A new year means a new reading goal that you are most likely already behind on. Don’t worry, I am too. Whether your goal is 10 or 100 books, the task can seem daunting, so I’ve compiled some advice that can make your goal a little more achievable. 

For starters, find your genre. Try to look into trending and classic books in different genres to get yourself a good first taste of that genre. Four genres that I personally recommend include fantasy, romance, horror, and LGBTQIA+. Within those genres, some books that I think are good starting points include Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros (fantasy), Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood (romance), The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson (horror), and The Color Purple by Alice Walker (LGBTQIA+).

Once you’ve gotten down what it is you enjoy reading, I recommend using a book tracking app. I use Goodreads and The Storygraph. Goodreads functions as a social media app where you can keep track of your own and your friends’ reading. The Storygraph creates different charts to help you visualize the data about the books you have read including data about genres, length, and mood. I find that logging my reading helps keep me motivated. 

With that in mind, you should never force yourself to get through a book. Reading for pleasure is different from reading for school. Stop reading something you are not enjoying: that’s the easiest way to put yourself in a reading slump. Save yourself some torture and pick up something you’ll enjoy more. 

And remember: reading is a hobby, not a competition. If you cannot commit to reading every night or you know you will not reach your goal by December, there is no shame in lowering your goals. Not only does everyone do it, but it is your business, and no one else’s. Have fun reading and do what’s best for you.

Allison Marchand

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