Building Your Summer Reading List: Tips to Choose Your Next Great Read

It's time to build your summer reading list! Sometimes I get overwhelmed with so many options out there. How do you decide what to read next? Today I'm going to share some tips to help you pick your next great read.

1. Identify your Interests

Think about the genres you love - whether it's fiction, non-fiction, mystery, fantasy, sci-fi, or Romance. Also consider themes or topics that currently pique your interest like historical events, self-improvement, or space exploration. It would be interesting to have a theme for your whole summer reading list! For example, if you're interested in World War II, you could pick novels with an Espionage character, novels about life on the home front, or a romance novel between a soldier and and his woman. You could also include a non-fiction book about the war, or the story behind the poem "In Flanders Fields."

2. Consider your Mood

Are you in the mood for something light and fun? or something deep and thought-provoking? Your current mood can heavily influence your reading experience.

If you're in the mood for light and fun, you could consider an all-romance novel summer but put a twist on it - choose books from different time periods. What were romance novels like in the '60s, ' 70s, and '80s.

3. Set your Goals

What do you want to get out of your next book? Are you looking to learn something new? Escape reality? or get inspired?

How about considering an all biography summer? You could choose all biographies about women, or all biographies about men, or movie stars, or scientists, or artists.

4. Check Recommendations

Ask friends and family, or dive into online communities like Goodreads or book forums. You'd be surprised at how many great recommendations you can find from fellow book enthusiasts. With the "To Be Read" planner pages I have created, there's a spot for you to write why you want to read a particular book; so if you get a great recommendation you can jot down that Aunt Nancy said this was an insightful book about feminism in the '70s.

5. Browse Bestseller List and Award Winners

Lists like the New York Times bestsellers, or The Pulitzer Prize winners, often feature highly

acclaimed books that might just become your next favorite read. How about all the bestsellers that you might have missed out on? You can look up bestseller lists, old and new, and choose from there.

6. Read Reviews and Summaries

Platforms like Goodreads and Amazon have plenty of reviews, and reading a few can give you a sense of whether the book will suit your taste. When I'm searching for books at the online bookstore I definitely skip down to what the people have said about the book. It feels like a friend giving you their latest book advice.

7. The Author's Reputation

If you've loved books by certain authors in the past, see if they have new releases or other works you haven't explored yet. This is a good tip that I have used in the past. Sometimes you find a book you love and you just want to stay with that author and devour everything they've written. Especially if they have their own series that you haven't heard about!

8. Sample the Book

Read the first few pages or a sample chapter. Sometimes you'll know within a few pages if the book is for you. Once in a while I will do this just to get a sense of the author's writing style. There are some styles of writing that I just don't like, no matter how interesting the book might have been.

9. Consider the Length

Think about how much time you have. If you're busy, a shorter book might be perfect. Short stories can be fulfilling too. Some notable short story authors are Ernest Hemingway, Alice Monroe, William Faulkner, and Jack London.

10. Visit Libraries and Bookstores

Spend some time browsing. Sometimes a book cover, or a random flip through its pages can catch your interest, I know when I'm totally lost I love looking at the cover of a book to help me choose, but I definitely have to have a look inside because a beautiful outside does not always mean a good inside.

11. Diversify your Reading

Challenge yourself to read different genres or authors from different cultures. It's a great way to broaden your horizons. While I have mentioned some genres here, a quick search for a list of book genres can help you discover more. Have a little fun doing some research to make your list.

12. Reflect on Past Reads

Think about what you liked or disliked about books you've read recently. Use those insights to guide your next choice, and to remember authors that you have enjoyed in the past, to find your next book

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So there you have it! 12 tips to help you choose your next book. Don't forget to visit my Shop to get the "To Be Read" list I've created just for you.

Happy Reading,

Tricia

Everlea Journal