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Read More This Year with the 2018 Reading Challenge
Last year, more than three million readers joined the Challenge and collectively finished more than 43 million books. In a recent survey of Goodreads members, 82 percent said they wanted to spend more time reading. So…what are you waiting for?
Set your goal:
- Keep it fun! You can begin the year by committing to an easily achievable goal to avoid feeling overwhelmed. If you quickly gain on your goal, you can always increase the number of books in your challenge.
- Some members set a calendar-based goal: 12 books (one per month), 24 books (two per month), or even 52 books (one per week).
- The Reading Challenge is all about what you want to read. If you're focused on reading a long literary classic like War and Peace, that will take more time to read than a graphic novel. Plan accordingly! If you find yourself breezing through lots of short novels, try being more aggressive.
- Rereading counts! Want to go back and re-experience an old favorite? Or maybe you just want to get over a reading slump by reading something you know you already love. Now all the books you reread count towards your Reading Challenge.
Find great books:
- Get recommendations tailored just for you by rating books you've already read. The more books you rate, the better your recommendations will be.
- Find reader-approved books by looking through the 2017 Goodreads Choice Awards winners and nominees. Peruse the 400 books across 20 categories to add to your reading list.
- The Goodreads blog is the perfect source for countless reading recommendations. Check out this list of our most popular posts of 2017 or these lists of readers' top horror, science fiction, fantasy, mystery & thriller, and romance novels.
- You can also browse the thousands of reading lists on Listopia—where you'll find categories on everything from Stephen King's top 10 favorite books to 2018's highly anticipated sci-fi and fantasy novels.
Update Your Challenge From Inside Your Kindle Book:
- Pro tip for Kindle readers: Connect your Goodreads and Kindle accounts so every book you read can count towards your goal. (To connect your accounts, click here.) Once you've connected accounts, you can easily add the Kindle book you're reading to your Currently Reading or Read shelf from inside the book. There's no need to switch to Goodreads to update the books you've read to make them count for your Challenge. This feature is available with the following:
- Most Kindle and Fire devices (U.S., U.K., Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and India).
- Kindle app for iPhones, iPads or Android devices (U.S.).
Productivity tips:
- Whispersync on Kindle allows you to switch from your Kindle ereader to your Kindle app on your iOS or Android device, guaranteeing you can tuck into your current book from anywhere.
- Use your local library's website to request books online and have them waiting for you. Add your local library link as one of your Book Links so that when you find a book on Goodreads, you can open up the page on your library website and order the book.
- Listen to audiobooks! Our members say this is a simple way to read more books—and to multitask while enjoying a novel. Find some audiobook suggestions here.
- Keep track of your 'Want to Read' books. Remember to mark books that intrigue you as Want to Read. You can also use the Goodreads app to scan book covers, making it a snap to remember what you want to read next.
Don't Read Alone:
- Join one of our thousands of online reading groups that span across topics, themes, and genres. Your perfect reading community is waiting for you.
Tell us why you're joining the challenge and how many books you've set your sights on!
Check out more recent blogs:
2017's 20 Most-Read Books on Goodreads
Our Most Popular Blogs of the Year
The Best Young Adult Book Covers of 2017
Check out more recent blogs:
2017's 20 Most-Read Books on Goodreads
Our Most Popular Blogs of the Year
The Best Young Adult Book Covers of 2017
Comments Showing 101-147 of 147 (147 new)
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message 101:
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Denise
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Jan 03, 2018 11:25AM
I have set times to read....when I am in the bathroom/bathtub. Also daily while eating lunch, waiting in lines while running errands, and nightly just before bed. Kindle works best for me.
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Speaking about book clubs, I also don't like them, mainly for these two reasons:1. There usually isn't enough time for me to get the book and then read it. (I usually borrow books from the library, unless it's a favourite author or something, because I just can't afford to buy many books.)
2. If it's a crap book, I'm annoyed I wasted my time. There are sooo many books to read in the world, and my to be read list I huge. If I am going to devote previous reading time to a book, I'd rather pick one from my list, not read something I have zero interest in!
(I have tried book clubs before, and often, the books were terrible, and/or they'd choose new books, so they were not available from the library or had a huge wait list.)
Sabrina M wrote: "How do you find the time to read?"I always read on my commute, and when I am out and about, I usually have a book on me, in case I have to wait for a bus or something. I also try and read a little bit before bed, even if only ten minutes!
Yep...nothing worse than reading a bad book. A waste of time, money and read time that you could have spent on a good book. I always go into Amazon and do the “Look inside” first and read the entire sample to make sure the writing style and the storyline interest me. The sample is usually enough to know if it can hook me in.
Also, I recently realized I cannot read a paper book anymore. I’ve had both thumb joints removed, so the weight of the book is hard to hold, but also the print type is too small to read comfortably. Love the Kindle because I can enlarge the font and read faster with less eye strain. I sold almost all of my paper books, except those I REALLY love and want to own forever, by having a garage sale. .50 for Paperback, $1.00 for hardcover, $2.50 if it was a recent book. Made some money AND cleared out some space in my house. I love books, but the Kindle is so easy to use, to carry & to highlight & notate......love it.
Denise wrote: "I have set times to read....when I am in the bathroom/bathtub. Also daily while eating lunch, waiting in lines while running errands, and nightly just before bed. Kindle works best for me."Thanks, Denise - I'm going to try it, starting today!
Even if you only read a few pages, it all adds up. Hope it helps!
Eule wrote: "Where are the people that are content with their reading life because they know they read as much as it possible for them?"Nyssa wrote: "I am trying something new. I have a specific plan for this year. My goals for 2018 :
1. Sookie Stackhouse series - Reread (Books 1-9) & Complete (10-13) [including bonus stories]
2. The Hollows se..."
That is a really neat idea Nyssa!! good luck.
In the Goodreads app, I can't seem to locate the option to enter the "date read" on books; only the spot to move a book to the "read" shelf. Am I missing it? Love these challenges!
Joanne - is from Canada wrote: "I like to set my goal to a number I know I can achieve fairly easily, so that I can read long 1000 pages books every once in awhile without worrying about falling behind. So I'm gonna go with 150 a..."Joanne - is from Canada wrote: "I like to set my goal to a number I know I can achieve fairly easily, so that I can read long 1000 pages books every once in awhile without worrying about falling behind. So I'm gonna go with 150 a..."
Joanne - is from Canada wrote: "I like to set my goal to a number I know I can achieve fairly easily, so that I can read long 1000 pages books every once in awhile without worrying about falling behind. So I'm gonna go with 150 a..."
Wow - that's alot of books! Go you!
Amber wrote: "Nyssa wrote: "I am trying something new. I have a specific plan for this year. My goals for 2018 :1. Sookie Stackhouse series - Reread (Books 1-9) & Complete (10-13) [including bonus stories]
2. The Hollows ..."
That is a really neat idea Nyssa!! good luck. "
Thank you, Amber! :)
Anique wrote: "Kimmy wrote: "Previous years there has been a roundup of the books you read that year, with stats like "total pages read", "shortest book", "longest book", etc. I cant find it this year?"Hey girl..."
Thank you - just did and tweeted as well :) very useful!
Eule wrote: "Where are the people that are content with their reading life because they know they read as much as it possible for them?"I am right here. Last year my goal was 13 and sadly I missed it by one book (actually half a book, but I digress). I'm totally okay knowing that I truly enjoy the books I'm currently reading.
I struggle to read novels as I have short term memory loss so my challenge is to find new short stories and to try and read 3 novels
How can I add physical books that I am reading?
I love to read and I'm trying to get yo reading. I'm setting my sights on reading 100 bit I'm looking pass that number.
I'm setting my goal at 50 books again, but it's the type of books: 10 non-fiction works, 10 novels, 10 poetry collections, 10 short story collections, and 10 graphic novels.
At first I set my goal at 52, 1 book per wk, but find I have met challenge before end of year. I added 13, which makes it less than 1.5 per week.
Amber wrote: "Eule wrote: "Where are the people that are content with their reading life because they know they read as much as it possible for them?"Nyssa wrote: "I am trying something new. I have a specific ..."
Eule: I am content with my reading life at about 50 books a year. However, I enjoy setting goals in all areas of my life. I have 26 other goals set in other areas for 2018. My husband & I set and achieve goals every year, and enjoy living that way, and applaud each other in our achievements. It is a way of life......beyond content.
Because I'm so busy, I'll start out with 6 books in 2018.
Page wrote: "I might have set the bar too high last year. I usually read a little over 100 a year. In 2017, I decided to go for the brass ring and set it at 150. Only made it to 119. I blame working for interfe..."I think it's great that you have that goal to reach. Now you have more specific numbers of books with their page amounts, plus the time allotments you need to read them in, then don't forget print size. Great data for you, Page, to be able to improve your reading time skill, meaning more books during this time, meaning your goal of 150 probably not that far off for a determined person like you.
In my first challenge year 2017 I finished 7 out of 6, so I hope I can finish 8 in 2018. In order to motivate me with the help of Goodreads, now I only buy books whose isbn numbers can be checked here and which are just imported from outside China. That gives me a sense of pride and achievement in the process of learning English, along with my book journal keeping. Now I have a pile which may probably survive three years.
Denise wrote: "Yep...nothing worse than reading a bad book. A waste of time, money and read time that you could have spent on a good book. "So true! At least I read The Da Vinci Code while on the toilet...
Liz wrote: "This year I'm trying to stick to my goal and read less than last year."I love this SO VERY MUCH. :D
Heni wrote: "I set the bar low this year: one book a week. And tips number three is downright true. Read what you want to read. When I'm stuck reading the books I don't like, I need two weeks to finish 300 pa..."
Amen to that!
Jasmine wrote: "Denise wrote: "Yep...nothing worse than reading a bad book. A waste of time, money and read time that you could have spent on a good book. "So true! At least I read The Da Vinci Code while on the..."
😆🤭😉
I will set mine for 100. I usually do 150 but this year I just want to see how I do.
Nyssa wrote: "I am trying something new. I have a specific plan for this year. My goals for 2018 :1. Sookie Stackhouse series - Reread (Books 1-9) & Complete (10-13) [including bonus stories]
2. The Hollows se..."
You are very organized! That is a great start to achieving your goals. Best of luck to you, & blessings!
Kimmy wrote: "Previous years there has been a roundup of the books you read that year, with stats like "total pages read", "shortest book", "longest book", etc. I cant find it this year?"It's easy to find on a computer, but hard on a smartphone. Maybe try logging in from a computer?
Michael wrote: "You are very organized! That is a great start to achieving your goals. Best of luck to you, & blessings!"Thank you very much, Michael! :) Best wishes to you in 2018 as well.
Can someone help me? I just finished “The Hate U Give” and it isn’t registering on my challenge. It says I started it on January 5 and finished today all in 2018, but it isn’t counting. My challenge says I’ve only read two, which it should say three now. I’m so frustrated. Thanks for your help!!
Kenlee wrote: "Can someone help me? I just finished “The Hate U Give” and it isn’t registering on my challenge. It says I started it on January 5 and finished today all in 2018, but it isn’t counting. My challeng..."I had that problem. Goodreads support advised me to make sure the dates read and finish are of 2018. Since you already did that, contact Goodreads.
Sorry, it is not much of help.
Kenlee wrote: "Can someone help me? I just finished “The Hate U Give” and it isn’t registering on my challenge. It says I started it on January 5 and finished today all in 2018, but it isn’t counting. My challeng..."RM(Alwaysdaddygirl/Salemwitch) wrote: "Kenlee wrote: "Can someone help me? I just finished “The Hate U Give” and it isn’t registering on my challenge. It says I started it on January 5 and finished today all in 2018, but it isn’t counti..."
Kenlee wrote: "Can someone help me? I just finished “The Hate U Give” and it isn’t registering on my challenge. It says I started it on January 5 and finished today all in 2018, but it isn’t counting. My challeng..."
remember that it takes a good 15 minutes for things to be posted sometimes in terms of updates but having said that if it continues check w/goodreads.
My goal this year will be for maybeeeee 120 books. I should be able to accomplish that hopefully. We will see. If I blow past it then I guess I'll have to update my challenge.
Annzada wrote: "At last, the joy of motherhood is achieved, my home restored and my business back on track. All these were possible with the help of dr Aigbe, (draigbespellhome@gmail.com ). My name is Annzada from..."Mahalo for sharing Annzada! I am a stranger but I still glad you are here on Earth. Kudos on motherhood! God Bless you and your family. If I may,🤗🎗.
Not all my books are being counted. I am missing at least 5 so far this year. I went back and fiddled with the reading dates and it has not worked. We are barely 1.5 months into the year.....I could be missing 50 or more books by the end of the challenge! Why bother when it doesn’t work?
I remember the sign up for the challenge being about how many books you finished in 2018. I was excited to finish my first book (an epic 1152 page one), but when I marked it as finished, it didn’t add to my challenge totals. My only guess is that it is because I started it a few days before the new year... but an enormous majority of it was ready this year, and I’m really disappointed to have so much reading time not counted as part of the challenge. Is there any way to fix this?
Leisel wrote: "I remember the sign up for the challenge being about how many books you finished in 2018. I was excited to finish my first book (an epic 1152 page one), but when I marked it as finished, it didn’t ..."check to see if it shows a date for finished - that's how it will show on your challenge. you can manually add one under edit.
I have recently read two books and entered them as “read” on my goodreads page but they don’t show up in my reading challenge. Do I need to enter them somewhere else?
Julieacampbell wrote: "I have recently read two books and entered them as “read” on my goodreads page but they don’t show up in my reading challenge. Do I need to enter them somewhere else?"They are probably not showing up because the read date is not set. If the read date is not set as 2018, it will not count towards your 2018 reading goal. I had this happen with some arcs, where I shared reviews from netgalley on here and it just showed as read/reviewed, but didn't show up under my reading challenge. However, you can set the dates manually or go to the challenge page and it will ask you for some books you've read and say "did you read ___ this year?" For those, you can just click yes and they will then show up under your challenge. However, like I said before, you can go to the books themselves and manually enter in your read dates for this year and then they will show up under your reading challenge.
I just had ten for this year's Reading Challenge suddenly disappear.
Some of my books on my Reading Challenge were disappeared or eliminated. Any suggestions on whether I should lower my goal or move previously read books to 2018?
Joseph wrote: "Some of my books on my Reading Challenge were disappeared or eliminated. Any suggestions on whether I should lower my goal or move previously read books to 2018?"I just took a look at your "read" shelf and there several books without a read date set which may be why they're not appearing on your challenge. It marks them as read but it doesn't know when you read them. You can go in and edit your review and manually add the date you read them which should add them to your challenge.
I can't find a way to see how many pages I have read so far this year. Any suggestions?
Go to "MY BOOKS," then "STATS" and select "PAGES."
Hello!! I’ve just added some books to my bookshelf but they aren’t appearing on my challenge yet. Does anyone know if it takes a couple of days for example?
Missy wrote: "Hello!! I’ve just added some books to my bookshelf but they aren’t appearing on my challenge yet. Does anyone know if it takes a couple of days for example?"Did you set a "finished reading" date?
