Choose a book about something that you're interested in! If something looks interesting to you, don’t be afraid to pick it up! And if you don’t know where to start looking, your interests are a good place to start.

Don’t let anyone “book shame” you! It’s easy to let other people get in the way when picking your next book to read. It’s helpful to try to forget about other people when choosing, and only think about what you want to read, not what you think you should read. Just because other people are reading nonfiction for example, does not mean you have to pick up a nonfiction book, especially if it’s not interesting to you. There is no shame in picking a book with less “substance”, reading for pleasure looks different to everyone.

Take book recommendations! Often the people who know you best will have good advice on what will be a great book for you, so don’t be afraid to ask. However, don’t be afraid to put a book down if it’s not to your liking, no one will be offended if you don’t finish a book.

You don’t need to stick to a schedule! Reading for pleasure is your choice, so don’t feel like you need to be reading all the time, and constantly looking for new titles because sometimes when you force yourself to read, its not as enjoyable.

Use online resources to find books, but don’t rely on them. Sites like goodreads can have amazing recommendations, but at the end of the day the only thing that matters is when you pick up the book and start reading, and you know yourself better than a website does.

Pay attention to the author. If you read a book that you love, make a note of who wrote it, chances are you will love their other books!

Most importantly, go with your gut!