Goodreads Reading Challenge 2018 Midyear Update

Last updated on 24 January 2023

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July means it’s time for a Goodreads update!

Like past years, the beginning of 2018 saw me signing up for the annual Goodreads Reading Challenge. Each year you can set yourself a goal of books to read before the year is out, and track your progress as you go. In the last 4 or 5 years I’ve set by goal between 40 and 50 books. This year I went for a middle number of 45 books, but I’m already flying through that number and I know I’m going to pass it way sooner than expected.

As of the beginning of July, I’ve read 33 books already, and Goodreads tells me I’m 73% done with 2018’s challenge, and 11 books ahead of scheduled. Needless to say, I think I’ll make it just fine.

It’s tradition around here on the blog to take a look back over the first half of the year and see what books I’ve read, which have been my favourites, and which ones I’ve shared reviews for. Hopefully by creating a mini roundup, you can discover some great new books and click back through any reviews that you may have missed.

Books vowed to read | 3/5

Turtles all the Way Down, by John Green
The Language of Thorns, by Leigh Bardugo
Queen of Shadows, by Sarah J Maas
The Lightning Thief, by Rick Riordan
The Glass Spare, by Lauren Destefano

Each year over on Blogger’s Bookshelf we pick 5 books at the beginning of the year that we ‘Vow to Read‘. Most years by this time, I’ve read maybe 1 of my VTR list. This year, however, I am very pleased to say that I have read 3 of my 5 so far. I had been thinking of choosing The Language of Thorns, by Leigh Bardugo, for July’s Blogger’s Bookshelf Book Club choice, but went with something different instead, which means I still haven’t read it. The first in the Percy Jackson series, The Lightning Thief, is still calling me from its spot on my bookshelves, but alas, I have yet to pick it up. There’s still time though, so hopefully I can bump these 2 remaining VTR books up the TBR list.

Top 5 books so far

A Poison Dark and Drowning, by Jessica Cluess
The Cruel Prince, by Holly Black
Simon Vs the Homo Sapeins Adgenda, by Becky Albertalli
Scythe, by Neal Shusterman
Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline

Planning to read next

I’m hoping to read some of the books I’ve bought/received in the last couple of months, as well as a few that I’ve had for a little while and need to get onto. War Storm by Victoria Aveyard, Grace and Fury by Tracy Banghart, and Smoke in the Sun by Renee Ahdieh are all on the list, as well as The Smoke Thieves by Sally Green, and The Queen’s Rising, by Rebecca Ross. I’ve just started reading From Twinkle with Love by Sandhya Menon, and am enjoying it so far!