Are you looking for a fiction book to read, but it’s been so long since your last good book that you don’t know what you feel like reading? Maybe you never knew, to begin with. A surprising number of grown Americans are admitting to having never read a book from beginning to end (at least for fun).
And it makes sense if you think about it. There’s a misconception about reading books that it’s this chore some extremely academic people choose to do for self-abusive fun. That if you don’t “get it” you’ll never get it.
It makes sense, but it’s not true.
Join us today, as we bring you three great tips for choosing a fiction book to read in 2018. Because it’s a process, and if you just go through it, you’ll unlock an entire world of great entertainment you can call on during down seasons of Game of Thrones.

Learn how to find a fiction book to read, easily and with great results.
1. Look For Things You Enjoy
People tend to mysticize the act of reading a book. They think about going into a library and picking something off a shelf as something that “hardcore” readers do. Something limited, where they could choose one of maybe ten boring old dusty genres.
Fantasy books about old-fashioned heroes fighting predictable villains.
Historical fiction about Anne Boleyn or Winston Churchill.
Depressing autobiographies about eighty-year-old Holocaust survivors.
These books, though they are certainly popular with many readers, can seem like a chore to someone looking for a book who isn’t a history buff or a Dungeons and Dragons fan. But the dirty little secret is, there are some wild books out there. Some incredibly modern, super specific books with stories in them about as far away from a snoozefest epic about sea monsters as you can get.
Looking for Pride and Prejudice, but with zombies in it? Want a story about a dirty cop and his talking intestinal parasite? How about something with a giant monster, some old people banging, and about a dozen fart jokes?
Every one of those books exists, and about a million variations in between them. Crazy stories that would make your English teacher furious and the dirtiest kid from your high school blush.
The trick is to look for them. Ask around, read reviews, and go into it with a clear head. A story out there exists that will knock your socks off with how much it speaks to you, even if what you like is out of the ordinary and non-traditional. It’s up to you to get out there and find it.
2. Explore Your Reading Tastes
As with any other skill, the more you do it the more chances you’ll get to discover better, more interesting ways to do it. If you start reading science fiction because you know you like that genre, what you might learn is that you like futurism. Or aliens. Or conspiracy narratives.
Alternatively, a little bit of each one.
You might also learn you actually prefer straight up monster fiction and sci fi isn’t as fun as you thought it was. The more you read, and the more open you stay to new experiences, the more opportunities you’ll find for new experiences. One novel in your favorite genre may feature elements from something you’ve never read before.
The best advice, here, really is to just keep reading as often as possible.
3. Get A Professional Opinion
What you did by coming to this article is a great first step in figuring out what kind of books you should be reading. And it can be a lot of fun (if this wasn’t).
Check out some of the leading websites out there for readers, and see what’s topping the list of best sellers, hot reads, wild lit rides or whatever else qualifies for top-of-the-pops status right now. It sounds cynical, but if it works for 12 million other millennial working class non-English grads normal people, the chances are you’ll at least like it somewhat.
People like to imagine they’re unique, but once you embrace the fact that you can be who you are without having to shrug off every popular book on the market right now, you can find some truly great reads.
Try some of the following on for size:
Ultimately, reading really does come down to your own personal tastes. But that doesn’t mean you have to hang out drifting in a sea of options, figuring out everything for yourself. Like picking a favorite band or the best movie of the summer, there are simple factors that influence what you like. Relatability. Complexity. How much fun it is, honestly.
Choosing A Fiction Book To Read: Now You Know
Hopefully, today’s article has given you what you need to come to one important realization: reading’s fun. Not just for readers, but for anybody looking to do something new or interesting. It’s a party literally everyone is invited to, and there are snacks laid out for everyone. You just need to know what you’re in the mood for. Hopefully today we’ve given you the tools you need to choose a fiction book to read.
Duncan Reyneke is the author of Bay City Monsters and Nails in the Sky, a pair of crazy adventure books full of sex, monsters, fistfights, magic and weirdness. If you’re in the market for something way out of the ordinary to read, you can order yours today!
For more on finding fiction books 2018, check out this other fantastic new article!