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Top Ten Tuesday: Books to Tackle that Reading Slump

Happy Tuesday!! This week’s Top Ten Tuesday topic (hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl) asks us to share books that pull us out of reading slumps. We’ve all been there: for some reason the mood just won’t strike us, and any book we open up inevitably seems off-putting. Reading slumps are a bibliophile’s worst nightmare, especially when your looming TBR pile is staring you in the face. Today I’d like to share a list of ten books that have helped me break through reading slumps in the past.

What books have gotten you out of a reading slump? What do you think of the books on my list? Let me know in the comments section below!

Yours,

HOLLY

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holly

40 responses to “Top Ten Tuesday: Books to Tackle that Reading Slump”

  1. bookmuffin Avatar
    bookmuffin

    I still need to read The Night Circus! I’m glad you enjoyed it so much it pulled you out a slump!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Holly Avatar
      Holly

      The Night Circus is so brilliant! Would 11/10 recommend 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  2. Tania Richardson Avatar
    Tania Richardson

    Great list! I still haven’t read The Night Circus, I think I should bump it up the TBR!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Holly Avatar
      Holly

      Thank you! The Night Circus is fantastic–definitely worth bumping up on your list!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  3. Amy Avatar
    Amy

    I completely agree with The Hobbit and The Picture of Dorian Gray! I should have included them in my TTT this week.

    I still need to read The Ocean at the End of the Lane.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Holly Avatar
      Holly

      I can’t recommend The Ocean at the End of the Lane enough! I love a lot of what Neil Gaiman writes, but this one may be my favorite.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  4. Kate (Reading Through Infinity) Avatar
    Kate (Reading Through Infinity)

    I really love the Great Gatsby and the Night Circus, and I’m so glad they helped you out of a slump, but, interestingly, I’m not sure they would for me, because Gatsby especially is quite character-driven and light on plot, and I think I need books that are more action-packed and fast-paced to get me out of a slump! Just goes to show that different things work for different readers! I still really want to read All The Light We Cannot See, so I’m happy to see it on your list – would you recommend it as a must-read? Great post!

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Holly Avatar
      Holly

      Thanks so much, Kate! I definitely would recommend All the Light We Cannot See. I read it a few years ago and it still pops into my mind sometimes! I remember that once I started reading it I couldn’t put it down despite its pretty long length. Hope you enjoy it whenever you get around to reading it! 🙂

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  5. lifewithallthebooks Avatar
    lifewithallthebooks

    These are all such great choices – I LOVE Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me, it’s hilarious! Fantastic list 😊
    My TTT: https://lifewithallthebooks.com/2018/08/21/top-ten-tuesday-books-to-pull-you-out-of-a-reading-slump/

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Holly Avatar
      Holly

      Right?! Mindy Kaling is the best ❤ Thanks!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  6. Priyasha Avatar
    Priyasha

    I actually need to read all of them ❣

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Holly Avatar
      Holly

      YES ❤

      Like

      Reply
  7. Veronika Éles Avatar
    Veronika Éles

    The Ocean at the End of the Lane got me out of a reading slump recently – it’s such a magical and gorgeous read. It also helped that it’s pretty short haha. The Great Gatsby and The Picture of Dorian Gray are fantastic, as well!

    Great list!

    Veronika @ The Regal Critiques

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Holly Avatar
      Holly

      Thanks! I agree, The Ocean at the End of the Lane has all the qualities you want in an engaging book 🙂

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  8. the (book) supplier Avatar
    the (book) supplier

    The Night Circus is one we go back to in my house when we get audiobook-stuck. I haven’t thought about Ocean in a while. I should go back to it.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Holly Avatar
      Holly

      Oooh I’ve never listened to the audio book version of it! I bet it’s lovely!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. the (book) supplier Avatar
        the (book) supplier

        Jim Dale rocks!

        Liked by 1 person

  9. Angela Avatar
    Angela

    Totally agree with The Night Circus – such a beautifully written story!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Holly Avatar
      Holly

      So glad you agree!

      Like

      Reply
  10. Jessica Avatar
    Jessica

    I can not wait to read What Happened! I just got the audiobook, but I am trying to save my audiobooks for the school year, so I’ve been putting it off.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Holly Avatar
      Holly

      Oooh definitely let me know what you think of it when you do! I listened to the audio book as well and LOVED it. ❤

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  11. Anna @ Read and Repeat Avatar
    Anna @ Read and Repeat

    Ahhh All the Light 🙂 Such a good book! It’s size would be intimidating to me if I were in the middle of a reading slump but I think once you read the first page you would be hooked regardless

    My TTT

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Holly Avatar
      Holly

      Definitely! The story is so captivating that it hooks you right in from the beginning ❤

      Like

      Reply
  12. iloveheartlandx Avatar
    iloveheartlandx

    Sadly The Night Circus was more slump inducing than slump busting for me, it took me so long to read-can definitely understand why people love it though!
    My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2018/08/21/top-ten-tuesday-173/

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Holly Avatar
      Holly

      Oh no! It is a pretty detailed/dense one, so I can see how it could take a while!

      Like

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      1. iloveheartlandx Avatar
        iloveheartlandx

        Yeah, I did love the circus but all the dense descriptions were a bit much for me!

        Like

  13. Marie Avatar
    Marie

    Ohhh The Night Circus – I really, really need to read that one soon, I’m impatient to, everyone – or at least everyone I know haha – seem to love it so much 😀
    Lovely list! 😀

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Holly Avatar
      Holly

      YES. PLEASE. SOON. It’s soooooo good ❤

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  14. Erin Avatar
    Erin

    Great choices! The Night Circus made my list as well – it’s such a gorgeously written book. I also loved Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me and desperately want to be friends with Mindy.

    My TTT: https://lavishliterature.com/2018/08/21/top-ten-books-to-pull-me-out-of-a-reading-slump/

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Holly Avatar
      Holly

      SAME. Can you imagine having Mindy as a BFF? Incredible ❤

      Like

      Reply
  15. aubreyleaman Avatar
    aubreyleaman

    YES! I kept seeing a book on this list and thinking, “absolutely, this is definitely one of my choices, too,” and then scrolling to the next one and thinking the same thing, and then scrolling to the next one and honestly thinking the same thing!! I also just love the layout you used with the striped backgrounds!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Holly Avatar
      Holly

      Ahhh thank you so much!! ❤ So glad you enjoyed this post!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  16. Erin @ Pages of Milk and Honey Avatar
    Erin @ Pages of Milk and Honey

    I love that you included The Great Gatsby (which I also love), but for me, I started it probably 4-5 times because I was so intimidated by how good it would be!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Holly Avatar
      Holly

      The first time I read it was for a high school English class, so that certainly helped facilitate getting through it the first time 🙂 I couldn’t help but love it, though!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  17. anovelglimpse Avatar
    anovelglimpse

    Mindy would totally get me out of a reading slump!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Holly Avatar
      Holly

      Same! Her other book is fantastic as well ❤

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  18. Alicia @ A Kernel of Nonsense Avatar
    Alicia @ A Kernel of Nonsense

    I really must do a reread of The Night Circus. The book is just so enchanting.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Holly Avatar
      Holly

      “Enchanting” is the perfect word to describe it! I read it around Christmas Eve one year and the timing was ideal ❤

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  19. Cam @ Camillea Reads Avatar
    Cam @ Camillea Reads

    The Picture of Dorian Gray is so worth the binge!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Holly Avatar
      Holly

      Definitely!!

      Like

      Reply

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About ME //

i’m holly — former english major, current twenty-something book lover, allergic to nuts. drop me a line at nutfreenerd@gmail.com or on instagram.

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