We Love Lists: How to Break Out of a Reading Slump

We did a Top 5 Wednesday list on Slump Busters last February. I decided it was time to revisit that list because I'm in the worst slump ever - I've finished one book in the last two months! 

I've updated the list with a few more suggestions, but I'd love some more ideas. Give me all your slump busting book recs in the comments.


Netflix
Sometimes my reading slump is just burnout. I can't read another book, or I can't hold a book without my wrist aching. So a week of binging a TV show on Netflix (or Hulu or Prime) will do the trick. I recently enjoyed Jack Ryan on Prime and it's got me in the mood for more spy shows. I may rewatch Alias or Covert Affairs next.


 Rereads
One way to get out of a slump is to read something you've already read. There's no pressure to review and no worries that you might not like it. I've reread the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews and Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress series four times each, but I think the next time I'm in a rut I may go for Nalini Singh and some Psy-Changelings.

Rose Red added: My go-to method for busting out of a slump is to reread old favorites. I tend to pick up paranormal romances, urban fantasy, childhood favorites. Nalini Singh's books have been my go-to slump busters since I first read the Psy-Changeling series in 2014. I also love rereading Harry Potter, The Blue Sword, and Patricia C. Wrede's books to get out of a slump.


 Paranormal Romance
Last year I was feeling slumpy when I picked up The Leopard King by Ann Aguire. It combines old school trope-y PNR with a completely new fantasy world that reminds me a bit of The Others series. It was just the thing to get me reading again!


 Urban Fantasy
Rose Red: I love reading urban fantasy to get out slumps whether they are new series or rereads! Urban fantasy's fast-pace and familiar worlds are awesome at kickstarting you back into reading. When I'm in a slump I tend to gravitate towards rereading Nalini Singh's Guild Hunter series, Ilona Andrews's Kate Daniels books, and Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson/Alpha & Omega series.


 Series Binge
I know that sounds wrong - get out of a reading slump by reading a whole series, but it's worked for me a few times. I think maybe it's because it takes off the pressure of having to find your next book for a while. Or maybe it's just that I'm a natural binge reader. It's fun to be able to pick up the next book the minute you finish and stay in that world for like a week.

Gretl: Last year I binged Paige Tyler's SWAT series when nothing else sounded good to me. The year before I did J.D. Tyler's Alpha Pack series. They both blend romantic suspense and shifter PNR. Both authors were also new to me at the time. I think the first time I read the Psy-Changeling series, which was about four years ago, it was a slump buster as well.

Rose Red: I did this as well last year but with Lara Adrian's Midnight Breed series and Kresley Cole's Immortals After Dark books.


 Contemporary Romance
A lot of times my reading rut is really an I don't want to write a review rut. When that happens my go to is contemp romance. I'll usually pick up a rom com like Emma Chase or Alice Clayton or suspense like Julie Ann Walker. The last time I didn't want to write reviews I read Idol by Kristen Callihan, which I highly recommend. The third book in the VIP series is out this month, so I may try that next.


Novellas
The problem I'm having right now is that I have no attention span. I've read the first hundred pages of a few different books, but if I don't finish in one sitting my brain moves on to the next thing. Novellas are a perfect solution for this one. I often look for Psy-Changeling novellas since there are a lot of them and it hits that familiar, comfort read spot at the same time. But you can also find a lot of free contemp romance novellas on Kindle if that's more your mood. Or for UF, I loved Melissa F. Olson's Nightshade trilogy.

What do you do to get out of a slump?