What Should I Read Next? How to Choose Your Next Book

Do you ever find yourself staring at your bookshelf asking the question “What should I read next?”. Unless you are reading your way through a series, the sheer number of great titles on offer means committing to choosing a single book is very difficult so we thought it was about time to create the perfect guide to help you through the process of choosing your next book.

The trouble with starting a new book is the fear that it won’t live up to your expectations—especially if the last one was so good you didn’t want it to end. Picking up a new book feels like a commitment. It’s something that will occupy your thoughts and take up hours of your time over the next few days or even weeks, so naturally, you want it to be worth it.

Why Is It So Hard to Pick Your Next Book?

Have you ever wondered why choosing your next book is so hard? The answer might be a little more complicated than you think. Take a look at some of the following factors that make your book selection process so difficult:

Book Hangover Is Real

A good book will get you invested in the characters and the story, and when it's done it can take you some time to get over it, so starting a new book straight away, especially if it’s from a different series, can be challenging.

Decision Paralysis

We all love having a choice, but sometimes too much choice can be a bad thing, and in the case of books, the near-limitless choice can end up with another classic case of decision paralysis.

Mood Shifts

Your choice of book will depend heavily on your mood, and moods change; this means it can be difficult to find a book that you will want to stick with in the long run. For example, while you are on holiday you might want to sink your teeth into a juicy crime novel, but when you get back to the daily 9-5 grind, you might prefer something a little more cosy to curl up with after a long day of work.

Time Wasting

Books are a time commitment, and no one wants to waste their time trying to get invested in a story that just doesn’t scratch that itch. The question “What if I hate it?” will always be in the back of your mind, and this ever-doubtful subconscious will help you make the right decision, but it may just take a little longer.

Reading Goals & Social Pressures

In an era of endless Booktoks and social media reading challenges, your reading goals can easily reach unattainable heights. On one hand, having reading targets can help you get through books quicker, but on the other hand, it can make the process of choosing the right book even harder, with conflicting sources pressuring you to read things you might not want to.

Techniques to Help You Choose What to Read Next

Now we come to the part where we help you make the right decision on what to read next. Take a look at these tips and tricks that can make the book selection process a whole lot easier.

Revisit Your Favourite Genres

If you are struggling to choose what direction to take your next read, sometimes the easiest path to take is one that you already know. If you have always loved a specific genre, whether that's psychological dramas or cosy fantasy romances, the chances are you won’t be disappointed if you choose a book from that genre.

Refer back to reads that you enjoyed and identify elements that you liked for example you may prefer the work of particular authors or books set in certain periods.

Ask the Community (friends, book club, family, etc.)

A great way of finding a new book to read is by asking around to see what other people have enjoyed. This is especially effective if the people you are asking enjoy similar books to you – this could be friends, family, your book club, or even an online forum.

What Does the Internet Say?

The internet is a font of knowledge and an invaluable tool for helping you choose your next book. If you are into sci-fi then simply searching something like “the best sci-fi books” in Google can yield great results. You can also use AI, if you know exactly what you want from your next book, just type it into a platform like ChatGPT and get a host of book suggestions that match your criteria, in seconds.

Try Something Completely New

If you are struggling to settle on a book based on our tips so far, why not take a complete stab in the dark and choose a book at random? There is a higher risk of not gelling with your book, but you won’t end up spending days choosing your book and it could lead to a new favourite.

Let the Mood Take You

Sometimes you just have to go with your heart over your head when choosing a book. Take a walk down the high street, visit a charity shop, or jump on Amazon and choose a book that piques your interest, even if it's not something you would usually go for. Base your choice on cover art, blurb, or even just open it up and read a random page to get a vibe from it. The Beauty of this technique is that you can do as much, or as little research as you want based on how picky you are with books.

Reading Lists

What is a Reading List?

A reading list is simply a list of books that you want to read. Reading lists are a great way to keep track of your reading habits making the task of choosing a new book a whole lot easier. Save yourself the trouble of having to choose a new book every time you finish one by creating your own reading list.

How to Plan Out a Reading List

Put an hour aside one Sunday afternoon to compile a list of all the books that you want to read, breaking it up into either genres or moods and pin it up somewhere, then, the next time you ask yourself “What should I read next?” you will already have a whole list of options to choose from. It's important to remember not to make your reading list too long, however, or you will find yourself back at square one, trying to choose a book from your massive reading list. Keep your reading list to a maximum of 10 books at any one time, and try to read your way through the whole list before adding any more.

Share Your Reading Experiences

Help others who have found themselves in the same predicament as you, wondering which book they should read next by sharing your reviews. Throughout your reading journey, there may have been several moments when you would have loved a helping hand, so why not help others with the same problem? And if you found this article helpful send it to them so they have the tools to make their literary journeys just that little bit easier.

Have a Plan for the Books You Finish

Part of the stress of choosing a new book lies with your old books, having them loom over you from their perch high up on the top shelf can add extra pressure onto your already difficult task. So, what better way to alleviate that stress than by selling your old books? Make your search for a new book easier and earn some money by selling your old books to WeBuyBooks.

So, that brings out exploration into how to choose your next book. We hope this has helped you, and just remember if you find yourself struggling to decide on a new book, stick with your favourite genre, ask for help or suggestions, or if you still can't decide try something completely new. Don't forget to stay on top of your reading list, and to keep your bookshelves clear WeBuyBooks ready for your next reading adventure.