If you’re stuck in a reading rut or don’t know which book to pick up next, you need something that will catch (and keep) your attention. These 18 books for a reading slump deliver exactly that. And all you need to do is choose a book below that catches your eye, place that order and get stuck in.
We’ve done the heavy lifting, reading a plethora of books, curating them into a list and giving you a quick-fire summary of the plot and things we loved. Because we’re all about reserving the reading for the books and keeping reviews short, sweet and most-importantly, spoiler free.
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18 Books For A Reading Slump
Want – Gillian Anderson
Gillian Anderson, best known for her role as sex therapist Jean Milburn in Netflix’s Sex Education, has collected and curated a collection of anonymous confessions from women around the world. From short stories that will have you giggling, blushing and looking over your shoulder to make sure no one can see what you’re reading to sobering and sad moments that will make you feel totally seen, it’s a book that’s currently on nightstands everywhere.
The Highlights:
- Anonymous short stories of women’s sexual fantasies
- Gillian Anderson, ‘nuff said
- Like a good gossip session with your besties over some wine
- You can either binge-read it or dip in and out of it over some time
By Any Other Name – Jodi Picoult
In Elizabethan London, the witty and intelligent Emilia Bassano is forced to become a mistress to a Lord who oversees the theatre. So of course, she pays an actor (William Shakespeare) to be the front of a play. Skip some time and in modern Manhattan, playwright Melina Green is inspired by her ancestor Emilia and decides to submit a play under a male pseudonym. Follow two women’s journeys to be heard.
The Highlights:
- Two very distinct women, decades apart, fighting to be heard
- Easy-to-follow dual timelines
- Explores the theory that Shakespeare isn’t the true author of his plays
- Well-researched historical fiction (the richly-explorative writing of Jodi Picoult we all love)
First Wife’s Shadow – Adele Parks
Ever felt haunted by the memory of a current partner’s ex? Or maybe you’ve gotten a little obsessed with them (hey, we’ve all been privy to a social media stalk or two)? Well, when Emma, a wealthy and independent CEO, meets Matthew, a gentle and kind widower, that’s exactly what happens. But what if that haunting and obsession isn’t just in Emma’s mind (and no one believes her), and it may be putting her life in danger?
The Highlights:
- Domestic psychological suspense crime thriller
- For lovers of The Housemaid & Verity
- Bingeable
- Jaw-dropping plot twists
The Bone Season – Samantha Shannon
2059, London, two centuries after an oppressive campaign to eradicate unnaturalness In Europe: Paige Mahoney, high-ranking in the criminal underworld and a rare type of clairvoyant, is committing treason just by existing. When she is arrested for murder she meets the founders who have made life hell on earth… And now she needs to escape their claws.
The Highlights:
- A lot of world-building; great for fantasy lovers
- The first book in a seven-book series. Book five is expected in February 2025.
- Gothic fantasy world meets supernatural dystopia
- TV series apparently in the works
How Did We Get Here? A Girl’s Guide To Finding Herself – Mpoomy Ledwaba
Wisdom & Wellness founder, beloved influencer and speaker Mpoomy Ledwaba went from university drop-out to Forbes 30 Under 30 and now she is sharing her journey. She speaks openly and candidly about her life and includes “Reflection” sections where you can reflect, answer questions and write down your thoughts in the book.
The Highlights:
- Part memoir, part self-help, part workbook
- Coming-of-age story
- Speaker & influencer Mpoomy Ledwaba
- Relatable, vulnerable, reflective
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We Solve Murders – Richard Osman
When a dead body, a bag of money and a killer emerge on a remote island where Amy Wheeler is keeping a world-famous author safe, Amy calls the only person she can trust… That would be her father-in-law, a retired copy, who up until then was enjoying retired life with minimal adrenaline and investigation. Can this unusual, buddy-cop, detective duo save the day?
The Highlights:
- Cosy mystery
- Crime-solving duo of a father-in-law and daughter-in-law
- First book in a new series by the author of The Thursday Murder Club
- Loveable characters
The Priory Of The Orange Tree – Samantha Shannon
Nominated for Readers’ Favourite Fantasy in Goodreads’ 2019 Choice Award this is an epic fantasy about a world on the brink of war with dragons (and the women who must save it). Fantasy lovers will appreciate the detailed and delicate world-building and the characters from various ends of the world have easy-to-follow stories.
The Highlights:
- Queer love story
- 800+ pages that will jolt you out of a reading slump (yes, seriously!)
- Author describes it as a “feminist retelling of Saint George and the Dragon.”
- Story told from four perspectives
The 5 Principles Of Parenting – Dr. Aliza Pressman
Developmental psychologist and host of the award-winning podcast Raising Good Humans, Dr. Aliza Pressman’s book distils decades of developmental research into easy-to-use, practical advice and sound guidance for parents (with compassion, reassurance and sans judgement). But don’t be fooled, this isn’t your average parenting book, Dr. Pressman rejects the notion that there is one “right” way to parent and gives advice you can fit into your life and parenting style.
The Highlights:
- Not a one-size-fits-all approach; align the principles with your values
- Five core pillars: relationship, reflection, regulation, rules & repair.
- Host of hit podcast, Raising Good Humans
- “My go-to for how we all raise good humans, including ourselves!” —Drew Barrymore
Nexus: A Brief History Of Information Systems – Yuval Noah Harari
Yes, it’s true that a thick, grandiose book grappling with complex topics is an interesting choice for a list meant to get you out of a reading slump. But this book expertly dives into the existential crisis we are currently all facing, the flow of information over time and the looming threat of artificial intelligence and packages it in a way that absolutely hooks you (as only Yuval Noah Hariri could). Prepare to be mind-blown.
The Highlights:
- Complex topics made understandable
- Explores how information has shaped us and the world
- Mind-opening, thought-provoking read
- From the author of Sapiens
You Get Better With Love – Duduzile Ngwenya
Poetry books are really having a moment right now and they’re also great options for when you’re in a reading slump (probably because they’re less intimidating than a novel but are still somehow able to make you feel seen!). And Duduzile’s collection of poetry that explores topics surrounding self-compassion, healing, growth and self-acceptance is just what everyone needs right now. Your new fave #instapoet, she will be!
The Highlights:
- Bestselling author of Things I Never Said To Myself and This Time You Return To Yourself
- She was self-published (and well-loved) before joining Pan Macmillan
- Inspiring, comforting, gentle words
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Here One Moment – Liane Moriarty
What would you do if you boarded a plane and an old woman meticulously walked through the aisle predicting the age and manner in which every passenger would die? Would you scoff? Reserve the story for an epic dinner party tale? Worry about your health late at night? Now what would you do if a few months later several people died exactly how that “crazy old lady” had predicted? That’s what the characters have to wrestle with in this easy-to-blitz-through read. Can they change destiny?
The Highlights:
- Multiple story lines
- Lifelike characters who jump off the page in typical Moriarty fashion
- From the author of Big Little Lies and Nine Perfect Strangers
- Profound insights within the threads of an easy-to-read book
Yawns Freeze Your Brain – Mick O’Hare
Sometimes your slump requires a shelving of the romance and fantasy and a spoonful of something shockingly different. This book is a collection of fast facts you’ll love learning (and sharing with friends over a glass of wine). You’ll get answers to questions like the most misheard song lyrics, why women live longer than men, how much money you need to be happy and the most useless invention ever (spoiler alert a South African made it!)
The Highlights:
- Mind-blowing facts you’ve never even considered
- Short, sweet and great to whizz through if you’re trying to reach your reading goal
- Makes a great gift
- Fun to whip out with friends
The Map Of Bones – Kate Mosse
In 1688, Huguenot refugee Suzanne Joubert arrives in Olifantshoek in search of her pirate commander cousin Louise Reydon-Joubert who disappeared without a trace after landing in the Cape of Good Hope 60 years prior. Nearly 180 years after Suzanne’s journey, in Franschoek in 1862, another Joubert family member, Isabelle Leopard, makes the same journey to find out what happened to the women in her family. Now she must race against the clock to escape with the truth… and her life.
The Highlights:
- Set in South Africa
- Fourth and final novel of The Joubert Family Chronicles
- Thoroughly researched historical fiction told beautifully
The Grey Wolf – Louise Penny
When strange things start happening to Chief Inspector Armand Gamache – a call from an old enemy, a missing coat, a cryptic note – he suspects something is amiss. And when there is a murder, Chief Inspector Gamache and his team must track down this threat that seems to take on a larger than life presence. Conspiracy theorists get out your notebooks, it’s time to get to to work!
The Highlights:
- 19th mystery in the bestselling Armand Gamache series.
- Book can work as a standalone but starting a few books earlier will give you insight into gorgeous characters and story arcs
- One of the best storylines of the entire series
- Perfect for armchair detectives
Guilty – Martina Cole and Jacqui Rose
“Everyone has their secrets – but one of them is getting away with murder.” Single mother Steph Barker runs a women’s shelter for local prostitutes and when one of her friends from the shelter, Hennie, goes missing, Steph is convinced that Hennie’s violent pimp has something to do with it. But when another prostitute goes missing it’s time to find out who is guilty.
The Highlights:
- You won’t be able to put it down
- While some subject matter is hard to digest, fans of crime fiction will devour this read
- Gritty and twisty
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Daydream – Hannah Grace
Fans of Hannah Grace and #BookTook will be over the moon to get another read, with this one featuring the classic tutor x jock trope. When newly-appointed captain of the hockey team Henry lands in hot academic water he teams up with Halle Jacobs, a smart student juggling her studies, a job, a book club and writing a novel. The only rule? Stick to the rule book and don’t fall in love.
The Highlights:
- Perfect beach read
- The third book in the Maple Hill series (Icebrekaer and Wildfire were the first two)
- Great characters and good vibes
- A more mature version of a spicy #BookTok read
Once More From The Top – Emily Layden
Music superstar Dylan Read is a household name and there’s not a person who doesn’t know her music (sound like someone?). Having spent fifteen years growing up in the public eye, people think they know everything about the musician, but no one knows her deepest secret; Dylan’s childhood best friend Kelsey vanished without a trace right before she got famous. But when Kelsey’s body is found at the bottom of their hometown lake, Dylan’s picture perfect image could be shattered.
The Highlights:
- Book for the Swifties
- A beautiful story about friendship and the nuances of being a teenager
- Dylan is a complex main character grappling with issues that you will connect with
- A different kind of love story
Fire and Bones – Kathy Reichs
Temperance Brennan is ripped from a romantic getaway to investigate a mysterious arson attack with bodies to identify and surprises to unravel. But it’s the fire site itself that starts to pique her interest and the history of the property that has her suspicious. Teaming up with a telejournalist, the duo finds themselves exposed to the dark underbelly of gang-linked crime. But is everything as it seems?
The Highlights:
- The 23rd book in the Temperance Brennan series (but can definitely be read as a standalone)
- TV show Bones is actually inspired by these novels
- The science in the books is incredibly well done (the author is a forensic anthropologist)
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