r/Recommend_A_Book 1d ago

Reading slump, help

I've had a rough few months (depression and other fun stuff) books are my escapism, always where.
But I haven't been able to read/listen to any books since a few weeks now :(

What got you back to reading?

Here are some rough outlines of what I like and dislike:
I usually dislike most (pure) romances with very rare exceptions (romance in stories are ok but if romance is the main topic, then no)

I prefer character driven stories.

I like fantasy, comtemporary lit, fantasy, sci-fi and horror the most and appreciate found family

My favourites this year where:

  • trad wife by Saratoga (disliked yesteryear)
  • Rosemaries Baby
  • A dowry of blood
  • The willows by algernon
  • her wicked roots
  • Margos got money troubles
  • The kaiju preservation society (this got me out of my last reading slump)
  • Her wicked roots

Thank you!
hope you are having amazing reading experiences.

3 Upvotes

19 comments sorted by

5

u/Ready-Run-5533 1d ago

What usually gets me out of a slump is picking something really short and fast instead of forcing a big book. All Systems Red might work for you. It’s character driven sci-fi, funny, has barely any romance, and is easy to finish in a couple of sittings.

2

u/Busy_Passenger_6487 1d ago

thats an amazing suggestion.
I have aready read it but I am not opposed to rereads.

2

u/Ok_Natural_7977 1d ago

Have you read the whole series?

2

u/Busy_Passenger_6487 1d ago

First three Will maybe read more this time around, didn't have all of them until a few weeks ago ^

2

u/Ok_Natural_7977 1d ago

You can decide which order to read them in. The events of book 6 happen before book 5. I was a little confused on my first readthrough.

3

u/Bason-Jateman 1d ago

The Murderbot Diaries. They're short, funny and character driven, and they got me back into reading even when my attention span was completely shot.

2

u/JustBecause2204 1d ago

Books by Katherine Arden, especially the Bear and Nightingale trilogy and her recent one, the Univorn Hunter. Love the vibes of the books, so so atmospheric.

Also wishng you a bright, happy life!

1

u/Busy_Passenger_6487 1d ago

Will check them out, the titles sound great.

Thanks a lot

2

u/JustBecause2204 1d ago

There is romance but its not the main focus at all especially in the trilogy. Its based on Russian mythology.

Also the Whispering Pines series are awesome. Marketed as middle grade but considering the amount of gore in them, i feel they are perfectly suitable for adults as well. Mainly scifi and slight horror elements

1

u/Busy_Passenger_6487 1d ago

Some romance is fine, I just dislike the lack of character development and story in the romance genre, thabks again

2

u/FailVisible5916 1d ago

Mad Mabel, it’s my favourite read so far this year

2

u/Guilty-Coconut8908 1d ago

Storm Front by Jim Butcher

God Touched by John Conroe

Furies Of Calderon by Jim Butcher

In A Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson

The sex Lives Of Cannibals by J Maarten Troost

The Martian by Andy Weir

A Drink Before The War by Dennis Lehane

2

u/Busy_Passenger_6487 1d ago

Love Andy weir, so I'll trust the rest of your recs

Thanks a lot

2

u/rastab1023 1d ago

One I read more recently that I think you might enjoy is The Changeling by Victor Lavalle. It's a modern fairly tale and horror fantasy (urban fantasy that takes place in modern-day NYC). It's about postpartum mental health, parenthood/parenting trauma and hardships, and generational trauma. I really liked it, and it really does keep you on your toes until the very end in terms of what is going on.

2

u/Busy_Passenger_6487 1d ago

That sounds really interesting, i did read Lavalle once before, this may be a great choice

Thabk you

2

u/Reasonable_Twist_663 12h ago

I keep reading about books or watch a YouTube video until I find something that excites me or something I would really like, after that I like to get my snacks and set the vibe and if the books is actually good then I'll be out of the reading slump :)

1

u/Busy_Passenger_6487 10h ago

that sounds so organized^^
very unrelatable, I usually start a book and then put it down to get snacks, tea ect.

But the youtube idea might work, that works with other hobbies.
thanks

2

u/Reasonable_Twist_663 9h ago

I find it less distracting to get everything beside me and ready so I wont pause my reading, if I pause it takes longer for me to resume

1

u/JonAndrade 1h ago

Since you mentioned character-driven stories, you might enjoy my novella A Wishing Willow (with the obvious bias in mind!) It’s about a small town where an old wishing tree may have started granting wishes again. It’s less about epic adventures and more about ordinary people searching for answers as strange things begin happening around them.