Personal & Bookish Reflections on 2025
Hello, 2026! Goodbye, 2025! As the new year begins, I thought I’d take some time to reflect on 2025 on a personal level, share some highlights, and discuss my bookish habits of last year.
2025 was a challenging year due to the political climate, and seeing the dumpster fire of news everyday really impacted my mental health and reading overall. As notated, via my reading challenge below and from what I documented in my reading journal, I really strayed away from heavy reads and shifted toward more lighter books. I found it really important to focus on having a more peaceful mindset and try to practice self-care away from screens/electronic devices. I found new ways to journal bookish things and my other interests, which have brought me a lot of joy. In 2026, I want to try to continue to practice not doomscrolling as much and be more present.
As far as genres go, I want to try my best to get back into more non-fiction outside of memoirs. I feel I need to challenge myself more to try reading about different topics as well as exploring more works from authors outside of North America. I am continuing my goal of reading from my bookshelves and utilizing my library more. I was able to read a decent amount from shelves and unhaul some books, but I need to do better. But even though some reading months are slow, I think I still did good reading-wise for having a busy schedule.
I did have a lot of fun this year! Being able to travel with friends, experience new festivals, and connect more with others in my local book community was so rewarding. My book clubs are engaging and I have gotten to read a lot of stuff I normally wouldn’t. I got to see some amazing K-Pop concerts, meet a musical icon who inspired me, and got to see some of my favorite authors speak in person. I experienced new book events and discovered so many new places! I’m hoping to travel more in 2026 and attend more events not only as a reader, but as a writer as well.
As always, thanks to everyone who reads, comments, follows my blog, and social media. Life of a Female Bibliophile will be turning 13 years old next year! I can’t believe I’m still writing on this platform and I thank all of you for your support throughout the years. I’m hoping for better things in 2026 and of course lots of new book adventures.
2025 Reading Challenge (Via Storygraph)
2025 Highlights
Toledo Romance Con
This was the second year of this day-long event hosted by the Toledo Library. This is first time I got to attend though! The event is free to the public and is geared towards events. The con was well organized and had a relaxed vibe with fun bookish activities, panels, and lots of indie authors to shop from. I’m looking forward to attending next year!
Attending My First Book Swap
Kendra, from Kendra Reads With Love (Insta), hosted a book swap and it was so much fun! i got to swap out some reads from my bookshelves and got to add some new reads to take home. I met some local bookish friends and made some new ones as well.
Takashi Murakami Exhibit
I went to see this exhibit with my BTS Michigan Army meetup group for our Namjooning Day event. Takashi Murakami uses his art to interpret historical events and their lasting effects, such as the end of World War II, the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, and the COVID-19 pandemic. What a colorful exhibition of artwork and displays. It was interesting to see how anime and manga influenced his artwork.
Concerts
My first K-Rock concert was seeing Rolling Quartz! These ladies are immensely talented and put on such a great show. I have been a longtime fan since I got into K-pop so when I heard ONEW was coming to Detroit I knew I had to go. It felt like a full circle moment as a Shawol and being surrounded by so many other SHINee fans. I missed ONEUS the first time they traveled to Detroit so I was determined to get tickets this time. Even with one member missing (due to military service) it was such a fun, high energy show.
More Concerts!
My second time seeing Viviz live and I’m so glad they made another tour stop in our area. As always their performance was high energy and they even included a fun bingo game with challenges to interact with the audience more. A full circle moment seeing @crystalkayofficial live in concert. I have been a long-time fan of hers for 20 years and she was one of my biggest inspirations for motivating me in my Japanese studies. My first and last time I will see Purple Kiss live in concert since they are disbanding in November.
Nashville
My friends Yali, Jaz, and I went on a girls trip to Nashville which was a new experience for all of us. We had never been to the Music City before and there was so much to see and do! I loved listening to all of the local bands, line dancing at Category 10, taking a tour on the Big Drag Bus, and all of the food I tried. I definitely will have to make a trip back to Nashville in the future.
Meeting Authors
I got to attend so many cool author events where I met new to me authors along with my favorites. Here’s a photo with me and Lyla Sage & Jillian Meadows (first picture), Ebony LaDelle, and Kennedy Ryan!
Bookish Barhop
What a fun event hosted by Bookish Retreats back in March. It was a girl night out on a party bus where we stopped at two local indie bookstores, ate pizza, and ended the night at a barcade spot. I would go to an event like this again in the future.
Florida
In April, I had a fantastic trip to Florida with my dad. We stayed in Hollywood Beach (off the beach are) and walked along its broadwalk. We took a trip on the Water Taxi to explore the areas as it travels along the intercoastal waterway. We also visited South Beach Miami, the Versace Mansion (first picture), the Vizcaya Mansion (second picture), and the Everglades. It was so much fun!
Isshocon
This was the second year of Isshocon and the attendance has doubled in size since the first year! This time I cosplayed ads Edward Elric from Fullmetal Alchemist and Sophie from How’s Moving Castle. It was such a fun weekend of panels such a Magical Girl Anime Jeopardy, playing video games, meeting other cosplayers, and attending my first idol concert where I got to meet with PaiDA!
What are your reflections on 2025? Have you set any goals for 2026? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section below!
I probably read too many books in 2025 but circumstances fell that way (work drying up a bit, husband away lots of weekends sorting out his parents’ house for sale, an injury and an illness meaning I ran less). I plan to get hardbacks read before the paperback comes out and get the TBR shelves down to three shelves with a gap at the end in 2026. Happy reading, gig-going and blogging in 2026!
I’m curious to see what books you have on your radar for 2026. Happy New Year! May 2026 be full of good books and that we both can lower the numbers on our TBR shelves.
I didn’t really read all that much in 2025 – not even magazines. 2026 is the year I rectify that. I’ve got a stack of books and magazines lined up ready to read.
2025 was all about getting over a fractured knee. and getting into films even more. I went back to Japan and had a blast with interviews and being with my partner.
I’m glad that you got to do loads of great things with friends. The world looks bleak, but people sticking together will be the way through – the recent PTA film One Battle After Another exemplified that. Keep seeking out fun things to do!
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year! Yay! I hope you’re able to ease back into reading for 2026. I know how difficult it can be to get over a reading slump. I’m glad you’re knee seems to be doing much better. And being able to go to Japan must have been amazing. Like you said “The world looks bleak, but people sticking together will be the way through”. I’m keeping that motto in mind for 2026 definitely.
Looks like you had a great, fun year despite the craziness going on politically.
Thank you! I’m hoping for a better year, but already 2026 is getting off to a rocky start. Happy New Year!
Aww sorry to hear that. Hope it doesn’t remain so.
Congrats on your reading year; I love all your stat’s and especially the mood map of your reading! I should figure out my page-average but I bet it’s less than that. You are almost even for romance and fantasy: I would have guessed the fantasy would have been lower, but maybe the manga series pull that harder to fantasy than I’d’ve thought? My reading year was kinda the opposite in the sense that, the darker things got politically, the more I reached for non-fiction and books that I thought might help me cope/understand (I bet my reading mood map would have been waaaay different…and I’m not saying it was a good plan on my part either heheh). I hope you’ve got a fab year ahead of you in 2026!
Happy New Year! I’m curious to see how my mood map will shift over 2026. It’s such a cool feature on Storygraph and it’s my first year getting stats like that. I definitely plan on seeking out more non-fiction this year outside of memoirs for sure. I hope you have a great reading year!