2025 Reading Challenges

Goodreads Reading Challenge

I set my Goodreads Reading Challenge goal at 140 books for 2025. That’s 15 books higher than my goal for 2024, but 23 books fewer than I actually read last year.

As of March 12, 2025, I have read 30 books, and I am three books ahead of schedule for the year.

(Unfortunately, I can’t seem to get the Goodreads Reading Challenge widget to work on this page, probably because my blog’s security software keeps blocking JavaScript. I will continue updating this page manually.)

Audiobook Challenge 2025

Host: Caffeinated Reviewer and That’s What I’m Talking About
Progress: 6/12 (50%)
1 January, 2025 — 31 December, 2025
Failed

I’m participating in the Audiobook Challenge 2025, hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer and That’s What I’m Talking About. My goal for the year is to listen to and review 12 audiobooks, putting me in the Stenographer category.

Below are the books I have listened to but have not yet reviewed. Books marked with a * are books I have read and/or listened to before.

The Fated Sky (Mary Robinette Kowal)*
The Relentless Moon (Mary Robinette Kowal)*
Beauty (Robin McKinley)* – Hoopla audio
Spindle’s End (Robin McKinley)* – Hoopla audio
The Blue Sword (Robin McKinley)* – Hoopla audio
Clean Sweep (Ilona Andrews; Graphic Audio ed.) – Hoopla audio
Sweep in Peace (Ilona Andrews; Graphic Audio ed.) – Hoopla audio
The Left-Handed Booksellers of London (Garth Nix)*
The Sinister Booksellers of Bath (Garth Nix)* – Hoopla audio
One Fell Sweep (Ilona Andrews; Graphic Audio ed.) – Hoopla audio
Vanishing Fleece: Adventures in American Wool (Clara Parkes) – Hoopla audio
Sweep with Me (Ilona Andrews; Graphic Audio ed.) – Hoopla audio
The Windsor Knot (S.J. Bennett)* – Hoopla audio
All the Queen’s Men (S.J. Bennett)* – Hoopla audio
Murder Most Royal (S.J. Bennett)* – Hoopla audio
The Spare Man (Mary Robinette Kowal)*
A Death in Diamonds (S.J. Bennett)* – Hoopla audio
Burn for Me (Ilona Andrews) – Hoopla audio
White Hot (Ilona Andrews) – – Hoopla audio; currently listening
The Cartographers (Peng Shepherd) – hibernating

COYER 2025: Out to Lunch

Host: Berls, Michelle, & Lillian
Progress: 24/25 (96%)
1 January, 2025 — 31 December, 2025
Failed

The goal of COYER 2025: Out to Lunch is to “Clean Out Your E-Reader” — to plow through all those unread ebooks and audiobooks you downloaded because they were free or cheap. To qualify, books must be in digital format (ebook or audiobook.) They must be free or low-price (under $5.00 for e-books; under $7.50 for audiobooks.) However, in a departure from the original, strict rules, this year you don’t have to own the books. ARCs have always counted, but now library books do too. However, you can’t count books you read through subscription services like Kindle Unlimited, Amazon Prime, or Audible Plus.

My goal is to read and review 25 qualifying books in 2025. The books can also count for any of my other challenges.

Below are the books I read but have not yet reviewed for COYER 2025: Out to Lunch. Books marked with a * are rereads.

A Death in Diamonds (S.J. Bennett) – ARC; review to come
The Fated Sky (Mary Robinette Kowal)*
Shattering Dawn (Jayne Ann Krentz)*
The Relentless Moon (Mary Robinette Kowal)*
Murder at King’s Crossing (Andrea Penrose)
Whiskey Beach (Nora Roberts)* (reviewed 2/22/2016)
Identity (Nora Roberts)* (reviewed 4/28/2023)
Born in Fire (Nora Roberts)*
The Witness (Nora Roberts)
Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea (Rebecca Thorne)
Birthright (Nora Roberts)*
Dance Upon the Air (Nora Roberts)* (the other two books in the series don’t qualify)
The Next Always (Nora Roberts)*
The Last Boyfriend (Nora Roberts)*
The Perfect Hope (Nora Roberts)*
Hidden Nature (Nora Roberts) – ARC; review to come
Marriage and Murder (Stephanie Laurens)
Four Walls and a Heart (Celia Lake)*
Pastiche (Celia Lake)* (reviewed 4/15/2024)
Beauty (Robin McKinley)* – library audiobook
Spindle’s End (Robin McKinley)* – library audiobook
Closer to the Chest (Mercedes Lackey)* (reviewed 11/30/2018)
Forged in Combat (Celia Lake)*
Knave of Diamonds (Laurie R. King) – ARC; review to come
The Goose Girl (Shannon Hale)
The Blue Sword (Robin McKinley)* – library audiobook
Grown Wise (Celia Lake)
Clean Sweep (Ilona Andrews)* – library audiobook
It Takes a Psychic (Jayne Castle) – ARC; review to come
Sweep in Peace (Ilona Andrews) – library audiobook
People in Glass Houses (Jayne Castle)* – older ARC; review to come
Jewels of the Sun (Nora Roberts)*
Goblin Fruit (Celia Lake)*
On the Bias (Celia Lake)*
Eclipse (Celia Lake)*
Unexplored Terrritory (Celia Lake)*
With All Due Speed (Celia Lake)*
Tea and Meetings (Celia Lake)*
Winter’s Charms (Celia Lake)*
The Sinister Booksellers of Bath (Garth Nix)* – library audiobook
Love’s a Witch (Tricia O’Malley)
The Hare and the Oak (Celia Lake)*
Ancient Trust (Celia Lake)*
Best Foot Forward (Celia Lake)*
Nocturnal Quarry (Celia Lake)*
Old as the Hills (Celia Lake)*
Upon a Summer’s Day (Celia Lake)*
Illusion of a Boar (Celia Lake)*
Three Graces (Celia Lake)*
The Magic of Four (Celia Lake)*
Bound for Perdition (Celia Lake)*
In the Cards (Celia Lake)*
Point by Point (Celia Lake)*
Facets of the Bench (Celia Lake)*
Fool’s Gold (Celia Lake)*
One Fell Sweep (Ilona Andrews; Graphic Audio ed.) – Hoopla audio
Wards of the Roses (Celia Lake)*
A Tarnished Canvas (Anna Lee Huber) – ARC; review to come
Stiff News (Catherine Aird)
Dangerous Books for Girls (Maya Rodale)
Magician’s Hoard (Celia Lake)*
The Fossil Door (Celia Lake)*
Three Tales of Gabe & Rathna (Celia Lake)*
The Blonde Who Came In from the Cold (Ally Carter) – ARC; review to come
Loving a Lost Lord (Mary Jo Putney)*
Never Less Than a Lady (Mary Jo Putney)*
Nowhere Near Respectable (Mary Jo Putney)*
No Longer a Gentleman (Mary Jo Putney)*
Sometimes a Rogue (Mary Jo Putney)* (reviewed 9/6/2013)
Once a Soldier (Mary Jo Putney)* (reviewed 11/21/2016)
Once a Spy (Mary Jo Putney)*
The Murder of Thomas Cardwell (Stephanie Laurens)
Rose Daughter (Robin McKinley)*
The Lodge of the Lynx (Katherine Kurtz)
Half Magic (Edward Eager)*
The Shop on Hidden Lane (Jayne Ann Krentz) – ARC; review to come
The Redemption of Althalus (David Eddings)* (reviewed 5/18/2017)
All Night Long (Jayne Ann Krentz)* (reviewed 7/30/2018)
Trust No One (Jayne Ann Krentz)
Vanishing Fleece: Adventures in American Wool (Clara Parkes) – Hoopla audio
Eye of the Beholder (Jayne Ann Krentz)* (reviewed 3/10/2016)
Falling Awake (Jayne Ann Krentz)* (reviewed 6/30/2017)
Sweep with Me (Ilona Andrews; Graphic Audio ed.) – Hoopla audio
Sharp Edges (Jayne Ann Krentz)* (reviewed 8/25/2016)
When All the Girls Have Gone (Jayne Ann Krentz)* (reviewed 12/12/2016)
Promise Not to Tell (Jayne Ann Krentz)*
Untouchable (Jayne Ann Krentz)* (reviewed 12/14/2018)
The Vanishing (Jayne Ann Krentz)* (reviewed 1/6/2020)
All the Colors of Night (Jayne Ann Krentz)*
The Windsor Knot (S.J. Bennett)* – Hoopla audio
Lightning in a Mirror (Jayne Ann Krentz)*
Deep Waters (Jayne Ann Krentz)*
The Awakening (Nora Roberts)* – older ARC; review to come
The Becoming (Nora Roberts)*
The Enchanted Greenhouse (Sarah Beth Durst) – Libby ebook
Murder at Somerset House (Andrea Penrose) – ARC; review to come
The Becoming (Nora Roberts)*
All the Queen’s Men (S.J. Bennett)* – Hoopla audio
Murder Most Royal (S.J. Bennett)* – Hoopla audio
The Spare Man (Mary Robinette Kowal)*
A Death in Diamonds (S.J. Bennett)* – Hoopla audio
Burn for Me (Ilona Andrews) – Hoopla audio
White Hot (Ilona Andrews) – – Hoopla audio; currently listening

Library Love Challenge 2025

Host: Books of My Heart
Progress: 7/12 (58%)
1 January, 2025 — 31 December, 2025
Failed

I’m participating in the Library Love Challenge 2025 , hosted by Angel’s Guilty Pleasures & Books of My Heart. My goal is to read and review 12 books, which is the the lowest possible option. I’m hesitant to try for more, because I have so many books on my Kindle and on my physical shelves that I also want to read, and also because some of my library books will be for writing research, so I probably won’t read them all the way through.

Below are the books I read but have not yet reviewed. Books marked with a * are books I have read or listened to before.

The Mirror (Nora Roberts) – hardcover
Beauty (Robin McKinley)* – Hoopla audio
Spindle’s End (Robin McKinley)* – Hoopla audio
The Blue Sword (Robin McKinley)* – Hoopla audio
Clean Sweep (Ilona Andrews; Graphic Audio ed.)* – Hoopla audio
Sweep in Peace (Ilona Andrews; Graphic Audio ed.) – Hoopla audio
The Sinister Booksellers of Bath (Garth Nix)* – Libby audio
One Fell Sweep (Ilona Andrews; Graphic Audio ed.) – Hoopla audio
Vanishing Fleece: Adventures in American Wool (Clara Parkes) – Hoopla audio
Sweep With Me (Ilona Andrews; Graphic Audio ed.) – Hoopla audio
The Windsor Knot (SJ Bennett) – Hoopla audio
The Enchanted Greenhouse (Sarah Beth Durst) – Libby ebook
All the Queen’s Men (S.J. Bennett)* – Hoopla audio
Murder Most Royal (S.J. Bennett)* – Hoopla audio
A Death in Diamonds (S.J. Bennett)* – Hoopla audio
Burn for Me (Ilona Andrews) – Hoopla audio
White Hot (Ilona Andrews) – Hoopla audio; currently listening

Netgalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge 2025

Progress: 9/25 (36%)
1 January, 2025 — 31 December, 2025
Failed

The 2025 NetGalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge is hosted by Yvonne at Socrates’ Book Reviews. I am joining at the Silver level: 25 books. That’s going to be a real challenge for me, but I have a lot of ARCs I need to read or reread and then write reviews for. It’s not so much the reading that I find challenging, it’s the review-writing, and so I’m also counting reviews for books that I read in the past year but hadn’t yet reviewed (assuming I remember the book well enough and kept good enough notes to write a review.)

Below are the books I read in 2025 but have not yet reviewed. Books marked with a * are ARCs I have read before, but wanted to read again to refresh my memory for the review.

A Death in Diamonds (S.J. Bennett)
Shattering Dawn (Jayne Ann Krentz)*
Hidden Nature (Nora Roberts)
Knave of Diamonds (Laurie R. King)
It Takes a Psychic (Jayne Castle)
People in Glass Houses (Jayne Castle)*
A Tarnished Canvas (Anna Lee Huber) – ARC; review to come
The Blonde Who Came In from the Cold (Ally Carter) – ARC; review to come
The Shop on Hidden Lane (Jayne Ann Krentz) – ARC; review to come
The Awakening (Nora Roberts)* – older ARC; review to come
Murder at Somerset House (Andrea Penrose) – ARC; review to come

Robin's Recs 2025

Host: Lark @ The Bookwyrm's Hoard
Progress: 1/6 (17%)
1 January, 2025 — 31 December, 2025
Failed

Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Robin’s Recs is a personal challenge to read and review at least 6 books that my (adult) child, Robin, has either recommended or given to me. You can see the full list of titles by clicking on the challenge title.

Below are the books I read in 2025 but have not yet reviewed. Books marked with a * are books I have read or listened to before.

Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea (Rebecca Thorne)
The Goose Girl (Shannon Hale)
The Cartographers (Peng Shepherd) – currently hibernating

Additional Goals

Write 250 words per day of fiction or fanfic; reviews don’t count. As of November, this has been going terribly, but it remains a goal.

Spend less time scrolling through social media and more time reading and writing. I don’t even need to explain this one, do I?

Write more reviews than last year. Especially, be more consistent about reviewing ARCs.

Read more of the (unread) books I already own.

Make better use of the library. I know; this seems to clash with “read more books I already own.” But if you think of it as “borrow books from the library books instead of buying them”, it makes more sense. Both goals are about reining in my book-buying habit.

Read more diversely. As in previous years, I want to read some books by and about Black, Asian, indigenous, LGBTQIA+, neurodiverse, and disabled people.

Prune some of the books I own, and reorganize and catalog as many of the remaining books as possible. This goal is about a) getting the book collection down to a manageable (and movable) number, and b) being more intentional about what books I own. My physical bookshelves are too crowded, and sometime in the next 10 years we may downsize to a smaller house. Besides, small print (as found in many older mass-market paperbacks) is increasingly difficult for me to read, so there’s not much point in my keeping a lot of those around. Progress: As of November 9, I have cataloged and shelved 242 books, and donated several boxes of paperbacks.