5 Ways To Decide Which Books To Read

Dec 16

Dec 16 5 Ways To Decide Which Books To Read

After I wrote my last blog post, 2021 In Books, a friend DM-ed me and asked if I would mind sharing how I decide which books to read. As a former bookseller, let me tell you, this question THRILLS me. Let’s dive in!

Here are 5 ways to decide which books to read:

Follow independent bookstores and Libro.fm on Instagram. Most bookstores post about new releases and staff picks. Even before I worked at Parnassus, I knew which booksellers’ staff picks I always wanted to read, so I would keep an eye out for their recommendations.
Follow authors you like on Twitter and Instagram, and watch their Stories. Not all authors are online, but a lot of the ones that are post about what they’re working on, what they’re reading, etc. For instance, I adore Samantha Irby and she regularly publishes Instagram posts showing the stack of books she’s reading. If she says a book is funny, there is a 99.9% chance I will too.
Newsletters. We love them, we hate them. I subscribe to approximately 5,000. It’s untenable, but most of the newsletters I subscribe to have book reviews, interviews with authors, etc. For example, Mary Laura Philpott has a great newsletter where she gives you a book, a link, a song, and a picture. Also? All those independent bookstores have newsletters. Get those, too.
Join a book club! I joined Roxane Gay’s Audacious Book Club this year and read all 12 of her book picks. Let me tell you what Roxane Gay does NOT do, she does not pick a bad book. Turns out, a lot of authors have book clubs through Literati. It’s worth checking out.
When and if you’re able, shop in-person at your local independent bookstore. Nashville has Parnassus in Green Hills and The Bookshop in East Nashville. The booksellers at both of these stores are incredible. Tell them what you like to read and ask them to recommend something, or just ask them what the last book is that they read and can’t stop thinking about. Booksellers are probably the most well read people in your community. Walk in and meet them! Get to know the ones who read the books you like. Follow them on social.

There are a few other things that may be useful, and are not Nashville-specific. There are a ton of book podcasts. I haven’t gotten into them all because I’m worried my already out of control TBR book pile will truly become a mountain that will overtake me. But I am loyal to one very good book podcast called The Stacks. I love it so much.

When an author I like has a book come out, I tend to keep an eye on their Stories and download every podcast they’re a guest on. It’s a great way to find new podcasts to listen to.

Last, but not least, bookstagram and booktok. I suspect only about two of you reading this are on TikTok, but trust me, the book content on the Tok is where it’s at.