2026 Reading Goals: Choosing Slow, Mindful Reading
This corner of my website feels a little dusty, like it’s been quietly collecting spider webs. And honestly, that’s on me. Last year, the goals I set for myself left very little room to simply be with my reading, let alone write about it.
In 2025, I went hard. I reached out for a large number of ARCs from various publishers, set an ambitious reading goal, and treated the whole thing like a race. My goal was to read 40 books. I ended up reading 52. While that sounds impressive on paper, the reality was that I felt overwhelmed and disconnected from the joy that reading is supposed to bring. Writing, which is one of the reasons this blog exists in the first place, fell by the wayside.
So in 2026, I’m approaching things differently.
My goal this year is to read 45 books. Still ambitious, but with intention. I’m also quietly setting a ceiling for myself: I don’t want to read more than 50 books total. The purpose of that limit is simple. I want space. Space to enjoy other forms of storytelling like films, television, and art, and space to return to my own writing without feeling like I’m constantly behind on my reading.
I’m also aiming to be more intentional about what I read. Romance will always be a genre I love, but this year I want it to make up no more than 30% of my reading. Realistically, a lot of the romance I read comes from ARCs, so by requesting fewer of those, my reading should naturally become more varied.
Another goal I’m expanding on this year is nonfiction. Last year, I challenged myself to read one nonfiction book, and I actually did it. In 2026, I’m doubling that goal and aiming to read two nonfiction books. I don’t yet know what they’ll be, but I’m keeping my eyes open and letting curiosity lead the way.
A big theme of my 2026 goals is also spending less and supporting my community more. One of my wonderful friends encouraged me to finally get a library card, and I did. My goal is to borrow and read at least 10 books from the library this year. It saves money, reduces impulse buying, and supports a resource that truly matters.
Along those same lines, I want to be more mindful about where I buy books. Reading has always been political, and where we spend our money matters. I don’t want my love of books tied to harm, exploitation, or violence, especially toward women and children. Because of that, I’m stepping further away from major corporations like Indigo and Amazon and focusing instead on small, independent bookstores.
Which brings me to my final goal: I want to visit at least 10 indie bookstores this year and document those experiences here on the blog. I’ll be sharing what I find, who I meet, and why these spaces matter. It also neatly ties back into another quiet goal of mine: writing more regularly again.
So, here they are, my 2026 Reading Goals:
Read 45 books
Read 2 nonfiction books
Keep romance at no more than 30% of my reading
Read more from my TBR than ARCs
Visit 10 indie bookstores
Borrow and read at least 10 library books
This year is going to be different.
This year is going to be slow and meaningful.
This year is about mindful reading.
