Ever felt totally lost in a bookstore, surrounded by thousands of books but somehow unable to find anything that grabs you? Yeah, me too. As someone who reads about 80 books a year (I know, it’s slightly ridiculous), I’ve developed a pretty good system for finding my next favorite books, and I’m excited to share it with you!
Last week, I was standing in my local indie bookshop for like 45 minutes, completely overwhelmed by choices. And I realized – if I struggle with this, and I’m basically a professional reader at this point, how must it feel for someone who just wants a good book for their vacation?
How to Find Your Next Favorite Books When You’re in a Reading Rut
We’ve all been there. You finish an amazing book, and suddenly nothing else compares. Every book you pick up feels… meh. This is what I call the “book hangover,” and it can be brutal.
About three years ago, I finished Madeline Miller’s “Circe” and literally couldn’t read anything else for two weeks. Every book I picked up felt flat in comparison. So I’ve learned a few tricks to find your next favorite books even when you’re coming off a literary high.
The key is to not try to replicate the exact same reading experience (you can’t!), but instead find something that scratches a similar itch while offering something fresh.
Know Your Reading Personality
Before you can find your next favorite books, you need to understand what kind of reader you are. This was a total game-changer for me.
There are basically four main reading personalities I’ve observed:
- The Plot Seeker – You read primarily for the story. You want things to happen, and you get bored with too much description or introspection.
- The Character Dweller – You read to connect with characters. You don’t mind a slower plot if you’re invested in the people.
- The World Explorer – You love immersing yourself in detailed worlds and settings. Fantasy and sci-fi often appeal to this type.
- The Language Lover – You’re drawn to beautiful writing and can forgive plot issues if the prose is gorgeous.
I’m primarily a Character Dweller with a side of Language Lover. Understanding this helped me stop picking up fast-paced thrillers just because everyone was talking about them, when deep down I knew I preferred character-driven literary fiction.
So… which one are you? (Or are you a mix, like most of us?)
Break Out of Your Genre Comfort Zone
Sometimes the best way to find your next favorite books is to try something completely different. I was stuck in a literary fiction loop for YEARS until a friend basically forced me to read N.K. Jemisin’s “The Fifth Season.”
I had this silly prejudice against fantasy books (thought they were all elves and dragons), but Jemisin’s book completely blew my mind. Now fantasy novels make up about 25% of my reading diet, and I’m constantly finding new favorite books in genres I previously ignored.
Try this: Look at your last 10 reads. If more than 7 are in the same genre, your next book should be something completely different.
Use Technology (But Don’t Rely On It Completely)
There are so many tools now to help find your next favorite books! But they’re not perfect.
I’m a huge fan of StoryGraph (Goodreads alternative with better recommendations), but I’ve noticed that algorithm-based recommendations tend to put you in a narrower and narrower reading path. They show you more of what you’ve liked before, which might not help you discover truly different books.
My approach is to use tech tools to create a shortlist, then ask actual humans (booksellers, librarians, or that one friend with great taste) for their input.
Where to Find Trustworthy Book Reviews
Not all book reviews are created equal, and finding ones that align with your taste is crucial to discover your next favorite books.
Beyond the Bestseller Lists
I used to rely solely on bestseller lists to find my next favorite books. Big mistake. Huge.
Bestseller lists tell you what’s popular, not necessarily what’s good. And popularity often has more to do with marketing budgets than quality. There are SO MANY amazing books flying under the radar that never make these lists.
Don’t get me wrong—sometimes books are bestsellers because they’re genuinely excellent. But I’ve found some of my absolute favorite books by looking beyond these lists.
For example, “A Gentleman in Moscow” by Amor Towles wasn’t initially a huge bestseller but became one of my all-time favorites after a bookseller recommendation. Now I recommend it to basically everyone I meet (sorry, friends).
Bookstagram and BookTok: Separating Hype from Quality
Social media has revolutionized how we find your next favorite books, but it comes with challenges. I follow about 50 bookstagram accounts, and let me tell you – it took some serious curation to find the ones that match my taste.
I’ve notice a lot of BookTok recommendations tend to follow trends (dark academia, romantasy, etc.), which is fine if that’s what you’re into! But sometimes a book goes viral for reasons that have little to do with its actual quality.
My advice? Find reviewers who:
- Mention both positives AND negatives about books
- Review a variety of genres
- Don’t just post the same super-popular titles as everyone else
- Have similar reading preferences to yours
I absolutely adore @theliterapist on Instagram because she reads widely and her taste overlaps with mine about 80% of the time. When she raves about a book, I almost always enjoy it too.
Professional Review Sources Worth Your Time
While I love social media for book discovery, there’s still value in professional reviews. These are my go-to sources to find your next favorite books:
- NPR Books – They cover an incredible range of titles, including many from small presses that might otherwise be overlooked.
- Book Riot – Less formal than traditional review sites, with great themed lists to help you find your next favorite books based on specific interests.
- Literary Hub – For more literary readers, their reviews and essays go deep.
- The Storygraph – Not just for tracking your reading, their review community is thoughtful and less marketing-driven than Goodreads.
Personalized Reading Pathways to Find Your Next Favorite Books
Let me share some custom reading paths that might help you find your next favorite books, based on what you’ve enjoyed before.
If You Loved “The Secret History,” Try This Path:
- “If We Were Villains” by M.L. Rio (most similar vibe)
- “Black Chalk” by Christopher J. Yates (darker academic thriller)
- “The Likeness” by Tana French (mystery with tight-knit group dynamics)
- “Bunny” by Mona Awad (for something more experimental but still dark academia)
I followed this exact path after my “Secret History” obsession phase, and each book satisfied something similar while still feeling fresh.
For Romance Readers Looking to Branch Out:
If you typically read romance but want to expand while still getting those emotional payoffs:
- “The Heart’s Invisible Furies” by John Boyne (has romantic elements but is more literary)
- “This Is How You Lose the Time War” by Amal El-Mohtar & Max Gladstone (sci-fi with beautiful love story)
- “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” by Taylor Jenkins Reid (historical fiction with romance at its core)
For Thriller Fans Seeking Something Different:
If you live for psychological thrillers but want to try something new:
- “Piranesi” by Susanna Clarke (mysterious setting, puzzlebox story)
- “Mexican Gothic” by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (horror with thriller pacing)
- “The Silent Patient” by Alex Michaelides (psychological thriller with literary elements)
Habits of Successful Readers
After years of talking with other bookworms, I’ve noticed that people who consistently find their next favorite books share certain habits.
Track Your Reading (But Not Too Obsessively)
I’ve been using a reading journal for about 5 years now, and it’s been invaluable for identifying patterns in what I enjoy. But I’ve also seen friends get so caught up in tracking their reading that it becomes a chore.
My system is simple: I note the title, author, when I finished it, a 1-10 rating, and 2-3 sentences about why I did or didn’t enjoy it.
Looking back at these notes has revealed patterns I never would have noticed otherwise. For instance, I discovered that I consistently rate books higher when they have:
- Morally complex characters
- Distinctive narrative voice
- Subtle humor mixed with serious themes
This self-knowledge helps me find my next favorite books more consistently.
The “50 Page Rule” and When to Break It
Life’s too short for books you’re not enjoying, right? After struggling through too many books I wasn’t connecting with, I adopted the 50 page rule: if I’m not engaged after 50 pages, I give myself permission to abandon the book.
But! There are exceptions. Some of my absolute favorite books were slow starters that required patience. “Wolf Hall” by Hilary Mantel took me three attempts and about 80 pages before it clicked, and then it became one of my all-time favorites.
So my modified rule is: Give a book 50 pages. If you’re not enjoying it but sense there’s something worthwhile there, try another 25-50 pages before deciding.
Reading Across Formats
Don’t limit yourself to just one format when trying to find your next favorite books! I used to be a print-only purist, but now I read across formats depending on the situation:
- Physical books for weekend reading and special books I want to keep
- E-books for travel and immediate gratification (late-night book buying… we’ve all been there)
- Audiobooks for commutes and household chores
Some books actually work better in different formats. I found Cormac McCarthy’s work hard to get through in print but captivating as audiobooks. Meanwhile, complex fantasy with lots of made-up names and places is usually easier for me to follow in print.
Experiment with different formats – you might find that your next favorite books work better for your lifestyle in a format you haven’t fully explored.
Creating Your “To Be Read” Strategy
Having a mountain of unread books can feel overwhelming rather than exciting. Here’s how I manage my TBR to make sure I’m consistently finding my next favorite books:
The “Rule of 3” Approach
I use what I call the “Rule of 3” to keep my reading fresh and balanced:
At any given time, I try to be reading:
- One book that challenges me
- One book purely for entertainment
- One book that teaches me something new
This system helps me avoid reading slumps and ensures I’m engaging with different kinds of books. It’s dramatically increased how many “new favorite books” I discover each year.
Seasonal Reading Plans
I’ve found that aligning my reading with the seasons helps me connect more deeply with books. There’s something magical about reading a cozy mystery during the first snowfall or a sun-drenched family drama at the beach.
My seasonal approach:
- Spring: Books about renewal, growth, or fresh starts
- Summer: Adventure stories, travel memoirs, beach reads
- Fall: Academic settings, atmospheric books, family sagas
- Winter: Reflective books, epics, cozy mysteries
This approach has led me to find my next favorite books at just the right moment, when I’m emotionally primed to connect with them.
Final Thoughts: Finding Joy in the Search
The beauty of reading is that we never run out of new worlds to explore. Each book opens doors to others, creating an endless, wonderful journey.
My most treasured books have rarely been the ones everyone was talking about. Instead, they’ve been quiet discoveries: the book recommended by the passionate bookseller, the forgotten paperback found in a vacation rental, or the title mentioned offhand by a friend.
The search for your next favorite books shouldn’t feel like a chore – it’s an adventure in itself. Embrace the exploration, follow your curiosity, and remember that sometimes the most meaningful books find us when we’re not even looking.
What was the last book that became an unexpected favorite for you? And what are you hoping to find in your next favorite read?
Happy reading, friends. May your TBR pile be ever taller and your discoveries ever richer.
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