As a book-obsessed girlie, being in a reading slump has to be one of the worst feelings ever. Whether it was because you just finished an incredible book that nothing can compare to, or you simply haven't read in a while, we can find your next read together! Below is a list of my top 5 recommendations for your next read! Each book will have a short summary, including age ratings and any themes/triggers the book may have.
Happy reading!
(All page numbers and genre information were taken from Goodreads.)
Let us slide into your dms 🥰
Get notified of top trending articles like this one every week! (we won't spam you)1. The Inheritance Games: Book One By Jennifer Lynn Barnes
386 pages - YA, Mystery, Fiction - 13+
Mild themes of Death, Grief, Violence, Domestic Violence, and Murder.
The Inheritance Games is the first book in the Inheritance Games series and grabs your attention within the first few pages. Loosely following what is written on the back of the book, the novel follows 17-year-old Avery Grambs, an intelligent teenager trying to survive high school while living with her half-sister, Libby. Her life is turned upside down when Grayson Hawthorne arrives to tell her that billionaire Tobias Hawthorne has died and left almost his entire fortune to Avery. To collect the inheritance, Avery must live in the complex, puzzle-filled Hawthorne House for 12 months. As she tries to uncover the mystery of why she was chosen, she must also face Tobias Hawthorne's four young grandsons, Nash, Grayson, Jameson, and Xander, who are upset that they did not inherit the fortune themselves. Avery has no idea who Tobias Hawthorne is or why she was chosen, which makes the mystery even more addicting.
For the age rating, I chose 13+ because I felt that the novel does not have any explicit content, so it may be suitable for a tween or teenager. However, my older teens, do NOT be fooled. I read this novel as an older teenager, and thoroughly enjoyed myself! I appreciated that I was closer in age to Avery Grambs; I could understand her and the plot much more. And of course, those Hawthorne brothers did bring a lot of romance and tension...which I also could appreciate.
This book was truly a thrill. It was one of those books I had to force myself to put down. The drama, the tension, the mystery, the writing style! Everything was perfect, and it all went so well together.
You won't regret picking this one up.
Link to Goodreads for The Inheritance Games: Book One
Take the Quiz: Which Harry Potter Character Are You?
Find out which character matches your personality!
2. The Perks of Being a Wallflower By Stephen Chbosky
213 pages - YA, Literary Fiction, Contemporary - 14-16+
Mild themes of Drugs, S*x, Suicide, Substance Abuse, and Mental Health.
This book was absolutely gut-wrenching, life-changing, and beautiful. I still think about it, and I read it for the first time a few years ago. The book is written as a series of letters to an anonymous friend as the main character, Charlie, navigates his freshman year of high school. Charlie is the observant, sensitive, and deeply intellectual narrator. We read as he learns to cope with trauma, friendships, first loves, and death in his family. He is taken under the wing of two quirky high school seniors, Sam and Patrick. With these two by his side, he is exposed to a new side of the high school experience. With the writing in letter format, we readers get a much deeper glimpse into his perspective on life, and see what his thoughts truly are.
I absolutely loved reading this book. My copy is fully annotated (which for me, is huge!), I have told so many friends to read this novel, and it definitely brought tears to my eyes when reading.
For the age rating, I chose 14-16+ because I felt that the older the reader is, the more they may appreciate the writing style, symbolism, and heavy themes. The novel does not have much explicit content, so it could be suitable for a mature tween/teenager; however, I really enjoyed the book because I had some high school experience under my belt. That way, I was truly able to connect with Charlie.
Lastly, yes! There is a movie! It was released in 2012, starring Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, and Ezra Miller. I have not seen the movie just yet; I wanted to relish in the effect the book had on me... but the movie is on my to-be-watched list!
Link to Goodreads for The Perks of Being a Wallflower
3. Off Campus Book One: The Deal By Elle Kennedy
360 pages - NA, Romance, Sports Romance, Fake Dating - 16-17+
Mild to heavy themes of Drugs, Sx, Sexual Assault, Abuse, Alcohol, and Domestic Violence.
A true hockey romance! This novel follows college student Hannah Wells, a music major who is trying to get the attention of her football-star crush, Justin. Meanwhile, Garrett Graham, the cocky and overly confident captain of the Briar University hockey team, is dealing with a plummeting GPA that could ruin his dreams of playing professional hockey. Since he needs to pass his ethics class to stay on the team, he agrees to make a deal with Hannah: she'll tutor him if he pretends to date her to make Justin jealous. What starts as a simple arrangement quickly becomes more complicated as the two spend more time together, making it harder to tell the difference between what is fake and what is real.
I picked this book up because I fell in love with the show on Amazon Prime Video. I was worried the book wouldn't scratch my itch, but it definitely did not disappoint! I also am really loving the writing style; it feels authentic. Because I already knew I loved the characters, I knew I would enjoy the book.
Details on the age rating and themes- don't be alarmed; yes, there is a lot! I wanted to be clear with you about what is talked about in the novel so no reader would go in blind. The book deals with our main characters, Hannah and Garret, who have complicated and traumatic upbringings and life experiences. Not everything is explicitly mentioned in the novel, but these college-age characters feel so authentic because they talk openly about their feelings and struggles. In addition to the backstory, this romance novel does involve some spice. It is not as detailed as some romance novels, but it is a few chapters and definitely noteworthy. Additionally, there is talk of sx and relationships heavily throughout the book.
Link to Goodreads for The Deal
4. We Were Liars By E. Lockhart
320 pages - YA, Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Romance, Contemporary - 14+
Mild themes of Grief, Racism, Emotional Trauma, and Substance Abuse.
A captivating mystery from the first pages! This book follows Cadence Sinclair Eastman, who belongs to a wealthy, seemingly perfect family. They spend every summer on their private Massachusetts island alongside her cousins Johnny and Mirren, and an outsider named Gat. These teens belong to an inseparable group that they have nicknamed "The Liars." But during their fifteenth summer, a mysterious, traumatic accident leaves Cadence with severe trauma, and zero memory of how that summer ended. Returning to the island two years later to find her family enthralled by greed and her friends acting strangely vague, Cadence is forced to piece together her lost memories to uncover the dark, toxic secrets hidden beneath her family's "perfect" exterior.
I have heard so many amazing things about this novel. One of my friends insisted that I talk about it on the recommendation list, so here we are! And yes, this book series has been turned into a TV series! I personally have not watched it, but season one is on Amazon Prime Video, with season two set to release in 2027. It's on my long list of to-be-watched!
The age ratings are very mild, nothing explicit or insanely detailed. Aside from the suspense of the mystery and the complex relationships forming within the friend group, it is appropriate for a mature 14-year-old.
Link to the Goodreads for We Were Liars
5. Your Interests!
The way out of a true reading slump is to gravitate towards what you already love.
If you know you already enjoy something, don't force yourself to find something new if it isn't working out. It is okay to reread a series, or find a spin-off of something you already know and like. Find a fandom! I was in a slump a few months ago and decided to pick up Rebel Robin, a book about Robin Buckley from Stranger Things. I knew it was a way to get me back into reading because Robin had always been one of my favorite characters.
And if you are wondering if it worked, yes, it did! I am reading slump-free! (for now...)
I wish you all the best of luck with your reading!
