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I’m tracking my 2026 reading challenges here. In past years, I’ve tried to read books that pushed me outside of my usual choices or helped me accomplish some goals I vaguely held. This year, I think I want to make my reading more fun. I still want some of those serious books but current events are so stressful, I want more of my reading to be an escape to genres I love.
This looks like a lot, and it kind of is, but I can complete several of these by reading just one book. I’m also scaling back my goals on some of these challenges so I can tackle more of them.
The challenge buttons and names link to to the signup/information posts at the challenge host’s website if you’d like to join me!
Reading Challenges I’m Hosting
Books in Translation Reading Challenge
Hosted here at Introverted Reader. I’m signing up at the beginner level, 1-3 books. #2026booksintranslation
Southern Literature Reading Challenge
Hosted here at Introverted Reader. I’m signing up at level two, 3-4 books. #2026southernlit
Immigration Reading Challenge
Hosted here at Introverted Reader. I’m signing up at level one, 1-3 books. #2026immigrationreading
Challenges I’m Participating In
Craving for Cozies Reading Challenge
Hosted by Escape with Dollycas into a Good Book. Read cozy mysteries. I’m signing up for the peckish level, which is 1-25 cozy mysteries. #CravingCozies
Mount TBR
Hosted by My Reader’s Block. My husband and I stay in our RV while we travel with his job. I need to start reading the books I’ve picked up from local independent bookstores during our travels because this is a very small space. I’m signing up at the Pike’s Peak level–read 12 books that you own. #MountTBR2026
2026 Fairytale Reading Challenge
Hosted by Charity Rau. Read original or retold fairy tales. My goal is to read from 6 of these categories throughout the year.
- January–Snow White
- February–The Wild Swans
- March–Bluebeard
- April–1001 Nights
- May–Villain Retelling
- June–Cinderella
- July–Peter Pan
- August–Rumpelstiltskin
- September–The Little Mermaid
- October–Mythology Retelling
- November–Rapunzel
- December–The Nutcracker
2026 Nonfiction Reader Challenge
Hosted by Shelleyrae at Book’d Out. I’m joining at the Nonfiction Nibbler level to read 6 books, one each from any 6 categories. #ReadNonFicChal | Instagram: @shelleyrae _bookdout | BlueSky: @shelleyrae.bsky.social
- History
- Memoir/Biography
- True Crime
- Science
- Health
- Food
- South East Asia
- Humor
- Lost or found
- Television
- Subculture
- Published in 2026
2026 Key Word Reading Challenge
Hosted by Chapter Adventure. Read a book each month that has one or more of the monthly key words. Participating in this challenge helps me dig up some titles that have been languishing too long on my TBR. I don’t want to read books that aren’t already on my TBR so I’m aiming to read 6 of these in the year. #keywordreadingchallenge
- January–Weekend, Keep, Ground, Door, Among, Midnight, Glitter, Highway
- February–Lying, Ruin, Alchemy, Hoax, Blind, Chance, Flower, Sound
- March–Favorite, Orange, Picture, Broken, Sister, Look, Forget, Fortune
- April–Mirror, Mist, Party, Stray, Light, People, Everlasting, Spell
- May–Bright, Creek, Letter, Empire, Forever, Emerald, Wreck, Eye
- June–Box, Apple, Castle, Fool, Middle, Cold, Flight, Become
- July–Fall, Sun, Boyfriend, Thousand, Shores, Country, Confession, Society
- August–Matter, Spy, Roof, Missed, Zero, Enchant, Water, Point
- September–Orbit, Hot, Daydream, Endure, Curse, Ice, Decay, Smile
- October–Prey, Crypt, Hollow, Dreadful, Killer, Hex, Wolf, Lore
- November–Whistle, Quiet, Bitter, Rising, Strings, Lands, Seven, Song
- December–Lemon, Welcome, Bake, Crush, Cafe, Taste, Cat, Kind
2026 Build Your Library Reading Challenge
Hosted by Emily at Build Your Library. The theme is “A Year of Cozy and Whimsy.” That is 200% what has been appealing to me recently so I’m excited to join! Emily didn’t specify levels to the challenge but I’m setting my sights on completing 20 of these prompts.
- With coffee or tea in the title
- That is your favorite
- With a cover that includes your favorite color
- Set during a holiday
- You are excited to read
- About friendship
- By a favorite author
- A childhood favorite
- That is cozy fantasy
- That you choose based on the smell
- About a person who inspires you
- That is middle grade
- With a happy word in the title
- About a game
- That is a romantic comedy
- Where the dog does NOT die
- That is published in 2026
- Set in a library or bookstore
- That is illustrated
- With a cover so pretty, you want to hang it on the wall as art
- About Jewish joy
- With a pet on the cover
- With an animal protagonist
- Involving travel
- Recommended by a friend
- Involving one of your hobbies
- About mothers or fathers
- Set in your state or province
- With food or drink on the cover
- About a topic that interests you
- With a Hero’s Journey
- With a POC protagonist
- That is a retelling
- That is cozy science fiction
- That makes you laugh
- With something cozy on the cover
- In the sunshine
- About queer joy
- About a road trip
- Set in a country you would love to visit
Reading by the Numbers Challenge
Hosted by My Reader’s Block. This is similar to the GoodReads Challenge: choose how many books you want to read for the years and track them. I decided I’d like to have this list on my blog and not just on GoodReads so I’m signing up. My goal is 100 books. #ReadingByNumbers2026
Bookish Resolutions
Because Reading used to host this challenge, but like me, they seem to have less time for blogging recently and I don’t see that they are continuing with it. I’ve decided to carry on anyway because I like posting my list here so that I can hold myself accountable. I’ve been too ambitious in years past so I’m keeping these resolutions modest in scope.
- Review one book weekly, even if it’s only on GoodReads–I have really lost my reviewing mojo and need to take baby steps to get it back.
- Make progress on five book series I’ve already started. I am terrible about finishing book series and I would like to work on that this year. I’ll choose the series as the mood strikes.
- Read six classics from my Classics Club list. I’ve fallen way behind on this challenge.
- Write two non-bookish posts. I hate to admit it, but I get bored writing about books all the time. I mix it up a little by posting about my travels a bit in Weekly Update posts but I’d like to do more. I enjoy reading other bloggers’ more chatty, personal posts so I’ll dip my toes into those waters those year. I’m aiming for a low number so it doesn’t feel like a chore I have to do.
- Take a knitting class. Non-bookish but here it is. I have busy hands. I would like to put that to good use. I admire those people who can sit around and chit-chat or watch TV while knitting and I’d like to try out a class to see if it’s something I’d be interested in continuing. I crocheted as a child but I haven’t done that in about 35 years. I still have the blanket I made back then though.
5 Comments
This is indeed a lot of challenges. Very good luck with it all.
These look like great challenges. I signed up for only two: the Nonfiction challenge (I also signed up for 6), and the Speccy Fiction challenge.
That’s a LOT of challenges and resolutions! And hosting, too! I believe you can do it, though!
I’m in awe of anyone making plans to fulfil book challenges… I just about manage to read the books I’ve undertaken to review – other than that, I’m the ultimate mood reader and never know exactly what I’ll be reading until I open up my TBR and take a look… Best of luck with all these challenges, Jen:).
I’m delighted you’ve joined the Nonfiction Reader Challenge!