• Home
  • BOOKS
  • Coming Soon
    • About Roni
    • Press Kit
    • FAQ
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Blog
  • Classes & Coaching
  • Events
  • Contact
Menu

Roni Loren

Street Address
City, State, Zip
Phone Number
New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author

Your Custom Text Here

Roni Loren

  • Home
  • BOOKS
  • Coming Soon
  • About
    • About Roni
    • Press Kit
    • FAQ
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Blog
  • Classes & Coaching
  • Events
  • Contact

Breaking Out of a Reading Slump: It's Not You, Book. It's Me.

January 15, 2016 Roni Loren

Normally, Fridays are reserved for Friday Reads. This isn't going to be a Friday Reads post. Why? Because I'm afraid I might be in that dreaded zone we readers hate: The Reading Slump. But...I'm not sure.

Anyone ever go through that? Where you can't tell if you're truly in a slump or it's just that you've picking books that don't grab you?

I've read some non-fiction lately, and that's been fine. But I've been uninspired when it comes to picking up the fiction book I'm about 100 pages into. There's nothing bad about the book. And I LOVED the author's previous book. But I find myself putting it down and not going back. And I haven't moved onto another book because I feel like I'm still "reading" this one and I don't jump around with fiction books. I read one then move on (or decide it's not for me and move on.) A serial monogamist. ;)

But I think I've been reluctant to move on with this one because I can't tell if it's the book or if it's just that I'm in some sort of reading slump. The last book I read and loved (Land of the Beautiful Dead) was back in November. That's a long time for me not to find a book that I'm excited about (especially when I'm on a writing break and have the time to read more.) So that's what makes me wonder if I'm in a reading slump. 

Signs of a reading slump

 

1. You keep putting down the book you're reading.

2. You browse through your TBR pile and nothing really grabs you.

3. You're not thinking about getting back to a book when you get a minute to yourself.

 

Ugh. Reading slumps are no good, right? It's depressing. Reading is one of my favorite things to do and I don't want to feel meh about it. So I've come up with a plan to get myself out of the slump. 

 

Getting Out of The Slump

 

1. Move on to another book, even if you think there may be nothing particularly wrong with the one you're reading.

Maybe it really is the book. Put the book you're reading aside. You may go back to it one day, but right now it's back on the shelf in limbo mode. Life is too short to force yourself to read a book that isn't working for you (no matter the reason). <--This is something I have to tell myself constantly. I have a hard time walking away from a book unless I outright HATE it. 

2. Pick something in a different genre or subgenre than what your current read is.

Maybe it's the wrong genre for you at the moment--like it's a sweet contemporary and you really need something darker right now or something with explosions! Or maybe life is chaotic and you need something quieter to read than the thriller or whatever it is you're reading.

3. Get a recommendation from someone who has book tastes you trust.

Find that friend or book blogger that is your reading twin. They usually love what you love. Get suggestions from them on the last book that blew them away.

4. Reread an old favorite.

Sometimes you need a sure thing. Pick up that book that you know is going to make you happy. (This one doesn't work as well for me because I'm not a re-reader, no matter how much I love a book. Weird, I know.)

5. Pick an author who usually doesn't let you down.

This is when favorite authors can come in and save the day. Your odds for liking the book are higher if you've read and loved their other stuff.

6. Commit to picking up another book.

Sometimes I find that when I'm in a reading slump, it takes a lot of energy to go and pick out a new book to read. It's like I'm reluctant to get into another disappointing relationship. But just like in life, you've got to put yourself back out there, lol. So make yourself pick up something else and something else until you find that book that grabs you, woos you, and takes you to bed. Wait, we're still talking about books, right? Maybe I took that metaphor too far. ;)

Okay, those are some tactics to help. For me, I'm going to take my own advice and put down this current book and move on. Maybe it's me and not the book, but it's clearly not the right book for me right now. We shall see if the next one fixes this. :)

So, have you ever been in a reading slump? What did you do to get out of it? Any tips to add? And what book have you read lately that was amazing and is sure to get someone out of a slump? 

 

In Books, Reading Tags reading slump, book slump, reading, readers, how to read more, read more books, roni loren, reading tips, TBR pile
← What I'm Loving: Tiny Planner Stickers & Erasable Pens That Actually Work Digital Detox: 3 Things I'm Doing to Tame the Social Media Habit & Reclaim Focus →

LATEST RELEASE

The new edition is here! Find out more

Now available! Find out more!

Add to Goodreads


series starters

“Intelligent, sweet, and fun, this romance succeeds on all levels.” —Publishers Weekly STARRED review Find out more

“Intelligent, sweet, and fun, this romance succeeds on all levels.” —Publishers Weekly STARRED review Find out more

An Entertainment Weekly, Kirkus, and Amazon Best Romance of the year Find out more

An Entertainment Weekly, Kirkus, and Amazon Best Romance of the year Find out more

Winner for Best Erotic Romance of the year! Find out more about the Pleasure Principle series

Winner for Best Erotic Romance of the year! Find out more about the Pleasure Principle series

The first in the long-running Loving on the Edge erotic romance series. Find out more

The first in the long-running Loving on the Edge erotic romance series. Find out more


 Subscribe

My Happy For Now Newsletter

Find me Online


free reading  journal!

A reading journal designed for romance readers!

A reading journal designed for romance readers! Free with newsletter sign-up.


Previous Posts
  • March 2025
  • November 2024
  • June 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • March 2023
  • January 2023
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • July 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • October 2020
  • August 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
Return Home

Powered by Squarespace

Site and text © 2008-2025 Roni Loren - Photos are either by the author, purchased from stock sites, or (where attributed) Creative Commons. Linkbacks, pins, and shares are always appreciated, but with the exception of promotional material (book covers, official author photo, book summaries), please do not repost material in full without permission.  And though I do not accept sponsored content for this site (all my recommendations are personal recommendations), there are some affiliate links. All Amazon and iBooks links are affiliate links.