Yes, I know the month isn’t quite over. But I’m going to go ahead and call it.

This month, I read 0 new books.

Okay, to be completely honest, I did start one new audiobook, but I haven’t finished it. I just can’t with the story. I’m about 15% of the way through. My issue is mostly the narrator (who is the author—not always a good option). Some of it is also the female MC. But again, with a different narrator, she might be okay. Regardless, I haven’t finished it. I may end up DNF’ing it since I only play it for a few minutes and then stop. Either way, I haven’t finished it, and so it doesn’t count towards March’s reading stats.

But I have reread 23 books since February 24.

Yes, I reread (or relisten in the case of audiobooks). I frequently reread. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve read/listened to the Belgariad series since the mid-1980s when I first got the books. Too many to count.

I’m a big fan of rereading. But I don’t normally count rereads for my annual reading goal. Why? Just because I choose not to. There’s no rule that says I have to.

After teaching myself to listen to audiobooks, I found that audiobooks brought a new perspective to the book. Now I listen to my faves over and over again, particularly during stressful times. During the early days of covid when I spent 2 weeks in quarantine after moving to Okinawa, I listened to The House in the Cerulean Sea almost on repeat for a week straight.

I also rewatch movies. One summer, I watched The Princess Bride every day for two months. During covid, I also may have re-watched Trolls a ridiculous amount.

My mother has never understood how I could reread a book or rewatch a movie even once much less multiple times. For her, it’s not enjoyable since she “already knows how it ends.” (Apparently, the exception to that rule is John Wayne movies.) I get it. Not everyone enjoys rereading.

As for me, I find comfort in a rereads. It’s like sinking into a warm, lovely scented bath, which is funny since I actually don’t like to take baths. For some, soaking in a tub is relaxing, whereas I get twitchy and can’t sit still. But give me a favorite book that I’ve read a million times, and I’ll sit for hours. Rereading a fave is my zen happy place. I can just be and not have to think or worry about whatever’s stressing me out. I can simply sink into the world that author created. Whether it’s Kate Daniels’s Atlanta, Mercy Thompson’s Kennewick, outer space, or some completely fictional world, I step into that world and shut out this one.

This last month has been a month with too much happening—an international move, preparing a pet for going overseas, finding a car and housing, starting a new job, and the craziness that is the American federal government right now—I just needed time to zone out and relax. And that’s exactly what rereading allows me to do.

So you know what? I’m completely okay with having read 0 new books this month. Because sometimes life just happens. If I don’t make my annual reading goal, guess what? I can change the goal. There’s nothing that says I must read X number of books every month. No one is checking to see if I actually meet my annual reading goal. I’m certainly not in competition with anyone else. There’s also nothing that says I can’t count rereads towards my annual reading. I could if I chose to. But you know what? I read because I enjoy reading. I’m not in competition with anyone and there are certainly no rules other than to just read.

Now that things have mostly settled, I do plan to get back on the reading bandwagon. I’m still focused on my Off My Shelf reading challenge, which I’m determined to complete by the end of the year. I’ve sworn not to buy any new books until I get through some that are on my shelves. l also plan to get my reading list together in preparation for Wyrd & Wonder 2025, hosted by There’s Always Room For One More, The Book Nook, A Dance With Books, Jorie Loves A Story, and Dear Geek Place (stay tuned for more on that).

In the meantime, I’ll continue to enjoy my rereads. Even if it is the nth time.

Do you reread? What do you enjoy about rereading? Share in the comments below.

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