You may be reading this article because you are curious about reading more books, or you may have just stumbled upon this article while browsing the internet. Regardless of the how you came across this article, you are here and as a reader, I am ecstatic. I want to preface this article by stating that reading is for everyone, and it knows no true rules, however, there can be guidelines to help you on your reading journey. Here are a few foundational tips that have helped me throughout my reading journey, and I believe they will help you.  

Find what interests you.

When you watch movies or TV shows, what interests you? Do you enjoy romance movies or sports? Do you enjoy action-packed movies and shows? Are you interested in crime-filled movies and shows? What caught your attention in school? Write these down in the notes app on your phone — it’ll help you when you’re browsing the bookstore and eliminate a little bit of the decision fatigue we all face. Depending on your responses, I can promise you there is a book that will meet your interests. Start by going to a local bookstore, check out the different sections, and give yourself time to pick up books. Some may catch your attention because of the cover — but like what the popular phrase says, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” Because a book can truly surprise you.  

Visit your local library.

Make note of what books you like and see if your local library has them in stock. This helps you feel less pressured to spend money on a book that you may or may not like! There are also library apps such as Libby, Hoopla, and Cloud Library, where you can use your library credentials and browse and read books on e-readers.   

Watch book-related videos.

Watch YouTube videos about books. This section on YouTube is called “BookTube” where individuals create videos about books. These individuals have helped me discover new book recommendations.  

• Alexa Raye 

• Allyssa Marie 

• Cari Can Read 

• Destiny Sidwell 

• Julie Boni 

• Haley Pham 

• Rachel Catherine 

• Sara Carrolli 

• Sophie Jayne 

• Steph Bohrer 

• Victoria Villanueva 

Listen to audiobooks.

To be transparent, I disliked audiobooks because I always thought reading a physical book was the way to go. To some extent, holding a book does feel great. Yet I developed an appreciation for audiobooks as life became too busy to sit down and read. When reading, have headphones on as it makes it easier to listen to while moving around. I have seen people listen to audiobooks while they clean, commute to and from places, do homework, and walk outside. You can listen to an audiobook wherever you are. Make sure you are in quiet and safe environments while listening. If you are going on a walk, make sure you are still able to hear outside noises, and if you are driving, make sure you are paying attention to the road ahead of you.   

There are apps that you can download audiobooks to your mobile device. Spotify offers 15 hours of listening time per month for premium members. Libby is a free service offered by public libraries and it offers audiobooks as well. On Audible, Amazon Prime members can access a select number of free audiobooks with an extra membership. Libro.fm is an online library database where members can buy a book but portions of every purchase are shared directly to your local independently owned bookstore. Everand is another audiobook subscription service where members can access their online library database.  

Document your reading.

Personally, I always feel a little sad after finishing a book, but at the same time there is an incredible feeling to finishing a book and seeing your “read” list get longer. But once that list gets longer and longer, you end up forgetting the stories you once remembered so well. Document your reading journey by using reading trackers such as Goodreads or Fable. These two both are unique apps that make reading much more memorable.  

Aside from using reading trackers, you can also write up reviews for the books. There are no specific rules to writing reviews — just write what you are feeling at the moment and your initial thoughts on the book. You’ll appreciate being able to look back at your reviews and reminisce on how you felt at the time. You can also keep a journal and write out your thoughts while you are reading, you can do this as well with the reading trackers too.  

Now, I am sure there are many more different tips that could be added onto this list, but as someone who can get overwhelmed by too much information, I wanted to make sure that this list was not overwhelming for you. This list is a strong core list of foundational tips that anyone from any reading level can take and apply to their own personal reading journeys. Pick and choose a few of these to help make your reading experience that much more personal and memorable. Happy reading friends!