This year I set myself a goal: to read one book a week. I’ve already smashed it—and even gone beyond what I intended! Here are my reflections so far:

I read too fast

Reading so many books back-to-back meant I barely stopped between them. Without taking breaks, I felt like I wasn’t absorbing the stories or the writing as much as I wanted. Eventually, this left me almost burnt out and reluctant to keep going. At first, racing through books felt exciting—like I was achieving something big every week. But after a while, I realized I was speeding past the very reason I read in the first place: to actually enjoy the story. Now, I’m slowing right down to a snail’s pace, which feels much better. Looking back, I think I’d have enjoyed the books more if I had taken my time. This was especially true for series like The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess manga. With 11 volumes, I ended up devouring the entire thing in a week! Graphic novels definitely sped things up, too—I read 19 of them this year, which is about 35% of my total (53 books). At least I also revisited some old favourites I’d been meaning to reread. Speaking of which…

Nostalgia isn’t always kind

Some of the books I once loved didn’t hold up on a reread. Harry Potter, An Abundance of Katherines, and American Royals just weren’t as good as I remembered. It turns out nostalgia can trick you into thinking something is better than it really is—and that’s okay. Still, it was tough realizing that the series I adored as a kid (especially Harry Potter) didn’t feel the same this time around. Rose-tinted glasses are powerful. Everyone who was a reader as a child would have felt this way at some point which is an unfortunate part of being a reader. Luckily, not every reread was disappointing—some books surprised me in the best ways. Like my next point:

Some books were better than expected

Happily, I also found plenty of books that blew me away. A Short History of the World According to Sheep, The House of My Mother, and Deadpool: Samurai all landed in my top five this year. I didn’t expect to enjoy them as much as I did—especially the sheep book! But each one turned out to be engaging, well written, and completely worth the read. For every book that let me down, there was another that exceeded expectations. I’ll take that balance any day. This has definitely reminded me to feel the pain to feel the beuty.

Try it before you judge it

One of my biggest lessons this year: you never know what you’ll enjoy until you give it a try. That’s how I ended up reading more non-fiction, something I hadn’t considered “my thing.” But non-fiction can open your eyes in unexpected ways. For example, I learned from A Short History of the World According to Sheep that sheep were taken across Europe, America, and Africa—often thanks to the Vikings. Who knew they had such an impact on history? Meanwhile, The House of My Mother by Shari Franke revealed the darker side of “mummy-tubers.” It was eye-opening, heartbreaking, and ultimately inspiring to see the author and her family move forward with their lives.

Looking ahead

If I could redo the first part of the year, I’d slow down—burnout isn’t worth it. For the rest of the year, I want to read simply for fun. If I don’t feel like reading, I won’t force myself. Even if that means I go a month without touching a book, that’s okay. I’ve put in the effort, and now it’s time to enjoy the rewards.

Thanks for reading! I’d love to know where you’re at in your own reading journey this year.