National Book Lover’s Day: How to Make Time for Reading

From self-help titles and juicy dramas to laugh-out-loud comedies and page-turning thrillers, there’s something out there for everyone when it comes to books. Whether you’ve been a book lover your whole life or you’re looking to make it a new hobby, it can be hard to find the time to sit down and read. In honor of National Book Lover’s Day, we’re giving you some of our favorite tips and tricks for making time to read along with a few of our favorite picks of the year.

Share Your Love of Literature

There’s no better way to get other people excited about reading than by sharing your own love of literature. Lend a friend a book or start sharing your latest picks on social media. Your recommendations might help people try something new! Many celebrities like Reese Witherspoon, Oprah, and Emma Watson actively share the books they’re currently obsessing over. They even have book clubs so you can follow along! Speaking of book clubs…

Start Your Very Own Book Club

Don’t worry—it’s super easy. Many book clubs are laid-back and simply allow you to socialize over a shared passion. You might even meet some new people! Whether you do it online or in person, it’s a great way to unite friends and family from both near and far. Once your group has been decided, have each person nominate a book and choose from there. With hectic schedules, you may only be able to meet once a month or every other month to discuss, but the accountability and social aspect of the club will likely motivate you to keep up and get reading.

Download an Audiobook

If you don’t have time to physically pick up a book, an audiobook is the way to go. Services like Audible (big fan, big fan) give you a free credit each month and offer over 100,000 titles for you to choose from. Turn long commutes, flights, workouts, or lunch breaks into an opportunity to listen to a new novel or pop on an old favorite. Plus, there are many benefits to pressing play. Consuming literature through your ears can increase your reading accuracy, expand your vocabulary, and help you with pronunciation.

Wantable Recommends

Now that you know how to take some time to read, you might need a few recommendations to get started. We’ve got you covered! We have many avid readers at the office and they’ve shared some of their favorite picks along with why they love them. If you decide to give one a try, be sure to let us know what you think in the comments below.

“Chip tells about his trial and error in business (and in life) before becoming well known on HGTV’s Fixer Upper.  This one’s an easy and entertaining read with a down to earth perspective that I’d recommend to just about anyone (especially those with an entrepreneurial spirit!)”

– Steph, Stylist

“It’s a spiritual book that inspires the reader to look beyond their superficial thoughts. This book is geared towards a reader who is looking to grow spiritually and view life in a new way. I absolutely love this book and keep it whenever I am struggling with life.”

-Erica, Merchandise Assistant 

“This book made me feel all the feels! It is hard to read at times but is such an amazing, heartfelt and poignant story. You get really wrapped up in the characters and feel as if you are part of their narrative on this 800+ page journey. If you find yourself in NYC after reading this book, I highly recommend stopping by Lispenard Street!”

-Ari, Social Media Specialist

“This book is for every woman who is looking to find her impact on the world while navigating family, relationships, and everything in-between. It’s honest, thoughtful, inspiring, and at times laugh out loud funny.”

-Lindsey, Creative Project Manager