Tracking my reading brings me so much joy! Not only does it help me remember what I read, and what to recommend to others, but it teaches me about myself each year. This year I learned that I while I still enjoy mysteries and thrillers, they don’t bring me reading fulfillment in the same way that a well-written literary novel of substance does. The stats are always fun to see as well, so here are some stats that summarize my year of reading.

Number of Books Read:

• 2025- 123
• 2024 – 130
• 2023 – 113
• 2022 – 127
• 2021 – 146
• 2020 – 71

Nation of Author’s Origin & Genres:

Fun Facts:

• 46% of what I read was digital, 30% was in print, and 24% was audio
• My top three genres were: Mystery/Thriller (23%), Literary Fiction (14%) and Memoir (12%)
• 78% of what I read I rated 4, 4.5 or 5 stars, with an annual average of 4.1
• 20% of the books I read this year were published in 2025, with 27% published in 2024 and a mix after that, going back to pre-1900!
• I read 75% fiction and 25% nonfiction
• I read 39,857 pages!
• 52% of the books I read included people of other races, ethnicities, languages, and/or abilities than me
• 55% of what I read I checked out from my local public library

Reading Superlatives

• Best Mystery that had me guessing until the very end (and the one I’ve recommended the most this year): After the Crash by Michael Bussi
• Best Backlist Nostalgic Family Saga: The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher
• Best Epistolary Novel that packs a punch in the most beautiful way: The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
• Best Book about race told in a unique and fascinating way: Sky Full of Elephants by Cebo Campbell
• Best Nonfiction book that hits way too close to home for me: They Came for the Schools: One Town’s Fight Over Race and Identity, and the New War for America’s Classrooms by Mike Hixenbaugh

In 2026, I am looking forward to more enjoyable reading experiences, whether I’m reading at home, in a pool, in a plane, or on my daily commute.