7 Little ways to rekindle your love for reading again

Remember those nights when you’d stay up turning pages, too hooked to stop? Or the mornings when a book felt more exciting than scrolling your phone? For many of us, reading was once an escape, a source of wonder, comfort, and inspiration. But somewhere between adulting, deadlines, notifications, and Netflix queues, that once-burning love for books began to fade.

It's not that we stopped loving stories. It's just that life got loud.

Work, stress, endless to-do lists, and the ever-present glow of digital distractions have made it harder to sit with a book and stay with it. If you've found yourself rereading the same paragraph five times, abandoning books halfway, or not picking one up for months—it doesn’t mean you're not a “reader” anymore. It simply means you need a gentle nudge back into the rhythm of it.

And the good news? You can fall back in love with reading. Truly.

It doesn’t take a 50-book challenge or a bookshelf full of bestsellers. Often, it starts with small, deliberate shifts in your habits, your mindset, and how you approach books altogether. In this article, we’re sharing 7 little but powerful ways to help you reignite that spark—so that reading once again feels like a joy, not a chore.

Fall back in love with reading again

1. Start small—really small

One of the biggest reasons we fall out of reading is thinking we need to read for hours or finish a book in a week. Forget that. Start with just 5 pages a day or 10 minutes before bed. Remove the pressure and let the habit grow naturally.

Try This:

• Keep a short story collection or poetry book by your bed.
• Read one poem or one page a night—no pressure, just presence.

2. Create a reading ritual

Reading is easier when it's tied to a cosy, repeatable ritual. That could mean morning coffee and a few chapters, or curling up with a blanket and a book at night. The more you associate reading with comfort, the more you’ll look forward to it.

Try this:

• Light a candle, make tea, and read with soft music in the background.
• Treat it like a mini escape, not a task to check off.

3. Revisit a book you loved

Go back to the book that made you fall in love with reading. The one you couldn’t stop thinking about. Re-reading an old favourite can reawaken that original joy and remind you why you picked up books in the first place.

Try this:

• Think back to a book from childhood, school, or college that moved you.
• Read it again without expectations—just for the joy of rediscovery.

4. Ditch the guilt around not finishing

You don’t owe every book a finished chapter. If a book doesn’t grab you, it’s okay to stop. Life’s too short to read what doesn’t speak to you. Dropping a book doesn’t make you a quitter—it makes space for one that truly connects.

Try this:

• Use the “Rule of 50”: If you’re not hooked by page 50, move on.
• Keep a “did not finish” list to remind yourself it’s okay to let go.

5. Make reading social again

Books become more enjoyable when you share them. Whether it’s a casual chat with a friend about a recent read or joining an online book club, discussing books brings new life to the experience and can motivate you to keep going.

Try this:

• Start a mini book club with friends (even if just one!).
• Follow #Bookstagram or #BookTok for recommendations and community.

6. Change your format

Who said reading has to be on paper? If time is tight or your eyes are tired, try audiobooks or ebooks. Listening to stories while commuting, walking, or doing chores can sneak reading back into your day.

Try this:

• Use apps like Audible, Libby, or Storytel.
• Try narrators that enhance the experience (some are truly magical).

7. Read what feels fun—not what feels “Smart”

You don’t need to read prize-winners or deep literary novels to be a “real reader.” Graphic novels, thrillers, rom-coms, cosy mysteries, fantasy sagas—it’s all reading. Choose what lights you up.

Try this:

Ask yourself what kind of stories you’re craving right now.

Pick a book purely for joy—not prestige.

“Read what you love until you love to read again.”

Final thoughts

You didn’t lose your love for reading—it just got buried under life’s clutter. With small, mindful steps, that joy can come flooding back. Remember, reading is not a race, or a competition. It’s a deeply personal, healing act. So take your time, find your flow, and let books become your soft place to land again.

Because sometimes, all it takes is one good story to remind you: You were never really gone.