Nobody wants to fall into a reading slump. These are some tried and true ways to get you out of the spin cycle of reading hell and on your way to hanging up your reading goal awards. (Trust me- I’m a mood reader who gets into reading slumps way more frequently than I would like and these have all helped me.)
1. Reread a favorite book.
Rereading an old favorite is always my first go-to when I fall into a reading slump. You have to remember that a book is a favorite for a reason and going back to it will probably put you back in that headspace where you loved reading. Most recently, I managed to dig myself out of a long and depressing reading slump by rereading (and annotating) my copy of Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston. Not only had I been wanting to do a reread for a couple years, but I was also on a time crunch because I only had a few days to finish it ahead of a watch party my friends and I had for its film adaptation on Amazon Prime. (My procrastinator self finished it the morning of, thank you very much.)
Rereading a book you love can also take some of the strain and pressure off of reading a book because you already know the story. It takes less mental energy to reread than it does to get through something new. And you can go into it knowing that you won’t be disappointed or dissatisfied with your choice. Sometimes a reading slump can be fueled by feeling like we’re just wasting time reading books we end up not liking, so if that’s the case for you, a reread is probably the best option.
2. Listen to an audiobook.
Sometimes all you need is to change up the format you’re reading in. Put on an audiobook and do something to help you feel occupied. I usually like to do a puzzle, play a game on my phone, or even do some cleaning around the house; the possibilities are endless. This is an especially great option if you enjoy listening to podcasts or music. Or if you happen to have a longer commute! One of my friends used to pop an audiobook in during her drives to and from work which is great if you’re someone who struggles to fit reading into your schedule. I particularly like listening to memoirs or other non-fiction as most times the author narrates the audiobook themselves. You can check out my review of Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert which is one I like to reread regularly.
3. Watch an onscreen adaptation (a show or movie) and then go read the book after.
I will admit to just doing this last week with The Summer I Turned Pretty series! The cringe-factor at the beginning of the show kept me from watching for a long time, but with the release of season 2 I’d started getting some videos on my Tiktok fyp and that’s what really convinced me to push through and watch it. I’m so glad I did because I flew through the show in a couple days and then read the whole trilogy in four days. Jenny Han, the writer and creator, is absolutely brilliant! It’s been such a fun journey and this is probably the fastest I’ve read books all year.
The show is available on Amazon Prime and the entire trilogy is available to read on Kindle Unlimited if you subscribe to that; otherwise you can always get it from your library or bookstore. I would also highly recommend listening to the audiobooks while you read physically because they are narrated by the actors themselves- Lola Tung, Christopher Briney, and Gavin Casalegno. Lola as the primary narrator (because the books are mostly told from Belly’s POV) does a really beautiful job and brings so much heart and emotion to her reading of the story.
This is a great option because watching something could help you feel for and care about the characters or storyline which means that you’re going into a book already invested. That’s like half of the struggle when trying to start a new book, so do yourself a favor and make it easy.
4. Do a taste test.
Pick 5 books and read the first chapter of each one. Then commit to reading the one that holds your attention the most. The books can be from your TBR, from a recommendations post or video, or a selection of books from an author. This is a good choice if you just keep trying to read books that are boring or don’t hold your interest. Taste testing books allows you to get a sense of the style of a story and helps you commit to reading something that you’ll actually enjoy.
5. Pick up a different genre.
Maybe you’re more of a mood reader and the types of books you’re picking are just not what your mind and heart want to read. Switch it up and go for something completely different. Different genres follow different styles of writing so trying out something new may lead you straight to what you need.
Sometimes I get into a slump when I try to read a book that’s outside of my usual genres, like a sci-fi or short story collection, so what I do is pick up a romance to get me back into the groove of reading. Just because something isn’t working right now doesn’t mean you have to give up on that book or genre forever. It could be right, just not right now. Save it for later!
*Honorable Mention:
If you’re a fanfic girly, then it’s totally more than okay to stick with reading those until you feel up to reading something else! Don’t feel like you’re not reading just because it’s not something you can pick up at a library or bookstore. I promise, you’re doing more reading than almost everyone else and that’s awesome!
I’ve mentioned a few books in this post and if you’re curious to see any of my reviews, opinions, or annotations on them, feel free to check out my Instagram or Goodreads. (And if you’re a TSITP/Bonrad fan, you can also check out my stories highlight on Instagram).
Finally, whatever method you choose to get you out of your reading slump, I hope it works! I know how awful it feels to be such a lover of reading and then not feel any motivation to do the thing you love. Especially when there are just so many books out there to be read!
Please comment down below if you have any other way of getting yourself out of a reading slump and let me know which book drags you out of that deep dark hole of misery once you find it.
Comments
¡ loveee the taste test idea one!! that would suit me well because I always pick a bunch of books in hopes ill love them but often fall to the pressure of reading them all. Like a lil flight lol
Author
Yes, I always pick so many books at once too! Unfortunately, more often than not I just get overwhelmed and end up not reading any so I def need to take my own advice more often 😂