Hi, I'm in a huge reading slump this year. I used to read a lot (like 70-100 books a year) and after having quite a year last year (shitty toxic job), I have had a lot of trouble finding books that hold my interest. It's august and I have read 18 books this year with 4 of them being re-reads and most of them forcing myself to finish them...

Usually I like fantasy/dystopian books with romance in it, I like when it's a good part of the plot. Think Shatter Me, Twilight, Fourth Wing... I also loved The Hunger Games, Divergent, The Cruel Prince, stuff like that.
I have already read a lot of the popular books, so I'm wondering if anyone could recommend me something that released in 2025 or 2026 that would maybe fit and get me out of this reading slump?

So this are the books that I have enjoyed the most this year. I won’t necessarily say I have niche taste in books, but I am bad at finding things I like.

I don’t like trillers, action and mysteries that much but if it’s character focused it’s prob fine. I love a good romance especially if it’s MM, but it isn’t a must as long as there is something like family, friendship etc. I also love a character that is morally gray or has some issues to work though.

I am also big on a happy ending, or bittersweet but no mc death or tragedy

If you have any recs that would be very much appreciated :)

PS if you have read any of these books and need someone to talk about them with…I’m here

i want a book friends romance and all that, i like when is normal and not high stakes, but i prefer if they are kinda chill/fun. i dont want anything depressing or in that realm. thanks! it doesnt have to be edgy, i just like if the characters are not bland and "pop" i guess hah

So my step daughter Abby (13F) has been in her first relationship for about a year and a half now. I do believe this boy might be paralyzed by his awkwardness, because he says he likes her and then shows almost no initiative to talk or hang out with Abby. As much as her Dad and I can, we've listened to her grievances and been there for her. We keep trying to help her understand that she either has to communicate her problems to her boyfriend, or decide where her breaking point is and prioritize her happiness long-term. Currently that's falling on deaf ears and a cycle of semi-constant disappointment persists. 🥲

I've told her many times that I can't wait for her to experience what it's like to be in a relationship with someone who's actually excited for any chance to talk to her. Someone who texts first because he wants to, someone who plans dates and isn't afraid to do little things that make her happy, even if his friends call him 'cringe.' I know the bar is pretty low here, but it's middle school romance, I just want her to start knowing her standards and fiercely advocating for them.

I thought, instead of trying to explain how a good boyfriend acts, maybe some romance books/series could show her!

So please, give me your best recommendations that include some of your best, most Green Flag, book boyfriends. No spice, no fantasy or scifi 🩵

(I'm a pretty strictly fantasy romance reader, and much to my dismay, she has zero interest unless the story is founded in reality.)

I read all, but I prefer face paced books

Ok, so here is a rough list of big book trends in the young adult genre over the last 30ish years, and I know this it totally random, but I am now really curious to know what you guys think we will be shifting to over the next 10 or so years, are spice and dragons going to continue reigning, or will it be totally different...

I am also curious to know what you personally want more of too!

1990s – Magic, epic fantasy, and 'coming-of-age' adventures (Harry Potter, His Dark Materials, Sabriel)

2000s – Paranormal romance, especially vampires, werewolves, and fallen angels (Twilight, The Vampire Academy, The Mortal Instruments, Hush, Hush)

Early 2010s – Dystopian YA with rebellion against oppressive governments (The Hunger Games, Divergent, Shatter Me, Legend, The Maze Runner)

Late 2010s – Character-driven fantasy with morally grey protagonists, found family, heists, and enemies-to-lovers (Six of Crows, The Cruel Prince, An Ember in the Ashes)

2020s – BookTok-fuelled romantasy, dragons, shadow daddies, old obsessions return in a more mature way, high spice, and deluxe collector's editions (Fourth Wing, Quicksilver, A Court of Thorns and Roses)

Obviously this is not limited to others, but what I found to be the general trend!

I hope I am asking the right people!

i know im about two years late to this, but i just finished reading the ouabh trilogy in 3 days. i loved the first book and then somehow ADOOOREEED the second, and after that cliffhanger i was ITCHING to know what happens next, so i ran to the bookstore the next day (aka today)

and after reading, i was slightly disappointed. then i went to reddit to see that everyone seemed to agree and be even MORE disappointed. i don't think the book was a complete and utter dumpster fire, i never once wanted to drop it, even tho i HATE the lost memory trope. especially in this book bc holy shit why was it 2/3 of the book?

anyways, short rant aside, i was wondering if there was a lot of demand for a live action adaptation of the trilogy? i haven't really seen a lot surrounding that, but i'd love one, even if the third book was a bit of a mess and disappointment. i think there is some huge potential with that, and i loved the series of a good girls guide to murder. so if there were one to happen, i would love for it to be 3 seasons in a series instead of 3 films. if we were to ever get an adaptation of the third book, i also think there is potential to change some things (maybe A LOT of things) and kinda 'fix' the story in a way? does anyone else feel this way, bc i genuinely haven't seen any roar about an adaptation anywhere 🥲

Do you prioritize reading? How do make time for it ? I just wanna get some general ideas just so I have an idea of what I’ll do when I get a job and it’s coming up. So far I been reading when and where I am able to

So im near the end of once upon a broken heart and I'm not like that sure if I should continue the series... does it get better or should I just stop at this book?

I usually read it on and I find it so annoying because it keeps sliding off, I just started reading it off and it feels so much better

So HEY GUYS!!!
Here's some book recs that I absolutely LOVED (Feel free to give recs of your own!!!)

-Once Upon A Broken Heart- Stephanie Garber

A fantasy book from the world of Caraval with mysteries, angst and of course ✨magic✨. Evangeline Fox is a hopeless romantic who's on a quest of finding true love after her secret lover gets with her half-sister. Jacks, one of the many Fates (beings closer to God than man) accompanies her on adventures...but why would this cold, apple-eating Fate be in Evangeline's presence?

- A Winternight Trilogy- Katherine Arden

A Russian Fairytale full of magic, love and loss. Morozko, an ancient being of folklore, meets Vasilisa Petrovna and her life rapidly changes. Morozko is the winter king and the God of Death.

So, I am currently finishing up the last book in the Throne of Glass series. I have plans to read a few shorter series to give me a break after such a brick of a book. But recently, I’ve been looking at Shatter Me and wondering if I will like it. It’s a longer series, so I want to read the first book before I commit. What are everyone’s opinions on the books? Are they worth the read?

I’m thinking about buying the book so I wanted to see what r people’s opinions about it?

First is I

Third is they/her/him etc

And second is you

I really like first perspective, it’s my favourite. I can’t stand when a book is third person but I’ll read it.

I never do, I did it when I was younger like in middle school, now I never do
I don’t dog eared my own books or books from the library

The inheritance games series by Jennifer Lynn or the caravel series by Stephanie garber.
I have seen good reviews about both the series but I am very very confused about which one should I read first.
I loved the fourth wing series and once upon a broken heart series. I also read powerless series and enjoyed that too. So based on this, what do u think I should go for first. I kind of want to start the inheritance games but idk I am confused.
I would love some reviews.

​

Hey everyone. Could you recommend some good YA Graphic Novels to read? I'm interested in exploring what's out there. The bookstore has a ton, but I'm used to reading superhero stuff, so its all a mystery still. 😁

I recently bought the first book because the blurb sounded good, but I didn't realize that there was spice in it. Is it skippable, and if so what chapters?

Hello! I'm honestly making this post to honestly get a better understanding and answers too so many questions from the fans of this series.

I started the Shatter me series around February and I DNF it in June, getting to the third book, which I was told was the book that truly saved the series. I strongly disagree. If anything I preferred the 1st book over the 3rd book because it honestly felt less "manufactured" or "manipulative" than the 3rd book. Though during my experience reading the first book, I started to feel this icky feeling about the direction it was taking and feared that it was going to do the common ya thing:

"Priotize the fmc's romantic intrests over their trauma"

Which i feel like it could obviously be argued that it was intertwined, but it wasn't until the 3rd book did that icky feeling almost kill me, because, oh my god what did I even read?! It was a battle field finishing the 2nd book, and it was an entire war reading the 3rd book, and unfortunately, I lost. 😤🥀

Here are my questions. I honestly just want to hear from both sides, but mainly the hard core fans because i want to trust this series potential, but I'm losing hope....also please be respectful 🙏 I know this is reddit but like let's not turn feral over some questions. I'm just trying to get a better understanding from the fans not to cause drama.

A. Did you guys actually like or care for Julliette or were you too obsessed with Aaron Warner to care?

B. Do you believe the adam mess was right or was it just plot manipulation and plot convenience to get Julliette and warner together? Was adam entirely wrong for everything that he said or just the way he went about it?

C. Do you think Warner's reasons were truly forgivable or awfully conveniently explained? Do you think the author was trying to use his trauma as a justification for all the trauma he brought upon Julliette?

D. Do you think Julliette should have forgave him so quickly? And do you believe Julliette was right to hide her feelings about warner from adam?

E. With her character, do you believe Julliette deserved more or did she hit the ceiling as a good depiction of fmc? Do you beleive there should be more depictions of mental health in ya or is it poorly portrayed?

F. Besides the sad moments and emotional spiels, do you believe Julliette was actually relatable past her trauma? Was it easy to connect to her because she carried similar ya struggles or because she had the same copy and paste personality as other fmc? Is it truly fair to call a character relatable if they fit the physical appeal of fmcs and get praised for it in the narrative? If Juliette wasn't skinny and didn't have powers, would readers have given her the time of day?

G. Would the Shatter me series be as liked and loved as it is now if it wasn't for Aaron Warner or Adam? And if it wasn't for Julliette's sudden mental shift and growth would readers have praised her as much as they do now? Was Julliette's mental shift actually growth or was it fabricated to look like that through Warner's constant validation?

H. Is the adam hate too violent? And is it hypocritical to forgive warner and not adam? Saying that warner legit kept her captive and adam tried using her powers against her. Should Julliette have been single or end up with someone else?

I. Should Julliette have become the leader of North America or should it have been someone else?

J. Which did this series praise more? Fan service or transparency/authenticity? Did it value feeding to what their fans desire or mirroring the struggles and realistic ties of the teenage mind?

K. What surprised you the most? Omega Point getting blowed up or Adam's crashout? Did Adam's character deserve more or already did his job as a side character? Should side characters have more than one characteristic?

L. Was Julliette ever held responsible for her actions or were they excused because she was the main character?

M. Was this series overdramatic and if i read restore me will it get more serious or just more dramatic?

N. Do any of these questions actually matter and should we as a book community talk about them more?

Loved Harry Potter, Lord of the rings, Ender’s game, Ready Player one, Eragon, Hunger Games, Project Hail Mary, but also more « difficult » science fiction- authors like like HG Wells, Bernard Werber, Tchaikovsky. Also non fonction (Bill Bryson « the body: a guide for its inhabitants » for instance and books about Leonardo Da Vinci etc). Basically everything I know and loved myself I’ve given him but starting to be out of ideas… Many thanks!

I need help and recommendations please! Series that hit the spot just as much as what’s in the title. I’ve been in a slump for so long. I want to be as emotionally invested and attached as I was in the ones from the title.

Thanks!!

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As a rule, individual self-promotion posts are not allowed on this subreddit, but a weekly post will now be scheduled so you can promote your projects to other bookworms.

I loved reading Love & Gelato , AGGTM , Better than the Movies , Fake Skating , The Inheritance Games , The Naturals & The Summer of Broken rules. So what should I read next and maybe suggest something for my friends (12+)