A lot of us will be setting goals for 2026, and for many of us, “read more” will be on that list. That was the goal I set for myself at the start of 2025. Now, I am by no means someone who reads 100 books a year, but I managed to read 24 books during 2025, which is a huge improvement over the 7 books I read the year before. And while that does not make me an expert, I thought I’d share a thing or two I learned during the previous year, just in case these tips might help you too.
Read the books you like
This is advice I heard from a colleague, and she was so right. I know this seems like such an obvious thing, but I see so many of us get stuck trying to read the books we should be reading – whatever that means to each of us individually – that we don’t leave ourselves the option to just go for what excites us.
Whether those are non-fiction books, new releases from the year, or a genre you used to like but are now falling out of love with, we set expectations for ourselves that can easily make reading slumps last longer and make the path out of them more difficult. Take a moment to assess what has stopped working. Are you trying to read books that you somehow feel expected to read? If so, it might be a great time to start asking yourself what you’d like more. It might take a few tries, but it will be worth it in the end.
Have you tried audiobooks?
Audiobooks have become very popular for a reason. You might not have the time to sit down and read every day, but you might have a commute to work, a lunch or dinner to prepare, chores to do, or other cleaning tasks. Why not try an audiobook?
You won’t miss out on the “real” reading experience, whatever that means, and there are so many amazing narrators out there. I particularly enjoyed Andrew Fallaize’s work on The Shadow of the Leviathan series by Robert Jackson Bennett, and I’ve heard that The River Has Roots has amazing narration. If you haven’t yet, give audiobooks a try.
Have you tried reading on your phone?
Nowadays, a lot of libraries offer apps with ebooks, so you can check books out in digital format. There are also various apps that allow you to read ebooks you buy from retailers. It might feel like you need a Kindle, Kobo, or similar device, and while they do make it easier to access books, you don’t have to start there. You don’t have to end up there either, but that is a different subject.
If an e-reader isn’t within your budget right now, there is nothing wrong with starting by reading on your phone. It might even help you stop doomscrolling, which was one of the best benefits for me.
Remove distractions
If you are not reading on an electronic device, remove it every time you want to read. At the very least, put it just out of reach so that once you are comfortable with your book, you’ll be discouraged from picking it up.
I can’t tell you how many times I settled in with a book, opened my phone just to check one thing, and ended up wasting my entire reading time on social media. To be clear, there is nothing wrong with connecting with friends, online communities, or relaxing with social media, but there is a fine line between that and doomscrolling. I think you know which one I’m referring to when I say: remove the distraction.
Read at least one hyped book
Contrary to my advice above, I would encourage you to look at what has a lot of buzz around it and sounds like something you would enjoy, and give it a try. You might be surprised by how much being part of the conversation motivates you to read.
And it doesn’t have to be as difficult as finding a book club that meets at the right time with the right people and the right books. It can be as simple as joining an online community. There are blogs – such as this one! – where people would be happy to engage in book discussions. Additionally, for all its faults, Goodreads remains a good place to chat about books. Instagram and TikTok, while not without their issues, can also be great places to feel the buzz.
Don’t get too caught up in what others think
So you like romantasy, even though there is more stigma than encouragement around it? Go for it anyway! Honestly, this is advice I need to listen to myself.
For example, Fourth Wing has been on my to-read list ever since it came out. However, I haven’t seen a single favourable review of it from the booktubers I follow, and that has made me hesitate for ages to actually pick it up. It’s a classic example of why sometimes the community works in your favour, and sometimes it doesn’t.
Accept that all of it is okay
You’ve just read a list of advice where one point encourages you to read hyped books, while another suggests being careful with other people’s opinions. I’ve encouraged you to read more on your phone, and I’ve also encouraged you to remove your phone as a distraction.
The truth is that every piece of advice will work at one time and completely fail you at another. Reading means different things to different people. I read mostly for fun. I’m happy to learn something new, but it’s never my primary motivation. You might read primarily for education.
What works best for me might work horribly for you, and the biggest advice I can give is to accept that all of it is okay. Accept your own reading needs and habits, and let go of comparing yourself to others. It might work wonders for you 🙂
If you’re setting reading goals for 2026 and wondering how to read more books, I hope these reading tips help you build a habit that actually works for you. Whether you prefer audiobooks, ebooks, or physical books, the best way to read more is to find what fits your lifestyle and interests. If you have any tips for reading more or book recommendations for 2026, feel free to share them in the comments.
