There was a time when I always had a book with me.
In high school and college, I was constantly reading. I had one in my bag, another on my nightstand, and a growing list of what I wanted to read next. Reading was easy and part of my routine, without me having to think about it.
Then life got louder.
Work, responsibilities, and everyday routines took over. The quiet moments slowly disappeared, and somewhere along the way, reading became something I used to do instead of something I made time for.
That changed in December of 2023.
My husband was deployed. The evenings were quiet, and I needed something to do with that time. I joined an ARC group and picked a book based on the title, and didn’t really think much else about it. And that is where everything started to pick back up.
The Books That Got Me Started Again
A Feather So Black by Lyra Selene (ARC)
This was the first book I read when I decided to try again. It helped me ease back into reading without overthinking it.
It is a dark fantasy with strong elements of folklore, centered on a young woman who is pulled into a dangerous world tied to the fae and long-standing secrets. There is a sense early on that something is not quite right, and that tension carries through the story. It was immersive without feeling overwhelming, which made it a good place for me to start again.
The Kingdom of Sweets by Erika Johansen
This one stuck with me.
It is a darker reimagining of The Nutcracker, told through the perspective of Clara’s sister, Natasha. The story leans into jealousy, identity, and the idea of living in someone else’s shadow. It has a heavier tone, and it is not always an easy read emotionally, but that is part of what made it stand out.
This was one of the first books where I noticed I was thinking about the story when I was not reading. That had not happened in a long time.
Queen of Roses by Briar Boleyn (Books 1 to 3, ARC)
This series is what built momentum.
It is a fantasy romance inspired by Arthurian legend, with familiar elements reworked into something darker and more character-driven. There is court politics, shifting alliances, and a central relationship that develops over time rather than all at once.
I kept going from one book to the next, which is something I had not done in years. It reminded me what it feels like to stay invested in a story over time.
The Books That Hooked Me
At a certain point, reading stopped feeling like something I was trying to get back into. It became something I was naturally doing again.
The Kingdom of Sweets
This was the turning point for me.
It deserves a second mention because it is the book that made me realize I was fully back into reading. It stayed with me longer than anything else I had picked up, and it changed how I engaged with stories again.
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
This book pulled me all the way in.
It follows a young woman who is taken into the fae world after killing a wolf that turns out to be something more. From there, it builds into a mix of fantasy, romance, and political tension. The pacing makes it easy to keep reading, and the character dynamics are what really carry it.
This was the book that opened the door to the rest of Sarah J. Maas’s work for me. After finishing it, I did not stop. I moved straight into the rest of the series and ended up reading all 16 of her books in two months.
It was the first time in years that reading felt like that again. Not something I had to make time for, but something I kept choosing without thinking about it.
Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
This one stayed with me after I finished it.
It is set in a world at war, but the story focuses on two journalists who begin communicating through letters that somehow find their way to each other. It is quieter than the others, more character-focused, and leans into connection and loss rather than action.
It showed me how much I missed that kind of reading experience.
Finding My Way Back
Looking back, it was not about forcing myself to read more or setting goals. It was about finding the right stories at the right time.
Over time, it became part of my day again without me having to think about it. The next thing I knew, I had read 74 books in 2024.
If You Are Trying to Get Back into Reading
Start with something that pulls you in. Not what you think you should be reading, or what everyone else is reading. Just something that feels right for you. Do not worry about reading fast or reading a certain number of books. Focus on finding something that keeps you turning the page. That is usually enough to get things going again.
Final Thoughts
These books did more than get me reading again. They helped me get back a part of myself I did not realize I had lost. If you have fallen out of reading, it is not gone. You just need the right book to get started again.
Lady by Nicole 