Hello there, fellow bookworms! 📚✨

Today, I’m diving into a topic I have seen a lot of controversy on in the past – the Goodreads Reading Challenge. Is it a lifesaver, a fun challenge, or just another thing to accomplish in our already busy lives? Let’s discuss!

What is the goodreads challenge?

First off, let’s talk about the Goodreads Challenge itself. It’s simple: You set a goal of how many books you want to read in a year, and Goodreads tracks your progress. Sounds straightforward, right?

When I first started getting into the online book community almost six years ago, I loved the idea of Goodreads. I could track all of my books, set goals for how many books I read in a year, and see the books all my mutuals were reading!

I still love the idea of Goodreads, but I quickly learned the pressure of the Goodreads Challenge.

First things first, YOU ARE NOT DEFINED BY HOW MANY BOOKS YOU READ IN A YEAR.

The most intense part of the Goodreads challenge is seeing how many books other people are reading. Trust me, I know. I read 87 BOOKS last year, and I STILL sometimes have feelings that I am not as good as the people who read 100+ books a year.

Pros

You can set your goal to any amount of books. The greatest thing about the challenge is that your goal can be 5 books or 100 books. I set my goal to 80 every year, but I have changed my goal to 50 halfway through the year in the past. This helps make the challenge feel less like a competition.

There’s something satisfying about setting a goal and smashing it. The Goodreads Challenge can be a fantastic motivator. It pushes you to carve out more time for reading and helps you tackle that ever-growing TBR. Plus, watching that progress bar inch closer to completion is basically like an instant shot of dopamine.

It feels incredibly amazing to look back at the end of the year and see all the books you’ve consumed. It’s a tangible record of your literary journey and a great way to reflect on your personal growth and experiences through the books you’ve read.

Cons

The pressure!!! Reading, for many of us, is a form of escape, relaxation, and joy. But when you’re constantly eyeing that goal, it can transform reading into a stressful race against time. Who needs that kind of pressure in their chill time? I barely have enough time to read as it is, but I still feel bad about not hitting my reading goal every year.

It makes reading feel like a competition. Looking at other user’s pages and seeing how many books they have read so far can feel like a major hit on your self-esteem. When reading shifts to hitting a target number, the joy of reading can take a backseat. This might lead to rushing through books without fully absorbing or enjoying them.

The challenge might inadvertently influence your book choices. You might find yourself avoiding bigger novels favor of shorter, quicker reads, just to stay on track with your goal.

Quality vs. Quantity: The big Debate

This brings us to the age-old question: quality or quantity?

Some argue that the challenge encourages quantity over quality, pushing readers to pick shorter or “easier” books just to hit their target. On the flip side, isn’t more reading, regardless of the book’s length or depth, a good thing?

I have seen this debate most often on TikTok, and I always have to laugh about the people who accuse readers of making up their reading total. There are different reasons someone might read 20 books in a month. There are people who are simply faster readers than others. There are readers who primarily listen to audiobooks on 2x speed (I cannot listen to an audiobook slower than this!). There are readers who have more free time than others. There are SO many different variables that affect how much someone reads.

This makes me reflect on my reading. My Goodreads goal every year is 80 books. 2023–this year–is only the second time I have ever reached this goal; the only other year I succeeded was 2020 because I could read a lot more thanks to Covid. Every other year I average around 50 books.

Even though I am aware that 50 books is A LOT for most people, I always get a little down at the end of the year when I have not reached that goal of 80 books. I eventually move on from this feeling of failure, but it really is silly to think I feel failure at all. I have tried to rethink how I reflect on those years. I try and have a more positive mindset: I GET to read 50 books.

So in this regard, the Goodreads Challenge can be a negative thing if we let it be.

Readers have different goals when it comes to reading. Some focus on quality, some on quantity, and some on both. We are all unique individuals for a reason

We’re All in This Together!

One thing I absolutely love about the Goodreads Challenge is the community aspect. Sharing goals, celebrating victories, and commiserating over setbacks. There’s a sense of camaraderie that only fellow book lovers can understand.

Goodreads sometimes feels like being part of a giant book club!

To Challenge or Not to Challenge?

So, should you take on the Goodreads Reading Challenge? Here’s my take: If it inspires and excites you, absolutely go for it! But remember, reading is about pleasure, growth, and exploration – not just ticking off boxes. If the challenge starts to feel like a burden, it’s okay to step back and reevaluate.

At the end of the day, whether you’re a challenge champion or a leisurely reader, what matters most is your love for books. We’re all on our unique reading journeys, and there’s no right or wrong way to enjoy our literary adventures.

So, what’s your take on the Goodreads Reading Challenge? Friend, foe, or frenemy? Share your thoughts in the comments below – I’d love to hear from you!

Happy reading, and remember: no matter how you read, you’re always part of the online bookish family.

Until next time xx