2025 — Blog — Kell-Read

To say that I neglected my little corner of the internet in 2025 would perhaps be an understatement. The good thing about having hobbies is that they’re patient. So we’re back, another year done! 2025 was so busy, full of work and friends and concerts and new hobbies. It’s time to reflect, them look ahead! Let me know in the comments how your year was, reading or otherwise! Did you read some great books? pick up any new hobbies?

2025 reflection

I always set a reading challenge as a personal choice to read more. In 2025 in particular, I wanted to limit scrolling and prioritise reading during my time away from work. With this in mind, I set my highest reading challenge number to date — 100 books — in an attempt to support choosing books over mindlessness and activities that are ultimately poor for my mental health. I am thrilled that I completed this literally on the final day of the year (after reading two of my shortest books). I think being intentional with reading during my downtime had a really positive effect on my general well being. In addition to this, I also got to read some really excellent (and some not so excellent) books this year. I didn't read quite as broadly as I have in the past, but I had a great time overall which is really all that matters. I read a lot of fantasy this year, and finally picked up many physical books that have been patiently waiting on my shelves for some time.

Along with working full time, I did a lot of living this year. I attended many concerts and dinners with friends and bagel breakfasts. I travelled a lot with work, saw a lot of the state and learnt a lot. I also picked up a new hobby - knitting! About mid-2025 I decided I would give knitting a try, and I have since made scarves, gloves, and sweaters. I wasn’t anticipating picking up a craft this year, but it became another excellent way to cut down on unnecessary scrolling. Knitting while watching tv is such a delightful after-work activity. Not to mention it has opened up a whole new creative outlet, topics to chat about with friends, and the incredible feeling of making something with your own two hands. I would recommend picking up some knitting needles in 2026!

2026 goals

I have set a significantly lower reading goal this year, in the hopes that I have developed some healthy habits from my test in 2025. If I read 40 books this year I will be stoked! In saying that, I would really like to read and review more of my non-fiction books I have stacking up which I know takes me much longer to read and digest. I would also like to, once again, prioritise books I already own in 2026 (which will hopefully be a bit more relaxed in the new-publications that 2025).

We’re prioritising ~

reading books we already own
going analog (notebooks / diaries / printing photos)
knitting with yarn I already have / patterns I already own
taking more photos

Thanks for reading and here’s to a fabulous 2026 ✨

Hello lovely readers and welcome to 2025. It is so wonderful to have you here in my little corner of the internet. I hope that 2024 treated you well and that your 2025 has begun smoothly.

I must first acknowledge my absence over here, and to a certain extent over on Instagram as well, in 2024. I spent the year completing my masters degree in archaeology and writing my thesis which, unsurprisingly, left little room for reviewing books. However, I am looking forward to getting back to my book reviews and recommendation posts this year. I have started work as a full time archaeologist, which means outside of working hours I am blissfully free of responsibilities.

2024 reading highlights

Before getting into 2025, it’s time for a little 2024 reading wrap up. Last year I read 82 books and 36,889 pages which I am stoked about. I do like to set a reading goal for myself each year, but it’s more that I hope I get the chance to read that much, rather than something I feel I need to complete each year. I would certainly prefer to read less books but all of them be books I really enjoy than read a heap that are average. In saying that, I have set my goal for this year to 100 books in the hopes that I find lots of time this year to relax and read! I have never read that many books in a year so who knows how it will go.

I primarily used fable last year to track my books, although I did use Goodreads as well, and I love the reading wrapped you get each year! In 2024 my average rating was 3.6 stars which isn’t too bad and my most read genre was fantasy / romantasy. My favourite books of the year were Pride and Prejudice, The Bone Season, Ancestors, Buried, Queen Macbeth., The Missing of Clairdelune and One Dark Window. I truly had such a great reading year with lots of different genres and authors.

The Year ahead

I personally don’t subscribe to the New Year New Me schtick, I am planning on being just as insufferable this year as I was last, but I do also feel like January 1st is like, the 9am Monday morning of the year. Translation: it makes sense in my brain as a good day to start some new habits. In 2025 I would like to prioritise my physical tbr, be more selective with buying new books, drink more water, write more reviews and read my horoscope each day. Do you make New Years resolutions? What are some habits or skills you want to pick up (or drop) this year?

I am currently working on a little series review for you guys (and if you follow me on Instagram, or Fable, or Goodreads you will have an inkling as to which series I am talking about)!

I also wanted to take this time to shamelessly self promote Whims & Fables, a bookclub that myself and two friends are hosting! Make sure to check out the dedicated page on here for the bookclub if you are interested in reading a fantasy book each month, and discussing it with a group of likeminded people!