Three Years of Reading: How My Shelf (and Taste) Transformed from 2022 to 2024

Three Years of Reading: How My Shelf (and Taste) Transformed from 2022 to 2024

Over the past three years, my reading life has been full of surprises, shifts, and stats. From cozy winter binge-reads to late-night audiobook marathons, each year brought a new flavour to my shelf. Books became not just entertainment, but a mirror of my growth, mood, and evolving interests.

I didn’t just read; I analyzed, adapted, and allowed my reading to reflect deeper parts of who I am. Today, I'm digging into how my reading habits evolved between 2022 and 2024, with a breakdown of what I read, who I read from, and what I want more of in 2025.

Disclaimer! I stopped tracking in my tracker in September of 2023 and it was going to take me a long time to enter in the books I read from September to December, so all the numbers are based on what I already had.

Total Books Read

I read 181 books in 2022, 161 in 2023, and 142 in 2024. That's a total of 484 books over three (3) years.

While the number slightly decreased each year, the quality of what I read (and how I tracked it) improved. I became more intentional about selecting books and documenting my experience.

In 2024 especially, I prioritized books that felt emotionally or intellectually engaging rather than simply hitting a numerical goal. That mindset shift gave me room to explore slower reads, meatier topics, and more reflective storytelling.

Total Pages and Hours

Across all formats, I read over 33,400 pages and spent more than 550 hours reading. Audiobook hours spiked in 2023 with over 260 hours, likely thanks to better multitasking and the rise of exceptional narrators who made stories fly by.

In 2024, I leaned more on physical and ebook reads, which balanced out my screen time and gave me more space to annotate and sit with the text. That shift also encouraged deeper connection and reduced reading fatigue.

Time to Finish

On average, it took me just under two days to finish each book. That quick turnaround speaks to how immersive and binge-worthy many of these stories were. I found myself prioritizing books I was genuinely excited about, which helped maintain momentum. I also developed a healthier approach to DNFing and letting go of books that weren’t working for me rather than forcing myself to finish. This not only improved my reading enjoyment but also allowed space for books that better aligned with my mood and values.

Genre Trends

Fantasy continues to dominate my shelves, but I’ve seen clear shifts in the types of fantasy I gravitate toward. In 2022, I was heavy on YA fantasy, especially those rooted in mythology or lush, expansive worlds. By 2023, I started dipping into darker, more grounded adult fantasies.

In 2024, I found myself reaching for romantasy, speculative contemporary, and stories that blend fantasy with other genres, like mystery or horror.

I also explored more poetry and speculative fiction with literary elements. Each year, my genre preferences evolved alongside my personal growth and interests.

Format Breakdown

Audiobooks ruled 2023, but I shifted back toward a mix in 2024. I still love audio for rereads or fast-paced plots, especially those that rely on strong dialogue and emotional momentum. But I found myself reaching for physical books again to slow down, underline passages, and make margin notes.

Ebook usage stayed consistent since they're perfect for travel, night reading, or when I want to get lost in a story without distractions. I’ve learned that format impacts how I absorb and retain information, and I’m more mindful now of what medium best serves which type of story.

Audience and Age Range

I continue to read a blend of YA and adult books. However, there was a noticeable move toward adult fiction in 2023 and 2024, especially in fantasy and mystery genres. That reflects where I am as a reader and what kinds of stories I’m seeking now, which is often more nuanced, emotionally complex narratives with older protagonists or layered themes.

I haven’t completely left YA behind, though. I still appreciate the immediacy and emotional vulnerability that YA offers, especially in contemporary or speculative formats.

Author Identity

Over the past three years:

• 38% of the books I read were by BIPOC authors
• 34% were by LGBTQ+ authors
• 29% were by Canadian authors

These numbers show my ongoing commitment to reading diversely, but I always aim to do more. I actively seek out books by underrepresented voices and make space for smaller presses, debut authors, and translated works.

I've also noticed that my favourite reads, the ones that stay with me long after I’ve turned the last page, often come from voices historically excluded from mainstream publishing. Diversity in storytelling has led to a deeper, more fulfilling reading experience.

Top 5 Reads Per Year

In 2022, I loved reading:

In 2023, I loved reading:

In 2024, I loved reading:

Rating and Reflections

While I had a healthy spread of ratings each year, the bulk of my reads hovered around 3 to 4 stars. That suggests I’m getting better at picking books I know I’ll like.

I still DNF when needed and don’t feel pressure to finish books that don’t serve me. A 3-star rating from me doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy the book, it often means it was good, but not a standout. And I am very selective of my 5-star reads which means that I know what I absolutely love but I'm really careful about what books I choose as favourites.

I’ve also grown more comfortable giving lower ratings when books fall short. My reviews reflect both enjoyment and critical engagement.

What I Learned

• I’m happiest when I follow my gut and mood-read.
• Tracking more than just title and rating helps me see patterns in genre fatigue, seasonal habits, and representation gaps.
• Representation matters and reading widely introduces me to stories I didn’t know I needed.
• Not every book needs to be finished or loved to teach me something about myself as a reader.
• Letting go of reading guilt makes space for joy.

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Looking Ahead to 2025

My goals aren’t about reading more, but about reading deeper. I want to:

• Prioritize queer Canadian authors and support local presses.
• Read more translated fiction and stories set outside North America.
• Continue experimenting with genre blends like fantasy-mystery, horror-romance, and speculative memoir.
• Focus on joy over numbers and tracking what sparks curiosity rather than just what fits a prompt.
• Revisit old favourites with new eyes, especially in audio format.

If you’re on a similar reading journey, I’d love to know: What changed in your reading over the past few years? Drop a comment or connect with me on Instagram @booksandladders. Let’s chat about stories, spreadsheets, and everything in between.

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Anything interesting you found about my reading habits? Tell me below!