I spent 2025 in a reading slump. Struggled to finish books, and the ones I did finish took me AGES. I want to break this slump in January
Now I am open to reading most things, but I would rather not have anything depressing as my depression caused this slump.
Short books would be amazing for giving me a sense of achievement, but any length is fine too.
Overall, what book got you out of a reading slump?
Thank you and all the best for 2026, fellow readers
by JessTheHobbit
4 Comments
Hyperion by Dan Simmons
The Thursday Murder Club. It’s lighthearted but not simple and I just like the very Britishness of it.
I’d suggest something with a strong voice, maybe a memoir from someone you enjoy.
A book that personally got me out of a slump was Norm MacDonald’s book “based on a true story”, but if you’re not a fan of that old lump of coal you might not care for it. It’s ridiculous and mostly a lie but I’ve never laughed harder at a book and even reading it you can hear Norm’s voice in your head.
Otherwise maybe something like the Martian would be good to break a depression, about a guy using every morsel of his brain to survive on Mars after he’s left behind during an emergency evacuation.
If you want something just straight up turn your brain off fun, Dungeon Crawler Carl is great. The world is destroyed by some alien species that turns earth into a dungeon crawler TV show, where characters have to level up and make it through the different levels. Laugh out loud moments, fun action, and reads super duper fast because of all the loot boxes and achievements the main character receives.
Best of luck getting out of that slump!
*Sparrow Hill Road*, by Seanan McGuire. It’s a collection of short stories and vignettes told by a hitchhiking ghost. I think it was the short nature of the stories that kinda reset my brain.