You love to read. Or you used to. Because somewhere in the past few months, things have changed. You pick up your book less often, you read less than you want to, and every time you open BookTok, you feel a vague sense of guilt: everyone is reading so much, everyone has read all those books, and you've been stuck on page 47 for three weeks.
Welcome to the reading slump. And you are certainly not alone.
What is a reading slump?
A reading slump is a period when you don't feel like reading — even though you usually love nothing more. It's not a lack of motivation or character. It happens to even the most avid readers; even well-known BookTokkers regularly admit they're going through one.
What's new in 2026 is that BookTok itself is increasingly becoming a cause of the reading slump — instead of the solution.
How BookTok can cause a reading slump
BookTok has gotten millions of people back into reading, which is truly an achievement. But somewhere in the process, an invisible pressure has also emerged that undermines the joy of reading.
The pressure to read a lot
On BookTok, it counts. How many books you've read, how quickly you get through a series, or if you're already caught up with the latest installment. Creators share their year-in-reading updates with dozens of titles, and the implicit message is: more is better.
But reading isn't a sport. There's no competition. And the reader who reads one book a month and fully experiences it isn't reading any less well than the one who tears through twenty a month.
The pressure to read the right books
When everyone on BookTok talks about the same book, not reading it almost feels like a social shortcoming. As if you're missing out if you haven't read Fourth Wing, or don't know ACOTAR yet.
But taste is personal. A book that five million people love doesn't have to be the book that moves you. And forcing yourself to read something because of hype is one of the fastest ways to fall into a reading slump.
The stress of choice from an endless TBR
BookTok produces new recommendations every day. And every recommendation feels urgent. The result is a TBR of hundreds of titles that causes more stress than pleasure. The more choices, the harder the choice. And the harder the choice, the more often you just scroll instead of read.
The feeling of falling behind
When your feed is full of people who have already finished part three while you're still on page one hundred of part one, an unpleasant feeling creeps in. A feeling of falling behind, of not doing enough — while reading is precisely something you do for yourself.
How to recognize a reading slump?
Not every period of less reading is a reading slump. Sometimes you're just busy, or there's a series you're keeping up with. But a true reading slump is recognizable by this:
- You pick up your book but put it down after five minutes
- You start several books at once and don't finish any
- Reading feels like an obligation instead of relaxation
- You'd rather scroll through BookTok than actually read
- You feel guilty about your TBR instead of enthusiastic
How to get out of a reading slump?
1. Stop obliging yourself
The worst reaction to a reading slump is to be harder on yourself. Reading more as a punishment for reading less doesn't work. Give yourself permission not to read for a while, without guilt. Reading can also be put on hold.
2. Read for the mood, not for the list
Temporarily put your TBR aside and ask yourself: what do I feel like now? Not what's trending, not what's been on your shelf for a long time. What suits how you feel right now? A light rom-com, a thrilling suspense, or perhaps a re-read of an old favorite.
3. Start small
You don't have to read 500 pages to get out of a reading slump. Start with five minutes a day. Five minutes is enough to remind your brain that reading is enjoyable.
4. Let yourself be surprised
Sometimes the reading slump lies precisely in the stress of choice. If you don't know what you want to read and every choice feels like a risk, then take away the decision entirely. Our Blind Date Book is perfect for this: choose the genre that appeals to you now, and let the surprise do the work. No cover to judge, no synopsis to ponder. Just a book waiting for you.
Many readers discover their new favorite book through a Blind Date Book, precisely because they had no expectations for it.
5. Change your reading environment
Sometimes a change of scenery helps. Read outside instead of in bed. Take a book to a cafe. Put your phone in another room. A different environment can surprisingly refresh your reading experience.
6. Make it a ritual
Reading becomes easier when it feels like a reward. Put a drink of your choice in our atmospheric glass can, grab a bookmark you love to use, and turn your reading moment into something you seek out instead of something you postpone.
7. Write down what you read and how you experience it
A reading slump sometimes disappears when you start reading more consciously instead of more. Our Book Review Notebook helps you keep track of what each book did to you: quotes, feelings, star ratings, and personal notes. It makes every book more conscious and valuable, even if you only read one a month.
8. Pause BookTok for a while
This sounds contradictory, but it works. If BookTok is the source of your reading pressure, taking a few days off the app is one of the most effective ways to rediscover your joy of reading. You don't have to keep up with anyone. Your TBR can wait.
9. Re-read an old favorite
There's no better way to remember why you love reading than to open a book that previously moved you. Not as an achievement, but as coming home.
10. Accept that reading slumps are part of it
Even the most avid readers go through a reading slump. Noah de Campos Neto, one of the most famous Dutch BookTokkers, openly spoke about his own reading slump and the guilt that came with it. A reading slump is not a sign that you don't love reading or that you're failing as a reader. It's a signal that you need something different for a while.
When is a reading slump actually a reading reset?
Sometimes a reading slump is not a problem but a signal. A sign that your reading style or reading choices no longer suit who you are now. That the books on your TBR came from external pressure rather than genuine interest.
A reading slump can be the beginning of a better relationship with reading. One where you choose what you read, when you read, and how fast you read — without accountability to an algorithm.
Put your reading pleasure first again
Use our Reading Log Book Tracker to simply keep track of what you're reading, without the pressure of extensive year-in-reading statistics. Combine it with a Blind Date Book for a surprising, pressure-free start to reading, and complete your reading moment with a glass can and a beautiful bookmark that invites you to keep reading.
Frequently asked questions about a reading slump
What is a reading slump?
A reading slump is a period when you don't feel like reading, even though you usually love nothing more. It's temporary and happens to even the most enthusiastic readers.
How long does a reading slump last?
That varies per person. Some reading slumps last a few days, others weeks or even months. There's no fixed timeline, and pressuring yourself to "get better" faster is counterproductive.
Can BookTok cause a reading slump?
Yes. The pressure to read a lot, to read the right books, and to keep up with others can undermine the joy of reading. A short break from BookTok is sometimes the best remedy.
What's the best way to get out of a reading slump?
Start small, read for the mood and not for the list, and consider a Blind Date Book if you're struggling with choice overload. Take the pressure off and give reading space to be fun again.
Does a reading journal help with a reading slump?
Yes. Reading more consciously by keeping track of what you experience makes every book more valuable — even if you read few of them. Our Book Review Notebook is an accessible starting point for this.
Is it normal to be in a reading slump as a BookTok fan?
Absolutely. Even the most famous BookTokkers go through them. A reading slump is not a sign of failure but a normal part of a life full of reading.
Reading can be fun again
A reading slump is not the end of your reading life as a reader. It's a stopover. A reminder that reading is there for you, not the other way around.
Take the pressure off, let yourself be surprised by a Blind Date Book, keep track of your own reading journey in a Book Review Notebook, and make sure your reading nook invites you to stay seated with an atmospheric glass can and a bookmark that suits you.
Happy reading, at your own pace! 📚