Disclosure: Some of the links in this post may contain affiliate links, so if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive a commission.
I’ve seen countless memes about people joking that their TBR (To Be Read) pile will extend past their lifetime. I feel like my biggest reading struggle is that there are just so many books I want to read and not enough time to read them all. Can I get an amen? 😊
But how do you choose which book to read next? Which books earn a spot on that massive pile? Over time, I’ve realized my book choices tend to fall into six main categories.
I’ve concluded that the books I pick can be categorized into the following buckets:
- Author
- Genre/Topic
- Amazon recommendations
- Podcasts
- Recommendations
- Facebook poll
- Author
There are certain authors that if they write something, I will read it. Authors that come to mind for me are Francine Rivers, Nicholas Sparks, Connilyn Cossette, Dr. Meg Meeker and Kristin Hannah.
Having a list of favorite authors makes picking a book easy because I already know I’ll enjoy their storytelling style.
2. Genres and Topics I Love
This is a little trickier, because you still have to figure out which books in a genre are worth your time. It helps to narrow that down your interests to specific topics and themes. Some of my favorite genres are:
- Historical fiction and nonfiction
- Slave narratives and slave escapes in 1800s America
- World War 2 (holocaust experiences and survivors, life during the war, resistance stories
- the founding of America
When I see a book in these categories, it’s almost guaranteed to land on my TBR.
3. Amazon Book Recommendations
Amazon’s “Customers Also Bought” and “Similar Items” sections are gold mines for discovering new reads. The suggestions often include:
- Books by the same author
- Titles in a similar genre or time period
- Contemporary fiction and nonfiction with similar themes
This method has a high success rate for me—more often than not, I end up enjoying the recommended book.
4. Podcasts
I have about 10 podcasts in my feed, and none of them focus on books. But they all recommend books fairly often. One of the podcasts I listen to often is the Focus on the Family podcast, which focuses on Faith, Family, Marriage, Kids, Finances, Spiritual Growth, etc. If the podcast is interesting to me and I want more content, I’ll usually add the guest’s book to my TBR list.
Another podcast I’ve had good luck with getting book ideas is the Coffee and Crumbs podcast. This podcast covers all topics related to Mothering. Most of the podcasts are topic-based, sometimes with a guest expert, but usually it’s just the hosts having a chat between girlfriends. They have a reoccurring topic of “What We’re Reading” where the hosts chat about the latest books they’ve read and what’s on their TBR list. I like that they give a synopsis of the books they talk about, so I can try to determine if something appeals to me or not.
Some favorite episodes:
- Coffee and Crumbs podcast, season 7 book episode
- Coffee and Crumbs podcast, season 8 book episode
- Coffee and Crumbs podcast, season 9 book episode
5. Trusted Recommendations from Family and Friends
Not all recommendations hit the mark, but when you find someone with similar reading tastes, it’s priceless.
For example:
- My son’s first (and spot-on) rec to me: Esperanza Rising – Buy on Amazon
- My mom’s latest great pick: The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek – Buy on Amazon
6. Facebook Poll
Occasionally I like to post to my personal Facebook page and ask for book recommendations from friends. I’ve gotten some really good book suggestions that way, and it’s also fun to see what others are reading.
Final Thoughts
Whether it’s a trusted author, a favorite genre, or a great tip from a friend, having a system for choosing your next read helps make a dent in your TBR pile… even if it’s just a tiny dent.
What or who has the biggest influence on what you choose to read next?
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