Reading Less, Thinking More
A 2025 reading reflection and my very serious bookish goals for 2026
As 2025 comes to an end, it’s time to reflect on the past 12 months and plan for the year ahead. Many will be jotting down career aspirations, updating financial spreadsheets, and taking before photos in their most flattering bra. Me? I’m busy considering my reading goals with the same intensity as a runner training for an ultra–Ironman–tri–whatever-the-fuck.
Looking Back
Almost as much as I love reading, I love researching books and curating a TBR that feels intentionally built around my tastes and goals. At the start of the year, I felt genuinely set up for success and can honestly say that it showed. Of the 42 books I read, a whopping 33 earned four stars or higher, including several that easily rank among the best books I’ve ever read.
At first, I considered that I wasn’t being as critical as I’d like to be with my ratings. But this year I incorporated a multi-category system that feels pretty all-encompassing for the kinds of stories that I read the most. Ultimately, I think the high rating average reflects how closely my reading aligned with what a five-star experience actually means for me.
While I read more than 20 fewer books than I did last year, I found a much better sense of balance. I threw quantity out the window and gave myself the time to actually digest what I was reading. Slowing down made a huge difference, and I saw both my enjoyment and comprehension rise.
One standout from this year was Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell, which I read alongside watching the adaptation with The Sisterhood Book Club’s Patreon (@KrisandMads on TikTok). While that shit was lowkey traumatic, it was one of my favorite reading-and-watching experiences of the year.
My most-read author by far was Robin Hobb. I’ve been slowly making my way through The Realm of the Elderlings since January and still have five books left (emotional breakdown loading…). So far, I’ve completed The Farseer Trilogy, Liveship Traders, Tawny Man, two books from The Rain Wild Chronicles, and a couple of novellas. I love this world so much and am savoring every moment I get to spend in it.
I am most proud of all that I managed to pull my website together, beta read three books, start writing reviews and blog posts, and do some critiquing for new and aspiring authors on Reddit. I have no clue what I’m doing, but am trying to simply let this grow from my need to process what I’m reading and put into words the thoughts that genuinely won’t leave me alone otherwise. This year, I’ve learned that I enjoy sharing my reflections, not because I think my opinions are definitive, but because reading feels so much richer when it turns into conversation.
Looking Forward
In 2026, I plan to prioritize classics and page-to-screen adaptations. There are several upcoming films I’m especially excited about, including Wuthering Heights (Feb 2026), Sense and Sensibility (Sept 2026), and East of Eden (TBD 2026). Reading these stories ahead of their releases maximizes my enjoyment—I love watching trailers, following interviews, and considering the creative decisions that shape both the book and the film.
I’m hoping to get to some other classics that have been lingering on my TBR, including Little Women, Pride and Prejudice, and The Count of Monte Cristo.
In terms of fantasy and sci-fi, I’ll definitely be finishing The Realm of the Elderlings and continuing the Red Rising series by Pierce Brown, which I’ve been buddy reading with a friend. After that, I may finally start some Joe Abercrombie or Brandon Sanderson.
In 2026, my most important goal is to blog more consistently. Writing about books helps me slow down, notice more, and connect with other people who love stories as much as I do, and that’s something I want to keep making space for going forward.
I’m not entirely sure why I treat reading with this level of intensity, but I do know that planning what I read forces me to think intentionally about the kind of stories that I want in my life. This transforms my reading from a passive pass-time into an intentional habit—one that doesn’t just fill my life, but shapes it.
