Cozy morning reading scene with open book, cup of tea, candle, and reading glasses

5 Reading Goals Every Book Lover Can Actually Keep in 2026

Dear reader,

New Year’s resolutions get a bad reputation. (Looking at you, gym membership we abandoned by February 2nd.) But reading goals? Those we can actually keep—especially when they’re designed to add joy, not pressure.

Here are a few gentle, cozy reading resolutions for 2026:

  • Read for comfort, not competition. Forget the numbers game. One book that makes your heart feel full is worth more than rushing through ten. (Tip: keep a personalized journal nearby to capture your favorite quotes instead of tallying page counts.)
  • Build your TBR slowly. It doesn’t need to teeter like that stack of books on your nightstand. Try one new book a month and carry it in a tote bag so you’re always ready for surprise reading moments.
  • Romanticize the small moments. Light a candle, pour tea into a mug, and make ten minutes of reading feel like a ritual.
  • Share your stories. Join (or host) a book club. Bonus points if you bring along matching wine glasses or totes for the group.
  • Revisit old favorites. There’s no rule that goals must be new. Sometimes the best resolution is to reread the book that once changed you.

2026 doesn’t need resolutions that feel like chores. It needs cozy habits, playful goals, and quiet joy in the pages we turn.

So here’s to a new year of books: fewer rules, more stories.

Happy reading, always,
The Quiet Shelf team

Back to blog