Seven Ways To Break a Reading Slump

Hi friends! Welcome back to the Loose Leaf List. Like many readers, I often suffer from reading slumps — a time period where I can barely read anything, no matter what I do. Sometimes it’s brought on by being overworked, sometimes by being uninspired, and sometimes by the ever-present lure of social media doomscrolling.

In my constant quest to beat reading slumps, I’ve managed to find a few proven ways to get back into reading. Hopefully, one or more of these tips might work for you!

1. Don’t be afraid to keep switching until you find the right book

If you’re a completionist, you’re probably stubborn about seeing a book through to the end. I get it — abandoning a book partway through makes me feel a little icky sometimes, even if I’m not vibing with the story.

But if you’re hoping to rediscover your love of reading, why would you spend more time on a story that you don’t love enough to keep picking up? You can always come back to it later when you have more patience. In the meantime, your next favorite read is calling!

2. Try something short

When you’re feeling discouraged about the amount you read, it can give you a sense of accomplishment to just finish SOMETHING. A novelette or novella can be a perfect choice! Some of my favorite shorter works in the science fiction/fantasy genre include:

• This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone (I made a whole video essay about the bonkers story behind this novella if you need some more convincing)

• Story of Your Life by Ted Chiang

• Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield

• A Necessary Chaos by Brent Lambert

3. Try a new format

If your usual method of reading isn’t cutting it for you, why not try switching it up? If you’re used to reading visually, try an audiobook. If you’re used to novels, try a graphic novel. Chances are, you’ll be able to find something you love in any format.

4. Set aside time to read

If you want to build or rebuild a reading habit, the best way is to make it part of your routine. This is easier said than done, but once you get settled into a pattern, it’s much easier to keep going.

Currently, I’m working on building a habit of reading every night before bed — even if it’s just a chapter, or a single page. I’ve set my phone to stop giving me notifications about an hour before I want to be asleep, giving me some uninterrupted time to get sucked into a book. It’s early days, but as my brain grows to expect a nightly reading session, I’m finding it easier to get into the headspace of reading as bedtime draws near.

5. Join a readalong

I will admit that this is a tip that doesn’t always work for me. I am a world-class procrastinator, so whenever I join an organized readalong, I inevitably fall behind and try to speed-read to catch up and get stressed about it. And in the end, I often don’t finish the book.

But I figured this was a tip worth including, because it does work for some people! Some of my favorite bookish creators who organize readalongs include:

• Basma and Azanta with their Barakah Book Club

• Zoranne with her Fantasy and Frens Book Club

• Steph with her Celestial Book Club

• Cait with their Bookington Book Club

So if you think an organized readalong with deadlines and discussion will help you read more, join one and get cracking some book spines!

6. Use your local library

If you have access to a library, borrowing a shiny new book that sounds really interesting can be a great way to break a reading slump! The novelty of accessing a book you don’t own can make you more motivated to read, and the borrowing time limit gives you a deadline by which you have to finish the book. Plus, it’s free!

Most libraries give their cardholders access to Libby or Hoopla for borrowing ebooks and audiobooks — so even if you don’t want to bother physically going to the library, you can put this tip into practice right from your phone!

7. Re-read an old favorite

There are two big advantages to re-reading a book you already love: You know you’re going to enjoy it, and you don’t need to use as much brainpower to read it the second time because you’ve already gotten situated in the world.

Above all, the best way to beat a reading slump is to remember why you love reading in the first place. The key is to find what will do that for you, whether that’s finding a fun new read, discussing books with friends, or revisiting an old favorite.

How do you beat a reading slump? What are some books you would recommend to people trying to rediscover their love of reading? Share in the comments!

Watch It Early!

My latest YouTube video will be up in three days’ time, but you get to see it before anyone else!

This month, I’m sharing my reactions to three awful unreleased TV pilots for two popular teen dystopian book series: The Selection and Delirium (the network attempted two pilots for The Selection). Watch the unlisted video on YouTube now!

Subscribe by email to get early video access!

What I Read This Month

This month, I read not one, but two books that could be perfect for breaking reading slumps! Plus, one of them is now among my favorite fantasy novels EVER.

The Will of the Many by James Islington

The Will of the Many is set in a Roman-inspired world, with an elite academy, plenty of mysteries, a unique magic system, and a clever protagonist. This book is chonky, but don’t let that fool you — I sped through it, and now it’s one of my all-time favorites!

For my full thoughts, read my full review of The Will of the Many on Storygraph.

Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn

Ella Minnow Pea is a slim little novel you can eat up in a day, so it’s another short book I’d recommend to people looking to break a reading slump! It’s a satirical dystopian tale told in messages between the characters, where the author uses fewer and fewer unique letters throughout the book. My boyfriend gifted me a copy, and clearly he knows me well, because I loved it!

For more thoughts, read my full review of Ella Minnow Pea on Storygraph.

In Case You Missed It …

In which I round up my other favorite fun posts that I made this past month!

On Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts, I posted five quick-fire book recommendations for Doctor Who fans:

On Instagram and TikTok, I posted a bite-sized video about the return of the YA dystopian novel trend, based on my YouTube video on the subject:

On Instagram, I partook in a little meme about trying to convince non-readers to pick up a book, and had some super interesting discussions in the comments about why people don’t read for pleasure as much anymore:

And finally, for the Whovians over on TikTok, I picked my favorite episode for every season of modern Doctor Who:

@looseleafellie

I don’t know what it is about Episode 8 of a Doctor Who season, but that seems to be the prime position for a champion, methinks. #DoctorWho #WhoTok

Thank you so much for reading! Until next time, bookish friends.

Love,

Ellie