2026 Reading Challenge

I was hesitant this year to re-engage in the reading challenge that I have taken part in the past few years. I struggled with the prompts last year and found myself less excited about the challenge than in years past. I had decided I would just set a goal for the number of books to read (40 this year), but then I discovered the Goodreads challenges.

It starts with the Winter Challenge, running from January 01  to March 31, and provides some relatively simple goals. I like that it provides some structure but also keeps it limited, so I am not thinking about the whole year yet, just 12 achievements across three months. Additionally, because some of the achievements are based on their own lists, I get a curated yet not constricted set of options. Finally, each category is attached to a blank bookmark on your profile, which I assume gets filled in when you complete the achievement, and I am a sucker for that kind of visual, kitschy token.

The achievements include:

Page Turner: finish any two books

Speed Reader: finish any three books

Book Boss: finish any five books

Challenge Favs: finish one of these top-read books by 2025 Reading Challenge participants

Choice Archive: rediscover Goodreads Choice Awards history! Read one of these winners and nominees from years past

Lasting Reads: read one of these popular books from the past 25 years

Star Selections: read one of these celebrity book club picks

Tale Spinners: read a book from this collection of retellings

Mystery: hint; Celebrates Black History Month (Reveals on 02/01/2026)

Mystery: hint; sealed with a kiss (Reveals on 02/01/2026)

Mystery: hint; your reading personality awaits (Reveals on 02/15/2026)

Mystery: hint; celebrating Women’s History Month (Reveals on 03/01/2026)