Reading has become a popular hobby in the past few years thanks, in part, to social media. If you look at almost any platform you will find hundreds of people jumping on the reader bandwagon.
So, how do you become a reader when you’ve never been the kind to sit down and read a book unless it was for school?
Figure Out What Authors and Genres You Enjoy
Everyone has their own tastes in authors and books. There are hundreds of genres and sub-genres in the world to explore and thousands of amazing authors who write in those genres.
Not every book is for every reader. This why it’s important to figure out which genres you enjoy. Some people really enjoy sweet, breezy romances, while others prefer hard-hitting crime stories. Or you might find that enjoy several genres. For example, I tend to read Historical Fiction, Mysteries, Thrillers, and sometimes Nonfiction.
The best way to figure out which genres you enjoy, is to go to he library and check out any books that sound interesting. Then take them home and give them a shot. Make note of the books you do like and what genres they belong to. Then look for books that fall in that same genre.
Open A Goodreads Account
Goodreads is a great tool for both newbie and life-long readers to track their reading and find new books, plus it completely free.
To start a Goodreads account all you need is an email and your name. You will also need to give your date of birth so that they can verify that you are at least 13 years old.
I absolutely love Goodreads. There are so many amazing features like the ability to review and rate books and receive recommendations based on your ratings, and they have lots book giveaways.
(No this post is not sponsored by Goodreads. I just really like their platform.)
Join A Book Group
There are people all over the world who love to discuss books, so there are tons of book-related groups both online and in person.
If you’re looking for something in person, do a little research and see what kind of groups are available in your area. Your local library may also have groups available to join.
If you prefer to be apart of an online group, Facebook is full of groups dedicated to all things bookish.
Plus, other readers are usually bursting with book recommendations, tips, and lots, and lots of thoughts on books.
Set Reading Goals
Setting realistic goals is a great way to get you into the habit of reading. There are several different type of goals that readers set for themselves some of the most popular ones are:
- Number of Books
- Number of Pages
- No Rereads (Only reading books you’ve never read before)
- Genre Challenge
I usually set a number of books goal for myself every year. This year my goal is 40 books.
Don’t feel like your goal has to be the same as everyone else’s goals. Some people read faster than others. While others simply have lot more free time. So just set goals that work for you.
Share Your Journey
Bookstagram and Booktok are growing everyday. When you feel confident enough, start sharing your journey.
It’s super encouraging to see new readers sharing with the book community.
Here’s a link to my Bookstagram.
Final Thoughts
I hope this helps you on your journey to becoming a reader.
If you’ve just started becoming a reader, congratulations! I would love to hear about your journey so far. You can send me an email here.
Happy Reading!
I personally love to read but appreciate your suggestions nonetheless!
I love to read but often struggle to find the time.
Not being able to find time to read can be difficult and frustrating. I used be a teacher so I understand being busy and not be able to find the time in your schedule. Here’s a link to another post I wrote that may help. When You Don’t Have Time To Read
I used to be a really good reader but now I struggle to get started on a book. Thanks for these ideas to help get back to it.
I love to read. I can’t imagine a world without books! Your suggestions are good and I would also suggest audio books for those who may struggle with actually sitting down with a book in hand.