You're standing in front of your bookshelf. Or you've been scrolling through your TBR list for ten minutes. Or you're in a bookstore and can't make a choice. We all know that feeling: you want to read, but you don't know what.
The solution isn't necessarily to search more. The solution is to better understand what you need right now, at this moment. And that depends on your mood.
These are the best book recommendations for every reading mood, from light and romantic to dark and thrilling, plus the smartest way to find the perfect book every time.
"I want something fun and easy to read"
You're not in the mood for a heavy book. You want to laugh, empathize, and ideally finish it in one sitting. These are the books for you:
Contemporary romance with humor
Think authors like Emily Henry and Tessa Bailey — light in tone, quick reads, emotionally satisfying. Emily Henry's People We Meet on Vacation is a classic in this genre. Tessa Bailey's It Happened One Summer has the same lighthearted energy with a bit more spice.
Romcom
The Hating Game by Sally Thorne is the ideal book when you want to laugh and be swept away. Two colleagues, a shared office, and a game that turns into something completely different.
📚 Not sure which romance to choose?
Our Blind Date Book (Romance) lets you choose the genre — the rest is a surprise.
→ Order a Blind Date Book (Romance)
"I want a grand, epic adventure"
You're ready for a world that completely captivates you. A series with world-building, political intrigue, magic, and a romance that develops over multiple books.
Romantasy
Sarah J. Maas's A Court of Thorns and Roses is the most recommended entry point. The Fae courts, the magical world, and the slow-burn romance are exactly what you're looking for. Ready for more? Rebecca Yarros's Fourth Wing is the perfect next step: dragons, a military academy, and an enemies-to-lovers dynamic that has kept BookTok buzzing for years.
Dark fantasy
Holly Black's The Cruel Prince if you prefer something darker — morally gray characters, dangerous rivalry, and a plot you won't see coming.
🌙 Start your romantasy adventure
Our Blind Date Book (Fantasy) is perfect if you don't know which fantasy world to explore next.
→ Order a Blind Date Book (Fantasy)
"I want something that truly moves me"
You need a book that gives you something to think about. Something that lingers. Something you carry with you for days.
Emotional contemporary fiction
Colleen Hoover's It Ends With Us is the most read CoHo book and the perfect starting point if you want to feel. It tackles heavy themes with honesty and warmth, and the ending will stay with you. Gabrielle Zevin's Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow is something different — a bittersweet story about friendship, creativity, and love spanning decades.
Sad girl summer reads
Books that don't necessarily end with a perfect happy ending, but that make you feel like you've truly lived while reading.
💕 Be surprised by something touching
Our Blind Date Book Self Care Edition is curated for introspective, emotional reading moments.
→ Order the Blind Date Book Self Care Edition
"I want suspense and not to know how it ends"
You want a book you can't put down at night. Plot twists you didn't see coming. A story that keeps your mind busy even when you're not reading.
Psychological thriller
Colleen Hoover's Verity is the most discussed thriller on BookTok in recent years. A hidden manuscript, a mysterious writer, and a truth you have to uncover yourself. The movie with Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson will be released on October 2, 2026 — read the book before then.
Dark mystery
Holly Jackson's A Good Girl's Guide to Murder is another favorite: a cold case, a determined student, and a mystery that goes deeper than it seems.
🖤 Let the suspense surprise you
Our Blind Date Book (Thriller) is perfect if you love suspense but don't know where to start.
→ Order a Blind Date Book (Thriller)
"I want something spicy"
You know what you want. Chemistry, tension, intimate scenes, and a romance that leaves you breathless.
Spicy romance
Ana Huang's Twisted Love is the most recommended entry point for spicy romance on BookTok — a good balance between story and heat. Hannah Grace's Icebreaker combines sports romance with spicy elements in a way that captivates even non-sports fans.
Spicy romantasy
Sarah J. Maas's A Court of Mist and Fury (ACOTAR Book 2) is where the series gets noticeably hotter. Jennifer L. Armentrout's Blood and Ash goes even further.
🌶️ Choose your spice level
Our Blind Date Book (Spicy) lets you choose the heat level — the rest is a surprise.
→ Order a Blind Date Book (Spicy)
"I want something for the beach or vacation"
Light, fast-paced, captivating, and perfect for long days in the sun. A book you can take with you without having to flip back after every sentence.
Beach reads
Emily Henry's People We Meet on Vacation, Tessa Bailey's It Happened One Summer, or a light contemporary romance you can read in two days.
☀️ The perfect vacation surprise
Our Blind Date Book Summer Edition is specially curated for warm days and summer reading moments.
→ Order the Blind Date Book Summer Edition
"I really don't know — surprise me"
Sometimes the best solution is to completely give up the stress of choosing. No comparing titles, no reading synopses, no judging covers. Just: pick a genre and let go of the rest.
That's exactly what our Blind Date Books do. You choose the genre and language, we choose the book. You won't know the title until you open it.
🎁 Let yourself be completely surprised
Choose genre + language. The rest is a surprise.
→ View all Blind Date Books
Complete your reading experience
Once you know what you want to read, make it even more enjoyable with the right accessories:
- A bookmark that matches the genre you're reading
- A glass can for your tea, coffee, or matcha
- A Book Review Notepad to keep track of what the book did for you
- A Reading Log Book Tracker for your reading year
Frequently asked questions about what book to read
What should I read if I don't know what I want to read?
Start with your mood. Do you want something light and fast? Go for contemporary romance. Do you want a grand adventure? Choose romantasy. Do you want suspense? Grab a thriller. And if you really can't choose: a Blind Date Book will make the decision for you.
Which book is good for beginners?
Colleen Hoover's It Ends With Us is one of the most recommended starting points for new romance readers. For romantasy, Sarah J. Maas's A Court of Thorns and Roses is the best entry point.
Which books are currently popular in the Netherlands?
In 2026, romantasy (ACOTAR, Fourth Wing), spicy romance (Twisted series, Icebreaker), and psychological thrillers (Verity) dominate Dutch book lists and BookTok.
How do I know which genre suits me?
If you like adventure and magic: romantasy. If you like realistic love stories: contemporary romance. If you like suspense: thriller or dark mystery. And if you don't know: our Blind Date Book lets you choose a genre and takes care of the rest.
Is a Blind Date Book a good idea if I don't know what I want to read?
Absolutely. That's exactly what it's made for. You choose your genre, we choose the book. No decision stress, no hours of scrolling — just a good story waiting for you.
📚 Ready to start?
Romance • Fantasy • Thriller • Spicy • Surprise Me • Summer
Happy reading! 📚✨