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Should You Set Reading Goals?
My reading became sparse and hit-or-miss when I was in the throes of early motherhood. When the baby/toddler was napping or content, I either needed to get chores done, or I wanted to just rest. As my boys got a little older and schedules stabilized, I wanted to make reading for pleasure a priority again. So, I set a goal of reading 12 books a year – a number that felt challenging and doable.
I’ve increased my reading goal since my boys were little, but I still keep my reading goal pretty simple compared to some I’ve seen floating around. Below, I’m sharing five types of reading goals for you to consider (or not – you get to choose your own adventure!) as we start thinking about 2026 goals and yearly intentions.
Types of Reading Goals
1. Read by Number of Books
A classic reading goal: choose how many books you want to read this year.
One book a month, two books a month, one book every two months – whatever fits your life and season.
2. Read by Author(s)
- Read authors from A-Z (Austen, Brown, Christie, Dahl …)
- OR, read all the books by one author you’ve been wanting to dive into.
This is a fun option if you’re looking to broaden your reading habits or explore new-to-you writers.
3. Read Alphabetically by Title:
Choose a book for each letter of the alphabet: Anne of Green Gables, Band of Brothers, Call of the Wild, Diary of Anne Frank and so on.
This type of challenge is great for readers who want variety while keeping their reading goals structured.
4. Read by Month (in the Title)
Read a book each month with that month in the title. Examples:
- The January Queen (Joyce Stranger)
- February Thaw & Other Stories of Contemporary Fantasy (Tanya Huff)
- At Midnight on the 31st of March (Josephine Young Case).
This is a creative, seasonal way to keep your reading momentum going all year long.
5. Read a Book Set in Every U.S. State
Choose books that take place in all 50 states. Examples:
- Marley & Me (Florida)
- Hillbilly Elegy (Ohio)
- Killer Angels (Pennsylvania)
This is one of the more popular reading challenges, and if it interests you, there are many curated lists available online.
How to Track Your Reading Goals
I’ve written previously about how I track books I’ve read and want to read in these prior posts (here and here).
Quick Recap:
- I track completed books in the Goodreads app
- I keep an Amazon Wishlist of the books I want to read.
- You can also keep a simple journal like this one
- And I found this adorable reading progress sign that lets you track book counts through the year.
A Recent Reading Story That Inspired Me – Talk About Reading Goals!
A man from my hometown recently made national news for tracking 3500+ books he read over six decades. He borrowed the books from his local library, and the library is now sharing his list with readers everywhere.
You can read the article here and see his full list here.
Final Thoughts on Setting Reading Goals
I’ll admit it – some of these reading challenges feel restrictive to me. I want to read what I want to read without feeling boxed in (see this post on how my reading habits have changed over the years).
But if you want to:
- Read more books
- Expand into new genres
- Or simply add more intention to your reading life…
Then setting a reading goal might be exactly what you need.
Which reading goals would you add to this list?
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