2026 Reading Challenges

Reading Challenges 2026 (The Bookwyrm's Hoard)

Goodreads Reading Challenge

2026 Goodreads Reading Challenge (graphic)

I set my Goodreads Reading Challenge goal at 125 books for 2025. That’s 15 books lower than my 2025 goal. I went lower because I anticipate having a lot less time to read this year, since we are hoping to sell our house and move across the country, and there’s a lot of work to do.

As of July 1, 2026, I have read 58 books, putting me 4 books behind schedule for the year.

(Unfortunately, I can’t seem to get the Goodreads Reading Challenge widget to work on this page, probably because my blog’s security software keeps blocking JavaScript. I will continue updating this page manually.)

Audiobook Challenge 2026

Audiobook Challenge 2026

Host: Caffeinated Reviewer and That’s What I’m Talking About
Progress: 3/10 (30%)
1 January, 2026 — 31 December, 2026
In Progress

30
  1. The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict
  2. Smoke in Mirrors by Jayne Ann Krentz
  3. Once Upon a Tome by Oliver Darkshire

I’m participating in the 2026 Audiobook Challenge, hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer and That’s What I’m Talking About. My goal for the year is to listen to and review 10 to 15 audiobooks, putting me in the Stenographer category.

Below are the books I have listened to but have not yet reviewed. Books marked with a * are books I have read and/or listened to before.

  1. American Gospel: God, the Founding Fathers, and the Making of a Nation (Jon Meacham) – own
  2. Ruby Fever (Ilona Andrews) – Hoopla audio
  3. The Attenbury Emeralds (Dorothy Sayers and Jill Paton Walsh)* – Hoopla audio
  4. The Late Scholar (Dorothy Sayers and Jill Paton Walsh)* – Hoopla audio (book reviewed 12/15/2014)
  5. The Fabric of Civilization: How Textiles Made the World (Virginia Postrel) – own
  6. A Little Too Familiar (Lish McBride)* – own
  7. The Shadowy Horses (Susanna Kearsley)* – own (book reviewed 7/26/2018)
  8. Straight (Dick Francis)* – own (book reviewed 08/07/2017)
  9. Beyond (Mercedes Lackey)* – own (book reviewed 6/4/2021)
  10. Into the West (Mercedes Lackey)* – own
  11. Valdemar (Mercedes Lackey)* – own
  12. A Nun in the Closet (Dorothy Gilman)* – Hoopla audio
  13. Copper Beach (Jayne Ann Krentz)* – Hoopla audio (book reviewed 1/10/2012)
  14. Dream Eyes (Jayne Ann Krentz)* – library CD (book reviewed 2/18/2013)
  15. White Lies (Jayne Ann Krentz)* – library CD
  16. Sizzle and Burn (Jayne Ann Krentz)* – library CD
  17. Running Hot (Jayne Ann Krentz)* – library CD
  18. The Third Circle (Amanda Quick)* – library CD

COYER 2026: Out to Lunch Again

COYER 2026: Out to Lunch Again

Host: Berls, Michelle, & Lillian
Progress: 9/20 (45%)
1 January, 2026 — 31 December, 2026
In Progress

45
  1. The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict
  2. Nobody's Baby by Olivia Waite
  3. Smoke in Mirrors by Jayne Ann Krentz
  4. The Final Target, by Nora Roberts
  5. The Reimagining of Thornwood House by Jaleigh Johnson
  6. Once Upon a Tome by Oliver Darkshire
  7. Illusion of a Boar by Celia Lake
  8. Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett
  9. Remember That Day by Mary Balogh

The goal of COYER 2026: Out to Lunch Again is to “Clean Out Your E-Reader” — to plow through all those unread ebooks and audiobooks you downloaded because they were free or cheap. To qualify, books must be in digital format (ebook or digital audiobook.) They must be free or low-price (under $5.00 for e-books; under $7.50 for audiobooks.) However, in a departure from the original, strict rules, you don’t have to own the book; library books count too. However, books from subscription services like Kindle Unlimited, Amazon Prime, or Audible Plus do not count for the challenge.

My goal is to read and review 20 qualifying books in 2026. I can also count any of them toward any of my other challenges.

Below are the books I read but have not yet reviewed for COYER 2026: Out to Lunch Again. Books marked with a * are rereads.

  1. Winter’s Charms (Celia Lake)*
  2. Ruby Fever (Ilona Andrews) – audiobook
  3. The Attenbury Emeralds (Dorothy Sayers and Jill Paton Walsh)* – audiobook
  4. The Late Scholar (Dorothy Sayers and Jill Paton Walsh)* – audiobook (book reviewed 12/15/2014)
  5. Mind Games (Nora Roberts)* (reviewed 1/16/2025)
  6. Hidden Nature (Nora Roberts)* – older ARC; review to come
  7. Best Hex Ever (Nadia El-Fassi)
  8. Pastiche (Celia Lake)* (reviewed 4/15/2024)
  9. The Fossil Door (Celia Lake)*
  10. Three Tales of Gabe & Rathna (Celia Lake)*
  11. Witches of Dubious Origin (Jenn McKinlay)– ARC; review to come
  12. Old as the Hills (Celia Lake)*
  13. Upon a Summer’s Day (Celia Lake)*
  14. Enter the Nightmare (Jayne Castle) – ARC; review to come
  15. Three Graces (Celia Lake)*
  16. The Changing Door (Celia Lake)* – novella-length collection of extra scenes
  17. The Quiet Side (Casey Blair)
  18. The Fabric of Civilization: How Textiles Made the World (Virginia Postrel) – audiobook
  19. A Little Too Familiar (Lish McBride)* – audiobook
  20. The Shadowy Horses (Susanna Kearsley)* – audiobook
  21. Straight (Dick Francis)* – audiobook (book reviewed 08/07/2017)
  22. Sea of Charms (Sarah Beth Durst) – ARC; review to come
  23. Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel (Lucy Foley) – ARC; review scheduled
  24. Lost and Found (Jayne Ann Krentz)* (reviewed 6/20/2016)
  25. Beyond (Mercedes Lackey)* – audiobook (book reviewed 6/4/2021)
  26. Into the West (Mercedes Lackey)* – audiobook
  27. Valdemar (Mercedes Lackey)* – audiobook
  28. Stay for a Spell (Amy Coombe) – ARC; review to come
  29. A Nun in the Closet (Dorothy Gilman)* – audiobook
  30. A Bitter Cut (Anna Lee Huber) – ARC; review to come
  31. Copper Beach (Jayne Ann Krentz)* – audiobook (book reviewed 1/10/2012)
  32. Dream Eyes (Jayne Ann Krentz)* – audiobook (book reviewed 2/18/2013)
  33. Sizzle and Burn (Jayne Ann Krentz)* – audiobook
  34. Running Hot (Jayne Ann Krentz)* – audiobook
  35. Eclipse (Celia Lake)*
  36. Tea and Meetings (Celia Lake)* – novella-length collection of extra scenes
  37. With All Due Speed (Celia Lake)* – novella-length collection of extra scenes
  38. The Third Circle (Amanda Quick)* – audiobook
  39. Twig’s Traveling Tomes (Gryffin Murphy) – ARC; review to come
  40. Unexpected Magic (Jude Knight) – ARC; review to come

Library Love Challenge 2026

Library Love Challenge 2026

Host: Angel's Book Nook & Books of My Heart
Progress: 1/12 (8%)
1 January, 2026 — 31 December, 2026
In Progress

8
  1. Smoke in Mirrors by Jayne Ann Krentz

I’m participating in the Library Love Challenge 2026, hosted by Angel’s Guilty Pleasures & Books of My Heart.  My goal is to read and review 12 books, which is the the lowest possible option. I’m hesitant to try for more, because I have so many books on my Kindle and on my physical shelves that I also want to read, and also because some of my library books will be for writing research, so I probably won’t read them all the way through.

Below are the books I read in 2026 but have not yet reviewed. Books marked with a * are books I have read or listened to before.

  1. Ruby Fever (Ilona Andrews) – Hoopla audio
  2. The Attenbury Emeralds (Dorothy Sayers and Jill Paton Walsh)* – Hoopla audio
  3. The Late Scholar (Dorothy Sayers and Jill Paton Walsh)* – Hoopla audio (book reviewed 12/15/2014)
  4. Best Hex Ever (Nadia El-Fassi)
  5. A Nun in the Closet (Dorothy Gilman)* – Hoopla audio
  6. Copper Beach (Jayne Ann Krentz)* – Hoopla audio (book reviewed 1/10/2012)
  7. Dream Eyes (Jayne Ann Krentz)* – library CD (book reviewed 2/18/2013)
  8. White Lies (Jayne Ann Krentz)* – library CD
  9. Sizzle and Burn (Jayne Ann Krentz)* – library CD
  10. Running Hot (Jayne Ann Krentz)* – library CD
  11. The Third Circle (Amanda Quick)* – library CD

Netgalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge 2026

Netgalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge 2026

Host: Yvonne @ Socrates' Book Reviews
Progress: 4/10 (40%)
1 January, 2026 — 31 December, 2026
In Progress

40
  1. Nobody's Baby by Olivia Waite
  2. The Final Target, by Nora Roberts
  3. The Reimagining of Thornwood House by Jaleigh Johnson
  4. Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett

The NetGalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge 2026 is hosted by Yvonne at Socrates’ Book Reviews. I am joining at the Bronze level: 10 books read and reviewed. I find the reviewing more challenging than the reading, and I’m way behind, so I will also count reviews for books that I read previous to 2026 but had not yet reviewed. (In some cases, that will entail rereading the book; in other cases, I kept good notes.)

Below are the books I read in 2026 but have not yet reviewed. Books marked with a * are ARCs I have read before, but wanted to read again to refresh my memory for the review.

  1. Hidden Nature (Nora Roberts)* – older ARC
  2. Witches of Dubious Origin (Jenn McKinlay)
  3. Enter the Nightmare (Jayne Castle)
  4. Sea of Charms (Sarah Beth Durst)
  5. Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel (Lucy Foley, Agatha Christie)
  6. Stay for a Spell (Amy Coombe)
  7. A Bitter Cut (Anna Lee Huber)
  8. Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter (Heather Fawcett)
  9. Twig’s Traveling Tomes (Gryffin Murphy) – ARC; review to come
  10. Unexpected Magic (Jude Knight) – ARC; review to come
  11. – CURRENTLY READING

Robin's Recs 2026

Robin's Recs 2026

Host: Lark @ The Bookwyrm's Hoard
Progress: 0/6 (0%)
1 January, 2026 — 31 December, 2026
In Progress

0

None yet!

Robin’s Recs is an ongoing personal challenge to read and review at least 6 books that my (adult) child, Robin, has either recommended or given to me. You can see the full list of titles by clicking on the challenge title.

Below are the books I read in 2026 but have not yet reviewed. Books marked with a * are books I have read or listened to before.

  1. Best Hex Ever (Nadia El-Fassi) – gift from Robin

Additional Goals

Spend less time on social media and more time reading (and writing, if I can squeeze out the time.) This goal is self-explanatory.

Write more reviews than last year. Especially, be more consistent about reviewing ARCs.

Read more of the (unread) books I already own. I want to cut down on book-buying, and I have a ridiculous number of unread books, both physical and digital. As of May 2026, I have purged the physical books that a) I thought I was unlikely to ever get around to reading or b) I can borrow from the library. (I kept unread books I think I will want to keep and reread after I have read them once.) That still leaves me with a huge collection of unread Kindlebooks.

Make better use of the library. As I said above, I want to cut down on book-buying—and support my local library, of course!

Read more diversely. As in previous years, I want to read some books by and about Black, Asian, indigenous, LGBTQIA+, neurodiverse, and disabled people.

Prune some of the books I own, and catalog and pack up as many of the remaining books as possible. We are planning a cross-country move sometime in the next 6-12 months. To that end, I need to significantly reduce the number of books I own from 19 or 20 bookcases down to about 9 or 10. Progress: As of May 28, I have catalogued 1032 books (over half my physical collection), and sold or donated at least 16-20 boxes of books (I lost track; it was probably 1/4 to 1/3 of my total collection.) I purged most of my mass-market paperbacks because I can’t read them easily with my aging eyes, but I kept my very favorites as well as books I can’t find as ebooks. I also purged most of the books I bought from library booksales over the years but never got around to. And I let go of some of the physical books that I also own in digital format, but only some. I kept signed books, special editions, and books that have been special to me for a long time. I also kept books I acquired for writing reference. I’m currently working on putting dust jacket protectors on all the paper covers (dust jackets) that are old and fragile as well as the dust jackets on my signed copies and first editions.