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With classes over and textbooks returned, summer is a great time to read books for pleasure! Whether you’re sitting by the pool, stretched out in a hammock, or relaxing at the park, the only accessory you need is a great book to get lost in. But with so many books out there, it can be hard to choose one; even then, sometimes you pick one only to discover that it’s not what you really wanted. So, what are some easy ways to find your next summer read?
- Similar authors: One of the easiest tricks is to think of an author you already know you like, and use your favorite search engine to find other authors with a similar style. This is a great way to find more of a particular writing style that appeals to you. For example, our executive director knows that she generally enjoys Scandinavian crime novels, so if she was looking for a new one to read, she’d do a Google search for “authors similar to Yrsa Sigurdardottir.”
- Recommendations: When you first walk into a bookstore or library, there are usually shelves dedicated to “Recommended Books.” Check these out to get a feel for what other people are reading and enjoying. Although you may not find anything that interests you, you never know! Similarly, ask your parents, siblings, and friends what they’re enjoying. Someone who knows you might be more likely to suggest something that you’ll like.
- Amazon: As far as one-stop shopping goes, Amazon is hard to beat. You can read reviews, check out lists of popular titles, and order books to be delivered to you all in one place. Amazon also features eBooks, which you can download and read on Kindle devices. If you love eBooks, you can subscribe to Kindle Unlimited (and read any number of books) for $9.99 each month. Do note that if you subscribe, you can only have 10 books on your Kindle at any given time.
- Audible Audiobooks: Great for road trips, exercising, and any other time that holding a book might be difficult, audiobooks take the “read” out of “reading.” Audible offers a monthlong free trial and throws in a free audiobook. After the trial expires, a monthly subscription is $14.99 and includes one audiobook of your choosing. Books are downloaded onto your device via your account, so you don’t need to be connected to the internet to listen (just to download). With tons of recently-released titles, you’re sure to find something good!
- Book of the Month Club: For $14.99 each month, this service provides five book options for you to choose from, and then sends your choice directly to you! If you want a new book without having to put in much effort to find it, this is a great solution.
- GoodReads: If you want recommendations specifically tailored to your preferences, GoodReads may be just what you’re looking for. You can connect with your friends to see what they recommend, browse lists voted on by other users (including lists sorted by subject, year, and “best of”), and even make lists of your own!
- The New York Times Best Sellers List: Ranked by sales figures, this list will tell you what books are popular across the United States each week. There are separate lists for fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books. Audiobooks and books on the topics of business, science, and sports and fitness are compiled into monthly best sellers lists. These lists are always changing, so check back frequently if you don’t see anything that piques your interest the first time.
- Whichbook: If you’re looking for something completely new, but want a bit more structure to your choosing, try Whichbook. Using a slider to choose between two distinct options, you can select up to four features that you want present in your next read and Whichbook will present you with a list of titles that match your criteria. For off-the-beaten track suggestions, this is a great resource!
Check out one (or all) of these resources and start getting ready for the summer! We hope you find your next favorite book, author, or both! How do you recommend voracious readers choose their next books? Send us your suggestions in the comments, or reach out to us on Twitter or Instagram.
