Getting into reading and finding the types of books you like can be overwhelming. There are so many different genres – romance, mystery, fantasy, thriller, science fiction and even more that branch out from the main few genres. Having all types of information thrown at you by bookstagrammers and booktokers can be intimidating, but just take a deep breath and follow these simple tips.
Find out what you’re interested in
If you only want to read one specific genre, you need to dig a little and figure out what other types of media you like to consume. If you like watching romcoms, then I’d say find some contemporary romance books; if you’re into fantasy shows and movies then you should definitely check out fantasy or sci-fi books. There’s books in just about any genre you want, you just have to find them. If you’re not sure what you want to read then I would look up some popular books and check those out to start figuring out what you may like.
Have an open mind
Not every book that’s published is an award-winner, so you may find a few that aren’t amazing. Don’t let that discourage you though. All writers have to start somewhere and just like everyone else, they’re still growing and perfecting their profession as well. Some of the best books I’ve read are cute, short novels; they may not have been written at a Shakespearean level, but they were still great.
Follow booktokers and bookstagrammers
I know I said earlier that it may be intimidating to follow these accounts, but it can also be really helpful when finding new books to read. They’re always posting about books they’ve read and their recommendations, so it’s a great way to hear other people’s thoughts on the book before buying it. They are also usually diverse in the types of books they recommend, so you just have to do a little searching to find the right account for you.
Visit bookstores or libraries
Visiting bookstores or libraries can give you more opportunities to check out books you may not usually find. Libraries have every kind of book you could possibly want, so they’re great for browsing and reading all types of literature. Not every bookstore has every possible book available, so checking out a few different ones can open your eyes to something new.
Thrifting or Online?
Other options for finding books could also be thrift stores or books online. Thrift stores are a cheaper option than buying books brand new and you can sometimes even find interesting vintage books. There are even websites that thrift books like thriftbooks.com and goodwillbooks.com. If reading hard copies of books isn’t your thing, there’s also always the option to read online. Companies like Kindle have thousands of books and you won’t have to worry about taking up a lot of space like you would with physical books.
If you’re able to get through a few bad books and figure out what you like to read, it can be one of the most fun hobbies to have. Getting lost in a story and spending hours reading can be relaxing and even magical sometimes. Reading may not be everyone’s favorite hobby, but if you give it a chance it could open your eyes to a whole new world.
APN 