It’s been a hot minute! A few months … almost half a year?! Let’s have a quick catch-up and tell me – how was your reading year? How has your 2026 been so far?
What I’m Reading
I knew what my first book of the year was going to be since early December. I was going to end the year by starting the 912 page chunkster – The Hallmarked Man (Cormoran Strike #8), Robert Galbraith (a pen name for J.K. Rowling). I opted for the audiobook narrated by Robert Glenister and woweee! The narration is superb and I’m so happy that I experienced the book this way. The gruff private detective Cormoran Strike has a complicated, intricate to solve – as usual – and he has FINALLY admitted he has feelings for his business partner Robin, and he’s ready to let her know. Oh the suspense over all the books was so hard to bear! Brilliant pacing, story and characters – just as good as the other books.
I’m currently reading The Locked Door, Freida McFadden, as my choice for the Key Word Reading Challenge (Door being one of the Key Words for January).
Reading Resolutions
This year I would like to read more physical books. I LOVE a good audiobook along with the convenience of eBooks that I read on my phone, but I’m on my phone way too much mindlessly scrolling, and I miss making the time to just sit, read and escape for a while … sort of like romanticizing my reading time.
Reading Challenges
I’m keeping things simple this year and only participating in the 2 year-long challenges we host – the 2026 Key Word Reading Challenge and 2026 Motif Reading Challenge.
I am doing my own personal reading challenge to go along with my goal above of to read more physical books. It’s a “Where am I reading challenge“. I plan on keeping track of reading a physical book at different places – e.g. cafes, library, airport, airplane, different towns / countries … all over. I must be there for 30 minutes, and take a picture or video to document my experience.
Looking Forward in 2026
I was absent from this space for the 2nd half of this year (getting back into running took over my life, along with caring for my dad and his health issues) but I hope to be more present here this year – consistently at least once per week with these Bookmarked posts. I will sprinkle links to reading goodness I find on the internet – but not as many as before, because your girl is trying to be out in the streets doing all the things!
I usually link to a ton of “Best Books of the Year” list – but the main one I’ll be looking at books from is Lit Hub’s The Ultimate Best Books of 2025 List which lists the most recommended books from the gazillion “Best Books” lists. Also Anticipated Literary Reads For Readers of Color 2025 and Anticipated Literary Reads For Readers of Color 2026. Wait … I have to throw some horror in there, so
Looking Forward in January
For me, this month has a lot happening Off the Books – a team running challenge that I do every January, a birthday trip for my husband to Aruba, a half marathon the last weekend and some professional obligations that will have me driving an hour in to work most days. So I’m not leaning into any bookish obligations other than taking a physical book with me when I travel, and finding time to have even just 1 Sunday morning reading at a local cafe.
What are your plans for January?
