Welcome to this week's edition of Top Ten Tuesday which is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week's theme is Books Guaranteed to Put an End to Your Book Slump (Which books would you recommend to someone (it’s Jana) dealing with the dreaded book slump? No book is grabbing their attention or making them excited to sit down and read and they are suffering for it.)
I have been there. Back in 2016 and 2017 I had a massive slump. I only read 16 books in 2016 and 11 books in 2017. Given in the past I had been reading 200+ a year it was a big change. The only recommendations I would have is to try reading authors your know you love or rereading favourite books to try and kickstart your reading again. The only other piece of advice I would have is to be kind to yourself. There might be a reason why you just can't at the moment. And your reading will come back in due course. It might look different than it used to, but it will come back.
Rather than do the theme today, I am instead going to share ten books I have read in August over the last eleven years. Why eleven years? You might notice that there is no book for August 2017 which is when I was in my big slump. The year is the year I read them in, not when they were published.
Funny Story by Emily Henry - 2024 - I would have listened to this on audio!
The Little Paris Toy Shop by Lauren Westwood - 2023 - Man I loved this book so much! (my review)
Elodie's Library of Second Chances by Rebecca Raisin - 2022 - Rebecca Raisin is now an auto-read author for me. (my review)
Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe by Heather Webber - 2021 - This was my first book by Heather Webb and I loved it to so much. (my review)
The Switch by Beth O'Leary - 2020 - I liked this one, and yet I still haven't read any more of her books. I do own some of them so I will get to them one day. Maybe. (my review)
The Place on Dalhousie by Melina Marchetta - 2019 - What can I say about Melina Marchetta that I haven't said before. Not much really.
The Desert Nurse by Pamela Hart - 2018 - I really liked this book.
The Light Between Oceans by M L Stedman 2016 - When I went to get the cover image for this book I saw that this author is expected to have a new book out next year called A Far Flung Life. I'm excited for it!
First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen - 2015 - I just inhaled Sarah Addison Allen's first few books.
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion - 2014 - What a fun read this was!
If I was to hit a slump again, I think the book that I would try rereading first from this list would be The Little Paris Toy Shop, closely followed by Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe and a couple of Rebecca Raisin's books.
I am pleased to see that half of these books are by Aussie authors too.
This is a great list of books in August or anytime!
ReplyDeleteI agree Deb!
DeleteOoh, I loved The Rosie Project. The Light Between Oceans is also a favorite. The film was also quite good, which is rare with books-to-movies.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't always happen that way!
DeleteNice spin on the theme! I haven't read any here
ReplyDeleteThanks Emma!
DeleteI've read a couple of books from this list and enjoyed them. Beth O'Leary is one of the few authors of recent years where I've read all of her books. Ok, almost all of them, as I haven't read the most recent one. But I will soon!
ReplyDeletePam @ Read! Bake! Create!
https://readbakecreate.com/the-os-have-it-ten-titles-starting-with-o/
I have to catch up at some point Pam!
DeleteIt’s cool that you keep track of such things.
ReplyDeleteI have a spreadsheet that I have been keeping for 20 years which helps with this kind of thing!
DeleteThese look good. I had a reading slump when I was pregnant. I was scared that my love of reading wouldn't come back. It has, but I can now only read one book at a time because my memory is not what it once was.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week!
Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog
My post:
https://budgettalesblog.wordpress.com/2025/08/12/top-ten-tuesday-books-guaranteed-to-put-an-end-to-your-book-slump/
I didn't read for years when my son was little! It came back eventually when I was in a bit better place mentally!
DeleteThat's a great list. I look forward to reading these too.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lux!
DeleteNice topic for today! I never think to look back like this.
ReplyDeleteI've done this a few times now!
DeleteI like your alternative to today's topic. It's an interesting idea, to look back at what you have read in a particular month over the course of a decade or more. I haven't read any of the books you chose, but the Rebecca Raisin book looks tempting, and Funny Story is on my TBR list.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy Rebecca Raisin's books!
DeleteOur lists would totally differ. I don't enjoy lighter reads when I'm in a slump, they only strengthen it. Funny how it works differently for everyone!
ReplyDeleteMy TTT: https://laurieisreading.com/2025/08/12/top-ten-tuesday-books-to-diversify-your-reading-1/
It definitely works differently for each of us Laurie!
DeleteGreat list, Marg. I loved Midnight at The Blackbird Cafe. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeletehttps://thebookconnectionccm.blogspot.com/2025/08/top-ten-tuesday-top-ten-books.html
Such a good book Cheryl!
DeleteGreat advice! I'm currently in a slump and rereading old favorites.
ReplyDeleteHope that your slump goes away soon AJ!
DeleteWow, I love the pretty covers!
ReplyDeleteThanks Stephanie!
DeleteOne day I'm going to read The Light Between Oceans...
ReplyDeleteI have read several of these books, but one I haven't read is The Little Paris Toy Shop. I will have to check it out.
ReplyDeleteI've enjoyed several books by Sarah Addison Allen, good pick. I also read The Rosie Project and more recently The Switch, which was fun.
ReplyDeletehttps://rosieamber.wordpress.com/
I just reviewed the newest Rebecca Raisin! She’s a solid trusted author! ~Carol @ ReadingLadies
ReplyDeleteI really don't have reading slumps, thank goodness! I loved THE ROSIE PROJECT. I still need to read the sequel.
ReplyDeleteHappy TTT (on a Wednesday)!
All of these look so good. Great choices.
ReplyDeleteThe Rosie Project and The Light Between Oceans were entertaining reads. And Stedman will have a new novel yay!
ReplyDelete