Let’s Talk Bookish: How Many Books Do You Read in a Year?

Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly meme that was originally created and hosted by Rukky @ Eternity Books starting in August 2019, and was then cohosted with Dani @ Literary Lion from May 2020 to March 2022. Book Nook Bits has hosted since April 2022, with Dini at Dini Panda Reads as co-host from February 2025.

I always find these topics to be so interesting, and no matter how hard I try to keep my ramblings a little less rambly, I often find I have a lot more to say than I initially expected! So, let’s dive in.

Let’s Talk Bookish February 28th:
How Many Books Do You Read in a Year?
(Jillian @ Jillian the Bookish Butterfly)

Prompts: How many books do you typically read in a year? Do you always track your reading? Does keeping track of the books you read motivate you, or stress you out? How do you keep track of the books you read? Do you have a 2025 reading goal?

So for the last few years, my total read has fluctuated by quite a lot. 2019 was the first year I hit over 70, and that was the year I really started reading more, taking on arcs, etc. 2020 being a very unusual year for everyone, I managed to hit 127. The following years it ranged from 94 to 103, then last year I only (only!) managed to read 78.

I do always keep track, and have done since 2015. I like seeing how my reading levels have changed over the years, but sometimes it’s a moment of reflection too, as odd as that may sound. I can look at a particular year and remember why it’s slightly higher or lower than other years – 2020 was because of the pandemic, whereas I was able to read 94 books in 2021 likely because I was redundant and out of work that summer.

It does motivate me – I don’t put too much pressure on myself, and I set my goal to a number I know I’ll achieve, but I find it really fulfilling to see that number increase. Even better when I hit 100% and get to go over it! One year I did increase the goal whenever I hit it, but I’m happy having done that once so won’t do it again. I keep track using both Goodreads and Storygraph now – I think they both offer something different, and for what I want to use them for, I quite like the way they compliment each other.

I do have a 2025 Reading Goal – since 2023 I’ve set my goal at 70 books. It’s a number I feel I can reach but also feel I can exceed, depending on how the year goes. 2023 I read 103/70, last year was 78/70, and I’m currently on 10/70, so I’m kind of looking forward to seeing how the rest of the year goes!

What about you – how many books do you tend to read in a year? Or do you not keep track?