University of Kwazulu-Natal

21 Ways To Fall In Love With Books Again

Bonisiwe Shabane
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21 ways to fall in love with books again

Subscribe to my newsletter for tips on close reading, detailed note-taking, and applying bookish wisdom to your life. I talk about fiction and non-fiction, interview literary experts, and host The Read Well Podcast. Subscribe today and build better reading habits. Somewhere along the way, we forgot how to read like children. We used to fall into books with abandon. We'd read under blankets, in trees, in the backseat of the car.

There was no goal, no pressure, no ego. Just wonder. Just story. But now? We read for work. For self-improvement.

For the next argument. We highlight quotes so we can sound smart on social media. We finish books we don’t even like just to say we did. We read for ego, not for enchantment. This week on The Read Well Podcast, I want to help you recover what we’ve lost. Feeling book burnout?

Try these 10 practical tips to help you fall in love with reading again—rediscover joy, build habits, and cozy up with your next favorite book. Remember that magical feeling of getting lost in a story? If life’s busyness, a reading slump, or the wrong book left you disconnected, you’re not alone. I’ve been there—my TBR piles felt like chores, not invitations. Over time I found ways to reignite that spark, and here are ten friendly reading tips to help you fall in love with reading all over again. Stop chasing bestsellers and pick titles that light you up.

Maybe it’s a cozy mystery, a travel memoir, or a sci-fi adventure. When I finally dove into a fantasy and adventure books that thrilled me as a kid, I rediscovered reading’s pure pleasure. Even 10–15 minutes before bed or over your morning coffee can make a difference. I schedule a daily “chapter break”—it’s my mini-escape and keeps the habit alive. Discussing twists, characters, and favorite lines with friends brings fresh excitement. I joined a laid-back monthly club, and suddenly those page-turners became shared adventures.

So, you can't figure out how to get out of your reading slump? Maybe your TBR pile has been piled so high that you have become completely overwhelmed to the point where you can't focus on a single book. Maybe you've gotten sucked into a great Netflix marathon, maybe you've just been busy! There are a hundred different reasons why you might not be reading as much as you'd like to right now, or have even fallen out of love with your favorite pastime. So, what do you do to get out of it? Read, of course.

It might sound simple, but often the only way to get out of a reading slump or to fall back in love with reading, is to read books that you actually like. Whether it's picking up a hilarious and easy-to-absorb graphic novel, indulging in a lighthearted rom-com, or losing yourself in dramatic and breathtaking prose, there is something out there that is always sure to spark... Below are 21 recommendations that have all, at one time or another and for different reasons entirely, made me love books again when I've needed it most — and I hope there are a... Cheryl Strayed's Tiny Beautiful Things collects the best of her Dear Sugar columns in one place, and these columns cover everything from managing your grief to finding your creativity to getting over a broken... Thousands of readers have turned to Strayed for advice, and her responses are always rich with humor, insight, compassion, and absolute honesty. This book is a balm for everything life throws our way, even a killer reading slump.

Nimona is an impulsive young shapeshifter with a knack for villainy. Lord Ballister Blackheart is a villain with a vendetta. Their mission: prove that Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin and his buddies at the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics aren't the heroes everyone thinks they are. But as small acts of mischief escalate into a vicious battle, Lord Blackheart realizes that Nimona's unpredictable wild side might be more dangerous than he is willing to admit. This hilarious and irreverent read will snap you out of a slump in no time. Sometimes you just have to laugh, even when life is a dumpster fire...

or when you're in a reading slump. In We Are Never Meeting In Real Life, Samantha Irby turns the serio-comic essay into an art form. Whether explaining why she should be the new Bachelorette, detailing a disastrous pilgrimage to Nashville to scatter her father's ashes, or dispensing advice on how to navigate friendships with former drinking buddies who are... There’s a quiet kind of guilt that creeps in when you realize you haven’t read in a while. You used to fly through novels in a weekend. You had a favorite bookstore, dog-eared paperbacks, a Goodreads challenge you actually completed.

But now? Your books collect dust while your screen time climbs. You tell yourself you’re just too busy. You’ll get back to it soon. But deep down, you wonder if maybe you’ve lost that version of yourself ,the one who used to fall in love with words on a page. If this sounds like you, it doesn’t make you any less of a reader.

In fact, the reader in you isn’t gone ,they’re just buried under layers of pressure, productivity culture, and the assumption that reading should be intellectual, not intimate. Somewhere along the line, reading stopped being simple. Did you know that most people want to read more books but struggle to build the habit? Have you ever told yourself, “I really want to read more, but I just don’t have the time”? You’re not alone. Studies show that about 1 in 4 adults don’t read any books in a year.

The problem isn’t a lack of interest—it’s about finding time and building a simple, enjoyable routine. If you’ve ever felt stuck or distracted, you’re not alone. The good news? You don’t need to read for hours each day to call yourself a reader. In this blog post, you’ll find 15 practical, easy-to-follow tips that will help you develop a reading habit, one small step at a time. Now let’s talk about how we can fall in love with books:-

If you’ve found yourself staring at a stack of unread books with zero motivation to crack one open, you’re not alone. Reading slumps happen to even the most devoted book lovers, but the good news is: they don’t have to last forever. Here are five practical, low-pressure ways to reconnect with your love of reading and get back into the rhythm of turning pages. Sometimes the best way forward is to go back. Pick up a book you’ve already read and adored—something comforting, familiar, and guaranteed to deliver. Reconnecting with characters and stories you love can reignite that emotional spark and remind you why you started reading in the first place.

When reading feels like a chore, giant reading goals can backfire. Instead, commit to something simple—like reading five pages a day or for just 10 minutes before bed. These tiny habits can quickly snowball into momentum, helping you ease back into the flow without pressure or guilt. Who says reading has to be traditional? If standard novels aren’t grabbing your attention, try an audiobook during your commute, a graphic novel with stunning visuals, or even a short story collection you can dip in and out of. A change in format can reset your brain and make reading feel fresh again.

Your space plays a huge role in your mindset. Create a cozy reading nook with a soft blanket, warm drink, and good lighting—or take your book outside for a fresh change of scenery. Turning reading into a ritual or experience helps transform it from obligation into enjoyment. 📚 How to Break Out of a Reading Slump and Fall in Love with Books Again We’ve all been there. You love books, you want to read… but somehow, you just can’t.

You pick up a novel, read a few pages, and put it down. Days go by, and the motivation just isn’t there. That, dear reader, is a reading slump — and it’s more common than you think. But the good news? Slumps don’t last forever. With a few simple, mindful shifts, you can reignite your passion for books and fall back in love with reading — maybe even more deeply than before.

The first step to recovery? Stop forcing yourself to read when it feels like a chore. Reading should be joyful, not another box to check off. Instead of guilt, get curious. Why are you in a slump? Maybe life has been overwhelming.

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Subscribe to my newsletter for tips on close reading, detailed note-taking, and applying bookish wisdom to your life. I talk about fiction and non-fiction, interview literary experts, and host The Read Well Podcast. Subscribe today and build better reading habits. Somewhere along the way, we forgot how to read like children. We used to fall into books with abandon. We'd read under blankets, in tre...

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