How to Break a Reading Rut This Summer: 5 Tips to Rekindle Your Reading Life
Falling out of the habit of reading happens to the best of us. Life gets busy, attention spans wane, and the stack of unread books starts to feel more overwhelming than exciting. If you’re craving a way back into reading this summer check out these five strategies to help you get back into the reading groove.
1. Ease In With Audiobooks
Sometimes, the hardest part is sitting still. That’s where audiobooks come in. They can make reading feel accessible again. Just press play while folding laundry, walking the dog, or watching your kid’s soccer game.
A great narrator can reawaken your imagination, too. Try The Dutch House by Ann Patchett, read by Tom Hanks, or Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Atmosphere, which features three different narrators.
If you’re new to audiobooks, consider using Libro.fm, a platform that supports independent bookstores. Use code “switch” as a new member to get three free audiobooks and start listening.
2. Let Genre Fiction Be Your Gateway
When I’m in a reading slump, I reach for the most page-turning, high-drama genre fiction I can find. A fast-paced thriller, a comforting romance, or a twisty fantasy can feel like pure escape … and that’s the point! These stories often follow familiar beats, so you can relax into the rhythm and just enjoy the ride.
Plus, once you find a genre author you love, you can binge their backlist all summer long. After my first Lisa Jewell book, I devoured every one of her character-driven mysteries. Genre fiction isn’t just a way back into reading, it’s a gateway to rediscovering joy on the page.
3. Read With a Friend
Reading doesn’t have to be solitary. Picking up a book alongside a friend offers built-in accountability and someone to share your hot takes with when you’re done. If you don’t have a reading buddy on standby, we’ve got you covered. Old Town Books hosts a variety of book clubs - from literary fiction to horror - so you can find your people and your next great read all in one place.
4. Start Small (Or Short)
Not ready to tackle a 400-page novel? No problem. Start with poetry, a short story, or a single essay. Reading something short still counts, and often gives you that little spark of accomplishment your brain needs to keep going.
Summer, for some, is filled with only fragments of time for reading - especially if you’re driving kids to camp on the daily or on “vacation” with toddlers. Short pieces fit easily into those in-between times, scratching the reading itch without requiring hours of focus.
Shorter texts are confidence building and a good reminder that hey, you actually like reading!
5. Tackle a Classic (Or a Chunky Nonfiction Title)
On the flip side, if you’re craving a challenge, try conquering a classic or a big history book. Turn it into a summer project: choose your title, count your available reading days, and break it into bite-sized daily goals. Ten pages a day might not sound like much, but by Labor Day, you’ll be amazed at what you’ve finished.
Whether you ease in with an audiobook or set your sights on a doorstopper, the goal is simple: reconnect with the kind of reading that makes you feel like yourself again. This summer, give yourself permission to read however works best for you.
I promise you’ll fall back in love with books, one page at a time.