Recently, I came across this post about different types of reading slumps. I found it so inspiring that I decided to take a deeper look at the ways to get our of a reading slump and even offer a few suggestions that might be helpful if you find yourself in this situation.

At some point in time, we all fall into a slump—even people who truly love reading. The key is determining which strategy to take to get past it. Many of us start the year by setting reading goals. And maybe we begin working through a stack on the nightstand, or try to keep up with a reading challenge shared by a bookstagram influencer. But, often, a few months go by, and suddenly the rhythm is gone.

If that’s where you are right now, you’re not alone.

Being a good reader doesn’t mean that you hit all of your goals every single day. Good readers are consistent, not perfect. If you skip a day (or a week!), you don’t give up. You reevaluate and try again.

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Maybe We’re Setting Reading Goals at the Wrong Time

It’s always struck me as a little funny that we set our biggest goals in January. Winter is naturally a season for slowing down and resting. Yet that’s when we decide we’re suddenly going to overhaul our habits.

Then spring arrives, which is the season that actually feels like newness and fresh starts, and many of those goals have already faded. That feels discouraging. The truth is, if your reading habit fell apart earlier this year, it doesn’t mean you lack discipline. It might simply mean your life didn’t match the expectations you set for it.

Spring is actually a much better time to begin again.

Sometimes a Reading Slump Is Just… the Wrong Book

One of the most common causes of a reading slump is surprisingly simple. You’re just not enjoying the book you picked. Last year, I was on a roll with several five-star reads in a row. (You can see my favorites here.) And since January, a lot of the books I’ve picked up have been…fine. Not terrible, but not the kind of stories that I’ve been bragging about to my friends.

And when that happens, reading starts to feel like work.

If you’re wondering how to get out of a reading slump, one of the best things you can do is simply change books. Maybe consider trying a different genre than you normally read. Or, maybe it’s more enticing for you to go back to a genre that is a tried-and-true favorite.

This year, when faced with the same problem, I reread two books that are personal favorites: Jayber Crow and Silas Marner.

And here’s a hill that I will die on: You don’t have to finish everything you start! Life is too short for books you’re not enjoying, especially if trudging through one you don’t like means less time to find new favorites.

Why It’s So Hard to Focus on Reading

Another reason many moms struggle with reading slumps is something I hear all the time: “I just can’t focus on reading anymore.”

And honestly, that makes sense because when you’re raising kids, your attention is constantly divided. You spend the day moving between school drop-off, snack prep, activities, homework, and the thousand little details that keep a household running.

By the time evening comes, your brain feels tired. Reading asks you to slow down and concentrate, and in a busy season of motherhood, that can feel surprisingly difficult.

I would recommend listening to an audiobook when faced with this type of reading slump. Listening to reading allows you to keep your hands busy, still feeling productive. This is probably how I consume most of my books.

And here’s something interesting: silent reading is actually more of a modern phenomenon. Originally, stories were meant to be told and shared aloud. Consider some of your authors like Dante, Dickens, Shakespeare, and even the Bible. All authors who wrote knowing that their publications would be read to others out loud.

The Thing That Helped Me Start Reading Again

Not long after my son was born, I found myself in one of my biggest reading slumps. That postpartum season is beautiful, but it also comes with a number of challenges. I struggled to make friends or share anymore than pleasantries with other women at story time and in passing at the grocery store.

Then, someone invited me to a book club. At first, it sounded like a nice idea—but not something that would really change anything. But it did. Book clubs create something that’s hard to build on your own, which is accountability, structure, and genuine conversation.

Suddenly reading wasn’t just another habit I was trying to maintain because it became something shared, which inspired me to fall in love with stories again. It helped that we were all reading the same story, and when we sat down together, the conversation naturally went deeper than small talk.

For many women, this is actually how they get out of a reading slump. Reading becomes part of community.

Why Most Moms Never Start a Book Club

The funny thing is, so many moms love the idea of a book club, and they’ve heard wonderful things about them. But starting one feels overwhelming.

Who would you invite?
What book should everyone read?
What if the conversation feels awkward?
What if it turns into one more thing to manage?

Most moms already feel stretched thin. So, that’s exactly why I created The Literary Moms’ Book Club. It’s an online membership that makes in-person book clubs easy to lead or join.

Each month I provide:

✔ Carefully chosen books that bring about great conversations
✔ A framework of 12 discussion questions that guide your meeting
✔ Extras like expert speakers and themed newsletters that deepen the reading experience

You can invite a few moms you already see in your everyday life like school drop-off, church, or activities. They simply join the membership too, so everyone has the same materials. Then all that’s left is picking a time and place to meet.

Just like that, you’ve got a book club.

And it might sound surprising, but something that simple can make a huge difference in this season of life.

If You’re in a Reading Slump Right Now

If you’re struggling to focus on reading or wondering how to get out of a reading slump, here are a few simple things that help:

• Quit the book you’re not enjoying, and choose something you’re genuinely excited about

• Listen to the audiobook

• Talk about books with other women by joining a book club

Reading was never meant to be a lonely habit, and sometimes the best way back into it is simply sharing stories with other people.

If you’d like to see how easy it can be to start a book club, you can learn more about The Literary Moms’ Book Club by clicking the button below.

Join Now

Because mom life doesn’t have to feel this lonely. Let’s make book club part of your friendship story.