These are my 8 book suggestions to get you out of your reading slump.
Since I received a few of these requests in the past, I decided to put this post together.
As readers, we all get ourselves into a reading slump from time to time. Just like anything you love, too much is not enough. As they say, in life, everything is better done in moderation. In theory, anyway. In practice, not so easy.
I figured since it’s a common occurrence for any reader, I would compile a list of 8 book suggestions to get you out of your reading slump.
How to Get Out of Your Reading Slump?
So what can you do to try to get out of your reading slump? A couple of days off reading completely never hurt anyone. It happens even to the best of us, and don’t feel guilty if you just can’t seem to get into any book. Take a break, no one will judge you. Other than maybe yourself, that is.
But after a few days of socializing or going through endless Netflix shows you’ve been meaning to catch up on, you want to get back to reading. Easier said than done.
Another way is to give audiobooks a try. While you’re walking, working out, or just relaxing, listening to a book counts as reading.
Comfort Reads
We all have our comfort reads or at least a genre that gets us going again. Mines is chick-lit or gory thrillers. I need something that is easy to read and contains lots of fast-paced action. This is not the time to pick up War And Peace, even if it’s been sitting on your tbr pile for years.
With the intention to encourage you to slowly get back into reading, here are a few of the books I think will help you out.
Just so there’s no confusion, I will not review or give a full synopsis of those books here. Since I’ve reviewed most of them already, I will mostly talk about why I liked them so much. Or other reasons why I think you should try to read said book if you want to get out of your reading slump.
The 8 Books I Turn To When I’m in a Reading Slump
There are way more than the books I mentioned here that I can think of off the top of my head when writing this. But I don’t want to go on forever and bore you to death, so I think the ones I put together here are a decent amount. If need be, I’ll do part two at a later date.
Without further ado, these are my 8 book suggestions to get you out of your reading slump.
8.The Chestnut Man, by Soren Sveistrup
This book which was published in 2018 in North America is one of my favorite Nordic Noir reads ever. Surprise, surprise, it falls under my favorite genre. Fast-paced with just the right amount of gore, it’s action-packed and you will fly through it. Nothing like a great thriller to get you reading again.
I actually borrowed the French copy first from the library, then the English version. Sometimes translations can differ somewhat, but this time they were pretty similar.
In my experience, with French translations, I find the vocabulary is a bit more complex than with English Translations. With this book though, they were both fluent and the story easy to follow.
Then, of course, I found this copy second-hand, but it’s actually brand new, so I had to grab it. If you want to watch the Netflix adaptation instead of reading the book, it’s a pretty decent one.
If you’ve been meaning to give Nordic Noir a try, this first book by the producer of the Danish series The Killing is a must-try.
7. Big Little Lies, by Liane Moriarty
An older book, this one came out in 2014, and it was love at first read for me. I was already familiar with Liane Moriarty’s writing style, and I immediately got caught up with the story. She has a way of describing situations and developing her characters that you can’t help but want to know more about. A page-turning, fast-paced book, don’t be intimidated by its size. It’s an easy read that will get you to forget why you weren’t in a reading mood. Plus the HBO adaptation is one of the best mini-series out. Anything that involves Reese Witherspoon is great, as far as I’m concerned.
6. The Interestings, by Meg Wolitzer
This was my first book by Meg Wolitzer, and I’m glad I discovered this author. This book was published in 2013, but I read it a few years later. I actually heard great things about The Female Persuasion, but somehow I got my hands on this one first.
If you haven’t read anything by Meg Wolitzer yet, what are you waiting for? Her books are generally very high on character development and intricate relationships. I absolutely loved getting emotionally involved in the group of friends’ lives! It felt as if they were real people that I’d known for years and grown up together. This book will surely get you in the mood to get reading again.
5. Good Girls Lie, by J.T.Ellison
Not the first J.T. Ellison book I’ve read, but the most recent one. I enjoy the author’s style, with the short chapters and easy-to-follow plots. This book follows a group of girls at a private school, and their intricate, catty interactions are so intense you will get absorbed in the story.
I think this lighter psychological thriller is an easy read that is not super gory but has enough action to keep you entertained. I definitely recommend it for getting over a lack of reading enthusiasm.
4. Where the Grass is Green and the Girls Are Pretty, by Lauren Weisberger
where the grass is green and the girls are pretty
From the queen of the Devil Wears Prada, as well as a number of similarly written books, comes her latest novel which is a breath of fresh air. I love the way she makes her characters lovable, even though they are very flawed and make questionable decisions. This lighthearted book still gets you riled up and deeply involved. A breezy read that is actually perfect for this time of year. If you’re not sure what to read yet, pick this one up. It’s not heavy material, so reading it won’t feel like a chore.
3. Malibu Rising, by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Another book that is a perfect beach read, Malibu Rising is a nice family saga that involves some drama. Not too heavy either, the story is developed on the history of the Riva siblings. In typical Jenkins style, she goes back and forth between timelines, but the story just flows. It is a breezy book that you can grab while on vacation. And since some of the action actually happens by a beach, it’s even more appropriate. If you haven’t read any of her work, do so. Out of the three books I’ve read by her, this is probably the lightest.
2. The Nine Lives of Rose Napolitano, by Donna Freitas
Book Review: The Nine Lives of Rose Napolitano
Last year, when I won this book in a giveaway by my friend and fellow bookstagrammer Alexandra, aka @thebookishglow, I was delighted. Usually, new books get to sit on my TBR pile for months, even years, but for some reason, she convinced me to get to it sooner. And I’m glad I listened to her advice.
The book is a great contemplative read that makes women question their decision whether or not to have children. The subject is not light in any way, but the way Freitas narrated the story was not heavy by any means. It was quite fun to see all the possible outcomes one simple decision can have on the rest of our lives. This book can be considered food for thought, and it will surely get you out of your slump.
1. Girl in the Ice, by Robert Bryndza
To round up my list of 8 book suggestions to get you out of your reading slump is another thriller. This one is actually the first in a series of six books. I personally only own the first three, and Girl in the Ice is the first one.
Detective Erika Foster from the South London police is a force to be reckoned with, and she quickly became one of my favorite female detectives. The way the author makes her personality shine makes reading the book a pleasure. Even though it is about murder, the book is easy to read and fast-paced.
There’s nothing like an intriguing thriller to get you out of that slump you happen to be in.
Concluding words
This sums up my list of 8 book suggestions to get you out of your reading slump.
There is no miracle book that will transform your life, but these books worked for me in the past. They transport you to different settings and allow you to get absorbed in their world. Pick one of them up, you never know. You might like them.
Until next time, fellow bookworms!
