Six books that helped me get out of a reading slump
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We’ve all been there. The inevitable reading slump.
Maybe you’ve downloaded a bunch of books on your Kindle that remain untouched, or those brand new books you bought on sale at Big W are sitting in that gigantic pile of ‘to be read’ on your bedside table, gathering dust. Between work, social catch-ups, maintaining 8K steps a day, and drinking your body weight in water, it can be tough to fit in a book.
Hoping to turn over a new page this year and regain your love of reading?
Cue a fast-paced, interesting, and relatively easy-to-read book to pull you out of the depths of your reading woes. Bonus points if it has a larger font so you feel like you’re turning the pages a touch more quickly.
Here are the books that reinvigorated my love of reading. Consider them my first line of defence for any fellow readers in the trenches. They are sugary escapes to another universe where you’ll forget about the washing piling up on the dining room table, or the gym workout you’re dreading in the morning. I promise these will help you stop scrolling and rekindle your reading obsession.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
If you love glamour, Hollywood and gossip, this book is for you. It follows the story of Evelyn Hugo, an Elizabeth Taylor-esque character whose life is more interesting than all the gossip mags combined. It’s got all the drama and thrills of a blockbuster flick.
The Dry by Jane Harper
I could not put this book down. Jane Harper is a genius. Based in outback Australia, this suspenseful thriller will keep you on your toes. A police detective heads back to his hometown for the first time in decades to solve a crime. There’s subtle romance, action, and plenty of mystery.
The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth
Anything written by Sally Hepworth will get you out of a reading slump. I have read and enjoyed many of her books, but this was the one which kickstarted my love for the Aussie author and her knack for portraying the complexities of human nature. This novel follows Stephen Aston, a heart surgeon at the top of his game who is getting married for the second time, but first, he must divorce his current wife, who can no longer speak for herself…
Intrigued yet?
The Happiest Man on Earth by Eddie Jaku
Although not sugary, this powerful page turner and ultimately hopeful memoir shows how to find happiness even in the darkest of times. Eddie Jaku was a Holocaust survivor who paid tribute to those who were lost by telling his story and the motivation he had to live his best possible life despite the many challenges he faced.
Note: have tissues nearby.
The Italian Girl by Lucinda Riley
A classic rags-to-riches story, this one’s for the nerdburgers who love a bit of classic romance and head over heels epic tales of devotion and destiny. In this book, we meet Rosanna Menici, a young opera prodigy whose career and love life revolve around a very handsome, rugged Italian stallion named Roberto Rossini. Even his name sounds sexy. It’s a love story for the ages.
Semi Gloss by Justine Cullen
Fashion magazine editor Justine Cullen is one of Australia’s most celebrated women in media. This witty, funny and juicy look at her career in fashion and life as a woman in Australia is both enlightening and entertaining. She’s all about exposing the beautiful mess that lies beneath the sparkly exterior of a life in the fast lane.
Justine also narrates the audiobook herself – which was also brilliant.
