The Best Books to Get Out of a Reading Slump (Guaranteed)

It happens to all of us. You love reading (at least, you used to). But lately, the pile of unfinished novels has started to feel more like homework than fun. Maybe your phone wins the bedtime battle more often than you’d like to admit, or maybe your mind wanders off every time you sit down to read a book. If that’s you, you’re not alone. Finding the right book to break out of a reading slump isn’t about being disciplined, it’s about rediscovering joy.

The truth is, a reading slump is a signal, not a lack of focus. They say that something about the way we approach books no longer fits with the rhythm of our lives. Sometimes you need something short and propulsive to remind you why you love stories. Other times, we crave depth, beautiful books that bring us back to ourselves.

Whether you have a pile of books gathering dust on your nightstand or you’re missing that “one more chapter” feeling, these seven books have just the place for you. From leisurely literary escapades to page-turners that will draw you in before you know you’ve read 100 pages, these books will keep you coming back to reading, not out of obligation but out of sheer joy.

Featured image from interview with Kate Ahrens Suruchi Avasti.

Why you’re in a reading slump (and how to break it)

A reading slump isn’t a lack of interest, it’s simply an energy mismatch. Depending on the season, a fast-paced story like a movie may be required. Others are slow, lyrical reads that linger long after you close the book. The secret is to meet yourself where you are.

Switch format. Reading an audiobook, essay, or even a short story can reignite your momentum when you feel your attention is scattered.

Let’s change the scenery. Read at a cafe, in the park, or on your commute to work. Sometimes just looking at a new environment can remind you of how good it feels to be immersed in a story.

Start small. One page, one chapter, one quiet night. Please give me peace of mind. Then the rest will follow.

7 books to get you out of your reading slump

Erika Bauermeister’s “Scent Keeper”

When you want to be completely impressed

If you’re craving a novel that rekindles your sense of wonder, this is the novel for you. keeper of scent Emmeline, a girl raised by her father on a remote island, grows up surrounded by mysterious glass bottles filled with the scent of memories. As her world expands beyond the island, she must reconcile the magic of childhood with the complexities of the real world.

Bauermeister’s prose is rich and lyrical, making this a book that stimulates all the senses. This is a reminder that stories are not just about having fun. They awaken something within us. Perfect for those who want to experience the charm of the story once again.

“Fragrance is a fallen angel of the senses. It is a memory that you can hold in your hands.”

Read next: keeper of forgotten things Written by Ruth Hogan

Activate your future self Written by Mimi Bouchard

When you want to feel inspired again

If you’re stuck in a creative or motivational rut, this will awaken something in you. founder of activation appMimi Bouchard shares science-backed mindset tools to change your habits and transform your identity into your future self. This is the perfect book to read when you want to be the best version of yourself without feeling pressured to be perfect.

“To create the life you want, you must first become the kind of person who will get it.”

Read next: A guide for perfectionists who lose control Written by Katherine Morgan Schaeffler

someone else’s house Written by Claire Mackintosh

If you miss the thrill of late night reading

This is one of those books that hooks you before the first chapter is over. Mackintosh’s latest crime novel brings back DC Fionn Morgan with a fast-paced, emotional mystery set in an upscale British neighborhood where, at first glance, nothing is very safe. A dark, twisty, and unstoppable story that will make you forget your phone even exists.

“You want what they have, but at what price will you pay?”

Read next: none of this is true Written by Lisa Jewell

“The Eight” by Joanna Miller

When you’re ready to lose yourself in another era

Set in Oxford in the 1920s, Eight The film follows four of the first women enrolled in college as they navigate friendship, grief, and ambition in a world for which they are not yet ready. Miller’s prose is richly cinematic, and the female friendships give this debut novel a contemporary pulse. for the person who loved me paris library or chemistry classthis is the next great escape.

“They knew they were changing history. They didn’t know they would be changing each other.”

Read next: marriage portrait Written by Maggie O’Farrell

maine Written by J. Courtney Sullivan

When you want a story that makes you feel nostalgic for summer

Family, secrets, and an old beach house on the coast of Maine. Sullivan’s multigenerational novel captures the messy beauty of a mother, daughter, and sister who love each other fiercely, even if they can’t stand being in the same room. Witty, heartfelt, and quietly subversive in every sense of the word.

“Old grudges smolder beneath the surface, but so does love.”

Read next: vacationers Written by Emma Straub

guest Written by Emma Klein

When your attention reaches its limit

If you haven’t finished reading a book in months, guest You might break your record. Klein’s writing is fluid and engaging, drawing readers into a week in the life of Alex, an outsider drifting among Long Island’s elite. It’s voyeuristic and razor-sharp, perfect for when you want to soak in the beautiful chaos of someone else.

“She liked to think of herself as the party to whom things happened.”

Read next: Lapuvona Written by Otessa Moshfegh

“Pirate of Light” by Lily Brooks-Dalton

When you need a slow story

Set in a near-future Florida reshaped by climate change, this novel is part dystopian, part elegiac, and overall wonderful. It’s about survival, motherhood, and the resilience we find as the world changes beneath our feet. For those who are feeling overwhelmed, pirate of light It offers something rare: tranquility.

“In the end, she doesn’t rebuild the world. She learns to live within what’s left.”

Read next: station eleven Written by Emily St. John Mandel

Regain the joy of reading

Reading is cyclical. There are seasons that increase your concentration, and other seasons that tempt you into another season. The most important thing is not how many books you finish, but how the books you choose make you feel. If one of these stories can help you rediscover that sparkle, it’s already done its job.

Light a candle, choose a book, and start again.