Help me get back into reading please

[Moirarosesgarden]

I haven’t read a book for years. It’s been so long that I can’t really remember any books or authors that I enjoyed. I do know that I don’t like anything overly complex or that takes too long to get into. I used to enjoy romance/murder/thriller type plots but not anything too political or heavy. Can you recommend me something to get me started. Are the “detective agency” books potentially something I’d enjoy?

How about Janet Evanovitch books?

I used to Read Jodi Picoult books. They're courtroom dramas

But surely if you wanted to read, you'd read. You don't want to, and that's OK.

Lisa Jewell + Shari Lapena would be good for you. Not too long, well paced, easy reads.

I'm currently reading and enjoying 'Strange Sally Diamond's after seeing it recommended on here. I'll see if I can find the thread - it had loads of book recommendations.

Book recommendations thread www.mumsnet.com/talk/book_of_the_month/5030277-i-need-a-gripping-totally-in-your-face-you-cant-put-it-down-book

The Detective Agency books are ok. They are a fairly distinctive style, I think. I recommend Michael Connelly’s books. Absolutely gripping.

Sorry, messed up that link and can't edit on the app. This is the thread:
www.mumsnet.com/talk/book_of_the_month/5030277-i-need-a-gripping-totally-in-your-face-you-cant-put-it-down-book

Placemarking. I have found my attention span has become a lot less since I started reading online forums. I'm starting to think books with short stories might be a good way to get back into reading but don't really know of any authors that do this.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/what_were_reading/4974802-26-ish-books-2024?page=19&reply=136769559

Come and join us on this thread. Lots of great suggestions and chat about books. Its whst got me back in to reading last year. Don't worry about the number if 26 seems way out of reach, its really just a lovely thread to support more reading whether you hit that target or just read more than you did last year.

I tend to read on my kindle app on my phone so I set a timer and aim to read a minimum of 15 minutes a day. It helped me get back in to the extended attention span I has lost from being on my phone in general. And most days once I start I always do much more. I have a tick list on my list of things to do in my day and it helps me do it on days I find myself sucked in to my phone om here for instance. You could say you will read one chapter or even one page a day to get you back in to it?

I don't think you will regret giving yourself a "get back in to books" project. I love it so much after years of not reading

I used the kindle app on my phone to get back into reading, it worked like a charm!

And yes, kindle is really reading, don't let anyone be sniffy that it's not.

For romance suspense I love Pamela Clare, Toni Anderson, Janie Crouch and Rachel Grant.

More suspense/murder/thriller with limited romance than I love Melinda Leigh and Kendra Elliott.

Historical romance with some suspense - Katrina Kendrick

Clever dystopia - Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel is good.

Have fun rediscovering the joy of books!

I used to love reading , but got out of the habit for many years and struggled to read anything. I bought a kindle last year and haven’t looked back. I’ve read so so many books and am so pleased to have rediscovered this hobby. I keep a list of books I’ve read and a list of books on my to be read pile. I take advantage of 99p kindle deals and have a watch list of books I’m waiting to drop in price (a mumsnetter gave me that idea). Hope you enjoy getting back into reading.

What about reading shorter stories so it doesn't feel like as much of a commitment as a longer novel might?

I used to love reading a novel but can't now. I can't concentrate on it, leaving it for long periods and then forget about the plot and characters. I now read non fiction books on history and nature instead. It's still reading.

You could try the books by Erin Kelly. Interesting, but easy to read, thrillers.

Jackson Brodie series by Kate Atkinson, Very readable

I thought this, then, for ridiculous reasons was without broadband for a couple of weeks. I put the iPad down and got back into the ‘habit’ of reading. I’d forgotten how much I love it. OP, I’d recommend someone like Mavis Cheek or Salley Vickers to start with. Shortish novels with very recognisable characters!

Watching for further recommendations!

Suggest reading books you enjoyed as a child, even if it's Enid Blyton and pony books ( there is an excellent thread about those in The Tackroom board)

MJ Arlidge books are very gripping. All the adults in my family have enjoyed them and that's a rare thing!

I'm another who's ability to focus on reading novels has been disrupted by too much internet scrolling, so I'm enjoying the ideas on here!

Ian Rankin's Rebus series is good. Short books.

Jodi Taylor 'Chronicles of St Mary's' series. Very engaging style and very funny

I like keeping a log of what I’ve read on a yearly list - gives me a sense of accomplishment as well as motivation to add to it.

I also recommended doing reading challenges to get some inspiration- there are lots of different ones but I’ve linked to a summer one below.

This year I have asked my family members to recommend a book to me and that’s worked really well too.
Summer Reading Challenge Summer Reading Challenge

Totally disagree with this. It's a habit you can get out of and it then becomes difficult to start again. I blame my smartphone.

I think short stories are actually much more difficult for this. It takes me some time to get into a novel so with short stories you're constantly 'trying to get into it'.

I got back into the habit of reading before bed a few years ago and now I’ll read over watching the tele if it’s a particularly gripping book! The last one that made me forego Netflix was Behind Closed Doors; I couldn’t put it down. A good thriller!

Andrea Mara
Alice Feeney
Ruth ware
Jill Mansell
Shari Lapena
Harlen Coben

Get the good read app. And the library app. They have both really helped me get into reading.