If you’ve been trying to read a book for a long time and you aren’t liking it, I’m here to tell you that it’s okay to never finish it. I know it can be hard to abandon a book you’ve started reading, but there’s nothing wrong with DNFing it if you just can’t get into the story. I’ve put myself in quite a few reading slumps by trying to stick it out. However, sometimes the best thing to do is let it go and try a new book!
When you’re struggling to find a book that pulls you in, rereading a book you know you loved can be a great way to get out of a slump. You’re guaranteed to be invested. However, I will say that this method isn’t for everyone. If you don’t like rereading books, this probably isn’t the best option for you. Personally, I love rereading books. Sometimes all you need is a comforting book to bring you back into reading. If you’ve never reread a book before and want to give this a try, look for a book you haven’t read in a long time and remember very little about. It will be almost like reading it for the first time, except you already know you’ll love it!
If you can’t seem to find a book that holds your attention, try listening to an audiobook. A reading slump can make it hard to focus while trying to read words on a page, and audiobooks are a great alternative to this. They’re the perfect way to read when you are struggling to focus or find time to read. You can put on some headphones, turn on the audiobook, and go for a walk, clean your room, or do something else! There are also a lot of different places you can listen to audiobooks. You can pay for an Audible subscription, buy them individually, or, if you have Spotify Premium, you already have access to many audiobooks as part of your music subscription. If you’re looking for free audiobooks, Libby is a great app where you can get both ebooks and audiobooks for free through your library!
Sometimes, all you need to get excited about reading again is to surround yourself with books. With all of the book recommendations on social media, it can be easy to only pick up books you’ve seen people talk about on BookTok. However, I’ve found that browsing a bookstore and picking up the books that catch your eye can be a great way to get excited about reading after a slump. As you walk around the shelves of books, pick up the ones that catch your eye and read their descriptions. You might find something really interesting that makes you want to go home and read!
Starting a new book can be really daunting when you’ve been struggling to read, especially if it’s a long book. Instead of trying to pick up a 500-page fantasy book, try something 300 pages or shorter. It will take less time (in theory) to finish, which will hopefully make it easier to get through. If you want something even less time consuming, I would also recommend trying a graphic novel. Because they have fewer words on each page and more pictures instead, they tend to fly by and hold your attention longer. Once again, I highly recommend a library or the app Libby if you’re wanting to read books for free (and support libraries)!
I hope these tips help, and, if you’re in need of recommendations, you can check out the other blog posts and reviews here on pinereadsreview.com!
Sam Yanis, Pine Reads Review Writer