Escaping a Reading Slump

We know the feeling well - you're halfway through your current read and the idea of picking it up just does not appeal. Or you've just finished an incredible book and have no idea what you could possibly read next. Maybe you've just hit a bit of a rut and don't seem to be finding time for reading (and don't feel super motivated either). A reading slump can be a frustrating feeling and hard to break out of, but we've gathered some of our top tips, and created a list of crowd sourced favourites that promise a way out.

You should also check out our list of Reading Slump Book Busters here, put together with the help of our community!

First and foremost, if you right now are stuck in the middle (or the start) of a book that does not excite you, that you do not want to pick up and read, and you're unsure why you're in a slump, please put that book aside. This is not a criticism of the book or the author, but sometimes it's a right book wrong time (or wrong book any time) scenario and you just need to give yourself permission to DNF (did not finish). So many reading slumps are just because people have picked up a book and they aren't enjoying it enough to feel excited to pick it up again. You're allowed to call it quits - life is short and the list of incredible amazing books out there waiting to be read is long. 

If you can't quite handle the idea of not finishing a book (I understand, it's okay), then put it "to the side" while you try something else and you can plan to pick it up again once you're more in the mood. I do this quite often and sometimes that book sits half read on my bookshelf for years, long forgotten and never to be thought of again, whilst other times I'll pick that book up a few months/years later and it will be the 5 star read of my dreams. Right book, wrong time. 

This is an excellent thing to try at any time, but especially during a slump. Genre Burnout is a real thing, where you've read 15 romantasy books in a row, all with similar enemies-to-lovers, the whole fate of the world rests on their connection etc etc vibes and suddenly you just don't want to read another one even though you know it will be amazing. Have a break, try a complete pivot and pick up a thriller, or even better switch from fiction to non-fiction. 

This swap genre technique also is a great option when you've got a Book Hangover (you read a book so good you can't imagine ever connecting with another book ever again). A change in genre will help you move on, without replacing the ruminations that will keep you up for the forseeable future.

Not sure what to try - don't worry, our amazing community on Instagram sent in their suggestions for you, and we've created a handy little collection of reading slump busting books across a variety of genres. Choose any of them!

As someone who loves making a monthly TBR sometimes this can feel like a burden and take away the spontaneous joy of reading. When I feel a slump approaching, I let the TBR go and instead just go for a browse looking for something that sparks my interest enough that I want to start reading it immediately. 

Highly recommend heading to a cute bookshop to browse, buying yourself a brand new book that catches your eye even though you've never heard of it before, and then setting aside time right after to jump in and read for a while (ideally at a cafe, with some kind of delicious beverage and baked snack). Enjoy.

One of my favourite ways to read is together with others (but also alone, do you get me?). This can be done in a couple of different ways. 

Firstly, you can obviously find and utilize a book club (I love this option and make full use of three amazing book clubs to help me read a range of amazing books). There is always the option of online bookclubs as well as the in person ones. Fable is an awesome website where you can join popular online book clubs and read along with others while discussing the book! 

Another fun option is to do what's called a Buddy Read! This is like a book club with just one or two other people, and just for one book rather than an ongoing obligation. Find someone who has a book on their TBR that you also want to read, and then read it at the same time. Report back to each other either through an app like Storygraph that has a great set up for buddy reading, or you can use my method of just sending hectic voice message check in's (don't forget to warn where you're up to to avoid accidental spoilers!).

Exhausted by all the new releases, the constant bookish content online, the newest big books that are all anyone is talking about? Maybe you just need to return to a book that feels like home, you know the ones that you could pretty much rewrite yourself at this point. 

Sometimes I feel like the pressure to read everything that's out there is so immense that I get overwhelmed and read nothing. The perfect antidote to this is just remembering the books that made me fall in love with reading to begin with. Whether that's rereading Twilight for the billionth time, picking up your favourite Freida McFadden, or cracking open an old classic you haven't read in years. 

Sometimes a reading slump is the chance to have a break. Maybe you've been smashing out heaps of amazing books and it's time to give yourself a little reset. Reading is meant to be fun, entertaining, or brain tingling-ly evocative. If reading has lost its joy or its interest for you, try doing something different for a while. Pick up a puzzle, try out a new board game (solo or with friends), watch a movie or TV show that you've been meaning to get to. 

When you feel like you're missing a book between you're hands, or you're getting FOMO because everyone's reading Yesteryear and you want to know what the hype is all about, then you're break has done exactly what it needs to.

What are your tips for a reading slump? Which books do you recommend? Let us know in the comments below! We would love to hear from you.