One of the most satisfying feelings is defining your reading resolutions. Maybe you’d love to read more widely, and branch out from your comfort zone, or set a theme for your next TBR. Whatever your goals are, this guide has got you covered. You (and your bookshop) will be so excited for a reading refresh, so grab your pen and paper, and take notes.
Trigger Warning: Some of the books mentioned contain violence, death, historical trauma, discrimination and racism, grief, and mental health. Please exercise care while reading.
Non-Fiction and The Visible Unseen by Andrea Chapela, Translated by Kelsi Vanada
If you always find yourself reaching for fiction, why not give the opposite a go? Reading non-fiction is not only informative but also offers a unique reading experience and insight into topics you might not otherwise have encountered. There are several benefits to reading non-fiction, too, including improved critical thinking skills, enhanced vocabulary, and heightened curiosity.
Plus, there are so many non-fiction books on the shelf. Andrea Chapela’s The Visible Unseen is a perfect pick for fiction readers looking for some non-fiction fun, as she creatively blends storytelling with science through a series of reflective essays. Uncover the science of the self, the hidden metaphors hiding in theories of light, and elements of chemistry that seem to mirror human experience itself.
An International Story and Small Island by Andrea Levy
For creatures of comfort, consider diversifying your reading picks. You could take it international and delve into an author halfway across the globe. Switching up the writers you read is a beautiful way to experience history, culture, and see the world through a new lens.
That’s why Andrea Levy’s Small Island needs to make it on your next TBR. British-Jamaican writer Levy unpacks the experience of Windrush-generation immigrants in 1940s London in this sensational historical fiction novel. The book follows the overlapping lives of Hortense, Queenie, Gilbert, and Bernard, as they navigate social changes during a critical period of British post-war history. The novel is funny at times and a resilient reflection of generational stories.
Time and The Door by Magda Szabó, translated by Len Rix
Another truly unique reading resolution is to prescribe a theme for your TBR. Choosing a guiding idea, whether it’s love, identity, or time, can give your reading year a more profound sense of togetherness and discovery. It’s a chance to explore how different writers approach the same concept in entirely new ways.
If you’re drawn to the idea of time as your theme, The Door by Magda Szabó is a powerful pick. The novel is told through layers of recollection, capturing how memory can both preserve and distort the truth. Szabó’s prose, beautifully translated by Len Rix, turns time into a living force that shapes, tests, and defines her characters.
Experimenting and Peach Blossom Spring by Melissa Fu
A creative way to refresh your reading routine is to experiment with the kinds of stories you reach for. With so many genres out there, it’s easy to fall into familiar patterns. Fantasy, horror, and romance are always great choices, but sometimes it’s worth shaking things up. Why not explore something a little more unexpected or experimental?
Melissa Fu’s Peach Blossom Spring is a wonderful place to start. Blending historical fiction with elements of folklore and memory, it moves fluidly across time and place, showing how personal and cultural histories intertwine. The novel is a gentle experiment in how stories can carry entire generations within them, and it’s a top reading choice for your next book.
Keep it Classic With A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
But if you’re constantly switching your reading style, consider embracing some classic comfort. There’s something deeply comforting about revisiting the classics. Those timeless stories remind us why we fell in love with reading in the first place. They ground us, offering familiar tales and themes we resonate with today.
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens is the perfect classic. Set in the backdrop of the French Revolution, the novel follows the intertwined lives of Charles Darnay and Sydney Carton, both bound by their love for the same woman, Lucie Manette. It’s sweeping, emotional, and steeped in French history. Dickens’ writing always reminds us of why we keep returning to the classics, time and again.
Journal It Out with Creative Prompts to Unleash Your Inner Eccentric by Violette
Finally, a bonus readerly, writerly resolution for you: journaling. Making time to write, even just a few lines a day, can boost creativity, self-reflection, and connect you to your inner writer! Let all of that reading help you create stories that future readers come to love. You can journal about things you’ve read to keep track of your goals, or anything that comes to mind.
Creative Prompts to Unleash Your Inner Eccentric by Violette is a delightful companion for this practice. It’s full of quirky, imaginative prompts that encourage you to let go of structure and embrace the messy, magical side of writing. It doesn’t matter if you’re jotting down stray thoughts from the day or building your own storyworlds on the page; this journal invites you to discover your own creative rhythm.
No matter what kind of reader you are, these resolutions are here to fuel your imagination. You can try something new, revisit a classic, or put pen to paper; there’s something here for every mood and moment. So pick up a book, or open your journal, and enjoy the ride. This year is all about falling in love with reading all over again.
In the mood for some worldly reads? Check out some recommendations here.
Check out Bookstr’s recs over on Bookshop.
