Reading Slumps: Your Most Asked Questions, Answered

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You haven’t picked up a book in weeks. Your TBR is staring at you, your latest read is collecting dust, and somehow scrolling through book recommendations feels way easier than actually reading. Sound familiar?

You keep telling yourself you’ll read tonight. Maybe you even pick up a book, settle in, get comfortable, and make it through a few pages before putting it right back down.

Nothing is holding your attention. Not the book everyone keeps recommending, not the new release you couldn’t wait to get your hands on, and not even the genre you usually love.

And now you’re in a reading slump.

The really frustrating part is that you want to read. You miss getting lost in a story, staying up way too late because you need to know what happens next, and finding a book so good that you can’t stop thinking about it. But somewhere between wanting to read and actually reading, well, something just isn’t quite clicking.

So, what exactly is a reading slump? Why do they happen? How long do they last? And more importantly, how do you get out of one without turning reading into another chore on your to-do list?

We’re answering those questions and more, because sometimes getting back into reading isn’t about finding the perfect book. It’s about figuring out what’s keeping you from enjoying the ones you already have.

reading slump the diary of a reader girl with head on top of books

What Is a Reading Slump?

A reading slump is a period when you struggle to find the motivation, focus, or enjoyment you normally get from reading a book.

You might recognize a few of these signs:

You’ve started several books, but you haven’t finished a single one.
Books that would normally excite you aren’t holding your attention.
You keep buying or adding books to your TBR but never actually read them.
You find yourself rereading the same paragraph over and over again.
Reading feels more like a chore than something you’re currently enjoying doing.
You want to read, but every time you sit down with a book, you’d rather do something else.

The signs are not limited to this list. Reading slumps look different for everyone. Some readers stop picking up books altogether, while others keep reading but feel disconnected from the stories they are reading.

And despite how frustrated you may feel, reading slumps are a pretty common experience among readers.

Why Am I Suddenly Struggling With Reading?

If reading used to come naturally to you, suddenly struggling to finish even a chapter can feel strange.

But reading requires more mental energy than we realize sometimes. You’re actually doing a lot mentally. You’re processing language, following the characters and assessing their development, remembering details, while keeping track of everything happening in the story.

There are several reasons reading might suddenly feel difficult:

Stress and mental fatigue: When your mind is already occupied with everything happening in your life, concentrating on a book can become even harder.
Distractions: Notifications, social media, and constant interruptions can make it difficult to settle into a story.
Reading burnout: Pushing yourself to finish books or meeting the goals you’ve set can take some of the enjoyment out of reading.
Changing reading preferences: The genres and tropes you once loved might not be what you’re interested in right now.
An uninteresting book: Sometimes the problem isn’t you; it’s simply what you’re currently trying to read.

Before you decide that you’ve lost the love of reading, consider whether the books you’ve been choosing still match what you’re in the mood for.

How Long Does a Reading Slump Last?

I hate to tell you this… unfortunately, there’s no universal timeline for a reading slump. Sometimes a slump can last a few days. Other times, it will stretch into weeks or even months.

How long yours lasts may depend on what’s contributing to it:

A disappointing book: Switching to something more engaging might help relatively quickly.
Genre fatigue: Exploring a different genre could renew your interest.
Reading burnout: Taking a break from reading goals may help.
Stress or exhaustion: You might need more time before reading feels enjoyable again.

The important thing is not to turn the length of your slump into another source of pressure. You don’t have to make up for the books you didn’t read while you were taking a break.

How Do I Get Out of a Reading Slump?

The first thing you should do to get out of a reading slump? Stop forcing yourself to read.

I know, I know, that sounds like the opposite of what you should be doing, especially when all you want to do is read and get lost in a good book again. But listen, the more pressure you put on yourself to read and finish a book, the more reading will start to feel like another thing to check off a list.

Instead of focusing on how many books you should be reading, try making reading fun again.

7 Ways to Break Out of a Reading Slump

Give yourself permission to DNF a book. Listen, life is too short to suffer through a book you are not enjoying. Put it down and pick up something else. You can always pick it back up again if you really want to give it another go.
Forget about your reading goals for a second. If you’re constantly checking how far behind you are on your Goodreads reading challenge, take a break from tracking. Reading shouldn’t feel like a race against the calendar.
Switch up your genre. Been reading a romantasy? Try a thriller, cozy mystery, or contemporary romance. Sometimes a completely different kind of story is exactly what you need.
Try a different reading format. Audiobooks, graphic novels, and ebooks all count as reading. If sitting down with a physical book isn’t working, change how you’re experiencing the story.
Reread an old favorite. There’s something comforting about returning to characters and worlds you already know you love. Plus, you don’t have to worry about whether the story will live up to your expectations. You already know it will.
Start small. Forget about finishing an entire book in one sitting. Read for ten minutes, one chapter. Hell, read 5 pages if that is what you want to do. And if you want to stop after that, then stop. No explanation needed.
Take a break from reading. Sometimes the best thing you can do is put the books down altogether. Watch a movie, enjoy another hobby, or simply give yourself permission to miss reading again.

What If You Haven’t Read a Book in Months?

If your reading slump has lasted months or even years, don’t feel like you need to make up for lost time. Your reading preferences might have changed, and that’s perfectly fine.

Visit a bookstore or library, or browse without a plan, and read a few sample chapters until something catches your attention.

You don’t need to become the reader you used to be. You can discover what kind of reader you are now.

What Should I Read to Get Out of a Reading Slump?

Sometimes the thought of committing to a 500-page novel is enough to make you put the book down before you’ve even started.

That’s exactly where novellas come in.

A novella gives you the opportunity to enjoy a complete story without committing to hundreds of pages. And while finishing a shorter book won’t magically cure every reading slump, it might help you rediscover the satisfaction of getting lost in a story.

Here are a few novellas worth considering when you’re ready to ease back into reading:

Secret Santa by Alexandra Ravensbrook

The Winters family carries a secret older than Christmas itself. They are the family behind the legend. When the eldest sibling comes of age, they inherit the red suit, the sleigh, and the weight of making Christmas wonder.

Annie hates Christmas with a passion, so being sent to cover a small town’s Santa festival feels like her own personal hell.

When a car crash leaves her stranded with Nick, the last thing she expects is her frosty heart to thaw. And Nick, well, he has one job, and everyone relies on him to get it right.

I had such a good time with this book. There were moments that felt completely like watching a Hallmark movie. It is the perfect Christmas book.

Wayward Children Series by Seanan McGuire

Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children
No Solicitations
No Visitors
And absolutely NO QUESTS.

Children have always disappeared under the right conditions, slipping through the shadows beneath their beds or at the back of their closet. Or even tumbling down rabbit holes in old wells, and turning up somewhere…else.

But magical lands have little need for used-up miracle children…

This series is what got me started with reading novellas. Prior to the Wayward Children series, I would read one here or there, but I never really thought I was one for a novella. Boy, was I wrong. I just needed to pick up the right novella on my shelf.

Abyss by Nicholas Binge

Joe always had potential, but he doesn’t expect much and hopes that his new job as an administrative assistant won’t expect too much out of him. But when he enters his new office in Ponos—a company he’s never even heard of before— Joe discovers that potential may be exactly what they want from him.

This is a quiet, creeping kind of horror story. You won’t find masked men chasing you through the halls. No final girls. Just a man and his job. Well, and a building that feels slightly wrong in ways that you quite can’t put your finger on. It is so good.

You should read my full review: Is Abyss by Nicholas Binge Actually That Good? Then decide for yourself.

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A Reading Slump Doesn’t Mean You’ve Stopped Being a Reader

Maybe you’re hoping to go from a reading slump to its complete opposite: a reading streak, where every book, feels like a five-star read and you can’t seem to turn the pages fast enough.

But you don’t have to go from reading nothing to reading everything overnight. Your love of books isn’t measured by how many you finish, how quickly you read, or how impressive your Goodreads challenge looks at the end of the year.

Sometimes you’ll devour books. And sometimes you’ll need a break. Neither makes you any less of a reader than you already are.

Now I’m curious: What’s the longest reading slump you’ve ever experienced, and was there a particular book that finally pulled you out of it?

Share it in the comments. Your recommendation might be exactly what another reader needs.