2022 End of The Year Book Survey
All the books I read in 2022! Photo by Payton Hayes.
Hi readers and writerly friends!
I am once again completing the End of The Year Book Survey created by Jamie from PerpetualPageTurner.com! Make sure you check out her post here and share it if you do decide to complete it for yourself!
Note: The survey is for books you read throughout the year, no matter when they were published, and is not limited to just books that came out in 2022! Previous years and related topics have been included at the end of this post!
2022 Reading Statistics
Number of books Read:35
Number of Re-Reads:0
Genre read from the most: Nonfiction, Mental Health
Best in Books
1. Best Book You Read In 2022?
I couldn’t leave any of these out. If I had to choose just one, I’d pick Where the Crawdad’s Sing by Delia Owens. I couldn’t put it down!
Where the Crawdad’s Sing by Delia Owens
Gorilla and the Bird: A Memoir of Madness by Zack McDermott
The Drama of the Gifted Child by Alice Miller and Ruth Ward
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?
A Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday
Laziness Does Not Exist by Devon Price
All of these books I had heard great things about, but personally didn’t enjoy as much as I thought I would based on the hype. I hoped they’d all be 5-star books, but was found a little wanting after closing their covers. The second two contained a lot of excellent information, but I just don’t think they lived up to the hype.
3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?
The Drama of the Gifted Child by Alice Miller and Ruth Ward
4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?
Where the Crawdad’s Sing by Delia Owens
The Drama of the Gifted Child by Alice Miller and Ruth Ward
I told everyone I know who reads to check out Where the Crawdad’s Sing by Delia Owens but I am not sure that they have just yet. I mentioned The Drama of the Gifted Child by Alice Miller and Ruth Ward and Gorilla and the Bird: A Memoir of Madness by Zack McDermott to my therapist and she wrote them down, so that’s something? A coworker and I got to talking about our most impactful reads this year and I recommended The Drama of the Gifted Child by Alice Miller to her and she recommended The Whole-Brain Child by Daniel J. Siegel and The Female Brain by Louann Brizendine. I then had coffee with an old friend from high school and to her I also recommended The Drama of the Gifted Child by Alice Miller and in turn, she recommended Mindset by Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D | Key Takeaways, Analysis & Review: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck, all three of which, I have added to my Goodreads “Want To Read” shelf.
5. Best series you started in 2022? Best Sequel? Best Series Ender of 2022?
The Wingspan Trilogy by Heather Trim was the only series I read in 2022 and I only read two out of three of the books. I really enjoyed this series and I hope to finish it in 2023!
6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2022?
L.M. Montgomery
7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?
The Kid-Friendly ADHD and Autism Cookbook by Pamela J Compart and Dana GodBout Laake
I typically don’t read cookbooks as reading material, but I picked up and read several of them this year. I found this book the most informative and interesting because of the mental health information it contained as well as effective diets for neurodiverse people.
8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?
Where the Crawdad’s Sing by Delia Owens
I just could not put this book down. The characters are just so interesting and the plot twist is fantastic!
9. Book You Read In 2022 That You Would Be MOST Likely To Re-Read Next Year?
The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday
Though this book disappointed me slightly, I think I’d pick it up again next year. I don’t have the best reading routine and with this book being a daily reader, I probably didn’t give it the best shot. I’d go days at a time forgetting to pick it up and then catch up later. 😅
10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2022?
Wingbound by Heather Trim
11. Most memorable character of 2022?
Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
12. Most beautifully written book read in 2022?
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2022?
The Drama of the Gifted Child by Alice Miller and Ruth Ward
14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2022 to finally read?
I think all of the books I read this year were picks from this year. I pretty much read whatever I felt like reading when I felt like reading it. I think that’s the main reason why I was able to read so many books this year compared to last year. In the past, I’ve put restrictions on my reading goals and this made it harder to motivate myself to read.
15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2022?
Page 305 from The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday
Virtue And Kindness
October 12th
ALWAYS LOVE
“Hecato says, ‘I can teach you a love potion made without drugs, herbs, or special spell —if you would be loved, love.”
—SENECA MORAL LETTERS, 9.6
In 1992, Barbara Jordan addressed the Democratic National Conventtion and railed against the greed and selfishness and divisiveness of the previous decade. People were ready for a change. “Change it to what?” she asked. “Change the environment of the 80’s to an environment which is characterized by a devotion to the public interest, public service, tolerance, and love. Love. Love. Love.”
Love. Love. Love. Why? Because, as the Beatles put it, “In the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.” Not just in politics, not just in tolerance, but in our personal lives. There is almost no situation in which hatred helps. Yet almost every situation is made better by love —or empathy, understanding, and appreciation —-even situations in which you are in opposition to someone.
And who knows, you might just get some of that love back.
—Ryan Holiday, The Daily Stoic, page 305.
16. Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2022?
Shortest: Oh Hell No!:And Other Ways To Set Some Damn Boundaries by Chronicle Books
Longest: The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) by the American Psychiatric Association
17. Book that shocked you the most
The Drama of the Gifted Child by Alice Miller and Ruth Ward
This book blew me away. It might have just been the most spot-on book of all the mental health books I read this year, and ever. I felt noticed, called out, and understood while reading this book. At times, it felt almost offensive that some of the concepts were staring me dead in the face, like an unsettling reflection you can’t shake. It resonated with me deeply and I felt as if the author was looking into my soul.
If you have PTSD, grew up with authoritarian parents, put the needs of others before your own needs for most of your life, and felt like you haven’t met your full potential, then this book may be for you. It gives an explanation for how readers are the way they are, helps the reader understand why they wittingly and unwittingly put their trauma back on others, and gives the reader hope for the future with a new perspective on their childhood and past.
18. OTP OF THE YEAR (You will go down with this ship!) (OTP = One true pairing if you aren’t familiar)
Kya Clark and Tate Walker from Where the Crawdad’s Sing by Delia Owens
19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year
Anne Shirley and Marilla Cuthbert of Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
20. Favorite Book You Read in 2022 From An Author You’ve Read From Previously
I did not read any books from authors I’ve read from previously this year.
21. Best Book You Read in 2022 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure/ Bookstagram, etc.
Where the Crawdad’s Sing by Delia Owens - Recommended by Mollie Tubeville from MollieReads
22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2022?
I did not have any fictional crushes from the books I read in 2022. I read mostly nonfiction.
23. Best 2022 debut you read?
I really enjoyed Jeanette McCurdy’s I’m Glad My Mom Died, and highly recommend you read it if you like reading memoirs.
24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
Anne Shirley’s imaginative, colorful descriptions of Avondale were so magical and reminded me of what it was like to play and imagine as a child. This book was so charming.
25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2022?
Gorilla and the Bird: A Memoir of Madness by Zack McDermott
27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?
The Drama of the Gifted Child by Alice Miller and Ruth Ward
28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?
Blood Orange by Harriet Tyce
None of the books I read this year really crushed my soul. However, this book was such a disappointment that I felt like I’d wasted time reading it altogether.
29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2022?
Drug Use for Grown-Ups: Chasing Liberty in the Land of Fear by Carl L. Hart
30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?
A Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
My Blogging/Bookish Life
1. New favorite book blog/Bookstagram/Youtube channel you discovered in 2022?
I started following @authenticallyryan on Instagram and I enjoy her bookish content there.
2. Favorite post you wrote in 2022?
For Content Creators and CEOs with ADHD: Strategies to Succeed Despite Overwhelm and Distractions
This blog post was very near and dear to my heart. I worked really hard on it and wrote from a lot of personal experience. I hope that it reaches the audience it’s meant for and helps anyone who reads it. 😊
Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler and a jar of hibiscus tea on a wood tabletop. Follow me on Instagram for more bookish photos! Photo by Payton Hayes.
3. Favorite bookish related photo you took in 2022?
My photo of Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler and a jar of hibiscus tea on a wood tabletop. I took this photo after I finished the book. I think I liked the picture and cover better than I liked the book. I had high hopes for it but it left me wishing the character relationships had been a little more realistic and unique.
This photo is on my Instagram! Follow me for more bookish content!
4. Best bookish event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, etc.)?
I haven’t attended any bookish events in 2022, but I’m planning attend at least two writing conventions, to attend a workshop or two with the Yukon Writer’s Society, and to host monthly workshops for the Oklahoma Writer’s Society next year!
5. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2022?
Surpassing my Goodreads Reading Challenge to read 22 books —I read 33!
6. Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year?
It was really hard to get back into writing for my blog this year. 2020 and 2021 were rough years for me, like most everyone. My mental health declined and with it, my creativity and motivation to write. But I read a lot of books, went to therapy, did some soul searching, and fell in love with being creative again. It’s been a long, challenging journey, but I’m back and better than ever.
7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?
How To Write Best Friends to Lovers Romance - That Feels Realistic
This post was written in 2020 but it’s gotten 1.5k views in the last year. Best friends to lovers is a popular trope in romance.
8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?
For Content Creators and CEOs with ADHD: Strategies to Succeed Despite Overwhelm and Distractions
9. Best bookish discover (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?
I don’t think I’ve discovered any great bookish, non-book items this year. I did at a lot of new books to my TBR on Goodreads, though!
10. Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?
Yes! I completed my 2022 goal of reading 22 books this year! This was my Goodreads Reading Challenge for 2022 and I actually ended up reading 33 books!
Looking ahead
1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2022 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2023?
Wingspan by Heather Trim
Next year, I hope to finish this series!
2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2023 (non-debut)?
I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy, debuted in 2022.
3. 2023 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2023?
Winds of Winter by George R.R. Martin. He hasn’t said it’s going to be finished in 2023, but in a recent interview from The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, he mentioned that the book may be as long as 1500 pages and it's about three-quarters of the way complete.
Read more here.
5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2023?
I hope to get more comments and engagement on my blog post. Every month, there’s hundreds and even thousands of views but no one leaves a comment. I’d love to get to know my readers and start some fun, bookish conversations!
6. A 2023 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone (if applicable):
I haven’t read any 2023 releases early, but I hope to read Yellowface by R.F. Kuang next year once it’s out!
And that’s it for my 2022 Bookish End Of The Year Survey! Make sure you check out Jamie at Perpetualpageturner.com and fill out the survey for yourself here! Leave me a comment answering one of these questions and if you do decide to fill out the survey, make sure to link it in the comments and share it with Jamie and myself so we can see your results!
Bibliography:
Related topics:
Recent blog posts
—Payton
2022 Book Wrap Up & Rating All The Books I Read This Year
Hi readers and writerly friends!
Welcome back to the blog! If you’re new, thanks for stopping by! Be sure to check out all of my Bookish Things posts if that’s your cup of tea! This post is my 2022 Book Wrap Up! Share your 2022 Book Wrap Up in the comments below!
It has been a crazy couple of years. I could say that again.
I had high hopes for 2020 and ended up completing 0 of my 20 Bookish Goals For 2020. In 2021, I set 21 goals, naturally. I should have dialed it back a bit to account for the unexpected. However, I stubbornly set 21 goals for myself and again, completed very few in comparison to the amount of goals I set. I didn’t read 52 books. I didn’t finish a single series.
The goals I completed in 2021 include:
Read the House of Night Series by P.C. and Kristin Cast. (I read four books from this series and decided to finally put it to rest. This was my second or third time trying to get through this series and it just wasn’t for me. The writing was inconsistent —you could tell where one author stopped and another began, and not in a good way —and the story’s premise was just all too familiar: YA vampire school romance, bleh. I think I’ve seen enough of that trope to last me a lifetime. So I added the series to my DNF (Did Not Finish) list on Goodreads and let myself off the hook.)
Read More Classics In 2022 (I read Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, so I think this one counts as completed!)
My other 19 goals for 2021 were left sitting on the shelf, covered in dust.
This year was different.
While many of my goals from 2020 and 2021 remained in the back of my mind, I set only one goal for myself in 2022.
Read 22 books.
That’s it! I set out to get less than two books a month for a year and I knocked that goal out of the park.
I knew I was capable of reading two books a month based on my track record for previous years — 16/52 books in 2021, 15/12 books in 2020, 22/20 books in 2019, and 2/12 books in 2018. But like I said, it's been a crazy couple of years. I learned my lesson the hard way, by setting unrealistic goals for myself, not completing them all, and feeling disappointed when the end of the year came and I had hardly anything to show for it.
My average rating of the 35 books I read in 2022 was 3.5 stars on a 5-Star Rating scale.
2022 Reading Statistics
Number of books Read:35
Number of Re-Reads:0
Average Rating: 3.5 stars
I’ve listed all the books I read this year in the order I read them below. Each book was given a 1-5-star rating for each book based on how much I enjoyed the book overall, how well I liked the writing style, and how useful the information contained within its pages was for me.
Rating the books I read in 2022
Sweet Bitter by Stephanie Danler ⭐⭐⭐
Smithsonian Makers Workshop:Unique AmericanCrafting, Cooking, Gardening, and Decorating Projects by The Smithsonian Institution ⭐⭐
Loving Someone with PTSD: A Practical Guide to Understanding and Connecting with your Partner After Trauma by Aphrodite Matsakis ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Never Use Futura by Douglas Thomas and Ellen Lupton ⭐⭐⭐
The CBD Beauty Book: Make Your Own Natural Beauty Products With The Goodness Extracted From Hemp by CICO Books⭐⭐
Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Brain That Changes Itself by Norman Doidge ⭐⭐⭐
Blood Orange by Harriet Tyce ⭐⭐
Oh Hell No!:And Other Ways To Set Some Damn Boundaries by Chronicle Books ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Gorilla and the Bird: A Memoir of Madness by Zack McDermott ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Wild Edible Plants of Oklahoma by Charles W. Kane ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood ⭐⭐⭐
Pride: Celebrating Diversity & Community by Robin Stevenson ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Drug Use for Grown-Ups: Chasing Liberty in the Land of Fear by Carl L. Hart ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The “I Love My Instant Pot” Free Holiday Menu by Michelle Fagone ⭐⭐
The Forager’s Feast: How to Identify and Prepare Wild Edibles by Leda Meredith ⭐⭐⭐
The Drama of the Gifted Child by Alice Miller and Ruth Ward ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Kid-Friendly ADHD and Autism Cookbook by Pamela J Compart and Dana GodBout Laake ⭐⭐⭐
Foraging Cookbook: 75 Recipes to Make the Most of Your Foraged Finds by Karen Stephenson⭐⭐
The Ultimate Vegan Cookbook for Your Instant Pot by Kathy Hester ⭐⭐
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Wingbound by Heather Trim ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Laziness Does Not Exist by Devon Price ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Courage To Be Disliked: How to Free Yourself, Change Your Life, and Achieve Real Happiness by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga ⭐
Consumer Economics by Wendy Reiboldt ⭐⭐⭐
A Radical Guide for Women With ADHD: Embrace Neurodiversity, Live Boldly, and Break Through Barriers by Sari Solden, Michelle Frank, and Ellen Litman ⭐⭐
Mastering Your Adult ADHD: A Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment Program Client Workbook by Steven Safren ⭐⭐⭐⭐
How to Write One Song: Loving the Things We Create and How They Love Us Back by Jeff Tweedy ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) by the American Psychiatric Association ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Dracula by Brahm Stoker ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Learning About Dance: Dance As An Art Form And Entertainment by Nora Ambrosio ⭐⭐⭐
I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jeanette McCurdy ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Wingless by Heather Trim ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Buzzed: The Straight Facts About The Most Used And Abused Drugs From Alcohol To Ecstasy by Cynthia M. Kuhn, Scott Swartzwelder, and Wilkie Wilson ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday ⭐⭐⭐
All the books I read in 2022
Looking at this list, it's easy to say my reading interests have been aaaaall over the place. From cookbooks, to the DSM-5, to various mental health books, to classics, to textbooks, to fiction and everything in between, my reading habits this year have certainly been interesting and diverse.
I’m proud of myself for reaching my reading goal and expanding my reading horizons too. I even managed to get a new bookshelf (2021 goal 😂). Well, actually, I just repurposed another shelf for use as a bookshelf, so I still need to get a new one, but I digress.
All this to say, yes, life has been crazy for the last few years —it’s been hectic, full of ups and downs, and many learning curves — but it does get easier. The tide always goes back out and the sun always comes up. And it is possible, through some discipline, to break out of a reading slump and reach your bookish goals.
What were your bookish goals for 2022? How many goals did you achieve? What goals have you set for 2023? If you want to read more on this topic, check out the related topics and past blog posts below!
Related Topics:
Similar Blog Posts From Previous Years:
How to Read More Books in 2022
A stack of books I want to read in 2022. Photo by Payton Hayes.
Hi readers and writerly friends!
Welcome back and if you’re new thanks for popping in! This week in Bookish Things, I’m going to be sharing all of my tips and tricks for knocking out those reading lists and other bookish goals!
Just to give you guys a little bit of backstory and help remind you that despite all of my bookish content and strategizing I do here, I am still human and I also struggle with finding time to read and keeping up with my yearly reading goal. I also catch myself falling into reading slumps from time to time so don’t feel like you’re alone, because there’s millions of readers out there who have to actively work towards their reading goals!
In 2018 I did not meet my reading goal (2/12) 😬 but in 2019 (22/20) 🎉 and 2020 (15/12) 🥳 I did. In 2021, I fell way short of my extremely ambitious goal of reading 52 books, of which I only read 16. I look back at these recent years and my reading goals, and the life events I experienced stick out very clearly to me. This reflection serves as a great reminder that sometimes life does get in the way of reading and that’s okay. Don’t feel bad if you’ve been slacking in your reading goals. Let’s get back on track together!
Start by creating a reading plan
Why do you want to read more? Considering this question will help you firmly define your “why” and make it easier to keep on track with your reading throughout the year. Perhaps you’re reading for educational purposes or to better yourself? Maybe you want to read more novels to escape from stress and practice self-care. Maybe you want to be more well-read and explore the written word over modern media. No matter your reason, its always a good idea to read regularly as long as you’re doing it for you and you know why.
Additionally, you may want to ask yourself a few more questions to help clearly define your reading goals for 2022. How long will you read for each day? How many books do you have on your To-Be-Read (TBR) list? Is there a series you’ve been meaning to get into or a classic author you want to check out? How many books a month do you want to shoot for? What genres most interest you right now? What genres do you find yourself shying away from? Do you want to schedule your reading and plan out each months books? I personally prefer making an annual loose TBR list and choosing I can what to read as I go. Other readers enjoy making a reading schedule with specific books for each month or planning seasonal reads as the year goes on. I always try to read horror or spooky-themed books in October! Map out a book timeline that makes sense for your lifestyle, interests, and reading goals.
1. Keep track of your books by using Goodreads
This tip isn’t new, especially around the bookish community, but its worth mentioning to start, especially for anyone new to the reading scene or anyone just getting back into it! You might also be a reader who has never kept track of their reading habits before so this might be a great strategy for you to remember what you’ve read, keep your eyes out for new books, and stay focused on your yearly reading challenge.
Goodreads does a yearly reading challenge which can be a great resource for reading inspiration and motivation. Sign up, add a few books to your “Want To Read” shelf, set a reading goal for yourself, and get reading! You can also share your reviews and recommendations with other readers and authors on the app!
2. Make your reading goals public for external accountability
To make use of external accountability, consider joining a local book club or reading group, joining online reading communities, and sharing your reading goals, updates, and reading lists to your own social circles. Having a tight-knit group to share books with and discuss stories can be just the thing to get you back on track with your reading goals!
Kindles are also great for cutting down on book storage and readers can make use of the “Read Sample” prior to purchasing digital copies of books they’ve yet to read. Kindle Unlimited also offers access to millions of books every month.
4. Use a designated device solely for reading
I understand some bookworms here are still ballin’ on a budget, but if you can afford to, splurge on a tablet purposed only for reading. This separation of activities can be crucial in helping you rewire your brain for reading time. Avoid reading on your phone to eliminate distractions from social media and texts.
5. Multitask with audiobooks
You do not have to physically read a book to absorb the important and useful information contained within its pages. Many readers make use of audiobooks for the convenience, portability, and multitasking ability they have. Read a book while you cook, read a book while you walk, read a book while you clean or workout, read a book during your commute to and from work and on your lunch break —there’s a number of activities you can do while listening to an audiobook!
6. Read more than one book at any given time.
Now don’t let your “Current Reads” list get too full of unfinished books, but it can be refreshing to read more than one book at a time, especially if you alternate between fiction and non-fiction and read from different genres to avoid reading slumps! I personally enjoy having an e-book and audiobook, as well as a hard-copy on hand at any given time. This is especially useful in keeping concepts, themes, and characters separate across multiple novels.
7. Put down any books you’re not enjoying anymore.
If it’s no longer serving you or bringing you joy, feel free to let it go. Everyone can rant and rave about how good a book is but you don’t have to like it just because everyone else does. If you’re done with a book, feel free to move it to the “Read” shelf in Goodreads, leave a review if you’d like, and move on to the next read. Don’t let your disillusionment of a book you had high hopes for put you in a reading slump or worse, ruin your love of reading and learning.
8. Read for 15 minutes a day
Set a short timer to go off at the same time everyday and read for 15 minutes. This could be a really effective strategy for making regular reading a successful and sustainable habit.
9. Bring a book with you everywhere you go
Find yourself bored standing in line at the store or waiting on your oil to be changed? Bringing a book with you can help you avoid awkward queues and chip away at your TBR.
10. Get the main points of the book without having to read for 5+ hours
If you’re wanting to get into the reading scene but are feeling held back by your reading ability or lack of time for reading, consider getting the bare-bones content, main information, or essential ideas from an app like Blinkist. (If you’ve ever heard of Sparknotes, or Cliffs Notes, this app provides similar content.) Blinkist offers key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours. While its debatable how much material you’re actually absorbing via condensed methods such as this, its certainly a low-barrier-to-entry option and might work better for busier readers with less leisure time on their hands.
11. Enroll in a library membership
Much like joining book clubs and reading groups, signing up with your local library can be a great reading resource and method of external accountability, especially if you can find others to read and discuss books with. Library memberships are usually free to the public
12. Romanticize reading and make it a ritual
Not only should we be romanticizing reading, but we should also make it a ritual rather than a chore. If you enjoyed reading in the cozy chair by the window with a cup of coffee beside you, you might want to make that part of your reading ritual. Some daily readers will opt to get their 15 minutes in just before bed, making it a nighttime ritual that helps them wind down and relax, while other readers will avoid reading in the bedroom altogether. Designate a time and space for reading and it will be easier to get into the practice of reading daily. Ensure your reading environment, snacks, music, and other possible distractions or reading aids remain consistent throughout your reading practice to help further reinforce the habit in your daily life.
13. Organize a reading list that you will actually enjoy reading
As mentioned with the first step in this guide, it’s incredibly important to get a strong sense of what you enjoy reading, what your reading goals are, and what you want to read for 2022 to help you get started with your reading plan. Think about which authors and genres you’d like to read from. Consider diversifying your reading list so that its not all fiction, non-fiction, a single genre, or books from the same author.
14. Gather book recommendations influential people and other authors
Still not sure what to read? Follow your favorite authors and influencers on Goodreads and see what they’re reading each month for some inspiration. You can also check out BookTube and Bookstagram for thousands of book recommendations from other readers. Some of my favorite reads were recommended to me by the people I follow, so don’t limit your reading content to what you’ve heard of —take suggestions too! Whenever I am looking for recommendations, I ask my friends and Bookish Facebook groups what they’re reading and that usually gives me a pretty wide variety to pick from. You can also check out the New York Times Best Sellers List for the hottest reads.
15. Broaden your bookish horizons
Reading isn’t just good for intellectual growth; it can be a great avenue for personal enrichment in many areas of your life. You might not enjoy every book you read this year but you can learn at least one thing from them. Read from authors you normally don’t gravitate towards, explore genres you’ve never read from before, pick up a craft book, zoology book, a book about how to build a computer, or how to do your taxes yourself for practical reading, or read a hefty tome of a novel and lose yourself in the world-building —the options are endless!
16. Pick up a daily reader
While daily reading isn’t for everyone, its a surefire way to make steady, measurable progress towards your reading goals. Daily readers such as the Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday, Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, or The Four Agreements by Miguel Ruiz are all great examples of popular books with a page-a-day reading pace. Check out more from the Daily Readers Goodreads shelf here.
17. Set up a rewards system
Yes, Bookish People, this is your permission slip to go buy more books. (But only if you’ll actually read them!) Set up monthly incentives to help motivate you to pick up your current read each day! This could include a new book for every book you complete, an afternoon at a local Bookish coffee shop, cute bookish socks for each completed read, or a new bookshelf at the end of the year if you complete your challenge! Whatever you decide to implement as a rewards system, ensure that it is sustainable and makes sense for your lifestyle, environment, and budget. I like to check out books from the library and for every 3 I read, I’ll get a new book. This helps me keep from overbuying new books and it helps me tailor my personal library to only the titles I truly love and will reach for again.
18. Don’t compare your reading progress to others
It can be fun to have a little friendly reading competition, but don’t let someone else’s reading challenge overshadow your own reading progress. Read for you, celebrate the completion of your goals, big and small, and make sure you’re reading for your own enjoyment and enrichment and not for the opinions of others. In the long run, the former is more fulfilling and the latter will leave you stuck in a reading slump.
19. Visualize your reading goals with a habit tracker app or printable reading tracker
If you’re not into Goodreads, that’s okay! You might find keeping a reading list in your planner or a cute printable reading tracker taped to your fridge is the way to go for you! You can download my free printable tracker by clicking the image on the right. Pintrest also has tons of printable reading trackers and book lists too!
20. Be flexible and leave room for more reading
Don’t overwhelm yourself with an overly-planned reading list if you’re just getting into reading or getting back into it after a while. Be gracious with yourself and remember that its okay if you don’t read every single book on your list cover-to-cover or if you miss some of your reading goals this year. If you manage to read one book a year, you’re still learning and growing, so try to take it one book at a time. Leave spaces open throughout the year for new books to join the rotation and be prepared to “Do-Not-Finish” (DNF) a book if its not meeting your expectations.
Those are my 20 tips for reading more in 2022! Are there any other bookish tips you have for reaching your reading goals? What books are you planning to read this year? Let me know in the comments below!
Bibliography:
Aurelius, Marcus. Meditations, London: Penguin Classics, 2006. Goodreads.
Cliffs Notes. “Homepage.” CliffsNotes.com, accessed April 6, 2022.
Goodreads. “2022 Reading Challenge.” Goodreads.com, accessed April 6, 2022.
Goodreads. “Daily Readers Books.” Goodreads.com, accessed April 6, 2022.
Holiday, Ryan. The Daily Stoic, London: Portfolio, 2016. Goodreads.
Sparknotes. “Homepage.” Sparknotes.com, accessed April 6, 2022.
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—Payton
21 Bookish Resolutions for 2021
Setting reading goals can help you get more reading done and read more effectively. Last year, I hopped on the bandwagon and made 20 Bookish Resolutions for 2020, but this year I’m upping the anti by doing 21 Bookish Resolutions for 2021! I managed to knock out 6/20 of my bookish goals last year and this year, I am hoping to switch a few of those out for new goals while keeping a few I didn’t end up completing.
A stack of books I want to read in 2021 next to my vintage typewriter and a set of candles my sister gave me for Christmas. Photo by Payton Hayes.
Last year, I hopped on the bandwagon and made 20 Bookish Resolutions for 2020, but this year I’m upping the anti by doing 21 Bookish Resolutions for 2021! I managed to knock out 6/20 of my bookish goals last year and this year, I am hoping to switch a few of those out for new goals while keeping a few I didn’t end up completing.
1. Read 52 books.
Last year I set the goal for myself to read 30 books and I missed that goal by a long shot. I had to end up adjusting my Goodreads reading challenge to 12 books about halfway through the year because the pandemic struck and as a mood reader, I just could not bring myself to pick up a book with all the craziness happening in the world. I did end up completing the adjusted goal —I read 13 books by the end of 2020. However, towards the end of 2020, I picked up several books and finished them within a few days, and it reminded me, that I really can knock out some books. I want to challenge myself to read one book a week in 2021, if not to make up for the lost time in 2020, then to really get some of these books off my TBR and give myself a good reason to grab some new books next year!
2. Read the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
This is the year. This is it—I can feel it in my bones. I am going to read the whole Harry Potter Series this year. I’ve spent my life avoiding spoilers but this year I am going to read it a joint the wizarding world once and for all! I think I might also watch the movies—you know, for good measure. —Me, 2020.
This quote aged well. I didn’t even pick up the first book in the Harry Potter series. I think I might have jinxed myself by being SO sure I’d read it. However, this year I am going to try even harder to get that one under my belt once and for all.
The House Of Night Series by Kristin and P.C. Cast on a bookshelf with dragon egg candles and an Artemis sculpture.
3. Read the House of Night Series by P.C. and Kristin Cast
Last year, I planned to knock out this series as well. I’ve only read three out of twelve books, but I heard two new books came out in 2020 and I’m excited once again to read this series. After reading the tame Angel series by L.A. Weatherly, I am dying to sink my teeth into a spicier paranormal romance this year. I’ve already started the first book, so fingers crossed I keep this momentum going all year!
The Starcrossed Trilogy by Josephine Angelini. Photo by Payton Hayes.
4. Read the Starcrossed Trilogy by Josephine Angelini
Here’s another uncompleted 2020 resolution. I definitely want to get this book read in 2021, especially since I am also craving some good ole mythological romance after devouring the Wildefire trilogy by Karsten Knight like it was candy.
5. Read more classics
This is another resolution I had for 2020, and while I did acquire more classic literature, I haven’t yet read any of my new acquisitions. Among the new finds are, Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Lereoux, Dracula by Bram Stoker, Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë, and Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen. I’d really love to dig into these classic reads in 2021.
The Grisha Saga by Leigh Bardugo. Photo by Payton Hayes.
6. Read The Shadow and Bone Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo
Yet another uncompleted 2020 resolution—we’ll get to some new resolutions soon, I promise! Last year, I called this the Siege and Storm trilogy in my 20 Bookish Resolutions for 2020 blog post, but it’s really called the Shadow and Bone Trilogy. I think I made this mistake because I had accidentally read the Siege and Storm book first (it’s actually the second book in the series, oops!) and it’s gotten me confused ever since. This year I hope to actually read the trilogy and to read it in order this time.
7. Read more entrepreneurial, financial, and business-related books
I did a fantastic job of reading books from this genre in 2019 and I read a few in 2020 as well, but I’d like to break up all the fantasy books with a few new entrepreneurial reads in 2021. I’d like to read some from Gary Vaynerchuck, Jen Sincero, and Napoleon hill.
8. Complete my incomplete series by acquiring the missing books
I have several books I snagged from Dollar Tree a few years back and I’d like to get the rest of their series so I can finally read them! I picked two of them up today and saw that they were the final books in their series and was disappointed I couldn’t actually read them without spoiling them for myself. This is where buying more books is actually a good thing!
9. Sarah J. Mass
Last year, I had planned to finally check out some of the books by Sarah J. Mass but never actually got around to it with the pandemic and all. I had a friend in college who did an entire presentation on her and have been exited to check out her writing ever since. Now that I’ve heard rumors that one of her books is getting a tv show, I absolutely have to see what all the hype is about!
10. Read Across the Universe by Beth Revis
I reeeeeally really want to read this series. I’ve been admiring it on other bookish people’s shelves for a couple of years now and I think it’s about time I not only picked up the series but read it. The covers are stunning, and the premise just gets me every time. I need to read this series now! —Me, 2020.
I still reeeeeally really want to read this series. Looks like its time to go on a book-buying spree (online of course!) because I also still don’t own this series yet!
11. Killer Unicorns by Diana Peterfreund
Here’s another 2020 book goal. I’ve mentioned this series in a recent Freelancing blog post— Book Writing 101: Coming Up with Book Ideas And What To Do With Them—and it reminded me that I really need to read this series. The short story, “Errant” that Peterfreund wrote for Kiss Me Deadly: 13 Tales of Paranormal Love was exceptional (and even better with the audiobook to accompany your tangible copy!) and I’m still looking forward to reading more about killer unicorns—a refreshing take on the overplayed, yet majestic mythical creatures.
12. Engage more with my online book club
Classic paperback books in a wire basket beside my vintage typewriter. Photo by Payton Hayes.
Last year I had goals of joining an IRL book club, but the pandemic really threw a monkey wrench in that one! Instead, I made a book blub channel in my discord server so my friends (whom I play World of Warcraft and other video games with) can converse about our favorite reads. As we roll into 2021, it doesn’t look like the pandemic is letting up anytime soon, so to keep myself safe and keep up the bookish conversation, I’d like to engage more with my friends in our book club channel and hopefully read more of their recommendations as well!
13. Get another bookshelf…later
Last year I planned to get my hands on another bookshelf, but truthfully, I don’t have the space for it and I expect I’ll be moving sometime in 2021, so I’ll be holding off on that goal for a little while longer. I hope to replace my current bookshelf situation with better quality shelves, but for now, the books just continue to pile up on every available surface—the warping bookshelf I bought secondhand in 2017, the wall shelf filled to the brim with books and other fun knickknacks, and the precariously balanced stack of books growing on my floor. Here’s hoping that I get a new place before I am swimming in books—although, that many books is really more of a good problem, right? Right.
14. Focus on my own reading goals as opposed to comparing myself to other readers
Last year I had the goal to stay current and read more books published in 2020 and read more books that were popular last year, but I’ve decided it might be better to just stay in-the-know about those kinds of books and instead try and catch up on my TBR! I’d really like to get a bunch of these bookish goals accomplished this year so I don’t have to worry about having the same goals for three years in a row!
15. Read from a genre I don’t enjoy, again!
This year I read Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel (The review came out for this book last week, so check it out here!) and while I typically don’t gravitate toward dystopian fiction, I really enjoyed that novel. It certainly had more impact on me than I think it would have had I not read it during the COVID-19 pandemic, because the entire premise hit very close to home for me in 2020. Since this read was so enjoyable, I’d like to read more of Mandel’s works to dip my toes in more dystopian fiction in 2021.
16. Take better reading notes
This is a new bookish goal for me, but I’d really like to get better about keeping notes from the books I read. I don’t really want to create a commonplace book just yet, but I have been jotting down quotes and new words I find in a little black journal and so far, that has been great! I save the page numbers so I can flip back to them anytime.
17. Read a book to buy a book
This was a goal I had last year and while I didn’t exactly complete it, I didn’t fully fail it either. I bought a few books last year but ended up reading several of them, so technically they cancel themselves out, right? Right. I’d like to read more books that I already own and use new books as a reward for myself, though. This might help me chip away more of my TBR pile rather than just keep adding to it. (I’ll keep adding new TBRs to my Goodread’s shelf though!)
18. Participate in a reading challenge
While I did participate in the Goodreads yearly reading challenge, I didn’t end up completing a secondary reading challenge like I had hoped. I would very much like to participate in Booktober or complete the Romance Reading Challenge for February 2021.
19. Start one book at a time and finish it
In 2020, I had the goal to give myself permission to leave a book unfinished because all of 2019 I beat myself up about not wanting to finish certain books even though I truly didn’t enjoy reading them. I decided if it’s a slog to get through a book and the first 100 pages haven’t hooked me, then it might be better to set that book down. However, I’d like to be better about only starting one book at a time and making sure to finish it before starting another. I plan to only have one fiction book and one non-fiction book that I’m currently reading, so I don’t get stuck in reading slump, but also so that I don’t end up starting a million different books and never finishing them. Chronological order is the key here.
20. Develop better reading habits
In 2020, my 20th bookish goal for the year was this one, and similar to goal number 18, I neither accomplished nor failed this goal because while I found it hard to get myself to read most of 2020, the pandemic was certainly a thing that happened and certainly a factor that contributed to my year-round reading slump. I’d like to get better about reading daily and carving out a space each day that I know is strictly for reading.
21. Make more bookish friends
While my best friend, partner, and father are all avid readers, I find none of them share interest in my favorite genres other than fantasy, so I’d like to make friends with more bookish people so I can branch out and have some fresh new conversations about books and get to know what other people are reading and enjoying. Initially, I’d have hoped to accomplish this by going to an IRL book club, but as mentioned with goal number 12, that’s kind of impossible for the foreseeable future. Instead, I’ll try and make online bookish friends via Goodreads, Bookstagram, and Facebook!
And there you have it! Those are my 21 Bookish Resolutions for 2021. What do you think? Do you have any bookish resolutions for the new year? Comment below and let me know what you thought of my list!
Related Topics:
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—Payton
Classic Romance Reading Challenge for February 2020
If you’re new, thanks for dropping by and if you’ve been around for a minute, this month, we’re talking about romance, because it’s February and most people associate romance with February (even though I know Valentine’s day is just an excuse to eat chocolate— but hey I’m not complaining, I love chocolate and I’ll shamelessly eat it whenever I can.)
I digress. Today, in the bookish things’ category, I am giving you guys a February Romance Reading Challenge. It’s very much like Booktober, where the bookish community participates in various thriller, horror, and downright creepy reading challenges to get in the Halloween holiday spirit. However, this reading challenge comes with a twist: classics. In this reading challenge, we’re going to be reading classic romances. Not only will we start the year of strong with some of the well-known classics but will be in the mushy mood all month! Let’s get reading!
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Jane Eyre, a young orphan under the care of her cruel, wealthy aunt attends the Lowood school where her life is less than idyllic. She studies there for years before taking a governess position at a manor called Thornfield, where she teaches a lively French girl named Adele. There, she meets a dark, impassioned man, named Mr. Rochester, with whom she finds herself secretly falling in love with. However, this classic romance transcends melodrama to portray a woman’s passionate search for a wider and richer life than that which Victorian society traditionally allowed.
Click here to view Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte on Amazon
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
I could go on and on for days about Austen’s Writing and she definitely has the novels to support that loving rant, but I’ll save you guys the sifting and just say that if you’re going to read Jane Austen, why not read her quintessential romance novel, Pride and Prejudice. It has all the elements of an amazing romance novel and is one of, if not the greatest romance novel of all time. It’s a witty comedy of manners that features splendidly civilized sparring between the proud Mr. Darcy and the prejudiced Elizabeth Bennet as they play out their spirited courtship in a series of eighteenth-century drawing-room intrigues.
Click here to view Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen on Amazon
Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Truman Capote
An American classic that inspired one of the most influential movies of all time, Breakfast at Tiffany’s is a classic romance that opens with the unnamed narrator meeting for the first time, Holly Golightly. The two are both tenants of an apartment building on Manhattan’s upper, east side. As the story progresses, the reader learns more and more about Holly and the relationship between her and the narrator as he recounts fondly their memories and finds himself quite enamored with her curious lifestyle. She, a country girl turned New York Café Society, works as an expensive escort (not prostitute) and hopes to marry one of the wealthy men she accompanies one day.
Click here to view Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Truman Capote on Amazon
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
Another novel from the other Bronte sister, this wild, passionate romance story of the intense and almost obsessive love between Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff, a foundling adopted by Catherine’s father continues to strike readers today. The story is one of, if not perhaps the most haunting and tormented love stories ever written and tells the tale of the troubled orphan, Heathcliff and his doomed love for Catherine.
Click here to view Wurthering Heights by Emily Bronte on Amazon
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
What list would be complete without a little Shakespeare and especially, his most famous story, Romeo and Juliet. Though anyone who has actually read it will tell you that the story doesn’t have a particularly happy ending (in fact, its particularly unhappy, if you ask me) the story is a classic romantic tale that showcases one of the most important questions humanity has ever faced, and that is: how far will one go for love? Elizabeth Eliot said, “There is nothing worth living for, unless it is worth dying for.” which eloquently and succinctly describes Romeo and Juliet.
Click here to view Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare on Amazon
Try reading these in order of most romantic to least romantic to start the month out with a really romantic read and finish it out on a little reader heartbreak. Or, read least to most romantic to end February with a happy ending.
What do you think of my February 2020 Classic Romance Reading Challenge? Have you read any of these stories before? Which of these five is your favorite and which is your least favorite? For me personally, I really enjoyed Pride and Prejudice and I look forward to rereading it this month, however I’d say Wuthering Heights makes number 5 on my list. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
Further Reading:
—Payton
Reading Slump Emergency Kit: 15 Surefire Ways To Break Out of a Reading Slump!
Do you find yourself stuck in reading slumps often? Are you caught in one now? Would you be found Googling “how to get out of a reading slump?” This handy-dandy guide will help you to break out of that nasty reading slump and get back to reading right away!
There's a couple of things to keep in mind before you crack open the emergency kit:
Learn to let go
First and foremost, if the book just isn't working out, learn to let go and read something else. Take the pressure off yourself to finish any novel that isn't bringing you joy or fills you with dread when you think about reading it. I did this last year with a novel that just couldn't keep me hooked no matter what I tried. I had to let it go
Don't set unrealistic expectations
Most of the unnecessary pressures we put on ourselves as readers comes from out lofty reading goals that we take on each year. However, these goals aren't meant to bog you down or make you feel like a failure when you don't reach them—they're just for fun! So don't set unrealistic reading goals and instead, set a few, manageable and achievable goals and just have fun with reading.
Without further ado—onto the list!
Make special time for reading
If you're really loving the book or reading in general, but you just can't bring yourself to sit down each day and read, then you need to intentionally carve out time for reading. This 30 minutes to an hour should be sacred. Figure out where you can cut down time on other activities to read. (Don't forget to take the dog out and feed the kids, though!)
If you're a mood reader
I used to think I'd never be someone who reads daily, that I was a mood reader and if my life was stressful, I would have a hard time sitting down to read and keeping my mind engaged. I think this is true for everyone—it can be hard to get immersed when your life is tumultuous. If you're not able to read for escape then combine the first trip, reading every day with this: set the mood. Make a playlist of songs that remind you of the book your reading or the people, places, or things contained inside it. Play the playlist every day before you scheduled reading time, and you'll start to train your brain to want to read regularly.
Try different genres
My go-to when I get stuck in a reading slump is to put my book down (if I am currently reading one) and pick up another in a different genre, specifically romantic thriller or horror. Even though fantasy is my favorite genre to write in, it can be so hard for me to read fantasy because it's a genre that is typically not very fast-paced.
However, the exact opposites are romantic thrillers and horror novels. These are usually short, action-packed, page turners that kick the pacing up a notch and are usually all I need to pull myself out of a reading slump. When I plan my reading goals each year, I make sure to leave room for the emergency thriller novel after every fantasy novel, just to keep myself on track.
Try reading differently
If you normally just read in silence, I urge you to try out immersion reading—the act of reading a tangible, hard copy book (or e-book) and listening to an audiobook simultaneously. This employs two senses—sight and sound and can make a world of difference in your reading experience. Likewise, you can listen to that playlist you made on page two, or you can listen to ambient sounds from YouTube or websites like Ambient Mixer!
Re-read an all-time favorite
Do this especially if you have an all-time favorite series. This will help you build up the habit of reading while you get back in touch with a familiar story. Every fall, I whip out Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick. It never gets old, and it always keeps me reading. (And what do you know—it's a romantic thriller!)
Turn off your phone
I know this can be easier said than done for most in the digital age, but just hear me out. We do TONS of reading daily on our phones, but it's lazy, cheap writing that doesn't provide us with any literary gains. Swap out phone reading time for proper book reading time and see how easy it is to maintain a reading schedule when your phone stays out of the way.
Swap fiction for non-fiction
This is similar to tip number 3, but next time you find yourself stuck in a reading slump, try reading the opposite of the (overarching) genre you read most. If you typically reach for fiction, switch it up by grabbing a self-help novel or memoir. I really love reading contemporary entrepreneurial books when I need a break from fiction. These books are super inspiring and motivating and they help me in the creative parts of my life when I just feel like spending time in the real world for a while.
Skip the TBR pile and grab something else
If you have more than one bookshelf filled with books you've never read, perhaps you should skip this tip, but if you find you aren't reaching for books on your TBR shelf, look elsewhere for your next read! Check out books from the library so you don't have to feel bad if you don't finish it (the way you would if you'd spent money on it). Or if you're not in immediate danger of TBR-Mount Everest, stop by a new bookstore and pick up a new book that speaks to you. Sometimes, we just get tired of saying we'll read the same books every year and not following through, and all it takes is a fresh face—or well, cover to encourage us.
Do some easy reading
Even if it's a super short book, graphic novel, or magazine, reading something—anything at all can steer you back in the right direction for reading. No matter how easy the read is, the sense of accomplishment you get from completing the read is usually enough to keep you reading and inspire you to tackle bigger reads.
Watch a bad movie adaptation
Sometimes stirring up a little righteous indignation is all it takes to get a reader back in between the pages. Watch the reeeeally crummy ones and remind yourself why books are usually always superior to their movie counterparts.
Get connected
Okay, trying really hard to not contradict myself here, but phones are permitted for this step. Get engaged with the bookish community online or join a book club in real life! Being around like-minded individuals will only encourage you to level-up your reading game and re-inspire your love of books.
Create a cozy reading nook
Of course, don't make it so cozy that you'd fall asleep there, but create a special space away from other activities so that you can read comfortably, without distraction. By doing this, you're assigning that task a specific location which helps the brain understand, when I'm here, I read.
Reorganize your bookshelves
If you're a bookish individual, then you know bookshelf porn is definitely a thing! There is something so powerfully motivating about having a gorgeous, aesthetically pleasing bookshelf to story all your little bookish babies. You can organize them by author, alphabetically, by color, genre, or whatever organization method you chose! You can also decorate your shelves with flowers, dragons, crystals, action figures, or any other gadgets or gizmos that bring you joy!
And that’s it for my 15 tips to break out of a reading slump! Comment your thoughts below and don’t forget to download the free PDF so you can be ready when the next reading slump strikes!
—Payton
10 Tips For Planning Your 2020 Reading Challenge
Not into New Years resolutions? Think you’d do better with a challenge? Well the good news is there’s something that works for everyone! This list of 10 tips will set you on the right track for you 2020 reading challenge!
Photo by Ann Poan.
Make time for reading
First and foremost, carve out a special time each day to read. Even if it’s for only 30 minutes at first, you will find yourself more interested in reading that you initially thought possible. Us the pomodoro technique to read in 25-minute intervals, to break the looming task down just a little. The easy part is setting the goal and doing the planning, but the follow-through is where it really counts, and unfortunately that part isn’t quite as easy. Set alarms to go off when you’re supposed to start and stop reading and make sure your reading area is conducive to relaxation and enjoyment.
Pro tip: Don’t forget Audiobooks! They totally count as reading and are a multitasker’s best friend! You can listen to audiobooks at the gym, in the car, or doing little chores around the house, to name a few activities.
Outline your own reading challenge
Reading challenges appear in many different forms: monthly Bookish bingo challenges, pre-made monthly lists, or like the Goodreads challenge, a set number of books you will try to read by the end of the year! Pick an existing challenge to participate in and figure out which books you want to read in 2020. Make them their own little list or shelf and be sure to leave room for extra books that you might need to get you out of reading slumps.
Pro tip: I always read romantic thrillers or horror novels to get me out of reading slumps! Usually it’s fantasy that puts me in a slump (even though I love the genre to death). Figure out what your go-to genre is and line up an reading slump emergency kit!
Get creative with your goals
Just because Goodreads has the yearly reading challenge and helps you keep track of the amount of books you read, doesn’t mean your goals have to strictly be a number. Consider what other goals would be helpful for your growth as a reader or writer. For example, one of my goals this year is to write a review for every book (or series) I read. I want to get into doing book reviews regularly and this is an excellent way for me to build the habit while challenging myself in a new, fun way. Another couple of examples is to only buy a new book when you’ve read one you currently own, join and IRL book club, or to get into reading audiobooks by reading one each month!
Organize your TBR
We ALL have that one shelf where we’ve boughten all kinds of books that we may or may not have the intention of reading. Whether you’ve got an actual bookshelf or your Goodreads virtual bookshelf, your amazon wishlist, or a handwritten list of books, keeping your TBR organized is key to accomplishing your reading goals in 2020.
Join a read-a-thon in 2020!
Read-a-thons are reading challenges that happen year-round and are hosted by book bloggers, booktubers, bookstagrammers, and bookish brands such as Owl Crate and Book Box! Joining the bookish fun is a great way to get involved, stay motivated, and make new friends along the way!
Photo by Content Pixie.
Prep your shelves
If you are in fact hoping to reach your goal of reading a certain number of book in 2020, you’re going to need to not only plan out your reading list, but also your shelves. See if you can find a reading challenge you’d like to participate in and pair the books on your shelf to the prompts in the challenge. You’ll get a good idea of your reading challenge this way and if you’re having trouble matching books to the challenge, it might be a good sign it’s time to pick a different challenge.
Track your progress effectively
Find a tracking method that works for you. I find the Goodreads reading challenge to be a great motivator and a great way to keep track of the books I’ve read. Plus, it gives you all sorts of statistics at the end of the year , like what books you read, longest to shortest in page count, most and least popular from your books, and it even keeps track of your reviews! However, you don’t have to use Goodreads. You can take the old-fashioned route and design a pretty progress tracker for 2020 that will inspire you to complete it!
Pro tip: Pintrest is a fantastic resource for finding any kind of habit tracker out there! Just type in “reading tracker” or “book tracker” in the search bar and you’ll be met with a plethora of fun designs you can use to track your own reading progress!
I SO look forward to this goal all year long and it continues to motivate me each year, even when I find myself in reading slumps or lacking motivation.
Connect with the bookish community
Reading brings people together! Get involved in the bookish community online and in real life to build strong connections with like-minded people and keep yourself motivated throughout the year and the reading challenge. Having a bookish BFF is an awesome way to keep yourself reading all year long! There are all kinds of fun, bookish things you can do in real life as well. You can start a book club together, buddy-read, host silent reading parties, or trade book recommendations!
Pro Tip: Bookstagram and reading groups on Facebook are both great ways to get engaged with the online reading community! See if your local library or community college has a book club you can join or start!
Set up a rewards system that works
If you read my guide on how to cure writer’s block for good, then you might know what I am about to say. Don’t neglect your other goals (saving money, losing weight, quitting smoking etc) by rewarding your good bookish behavior with toxic behavior. Set up a sustainable rewards system that doesn’t interfere with your other goals.
For instance, I am trying to cut out sugar AND stop impulse spending. So, what kind of reward can I set for myself? Weekly watch time for my favorite shows, nights out with friends, and every time I hit a major milestone for my reading challenge, I’ll allow myself to get ONE new book. This doesn’t interfere with my goals of consuming less sugar or saving money because my smaller rewards such as the nights out or TV time, effectively get me to my bigger milestones and better rewards.
By setting up a tiered rewards system, you keep steadily increasing motivation to finish out your goals and reach those rewards, all year long!
Pro Tip: If you chose to track your progress with Goodreads, they show you all sorts of fun statistics at the end of the year! This on it’s own is pretty exciting for me!
Check in an evaluate your reading challenge
Keep your reading challenge flexible and open to change if needed. Set monthly reminders or as often as you need them, to check-in and reevaluate your reading challenge. Don’t be afraid to raise or lower your book count goal accordingly, if you realize the current one just isn’t a good fit. Sometimes I just don’t meet my goal and instead of feeling sad about it, I just scale it down to something more pragmatic. Sometimes I easily surpass the goal, and likewise, I have to scale it accordingly. Remember the main goal of the challenge is to have fun so don’t get hung up on goals and deadlines, and just enjoy reading.
If you made it this far, I have an awesome freebie for you! Sometimes reading slumps are inevitable, but you can pull yourself out of your next reading slump with these surefire tips! Click here to get your FREE Reading Slump Emergency Kit!
What are your reading goals for 2020? Did you make your Bookish New Year’s resolutions yet? Comment below and let me know what you thought of this list and if there’s anything you’d add to it!
Click here to read my 20 Bookish Resolutions for 2020 blog post.
—Payton
20 Bookish Resolutions for 2020
I know around this time of year EVERYONE makes new year’s resolutions, but I can’t stop myself from jumping on the bandwagon and neither can you. There’s something so fun about bookish resolutions and goals and how they take the pressure off writing goals. So without further ado, below are my 20 Bookish Resolutions for 2020. The first few items are specific books I want to read but I promise it’s not just a list of books. I have real resolutions here, people!
1. Read 30 books.
This year, my goal was to read 20 books and I read 23 so I think it’s safe to say I need a little more challenge in my life. However, I don’t want to make it too difficult that I fall into a reading slump—so 30 it is. Check out the books I read in 2020 here.
Photo by Payton Hayes.
2. Finish the Lord of The Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien
In the summer of 2019, I started The Lord of The Rings Trilogy and burned through the first two books rather quickly. However, when it came to reading the Return of The King, I’ve gotten sort of stuck in the pages following the battle of the Pelennor Fields. I’d like to finish it early in 2020 to complete the series and officially check it off my list!
3. Read Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling
This is the year. This is it—I can feel it in my bones. I am going to read the whole Harry Potter Series this year. I’ve spent my life avoiding spoilers but this year I am going to read it a joint the wizarding world once and for all! I think I might also watch the movies—you know, for good measure.
Photo by Payton Hayes.
4. House of Night Series by P. C. and Kristin Cast
I have all the books and I’ve only read three. I think it’s time to cross this beast of a vampire series off my list as well. I remember enjoying the story but somehow, we got separated and I think it’s time to go back to it. It was particularly special because it’s set in Oklahoma, the state I currently live in, so it hits kind of close to home—in a good way.
Photo by Payton Hayes.
5. Angel Fire Series by L. A. Weatherly
I started Angel Burn a while ago but have yet to finish it. The premise was awesome and totally up my alley—angels that have gone rogue, angel hunters, and a condition called angel burn—what’s not to love about that? It’s a new, refreshing take on the overdone angel story and I definitely want to read it in 2020.
Photo by Payton Hayes.
6. Starcrossed Series by Josephine Angelini
Wow, can I just start this one off by saying her name is so perfectly fantasy? I mean if she was named that by her parents, then she’s super lucky and unique (what can I say, I love unique names) and she already fits in her genre, but if she came up with that name as a pseudonym, then I think she’s even more genius than we give her credit for.
Also, I would really love to read this series. I started it when it was more like a choose-you-own-adventure game on Figment.com. Yeah, remember that site? The good ole days. Anyways I already know I’ll love it because I’ve read part of it before and I hope to pick it back up in the new year.
Photo by Payton Hayes.
7. Grisha Saga by Leigh Bardugo
I have a love hate relationship with this series because 1) I genuinely do love it and 2) I hate that I’ve somehow manage to get all the way through the second book before realizing I was reading it out of order. No wonder I was so confused! Why do I keep doing this? I read the Barney the Bear-Killer series by Pat Sargent out of order in third grade and the Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan (mostly in order) in the eighth grade. Even so, I’d still like to read this series because the world building and premise is so beautifully and expertly done.
8. Classics
Photo by Payton Hayes.
Good, now that we’ve gotten through the particulars, I’d like to include some odds and ends. I plan to read more classics, starting with the ones I have on my shelf and was supposed to read in high school and college. Professors, don’t come for me, please. Anyway, I think there is a lot to learn from classics and controversial or not, I’d like to read more of them for my own growth as a writer.
9. Sarah J. Maas
I think it’s finally time I jump on the hype train and find out what all the fuss is about when it comes to Sarah J. Maas Novels. I’ve heard of the Throne of Glass Series and the Court of Thorns and Roses series and I just think it’s time to pick them up and give them a read. The covers are so lovely and there’s a badass female protagonist, so what’s not to love?
10. Review more books
If you’ve been around this blog for any period of time, you can tell my book review section on the book blog is severely lacking. In 2020 not only do I want to read more books, but I want to review them as well. I think thinking critically about novels is important to understanding the bigger picture part of them and not getting completely wrapped up in the little parts of the story.
11. Across the Universe by Beth Revis
I reeeeeally really want to read this series. I’ve been admiring it on other bookish people’s shelves for a couple of years now and I think it’s about time I not only picked up the series but read it. The covers are stunning and the premise just gets me every time. I need to read this series now!
12. Killer Unicorns by Diana Peterfrund
Earlier this year, I read Errant by Diana Peterfrund from the Kiss Me Deadly YA Supernatural Romance Collection and I was blown away. Hello? Killer unicorns, badass girls in pants and skirts taking down the toxic men in their lives, and the theme of following your heart and standing up for yourself? These are all things I love in a YA fantasy novel, only I didn’t realize it until I’d read Errant. The story is phenomenal—the world building is so perfectly done, I felt instantly transported to Munich.
13. Join an irl book club
I know there’s a psychology book club at my school but this might be the year I charter and star up the official book club there, or at least join a club if I can find one. I’ve always wanted to be part of a book club and be around like-minded individuals where we can just nerd out about books and reading.
14. Stay up-to-date on bookish current events
This year, I’d like to read more books that were recently published and better yet, 2020 published novels. I’d like to do better job of keeping up with the current bookish trends and reading what everyone else is reading so I can be part of the discussion too!
Photo by Payton Hayes.
15. Get another bookshelf
As you can see, where I am lacking in books, I make up for it in dragons. If I am going to complete half of these resolutions, I am going to need another shelf and more books. The question is…where do I put it?
16. Read from a genre I don’t enjoy
Treading carefully around a reading slump, I’ll say this doesn’t exactly entice me, but I know it’s good for something. I’d like to read more from a genre I don’t particularly enjoy to broaden my horizons.
17. Give myself permission to leave a book unfinished
I don’t mean leaving half-read novels lying all over the place, but I think it’s important to know when to put a book down and to know it’s okay to do so. I haven’t put a book down since 2018, when I read Elusion by Claudia Gable and Cheryl Klam. I had to stop reading this book because after months, it just wasn’t pulling me in. I’d made several attempts to get into the story, but I just couldn’t. I don’t blame the authors—I know this is just a fact of the bookish world that we can’t love everything we read. I think this year, I’d like to take that freedom to let books go with me into my reading practice.
18. Read a book to buy a book
Okay, so maybe I got ahead of myself by saying I am going to need more books and another bookshelf because this year I’d like to read more books than I buy. I’d like to make a considerable dent in the bookshelf I currently have as well. I am notorious for having a mile-high TBR List and continuing to buy new books. In 2020, I’d like to set up a rewards system so every time I read a book I can buy a new one.
19. Participate in a reading challenge
I think it would be fun to take part in a reading challenge such as the gargantuan Gilmore Girls Reading Challenge, where you read the 339 books referenced in the early 2000’s TV show, or booktober where you read one spooky book every week throughout October.
20. Develop better reading habits
And last but not least, I’d like to develop a better relationship with reading. I want to get out of the mindset that I can only read when I am in the mood for it and I want to make time to read regularly. I’ve made peace with the fact that that means I might have to let some things go—move over, Netflix. But I genuinely do want to make reading a priority in my life in 2020.
And there you have it! Those are my 20 Bookish Resolutions for 2020. What do you think? Do you have any bookish resolutions for the new year? Comment below and let me know what you thought of my list!
Further Reading
—Payton
2019 Book Wrap-Up: All The Books I Read In 2019
2019 was the first year I participated in the Goodreads reading challenge, and I met my goal by reading 23 books (My goal was 20 books this year)! Below are the books I read with a few of my thoughts on each one. Comment below what you read this year and click the link at the bottom of this post to add me on Goodreads!
Night Circus by Eric Morgenstern
I found myself craving caramel corn the entire time I was reading this book, and I don’t even like caramel! I loved reading this story because it was so enchanting and played on the childlike wonder of the reader. There is something so dreamlike and marvelous about this story that goes far beyond magic and romance; it’s so much more than that. I love the use of the theme of breaking the cycle and moving on from family history in such a new and refreshing way. I highly recommend this read to anyone who likes to feel magically transported into a fantastic and magical romance.
5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins
I read this story because Amy Landino references it ALL THE TIME and now, I understand why. Mel Robbins’ breakthrough in rewiring the human decision-making process is incredibly effective and has even helped me eliminate doubt and procrastination. The 5-Second Rule is brilliant, and the book is even more so. I enjoyed reading this novel because Mel is just so sociable and personal and connects with the reader on another level as she explains her thought process and how the rule helped her put her life back together.
Ghosted by Rosie Walsh
This story was so painfully thrilling, from the very first page to the last you’re wrapped up tight in a story of passionate love, unexplained disappearances, dark pasts and even more. It’s wild start to finish and is really telling of modern society and how it feels to be ghosted, excusable or otherwise. I really enjoyed this read and couldn’t put it down. The characters were easy to connect to and it genuinely hurt to understand why some things happened the way they did. The only thing I could think was: Oh yeah, I get it.
Will it Fly? by Pat Flynn
Because I apparently couldn’t get enough entrepreneurial inspiration and self-motivation from the second and third books I read this year, I turned to Pat Flynn’s novel, Will It Fly, and was not disappointed. The story uses the comparison of paper planes to stat-up success and the metaphor continues throughout the story. This is a great read for anyone who needs to remember their Why.
Girl sitting with a cup of coffee, eyeglasses, notebook, and Brother by Ania Ahlborn on the floor. Photo created by Mockup Generator. Help support this site and the work here by picking up the Geometric Deer Head Coffee Mug!
Brother by Ania Ahlborn
Absolute chills. Enough said.
Okay, I’ll give my thoughts on this read, briefly because I have an entire review here. This story is insane, and that’s the only way to describe it, really. The dark themes, harrowing events, and deeply saddening realizations are horrifying and enthralling simultaneously. I couldn’t put this book down and sped-read it through the span of two days and it left me gaping in awe for a third day, afterwards. This story is not for the faint of heart, but those eager to brave their next horror story—you won’t regret it. But you might have to bleach your brain to get some of the grotesque imagery out.
Seed by Ania Ahlborn
After reading Brother, I knew I had to read more from Ahlborn, but I didn’t think she could blow me away again, and she did. Seed is truly terrifying and absolutely not the kind of reading you do just before bed. Think of the sleep paralysis demon on steroids—yeah…nope! While this story wasn’t quite as thrilling as Brother, it was definitely scary from cover to cover and once again, Ahlborn nailed the twist at the end.
A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin
This was the first time I’d read any of Martin’s work and I’m definitely hooked. I watched the TV show, Game of Thrones before I read this and I don’t think that was a mistake since this 835-page, high-fantasy beast of a book took me a couple of weeks to get through. I’d recommend watching the show before reading the novels and since they’re still being written, you won’t completely spoil yourself. I read the first book this year, and I’d like to read more of the series in 2020!
Pile of books on a woven bedspread. Photo by Payton Hayes.
Dangerous Lies by Becca Fitzpatrick
Because I couldn’t get enough of Fitzpatrick’s writing, I grabbed Dangerous Lies, which did not disappoint. The story reminded me of James Patterson’s Confessions of A Murder Suspect, but it was much better and even more thrilling. I read this book whenever I could and finished it in a few days. Also, I so did not see the twist at the end.
Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick
After I finished Dangerous Lies, I devoured Black Ice in two days and now, in January, I’m thinking of rereading it again, already! Black Ice a brilliant romantic thriller that truly kept me at the edge of my seat. Page-turner, indeed. It’s a story of unexpected love, survival, humans versus the elements, danger and dark pasts that swirls altogether in one big mess beneath a blizzard, bears and, badgers. This story is full of suspense and perfectly timed tension.
Stormrage by Richard A. Knaak
If you know me, you know I’ve been a player and big fan of the online MMORPG, World of Warcraft and its even greater Blizzard Universe with its extensive lore and backstories. I genuinely do love the characters and stories and Stormrage delivered. I’ve only read a few of the books from the WoW storyline—The War of The Ancients Archive (The Well of Eternity, The Sundering, The Dragon Soul) written by Richard A. Knaak and Before the Storm by Christie Golden. The stories surrounding Malfurion Stormrage, and his brother Illidan, Tyrande Whisperwind, Sylvannas Windrunner, and the dragons are all my favorites and Stormrage only deepens my love for this massive tale.
Kiss Me Deadly – A Collection of Supernatural Romance Short Stories
I read this collection just for the section from Becca Fitzpatrick that is set just before the Hush, Hush saga and found some new authors I’d like to read more from, particularly Diana Peterfrund after reading her short story, Errant (Killer Unicorns 0.5). I didn’t complete this novel because I found some of the other short stories a bit lackluster, but Fitzpatrick and Peterfrund delivered thrilling, expertly crafted stories and compelling characters.
Books and trinkets on a woven bedspread. Photo by Payton Hayes.
The Lord of the Rings
(Fellowship of The Ring, Two Towers, and Return of The King (not yet completed))
I started this series at the beginning of the summer with high hopes that I’d finish it by the end of august and while that held true for the first two novels, I didn’t quite meet that goal, and likely won’t finish it by the end of the year. I blew through the first two novels and then the third one threw me into a reading slump just because of the pacing of the story. Don’t get me wrong, I genuinely do love the Lord of The Rings, but you can’t deny the books are a tough read sometimes. This was my first time reading the series and I’d seen the movies plenty of times beforehand but reading them has been a special experience for me. This is one of, if not my favorite story of all time. I read the books along with the audiobook which only made the reading that much more immersive and special, especially with all of the songs!
Lock Every Door by Riley Sager
Imagine a horror at Hogwarts but with creepy, crawling wallpaper. Lock Every Door by Riley Sager is an enchanting, thrilling story about what people will do for money, the sacrifices one will make to keep their job and the consequences for looking too closely at the hotel Montgomery’s dark past. The story is jam-packed, suspenseful, and intense. I couldn’t put the book down and the twist at the end just made me think, whaaaaat?
Blossom In Winter by Melanie Martins
Blossom in Winter is a thrilling story of forbidden love, desire, dark pasts, and the lengths one will go to protect everything that matters most to them. This romantic thriller deals with the incredible satisfaction and happiness that comes with falling in love and the consequences of forbidden relationships. The story is fast-paced, engaging, and heart-wrenching from start to finish. The characters are all so unique and compelling and they really tug at the readers heart. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel -so much so that I devoured the entire 391 pages in less than two days. I honestly cannot wait for the sequel to come out so I can see what happens next to the character and where their choices take them.
Don’t forget to check out my interview with Melanie Martins.
Sins of the Son
This year I also read a book from one of my clients, Frank Lucianus, Sins of The Son and while I am not really at liberty to discuss the details of the project, I’d like to say that the story was a brilliant wedding of 1990’s mafia madness, forbidden love, bad blood, and opulence. I couldn’t put the novel down and now I can’t wait to read the next book in his series.
Short Stories From Wattpad
I don’t want to go into too much detail about the books I read on Wattpad since you can read them for yourself, but I wanted to include them because they were pretty long-form and I thoroughly enjoyed them. Below are the short stories I read for 2019.
Off Script by @ashleymariefiction on Wattpad.com - Click Here
Jake the Panty-Ripper by @KanyeInterruptedMe on Wattpad.com - Click Here
Cruel Temptations by @matemenot on Wattpad.com - Click Here
Cruel Temptations isn’t finished yet, so it’s safe to say that I’m still reading that one for a while, but of the three, my favorite was Jake the Panty-Ripper. It’s a steamy tale of two unlikely lovers—one a struggling, hardworking girl—and the other a motorcycle riding, panty-ripping, murderer. It’s thrilling start to finish and multiple parts moved me to tears. This digital short story rivals Hush, Hush for my number one read
And that’s it for my 2019 Book Wrap-up! What books did you read this year? Have you read any from my list? I’d love to hear about it so, comment below!
—Payton