We’ve all been there- staring at our bookshelves (or never-ending TBR list), feeling completely overwhelmed by choice. With so many amazing books waiting to be read, how do you pick just one?
I’ve been a bookworm for as long as I can remember, and trust me, I’ve had my fair share of “What should I read next?” crises. So, if you’re stuck in a reading slump or just can’t decide on how to choose your next book, here are 12 fun ways that would help you- no stress, just good old bookish fun!
1. Let the Bookstagram Community Decide
When in doubt, ask the book-loving community! Post a poll on Instagram Stories, create a this or that post, or let your followers vote on a stack of books. Not only is this a great way to interact with fellow bookworms, but it also takes the decision-making pressure off you.
I’ve done this multiple times, and my followers always pick the book that’s been gathering dust on my shelf. Bonus: it’s a fun way to boost engagement on Bookstagram!
2. Play TBR Jar
This is one of my absolute favorites! Write the titles of your unread books on slips of paper and toss them into a jar. The next time you’re stuck, pick one at random- no take-backs!
3. Judge a Book by Its Cover
Yes, I know we’re not supposed to do this, but let’s be honest. Sometimes, a gorgeous book cover calls out to us. Give yourself permission to pick a book just because it looks pretty.
Or take it up a notch: pick a book based on its color, aesthetic, or overall vibe. Feeling moody? Go for a dark, gothic cover. Need something cheerful? Pick the brightest book on your shelf!
4. Read a Book That Matches Your Mood
Speaking of vibes- your current mood plays a huge role in what book will click with you.
- Feeling adventurous? Pick a fantasy with epic world-building.
- Need a feel-good story? A cozy romance is your best bet.
- Want to solve a mystery? A gripping thriller will do the trick.
Trust your gut and go with what feels right at the moment. Nothing kills the reading experience faster than forcing yourself to read something you’re not in the mood for!
5. Go With a Friend’s Recommendation
We all have that one friend who won’t stop raving about a book. Maybe it’s time to finally read it?
I love asking my bookish friends for recommendations because they know my taste well. If not ask, I follow their bookstagram, Goodreads profile, or book blogs to see if they’ve loved a book recently. Plus, reading something they loved makes for great discussions later!
6. Try a Book From a Different Genre
If you always stick to one genre (ahem, fantasy lovers), why not switch it up?
- If you love fantasy, try a historical fiction novel.
- If thrillers are your thing, dip your toes into horror.
- If you’re all about romance, maybe a heartfelt contemporary will surprise you.
I recently did this and ended up loving a horror book (which I normally never read!). Sometimes, a fresh perspective is all you need! It was a House of Salt and Sorrow, btw.
7. Read the First Chapter of Three Books
Can’t decide between multiple books? Read the first chapter of three and see which one hooks you instantly.
I’ve found that my gut reaction to the first few pages is a great indicator of whether I’ll enjoy a book. That’s how I picked up my current read called Love, Mom. If one feels like a chore to continue, move on!
8. Pick a Book That Matches the Season
Reading seasonally makes the experience even more immersive!
- Spring: Lighthearted contemporary, romance, or books set in nature
- Summer: Beach reads, travel adventures, or thrilling mysteries
- Fall: Spooky books, gothic horror, or dark academia
- Winter: Cozy fantasy, historical fiction, or heartwarming stories
Right now, I’m all about summer, so my TBR is filled with light, breezy, beach reads. Give it a try. It really enhances the reading mood!
9. Revisit a Comfort Read
Sometimes, the best book to pick is an old favorite. Re-reading a beloved book is like hugging an old friend- it’s familiar, comforting, and guaranteed to be a good experience.
If nothing on your TBR is calling to you, return to a book that made you happy before. It’s the perfect cure for a reading slump! Something like Harry Potter does the trick for me!
10. Let Your Pet, Partner, or Child Choose
For the ultimate random selection, let someone else decide!
- Have your pet sniff out a book (yes, my golden retriever Muffy has done this!)
- Let your baby grab one from the shelf (My little one has excellent taste, by the way!)
- Ask your partner to pick a book they think you’d love
This method adds an element of surprise and makes reading a little more fun!
11. Dive Into a Series or Trilogy
Sometimes, picking a book is easy when you already know you’ll love it. If you’ve started a series but never finished it, now is the perfect time to jump back in!
- Been meaning to read the rest of The Inheritance Games trilogy? Do it!
- Love ACOTAR but never continued? Time for a binge-read!
- That Rose Hill book you skipped? Grab it now!
Series books give you the comfort of familiar characters and an established world, making them an easy choice when you don’t know what to read next.
12. Join a Reading Challenge
A reading challenge gives structure to your TBR, making book selection a breeze.
- Try a year-long challenge like #ReadingWithMuffy (shameless plug!)
- Join a themed challenge—such as reading books from different continents
- Participate in a readathon (like Romanceathon or Spooktober)
Not only do reading challenges help you pick books, but they also make reading more engaging and social. Plus, crossing off prompts is so satisfying!
Don’t Overthink It!
At the end of the day, there’s no wrong way to choose your next book. The key is to make it fun and take the pressure off!
So, which method are you trying next? Let me know in the comments!
Like it? Pin it!
That’s all for now.
This blog post is part of ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’
hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla.
I’ve always struggled with picking my next read, often getting stuck in endless scrolling through Goodreads. Your tips on mood reading and exploring different genres really hit home. I loved how you emphasized not following the hype blindly — been there, done that, and regretted it! The idea of trusting your instincts and reading for joy is something I’ll definitely follow now.
Absolutely a brilliant way to decide the next read for anyone especially in the case when you have too many in hand and dont know which one to go with. I will try the Jar one for sure. Loved it
I certainly like the idea of getting a pet to choose your next read! However, since I don’t have a pet, I have made piles of books to read. I have over 75 in my bookshelf! And some of them are over 20 years old, their pages have turned yellow. So, those ones are high on my list, I don’t want to lose the ink.
This is so helpful, Shalini! I often struggle to pick my next book, but I love the idea of reading the first chapter of three books to see what clicks. I think I’ll try that next time. Thanks for the great tips!
Shalini, your March prompt for the #ReadingwithMuffy challenge has already made me finish 2 books of 400+ pages and I am already on my 3rd one. Can you please write about how to be at ease with a particular genre that does not interest you at all but still you want to explore?
Thanks for sharing such innovative and fun ways to choos your next read. Voting on instagram is the best!
Pinki Bakshi recently posted…Revisiting My School: A Journey Through Time
Choose a book according to the season or let your child or dog pick one for you amuse me. I wish I could read anything other than romance. Life has given me so much heartache and grief that I steer clear of any other read.
Absolutely brilliant way to choose the book. I love the jar idea. I generally go with the colour of the book too.
Loved all your suggestions – some practical, some funny, some quirky 🙂 and all doable! loved the jar idea and the ‘judge a book by its cover brought a big smile to my face :-D. I often switch genres and if I find one slow read then I try to juggle between two.
Such a useful blog post, especially for inherently indecisive ME! I’m always stuck at choosing. Your tips are excellent. I use some of them but still get stuck. I loved the “seasonal” and “mood” tip! Am bookmarking this for future use.
Ratna recently posted…Asha – The Indispensable Help
This is one question which always haunts me everytime I start reaching at the end of the book. Your ideas are really going to be helpful to answer this question!
The struggle of picking the next book is soooo real, I’ve stood in front of my bookshelf way too many times, completely clueless. The TBR jar idea sounds like a game-changer; might just try it to avoid my usual overthinking. Liked all your suggestions.
These are such a refreshing approaches to selecting the next read. You’ve made the whole process both fun and personalized. I particularly like the idea of letting a pet, partner, or child choose a book, adding an element of surprise to the reading journey. This is something I did for your reading challenge last year where I let the prompts take me into genres I’d not tried before. Btw, your suggestion to read the first chapter of three books to see which one resonates is a practical tip I’ll definitely try. Thank you for sharing these creative strategies; they’ve definitely inspired me to explore new methods in choosing my next book!
Manali Desai recently posted…A Birthday Wish Come True
Gosh! I have had the trouble of choosing books, but never realised there are soooooo many ways to choose one. Loved your post, Shalini…Thanks for suggesting so many ways.
I’ve been faced with the ‘what next? ‘ question plenty of times and have actually done things from the pointers you shared. Pick a cover I like (e.g Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book) , re-read old favourites (HP many times), ask my kids or just go with a recommendation. Works well for sure.
This is such a fun post, Shalini. Love the quirky suggestions. I am a mood reader who creates a TBR every month and barely sticks to it. Sometimes it is just eenie meenie minie mo when I am unable to decide.
Wow!! What a fun way to choose next read!!! I am going o use all of them one by one
Thanks for the amaizng tips of choosing the next read. I am choosing books from different genre. and I find the interesting too. Joining reading clubs helps too. I should be more active in those groups though.
These tips are definitely doable and a fun way to choose your next read. Thank you for listing them out for us.
These are some great tips to choose your next book! I totally judge a book by its cover! Guilty as charged! These days, I don’t buy myself more books. I really need a library to manage what I have. I wait for gifts and books for review. So don’t get much choice to do so!