Not Over Yet

How could a reading survey possibly go wrong?

What word or phrase do you feel best captures your year and why is that?

Uh, wow. Hard to answer on the spot – but accepting reality would be my phrase. Just not paying attention to others’ expectations and accepting my own reality.

How many books have you read in the past year?

The year isn’t over yet. Do people just stop existing around the end of November? Well, I don’t. I’ve read 43 books. Give or take a book or two.

(I just finished a book today. I will probably read 34 more books by year end because it’s only December 7. Like my math?)

How often did you read in 2025?

About 5 days a week.

What types of fiction have you reached for the most this past year?

Easy question – thrillers. So many bad thrillers. Hope I learned my lesson.

What types of non-fiction have you reached for the most this past year?

psychology, true crime, memoir

When you chose books to read, what were you most looking for out of your reading experience? (multiple choice)

To experience a specific genre I love
To be entertained
To learn something new or gain knowledge

Did you explore any new genres or authors this year?

Almost every author I read this year was new to me, so yes…can’t say I really started reading a new genre.

Is there one book you read this past year that stayed with you or was particularly meaningful to you – and why?

Too tired to go into depth on this right now. But Autism in Polyvagal Terms: New Possibilities and Interventions was meaningful because someone finally gets what autism is.

What were your favorite books you read in 2025?

(Went into my reading tracker and looked at ones I gave 4 and 5 stars).

Autism in Polyvagal Terms: New Possibilities and Interventions by Sean M. Inderbitzen
Dandelion by Jamie Chai Yun Liew
Nice Girls Don’t Win by Parvati Shallow

What are your goals, if any, for 2026 that you may be thinking of prioritizing?

I don’t do annual goals so I haven’t thought about it. I’m exhausted. But I’ll choose. (multiple choice)

to read more
health & wellness (sleep…)
Reducing stress and practicing mindfulness (maybe?)

And what book-related goals and/or resolutions, if any, do you have for the upcoming year?

I don’t do book goals because I read what I feel/want. A resolution like this could be restrictive, in my case. From the multiple choice list, I chose:

Explore new genres or authors (but I naturally do this every month so…)

Thinking about your reading goals for 2026, which of the following reasons, are you prioritizing when picking up a book to read?

Hmmm. How would I know this? lol. I don’t plan my reading! From multiple choice I chose the following in my dream world:

Reading to be inspired
Reading to escape from everyday life ( I would love to escape. Please send help!)
Reading to relax
Reading to keep up with my hobbies/interests

As you look ahead to 2026, which kind of feelings or reading moods are you hoping your books will give you

I have alexithymia LOL. I did get more feelings from reading when I was younger, But okay….

Feeling understood/seen
Curiosity/wonder
Comfort or coziness

What books are at the top of your 2026 TBR?

OMG. I don’t plan my reading. Have I mentioned that? But I will check my TBR list (I have multiple lists so…) and randonly choose three books.

Some Bright Nowhere by Ann Packer
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
How to Read Now by Elaine Castillo

Doubt I read any of these in 2026. Most books on my list, I read a few years after I put them on and these are recent adds to my list.

What are you looking forward to most in 2026? What do you hope your reading will bring into your life next year?

Nothing specific. I hope I’m not as tired. I hope to still enjoy reading in 2026 because books are a gift. I hope to continue to go with the flow and find interesting books.

Apparently, people who take these surveys are planners. I thought this was going to be another ‘what did you read this month’ kind of survey, not a year-end one. But I should have known. I’ve skipped the last few surveys from them…think I’m back to skipping. It doesn’t fit my reading life. At all.