I love to read. It’s the only thing that makes my daily commute to and from Manhattan tolerable and it’s something that’s brought me such joy ever since I was a kid, going from fantasy novels to memoirs to the mix of rom-coms and thrillers I regularly enjoy today.
But it’s not always easy to get through books quickly (and happily), especially if you end up in a slump and don’t know what you like. Or if you spend MONTHS trying to slog through a book that someone recommended to you once/one you feel obligated to read because it’s a ~classic~.
The truth is, if reading feels like a chore, you’re probably not going to do it. And if you’re dragging your feet to finish a book, you’re simply reading the wrong one.
Here’s how to find books you will like, which will help you to read more books and feel good about it.
Start by getting a library card, or dusting off the one you already own.
The best, easiest, and cheapest way to figure out what sort of books you will enjoy is by picking up a bunch that you don’t feel obligated to finish.
The best way to lift that obligation? Getting books for FREE fom the library! Grab your card and hit the shelves for a book-hunting spree.
Pick up books that sound cool, ones that just have awesome covers (screw the old saying not to judge books by ’em!), and ones by a range of authors from a range of genres.
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And then, get to reading. It’s sort of like getting a free appetizer sampler and getting to decide which ones you’re eh about and which things you’d like to order more of.
If you don’t enjoy any book after 35 pages, abandon it.
Don’t force yourself to finish a book if you truly don’t like it. It took me SO long to get rid of the notion that I had to finish every book I started and I’m much better for it.
The less time you spend on a crappy book, the more time you can spend on a delightful one.
Revisit books you loved as a child.
If you loved “Harry Potter” as a kid, there’s nothing wrong with reading it as an adult. If it gets you excited to read, it’s worth picking up!
Doing so might also help you realize what you loved so much about the books. For example, maybe you loved “Harry Potter” for its magic and want to try reading some more fantasy books. Or, maybe you just loved reading about the tragedies and want to try out an impactful novel.
Don’t feel like you have to read classics or every book that’s recommended to you.
I feel like most of my friends who don’t like to read or who rarely read typically only ever pick up classic books or ones that others randomly suggested based on nothing other than the fact that they thought it was “good.”
But, guess what? You don’t have to love classics because they’re so famous. Truthfully, I haven’t picked up a classic book since college and I couldn’t really care less. I’ve never LOVED a classic, even though there are many I have liked.
I also don’t listen to every recommendation, especially when the person suggesting it isn’t really tailoring it to my tastes at all. (On the other hand, always take recommendations from people who know you and what you enjoy. My one friend who’s a fellow bookworm always recommends me awesome books, but it’s because she knows what I love!)
If you find yourself in a slump or unable to read more books, shelve away your classics and stop listening to baseless suggestions.
If there’s an author you like, creep on their social media to see what they read and who they admire.
If you’re not sure how to find books you will like, an easy way to do so is to not let go of an author whose writing style you love.
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Follow them online to see when they publish new books and to see who they admire and follow, plus who they read. There’s a good chance that someone your favorite writer enjoys is someone you could like, too.
For example, two authors I ALWAYS enjoy are Riley Sager (who writes amazing thrillers) and Sarah Dessen (who writes the most beautiful, romantic young-adult novels), so I follow them both on Instagram to see what they read and when they publish new books.
See if celebrities you love have any memoirs, novels, or autobiographies.
My mom doesn’t like to read much, but she’ll almost always pick up a memoir or autobiography from an actress, singer, or reality star she likes. And it’s a pretty wise idea for others who also aren’t big readers.
So many famous people have books that they wrote (or others ghostwrote for them, honestly) and sometimes they’re quite good! For example, Anna Kendrick (of “Pitch Perfect” fame) and Mindy Kailing (from “The Office”) both have KILLER memoirs that are hilarious and I recommend picking them up if you’re unsure what to read next but you like these people and their work.
In addition, stars like Amh Poehler, Tina Fey, Michelle Obama, Shane Dawson, and so many more have books you might want to pick up. Just remember that all celebrity books are not created equally … some totally suck.
Join Goodreads and utilize its features.
Not sponsored, I just don’t know what I’d do without this website that’s sort of like a major social media website for books. It lets you search books, review them, track which ones you’ve read, find other books, check author’s pages, etc.
It. Is. Amazing. I love making long lists of books to read so I never run out and I love checking the books I love to see what lists people have added them to, so I can find more similar great reads.
For example, a fast-paced thriller I just finished could be on a list of suspense books that take place over one day, and I can quickly and easily find similar books I might also love.
You can also look up genres, categories, and even top books from certain years, which is great for finding reading inspiration.
I’ve also found that tracking how many books you read each year (and setting an annual reading challenge, I usually aim for 100 books each year), is another great way to keep you motivated.
Feel free to follow me on Goodreads if you’d like, you might find inspiration in my book reviews and to-be-read shelf. My username is @xpaiged.
Or you can check out my book Instagram, @paigeturningpages. It’s quite new and I love using it to find new reads!
So there’s how to find books you will like. What do you plan on reading next?
