Books to Get You Out of a Reading Slump

This week’s Top 5 Wednesday list (link to the Goodreads group here) are books to get you out of a reading slump.

I think we can all agree that reading slumps are super frustrating. I went through so many reading slumps last year I only read half of what I read the year before. What makes it even more frustrating is that there aren’t a selection of books that help you get out of a slump, because every reader is different and what they like to read is different. For example, I may find a good fantasy book to get me out of a slump, but fantasy books aren’t for everyone. So, this list was difficult but I selected some books that may be good for some for a few different reasons.

1. A Court of Thorns and Roses / A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

Ok, so I feel like I mention this series in every post but that’s only because I LOVE THEM SO MUCH. Once I got into A Court of Thorns and Roses I was hooked and couldn’t put it down. And I thought ACOTAR was good, I had no idea I could love a book even more until I picked up ACOMAF when it came out! There are some who don’t like this series, whether they don’t like fantasy, or the plot, or the characters – everyone has different opinions! Personally, it’s one of my favourite series!

Blurb:
“When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.
As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she’s been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow grows over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it . . . or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.” 

2. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

This is a good book (not just for the plot) but it’s a very short and easy to read book that you can fly through in one sitting. It’s a super cute (very quotable) contemporary about family, friends, and love.

Blurb:
“Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship—the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be.”

3. Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Like Aristotle and Dante, this book is an enjoyable contemporary that may help to end a reading slump. It’s also intriguing as to the identity of the boy the main character is emailing so that part of the story will (hopefully) also keep you reading.

Blurb:
“Sixteen-year-old and not-so-openly gay Simon Spier prefers to save his drama for the school musical. But when an email falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk of being thrust into the spotlight. Now Simon is actually being blackmailed: if he doesn’t play wingman for class clown Martin, his sexual identity will become everyone’s business. Worse, the privacy of Blue, the pen name of the boy he’s been emailing, will be compromised.

With some messy dynamics emerging in his once tight-knit group of friends, and his email correspondence with Blue growing more flirtatious every day, Simon’s junior year has suddenly gotten all kinds of complicated. Now, change-averse Simon has to find a way to step out of his comfort zone before he’s pushed out—without alienating his friends, compromising himself, or fumbling a shot at happiness with the most confusing, adorable guy he’s never met.”

4. Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

I see a lot of people talking about Rowell’s other books such as Fangirl and Eleanor & Park so much more than Attachments (and don’t get me wrong, they are fantastic books) but I thought I’d give a little shout out to Attachments and just how freaking cute this book is! The characters are in their mid-to-late twenties and set in 1999 (so if you are a little older or want a perspective that aren’t teenagers this is perfect).

Blurb:
“Hi, I’m the guy who reads your e-mail, and also, I love you . . . “
Beth Fremont and Jennifer Scribner-Snyder know that somebody is monitoring their work e-mail. (Everybody in the newsroom knows. It’s company policy.) But they can’t quite bring themselves to take it seriously. They go on sending each other endless and endlessly hilarious e-mails, discussing every aspect of their personal lives.
Meanwhile, Lincoln O’Neill can’t believe this is his job now- reading other people’s e-mail. When he applied to be “internet security officer,” he pictured himself building firewalls and crushing hackers- not writing up a report every time a sports reporter forwards a dirty joke.
When Lincoln comes across Beth’s and Jennifer’s messages, he knows he should turn them in. But he can’t help being entertained-and captivated-by their stories.
By the time Lincoln realises he’s falling for Beth, it’s way too late to introduce himself.
What would he say . . . ?

5. A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket

These are children books but they’re super easy to read and can get through them in one sitting. I’m actually reading them at the moment (I’m up to the 5th book out of 13). I started reading them because of the TV show but they’re slowly getting my out of a slump I think I was falling into. They’re so easy to pick up and get through!

Blurb:
“Dear Reader,
I’m sorry to say that the book you are holding in your hands is extremely unpleasant. It tells an unhappy tale about three very unlucky children. Even though they are charming and clever, the Baudelaire siblings lead lives filled with misery and woe. From the very first page of this book when the children are at the beach and receive terrible news, continuing on through the entire story, disaster lurks at their heels. One might say they are magnets for misfortune.
In this short book alone, the three youngsters encounter a greedy and repulsive villain, itchy clothing, a disastrous fire, a plot to steal their fortune, and cold porridge for breakfast.
It is my sad duty to write down these unpleasant tales, but there is nothing stopping you from putting this book down at once and reading something happy, if you prefer that sort of thing.
With all due respect,
Lemony Snicket”

 

So there are some books that may help you out of a reading slump! Let me know some other good books to get you out of a reading slump 🙂