Relax & Read-athon: February 2026

I have really been looking forward to doing another Relax & Readathon! I missed the one in December because I was on vacation, but I currently have a 3-day weekend, so I thought it would be perfect to start off the new month with this! This readathon was created and hosted by the Reading Nymph (love her! Here is the announcement video.)

Last time I did this readathon, I felt like I stressed myself out trying to read as much as I possibly could. Which is the exact OPPOSITE of what this readathon is about 🤦‍♀️😂 I'm gonna try and actually take it easy in this one. My goal is to finish the book I'm currently reading, and maybe start another? I'm not sure. I'm really looking forward to the non-reading prompts with the snacks, the coziness, and doing other hobbies though! But I'm still going to be reading, of course. Lol.

For this readathon, I'm gonna go from Friday (yesterday) to Sunday. I've actually got some other things I need to do this weekend, but I'm gonna work around them as best I can. But anyway, here is the board:

It's Valentine's-themed, obviously, but I like that the prompts aren't SUPER romance-specific. Which is good because I read three romance books in a row this winter, and I am DONE. Lol. The books weren't bad, but it's just a genre I can't consume very much of too often. So I'm just going to pick some books from my tbr, which include mystery thrillers and horror books 😆

Friday - 7am update:

Today I actually have a doctor's appointment in a couple of hours, so I don't think I'm going to get much done reading while I get ready. But I will try! And I will definitely read while I'm waiting in the office. However, my doctor rarely makes me wait, which is great as a patient, but terrible as a reader 😆

I started on the Free Space in the left upper corner, then I did three rolls to start off the day, and here is what I've got so far:

• Rolled a 5 - Season Read
• Rolled a 2 - Move 3 Spaces - Set the Ambience
• Rolled a 3 - Reflect

So for Season Read, you can do an actual seasonal read, or it can be a cover that reminds you of the current season. Honestly, one of the reasons I love this readathon is because of how flexible and lenient the prompts are 😆 So for this prompt, I picked my current read:

Because, you know, the cover is a lilac color, it has flowers, and a skull that's crying blood! Very February! 🤣

Friday - 1pm update:

So it's 1pm and I have read exactly TWO pages 🤦‍♀️🤣 But like I said, I had a busy morning. So I went to my appointment, after I was done, I ran a quick errand for my mom, then I felt like some sushi, so I placed an order for that. While I waited for that to be done, I went to the library to pick up a book I had on hold. Then I picked up my order and came home. Which was good 🤤 I also got some yakisoba noodles, which I didn't finish because it was so much food 😅 Snack for later!! Lol.

 

As for the book, like I said, I only read two pages while I was waiting at the doctor's. But I am about 15% into this book right now. Most of that was read before the readathon started. I think my goal for this stretch of reading will be to read till the 33% mark. I think that's a good place to stop before I move on to my next prompt.

Speaking of prompts, for my second prompt, I have set the ambience with this candle! It's a fresh one too. Lol. I'm actually embarrassed because I still had an autumn candle out 😅 I actually have one out in the kitchen that I'm still lighting every now and then. Lol. Anyway. I'm gonna get to reading. Lol.

Friday - 5:30pm update:

Okay, so I have made a bit of progress, and I have completed all of my previous prompts (and I also squeezed in a little nap 😆). I read a "season" read, I set the ambience (lit a candle), and I did some reflecting (I just wrote a book review for this one lol).

I have made it 34% into this book, and you know what, I'm not loving this. It's a mystery thriller and somehow it's SO boring. The characters also don't feel like they did in the last two books... though to be fair, they have been through a fair bit of trauma. And don't even get me started on the vile trope that came out of nowhere between the twins 😭 I swear to god, if I get another of their POVs while THIS is happening, I may throw my Kindle across the room 🙃 Anyway, let's do three more rolls...

Okay, here is what I got:

• Rolled a 1 - Relationship
• Rolled a 5 - Bake/Have a Treat
• Rolled a 5 - Mood Read

The first one is easy because All Shall Mourn has all sorts of relationships going on 🫠 Some of them, which should NOT be going on in the first place 😭I won't bake tonight, but I will definitely have some sort of treat. And idk what I'm gonna do for mood read. I may pick up a manga if this book continues to be gross and boring. Lol. But in the meantime, I think I'm going to read another 1/3 of the book and try to get to 66%.

Friday - 10pm update:

Okay, soooo I ended up finishing the book 😂 I was much more engaged by the second half of it than the beginning, but overall it was... fine 🤷‍♀️ As for the whole Flowers in the Attic situation, I will accept the explanation. It made sense and I was actually hoping it would be an explanation like this. But still, it doesn't mean I have to like the trope. Cause I don't 🤢 Anyway, tomorrow I'm gonna have to finish off the other two prompts I rolled today: Bake/Have a Treat and Mood Read. I'm gonna go play a little ACNH now because I haven't done that today. Lol.

Saturday - 10am update:

This morning, I finished off my two remaining prompts. I'm not much of a donut person, but the board game told me to have a treat, so I did 😆 And then I started Dead Fake!

 

I'm 38% in and I am loving it! Mostly because it's giving me modern Fear Street vibes, and you know I love Fear Street 😆

I did 3 more rolls and here is what I got:

• Rolled a 3 - Reflect
• Rolled a 1 - Free Space
• Rolled a 3 - Enjoy Nature

Okay, so I'm gonna go write another review for 'Reflect,' I think I'm going to go paint my nails for Free Space and squeeze some reading in between coats of polish lol, and for Enjoy Nature... idk. It's cold out, guys. I don't want to go out there. Lol. I'll think of something for that one. Lol. But first, I want to finish the current chapter I'm on because I stopped mid-chapter. Lol.

Saturday - 2pm update:

I am back! And I haven't read much. Lol. I did finish the chapter like I said I was going to, but then I ended up putting on a show while I was doing my nails. Lol. So, I ended up writing a review for the Reflect prompt, then I went out to pick up a package I got, which I am counting as my Enjoy Nature prompt 😆 It's cold and kinda rainy out, which is honestly perfect reading season. So I'm going to enjoy nature from indoors today. Lol.

 

In the package, I got some new nail polish! I have a problem, I know. Lol. I wanted to use these since they're shiny and new and magnetic, but I already had a different design planned for this weekend. I don't care at all about sports, but as a Washingtonian, I have to root for the Seahawks at the Super Bowl, hence the colors I picked 😆 I'm more excited about the music tbh 😆

So since I finished all my prompts, I did 3 more rolls and here is what I got:

• Rolled a 2 - Enjoy a Cozy Hobby
• Rolled a 3 - Move 3 Spaces - Relationship
• Rolled a 3 - Comfort Read

Okay, so for the relationship space, I think I'm just going to go with my current read because it has some strong friendships going on. I'm not sure about comfort read, though I would consider the horror genre to be comforting to me... in a weird sort of way 😆 And I am SO happy I landed on cozy hobby because I want to play some video games! So, I'm gonna go read for a bit, take a break for video games, and then I'll come back to reading after... If I don't get too sucked into whatever drama my Sims are currently going through 😂

Saturday - 6pm update:

I finished Dead Fake and it was so good! So much better than the last book I read! So, I finished all my prompts: I played a little bit of ACNH, and I am counting this book as both my relationship book and my comfort book. I mentioned it previously, but this book was giving me major Fear Street vibes, which is a comforting series to me. And it's comforting because it's so nostalgic. Lol. I just really enjoyed this book! Even though I have a set tbr of this month, I've already gone and placed the second book on hold at the library 😆

I think I'm done reading for the night because, honestly, I was not expecting to finish a book today. Lol. But Dead Fake was a relatively short book, which was nice. Either way, though, I did some rolls to have them ready for tomorrow.

• Rolled a 6 - Enjoy a Cozy Hobby
• Rolled a 1 - Treat Yourself
• Rolled a 1 - Set the Ambience

Waiiiit. Actually, I might be able to complete all of these before I go to bed tonight! I'm gonna go see what my Sims are up to and I may be back with another update before I go to bed tonight. Lol. (Also, it looks like I'm all over the place with this board game because you don't have to go one way. So I'm going back and forth as whatever prompt I land on, either way is more convenient to me 😆)

Saturday - 10:30pm update:

Okay, I have completed the prompts! I played some ACNH, I treated myself to also playing The Sims 4 lol, and I did light a candle for a bit for ambience. There was no drama in The Sims because I actually started this build instead of doing actual gameplay:

I got a good chunk of it done. I'm not sure I love the floor plan, so I'm gonna sleep on it. Lol. Anyway, let's do 3 rolls to prepare for tomorrow!

This looks crazy, I know 😅 I did go back and forth quite a bit on this round 😆

• Rolled a 4 - Bake/Have a Treat
• Rolled a 4 - Comfort Read
• Rolled a 5 - Move 3 Spaces - Set the Ambience
  

Oh, this is actually perfect! I was thinking of baking some cookies for the Super Bowl party tomorrow! And I'm sure I'll be able to get some reading done before we leave. I just don't quite know what book I'm picking as my comfort read, seeing as how I'm in a horror mood 😂 Anyway, I'm gonna go to sleep, maybe play a bit more ACNH 😆

Sunday - 11:30am update:

It's really late in the morning, and I haven't quite finished my prompts yet, but I thought I would give a quick update anyway. I just finished making the cookie dough and it's currently chilling in the fridge, so I won't actually get to baking for another couple hours. I did start my next book this morning, though! I decided to go with Predatory Natures as my "comfort" read... It's horror, I believe 😅 I have read nothing by this author before, so idk what to expect, but I like horror, okay? 😆 We are really stretching these prompts, and that's okay 😂

 

I've only made it about 6% in, but I'm gonna go light a candle and do a little bit of reading before I have to get ready for the Super Bowl party and bake those cookies.

Sunday - 2pm update:

Okay I finally finished the prompts 😅 I baked cookies (they're chocolate chip with toffee bits), I lit a candle, and read my "comfort" book 😆

 

Also, the t-shirt I'm wearing today because YAY sports... or whatever! 🤣

As for the book, I've made it to about 21% and I'm really enjoying it!! I am SO intrigued by the plants on the train! Looking forward to seeing how everything goes wrong 😆

I think we are leaving for the party in like 30 minutes (I'm not missing Green Day's opening!! 😆), but I want to do 3 more rolls before I leave.

• Rolled a 2 - Enjoy a Cozy Hobby
• Rolled a 2 - Bake/Have a Treat
• Rolled a - Comfort Read

I guess I'm continuing with my "comfort" read 😂 Look, I grew up reading Fear Street, which is horror. I have loved horror for a long time, so this counts... for me 😆 And then I will for sure have treats at the party, but for cozy hobby I'm not sure. I may just count reading since I'm taking my Kindle with me. Or, depending at what time we get back from the party, I may play some video games. I already played a little of ACNH this morning because I had to buy some turnips 😂

Sunday - 10:30pm update:

Like I've said many times before, I'm not a sports person, but the Super Bowl was SO good! I mean we had Green Day, Bad Bunny, AND the Seahawks won? So good! It almost feels like things are temporarily right in the world. I love Green Day and their fight against fascism, and while I'm not a Bad Bunny fan, per se, I do enjoy reggaeton, I just haven't been keeping up with current artists 😅 That being said, his performance almost made me cry. His message of love and togetherness... SO good! Exactly what we needed right now!

Anyway, the readathon. We are at the end and I've had such a great time! I did a lot more reading than I was anticipating, but this time I didn't stress myself out 😆

 

I read for a total of 11 hours and 39 minutes during the readathon, and I finished two books and made it 31% into Predatory Natures (so far, so good! Oh, and I did finish these last 3 prompts). I didn't read as much as I was hoping at the party because I kept getting distracted by food, people, chisme 😆, and obviously the musical artists on TV. Lol. And sometimes the game. Lol. Although I did have to ask what was going on because I have no clue how the game works 😂 But it was a good weekend. The next Relax & Readathon is in two months, and the hope is to participate in that one, too.

So that's what I'm doing this weekend. Let me know what books you have planned for this weekend, or this month!