HOW TO SURVIVE A READING SLUMP 

This came at the RIGHT time! I have so many unread books but the slump is real

I was in a reading slump for about 2 years and it was terrible!! I hated everything on my shelves, but just kept forcing myself to finish books I didn't like. So I gave up on reading. For. Two. Years. Then I decided to watch BookTubers and see what they were reading. What a game changer!! I got excited about the titles they recommended and after a while, I realized I was in a slump because I'd grown as a reader and needed more than just reading thrillers and romance novels that all sounded the same after a while. Or as my kid said, I was reading "old lady books"! Now my shelves are filling up with titles I absolutely love and my tiny bookshelf is full to spilling out😂! But my books are a source of joy and actually help me when having anxiety. I'll take a grounding pause and just look, maybe touch the spines, pick up this book and that book. And I become myself again. So that's my contribution to your question: when in a slump, watch someone else be excited about books and you'll soon find the excitement is contagious. Happy reading everyone🤗💞

hi jesse! just wanted to say i've been watching your channel for about 6 years since I was in middle school. Now i'm in college and still watching every video you put out. keep it up!

I definitely took a break from reading recently because I was in a slump due to depression and anxiety induced by moving to another state. But taking a break helped me get back into reading, and I also picked up an audiobook which has been helping me read more again. Happy belated birthday, my birthday twin. I hope you had a good one.

Hearing you reframe reading slumps as burnout makes so much sense and is so helpful to me, especially in terms of judging myself less when it happens, so thank you for that insight, Jesse

Hey Jesse, oh my gosh reading slumps hit me for a few days especially if it’s a book I wasn’t a fan of like I need time and taking a break helps ❤ and every so often when I see my TBR pale in the past I haven’t been so kind to myself but I remind myself it’s okay and to be kinder to myself .

Reading a book outside of my normal genres is a great idea. I started to drag a little bit in reading so I read "The Love Hypothesis" because I just don't read straight romances. I also read 2 books by Riley Sager that I absolutely loved and then bought his new one the day it came out. I don't read a ton of thrillers either. It helps to get out of my comfort zone a little bit. Also going up to Michigan's Upper Peninsula and reading on Lake Superior is the best feeling ever.

One thing that helps me get out of a reading slump is to watch jessethereader videos. Always reminds me of my love for reading, honestly. 😊 Also!! My reader type is “Modern Romantic” and it’s explanation was right on the nose.

Storygraph has a ton of fun reading challenges created by users and by admins for those who may be interested. A few of my favorites currently are the bobs burgers character prompt challenge and the horror movie book challenge but there are so many for so many genres and reading paces and interests.

When I get in a reading slum I listen to a audiobook cuz sometimes it feels like I don't want to physically read the book as one of those have somebody else read it and that helps a lot

Today has been awful, so I needed this. Thank you, Jesse. ❤

I love the fanfic strategy! Reading slump often happens when I don't feel invested in the story or don't root for the characters, but reading fanfics of my favorite media would circumvent that because I already care about every character. Kinda similar to what you suggest about reading short books or fast-paced books, I find that reading books with really short chapters helps because it makes me feel like I'm making a lot of progress really quickly. (The ones that were really effective for me in the past are Ari and Dante books and The Inheritance Games.)

I've been in a months-long slump. However, the one thing that ALWAYS helps me is reading middle grade books or childrens books! They are easy, fun, fast, and honestly the lessons in them can be great for adults too! ❤

I've been witching your channel for years now and I finally decided to start the Peregrine series. Listened to the first 2 audiobooks and can't thank you enough!❤

Honestly needed this!!! Have been on a major slump since I graduated in May and just can't find a book!!! Hopefully I find a book when I'm on vacation and go book shopping!!!

8:42 THIS IS THE BEST ONE RIGHT HERE!! getting through a book in a couple of days feels so satisfying and fulfilling, i swear it’s the best way to ignite the reading spark

Hey, I’m not in a reading slump right now, but this was so helpful. Now I’ll have ideas for next time. Bookfinity said I’m Young at Heart with a little Subject Matter Expert and Mountain Climber. Looking forward to their recommendations. Also, your hair looked especially nice.

Love this, Jesse! Thank you for bringing us your joy and love of books!

Hey Jesse, I love your videos. Been watching them forever, but my highlight of each video is the outro. I find myself doing the outro with you just because it's so much fun and it stays mostly the same!

i just got out of a slump and you posted lol

Oh I'm definitely the case of falling into the hole of fan fiction and not being able to get out 😅

Love your videos! 🥰 Currently on a quest to binge watch your videos bc they are just 🤌

I've been in a slump for 2 months. I just moved and have spent the past couple months packing up my whole life and now I'm unpacking everything. I'm hoping to pick up at least one or two books in July.

Watching ur videos helps me! It always makes me pick up a book u make me remember why i like reading so much that must be why

This list is *the best*, I agree with all your suggestions wholeheartedly!! Also, I have bingewatched your videos more than once and it really lifts up my mood and makes me want to go read some great books 🥰

1. subject matter expert, 2. bookworm, 3. mountain climber! One strategy that helps get me out of a reading slump is reading comedy/humor -- a book you know will make you laugh. It's light, easy to read, and increases those endorphins!

27 sec into the video and I already love it ♥️

I personally love graphic novels for motivation and short story collections. These tend to help me after a book I don’t love.

What usually helps me is watching my favourite Booktubers! It gets me excited to read again if I'm struggling to find motivation.

Appreciate these ideas as its not that im in a slump but just haven't been prioritizing it and totally agree that short books marathon advice. I did that in May and it was so energizing 🎉

I think my result is the perfect mix. Your Reader Type is (don't tell anyone, but you're our favorite type): #1 Subject Matter Expert. You're also a little: #2 Modern Romantic and #3 Bookworm. Regarding reading slump, romance is what solves almost all my reading slumps. The book I'm reading is too serious and slow paced? I pick up a silly romance, like Ice Planet Barbarians, so I'll need something deeper after. I can't star a new book? I pick up Book Lovers, or a new book by one of my fav romance authors, something that will bring me joy by the end of it, so I can read other genres next.

Hey! Thanks for posting!!! Been in a reading slump myself for some reason 😂 hope you’re doing well!!!

I combine two of these. I reread a favorite series on audiobook. It gets me excited about stories and back into reading multiple books. I have a mental health condition that makes it hard for me to stop what I’m doing, so audiobooks where I can read and do things at the same time are great for me!

Rereading a favorite book ALWAYS helps me! It's a series of 6, so once I start the first one, I have to finish the other 5, and surely by then, I'm out of my reading slump!! And I read my favorite book/series probably once a year, so with that much time in between, it's almost like reading it for the first time

I will always swear by audiobooks when reading a physical book just ain't cutting it. My brain wonnders off a lot and using my eyes to read a page can give me tension headaches sometimes so audiobooks allow me to be totally enraptured by a story and also makes me more productive in other areas of my life such as housework and admin work at my job. I also highly recommend favourite reads (as said in this video) but also junior and middle grade fiction. A simpler writing style can ignite your love for reading and you get some sprinkles of magic and adventure and topsy turvy worlds because they're written for kids and who needs logic when you have swords and dragons and secret doorways to hidden worlds!

I have been in a massive slump for about two years now and this was just what I needed to finally crave a good book again. I have soo many books I´ve been wanting to read but I just couldn´t get out of that slump until now so thanks a lot! :)

Needed this- the reading slump has been here for a LONG time.

I always watch a Jesse vid to regain reading excitement. I then go to pick up a book, look at it, put it down, then continue watching Jesse's videos. Hahaha

Thanks for this because this year and last year because of my mental health I haven't read as many books as I normally do and I haven't found books interesting and been in a slump so this helped and hope you get out of your reader slump too 😢

11:33 ok but your videos do actually help me get more excited to read !!

I just took the quiz and it was soo much fun 😊 I'm a subject matter expert with a bit of serial reader and self starter sprinkled in 🎉😊

I’ve been in kinda of a slump since my mother passed away last year, since then life has been pretty hard, I’m a pre med student, trying to get my life back on track. I know it’s hard and all and time will make it better and yada yada…but I miss reading like a used to. I used to read whole books in a day, and now since she passed away I’ve read only 3 books in a year. It’s tough, idk when it will get better, but honestly watching Your videos, Jesse, still makes my day brighter like it used to, reminds me of how much I love reading, and your personality genuinely makes me smile. Thank you! ❤

Reading while listening to tbe book's audiobook always works for me

Took the quiz and I'm a Modern Romantic with a side of Subject Matter Expert and Beach Reader :) Thanks! That was fun!! And thank you for the great video!

Hi jess been watching you for years now good work yup im in another reading slump with me they always happen when i go through a lot of stress in my life ive just recently been made redundant so been looking for another job add that with teenagers bill and everything that life can throw at me i have a tendency to loose concentration on readind anything sooo what i do is make a list but dont start on all the books i want to read watch booktube and movie recs etc wait untill my life is sorted out and then i know i can concentrate and enjoy everything then 😊

To me it helps listening to certain songs that would make me read books. Beth Crowley is a singer that sometimes writes songs based on some popular books, I listen to her to get motivated to read a book, I listen to creepypasta songs from Madame Macabre to motivate me to either read or listen to some horror short stories and the last I listen to Fnaf songs to get myself motivated for graphic novels/comics. Recently I forced myself into a trilogy (I ended up liking a little) and now I am coming back from the slump with some short stories compiled.

When I started working, and then university, I began the longest reading slump I've ever had. I'm still in it, in fact. What has helped me lately is fanfiction, and also adaptations. I find that I'm much more eager to jump into a book series (or jump BACK into a book series) after watching adaptations (a movie, tv show, etc).

I would love to hear recs for book that you would consider short and are quick reads!!

Recently went to the library with my husband and we both picked out a book for eachother that we thought the other would enjoy. He knows my reading tastes well so I ended up loving the book he picked for me, and now Im about to finish two more books. Slowly coming out of my reading slump, so yeah, that was a really good strategy to try. 😁❤

Love this was in a awful slump and I decided to read a fantasy and now I’m inlove ❤

Already left a comment earlier, but wanted to say as well that I can confirm reading fanfic is so much easier than regular books when in a slump. At least for me, because I'm already familiar with the characters and oftentimes the setting and world-building as well, fanfiction takes way less mental energy when I just don't have any to spare. Personally, my favorite book genre is high fantasy, but those books definitely take some getting into and require careful attention in ways that a lot of fanfiction doesn't (just a generalization; plenty of fanfic I've read has intricate and incredible world-building, so it really depends on what you select; canon universe is the way to go when you're in a slump).

I do a couple of these at once- rewards system/bookish content. So I read 25-50 pgs and then I let myself watch a BookTube vlog. Then I repeat until I get super into the book that either I just want to keep reading or I make the page sprints longer into 100/125 pgs. I also love doing 25-50 pgs of a fiction then matching the number in a nonfiction and going back and forth. That seems to give me more excitement to read!

i think it's also good to read something adapted that you already know. i was in a reading slump recently and i read howl's moving castle because i love the movie and it help me be more interested in reading the book

For me whenever i get a slump its usually because ive been reading too much of the same genre,( this year already I've read like 33 books of the same genre) so changing my next book, like if I've been reading fantasy then reading a fun swert romance, helps me get back into reading my fav books.

This is the video I needed, I had to do a genre change to get out of my slump. I love fantasy novels and science fiction but I started reading more horror and lighter fiction. I read The Deep and currently on Babel. Certainly a good strategy

I was having a really bad slump this year that lasted for several months. In May I posted a TBR of about 30 books on my Instagram. Having it public makes me accountable. I have read 4 books from my list and have gotten 500+ pages into another book, plus I finished a short book that was not on my list. (I reread a favorite.)

I love seeing a plus-size readathon that's so amazing. I have read highly suspicious and unfairly cute. 💚👽🖤

My go tos are reread, though not necessarily favorites, and wait it out. A slump sometimes feels like the right time to try and reread those books I read awhile back, but I don't really remember, so feel like I should reread them at some point. It's something kinda new, but a bit familiar, and not as big of a deal if I DNF, because I have read it before. I also find it's good to take note of authors I read slowly, because I've seen at least one recommended as a "quick read"

this is very helpful as I'm in a reading slump ... My reader type is Serial Reader, with a little Subject Matter Expert and Young at Heart :) The explanations were scarily accurate lol (except the "life of the party" bit of young at heart seemed off ahahaha)

When I haven’t read in a while I feel like I just forget how much I like to actually read so forcing myself to read and re-remember that feeling is what works for me (most of the time)

I’m so frustrated at the moment, not just because I’m in a slump, but because the reason for my slump is a brilliant first few reading months of the year! I read some new favourites and now any books I start to read just feel…not worth it. They don’t reach those lofty heights! I’m definitely going to try reading outside by usual genre so I can’t compare as easily! Thanks for the tips :)

Thank you for the video, Jesse❤ I took the quiz and I’m Subject Matter Expert with a pinch of Serial Reader and a Bookworm It was real fun Thank you for the tip😍

Thx ❤📚

Suggestion: try theming a new snack/tea/coffee or candle scent to a new book. The anticipation of one new thing might help with the anticipation of another.

You're my comfort booktuber ❤😊

So happy just got out of a reader slump!

I got the young at heart reader type!

I always put the new books to the back and the older to the oldest books meaning the ones I’ve had on my bookshelves for a long time to the front so I am not leaving books futhere and further behind so I can get them in this lifetime, and the more recent books I but that year get pushed to the back and I read the recent oldest books like a conver belt a production life of books.

My Bookfinity reader type is Subject Matter Expert, but also Bookworm and "Cool Mom/Cool Dad." Yikes?? 🤣 Changing up the format works for me. I've found that I actually read faster with ebooks than in print, for some reason?? and reading faster helps a lot.

I recommend re reads one of your top best books. Let yourself get lost within the pages. Take your time - just because you read so many books, doesn't mean you need to keep speed. Slow down for a while and enjoy the book.

I'm a modern romantic!🥰

currently binge watching your videos to get out of a slump so i thought it was ironic you mentioned binge watching booktube in this vid

One way I try to get out of a slump is reading aloud. If I’m reading to someone even an imagined audience sometimes it helps. Suddenly it’s not just about me

My bookfinity type is a "Modern Romantic"

As a way to avoid as many book slumps as I used to get, I have stopped creating TBRs. I know it sounds drastic, but now when I go to buy books, I grab what's interesting, and if it ends up on my shelf for a bit, it's okay. I don't get major guilt or anxiety about it anymore. There are, of course, times when I'm excited for a new book coming out, but those are far and in between nowadays.

After years of not reading much (mostly due to uni and Life), the following things helped me get back to books: 1. Making friends with readers. This was obviously a lucky coincidence for me, but talking about books sparked my old enthusiasm. To make it into an advice: joining an in-person book club maybe? Although my personal experience with my book club is... mixed, to be polite. It could still work out well for you. 2. Asking for book recommendations from friends and acquaintances randomly. You will get the widest possible range of recommendations, which ties nicely to Jesse's point of shaking things up. And you might discover some hidden gems you might never have picked up yourself. 3. Reading challenges. This was the biggest one for me, because not having any real TBR, having to force myself to get interested in any title, the challenges made me build a TBR that I felt strongly about. These made me overcommit a bit, but I am so aiming for that Jack Edwards badge to finally appear on my book profile, I don't care what I have to read for it! 4. Watching bookish content helped me _immensely_. (Algorithm brought me here.) It is like my point no 1 and 2 combined in a parasocial way. Seeing people getting excited about books is a good way to get excited yourself. This includes Read With Me streams that puts you in a reading mood. I didn't include reading from a wide variety of genres here, because for me that't not for avoiding slumps that much, rather to avoid getting stuck in a box. I've seen too many people staying in one box 100%, and to me that's scary. I might just have subscribed too.

I'm a Lifelong Learner 🥰📚🤓

for the book affinity i got young at heart

I try to read something easy along side harder books, so if I'm feeling slumpy because my brain is soup, I can just pick up the fun goofy book to give my mind a break while still doing what I enjoy the most

I got: 1: life-long learner, 2:Bookworm, 3: Cool Parent. Based on the blurb, think the bookworm one you get if you hint that you are interested in classics. Ironically, Classics are often the hardest reads for me. I want to like them very much, but with older ones, I sometimes feel stuck with their antiquated words and concepts that I try way too hard to understand and overanalyze.

This is really good advice - I do often find myself in slumps and it’s bad because I literally have 241 unread books 😮

Took the quiz and got Subject Matter Expert as well as my #1! Very interesting …

Thank you for turning our reading slump into a p-muls. #IYKYK

i'm also a subject matter reader!

I switch up the genre every other book to prevent a reading slump. So for example I just finished an Adult Fantasy so now I'm starting a thriller

Jesse your new haircut gives off elvis vibes lol

My reader type is Subject Matter Expert and a little bit of Trendsetter and Beach Reader! :)

Oddly enough... I AM currently in a reading slump.... But it came extremely timely... Because my IRL suddenly got so much busier with studies and finding a job and a bunch of other circumstances... So I'm kinda happy it came... Because when I'm "in the thick of it" everything else falls in the back burner... Leading to easily avoidable consequences.

I definitelt think genre hopping is huge for me. I've been reading a lot of contemporary romance lately and now every time I pick up a romance (even if it's probably good!), I'm so booooooorrrred! So I'm gonna grab a thriller or horror and see how that goes, haha.

I will either reread books or just watch more TV until my show stresses me out and then I go back to books!

I usually pick up graphic novels and manga when I find myself in a reading slump. I fly through the ones I read and will eventually get back into reading other books.

Audio books are my saviour

lately whenever i get a slump i try to read a romcom as an ebook because romcoms are fun, easy to read and have a happy ending also i read faster digitally than on paper and usually it kinda kick starts something in my brain and i am able to pick up physical books again/ continue the one i was in the middle of maybe this helps someone i feel like i am very prone to getting reading slumps because school just takes a lot of time and energy

I'm not in a slump right now but this is definitely how I feel when I am in one. I do seem to only want to read manga currently though, so maybe I'm in a novel slump?

I’m currently in a reading slump. It’s been like more than 3 years since I read the way I used to. I’m not finding the motivation or interest to do anything at all. And the fact that I’m currently pregnant is not helping either. After almost 3 years, I picked up 3 books in the month of June. I haven’t finished any but trying really hard to keep reading at least a bit everyday. I don’t know what to do to get back to the way I used to be with books 😭😭

every time Jesse said change up my brain just went ~NMIXX CHANGE UP~

Earllyyyyyy 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉😊😊😊😊😊

I am Serial Reader with Cool Mom and Young at Heart

Having to read endless texts for university just has made it impossible for me, even tho I'm so excited to read my unread books :') life is unfair

Whenever I'm in a reading slump, I'll pick up a random children's book at my library and it does wonders because there isn't much hype surrounding children's fiction.