Ariel is back from her trip with a haul and both Raeleen and Ariel undergo some serious tbr challenges... plus a very important backpack update.

Links mentioned:

When we originally hauled our backpacks: https://youtu.be/1YzCFurCH8E?si=-28js8gxUbZPzIxi&t=468

Support The Podcast:

Join our patreon and become a Dust Jacket! patreon.com/booksunbound

Follow us on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/books_unbound/

Our website: booksunboundpodcast.com

Need Info or Some Books?

Buy books with our affiliate link: https://bookshop.org/shop/BooksUnbound

All the books we mentioned in this episode: https://www.booksunboundpodcast.com/books

Use our affiliate link to get 2 audiobooks for the price of 1! https://tidd.ly/3dyW1Xw

Our Patrons:

A special thanks to our Gold Foil Team on Patreon: Adriane, Alex, Alli, Bellanora, Brittany, Bronte, Candis, Cassie, Christina, Claire, Debra, Diana, Gene, Gerald, Inbar, Jessica, Jill, Judith, Karina, Léane, Livi, Michelene, Nicole, Róisin, Sherralle, Tiffany!

In which Ariel has a haul from a big trip and Raeleen has finished FOUR books and is feeling invigorated by her newly discovered world of annotating!

Links mentioned:

Ariel's 10 year old video "Annotating Your Books": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lymm1OpFgaA

Ariel's 5 year old video "How I Annotate My Books": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDtcQ8SON_Q

The Book Leo's video on annotating: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3L3fWRQqrUE

Support The Podcast:

Join our patreon and become a Dust Jacket! patreon.com/booksunbound

Follow us on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/books_unbound/

Our website: booksunboundpodcast.com

Need Info or Some Books?

Buy books with our affiliate link: https://bookshop.org/shop/BooksUnbound

All the books we mentioned in this episode: https://www.booksunboundpodcast.com/books

Use our affiliate link to get 2 audiobooks for the price of 1! https://tidd.ly/3dyW1Xw

Our Patrons:

A special thanks to our Gold Foil Team on Patreon: Adriane, Alex, Alli, Bellanora, Brittany, Bronte, Candis, Cassie, Christina, Claire, Debra, Diana, Emily, Gene, Gerald, Inbar, Jessica, Jill, Judith, Karina, Léane, Livi, Michelene, Nicole, Róisin, Sherralle, Tiffany, Vanessa!

It's our first reading update of the new year!

Support The Podcast:

Join our patreon and become a Dust Jacket! patreon.com/booksunbound
Follow us on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/books_unbound/
Our website: booksunboundpodcast.com

Need Info or Some Books?

Buy books with our affiliate link: https://bookshop.org/shop/BooksUnbound
All the books we mentioned in this episode: https://www.booksunboundpodcast.com/books
Use our affiliate link to get 2 audiobooks for the price of 1! https://tidd.ly/3dyW1Xw

Our Patrons:

A special thanks to our Gold Foil Team on Patreon: Adriane, Alex, Alli, Bellanora, Brittany, Bronte, Candis, Cassie, Christina, Claire, Debra, Diana, Emily, Gene, Gerald, Inbar, Jessica, Jill, Judith, Karina, Léane, Livi, Michelene, Nicole, Róisin, Sherralle, Tiffany, Vanessa!

We’re reacting to our 2025 goals and sharing our 2026 dreams!!!

Links mentioned:

Ariel’s New Website: www.bookhistoryofnovascotia.com

Support The Podcast:

Join our patreon and become a Dust Jacket! patreon.com/booksunbound

Follow us on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/books_unbound/

Our website: booksunboundpodcast.com

Need Info or Some Books?

Buy books with our affiliate link: https://bookshop.org/shop/BooksUnbound

All the books we mentioned in this episode: https://www.booksunboundpodcast.com/books

Use our affiliate link to get 2 audiobooks for the price of 1! https://tidd.ly/3dyW1Xw

Our Patrons:

A special thanks to our Gold Foil Team on Patreon: Adriane, Alex, Alli, Bellanora, Brittany, Bronte, Candis, Cassie, Christina, Claire, Debra, Diana, Emily, Gene, Gerald, Inbar, Jessica, Jill, Judith, Karina, Livi, Michelene, Nicole, Róisin, Sherralle, Tiffany, Vanessa!

... oops, we instantly bought SO MANY BOOKS!

Links mentioned:

The version of the answers you can read through: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vxZ_K4V0w92Gk8e4y2NqsvClOCEGYL3HvcMxy3hcZjQ/edit

Support The Podcast:

Join our patreon and become a Dust Jacket! patreon.com/booksunbound

Follow us on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/books_unbound/

Our website: booksunboundpodcast.com

Need Info or Some Books?

Buy books with our affiliate link: https://bookshop.org/shop/BooksUnbound

All the books we mentioned in this episode: https://www.booksunboundpodcast.com/books

Use our affiliate link to get 2 audiobooks for the price of 1! https://tidd.ly/3dyW1Xw

Our Patrons:

A special thanks to our Gold Foil Team on Patreon: Adriane, Alex, Alli, Bellanora, Brittany, Bronte, Candis, Cassie, Christina, Claire, Debra, Diana, Emily, Gene, Gerald, Inbar, Jessica, Jill, Judith, Karina, Livi, Michelene, Nicole, Róisin, Sherralle, Tiffany, Vanessa!

THE MOMENT WE’VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR! TOP BOOKS! BOOK DATA! STATISTICS! READING TRENDS!

Links mentioned:

Reading Spreadsheet Template: https://www.booksunboundpodcast.com/stuff

Fill out our 2025 Reading Survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeOaqDlWh7z2bDMsq5m2lc2xugveJtr3jpMxF_JJG9p22g5cA/viewform

Article about niche bookstores: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/one-genre-bookstores-calgary-9.6989662Article about bookshops opening: https://globalnews.ca/news/10935412/a-new-chapter-bookworms-canada-independent-bookstores/)

Article about AI book winning a big prize: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/aug/18/author-rie-qudan-why-i-used-chatgpt-to-write-my-prize-winning-novel

Support The Podcast:

Join our patreon and become a Dust Jacket! patreon.com/booksunbound

Follow us on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/books_unbound/

Our website: booksunboundpodcast.com

Need Info or Some Books?Buy books with our affiliate link: https://bookshop.org/shop/BooksUnbound

All the books we mentioned in this episode: https://www.booksunboundpodcast.com/books

Use our affiliate link to get 2 audiobooks for the price of 1! https://tidd.ly/3dyW1Xw

Our Patrons:

A special thanks to our Gold Foil Team on Patreon: Adriane, Alex, Alli, Bellanora, Brittany, Bronte, Candis, Cassie, Christina, Claire, Debra, Diana, Emily, Gene, Gerald, Inbar, Jessica, Jill, Judith, Karina, Livi, Michelene, Nicole, Róisin, Sherralle, Tiffany, Vanessa!

Chapters:

00:00:00 - 2025 WRAP UP

00:03:29 - Milestones of 2025

00:05:13 - Raeleen’s Top Books of 2025

00:16:39 - Ariel’s To Books of 2025

00:30:17 - Spreadsheet Time!

01:15:36 - Mashed Potatoes 2025

01:30:58 - Subgenre of the Year

01:40:14 - Reading Predictions for 2026

01:51:22 - Favourite Authors of 2025

01:53:37 - Book Memories 2025

Ai is coming for us all! No little truck is safe!

Links mentioned:

2025 Reader Survey: https://forms.gle/gHVtRXybD1w2Nz2u6

Larissa’s adventures: https://www.polarsteps.com/LarissaAC/16978275-were-going-on-an-adventure?s=b0fdb71c-fb97-4161-bfaf-ee89cf1a0b74

Chelle and Poppy’s Anne video: https://youtu.be/ag9xciyz_UE?si=ifJqcTLNZjsZJoPJ

Support The Podcast:

Join our patreon and become a Dust Jacket! patreon.com/booksunbound

Follow us on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/books_unbound/

Our website: booksunboundpodcast.com

Need Info or Some Books?

Buy books with our affiliate link: https://bookshop.org/shop/BooksUnbound

All the books we mentioned in this episode: https://www.booksunboundpodcast.com/books

Use our affiliate link to get 2 audiobooks for the price of 1! https://tidd.ly/3dyW1Xw

Our Patrons:

A special thanks to our Gold Foil Team on Patreon: Adriane, Alex, Alli, Bellanora, Brittany, Bronte, Candis, Cassie, Christina, Claire, Debra, Diana, Emily, Gene, Gerald, Inbar, Jessica, Jill, Judith, Karina, Livi, Michelene, Nicole, Róisin, Sherralle, Tiffany, Vanessa!

Chapters:

00:00 - Community Reading Survey … is OPEN

04:30 - Life Updates!

07:08 - Ariel’s Advent Calendar

22:17 - Book Haul!

39:00 - Currently Reading

57:54 - The Mail Room

Support The Podcast:

Join our patreon and become a Dust Jacket! patreon.com/booksunbound

Follow us on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/books_unbound/

Our website: booksunboundpodcast.com

Need Info or Some Books?

Buy books with our affiliate link: https://bookshop.org/shop/BooksUnbound

Use our affiliate link to get 2 audiobooks for the price of 1! https://tidd.ly/3dyW1Xw

Our Patrons:

A special thanks to our Gold Foil Team on Patreon: Adriane, Alex, Alli, Bellanora, Brittany, Bronte, Candis, Cassie, Christina, Claire, Debra, Diana, Emily, Gene, Gerald, Inbar, Jennifer, Jessica, Jill, Judith, Karina, Livi, Luna, Michelene, Nicole, Róisin, Sherralle, Tiffany, and Vanessa!