Posted by 
I’ve had a Goodreads account for several years now, but I used to forget about it for months or years at a time. When I’d remember, I’d log on and update my “Books I’ve Read” list with as much as I could remember (and synced it to my Kindle account!), scroll through the newsfeed to see what my friends were reading, and then promptly forget about it again. I don’t know why, considering I have always loved reading and books.
Towards the end of 2015, I was on the Goodreads app and I noticed a “Reading Challenge” section. I learned you can set a goal for how many books you’d like to read in a year, and then use the app to track your progress. If your friends have challenge goals, you can also follow along their progress and see which books they’ve read to help them reach their goal. I’d never had a reading goal before, and again, I don’t know why.
I decided to read 52 books in 52 weeks – one book per week for an entire year. Considering there have been times where I’ve blown through an entire book in a day, I figured this goal would be easy-peasy! And for the most part, it was, though I did have to read 7 books in December to finish off my goal. I didn’t put any restrictions on myself in regards to genre or book length – just 52 books in 52 weeks. Some were print books, some ebooks, and a few audiobooks as well. I did read 2 books that were advanced copies of not-yet-published books. Since they aren’t on Goodreads yet, I elected not to include them in my count. I also read a few boxed sets or 2-in-1 books and I counted those each as one book (since they show up on Goodreads as one book).
Here’s my reading list for 2016:
1.
Dataclysm: Who We Are (When We Think No One’s Looking)
by Christian Rudder (print)
2.
by Aziz Ansari (print)
3.
by Kiki Thorpe, Dave Smith (print)
4.
by Tatiana de Rosnay (print)
5.
Love Is the Killer App: How to Win Business and Influence Friends
by Tim Sanders (I had him sign a copy when he spoke at a conference I attended in 2015!)
6.
by Paula Hawkins (audiobook)
7.
Ready to Run: Unlocking Your Potential to Run Naturally
by Kelly Starrett, T.J. Murphy (print)
8.
A Thousand Lives: The Untold Story of Hope, Deception, and Survival
at Jonestown by Julia Scheeres (print)
9.
by Iris Johansen (audiobook)
10.
Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner
by Dean Karnazes (print)
11.
by Colleen Hoover, Tarryn Fisher (ebook)
12.
by Colleen Hoover (ebook)
13.
The Best Goodbye (Rosemary Beach #12)
by Abbi Glines (ebook)
14.
by Abbi Glines (ebook)
15.
by Mindy Kaling (audiobook)
16.
Beautiful Burn (The Maddox Brothers #4)
by Jamie McGuire (ebook)
17.
Work Rules!: Insights From Inside Google That Will Transform How You Live and Lead
by Lazlo Bock (print)
18.
Heaven is For Real: A Little Boy’s Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back
by by Todd Burpo (audiobook)
19.
by Jeff Galloway (print)
20.
The Girl Who Came Home: A Novel of the Titanic
by Hazel Gaynor (ebook)
21.
(Country Saga #1) by David Estes (ebook)
22.
My Year of Running Dangerously: A Dad, a Daughter, and a Ridiculous Plan
by Tom Foreman (audiobook)
23.
Guyland: The Perilous World Where Boys Become Men
by Michael S. Kimmel (print)
24.
by Amy Poehler (audiobook)
25.
by Tarryn Fisher (ebook)
26.
(Deep Six 0.5) by Julie Ann Walker (ebook)
27.
(Weldon #1) by Jennifer Saints (ebook)
28.
by Colleen Hoover (ebook)
29.
by Colleen Hoover (ebook)
30.
by Colleen Hoover (ebook)
31.
Up in Flames (Rosemary Beach #13)
by Abbi Glines (ebook)
32.
Devil and the Deep (Deep Six #2)
by Julie Ann Walker (ebook)
33.
When SEALS Come Home Boxed Set II
by Anne Marsh (ebook)
34.
by Colleen Hoover (ebook)
35.
Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear
by Elizabeth Gilbert (print)
36.
Adnan’s Story: The Search for Truth and Justice After Serial
by Rabia Chaudry (print)
37.
A Beautiful Funeral (The Maddox Brothers #5)
by Jamie McGuire (ebook)
38.
Under the Lights (The Field Party #2)
by Abbi Glines (ebook)
39.
by Missy Johnson (ebook)
40.
Once She Dreamed (Once She Dreamed #1)
by Abbi Glines (ebook)
41.
Stubborn Love (Stubborn Love #1)
by Wendy Owens (ebook)
42.
by Robert M. Drake (print)
43.
Born For This: How to Find The Work You Were Meant to Do
by Chris Guillebeau (print)
44.
by Stephenie Meyer (ebook)
45.
by Colleen Hoover (ebook)
46.
by Debbie Macomber (print)
47.
The Last Orphans (The Last Orphans #1)
by N.W. Harris (ebook)
48.
by Olivian Pope (ebook)
49.
Once She Dreamed (Once She Dreamed #2)
by Abbi Glines (ebook)
50.
by Melissa McClone (ebook)
51.
by Chrissie Manby (ebook – Kindle Single)
52.
by Noelle Adams (ebook)
BONUS: 53.
by Ree Drummond (print)
There it is – the complete list of books I read in 2016 (as of December 27). I included the last one because I received it as a Christmas gift and read it cover to cover. I’ve already flagged recipes I’m excited to try! I finished with a week to spare and even finished a bonus book.
I haven’t set a goal yet for 2017, but I’m thinking somewhere around 45. Yes, I know some people would set a goal that was even bigger than 2016’s, but I’d like to keep it fun and don’t want the pressure of having to read books quickly to finish up (that sort of happened in December).
What were your favorite reads in 2016? I am looking for recommendations! Comment below with your best suggestions!