10 Fun Ways to Choose Your Next Book

If you’re staring at your TBR… again… wondering what to read next, you’re not alone. Book lovers have options. Sometimes too many! Here are 10 fun (and low-stress) ways to pick your next great read and fall in love with the magic of choosing again.

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1️⃣ Let Your Mood Decide

Not every reading moment calls for the same emotional energy. Some days you’re craving butterflies-in-the-stomach romance, and others you just want a quiet, healing story that feels like deep breaths and warm tea. Tuning into how you feel right now can point you to the perfect next read. If you’re stumped, I’ve created a super helpful guide — discover my Romance Reviews by Mood to match books with exactly your vibe. Let your heart pick this one!

Feeling cozy? Adventurous? A little swoony? Explore my Romance Reviews by Mood to find books that match exactly how you’re feeling right now.

2️⃣ Pick a Book by Color

It sounds silly… until it totally works. Bright yellow books often radiate joy, while deep blues and purples give off cozy, emotional, or magical energy. Stand in front of your shelf (physical or digital) and choose based on the color calling your name. It’s a playful little experiment — and a surprising way to discover books you’ve been overlooking. Bonus points if it makes your nightstand aesthetic look extra cute.

3️⃣ Revisit a Favorite Author

Comfort reads are comfort for a reason. When an author has already swept you off your feet once, it’s worth letting them do it again. Pick a title you haven’t read from one of your “auto-buy” authors and sink in, knowing you’re in good hands. It’s a guaranteed win, especially when you’re in a reading slump or just need a mood boost.

4️⃣ Five-Minute Flip Test

Grab a book you’re considering and set a timer for five minutes. Read without overthinking — just let yourself fall into the story. When the timer ends, check in with yourself:

• Are you smiling?
• Are you curious about what happens next?
• Did you forget you were “testing” it?

If the answer is yes to even one of those… that’s your next read. And if not? Gently place it back — no guilt, no pressure, just onto the next possibility.

5️⃣ Try a Reading Bingo Challenge

Gamifying your TBR instantly takes the pressure off picking “the perfect” book. With simple prompts like “small-town romance” or “a gorgeous cover,” you’ll have fun playing with your reading choices. Plus, every square you check off feels like a tiny celebration. And yes — I made a Romance Reading Bingo card just for you below 👇 Free, printable, and ready for your next bookish adventure.

Ready to make reading feel fun again?

Try my Bookish Bingo Challenge — a cozy, low-pressure way to choose your next romance and fall back in love with reading. 💕

👉 Get your free Bingo card here →

6️⃣ Let a Friend Choose

Sometimes we get stuck choosing for ourselves — so let someone else surprise you! Ask a friend or family member who knows your taste, or even post a stack on Instagram/Threads and let your followers vote. You’ll read something you might not have picked… but end up loving. It’s also a sweet way to build shared book memories with the people in your life.

7️⃣ Try “Chapter 1 Energy”

Grab three books you’re curious about — then read only the first chapter of each. Which one made you forget to blink? That’s your winner. It removes pressure and makes the choosing process part of the fun. Trust your instincts — they’re usually right.

8️⃣ Pick a Setting You Crave

Travel through pages! Want a Christmas romance snowed-in at a lodge? A coastal fling with salty ocean breezes? A Scottish adventure filled with accents and kilts? Setting can be the spark that gets you excited about reading again. Let your imagination decide where you’re headed next.

9️⃣ Join a Community Read

Buddy reads, book clubs, and online reading groups add excitement, accountability, and someone to gush (or rant!) with afterward. When other readers are excited, you feel that spark again too. Plus, you’ll try books you might never have discovered on your own. Reading becomes an experience you share — and that’s half the magic.

🔟 Go Where the Love Is

If a specific book keeps catching your attention, there’s a reason. The one you’ve picked up and put down three times? It wants you — choose it. Reading doesn’t have to be strategic or impressive or part of a plan. Sometimes the best choice is simply the one you can’t stop thinking about.

✨ 5 Bonus Ideas to Try

Get Lost in a Great Series

If you love sinking into a story and staying there, pick a series or trilogy and commit to reading the whole thing! There’s something deeply satisfying about revisiting familiar characters, inside jokes, and a setting that starts to feel like home. Plus, series-reading saves you from that “okay… now what?” moment after every book.

Switch Up Your Format

Sometimes the hardest part of choosing what to read is simply choosing how to read. Give your brain a new experience! If you’ve been flipping physical pages, try an audiobook for your commute or cleaning time. If you’ve been listening a lot, picking up a print or ebook can reignite that cozy, page-turning spark. A format refresh might make a book you already own suddenly irresistible.

Read the Book Everyone’s Talking About

Jumping into the hype can actually be a blast! Popular books come with active discussions, fan theories, and tons of energy online. When everyone is buzzing about a story, reading it alongside the crowd feels like joining a bookish event. And hey—sometimes the hype exists for a reason!

Reread a Beloved Favorite

Not every pick has to be shiny and new. Returning to a story you already love is comforting and totally stress-free—no pressure to like it, no worries about pacing, just joy. And you might catch new layers and moments you didn’t notice before. A reread can feel like wrapping yourself in the coziest bookish blanket.

Let Fate Decide

If decision fatigue is the enemy, take yourself out of the equation completely. Number your TBR and use a random number generator—or literally close your eyes and point to a shelf! Surrendering the pick can be surprisingly fun, and you may discover a book you’ve forgotten you were excited about.

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Still browsing? Visit my Book Review Index for more favorites to explore.

Join the Conversation!

What helps you choose your next read? Drop your method (or your latest favorite!) in the comments below. 💬