Reading challenges give you the chance to expand your reading taste and pick up things you wouldn’t have otherwise—you might just discover a new favourite author or subgenre. They’re reading play. They also give you a sense of accomplishment when you finish a task or the whole challenge, and readers can adjust things to match their reading speed/style. For example, you can use the 2026 Read Harder Challenge bingo board and aim to just get a line instead of a blackout of all the tasks.
Number goals seem to attract the most criticism. But when I set my goal for the year, it’s not a competition, homework, or performative. Personally, I read less when I’m stressed out—and since reading is relaxing, that only makes it worse. I like to know when I’m not on track to meet my goal, because that usually means I have fallen out of the habit of reading regularly and need to adjust accordingly. Plus, it’s fun to set manageable goals and meet them.
So, consider this your invitation to set a reading goal. It’s not too late to adopt a reading resolution for the year. Maybe you want to read through the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy with your book club this year. Maybe you want to read one more book than you did last year. Maybe you want to read for at least five minutes before bed every night. Or maybe you have a whole reading journal of five concurrent reading challenges you’re attempting. It can be whatever you want it to be.
I’m preaching to the choir here, but let people enjoy things, even if they enjoy them differently than you do. If reading challenges or goals stress you out, don’t do them. If they bring you joy or help you feel like you’re growing as a reader, though, they’re a great addition to your reading life.
And if you find yourself getting competitive about reading, remember this immutable truth of being on the bookish internet: there’s always someone reading more than you.