TBR: How To Choose Your Next Read

Anyone who loves books knows the struggle of wanting to read ALL the books. Even if you really only like one genre, there are still endless options. And when we are out of the habit of reading, it can be even harder to pick a book. I often find myself reading several books back to back, then I’ll look up a week later and realize I haven’t read anything for a while (or rather I haven’t finished anything for a while, as the issue is usually finding a book I can stick with!). I’ve found a few things help me pick my next read, both in general and also during those seasons where I experience a lull and need to get back into a groove with reading. Please note that this is just what works for me; if you spend any amount of time in book-ish communities you will hear many other great tips. Let’s dive in and see if we can find you a book to read by the end of the day!

1. Know what you want to read for the season of life you’re in. I hear many people say when they are wanting to begin reading more that they’re going to alternate books (maybe they go back and forth between nonfiction and fiction, or a classic then a more contemporary novel); this works great for many people, but I have never been able to make this method work for me. Rather I tend to think of my reading life in chunks: what kind of books best fit my current week or month? In January, I read a bunch of nonfiction gardening books back to back because I was in dreaming and planning mode thinking about the garden we want to have this year. Recently I’ve been enjoying newly released nonfiction on a variety of topics interspersed with an occasional classic. Busy seasons often call for light fiction reading because that’s all my brain can handle. Just know that if you’re struggling to get into any books, it might be because you’re trying to read something that’s not a good fit for your season.

2. Try a to be read shelf instead of a to be read list. I’ve spent my entire reading life trying to make to-be-read lists work for me, up until a couple of years ago. And, again, many find them super helpful! But I am a master overthinker, and I always run into the same problem: I can’t put every single book that I want to read on the list, because there are simply too many I want to read! And as soon as I get a list set, I hear about more books I want to read, then I have to decide where they go on the list, and I often end up scrapping the whole thing because I can’t do it perfectly. And what about those books I impulse buy at the bookstore? Where do they fit on my list? Am I allowed to read it if it’s not on my list? But a to be read shelf works completely differently: I simply group all the books I own and want to read together in one spot. When I bring a new book home, it goes at the front of the shelf so I can read it sooner rather than later. No wasting time making lists that I could be spending reading instead. The added bonus of this is that I’m forced to recognize when a book continually gets passed up and admit that maybe I should just add it to the donation box. And I can also see when my book purchases have gotten a little out of control (like when the one shelf becomes three!), and I can change my reading/buying habits as needed. I think keeping a to-be-read shelf has helped me learn more about myself as a reader than anything else I’ve tried.

3. Try the bookstore instead of Amazon. Sometimes I get in a slump and can’t think of anything that I have even the smallest desire to read; this is where the bookstore saves the day. Browsing the shelves and picking out something on a whim often helps me get excited about my reading again. 

4. Make a wish list for books. I know this sounds the same as a to-be-read list, but there’s a subtle mindset shift behind it that makes all the difference. My book wish list is currently full of ideas for classics I want to read, because I know these aren’t my first instinct when I go shopping for books. But I also sometimes keep lists of books I hear recommended, authors I enjoyed that I want to read more titles by, or upcoming new releases I want to pre-order. Note that this isn’t a plan for every book I’m going to read this year; I probably won’t buy all or even many of these books this year. They just are ideas for books to buy.

What I hope you take away from these ideas, simple as they are, is that your reading life should be one of joy. I find that when I stop enjoying my reading life (and stop finishing books), it’s because I’ve overplanned my reading and made it so rigid that there’s no longer room for delight. Don’t be afraid to play around with your book choices and try something new. If you don’t know what to read, then head to your bookstore this week and do some browsing. Or spend some time combing through your shelves and finding all the books you haven’t read yet and putting them in one place. Make a wish list so you have a place for all the books you want to get to, but then pick up a book and actually read it. Remember that it isn’t the list-making, but rather the reading itself that makes you a reader. And have fun!