The 2026 Annual Reading Challenge Discussion Thread

[pdurrant]

2026 Reading Challenge Discussion Thread

Welcome to our 17th Annual Reading Challenge!

Maybe you would like to read a certain number of pages this year, finish a certain number of books, concentrate on a specific genre or deplete your ever-growing TBR list. Maybe you're looking for ideas or you just want to see how far you can go…

This is the thread where we can share our personal goals and strategies or ask for suggestions and support. New ideas are encouraged and always welcomed.

The Annual Reading Challenge is not a race, nor an “exclusive club”, anyone can join! This is just a fun activity that some of us have enjoyed doing in the past. Many of us have found reading challenges to be an entertaining way to set goals for ourselves, get ideas for books, and see what others are reading.

You are welcome to keep track of the books you have read (or another goal) in the List Thread, here:

2026 Annual Reading Challenge List Thread

Plus, if you would like to discuss a particular book, please participate in the Hey!! Let's get some action going! What are we reading? thread and share your thoughts about the book with others

[JSWolf]

Are we going to have another Mobileread challenge at The StoryGraph?

[Dazrin]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Are we going to have another Mobileread challenge at The StoryGraph?

astrangerhere was asking about that in the other thread, you could chime in there if you want it: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...63#post4550863

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Dazrin

astrangerhere was asking about that in the other thread, you could chime in there if you want it: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...63#post4550863

Thanks!

[Loosheesh]

I'm ashamed of how little I read this year, so I put myself on the list for 2026 (although I've never finished a list, no matter how little or how much I read )

[sakura-panda]

I read more than twice as many books this year, with a list here, than I did last year, when I did not keep a list here, so I'm keeping it up!

What's The StoryGraph? Is that a Goodreads alternative?

[issybird]

I'm on the verge of overcommitting. T'was ever thus. Everything seems so doable at the start of the year. I have two nonfiction challenges that appeal, but I think in combination they could take over and be a terrible slog. I also need to come up with a good fiction challenge, to have a lighter alternative.

I typically set a goal of 12 books for a specific nonfiction challenge; I'm toying with the idea of doing both challenges but setting it at nine books. That would let me take July and August off (I never get substantive reading done in the summer -- see, I do learn!) and keep December free for the same reason, but it would also create a little slack for catchup at the end of the year if necessary.

Fiction? I haven't an idea yet. This year's fiction doorstop challenge was a colossal failure.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by issybird

I'm on the verge of overcommitting. T'was ever thus. Everything seems so doable at the start of the year. I have two nonfiction challenges that appeal, but I think in combination they could take over and be a terrible slog. I also need to come up with a good fiction challenge, to have a lighter alternative.

I typically set a goal of 12 books for a specific nonfiction challenge; I'm toying with the idea of doing both challenges but setting it at nine books. That would let me take July and August off (I never get substantive reading done in the summer -- see, I do learn!) and keep December free for the same reason, but it would also create a little slack for catchup at the end of the year if necessary.

Fiction? I haven't an idea yet. This year's fiction doorstop challenge was a colossal failure.

For fiction, I suggest a selection of titles from Persephone Books--many of them are forgotten books by women, about women's everyday lives. I've read only a few, starting with their small selection of audiobooks (but there's a much larger selection of ebooks).

[issybird]

Originally Posted by Catlady

For fiction, I suggest a selection of titles from Persephone Books--many of them are forgotten books by women, about women's everyday lives. I've read only a few, starting with their small selection of audiobooks (but there's a much larger selection of ebooks).

That has potential; thanks. I might redefine it to British women’s novels between relevant dates; 1920 to 1950, say, postwar to postwar. That would also take in a lot of the old Virago publications and those by similar publishers, plus whatever I could dig up on my own. I’ve always liked this sort of book, which I’ve classed in my mind as “second-rate women writers”. Angela Thirkell and Monica Dickens are standout examples for me.

[astrangerhere]

For those asking, the 2026 Mobile Read Users TBR Challenge is live on StoryGraph!

[issybird]

Originally Posted by issybird

That has potential; thanks. I might redefine it to British women’s novels between relevant dates; 1920 to 1950, say, postwar to postwar. That would also take in a lot of the old Virago publications and those by similar publishers, plus whatever I could dig up on my own. I’ve always liked this sort of book, which I’ve classed in my mind as “second-rate women writers”. Angela Thirkell and Monica Dickens are standout examples for me.

Just to be clear, I'm not disparaging this sort of book which I like very much indeed. Nothing wrong with second rate; not everything can be high literature and sometimes you need just a good read. And, to be just, I think that since these books are about women's (somewhat circumscribed, given the times) lives means it's easy to denigrate them. It's quiet heroism (heroineism?) instead of the stuff of epics.

As a topic for next year it's quite caught my fancy; now I just have to define my terms.