Around this time of year readers across our community set themselves reading goals. Most of the time we hear about numerical reading challenges, such as the GoodReads reading challenge where the goal is to read a set amount of books in a year. I’ve always participated in these challenges myself, but as a mood reader, I find the constant pressure of a number hanging over me all year exhausting.

In 2025, I decided to opt out. I set my GoodReads reading challenge to 1 title. While I ended up reading more than that, I never once felt stressed about hitting a target. For me, traditional reading challenges can easily become toxic, dictating what and how we read. That’s exactly what I want to avoid.

So this year, I’m sharing alternative non-numerical reading challenges that focus on curiosity, intention, and enjoyment, not reading a set number of books.

Tackle Your TBR: A Reading Challenge to Clear Your Unread Pile

I know, I know… Buying books and reading books are two separate hobbies, and collecting books is fun. But in a world where overconsumption is rife, it´s time to check out those piles of unread books at home. Challenge yourself to tackle the books you already have at home. You may already own your next favourite book!

Reading Challenge: Finish a Book Outside Your Usual Spot

As a remote worker and introvert I need to get better at leaving the comfort of my home. This year I’m challenging myself to read more outside my home. Whether it be at the gym, the library, on the train, at a coffee shop etc. time will tell!

Decades Reading Challenge: Explore Books from Different Eras

I love to get inspiration from history when playing The Sims, so why not bring it to life in my reading as well? Select a few decades that interest you and read books either written or set during that decade. 

Read Around the World: A Global Reading Challenge

It´s very easy to unintentionally be drawn to books that reflect your own environment, but it’s way more fun to travel the world through your reading! Challenge yourself to read books from around the world, maybe one from each continent? If you need inspiration on where to travel first: check out our Read Around the World blog series.

Mindful Reading Challenge: Read With Intention and Purpose

Start the year with a fresh notebook. Each time you finish a book, write down something meaningful, such as the opening or closing sentence, and journal around it. Journaling is a great hobby for practicing mindfulness.

You could try other mindful hobbies as well, if you knit or crochet how about a genre blanket with one line per title? If you’re a colourer, you could colour a picture in the vibe of each book you read.

Genre Adventure: A Reading Challenge to Try New Genres

I´m a romance reader by habit, but surprisingly, some of my favourite books come from times where I’ve picked up genres or titles I usually wouldn’t. For example I learned this year that I actually love memoirs! Turns out I just had to read about topics and people that annoyed me, hello Real-Housewives memoirs! Storygraph does an annual challenge to encourage you to try books in various genres.

Book Cover Challenge: Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover

Never judge a book by its cover right? Well, we all do. This year I´m personally trying to pick up books where the cover doesn’t necessarily speak to me, for example, covers with text only. I wouldn´t want to be judged by my face, yet I tend to judge every single book I read by its cover, ironic isn’t it?

Name Twin Reading Challenge: Read a Book by an Author Who Shares Your Name

As a Scandinavian with an extremely Scandinavian name, this will be a fun one. Try to find a book where the author shares your first name. Anyone got any good Maren-recs?

Re-read Challenge: Rediscover Your Favourite Books

My love for reading started in the 2010s with the dystopian era of books (aka the best era) so it’s quite often that I find myself reading old favourites. Re-reading old favorites is also a great treatment for a reading slump, reminding yourself of why you fell in love with reading in the first place, by revisiting the books that made you fall in love with reading.

Genre-Swap Reading Challenge: Try Books Outside Your Comfort Zone

It’s easy to stick to comfortable, favourite genres when reading. However, every now and then I like to pick up a book in a completely different genre, it’s a low commitment challenge that brings huge potential! If you’re interested in testing the Manga waters for example, take a look at the Manga introduction blog.

At the end of the day, reading shouldn’t feel like a competition or race. From my experience, reading challenges are most enjoyable when they focus on curiosity and stories rather than numbers.

If you´re a reader who thrives with numerical challenges, that’s great. Everyone is welcome to do their own challenges. Whether you stick to your usual reading goals or try a new intentional reading challenge, the aim is joy and curiosity, not numbers.

Which challenge will you try first? Share your 2026 reading journey in the comments or on social media, and let’s inspire each other to make reading fun again!