Happy New Year 2026! We’re already a week in. Hope you had a great start to the New Year!
2025 was a challenging year personally. Mom’s health issues. Another hospitalisation. But it was also a year with lots to be grateful for. Now that things are finally settling down, we are cautiously optimistic about 2026.
If you have been following me for the past few years, you would know that books are my coping mechanism. I turn to books to escape the realities of life. 2025 was another such year. I may not have read too many books. In fact, DNF-ed a lot. But it was a year I read some fantastic books.
Read on as I wrap up 2025 and share the challenges I have signed up for in 2026.
The Statistics
One of the only bookish goals I stuck to, I got back to tracking my reading after dropping the ball in 2024 (and a couple of months in early 2025). During the Holidays, I sat down to update my reading tracker spreadsheet. I am a visual person, and I love to see a graphical representation of how I read throughout the year.
The current total is 32 books (I missed a few), with a record number of DNFs. Not including the ones I read for work. Note to self. I need to include them going forward in 2026.
One of my favorites is the genres graph. Even though it was not a conscious decision, I read pretty diversely in 2025. I read more contemporary fiction since I was tackling my owned TBR. And with audiobooks being my medium of choice, there was a substantial number of non-fiction too.
As always, the formats graph is not surprising at all. I still prefer the digital formats. Most of the ebooks I read were from the Blogchatter Book list. As I mentioned before, audiobooks are my medium of choice, and I do read some ebooks with text-to-speech for non-fiction.
Over the last few years, I have made a conscious decision to support authors by purchasing their books whenever possible, instead of review copies. Then there were quite a few Audible audiobooks that I had purchased that I finally got around to reading. The borrowed books (Kindle Unlimited and Storytel subscriptions) do make a sizable chunk. ARCs and review copies are missing because I did not request them in 2025, although I did receive a few ARCs for 2026 releases at Edelweiss.
Favorite Picks of 2025
With limited reading time, I had been quite picky with my selections. No surprise that I ended up reading some excellent books. Adding a few of my favorite 2025 reads below. I am lagging behind on the reviews that I hope to catch up on.
Reading Challenges for 2026
With everything else apart from my mom taking a back seat, I did not sign up for any reading challenge in 2025. As we move into the new year, I am trying to bring back structure to my reading and blogging. That includes signing up for my favorite reading challenges. The low-pressure ones that allow me to read at my own pace.
As always, I set a safe target of 24 at Goodreads, which I may (or may not) update later.
The Reading with Muffy challenge, hosted by Shalini @ readingwithmuffy, was the first reading challenge I participated in as a book blogger back in 2020. Although the monthly challenge is limited to Instagram this year, I am surely giving it a try. Maybe this year I can finally complete it.
I am signing up for Book’d Out’s 2026 Nonfiction Reader Challenge as Nonfiction Nosher (12 books, 12 categories). It is a challenge I try to participate in each year. I have aced the Nonfiction Nibbler (6 books, 6 categories) a few times before and am feeling particularly brave this year.
I am also joining Shinjini @ Modern Gypsy’s 2026 Book Bingo challenge. A fun challenge that helps diversify my reading.
As always, Audiobook Challenge hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer and That’s What I Am Talking About is a given. I am choosing Binge Listener level with 20-30 audiobooks.
Wish me luck!
How was your reading year in 2025. Which were favorite books? What reading challenges are you participating on 2026? Do share about them in the comments below.
A Quiet Reading Year 2025 and Reading Challenges for 2026 #BookishLeague Share on X
This post is part of the Bookish League blog hop hosted by Bohemian Bibliophile.
Photo credit: Canva.com
January 9, 2026 @ 5:48 pm
Looks like you had an amazing year in books. I have Han Kang books on my radar. I’ll see if I can get this one. Wish you a fabulous 2026.
January 23, 2026 @ 10:21 am
Like you, reading is my coping mechanism too. 2025 proved to be a good year. I read some great books, tried out some new/unfamiliar authors and managed to attend a few physical book club meets too. I hope your mom is better and that 2026 proves to be a happier, easier, more productive year.
Will look forward to your reviews, specially of the Han Kang book – an author I have stayed away from.
January 23, 2026 @ 10:57 am
Sounds like a huge plan, Ritu. But I always enjoy your recommendations and book lists. I look forward to what you have to bring this year.
January 25, 2026 @ 11:18 am
If you call 2025 less-than-your-best reading year, then the lazy me dreads to know about your better years. But instead of being depressed at my lack of sufficiency in the reading world, I shall motivate myself to at least aspire your 2025 levels. I’ve read about 12 books last year, many of which I enjoyed. Hope to participate in the Goodreads challenge this year.
January 28, 2026 @ 5:52 pm
I haven’t counted the number of books I read in 2025, but would be same as yours, around 35+. It was more of non fiction for me. This year, I aim to read more for myself than reviews. I like the graphs you have made, that process I would like to try out.
February 2, 2026 @ 7:31 pm
First of all, I am glad Madhu auntie is better.
Second, you really are a master with all the graphs. I think I need to do better with my reading tracking!
Third, did I spot Love Awaits!! Aww thank you!!
But seriously, you are such an amazing reader. You read across genres, and your reviews are ones that I really depend upon. So all the best, and hope you have an amazing reading wala 2026!
February 4, 2026 @ 4:05 pm
You do have a remarkable record of good reading. All the best for the year ahead.