actually did it. I didn't achieve this goal. I managed around 70%. I kept up until I went back to work but I am determined to finish it.
I do intend to read some classics this year so I am still contemplating whether I will join the Classics Spin or not! We'll see.
The question I asked last year was "Will this year be the year that I finally figure out how to build engagement on social media?" And the answer was no. I have slow and steady growth on my Bookstagram, but never going to set the word on fire. If you would like to follow me I am intrepidreaderandbaker. I will also follow you back!
I said that I was going to figure out Storygraph last year, which just didn't happen. I am going to stick with Goodreads and try to do the additional Goodreads challenges as much as I can.
My final goal was that I wanted to use the library more. I did this and I will continue to do that this year, although a times it does get a bit tricky balancing review due dates with library due dates.
What are your goals this year?
Congrats on your success with your goals last year and good luck for this year!
ReplyDeleteWow, you read a lot of books last year. Good for you.
ReplyDeleteGood work on meeting so many of your goals! I listed mine here: https://barbaraleeharper.com/2026/01/08/reading-plans-for-2026/ I like of balance of planning for some reads but leaving enough freedom to pick up something I come across that I want to read during the year.
ReplyDeleteI love that you want to focus on Australian authors more. In recent years, I've found myself focusing more on Canadian authors. I feel like it's kind of become a niche for me in the bookish space online.
ReplyDeletePam @ Read! Bake! Create!
https://readbakecreate.com/2026-edition-12-books-i-hope-to-read-in-2026/
Good luck with all your goals! I think I would be happier if I didn't try to review all the books I read, LOL! So maybe that is a goal I should have. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteI think it's marvelous that you are planning to read more Australian authors and that you hope to read more historical fiction (to me, it's amazing that you already read 50 books a year!)
ReplyDeleteThese are great goals! I’m searching for some great Australian authors. Who would you recommend?
ReplyDeleteGood luck! I love historical fiction and need to read more of it.
ReplyDeleteBack in the day, I wrote a long, in-depth review of every book I read. That got really stressful really fast! I don't do that anymore, but I do write a quick review of every book I read on Goodreads. It helps me get my initial ideas down so I can write a longer review on my blog if I choose to. It's been very liberating for me.
ReplyDeleteI just decided to join Dragon Rambles' Law of Fives reading challenge, which requires reading Aussie and Kiwi authors, so I'll definitely be scouring your blog looking for ideas.
Happy TTT (on a Wednesday)!