How to Choose Your Next Book (When You Don't Know What to Read)

Deciding what to read next can sometimes feel surprisingly overwhelming when choosing your next book. Sometimes I get overwhelmed with so many options out there. So how do you decide what to read next?

If you're feeling a little stuck, these gentle tips will help you choose your next great read and begin building a reading list that truly reflects your interests, mood, and curiosity.

1. Start with your Interests When Choosing Your Next Book

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.

I think it would be fun to give your summer reading list a theme! For historical-fiction lovers, you could choose novels set in medieval villages, atmospheric Victorian streets, or stories of explorers and artists in faraway eras. You might even add in a nonfiction book that matches the time period—something about daily life, gardens, crafts, or traditions. It’s a lovely way to let your entire summer feel like a journey into the past.

2. Let Your Mood Guide You

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?

Or you could spend a month wandering through Regency love stories, another lost in Victorian seaside romances, or tales of star-crossed lovers on the frontier. You could add in a nonfiction book about fashion, gardens, or society from that era to enrich the journey. A whole summer wrapped in nostalgia and love.

3. Decide What You Want From the Book

What do you want to get out of your next book? Are you hoping to learn something new, escape reality for a little while, or spark a fresh wave of inspiration?

In this case, you might consider making it an all-biography summer. There’s something magical about stepping into the real lives of others. You could focus on biographies of remarkable women, influential men, the lives of inventors and scientists, or iconic actors and actresses. Or take it in a cozier direction—biographies of gardeners, naturalists, writers, or quiet everyday heroes whose lives echo the kind of intentional living you love. You can explore a new life with each book, and by the end of summer, you’ve gathered a whole bouquet of real stories that stay with you.

If you’d like a little inspiration to begin, I've gathered a collection of thoughtful reads in "A Summer Reading list to Nourish Your Spirit"

4. Look at Reviews and Reader Recommendations

Ask friends and family, or dive into online communities like Goodreads, or look into book forums. You'd be surprised at how many great recommendations you can find from fellow book enthusiasts. With my Bookstore themed TBR planner pages that I have created, there's a spot for you to write why you want to read a particular book; so that if you don't get to it right away months later you can remember why you wanted to read it.

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.

5. Explore Bestseller Lists and Award Winners

Lists like the New York Times bestsellers or the Pulitzer Prize winners often highlight highly acclaimed books that could easily become your next favourite read.

Why not explore the bestsellers you missed? I know I don’t follow the list every year—life gets busy, and reading seasons come and go. It can be fun to look back at past bestseller lists and choose a few titles you never got around to. You might discover stories that slipped past you the first time but feel perfect for you now.

6. Follow Authors You Already Love

If you’ve loved books by certain authors in the past, take a moment to see if they have new releases or older titles you haven’t explored yet. This is one of my favourite little reading tips. Sometimes you find a book that speaks to you so deeply that you just want to stay with that author’s voice for a while and devour everything they’ve written. And if they happen to have a whole series you didn’t know about? That’s pure reading delight.

7. Browse Libraries and Bookstores 

Spend a little time browsing. Sometimes a book cover will catch your eye — and when I’m feeling overwhelmed with choices or unsure what to read next, I love letting a pretty cover guide me. But I always flip through a few pages too. You can often tell right away if the book feels like the right match. There are certain writing styles that simply don’t resonate with me, no matter how intriguing the storyline might be. After all, a pretty outside doesn’t always match the inside. Choosing by feel — both the cover and the first lines — often leads to the most satisfying reads. Plus I still love the smell of the bookstore.

8. Consider the Length of the Book

Think about how much time you have. Some seasons call for long, immersive novels, while others are better suited to something shorter and more manageable. Short stories are a lovely option too—they deliver a complete, meaningful experience without the commitment of a full-length book. Authors like Ernest Hemingway, Alice Munro, William Faulkner, and Jack London have collections that offer rich, memorable reading in small, meaningful doses.

9. Try Something Outside Your Usual Genres

Finally, challenge yourself to try something new. Explore genres you’ve never picked up before or authors from different cultures and perspectives. It’s a wonderful way to broaden your horizons and discover unexpected favourites. While I’ve mentioned a few genres here, there are countless more waiting to be explored—have fun doing a little research as you hunt for your next book and build your TBR list.

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Books have a wonderful way of meeting us exactly where we are. Some seasons invite long immersive novels, while others call for short stories or thoughtful nonfiction. However you choose your next read, the most important thing is that it sparks your curiosity and invites you into another world for a little while.

Looking for more reading inspiration? Visit my Seasonal Chapters page to explore all the curated lists and bookish ideas I've shared.

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Happy Reading,

Everlea Journal