Kristine Kilcoyne

Some of us know all too well the temporary feeling of despair when we finish a fantastic novel. “Well, what do I read now?” Because of the internet, we have forums, pages and websites to discuss and share book recommendations. Continue reading for some tried and true methods.

Goodreads.com 

Straight from their homepage, “Tell us what titles or genres you’ve enjoyed in the past, and we’ll give you surprisingly insightful recommendations.” Goodreads has communities centered around specific books, authors, and series; members are more than willing to recommend a new book or author. The website hosts its own “Goodreads Choice Awards,” with over fifteen categories, such as “Best Horror,” “Best Romance,” and “Best Debut Novel.” Love horror? Find readers’ top choices; half a million votes were cast in 2020.

Your Local Library 

Going against the status quo, sometimes it does pay off to judge a book by its cover. Walk through the aisles of your favorite genres, or new ones, and see what jumps out at you. Atop some of the shelves are books that librarians recommend or that have been very popular. Check out novels that have been adapted into films. Classics like Jaws, Jurassic Park, and The Shawshank Redemption were based on novels; if you enjoyed them, check the books out! Literally!

Your Favorite Shows

Did you know You on Netflix was based on a series? What about Thirteen Reasons Why? The 100? The Outsider? Some of these books were adapted into popular shows that span several seasons. Of course, keep an open mind that TV producers write for their audience, not the readers. Some aspects might change, new characters are introduced, the plot might go in a different direction. You may know the ending but you might encounter some surprises along the way.

Your Favorite Author’s Bookshelf

Maybe you won’t be able to actually peek at their bookshelf, but it’s always interesting to find out what they’re reading or recommend. Using Stephen King as an example, simply searching online for “Stephen King’s reading list” will tell you what he’s been reading or what he recommends. Have you ever started a novel and found the first two pages to be acclamations from other authors? Look into those authors! Authors won’t recommend what they won’t read, and they certainly won’t read what they don’t like.

It may seem overwhelming having to find a new favorite novel or author, but it’s a rewarding journey that pays off when it’s 3AM and you just have to finish this chapter….