Reading Challenge Updates

We're well over halfway through the year by now, but I thought I'd just do a quick reading challenge check-in! Here were my bookish goals from the beginning of the year:

Goal #1: Read at least 50 books. DONE! (Currently at 63 books and counting.)

Goal #2: Read at least 5 Middle Grade books. I've read four so far, and my young friend from church just loaned me the fourth book in the Keeper of the Lost Cities series, so that will be number five!

Goal #3: Read at least 12 books from my paper TBR (as opposed to my Goodreads "Want to read" list; I only started using Goodreads last year, so I have quite a long list on paper). I've read eight so far, so I'm on track for this goal as well!

Goal #4: Attend the 2025 Washington Writers Conference and pitch Hunted to at least three literary agents. I attended the conference and pitched to four agents, one of whom requested the whole manuscript!! Still waiting to hear back from her.

Goal #5: (This one might be too ambitious, but ...) Read ALL of the books I didn't get to from 2024 lists (I've already read two, which leaves 25–that's half my entire reading goal for the year!). I have read 16 of 26! (I guess I miscounted in my previous post?) I'm mildly confident that I can knock out the rest by the end of the year.

Goal #6: Read at least one book for each National Month. I DNFed my June pick, so I guess I don't have a perfect record with this one.

Goal #7: Participate in the 2025 Cover Lovers Reading Challenge (hosted by Susan at Bloggin' 'bout Books) at Level Two (11-20 books). I've read 26 – so I guess I've made it to Level Three, which is 21-30 books! Yay!

Goal #8: Participate in the 2025 Fantasy/Sci-Fi Reading Challenge (hosted by Rachel at Fantasy and Sci-Fi Fanatics). I haven't missed a month yet! (Technically I finished my May read in June, but I started it in May, so it counts.)

Goal #9: Participate in the 2025 New Release Challenge (hosted by The Chocolate Lady's Book Review Blog) as a New Release Newbie (1-30 books). I have read seven new releases and DNFed an eighth. It's been fun challenging myself to read more new releases!

Goal #10: Read at least one post by another book blogger per week. I haven't really tracked this, but I think I've done pretty well!

So, by this point I have either finished or am on track to finish most of my goals by the end of the year. Huzzah! How are you doing with your reading goals (if goals/challenges are your thing)?