Timy’s Reading Goals for 2026

Why change what’s been working so far? This is the third year I’m setting up this giant of a goal post, mostly for my own entertainment and to have a place of accountability for the world to see, I guess.

And so, I’m here to share my reading goals for 2026. Buckle up, peeps, because this is going to be one long-ass post with a lot of books mentioned. I’m not taking responsibility for your ever-growing TBRs.

This year, I’m not going to change anything either, because, again, why change what you don’t have to? There will be occasional updates in my monthly newsletter (you can sign up here – please note that there will be a welcoming letter, if you get that, you are all good. If not, let me know!), quarterly check-ins, and of course, I’ll have a BlueSky thread for the books I’ve read in 2026 as well as an update thread for The Sound of Madness Challenge’s 2026 edition (link coming later). Those are the best ways to keep up to date on how I’m faring with my reading goals for 2026.

GoodReads Reading Challenge

For the past few years, I stuck to setting my goal to 40. It’s a nice, reasonable, and easily achievable number without any stress on my part. I usually went above that number, but as I’m taking a step back from blogging to focus on my own WIP, this number might be more reasonable in the long run.

Womble’s TBR Reduction Challenge

I had fun with Womble’s TBR Reduction Challenge in the past years, so I’m happy to attempt it again in 2026! This is not one of my more successful challenges overall, but I’m nothing if not determined!

For those who are not familiar with the challenge, a quick recap: There is a theme for each month to help reduce your TBR (anything added BEFORE January 1st, 2026). There are also stretch goals if you are the competitive kind. It’s a pretty relaxed reading challenge, and no one will police you, so if you’d like to reduce your TBR a bit, this is a fun way to do so!

This year I also have a shortened list of books I hope to focus on (more details later in this post), which I didn’t manage to prepare before January 1st, but I won’t tell if you don’t…

You can check out Womble’s TBR Reduction Challenge HERE.

The Sound of Madness Reading Challenge

The Sound of Madness is, of course, back for its sixth year! I already got the introduction post up, but here is a quick rundown: I have 25 music-based prompts, and I’ll attempt to fill out my bingo-like card during 2026. 1 will use 1 book/prompt, and only books read in 2026 will count. I will try not to add rereads. I had a LOT of fun coming up with the prompts, so I hope more people will join me in this one.

As usual, you can join on The Storygraph, and I also recommend checking out the Spotify / Deezer playlist!

Check out The Sound of Madness Reading Challenge HERE

The magnificent card that got a facelift this year:

Choose Your Own Adventure: Year in Aeldia 2026 Reading Challenge

The Choose Your Own Adventure: Year in Aeldia 2026 Reading Challenge is hosted byG @Book Roast (who is also behind the whole Magical Readathon, you should check out her videos if you are interested. She has a lot of cool additional stuff like booklets and whatnot). There is also a handy guide video for beginners who are getting lost in the whole maze that the readathon has become, lol.

The Year in Aeldia reading challenge had become a fast favorite with me, and I was super excited with the board game look last year. Turns out, we get to play again! I’m not sure how and why, but it looks like G decided not to change anything for 2026. On one hand, I’m a bit sad we get nothing new to play with, but on the other hand, this gives everyone the opportunity to take a different route. Which is exciting! Already being familiar with most of the prompts, I decided that I would plan ahead this year instead of just 2-3 steps. In 2025, I started on 1A and ended up on 12C. This year, I’m going to have a much more straightforward route from 1B to 12B.

Last year, I ended up with a list of 75 books, including SPFBO 9 finalists… which was always an unrealistic number, so this year I really tried to get back to my original 50 limit. I ended up compromising with 60, and I’m okay with that. A lot of the books I didn’t get to in 2025 got transferred, but I also refreshed the list to adjust my current trends of reading moods. I added as many upcoming titles as I could come up with, but obviously, I couldn’t account for everything.

At the time of writing this post, I didn’t arrange any buddy reads or readalongs, but hey, anything can happen! I will definitely keep an eye on Wyrd & Wonder month-related announcements to see what those ladies are coming up with and whether I’ll be able to join or not. Also, if you see something on this list that interests you and want to arrange a buddy read, please let me know!

Now, let’s get down to business. If you’d like to know more about the books listed below, clicking on the titles will take you to their respective GoodReads pages. I’ll update this post in every quarter of the year, adding all the titles I’m picking up along the way and aren’t rereads.

2026 Releases

	Title: Rosemary & Thyme Author: Olivia Atwater Series: #2 Publisher: Self-Published Release Date: TBA Have it: No	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: Mortedant’s Peril Author: RJ Barker Series: NA #1 Publisher: Tor Books Release Date: May 19, 2026 Have it: No	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: Shadow of Madness Author: D. V. Bishop Series: Cesare Aldo #6 Publisher: Macmillan Release Date: July 9, 2026 Have it: No	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: How to Fake It in Society Author: KJ Charles Series: standalone Publisher: Bramble Release Date: April 28, 2026 Have it: No	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: TBA Author: Michael Dylan Series: DI Simon Wise #5 Publisher: Self-Published Release Date: TBA Have it: No	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: Father Material Author: Alexis Hall Series: London Calling #3 Publisher: Self-Published Release Date: June 2, 2026 Have it: No	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: Never After Author: Alexis Hall Series: standalone Publisher: Montlake Release Date: April 7, 2026 Have it: Yes – ebook	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: Stolen Moments Author: A. B. Jackson Series: Stolen Romance #1 Publisher: Jackal Entertainment Publishing Release Date: January 20, 2026 Have it: Yes – ebook	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: The Night We Met Author: Abby Jimenez Series: Say You’ll Remember Me #2 Publisher: Release Date: March 31, 2026 Have it: No	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: The Reanimator’s Fate Author: Kara Jorgensen Series: The Reanimator Mysteries #4 Publisher: self-published Release Date: January 29, 2026 Have it: Yes – ebook	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: TBA Author: Benedict Patrick Series: Card Mage #3 Publisher: Self-Published Release Date: TBA Have it: TBA	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: The Chosen One Con Author: Trudie Skies Series: Lost in the Aether #1 Publisher: Self-Published Release Date: TBA Have it: No	Rating: REVIEW

Backlist

	Title: The Tattoo Murder Author: Takagi Akimitsu Series: standalone Publisher: Pushkin Vertigo Release Date: January 1, 1948 (October 6, 2022) Have it: Yes – paperback	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: The Last Smile in Sunder City Author: Luke Arnold Series: The Fetch Phillips Archives #1 Publisher: Orbit Release Date: February 6, 2020 Have it: Yes – ebook	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: A Captured Cauldron Author: R.K. Ashwick Series: Side Quest Row #2 Publisher: RK Ashwick Books Release Date: October 7, 2024 Have it: Yes – ebook	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: Echoes of the Imperium Author: Nicholas & Olivia Atwater Series: Tales of the Iron Rose #1 Publisher: Starwatch Press Release Date: October 28, 2024 Have it: Yes – ebook	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: Ten Thousand Stitches Author: Olivia Atwater Series: Regency Faerie Tales #2 Publisher: Orbit Release Date: July 19, 2022 Have it: Yes – ebook	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: The Undercutting of Rosie and Adam Author: Megan Bannen Series: Hart and Mercy #3 Publisher: Orbit Release Date: July 8, 2025 Have it: Yes – audiobook	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: Age of Assassins Author: RJ Barker Series: The Wounded Kingdom #1 Publisher: Orbit Release Date: August 1, 2017 Have it: Yes – paperback, ebook	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: The Brotherhood of the Wheel Author: R.S. Belcher Series: Brotherhood of the Wheel #1 Publisher: Tor Release Date: March 1, 2016 Have it: Yes – ebook	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: The Tattoo Thief Author: Alison Belsham Series: The Tattoo Thief / Sullivan & Mullins #1 Publisher: Trapeze Release Date: May 3, 2018 Have it: Yes – paperback	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: The House of Shattered Wings Author: Aliette de Bodard Series: Dominion of the Fallen #1 Publisher: Gollancz Release Date: August 20, 2015 Have it: Yes – ebook	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: The Unnoticeables Author: Robert Brockway Series: The Vicious Circuit #1 Publisher: Tor Books / Titan Books Release Date: July 7, 2015 Have it: Yes – ebook	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: Once Was Willem Author: M.R. Carey Series: standalone Publisher: Orbit Release Date: March 4, 2025 Have it: Yes – audiobook	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: The Mask of Mirrors Author: M. A. Carrick Series: Rook & Rose #1 Publisher: Orbit Release Date: January 21, 2021 Have it: Yes – ebook	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: Copper Script Author: KJ Charles Series: standalone Publisher: KJC Books Release Date: May 29, 2025 Have it: Yes – ebook	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: All of Us Murderers Author: KJ Charles Series: standalone Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press Release Date: October 7, 2025 Have it: Yes – ebook	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: The Puppet Show Author: M.W. Craven Series: Washington Poe #1 Publisher: Constable Release Date: June 7, 2018 Have it: Yes – audiobook	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: The Keeper of Happy Endings Author: Barbara Davis Series: standalone Publisher: Lake Union Publishing Release Date: October 1, 2021 Have it: Yes – ebook	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: The Book Eaters Author: Sunyi Dean Series: standalone Publisher: Tor Books / HarperVoyager Release Date: August 2, 2022 Have it: Yes – ebook	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: Stars and Ravens Author: Francis Deer and Mika Hunter Series: standalone Publisher: Self-Published Release Date: February 8, 2020 Have it: Yes – ebook	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: The Last Sun Author: K.D. Edwards Series: The Tarot Sequence #1 Publisher: Pyr Release Date: June 12, 2018 Have it: Yes – audiobook	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: Knight of Flames Author: A.K. Faulkner Series: Inheritance #2 Publisher: Ravensword Press Release Date: August 23, 2016 Have it: Yes – paperback	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: Lord of Ravens Author: A.K. Faulkner Series: Inheritance #3 Publisher: Ravensword Press Release Date: January 5, 2017 Have it: Yes – paperback	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: Magic, Maps, and Mischief Author: David Green Series: Greton’s Marvellous Maps #1 Publisher: Wise Owl Publishing Release Date: October 24, 2025 Have it: Yes – ebook, paperback	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: Mercy Author: Ian Haramaki Series: standalone Publisher: Self-published Release Date: November 19, 2023 Have it: Yes – ebook	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: Bloodlines Author: Peter Hartog Series: The Guardian of Empire City #1 Publisher: Self-Published Release Date: May 1, 2021 Have it: Yes – ebook	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: Funny Story Author: Emily Henry Series: standalone Publisher: Penguin Viking/Berkley Release Date: April 23, 2024 Have it: No	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: The Paper Magician Author: Charlie N. Holmberg Series: The Paper Magician #1 Publisher: 47North Release Date: September 1, 2014 Have it: Yes – ebook	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: The Library of the Dead Author: T. L. Huchu Series: Edinburgh Nights #1 Publisher: Tor Books / Pan MacMillan Release Date: February 4, 2021 Have it: Yes – paperback	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: Say You’ll Remember Me Author: Abby Jimenez Series: Say You’ll Remember Me #1 Publisher: Piatkus/Forever Release Date: April 1, 2025 Have it: No	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: No. 23 Burlington Square Author: Jenni Keer Series: standalone Publisher: Boldwood Books Release Date: October 31, 2023 Have it: Yes – ebook	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: The God and the Gumiho Author: Sophie Kim Series: Fate’s Thread #1 Publisher: Hodderscape Release Date: June 4, 2024 Have it: No	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue Author: Mackenzi Lee Series: Montague Siblings #1 Publisher: HarperCollins Release Date: June 27, 2017 Have it: Yes – audiobook	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: Between Dragons and Their Wrath Author: Devin Madson Series: Shattered Kingdom Trilogy #1 Publisher: Orbit Release Date: July 1, 2024 Have it: No	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: The Black Feathers Author: Rebecca Netley Series: standalone Publisher: Penguin Release Date: October 12, 2023 Have it: Yes – audiobook	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: The Left-Handed Booksellers of London Author: Garth Nix Series: Left-Handed Booksellers of London #1 Publisher: Gollancz Release Date: July 8, 2021 Have it: Yes – paperback	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: Uprooted Author: Naomi Novik Series: standalone Publisher: Del Rey Release Date: May 19, 2015 Have it: Yes – ebook	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep Author: H.G. Parry Series: standalone Publisher: Orbit Release Date: July 23, 2019 Have it: Yes – ebook	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: Awaken Archangel Author: C.J. Piperata Series: standalone Publisher: Self-Published Release Date: May 29, 2025 Have it: Yes – ebook	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: The Shape of Darkness Author: Laura Purcell Series: standalone Publisher: Raven Books Release Date: January 21, 2021 Have it: Yes – audiobook	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: Heated Rivalry Author: Rachel Reid Series: Game Changers #2 Publisher: Carina Press Release Date: April 18, 2023 Have it: No	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: Black Sun Author: Rebecca Roanhorse Series: Between Earth and Sky #1 Publisher: Saga Press Release Date: October 13, 2020 Have it: Yes – ebook	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: Down Among the Dead Men Author: Craig Schaefer Series: Daniel Faust #10 Publisher: Demimonde Books Release Date: July 22, 2022 Have it: Yes – ebook	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: A Murder of Crows Author: Ian Skewis Series: standalone Publisher: Unbound Digital Release Date: March 27, 2017 Have it: Yes – audiobook	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: Disappearance at Devil’s Rock Author: Paul Tremblay Series: standalone Publisher: William Morrow / Titan Books Release Date: July 1, 2016 Have it: Yes – paperback	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: Molly Molloy and the Angel of Death Author: Maria Vale Series: standalone Publisher: Wild and Ashe LLC Release Date: april 4, 2023 Have it: Yes – ebook	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: Higanbana Author: Jake Vanguard Series: Angelverse #1 Publisher: Self-Published Release Date: January 1, 2025 Have it: Yes – ebook	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: All the Colours of the Dark Author: Chris Whitaker Series: standalone Publisher: Orion Release Date: June 25, 2024 Have it: Yes – ebook	Rating: REVIEW
	Title: Games for Dead Girls Author: Jen Williams Series: standalone Publisher: HarperVoyager Release Date: March 30, 2023 Have it: No	Rating: REVIEW

Oh, Look, Shiny!

I’m going to add the books that weren’t on my original shortened TBR here.

And those, my friends, are my reading goals for 2026. Let me know if you have any goals yourself, be it reading challenges or books you particularly want to read.