By Caitlin Taylor So
Did you reach your reading goals for 2024? If not, don’t stress.
With 2025 mere moments away, you can aim high for the coming year, striving to read and discover more incredible books and stories.
Reading goals look different for everyone. For many, that could simply mean finishing a specific, arbitrary number of books. But here at Uncharted, we encourage you to try something different for 2025. Instead of worrying about hitting a random number, try out these challenges throughout the year as a way to mix things up and keep things exciting, not stressful.
- Pick an author and a handful of their titles.
Write down the names of the current bestselling authors on the New York Times bestsellers list or the names on the first couple of books you see on a library shelf. Put them in a hat and pick one to start.
As you explore an author’s catalog of work, take note of their writing style and voice. What makes it unique? What makes it similar to the writers you enjoy or have read before? What elements of their style and voice could you try and implement into your own work?
- Follow an awards list and make your way up.
There are so many awards and titles of recognition out there that celebrate an author’s merit. Peruse these different lists and make your way up starting from the bottom. What books were on last year’s Women’s Prize for Fiction longlist? Which books won the 2024 Green Earth Book Award? While everyone’s a winner, you can be the judge of whether you think these books are worth the read.
- Read books that take place during a specific time period or in a specific country.
Are you fascinated by a specific time period or place? What’s stopping you from delving into books about it to chase that curiosity? Books are essentially gateways to all the experiences you never would have had the chance to explore, so why wait? Here’s your chance to live a million lives.
- Consider your physical and virtual collection.
When you think about reading, don’t only consider books in their traditional, physical form. Maybe you have a couple books downloaded on your phone or tablet. Maybe you found a free audiobook file online that’s perfect to listen to during your morning commute. Read whatever you’d like, however you’d like. It all counts toward your goal!
- Choose one book from a genre or literary form you never would have considered otherwise.
New year, new you could mean trying out a new genre or literary form you’ve never been a fan of before. Not really into nonfiction? Can’t remember the last time you read a flash fiction story? Great! New year, new you. It applies to everything.
Born and raised in Queens, Caitlin Taylor So is a Chinese-Vietnamese writer who is passionate about prioritizing and amplifying marginalized voices. She graduated from Emerson College with a degree in publishing and marketing. Her writing can be found on Business Insider, PopSugar, WebMD, The New Absurdist, and Her Campus Media.