Here we come 2026

Bring back reading for fun

Hey friends!

If you’ve been following me for a while, you know my account focuses on the joy of reading, especially for busy readers. However, somewhere along the way, reading started to feel like reading for content creation. I’ve documented that I was struggling with creator burnout, but also quietly feeling like I had outgrown the space. I took the much-needed breaks, but something still felt off until I started blogging again. So where are we going?

In 2026, I’m hitting the reset button.

No goals, no metrics to reach, just reading and talking about books. Uhm, so how is this going to work? The goal: Read for curiosity!

Instead of setting reading goals, I’m going to take a low-stakes, high-enjoyment approach to reading. Mostly, I’ll be chasing or, better yet, trying to rediscover why I fell in love with reading in the first place.

**Spoiler Scholartistic Book Fairs and Pizza Hut parties were a huge motivator.

I’m an adult now, so I'm looking for external motivators that aren't tied to likes and follower counts. And actually, after writing the reading comprehension Substack, the reset became a little clearer. Why not borrow from the curriculum format to structure my content? This might be a good opportunity to dive deeper and share the journey with you. If you want to follow along, here’s the loose reading for curiosity plan:

January–March: Back to Basics

I’m starting with a refresher on reading fundamentals and the power of reading. Think of this as a warm-up: how to engage with text, how to read deeply, and why reading matters beyond content generation.

Theme: Building a Reading Practice
Primary Text: Developing Critical Reading Skills & Reading Comprehension Report

Objectives:

• Develop consistent reading habits.

• Develop annotation and comprehension strategies.

• Reflect on personal reading identity.

April–September: Do You Believe in Love?

This is the heart of the curriculum; six months dedicated to reading romance closely. I’m going to be asking the questions that have been rolling around in my head publicly:

• Who gets to fall in love in romance?

• How does romance shape identity and possibility?

I have a lot of fun blog posts planned. The author roundup series will return, and I already have a few authors who have signed up for topics. I’m really excited for this section because I’ll have the opportunity to read romance closely, analyze themes, and celebrate the genre’s complexity.

Why romance? Maybe because I’m a masochist, but I really want the book community to reach a point where the genre is treated with the same respect and reverence as other genres. Also, selfishly, it’s the genre I read the most, so learning about conventions and other genre-specific things seems fun. Oh, and I should clarify, when I say romance, I mean contemporary, paranormal, erotica, monster/alien, and romantic suspense.

Which is a good segue to save the date for Mafia Romance May. I’ve thought a lot about how romance can explore power dynamics and desire. I have a few theories on the role of romantic suspense and its popularity. You’ll have to come back to learn what those are because it’ll be a little side quest for a month.

Theme: Take Romance Seriously
Primary Text(s): Romance Series Readalong TBD & All We Want Is Everything
Mafia Romance May text TBD

Objectives:

• Define and contextualize “love” in literature.

• Explore cultural and ethical frameworks of love and power.

• Analyze mafia structures and their portrayal in romantic narratives.

October–December: Reading Critically

Then I’ll wrap up the year by sharpening my/our skills and pulling together what we’ve learned. This isn’t about turning reading into a chore; it's about learning to ask questions about reading comprehension, testing comprehension, and writing reviews that provide context.

Theme: Reading Critically
Primary Text: The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality

Objectives:

• Build a sharper eye for themes and structure in stories.

• Writing reviews to reflect on what you’ve read.

• Navigating online discourse and being a bookish community member.

If you can’t tell, I’m excited! Idk if it’s because I don’t have the pressure of my usual goals or because, as I’m typing this blog, it feels like I’ve given myself creative freedom to share what I’m learning. There’s something about the collective learning I’m envisioning that feels like what’s been missing.

What else should you know?

• Will this be fun? Who knows?

• Will I make it the entire year? I absolutely hope so!

• Do you have to participate in every section? No, you have free will; so take what resonates, and leave the rest. I’m going to publish this content whether or not any of my followers participate. I’m leaning into exposure therapy here. If this flops, know I was excited to put it together, and that’s what’s important.

• Where can I follow along? Substack for long-form content, Substack Notes for reflection questions, IG/Threads for socials.

• Will you still post recommendation lists? Girl, yes! My posting schedule will be Mondays (educational), Thursdays (regular content), and weekend TBRs (IG).

Collaboration & Social

A few more things to look out for with content next year. I’ll have 1-2 opportunities for the reader to collaborate on blogs about reader identity. If you’re interested, send me a message.

I’ve wanted to host a virtual party, and now I think I'm in a position to do it. I have a Teleparty account, so keep an eye out for a couple of these events. Someone suggested book adaptations as a good idea for a virtual party. If you have ideas, please take the poll or leave a comment!

Happy Reading!