As most of you know, 2018 put me in a terrible reading slump where, instead of my usual 30 books, I read only 11. Now, numbers should never define your place as a reader, but the stark contrast between 2017 and 2018 was staggering. With some reflection, I have been able to pinpoint some of the influences of this reading slump.
Time
It’s a weak excuse, but for some reason, I felt like I had no time to do anything in 2018. Some may say that if I love reading so much I should make time for it, but it’s hard to do so when you’re balancing a couple of jobs and end up working a 9am-10pm day. Yes, I could read during my lunch break, but then it’s the choice of what to read. This issue of time worked into my mood reading habits. It takes a lot of time to figure out what I’m in the mood to read, and by the time I’ve decided I could have easily finished the book. The difficult part is when you know which genre you want to read but can’t find the right book in that genre. So, a lot of time actually goes towards the book decision and it’s not an easy task.
Lack of energy
The most obvious reason behind this slump is tiredness. There were a lot of challenges and new experiences in 2018, some were good, others not so much, and sometimes I finished the day so exhausted that I just didn’t have the energy to do anything let alone read. Reading takes a lot of concentration, and sometimes you just want to finish the night in bed watching Netflix.
A Change in Interest
The most surprising contribution to this slump was the realisation that for the time being, my interest has shifted. Typically, Young Adult contemporary fiction would dominate my reading year. However, last year I found that I wanted to read more books catered to New Adults. The problem, as most of you know, is the stereotype that follows the New Adult genre.
Now, some New Adult books are brilliant, but it’s a known fact that most of them are heavily focused on romance. I love a good romance, and a lot of the ones I’ve read have a brilliant balance between the romantic entanglements and the individual journey. I will never knock a good romance book or shame anyone that reads romance because I love that genre. The point I’m trying to make is the major gap in the publishing industry in terms of New Adult content. For some reason, there’s this notion that New Adult books won’t sell, but for someone like me, whose in her mid 20’s and trying to carve out a place in this world, and would love to read about characters that are facing the same problems.
That transition from student to adult is hard and the pressure on us to have our “life plan” mapped out is ridiculous. This transitional stage between a Young Adult and Adult is full of complex emotions and challenges. There is so much potential in the New Adult market anddon’t understand why people aren’t willing to take a chance of it. Readers are looking for books they can relate to. I want to read about the change in dynamics when you move back home because you can’t afford a house of your own. I want to read about the challenges of applying for jobs in a field you’re not sure you want to pursue. On top of that, you have the issue of friendships. It’s a lot harder to meet new people and create meaningful friendships once you’ve left school. There is a world of possibilities in the New Adult market, and I would love to see them get the spotlight.
So, while time and energy factored into my reading slump in 2018, the biggest influence was this need to read about books that reflect some of the daily issues I experience as a New Adult. Young Adult novels are still a staple in my reading life, and I will continue to love that market, but I think it’s a shame that people aren’t willing to take a change on New Adult novels.
What influences your reading slump?
Do you have any New Adult book recommendations?
My Midnight Musing 
All of this totally makes sense to me! I feel more drawn to adult fiction sometimes now, but at the same time I get bored with things that usually always sparked joy. And the lack of energy is a big contributing factor!! I just can’t get my brain to focus on words if it’s not strictly necessary.
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It’s such a weird funk to be in cause sometimes I want to read, but not necessarily the books I have or would previously gravitate to, so I just end up in a rut and turn to Netflix haha.
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This is such a big mood, Lois. I totally feel it.
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Wow! I do not blame you for being in a reading slump when you are working 12 hours a day! That must be absolutely exhausting!
I think you bring up some valid points about the new adult genre & its shortcomings. The transitions from college to adult life is challenging. I can definitely see where you’d want to read about some of the same challenges you are facing, and not just a romance book.
I hope you come out of your slump soon 😦
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It is pretty exhausting sometimes, especially when you finish one job and have to run straight to the next one.
It’s frustrating when you want to read but can’t find the type of book you want to read. I just don’t understand this hesitation of writing for New Adults.
Thank you. My Six of Crows re-read is definitely helping. 😉
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I completely understand about not having the time of energy. I usually try to listen to audiobooks when I feel like that because it’s low maintenance. I like to play dumb cellphone games while I’m listening.
I’m having a bit of change of interest as well. I still mostly read YA Fantasy, but I’ve been adding more Adult Fantasy and Adult Romance too.
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I find if I listen to something I tend to zone out or get distracted a lot easier so I end up rewinding most of it so I can actually process what I’m reading haha.
It was inevitable that this would happen, and I still read a lot of YA fantasy, but with YA contemporary books, I find it harder to get into them these days.
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Oh darlin’ — I had a HUGE reading slump last year. Sure, my goal shows I read 40 ish … but SO MANY of those were manga’s, which take 20 minutes MAX to read.
Time was a big thing for me last year as well, especially when I started getting back into fitness and working a TON of overtime. Then, obviously exhaustion hit. And you’re totally right — reading takes a lot more concentration that Netflix.
The lucky thing this year is I just haven’t been interested in a lot of TV shows (unless I’ve already watched them) and I find movies too time consuming. I game but I can only concentrate on a video game for so long. So my last THREE weekends have LITERALLY been reading times — YAY!
I also find reading before bed helps. Even if it’s an interesting read, the lighting (I have dim fairy lights) and the concentration on the content eventually exhausts me but I still get a good chunk done.
Rec wise, I haven’t read it but I’ve heard “Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating” is really good! The author also wrote” Autoboyography” which I fell in love with, so I’m sure this one will be just as great!
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A lot of people seemed to be in a book slump last year. It’s strange.
It is so hard to make enough time to fit everything in your life and it’s a situation where you end up cutting things out just to fit something else in.
Netflix has been my best friend so far this year, and I blame all the good TV shows for that. However, I do find that if I’m not 100% sold on a TV show or film I find the effort to commit to them a lot harder.
I’ve started to read before bed again and I’m surprised to find that it does help. I think the fact that it’s also a re-read contributes haha.
Thank you so much for the recommendations. I will definitely check those books out. 😀 😀
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I know eh?! I noticed that as well … so weird.
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I relate a lot to the reading slump for most of 2018, all due to exhaustion as well. I read only 18 books last year, and because school was consuming most of my life, even when I had time, the last thing I wanted to do was read and would much rather watch Netflix, lol. But as for the things you said about New Adult: I had never really thought much about it, but now you mentioned, that’s so true! I am only now turning 18, so the struggles of adulthood are still only waiting for me, therefore I’ve always related much more with YA. But everytime I thought about New Adult, I’d just think about romance books with a lot of sex scenes to them, lol. And even though that is true, it doesn’t always have to be this way. I hope publishing understands that being a New Adult encompasses a lot more than just romantic relationships, as life does after all.
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It’s amazing to see how many people fell into that reading slump last year. I can definitely see why you’d unwind with Netflix. School basically takes all of your concentration during the day so you need that time to unwind. It’s so easy to relate to YA, it’s why I still read them, but I do strongly believe that publishing houses are missing out on a huge market in New Adult. Here’s hoping that someone sees this one day. Thank you so much for the comment. 😀
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I’m currently in a pretty bad slump, so I understand! A lot of my lack of reading has been due to tiredness, since I’m working long shifts at work, and am too exhausted to do anything but sleep!
Recently, my good friend Kat from Novels and Waffles shared an awesome post about NA books written in the YA style that aren’t too romance heavy! Here’s the link if you want to see her recs! 💕 https://novelswaffles.wordpress.com/2019/01/22/list-of-na-books-written-in-the-ya-style/
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I can so understand that. It takes a lot of concentration to read, but it’s so hard to do so when you’re exhausted.
Thank you so much for the link. I’ll definitely check out those recommendations. 😀 ❤
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Aww, those are completely understandable and very valid reasons that can explain a reading slump. I haven’t yet had a huge slump that forbade me from enjoying novels regularly but time would definitely be the biggest issue considering that there are other priorities/responsibilities that need to be addressed before anything else (i.e. school, work, etc.). Hope 2019 will prove to be slump-free for you! Great discussion post! 😉
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I will keep my fingers crossed that you don’t fall into one of these slumps cause it is the most frustrating cycle. Thankfully, I had Netflix to keep me company in those months haha. On the plus side I am slowly getting back into my reading, even if it is a re-read haha.
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Wow that’s a long working day- I don’t think you should feel bad for not having time or being tired from it. And I definitely hear you about the change of interest- I think that’s something I’m experiencing more and more. I still love YA but I’m feeling more like drifting away from it and trying more other things than I used to. And definitely relate to turning to Netflix as well 😉
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It’s weird because you want to read, but when none of the books you’d once turn to appeal to you at the moment it makes it increasingly difficult to be excited to read. Netflix has been my best friend for the past year haha.
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haha I understand that!
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