It’s technically possible to squeeze in another couple of books before midnight on December 31, 2025 but unlikely, so I think I can safely draw a line under the reading challenges for the year.

I participated in six challenges this year – finished three; one is ongoing; and one I failed (but not as badly as previous years!). 

I also participated in other sorts of reading events during the year – Reading Ireland Month, German Literature Month, 20 Books of Summer/Winter, Short Story September, Novellas in November, and Nonfiction November.

Nonfiction Reader Challenge – the aim was 12 books over 12 nonfiction categories, and I finished the challenge in October. The standout for this challenge was the memoir, Grief is For People by Sloane Crosley. I also enjoyed Bonnie Tsui’s Why We Swim for the ‘Science’ category.

Memoir – I read 28 memoirs (the target was five). It’s difficult to pick favourites because I love this genre, but Grief is for People by Sloane Crosley, The Tidal Year by Freya Bromley, Always Home, Always Homesick by Hannah Kent, The Chronology of Water by Lidia Yuknavitch and Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy were all exceptionally good.

Cover Lovers – completed this challenge in December and stand-outs were the Crosley and Roy.

What’s In a Name – always good fun, and also an excellent way to reacquaint myself with titles in the TBR stack. I finished the challenge in May, and the highlight was the very funny Perfume & Pain by Anna Dorn.

Mount TBR – My Mount TBR effort always starts well and then… tails off… I only managed 41 of the pledged 48. I will be signing up in 2026 though – it keeps me ever-ever-so-slightly reading from what I already own. Happily, this challenge delivered some rippers including Banal Nightmare by Halle Butler, The Unwilding by Marina Kemp, and I Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron.

Around the World in 80 Books – my eighth year of an ongoing challenge and I managed to add three countries to the 71 I’d covered previously, bringing my total to 74.  Glancing down the list, my pick for Iraq – Fundamentally by Nussaibah Younis – was the standout. I’m planning on finishing this challenge next year.

As for reading challenges in 2026, I’m participating in most of these again, as well as challenges that pop up during the year (looking at you November).

Are you trying any new challenges?