Lets Talk Bookish

Let’s Talk Bookish: Mid-Year Check-In

Dini @ dinipandareads25 Comments

✨ Welcome back to another week of LTB! ✨

Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly meme created by Rukky @Eternity Books and co-hosted by Aria @Book Nook Bits and myself! In this discussion meme, participants get to talk about certain topics, share opinions, and spread the love by visiting each other’s posts! Learn more about LTB, past topics and future topics HERE.

This week’s topic is:

Mid-Year Check-In

Prompts: Now that we’re halfway through the year, let’s check in! How has your reading year been so far? What reading/blogging achievements are you most proud of? Looking forward, is there anything you want to change up for the rest of the year?

How has your reading year been so far?

2025 has not been the reading year that I thought it would be. I set my goal at the start of the year to 150 books because previously, that’s a number that I’ve successfully reached with relative ease. Unfortunately, due to the overwhelming nature of our existence on planet earth (lol), this year especially, I’ve not read nearly half as much as I wanted to. I’ve also not been keep good track of my reads on Goodreads, but I’ve been keeping a better record on Notion and according to that, I’ve read 74/150 books (as of today). That’s just a little under 50% of my reading goal, so seeing as we’ve just crossed the year’s halfway mark, I guess I’m not doing too bad.

In terms of reading quality, it’s a pretty mixed bag. There have been some devastating misses but also many gems that I’m delighted to have discovered! I have much fewer 5-star reads this year compared to last year though.

TL;DR: I guess you can say that I’m a little behind schedule if I want to easily reach my goal at the end of the year, but I think I can still get there if I pack in more reading time! 🤭

What reading/blogging achievements are you most proud of?

In terms of reading, I’m most proud of the number of backlist books that I’ve tackled this year. Some of the titles I’ve read have been lingering on my TBR for too many years and I’m thrilled that I can finally tick them off the list, and also clear up some space on my shelves for new additions. Reading more from the backlist also means that the genres I’m reading are more diversified, and it’s been really nice. As much as I live and breath fantasy and romance, I forgot how much I enjoy other genres too (i.e. historical fiction, mysteries, literary fiction, etc.).

In terms of blogging, I guess you can say I’m most proud of being invited to co-host the Let’s Talk Bookish meme, and that I’ve been consistent with posting and engaging with those who participate (save for one or two weeks when I fell behind). It’s been so fun co-hosting this discussion meme, although sometimes I do worry about coming up with new and exciting topics, but also having people stick around for the long run. I’m so grateful to everyone who participates weekly or sporadically, as well as to those who contribute topics/ideas for discussion! 💜

Looking forward, is there anything you want to change up for the rest of the year?

I mean, I wish that I could change up how many hours I spend reading for the rest of the year, but 2025 has been a major energy suck and I find that I just can’t keep going the way that I used to. That aside, there are some things that I’d like to improve but for the most part, I want to consistently do what I’ve been doing!

  • Keep better track of reading challenge books: For some reason, I seem to always miss the book that I’m meant to be reading for various challenges each month. 😂 I need to constantly check but it’s so easy for me to forget!
  • Clear my “currently reading” shelf: 98% of the books on that shelf are ones I’ve already finished reading, I’m just keeping them there until I write at least a mini review for them. I’ve been terrible at doing that this year!
  • Write more reviews: My brain just isn’t as “on it” this year and so writing reviews has been a bit of a struggle! I need to get better at it, especially since I’ve mostly been jotting down my reading thoughts on Notion as I track my progress! It shouldn’t be so hard to do…

Don’t forget to check out the other bloggers who joined the discussion this week! 👇🏽

Annemieke @ A Dance with Books
Abyssal Librarian
Lost @ The Chronicles of Tick Tock
Leyre @ Read You Leyre
Elle @ Unwrapping Words
Rachael @ The Green Tea Librarian
Melanie @ Melanie’s Book Blog
Yolanda @ Past Midnight
LaRonda @ Flying Paperbacks
Jillian @ The Bookish Butterfly
Emma @ Pages of Emma
Raji @ Worlds Unlike Our Own

If I’ve missed your post this week, don’t hesitate to let me know in the comments, and I’ll add you to this week’s list of community posts ASAP!

I can’t believe it’s already time for a mid-year check-in! How has your reading/blogging been so far? What are you most proud of and is there anything you want to change for the rest of 2025?

25 thoughts on “Let’s Talk Bookish: Mid-Year Check-In”

  2. I can definitely relate to what you were saying about your reading. I met my goal, but the quality of this year’s books isn’t that good it seems. I only had 1 five star read if you’re not counting rereads. I also had some devastating misses, but also some really good surprises from the backlist.

    After scheduling the mid year freak out tag for today, I found out that we would have a mid year check in for this week’s LTB, so consider that tag as my participation post. Even though it’s not flagged as such.

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  4. This is the first year in a long time that I haven’t completed my reading goal before the middle of the year. I always keep the goal at 100, but this year just hasn’t been a great one for staying focused. Considering that it seems like the world is burning down around us, I think we get a pass. lol.

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    • It has definitely been a year to test patience and our focus but I’m sending out all the SOS signals to the universe in the hope that things get better (or at least more good things happen to eclipse all this bad juju). I do think we get a pass for just making it through each day in this hellscape! Sending lots of hugs and good vibes your way, Chris! 🫂

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  5. Sounds like you are right on track to meet your goal. I have had less 5-star books as well. I attribute it to my moods. I actually created a new GR shelf to-be-reviewed, so I can mark the books without reviews as read.

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    • You know what, I’ve been tempted to just unhaul some books that have been sitting on my shelves for so long and that I’ve completely lost interest in. Who knows, maybe it’ll happen before the end of the year 🤭 Yay for having just 11 physical books left unread though—that’s truly amazing! 😍 Hope you enjoy all, if not the majority, of them!

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  7. You do such an amazing job co-hosting LTB, and I want to say thank you because it’s meant I’ve made connections with new people I’d never interacted with before (yourself included) – here’s to hoping we all stick around for the long run (which I am certain we will!) 💚✨️

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    • Aaah, reading this comment has made my day! 💜 That’s so kind of you and I appreciate your words so much!!! I’m so glad that you’ve started participating and I hope that you continue to enjoy doing so. Always look forward to reading your posts! 😍

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  9. “Unfortunately, due to the overwhelming nature of our existence on planet earth (lol), this year especially, I’ve not read nearly half as much as I wanted to.” — I feel this quote in my soul, Dini! It has been a year (or, technically, half a year?). But you’re honestly not that far behind, so don’t stress about it too much. 😀

    Congrats on being invited to cohost! They couldn’t have invited a more deserving blogger. I’m also definitely guilty of leaving things on my Currently Reading so I remember to write reviews for them (even though I don’t always lol). Here’s to a great second half of 2025 for all of us!

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    • Awww, thanks Sammie! 🥰 It’s so nice to see you posting again 🙂 Heh, I’m sad that what I said is resonating with so many but I really feel like we’re mucking the world up lately! I’m sending SOS’s into the universe and hoping that it gets better as the year goes on (or at least something changes for the good). I hope we all have a much better second half of 2025, especially when it comes to picking up fantastic books to escape in! Happy reading 💜

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  10. I think we all have had less 5 star books this year. For me, I was pretty loose with those stars in the past and I’m firming it up a bit now. Many of my books are 4 stars, which means it is a good book, just not outstanding. One book behind is not bad at all, Dini. You’ve definitely had a lot going on this year.

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  13. Ugh this year is so hard for so many reasons. I don’t know how anyone expects us to be able to do anythng really when the whole place is on fire. lol

    I’m also fairly bad at keeping up with reviews. Even if I’m just doing mini reviews for them haha.

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    • Facts! We’ve only just made it through the halfway mark and it has already been one of the most draining years I can remember! Mentally exhausted and I don’t know how I keep reading books! 😂 And it’s totally the same with me for reviews and I haven’t been doing many mini’s either! Need to change this, I think… 🤭

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  14. Best of luck with your reading! My work-study program has just begun and I’ve noticed how exhausted I’ve been at the end of the day 🙈 Luckily, I can read on my commute!

    I only remember that I should check what the Year in Aeldia challenge is mid-way through the month 😂 So far, it has worked out, but only barely last month!

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  15. your process of keeping a book on your currently reading list till you write a review is interesting, i don’t think I’ve seen anyone else do that much to make sure they write posts 😂 the first thing i like doing after i read a book is mark it read haha.

    i’m in the same boat as you with my reading goal. i am/was aiming for 100 which i usually reach with relative ease a free months in advance but this year i’m RIGHT on track with 50 books done 😮‍💨 thinking about it, i actually don’t mind not reaching the goal considering everything else in life right now but it’ll be a sad adult “ milestone “ to cross.

    i hope you’re able to catch up with your goal! all the best with your goals ✨

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