Now that 2025 has drawn to a close, it's time to look back on all my reading and watching for a year. It's been a fast-moving year in many ways, passing by in a flash, but I have had a couple of blips in my reading and viewing too. In September I spent the month back in the UK for my first visit since 2018. I stayed with the parents and they don't have any streaming services, so my viewing was limited to UK TV and a few theatre trips. Meanwhile, because I was not in my usual routine, I only read 3 books while there, compared to my usual monthly average of 16 books. I expected to bounce straight back to normal in October, but that didn't happen with reading because I hurt my back during the journey home and it was at its most painful lying down in bed, which is when I do the bulk of my reading, so I only made it through 10 books in October. During November I started physiotherapy, which helped, and my reading speed increased again. My back is still not 100%, but I hope I can get over the last hurdle in early 2026 to get back to normal.
So, let's take a look at the graphs from my 2025 reading and watching stats.
Despite the lack of reading in September, I still ended the year on 182 books, so I surpassed my Goodreads goal of 160 books. About 30% of my reading was in fantasy, with the rest spread over a number of other genres. I read a large percentage of books in translation too, partly because I am still working through many of the Seven Seas Entertainment danmei series, with new books coming from one or another of those every month. Many of those series will end in 2026, though, so it will depend whether the new ones they license catch my fancy as to whether I will still be reading as many of those when next year comes to a close. My average rating for 2025 was about 4 stars, so generally I've enjoyed much of what I read. Only one reread this year because, as much as I'd like to revisit old favourites, I often don't have enough time for that with so many new books coming in.
When it comes to viewing, I watched over 50 TV series and over 50 films in 2025, alongside some theatre trips, notably three while I was in the UK and able to go to London's West End. The majority of my viewing remains K-drama on Netflix, but I've also watched a bit in English, Japanese and Chinese. As with books, my average rating was 4 stars. There were a few things I didn't love, but mostly I enjoyed what I watched this year. Unlike with reading, where only one book for the entire year was a reread, I did rewatch a few things in 2025. Sometimes they were rewatches of things seen far back in the past, but a few I rewatched soon after the first viewing because I liked them so much I wanted my husband to see them too and watched them again with him. There are often things I'd like to rewatch, but I don't always do so because I figure, with limited time, it's better to give preference to experiencing something new. The number of reality shows and documentaries rose for me this year, but that is generally because I was watching several Korean ones for language practice.
Thus, 2025 passed by. Looking ahead to 2026, there are a number of book releases I am highly anticipating (including new releases from V. E. Schwab and Leigh Bardugo), and in terms of viewing, I will finish a few series I started in December and then there are others coming soon I think will be good. I will try to see some theatre in 2026 too, both here in Australia and, if things work out as planned, on holiday too.
How was your 2025 for reading and viewing? Anything you would recommend? And what are you looking forward to in 2026?
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