How to Find Books I Will Like

Reading not your thing? Or perhaps you feel as if you've been picking lots of duds lately? Here's a blog post just for you! A foolproof guide on how to find books that you will love to read.

It's worth persisting to find books you love

Let's get straight to it.

To find a book that you will enjoy, you will need to answer the following questions:

• What interests you?

Do you love crystals? Animals? Are you interested in cars or the latest research on Alzheimer's treatments? Fill in the blanks:

I love ____.

I enjoy ____.

I am interested in ____.

Do you love being a mum, beach days, or road trips? Do you enjoy dinners out, travelling, or knitting? Consider using these interests to help you find a book you will enjoy. If you love days at the beach, then you may just love reading a book set by the seaside or about a family on holidays at the beach.

Not sure what interests you? Consider: Who are you?

• Your job

• Your family situation

• Your heritage and culture

• Your dreams and desires

• Your frustrations and challenges

If you're a nurse, consider reading stories about nurses. If you dreamed of being a ballerina as a child, perhaps you'd enjoy a story about a ballerina. Be honest with yourself and don't try to read the latest TikTok sensation about a hockey player if you can't stand sport.

Hot Tip: If you don’t want to feel like this, then don’t read this book.

• What mood are you in?

Are you happy and want to read something bright and funny? Are you stressed and need some escapism? Are you sad, overwhelmed, excited? Consider how your mood might impact your book selection. Do you need something to make you feel better? Something to match your mood, or something to change it? If you've just got home from a crazy day at work and need to unwind, perhaps something fast-paced isn't the best choice? Maybe you need something slow and easy to read? Consider your mood when choosing a book and don't just pick something random or because it had a pretty cover.

• How do you like to feel when you read a book?

Do you hate being scared? Like to end with a happily ever after? Do you like to be intellectually challenged and think deeply? Do you like to be inspired? Or do you prefer light and easy reads? Maybe reading something dark and depressing will help you feel better about your current situation? Or maybe it will make things worse? Do you like to be thrilled? In love? Captivated? Transported? How do you want to feel?

• What are your capabilities?

This may seem obvious, but consider your abilities:

• Vocabulary

• Reading level

• Attention span

• Vision

• Time available

Maybe your attention span is short and you only get snippets of time, maybe you need something with short chapters and not too challenging, or maybe you're a thinker and need something deep and literary. Maybe you haven't picked up a book in ten years, or you need something with pictures to break up the text. Perhaps English isn't your first language, or you're learning Portuguese. (Read: 10 Things You Can Do When You Get to Unknown Words in a Book). Maybe you get bored with novels and would prefer a graphic novel or a book of poetry. Maybe you get restless and could try an audiobook? If you're eyes get tired, maybe you could try large print. Don't just consider the book, but consider yourself as well.

Research

Use your resources.

• Read book reviews (And don't forget to leave book reviews! Read: How to Leave a Book Review on Amazon and Goodreads [and why you should])

• Ask people questions

• Ask for recommendations

• Use Google

Try before you buy!

• Download free novellas (See: Group Free Book Promotions: What Are They and Why do Indie Authors Participate in Them?)

• Use your library

• Borrow from friends

Not my thing = Abandon read!

If you're not enjoying it, then abandon it!

You don't need to persist; if it's not engaging you, stop reading it and try something else. I guarantee you that there is something for everyone out there, you just need to find it. Don't waste time on a book that you aren't enjoying; it's a surefire way to convince yourself that you don't enjoy reading (when you can!).

If at first you don't succeed...

Try, try again. Didn't like your book? Try different things!

• Different genres and authors

• Different types of books (why not read a children's book? See: Book Genre by Age Range and Length)

• Different ways to read (See: Let's Talk About Kindles and Kindle Unlimited)

• Different places to read (See: 21 of the Best Places to Read a Book)

Do you have any other suggestions for people who can't get into reading, and how can they find books they'll love? Let us know in the comments.

Happy reading!

Much love,

Marley

P.S. Do you think that you would enjoy a contemporary women's fiction novel about a housekeeper for a wealthy city family who has to travel back to her tiny hometown and deal with her messy family and reminders of a past that she left behind for a reason? If so, then check out my free novella, The Silver Maid, and let me know what you think!