Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.
Happy first Top Ten Tuesday of 2026! Today, we are sharing the best books we read last year.
Can I tell you a little secret? I was shocked to learn I had met my Goodreads goal in 2025 because it didn't seem possible. Well, looks like the Kindle Unlimited account I share with my daughter is responsible for me reading 60+ books in 2025. I really only read 41 of them. Needless to say, I am going to need to keep track of her reading now, too.
Out of the books I did read, here (in no particular order) are the...
Top Ten Best Books I Read in 2025
- Jesus Listens by Sarah Young (devotional)
- 1864: Lincoln at the Gates of History by Charles Bracelen Flood (Civil War history)
- Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert (professional development)
- Down to the Bone by Caitlin Rother (true crime)
- The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall by Jamie Jo Wright (Gothic fiction)
- Captain LOL and Rubber Chicken: Har Har by Craig Yoe (middle grade fiction)
- The Man Next Door by Sheila Roberts (women's fiction)
- Ms. Pennypickle's Puzzle Quest by Chris Grabstein (middle grade fiction)
- Never Let a Unicorn Meet a Reindeer! by Diane Alber (picture book)
- While We Were Young by K. L. Walther (coming of age teen/YA)
Thanks to Freepik for the image
Tell Me Something Tuesday (TMST) is hosted by Jen Twimom at That's What I'm Talking About. TMST is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. Participation is optional, and you can leave your comments in the weekly post when you participate. Check it out if you're interested in joining.
Today's Tell Me Something Tuesday is asking us to share our blogging/reading goals for 2026. I don't have all of these finalized yet, though that is highly unusual for me. I took a step back over the holidays to refresh and restore my body and soul. Getting back to work this week, I feel like I can nail down all my goals.
The one goal I am sure of is this: read more books from my TBR pile than I add new books to my list. How can I accomplish this:
- Don't request to review as many virtual book tour titles. Ones that I know I will request: Sheila Roberts and Jamie Jo Wright. Sheila tours new books every year, and I don't plan to miss them. Jamie Jo has two coming out in 2026.
- Only use my Audible credits for new books, and only after I listen to the six new ones I have already ordered since my subscription renewed.
- Pre-order only the books by authors I know, and make a concerted effort not to buy more books until read at least five from my TBR pile.
Not sure I can stick to this goal, but I plan to do my best. My TBR pile is at 320, and my free Kindle books list is at 723, many of which I haven't read. I am overdue to spend time with these books.
Looking forward to checking in with you this afternoon. I have meetings this morning. Thanks for reading!
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16 comments:
Good luck with your goals!
Thanks, Lydia. Appreciate the visit.
A lovely list of books. I need to cut down my TBR too. I've already not got space until March with deadline books, so from now on I need to make more of an effort. The worst is when Publishers send me ebooks and they sound good 😂
Have a great week!
I know its tough getting tough, I am limiting my netgalley requests this year. I will see how I go, all the best with your goal. I gave my older Kindle to my sister so I have to weed out her reads on GR as I go!
Good luck with your goals. I'm trying to read from my TBR this year too.
Your books are all new to me! Good luck with your goals
I really liked Big Magic when I read it too. Good luck with your goals! I stopped accepting review books at least 10 years ago and I don't regret that choice. Reading was starting to feel like work I wasn't getting paid for. I hope you read even better books in 2026!
I am looking forward to reading The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall by Jamie Jo Wright this year! I already have it, just need to read it. Good luck with all your goals, I am still trying to sort mine out as well.
Nice goals! I chuckled as I read them because I have made similar goals in the past and yet I still buy new books without reading what already own! Happy New Year!
It is so hard to say no to new books. I really struggle with it. Let's hope we both do better this year. Thanks for visiting, Emily.
Thanks, Kathryn. Your note about GR reminds me I haven't gone through my list lately either. Let's hope we both do better this year. Thanks for visiting.
Thanks, Yvonne. Good luck to both of us. Thanks for visiting.
Thanks, Marg. Wishing you luck with any goals you have set as well. Appreciate the visit.
So many people had been recommending Big Magic to me. I am glad I finally read it. Ten years? That is amazing, Jen. Good luck with your goals. Thanks for visiting.
I hope you enjoy it, Cindy. Such a great book. Good luck with your goals as you finalize them. Appreciate your visit.
It really is hard, Jen. I'm just feeling burned out, and I need a change. Making my way through some of my TBR pile will feel like an accomplishment. Good luck with your goals. Thanks for visiting.
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