After 10 years of marriage and two kids, Joseph Heath and wife Laura are still in the “honeymoon phase”. He says romance novels are a large part of why.<\/p>\n
“Discussing what we have read and posting reading goals can be a great way of just getting through books and making sure we are reading and meeting that criteria.<\/p>\n
“It can also be a way of introducing books and reading into public discourse \u2026 generating discussion.”<\/p>\n
But performative reading can “outstrip” the joy and value of reading itself, he says, becoming more about stats.<\/p>\n
Clara says sharing her reading passion with the BookTok community is about connection.<\/p>\n
“I needed an output to talk about my books more to people that actually like reading as much as I do.<\/p>\n
“I feel like I used to just talk to my husband about it, and he was listening, but he didn’t share this passion.”<\/p>\n
Sharing her goals with BookTok is fun and motivating, she says, but most importantly, a talking point.<\/p>\n
“I don’t think anyone cares about my reading goal \u2014 no-one is checking on that. It’s not like a KPI.”<\/p>\n
![\"Clara](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/62a3c8087a5576262d2ddabf83a31051.jpeg\")
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Clara Pribadi says setting realistic reading goals, such as one page a night, is the key to success. (Supplied)<\/p>\n
Reading shouldn’t feel like a chore<\/p>\n
Using number goals, such as reading one book a month, can feel more like work than play, Dr Novitz says.<\/p>\n
“In many different types of roles and occupations, there is reading for work and general information we need to be a part of a wider culture.<\/p>\n
“Reading we do for recreation is precious.”<\/p>\n
Number goals also make it harder to measure the benefit of reading, Dr Novitz says.<\/p>\n
“It’s much harder to quantify the quality of reading we do. Have we genuinely understood the passages we read, or been emphatically connecting with a character?”<\/p>\n
Re-imagining reading goals<\/p>\n
When done right, Dr Novitz says reading goals can be handy for dedicating space and time for reading.<\/p>\n
He suggests setting targets that are more around the experience of reading, rather than quantity.<\/p>\n
For example, committing to work through some new genres, or new authors.<\/p>\n
![\"woman](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/59990ef24ab0906c73a96a309b6b6ddb.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
The time we set aside for reading is more important than how many pages or books we get through, says Dr Novitz. (Pexels)<\/p>\n
The other element is time. You might commit to reading for half an hour before bed. Whether you get through five pages or 15 pages is less important.<\/p>\n
“Think about reading goals not so much about volume, but about the time you allot to reading in the day,” Dr Novitz says.<\/p>\n
“Blocking out an hour in the day [for example], for recreational reading can be the most effective reading goal we can ever set.”<\/p>\n
Clara is making a New Year’s resolution to read at least one BIPOC (black, Indigenous, and other people of colour) author each month.<\/p>\n
“I always try to do that, but it’s harder to find those books \u2026 and I want to actively look for them.”<\/p>\n
Sometimes, an easier goal for Clara is to read at least one page a day.<\/p>\n
“That’s so much more achievable than having a [large] number looming over you.”<\/p>\n
Benefits of reading more<\/p>\n
Reading is good for our wellbeing, says Dr Novitz, especially when it replaces screen time.<\/p>\n
“Avoiding screens for at least an hour at the end of the day can have huge benefits for mental health and sleeping,” he says.<\/p>\n
Reading can reduce stress, lower blood pressure<\/a> and increase focus, for example.<\/p>\n