2026 Reading Challenge discussion

I normally read 100+ books but as I'm having a baby half way through the year I'm going to be conservative!

2021 Reading Statistics

40/75

New Reads: 33
Re-Reads: 7

Genre:
Biography/Memoir: 4
Children's: 4
Classics:
Essays:
Fantasy: 5
Feminism:
General Fiction: 8
General Non-Fiction: 5
Graphic Novel: 9
Graphic Non-Fiction: 3
Historical Fiction:
Humour: 1
Mental Health:
Mystery:
Plays:
Poetry: 1
Politics:
Psychology:
Religion:
Science:
Sci-fi:
Short Stories: 1
Thriller:
YA: 1

Total Fiction: 28
Total Non Fiction: 14

Length
Short (<250 pages): 18
Medium (250-450 pages): 18
Long (451+): 4

Book
Translated: 1
Not translated: 39

Author
Male: 6
Female: 33
Non Binary: 1
Unknown:

White: 26
BIPOC: 14
Unknown:

Openly LGBTQ+: 3
Not LGBTQ+ / Unknown: 37

Disabled / Neurodiverse: 5
Non-disabled / Unknown: 35

UK/US: 37
Rest of the world: 3

New: 17
Not New: 23

Ratings
★★★★★: 10
★★★★: 24
★★★: 6
★★:
★:

Books by month
January: 11
February: 4
March: 13
April: 5
May: 4
June: 3
July:
August:
September:
October:
November:
December:

Source
Owned (pre-2021): 17
Gifts: 4
Library:
Borrowed:
Free: 1
Purchased in 2021: 18

Total owned pre-2021: 17
Total free in 2021: 5
Total paid in 2021: 18

January

New Reads: 11
Re-Reads: 0

Genre:
Biography/Memoir: 2
General Fiction: 2
Graphic Novel: 5
Graphic Non Fiction: 1
YA: 1

Total Fiction: 8
Total Non Fiction: 3

Short (<250 pages): 6
Medium (250-450 pages): 5
Long (451+): 0

Author
Male: 5
Female: 6
Non Binary: 0
Unknown: 0

White: 9
BIPOC: 2
Unknown: 0

Openly LGBTQ+: 0
Not LGBTQ+ / Unknown: 11

Disabled / Neurodiverse: 1
Non-disabled / Unknown: 10

UK/US: 10
Rest of the world: 1

New: 4
Not New: 7

Ratings
★★★★★: 2
★★★★: 7
★★★: 2
★★: 0
★: 0

Source
Owned (pre-2021): 4
Gifted: 1
Free:
Purchased in 2021: 6

Total owned pre-2021: 3
Total free in 2021: 0
Total paid in 2021: 4

The books
The Switch by Beth O'Leary
Owned, Fiction, New Read, 352 pages
Read: 01/01/21 - 04/01/21
Rating: 4 stars

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
Owned, Fiction, New Read, 328 pages
Read: 06/01/21 - 10/01/21
Rating: 5 stars

Giant Days, Vol. 2 by John Allison
Owned, Graphic Novel, New Read, 128 pages
Read: 10/01/21
Rating: 5 stars

Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas
Purchased, YA, New Read, 304 pages
Read: 11/01/21 - 15/01/21
Rating: 4 stars

Giant Days, Vol. 3 by John Allison
Purchased, Graphic Novel, New Read, 112 pages
Read: 16/01/21
Rating: 4 stars

Giant Days, Vol. 4 by John Allison
Purchased, Graphic Novel, New Read, 112 pages
Read: 19/01/21
Rating: 4 stars

Hungry by Grace Dent
Purchased, Memoir, New Read, New Author, 289 pages
Read: 15/01/21 - 24/01/21
Ratings: 4 stars -> Review

Walking Distance by Lizzy Stewart
Gifted, Graphic Novel, New Read, New Author, 56 pages
Read: 30/01/21
Rating: 3 stars

Giant Days, Vol. 5 by John Allison
Purchased, Graphic Novel, New Read, 112 pages
Read: 30/01/21
Rating: 4 stars

Finding My Voice by Nadiya Hussain
Owned, Memoir, New Read, New Author, 352 pages
Read: 24/01/21 - 30/01/21
Rating: 3 stars

Goldie Vance Vol. 1 by Hope Larson
Purchased, Graphic Novel, New Read, New Author, 112 pages
Read: 30/01/21
Rating: 4 stars

February

New Reads: 2
Re-Reads: 2

Genre:
Biography/Memoir: 1
Fantasy: 2
Graphic Non Fiction: 1

Total Fiction: 2
Total Non Fiction: 2

Short (<250 pages):
Medium (250-450 pages): 3
Long (451+): 1

Author
Male:
Female: 4
Non Binary:
Unknown:

White: 4
BIPOC:
Unknown:

Openly LGBTQ+:
Not LGBTQ+ / Unknown: 4

Disabled / Neurodiverse:
Non-disabled / Unknown: 4

UK/US: 4
Rest of the world:

New: 2
Not New: 2

Ratings
★★★★★: 1
★★★★: 3
★★★:
★★:
★:

Source
Owned (pre-2021): 4
Gifted:
Free:
Purchased in 2021:

Total owned pre-2021: 4
Total free in 2021:
Total paid in 2021:

The books
Biscuits by Jenny Robins
Owned, Graphic Non-Fiction, New Read, New Author, 288 pages
Read: 31/01/21 - 06/02/21
Rating: 4 stars -> Review

Everybody Died, So I Got a Dog by Emily Dean
Owned, Memoir, New Read, New Author, 304 pages
Read: 06/02/2021 - 13/02/2021
Rating: 4 stars

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
Owned, Fantasy, Reread, 419 pages
Read: 18/02/2021 - 21/02/2021
Rating: 4 stars

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
Owned, Fantasy, Reread, 656 pages
Read: 21/02/2021 - 28/02/2021
Rating: 5 stars

March

New Reads: 10
Re-Reads: 3

Genre:
Children's: 4
Fantasy: 3
General Fiction: 1
General Non-Fiction: 1
Graphic Novel: 2
Graphic Non Fiction: 2

Total Fiction: 11
Total Non Fiction: 4

Short (<250 pages): 9
Medium (250-450 pages): 2
Long (451+): 2

Author
Male: 1
Female: 11
Non Binary: 1
Unknown: 0

White: 7
BIPOC: 6
Unknown: 0

Openly LGBTQ+: 2
Not LGBTQ+ / Unknown: 11

Disabled / Neurodiverse: 0
Non-disabled / Unknown: 13

UK/US: 11
Rest of the world: 2

New: 5
Not New: 8

Ratings
★★★★★: 1
★★★★: 9
★★★: 3
★★: 0
★: 0

Source
Owned (pre-2021): 5
Gifted: 1
Purchased in 2021: 7

Total owned pre-2021: 5
Total free in 2021: 1
Total paid in 2021: 7

The books
A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas
Owned, Fantasy, Reread, 707 pages
Read: 28/02/21-07/03/21
Rating: 4 stars

In Love & Pajamas: A Collection of Comics about Being Yourself Together by Catana Chetwynd
Gifted, Graphic Non-Fiction, New Read, 128 pages
Read: 08/03/21
Rating: 4 stars

A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas
Owned, Fantasy, Reread, 229 pages
Read: 08/03/21 - 11/03/21
Rating: 3 stars

A ​Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas
Purchased, Fantasy, New Read, 757 pages
Read: 11/03/21 - 16/03/21
Rating: 4 stars

Too Small Tola by Atinuke
Purchased, Children's, New Read, New Author, 96 pages
Read: 20/03/21
Rating: 3 stars

Queen of Freedom: Defending Jamaica by Catherine Johnson
Purchased, Children's, New Read, New Author, 123 pages
Read: 20/03/21
Rating: 4 stars

The Girl Who Stole an Elephant by Nizrana Farook
Purchased, Children's, New Read, New Author, 272 pages
Read: 21/03/21
Rating: 4 stars

Lumberjanes, Vol. 3: A Terrible Plan by Noelle Stevenson
Purchased, Graphic Novel, New Read, 112 pages
Read: 21/03/21
Rating: 3 stars

Mohinder's War by Bali Rai
Purchased, Children's, New Read, New Author, 176 pages
Read: 21/03/21
Rating: 4 stars

Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker
Owned, Graphic Novel, Reread, 255 pages
Read: 21/03/21
Rating: 4 stars

Locating Strongwoman by Tolu Agbelusi
Purchased, Poetry, New Author, New Read, 90 pages
Read: 20/03/21-24/03/21
Rating: 4 stars

Ayiti by Roxane Gay
Owned, Short Stories, New Read, 173 pages
Read: 21/03/21 - 24/03/21
Rating: 4 stars

The Art of Drag by Jake Hall
Owned, Graphic Non-Fiction, New Read, New Author, 136 pages
Read: 28/03/21
Rating: 5 stars

April

New Reads: 5
Re-Reads: 0

Genre:
Biography/Memoir: 1
General Fiction: 1
General Non-Fiction: 3

Total Fiction: 1
Total Non Fiction: 4

Short (<250 pages): 2
Medium (250-450 pages): 2
Long (451+): 1

Author
Male: 0
Female: 3
Non Binary: 0
Unknown: 0

White: 3
BIPOC: 2
Unknown: 0

Openly LGBTQ+: 0
Not LGBTQ+ / Unknown: 5

Disabled / Neurodiverse: 1
Non-disabled / Unknown: 4

UK/US: 5
Rest of the world: 0

New: 4
Not New: 1

Ratings
★★★★★: 2
★★★★: 3
★★★: 1
★★: 0
★: 0

Source
Owned (pre-2021): 1
Gifted: 1
Free: 1
Purchased in 2021: 2

Total owned pre-2021: 1
Total free in 2021: 2
Total paid in 2021: 2

The books
Pregnancy The Naked Truth - a refreshingly honest guide to pregnancy and birth by Anya Hayes
Purchased, General Non-Fiction, New Read, New Author, 280 pages
Read:
Rating: 3 stars

This Green and Pleasant Land by Ayisha Malik
Owned, General Fiction, New Read, New Author, 454 pages
Read: 23/03/21 - 06/04/21
Rating: 4 stars

Broken by Jenny Lawson
Free, Memoir, New Read, 288 pages
Read: 07/04/21 - 18/04/21
Rating: 5 stars

The Little Book of Self-Care for New Mums by Beccy Hands
Gift, Non-Fiction, New Read, New Author, 192 pages
Read: 21/04/21-22/04/21
Rating: 4 stars

Border Nation: A Story of Migration by Leah Cowan
Purchased, Non-Fiction, New Read, New Author, 144 pages
Read: 19/04/21 - 25/04/21
Rating: 5 stars

Look at You go! Do you have a stand-out winner?

Blagica wrote: "Look at You go! Do you have a stand-out winner?"

Ooooh tough! At the moment it would be between Broken and Border Nation - had a big non-fiction kick in April!

May

New Reads: 4
Re-Reads: 0

Genre:
General Fiction: 1
General Non-Fiction: 1
Graphic Novel: 1
Humour: 1

Total Fiction: 2
Total Non Fiction: 2

Short (<250 pages): 1
Medium (250-450 pages): 3
Long (451+): 0

Author
Male: 0
Female: 4
Non Binary: 0
Unknown: 0

White: 3
BIPOC: 1
Unknown: 0

Openly LGBTQ+: 1
Not LGBTQ+ / Unknown: 3

Disabled / Neurodiverse: 0
Non-disabled / Unknown: 4

UK/US: 4
Rest of the world: 0

New: 2
Not New: 2

Ratings
★★★★★: 2
★★★★: 2
★★★: 0
★★: 0
★: 0

Source
Owned (pre-2021): 1
Gifted: 1
Purchased in 2021: 2

Total owned pre-2021: 1
Total free in 2021: 1
Total paid in 2021: 2

The books
Heartstopper: Volume Four by Alice Oseman
Purchased, Graphic Novel, New Read, 320 pages
Read: 01/05/21 - 02/05/21
Rating: 4 stars

The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary
Purchased, General Fiction, New Read, 416 pages
Read: 02/05/21 - 10/05/21
Rating: 4 stars

Anti-Racist Ally: An Introduction to Activism and Action by Sophie Williams
Owned, General Non-Fiction, New Read, New Author, 176 pages
Read: 15/05/21-23/05/21
Rating: 5 stars

Hurrah for Gin: A book for perfectly imperfect parents by Katie Kirby
Gifted, Humour, New Read, New Author, 320 pages
Read: 25/05/21-27/05/21
Rating: 5 stars

June

New Reads: 1
Re-Reads: 2

Genre:
General Fiction: 3

Total Fiction: 3
Total Non Fiction:

Short (<250 pages):
Medium (250-450 pages): 3
Long (451+):

Author
Male:
Female: 3
Non Binary:
Unknown:

White:
BIPOC: 3
Unknown:

Openly LGBTQ+:
Not LGBTQ+ / Unknown: 3

Disabled / Neurodiverse: 3
Non-disabled / Unknown:

UK/US: 3
Rest of the world:

New:
Not New: 3

Ratings
★★★★★: 2
★★★★: 1
★★★:
★★:
★:

Source
Owned (pre-2021): 2
Gifted:
Purchased in 2021: 1

Total owned pre-2021: 2
Total free in 2021:
Total paid in 2021: 1

The books
Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert
Owned, Fiction, Reread, 373 pages
Read: 27/05/21 - 01/06/21
Rating: 5 stars -> Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert
Owned, Fiction, Reread, 361 pages
Read: 01/06/21 - 07/06/21
Rating: 5 stars

Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert
Purchased, Fiction, New Read, 377 pages
Read: 08/06/21 - 13/06/21
Rating: 4 stars