2025: My Year in Reading — Please Read It To Me

Last year, reading often felt like a second job — fitting books in where I could, counting pages almost defensively and proving to myself that reading still mattered even when time and focus were scarce. This year, reading felt more integrated into my life and more intentional.

Part of that shift came from a quiet but meaningful decision to step away from Bookstagram in February. Without the constant churn of trends, hot takes and “must-read-now” pressure, I found myself reading more for pleasure and curiosity than for clout.

By the numbers, it was a bigger year, but not because I forced it. Pages read increased by about 9% (29,888), and listening hours jumped by more than 23% (580.41). That growth didn’t come from carving out extra time, but from using the time I already had better.

Audiobooks, once again, were the backbone of my reading life, with audiobooks up nearly 40% year over year (71 out of 91 books attempted). Fiction remained my preferred genre, with novels up 20% (70) compared to last year. Nonfiction (19) and poetry (1) stayed essentially flat. Hybrid read/listen continued its gradual decline (6).

Last year was defined by dramatic peaks and valleys — huge spring surges followed by a noticeable slowdown in the summer before a fall ramp up. Even my quieter months stayed productive, but October, in particular, stood out as my strongest month for pages, listening hours and nonfiction all at once, thanks largely to a deep dive into the works of David Sedaris.

Looking back at the goals I set at the end of last year, the results were mixed. I didn’t finish all the books I added to my 2021 TBR, but I made meaningful progress without turning it into a chore. I was quicker to DNF books (4) that weren’t working, which may not show clearly since those numbers stayed even as my total reading increased. While I didn’t tackle four 600+ page books as planned, I did read two truly long novels (“Lonesome Dove” and “The Covenant of Water”) and six books in the 450+ page range.

My author diversity numbers dipped slightly this year, and I think that’s directly tied to leaving Bookstagram. I’m simply not exposed to as many under-the-radar recommendations or community-driven discovery pushes as I was before.

That said, my TBR is more than healthy, and the books I did read still reflect a genuine commitment to queer voices and perspectives I don’t always share. This feels less like backsliding and more like a reminder that author discovery requires intention when algorithms and feeds are no longer doing that work for you.

On the personal front, this was also a strong creative year. I wrote nearly 60,000 words, proof that this remains a vital outlet for me, not just as a reader, but as someone who wants to engage critically and creatively with what I consume. I also branched out into a monthly Substack newsletter (please subscribe!), which has become a satisfying way to share and connect outside traditional social platforms.

I’m not setting formal reading goals for next year. In hindsight, they were as much about having a hook for Instagram as they were about how I genuinely read, and that’s no longer how I want this part of my life to function.

The one exception is that I’ll continue to recognize and center reading around specific months — Black History, AAPI, Hispanic Heritage, Native American Heritage and Pride — to make sure my reading stays expansive and thoughtful.

If last year was about proving I could still balance being a reader, hobby writer and professional, this year was about trusting that I am one. Reading didn’t compete with the rest of my life — it moved alongside it. That feels like real progress.

As always, thanks for following along.

Andy