Reading Challenge: Reading by The Numbers 2026

I will be back for the Reading by the Numbers challenge in 2025.  It's a fairly simple challenge - set a reading goal and then have fun reading to get there.  That's it.  No levels.  Nothing but what you think you will hit.  And you can always increase your number of books along the way.

I'm going to do like I did last year and start out with a goal of 90 books for 2026.  I'm sure I'll be along part way into the year to increase it, but I don't want to set it too high.  This is the same strategy I employ for my Goodreads challenge each year.  In fact, this is a little less than I've done recently.  But I'm feeling like I might be slowing down my reading and reviewing this year.  We'll see if that holds true or not, I guess.  If I keep reading like always, I'll up my goal along the way.

I'll list my books below as I finish them:

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Reading Challenge: COYER 2026

I'll be signing up for another year of the COYER Challenge.  Just like last year, it is going to be a year long challenge focusing on the original meaning of the challenge - Cleaning Out Your E-Reader.  

All books read for the challenge have to be ebooks or audiobooks.  Books have to be under $5, and audiobooks must be under $7.50.  Fortunately, library ebooks and eARCs count for this challenge.

New this year, the links will be shared over in the Discord group.  (You'll find a link to the Discord server on the page to sign up above.)

As always, I will list the books below as I finish them.

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Reading Challenge: Netgalley and Edelweiss 2026

I will be back for this year's Netgalley and Edelweiss reading challenge.  The challenge is just like how it sounds, read books you got from Netgalley or Edelweiss for review.

While I beat my goal last year, I think I'm going to stay at the same level this year.  So I'm signing up for Bronze, which is 10 books.  We'll see how I do.

I'll list the books below as I complete them.

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Reading Challenge: New Release 2026

I'll be back for another year of the New Release Challenge.  I read more than enough new releases to participate after all.  It's once again at its new home - The Chocolate Lady's Book Review Blog.

I'm going to cut back to New Release Pro this year, which is 31-60 books.  I'll probably blow past it, but I don't want to bite off more than I can chew this year.

I'll list the books below as I finish them:

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Reading Challenge: Mount TBR and Virtual Mount TBR 2026

I'll be back for both the Mount TBR and the Virtual Mount TBR challenges in 2025.

The Mount TBR Challenge requires us to read books we already owned as of December 31st, 2024.  I will once again be signing up for Pike's Peak, which is 12 books.  I usually pass that, but I don't want to jinx myself.

Meanwhile, the Virtual Mount TBR Challenge is about reading books that you borrowed, either from the library or someone else.  It is a little more lax as it doesn't have to be something that was on your radar before the first of the year.  As usual, I will sign up for Mount Crumpet, which is 24 books.

I'll be listing the books below as I finish them.

Mount TBR

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Virtual Mount TBR

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Reading Challenge: Audiobooks 2026

I will be signing up for the Audiobook Challenge again in 2025.  This year, it is again hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer and That's What I'm Talking About.

Again this year, I'll be signing up for the Stenographer level, which is 10-15 books.  My own sub-challenge is to listen to one a month.  I met that exactly in 2025.  We'll see if I beat or not.  It doesn't help that I'm listening to more podcasts these days, and having trouble keeping up with them.

On a related not, I'm a moderator in the Audiobook Junkies group on Goodreads.  It's not a very active group, but some people do use it to track their reads for this challenge.  We'd love to have you if you want to do that.  Additionally, if you want to join, I'm looking for some fresh ideas for the coming year.

I'll post the books below as I finish them.

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Reading Challenge: Foodie Reads 2026

I will be continuing on with participating in Foodie Reads in 2026.  This isn't really a challenge, just a chance to link up your culinary themed books, and a chance to win a quarterly gift card.  What's not to love about it?

Here are the foodie books I've read this year.

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Reading Challenge: Historical Fiction 2026

I will be back for the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge in 2026.  There are still plenty of historical mysteries out there calling my name.  I've got some new series I'm interested in starting and several series I need to try to catch up on.

Again, this year, I'll be aiming for the Medieval level, which is 15.  My goal is two a month, which would almost take me to the next level, which is 25 books.  But I want to have a little flexibility in case I don't make my own goal.

I'll list the books below as I finish them.

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Reading Challenge: Calendar of Crime 2026

I'm looking forward to another year participating in the Calendar of Crime challenge.  This is a different challenge as you only need to read 12 books, but they have to fit certain categories to represent the twelve months of the year.  Things like release month, setting month, author birthday, etc.  You can find the categories here (or if that doesn't work, there is a link at the first link I shared.

I'll be very curious to see what I wind up with as entries this year.  I'll fill them in, with the category, as I read them. 

January - 

February - 

March - 

April - 

May - 

June - 

July - 

August - 

September - 

October - 

November - 

December - 

Reading Challenge: Cloak and Dagger 2026

I'll be participating in the Cloak and Dagger Challenge again in 2026.  Since I mostly read mysteries, this is an easy one for me to join.  Naturally, I'll be signing up for Sherlock Holmes again, which is 56+ books.  I'm not too worried about meeting this goal based on my current reading levels.

I'll list the books below as I finish them.

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Reading Challenge: Cruisin' Through the Cozies and Craving for Cozies 2026

I'll be signing up for the Cruisin' Through the Cozies and Craving for Cozies Challenges again in 2025.  No surprise since I read so many cozies each year.

For Cruisin', I'll be signing up for Level 4, which is read 40 cozies mysteries of my choice.

For Craving, I'll be signing up for the Yearning level, which is 51-75 cozies.  I'll probably wind up blowing past it, but I want to aim for a lower level this year.

I'll list the books below as I finish them.

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