Tis the season for setting new goals and resolutions for all areas of our lives. Bookworms are no different in this regard, as we rush to Goodreads and Storygraph to set an ideal number to complete and subsequently make our year a success. I’m definitely no different, but I’m also an overachieving busybody, so I tend to set a greater variety of goals within that number. Usually, I do this in the form of a vision board, but since I don’t have a printer this year, I whipped up a bingo board with 25 reading goals for 2026.

Here’s what’s on my board, from top left to bottom right.

1. Read 5 classics. I grew up as that weirdo kid who was reading Pride and Prejudice in a tree at 10 or 11, and always enjoyed a classic. In the chaos that is the bookstagram/ booktok/ booktube world, I’ve found myself getting caught up in what’s new and next, while letting the high quality stories cherished by generations fade out of my consciousness. I’d like to get back to the classics, but recognize that it’s easier said than done while still keeping up with what y’all are here for.
2. Read a translated novel. I haven’t done many of these, and would like to do more, not including manga and manwha.
3. Finish a series. I’ve started several popular series, but haven’t managed to finish them due to the distractions of shiny new books. Options include: ACOTAR, Dungeon Crawler Carl, or Outlander.
4. Read 10 debut authors. Introducing my followers to debut authors is one of my favorite things. It’s special to be among the first to find a writer and watch them grow. Ten is probably too low of a number, but I’m not trying to stress myself this year.
5. Complete 75 Booked. A booktoker (@emilypagebooks) created a bookish version of the 75 Hard Challenge and it sounds like fun. It includes two reading sessions a day lasting at least 45 minutes (one cannot be in bed), finish a waterbottle during each reading session, log all reading in a journal or on Goodreads/Storygraph, and no buying books.
6. Unhaul 30 books. My shelves are crying. I must share or be buried.
7. Read 10 books owned before 2026. Again, my shelves are crying and I didn’t do a great job keeping up with the additions in 2025. This is also a lowball goal, since I have so many ARCs for this upcoming year that I can still stay on top of deadlines without breaking this, but a finished book is a finished book and I’d like to make a dent on what I’ve got.
8. Complete a Manga/Manwha Series. Two years ago, I started reading manga and manwha, and I really enjoy it. I’m still such a n00b in the world, so I’d like to keep expanding my horizons. My favorite so far is Spy X Family, so if you have recommendations, drop a comment.
9. Try a new genre or style. I take pride in reading at least a little of everything, but I know there’s more to explore. 2025 brought me the LitRPG style (and it’s a style, not genre. See my interview with Matt Dinniman for clarification.), so I’m interested in finding something else new.
10. Read two books recommended by RM from BTS. BTS is back, baby! I wanted to read through as many of his book recs as possible while my beloved K-Pop band was fulfilling their mandatory military service foe the last 3 years… but alas, like all the other things ARMY said we’d do while they were away, I failed. Ope. This is the year of their comeback, so it still counts, right?
11. Read 10 diverse authors. Again with the lowballing. I usually read many more than this and will continue doing so.
12. Go on 5 audiobook walks. I’ve gotten into audiobooks over the last couple years, but haven’t been as active as usual due to my insane schedule. As I’ll be starting over professionally (hopefully), I want to incorporate movement back into my life and audiobooks are a great motivator to make that happen. Five is a lowball, but it’s a first step.
13. Read 100 books. My center space is to finish 100 books in 2026. I’ve been around that number or higher every year since 2020 (thanks, pandemic!). My goal has been 80 books for the last couple years, but I might as well accept the reality and just embrace that 100 is my minimum these days.
14. Re-organize my shelves. Remember that part about them crying? My shelves are currently a disaster. I’ve pulled things from the back layer and not put new books in those slots, and there are several floor stacks piling up. I know I wont be able to make them all fit, but I at least need to try to make it better.
15. Participate in two readathons. One of the fun parts of the booktube community is the plethora of reading challenges. I hosted the Comic Con Readathon with a couple friends the last two years, and dabbled in a couple others here and there. I’d like to participate in at least two that I’m not leading in the year ahead.
16. Post reviews for at least 50% of books read. You’ve probably figured out that it takes me forever to get a book review posted. Usually the photo is the problem (as is the case for several in drafts right now, including one waiting for probably a year…. Ope.) I want to get more consistent at posting reviews, and getting them done on time. Hopefully putting a number on it will help me get my act together.
17. Finish 20 from my most anticipated list. Each year, I make a list of the books I’m most looking forward to. This year, I just did a graphic video due to being under the weather, but I still have 47 books on that list. Reading 20 of them feels like bare minimum since I finished 25 from my 2025 list and didn’t get to 26 of them, but there are fewer this year and that feels like a lower goal is warranted. Lol.
18. Host 5 live reading sprints. Another aspect of the booktube community that I love is the live sprints, where the host sets a timer and we read/work at the same time, then chat together for a break, and repeat. It’s where I’ve found many of my internet book friends. I’ve hosted a few times, but would like to do it more frequently.
19. Read 5 Non-fiction books. I have tried setting a goal for many more and it hasn’t worked yet. Oops.
20. Post 35 new author interview podcasts. I post podcasts weekly on Tuesday. You might notice that goal number is less than the number of weeks in a year. This year, I’m giving myself a little grace to miss a week or two when the travel schedule is insane. It’s so hard to do all the traveling and all the editing, and I’m exhausted. I’d like to not be this worn down at the end of 2026.
21. Journal favorite quotes from 5 books. I have a notebook for writing out book quotes… and I can’t remember the last time I used it. Probably 18 months minimum, if I’m honest. I’d like to get back to that. It helps me remember things a smidge bit longer.
22. Read 10 new authors. I’m always interested in expanding my reading list and mixing things up. There are way more authors out there than I’ll ever get to, but dangit, I’m gonna try!
23. Read 3 writing craft books. One of these days, I’ll finish one of my several works in progress…. maybe. Until then, I’m trying to learn more about the craft for whenever I get time to sit and write.
24. Create 5 new bookish panels. I’ve been moderating panels around the country for a couple years now, including my comic con staple: Battle of the Tropes. While that is an absolute blast, I want to avoid feeling like a broken record
25. Prioritize reading what I want. As much fun as it is to be able to do panels and interviews, I can sometimes get a bit sidetracked by that workload and forget about the books that interest me. In 2025, I found myself prioritizing what I thought other people would want from me instead of what I truly wanted to read, which led to burnout and stress. I mean, I only read half of my most anticipated books, which says a lot. In the year ahead, I want to make this fun and enjoyable again.

I also made a bingo card for authors I’d like to have on LiteraryHype Podcast for the first time in the year ahead. I’ve had a portion of my vision board dedicated to the ‘wall of faces’ for a couple years now, so this just makes it more of a game. There are many other authors I’d like to have on as repeat guests, but I don’t want that to become a rut either.

What are your reading goals for 2026?