2025 & 2026 Reading Challenge discussion
2025 Personal Challenge: 51-75
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manni attempts to read 52 books in 2025
My 2025 Goals:────୨ৎ────────୨ৎ────
1) Have high goals, but don't overestimate and overwhelm! I want to read more this coming year to make up for all my past years of reading slump, but I also need to remember to be realistic bahah
2) Read consistantly! I will try to at least get a book done over a week, and will not make the only time I read at 2AM in bed-
3) Do some author marathons! I really want to pick certain authors and read all of their main books in a sprint, kinda? I'm hoping to get through the rest of Kirsten Hannah and start on Emily Henry bc I hear so much abt her books constantly!!
4) general: Some Reading Goals:
- Update booksta often! I don't want to get caught in the imposter syndrome/comparison blackhole and actually try uploading what I'm reading!
- Read the entire bookography (play on discography hehe) of select authors: rn my list is Riley Sager, Kristen Hannah, and Emily Henry
- At LEAST 1 ARC a month!
- At LEAST 1 book a week!
- try some shorter books too!
will update as I go :)
Fantastic goals, manni! The first two I relate to all too well 😅. Hopefully 2025 will be a more balanced, more successful year for the both of us.
The author marathons sound like so much fun - for me it would just be a recipe for slumps and author burnout.
Looking forward to seeing your thought on Emily Henry books, though 😊. They've been kind of hit-n-miss for me personally, but she can definitely write.
Wishing you all the best on your literary journey in 2025. I hope you have an amazing year.
Happy reading!
Lisa wrote: "Fantastic goals, manni! The first two I relate to all too well 😅. Hopefully 2025 will be a more balanced, more successful year for the both of us.
The author marathons sound like so much fun - f..."
thnak you Lisa!! oh absolutely, I am so so hoping to actually read something this upcoming year bahah! this long slump got me so bad, i miss reading so much. hoping for a super successful year for us both!!!!
ooh that totally makes sense, I haven't done something like this before but there's a couple authors where I've already read so many of their works that I might as well read the rest! (namely Riley Sager and Kristen Hannah atm). Author burnout is totally possible tho, ima need to look out for that... im so excited to try out an Emily Henry book considering how much I hear people taking about her everywhere! but def need to see if it lives up to the hype haha
thank you so much lovely!! all the best on your book journey as well!! happy reading! :)
Author Marathon #1Riley Sager
Progress: 7/9
Goal: Finish all before With a Vengeance comes out in June 2025!
- DONE
- DONE
- DONE
- DONE
- DONE
- DONE
- DONE
- 
- out 6/10/25Tier List:
(need to skim-read the DONE ones for this, but tentatively...)
1.
- the biggest thing I like about this is the ending. I love how this played with perspectives and really kept you guessing. but everything was there for you! idk im a fan2.
- haunted mansion era3.
- I liked this one!! the ending kinda caught me off guard, but i buddy read this one and had a great time in the process4.
- premise was so interesting (albeit a bit dumb) but the story and timeline was all super cool, i remember this one distinctly 5.
- also remember this one being pretty interesting (like i actually remember names of characters which is not normal for me), bits and pieces are coming back to me but the camp moment and different timelines was really cool6.
- the ending felt rushed and tbh kinda random (but I remember the ending, which is a feat of itself)7.
- literally do not remember this one at all
Author MarathonKristin Hannah
Progress: 4/11
- DONE
- DONE
- DONE
- DONE
(miss maam has written a bunch of books, but I'll leave it here for now)
Tier List:
1.
- holds a special place in my heart bc this is one of the first longer novels I read back in middle school that really started my reading arc. Also I love a wilderness survival era (it's secretly one of my favorite type of reads but don't tell the bookstagram romantacy lovers hehe). also quick easter egg, my review for this book was actually the essay i submitted to class on this book-2.
- my more recent reads, this one was easy to follow along and the twists got me! the frustration was so raw and i appreciated the emotion3.
- it's been a while, but i remember this being a super emotional story. the perspective was unique, the timeline was so interesting to follow, overall a classic hannah novel4.
- i'm not even gonna lie, I barely remember this one. like reading the plot over i remember the ending somewhat, but nothing else has stuck with me oop-
manni wrote: "My 2025 Goals:────୨ৎ────────୨ৎ────
1) Have high goals, but don't overestimate and overwhelm! I want to read more this coming year to make up for all my past years of reading slump, but I also need..."
I relate to this so hard! I also do the thing where I read many books back to back and then nothing for ... weeks (sometimes even months) at a time. It does balance out and I try not to force it, but I love the idea of being more consistent in reading and it not being at 2 AM because ... guilty. I don't know if I could handle a designated timeline like a book a week, but massive respect to you!
Also, I own two of Kristin Hannah's books and they've been on my tbr for years and I've yet to pick them up. I really should do that.
As for Emily Henry, I really love her writing and all of her books are well-written, but everyone I've spoken to who's read her books has ones they love and ones they don't, and it's so interesting to see how different people's perspectives are. I'm excited to see which ones you end up liking! I read and loved Beach Read and Funny Story this year.
Good luck! I see a lot of books in common so if you ever want to buddy read something, feel free to reach out! Maybe having someone to check in with will hold me more accountable haha.
Sara wrote: "manni wrote: "My 2025 Goals:────୨ৎ────────୨ৎ────
1) Have high goals, but don't overestimate and overwhelm! I want to read more this coming year to make up for all my past years of reading slump, b..."
I have no idea how i managed to completely miss this OOPS-
but so so real omg i am incredible at back to back reading one minute and then nothing the next oml, consistancy is just not in my dictionary apparently- also so true, i honestly don't know how much I can stick to a book a week either, but ill do my best keep it as close as i can BAHA
omg YES absolutely pick up the kristin hannah ones and lmk what you think!!! which ones are they?
also true, i was letting people recommend me which Emily Henry ones to try and while overall everyone loves her books, there definitely are some mixed thoughts on specific books! i'm super interested in seeing how i feel about all of them hehehe- Beach Read is def one of my MUST-READ books of this year RAHHH!! SO EXCITED OMG its already sitting at my home hehe
and AAA thank you so much and good luck to you too!! always down to buddy read bestie! just lmk the book and i'm ready whenever hehe :)
────୨ৎ────────୨ৎ────BOOK #1 of 2025!
mini-review: my first freida read, and definitely not the last. so cool!
4 STARS
────୨ৎ────────୨ৎ────BOOK #2 of 2025!
omg in my fantasy series era again? mildly preditable, but dragons are hella cool
4.25 STARS
────୨ৎ────────୨ৎ────BOOK #3 of 2025!
so wack, so funny, i think i might read anything by this author at this point
5 STARS
────୨ৎ────────୨ৎ────BOOK #4 of 2025!
this was LONG, still cool tho! omg so excited for onyx storm!!
4 STARS
────୨ৎ────────୨ৎ────✸ fantasy series tracker ✸
The Empyrean Series
Progress: 3/5
DONE
DONE
DONE4. ???
5. ???
────୨ৎ────────୨ৎ────BOOK #5 of 2025!
this took me a while to get through (first half was SLOW) but I loved the last half and all the perspectives coming together.
3.5 STARS
────୨ৎ────────୨ৎ────BOOK #6 of 2025!
omg this is easily one of my favs by Sager, a little bit repetative, but the ending and resolution of this was excellent
4.25 STARS
────୨ৎ────────୨ৎ────BOOK #7 of 2025!
oh MY GOSHH, my brain broke after this IDEK about that ending, and i love everyone so much more. Easily my fav in the series
4.5 STARS
────୨ৎ────────୨ৎ────BOOK #8 of 2025!
girlll I AM IN LOVE, I laughed out loud so much and i love a cutesy house-cat esque ML so much (someone get me my own villain). ADORBS
4 STARS
────୨ৎ────────୨ৎ────
JANUARY RECAP:
PHEW this has been both an incredibly long and short month! I read more this month than I did all of 2024 and i take that as a WINNN. fourth wing has brought me right back into my romtanasy obsession (and now i need to work hard again to not get emotionally and mentally obsessed bc i am NOT getting back in a book slump again) and assistant to the villain has my heart. I am also loving my thriller arc - especially now that a whole outlet has openned up for me with Freida (!!) and im almost done reading every riley sager book (which is lowkey crazy!?). and ofc there's the lovely contempts - i'm def reading more backman before My Friends, and blue sisters fs was a bit slow, i love a cozy humans story for the background.
anyway, here's to another excellent month! feel free to drop in an day hi :)
────୨ৎ────────୨ৎ────ALRIGHT. i've decided that i want to make prediction lists of what books i think will end up being top 20 in the goodreads choice awards for the various genres and then seeing how accurate i am (and how many of them i can read before its time to vote bc I WANNA BE AN INFORMED VOTER)
SO, assuming the genres are the same as 2024, ima try to figure out what books people are likely to vote up (bc it seems to usually be the big authors, emerging favs, continuing series, and so forth) and then actually them (or as many as I can) before like november.
i will also be skipping nonfic, memoir, history & biography, audiobook, horror and maybeee scifi just bc i dont read these genres too much. im also realizing that books between nov 2024 and nov 2025 will be considered so will look into last year too
now, let the games begin!! or the predictions. whatever.
────୨ৎ────────୨ৎ────manni's choice award nomination predictions
fiction:
historical fiction:
mystery & thriller:
────୨ৎ────────୨ৎ────
romance:
potentials:
- If Not for My Baby - ok idk about this one, kate golden's A Dawn of Onyx series had two books nominated, tho the series was fully published by 2024. this is her book to be released in 2025, but its not exactly romantasy. a potential however, we shall see
romantasy: next post
fantasy:
debut novel: (maybe)
and then i need to make a list of more of the authors i need to read (freida, backman, abby jimenez) and more of the fantasy series i desperately need to get thru
────୨ৎ────────୨ৎ────romantasy:
1) Onyx Storm (The Empyrean #3)
- i feel like there's no way people won't nominate this for romantasy. i was surprised i didnt see iron flame in 2024 when fourth wing won 2023 and then i realized both were published in 2023!? miss girl released two books of the same series months within each other!? dedication. also the only reason people might not nominate this is bc it was released so early in the year, but after booksta literally taking down target for this, it not being nominated is probably impossible.
2) Accomplice to the Villain (Assistant to the Villain #3)
- the first books of this series were nominated their respective years, people loved the first one (me included), its releasing at a good time (august), and i would personally eat this book up SO.
3) Enchantra (Wicked Games #2)
- ok 1, that cover is positively beautiful and sooo will be read just because of it. and 2nd, the first book was nominated last year, i see it all over booksta, so unless this is just not good (bc I havent read them myself yet), im pretty sure it will be nominated (enemies to lovers wins me over like THIS)
4) The Primal of Blood and Bone (Blood and Ash #6)
considering JLA has been either winning or nominated for fantasy/romantasy for the past 4 years, there's no way she isn't nominated this year either. personally im not sure how likely i am to read this, just bc i didnt get past the 3rd book of the series both bc damn this series is LONG and i'd rather just wait for it to be done, but also bc i knew everything was gonna get wack real fast, and also bc i got way too emotionally attached fr (thats 3 things). BUT I MIGHT, we shall see. also the titles feel like theyre repeating...
5) Brimstone (Fae & Alchemy #2)
- alr with this one, i told myself if there's a sequel to quicksilver, people would LOVE it. and turns out there is SO. i havent read either yet, but quicksilvers pretty high up my fantasy tbr so maybe!
6) Cursebound (Faebound #2)
- that cover is beautiful. also the first one did well so i have faith for the second. not sure if ill read this myself but maybe. also this might end up switching out with her other book Cleopatra bc that also sounds muy interesting
7) A Curse Carved in Bone (saga of the unfated #2)
- first one was nominated last year, seems to be some buzz around the second!
8) The Nightshade God (the nightshade crown #3) - not confident on this, but the first one was nominated in 2023, so maybe! i lowkey might check out this series too-
9) The Ballad of Falling Dragons
- ooh this one sounds promising!! we're in our dragons era frr. also the first one was nominated last year, so i have my suspicions with this one!
potentials:
- if sjm randomly decides to release a book, that would be on here too. somehow i still haven't read a book by her oop-
- kerri maniscalco too (i havent read stuff by her, but i will be soon)
- scarlett st. clair (it says theres a book by her in 2025 but i dont see it anywhere outside of goodreads?)
- Echo Fort (Sins of the Zodiac #2) alr two things. this is supposed to be an extention of the zodiac academy (a series i know nothing about), and zodiac academy has been nomiated twice in a row. BUT the first book of this series didn't do very well so. im not confident on this one.
- Queen of Shadows and Ruin (The Nightfire Quartet) - mm so this one by Nisha J. Tuli, who had been nomiated twice for her artefacts of ouranos series. I wonder if that traction will go over to this series, but its doesnt look like this one did as well previously. the covers are gorgeous, however.
- smthn by stacia stark? i think her romantasy series just ended so maybe not
The Rivaled Crown (The Veiled Kingdom #3) - the first book did well (nominated 2024), the second one people seem to not like as much, i wonder how this one will play out
- raven kennedy? looks like her series ended last year too
- What Fury Brings - tricia levenseller is writing an adult romantasy?? need to check that out
────୨ৎ────────୨ৎ────YA fantasy:
1) Fearless
- easy. didn't know this was ya oop.
2) Thief of Night (Book of Night #2)
- ok im not sure about this at all considering the first one was not nominated, but come on yall its HOLLY BLACK. ima read the first one and see how i feel but this is a very potential potential. also forgot holly is YA-
3) Rebel Witch (the crimson month #2)
- much more sure abt this considering how much people seem to have loveddd the first one
alr im taking a break, this is fun! (tho im struggling with differentiating fantasy, romantasy, romance, and ya fantasy rn)
────୨ৎ────────୨ৎ────✸ fantasy series tracker ✸
The Crimson Moth
Progress: 0/2
-
-
────୨ৎ────────୨ৎ────✸ fantasy series tracker ✸
Secrets of the Nile
Progress: 1/2
- DONE
-(i read the first book, was ok with it, but now that i know its a duology i might as well finish it)
────୨ৎ────────୨ৎ────✸ fantasy series tracker ✸
The Powerless Trilogy
Progress: 0/3.5
(1) -
(1.5) -
(2) -
(3) - TBP 4/8/25(Will check out all once the last one is out)
────୨ৎ────────୨ৎ────✸ fantasy series tracker ✸
Assistant to the Villain Series
Progress: 1/4
(1) - DONE
(2) -
(3) - TBP 8/7/254.
(not reading book 2 until 3 comes out. IM SO EXCITED)
────୨ৎ────────୨ৎ────✸ fantasy series tracker ✸
Crowns of Nyaxia Series
Progress: 3/6
(1) - DONE
(1.5) - DONE
(2) - DONE
(2.5) -
(3) -
(4) - TBP 8/5/25i love that there's three duos in one. i have the first three books checked out alr and will start on them asap!
────୨ৎ────────୨ৎ────✸ fantasy series tracker ✸
Kingdom of the Wicked series
Progress: 0/3
(1) - 
(2) - 
(3) -i have this whole series checked out alr, just need to start!
────୨ৎ────────୨ৎ────✸ fantasy series tracker ✸
Grishaverse series
Progress: 0/7
The Shadow and Bone Trilogy
Progress: 0/3
(1) - 
(2) - 
(3) -Six Of Crows
Progress: 0/2
(1) - 
(2) - King of Scars Series
Progress: 0/2
(1) - 
(2) -hesitantly adding this series as i truly have been meaning to read them forever but have consistantly been too scared too considering how much people love the characters and how interwoven everything is. i'm not ready to have my heart broken and im sure this series is about to do just that. i have all of it checked out, just need to courage to start AAAAA
────୨ৎ────────୨ৎ────Author Marathon
Freida McFadden
Progress: 3/27
my very long freida list bc i know someone on booksta who has read 20(?) of her books and i think thats insane and i like insane so here we go.
- DONE
- DONE
- DONE
- TBP 5/6/25
OMG GIRLL THIS IS SO COOL AND INSPIRING also I so badly want to read all of freida's books
noorie wrote: "OMG GIRLL THIS IS SO COOL AND INSPIRING also I so badly want to read all of freida's books"SO TRUE BESTIE AAA!! we should highkey make a schedule to get thru these together and all the other thriller people bc THATS SO COOL EEE
also on that note, i am realizing a lot more author than i thought are releasing books (like the FANCY FANCY series iykwim) SO, ima need to make a post here on that too
GUYS should i just start a blog at this point
────୨ৎ────────୨ৎ────✸ fantasy series tracker ✸
Divine Rivals
Progress: 0/2
(1)
(2)
ok now i need to make a list of important releases from authors i love and authors i've been meaning to read forever AAAA- its crazy bc rn my biggest problem is, i know which books are book and which ones everyone loves and the author names that are thrown about ALL the time, but i've barely read so many of these big names :((( and I NEED TO GET ON IT at least so i know a variety of author styles, and know the big books, and know what people are talking about (fomo is real guys), and bc as much as i struggle to figure out what to read next there are SO MANY BOOKS I CAN BE READING RNso. long story short. we're figuring out big releases, and then reading everything by the author before it releases. or at least as much as i can hehehe
────୨ৎ────────୨ৎ────BIG RELEASES
(ali hazelwood era?)
(alr planning on reading the duo!)
(hmm i've been seeing this one a lot, but i haven't read anything else by her yet. Maybe wrong place wrong time?)
(alr planning on this, freida era)
(another one i've been seing a lot. thought i hadn't heard of this author but apparently ive read clock dance hmm. seems like a novella anyway)
(OO wait i did not know this was a series!! i guess this is my sign to read the first two, considering bestie gifted me the first one)
(omg a debut! i know i've seen this one quite a bit, and considering this just released that is vv interesting. will be reading this)
(ohoho another series i see quite a bit, may check this out!)
(a duo by the author of serpent & dove! maybe this is my sign to finally read both?)
(we all know i need to read emily henry, yes maam)
(people have also been all over me to read abby jimenez and IMA DO IT, im coming for her and henry frrrr)
(WHOAA, im probably not going to read this rn, bc i have so many fantasy series, BUT its crazy bc i read the arc for the first book of this back in the day and its so big now? im so proud omg it feels like i watched my baby grow up frfr)
(hmm, i already wasn't sure if i'm gonna read the 2nd one of the series, and apparently there's a third? maybe.)
(i got my lib to order the first one so u know im reading this)
(oh my lord another one!? im still 100% terrified of reading book 5 and 6 of shatter me, and now theres a whole nother damn series? IDK for my mental sanity I DONT THINK I CAN DO ITT)
(ofc)
(i need to make my backman list RNRNRNRN)
(ohh this is the author of one dark window! i need to read both of those and then check this out)
(HEHE i have an arc for this alr, but ima read her others)
(hmmm)
(so this is the series with the book of azrael, and im not adding this series rn but idk if ill read it rn but i see the first one A LOT)
(in the words of dj khalid, ANOTHER ONE)
(so ive been told that i MUST read archer's voice, and this is another book by the same author so-)
(this is a debut, but it looks like a book that would be big, so im adding it here JUSTTT in case)
(tjr!!! i need to read more from her, im actually so so excited for this)
(penultimate!? this series has SEVEN BOOKS!?)
(need to add jewell to my author list hehe)
(oml the one author i've properly gotten thru multiple books of (1 more left!) and this ones coming out which sounds SUPER SUPER INTERESTING EEE)
(the premise of this is.. so interesting BAHAHA, but people loved Lights Out, so maybe for shits and giggles frfr)
(ooo i didnt see this series when i was doing my predictions, this looks cool! adding this to my tbr)
(so tis is the sequel to the woman in cabin 10, and idk how much ill read this but maybe this is my sign to read the first one?)
(considering i used to see the elf king one everywehere, im probably going to see this everywhere)
(SO SO EXCITED)
(i have yet to read the first three, but im alr very excited by this)
(i need to read house of glass)
(people talk about study in drowning a lot? maybe i should read this)
(the finale of the series "only a monster"! i remember back when this was coming out omg, maybe maybe)
( i NEED to read babel and yellowface and poppy war, ok this is one of those authors i need a list for)
(this is a HUGE series, i will be checking these out likely)
(we're at the point where theres no covers, but yes holly black i must catch up on)
(i need to make my caraval and ouabh lists eeee)
(this is book 4 of the woven kingdom, andddd im smelling a love triangle or smthn of the sort and i am NOT a fan, now im debating if ill read this oop. maybe the first book)
(same author as divine rivals? maybe)
(i may read this series, this is a novella tho)
(when the moon hatched sequel, people like when the moon hatched, ill probs end up reading this)
(ah sequel to quicksilver ofc)
(omg i remember being a wee 9th grader or smthn reading neon gods and electric idol and being highkey scarred bc girl THATS SOME EROTICA RIGHT THERE OOP, but omg im glad to see this series is still going?? and so sweet obsession is alo included here bc that comes out first)
(by the author of fable!)
────୨ৎ────────୨ৎ────✸ fantasy series tracker ✸
Emily WIlde Series
Progress: 0/3
(1)
(2)
(3)
────୨ৎ────────୨ৎ────✸ fantasy series tracker ✸
The Ruinous Love Trilogy
Progress: 0/3
(1)
(2)
(3)
────୨ৎ────────୨ৎ────✸ fantasy series tracker ✸
Shelby Mahurin
Serpent & Dove
Progress: 0/3
(1)
(2)
(3)The Scarlet Veil Series
Progress: 0/2
(1)
(2)
────୨ৎ────────୨ৎ────✸ fantasy series tracker ✸
Wicked Games
Progress: 0/2
(1)
(2)
────୨ৎ────────୨ৎ────✸ fantasy series tracker ✸
The Shepherd King
Progress: 0/2
(1)
(2)
────୨ৎ────────୨ৎ────✸ fantasy series tracker ✸
The Scorched Throne
Progress: 0/2
(1)
(2)
────୨ৎ────────୨ৎ────Author Marathon
Holly Jackson
Progress: 2/27
A Good Girl's Guide to Muder
(1)
(2)
(3)
TBP 7/22
────୨ৎ────────୨ৎ────Author Marathon
Fredrik Backman
Progress: 3/11
An overdue list right here
Beartown
Progress: 0/3
- DONE
- DONE
- DONE
- TBP 5/20/2025
there are a LOT of books i need to read -
2025 & 2026 Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
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The Fall Risk (other topics)
Rock Paper Scissors (other topics)
One Perfect Couple (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Katherine Center (other topics)Lisa Jewell (other topics)
Alice Feeney (other topics)
Fredrik Backman (other topics)
Lucy Foley (other topics)
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Hi all! I'm manni, and I'm attempting (emphasis on attempting) to read 52 books next year!
i have the terrible tendency of reading multiple books one week and none at all the next, but here's to hoping it'll all balance out at the end! I'll keep this as a running list but put most of my challenge updates in my reader's corner -
Goal: 52 Books!
Progress: 32/52 Books
Links:
My Reading Corner
Books Personal Challenge