Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays, whatever you want to call it! The end of 2025 is fas approaching now and therefore it’s time for the end of year book tag, the 2025 edition. In a few days we will be ringing in the new year, but before that, it’s time to still make the most out of the remainder of 2025 and to look back on the year behind us. I can’t for the life of me remember the questions as I just copied them from my 2024 post, so I have no idea of what to expect from this tag again. Without further ado, let’s look back on the past year!

Are there any books you started this year that you need to finish?

For now there aren’t. I either finish everything I started, or put books that are not resonating with me on the DNF pile. This also includes books that I should come back to later. But I like a cleean currently reading shelf so that’s why I never leave books unfinished for that long. I hope I can finish any newly started books before the end of the year as I will still be working next week. On the other hand, I still need to have something to read on the 31st, so that’s a bit tricky…

Do you have an autumnal book to transition into the end of the year?

No, I am not a seasonal reader at all. In fact, I hardly read any autumnal books this year. I consider Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree autumnal, but I already finished that one.

Is there a new release that you’re still waiting for?

I’m worse with keeping up with new releases than I was in 2024. Mainly due to not being on Booktok and finding only the same few books over and over on other platforms. I don’t know, I hardly get excited to the level of anticipation by new releases as I have been disappointed too often lately. Furthermore, the book community is pretty scattered all over the place, so there is not one place to get all your inspiration and new releases from. I struggle a lot with reading inspiration lately though because of so much slop getting popular and quality generally decreasing.

What are three books you want to read before the year ends?

Unlike last year, I don’t have any specific books I want to read before the year is over. I have a winter TBR, but no books I want to read urgently. Furthermore, I won’t be having much time to read anyway.

Is there a book that you think could still shock you and become your favourite of the year?

Not sure, as I let my mood decide what I will be picking up. And I just don’t know what I’m in the mood for, therefore can’t know whether it will shock me or become my new favourite.

Have you already started to make reading plans for 2026?

I will just take it slow and easy. For the past few years I set my reading goal to 50, an easily manageable amount I most likely will hit halfway into the year. However, I don’t want to pressure myself, so won’t be making any plans just yet. As this approach might not work for others, it does so for me and that’s all that matters, isn’t it?

Again, I’m not tagging anybody specifically as many people seem to have done this tag already. If you come across this post and like this tag, consider yourself tagged!