In the fall of 2022, I remember talking to a guy who asked me what my hobbies were. I said, “Netflix and brunch with friends.” We didn’t talk much longer after that and of course, I couldn’t be the problem. It had to be him. He was busy, overwhelmed, transitioning to new life paths.
Or maybe… I just wasn’t busy enough.
How were my only hobbies watching Netflix and running up a tab at overpriced brunch?
So I started trying things. Cycling. Walking. Coloring. Crochet. Every hobby TikTok romanticized, I dabbled in. I even bought an iPad (iykyk.)
But when it came to books, I danced around them. I told myself I didn’t have time to sit and read 200+ pages due to how busy my full time job was.
But somehow, I did have time to scroll. Or binge a show. Or listen to a podcast I’d forget about the next day.
Then I realized, maybe I don’t have to sit still to read, but I have a cool skill where I am really good at multi-tasking. Weirdly good at it.
I can listen to an audiobook while I’m cleaning the house.
While I’m on my laptop doing my corporate job.
While I’m walking around the mall or flying cross-country.
While I’m commuting to work or to brunch with friends.
There are so many ways to indulge in a good story, but you just have to find the format that fits your life.
See what I’m getting at? There are so many ways to indulge in a good story, but you just have to find the format that fits your life. And while I still love a good binge-watch, I realized that so many of my favorite series and movies were based on books I’d once overlooked.
As the self-nominated spokesperson of the No Excuses Committee, it’s a tad hypocritical of me looking back and realizing how many excuses I let keep me from reading—for 12 years.
Not because I didn’t love it or because I had to dodge popcorn reading in grade school.
But because life got louder than the stories.
And I forgot about that old thing that quietly deserved me back.
Now usually, I wouldn’t recommend going back to a chapter you already closed… but hear me out.
I let my passion fade because I convinced myself the books I loved weren’t “grown-up” enough.
Academic reading and (SparkNotes)—replaced the joy of leisurely getting lost in a good story.
My responsibilities grew, and my imagination took a backseat.
Books began to feel like one more task I didn’t have the energy to finish. Or a luxury that cut into my travel budget.
Then one day, I got a random group message from three girls I met during my Atlanta era:
“Y’all want to read this book together?”
My first thought? Absolutely not.
But before I could say no, everyone else had already said yes.
And of course, it was that viral book I’d been skipping over on TikTok.
Something in me knew I was somewhere between needing a new hobby and needing a break from my own mind speaking in corporate jargon.
So I agreed to join in and ordered the book.
That first moment cracking it open? Terrible.
I couldn’t focus to save my life. I was falling behind the group’s check-in points, struggling to lock back in after spending all day working a stressful job. I kept asking myself how I used to do this so easily. I didn’t know how to get back into the reading zone.
So I thought—smarter, not harder. No excuses. You have to figure this out before the next book club check in.
Maybe I should try it as an audiobook. I remembered Audible ad that popped up when I ordered the paperback copy on Amazon. They had some kind of deal where your first book is free. It won’t hurt to try.
That pivot? Changed everything.
I didn’t just hear the words, but I felt them through the dramatics in the narration, the nuance in the dialogue, the rhythm in the writing. Suddenly, the story had a pulse. And before I knew it, the book was finished.
That feeling? I wanted it again because it was reminding me of how high school me felt once I finished the book I waited all year for.
So I used my next credit. And the next.
And now here I am—230 downloads deep.
It’s wild how one small (and apprehensive) yes and a simple pivot can lead you right back to your purpose.
That first book wasn’t just a moment of curiosity, it was an invitation.
Back into creativity.
Back into imagination.
Back into a version of myself (and my Dad’s bank account) hadn’t seen in a long time.
The version of me who went to Barnes & Noble with my Dad and walked out with three new books and a smile.
The girl who needed extra money for the Scholastic Book Fair.
The one who lived for fiction over memoirs, stories over strategies.
The one who tried to guess every plot twist that may happen in a story.
And now? I’ve promised myself that this version of me stays committed to the art of storytelling, to literacy, also invite others to join me by meeting them where they are.
Because it’s not just about finishing books or letting them become another task to add to your to do list.
It’s about closing each chapter with more knowledge and creativity than you had before you began.
So if you’re in your “I think I wanna start reading again” era, here are some suggestions that may help.
- It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover
It wasn’t a classic or a hidden gem that brought me back—it was It Ends With Us. Trust me, I did not think I would like it either but it had my attention for somebody getting back on their book sh*t. As somebody who does not generally choose romance as her first choice, this one stood out because it wasn’t just the the drama or the writing style, it was the emotional unraveling, the reflection on generational cycles, and the relatability to the various characters in the story.
If you’re looking for a book to restart your reading era, this one is easy to follow, emotionally layered, and impossible to ignore. I wouldn’t say it’s perfect or a complex read (especially if you are a more seasoned reader)—but it is a great option to get you back going.
2. The Housemaid by Frieda McFadden
This is an author who always delivers a plot twist and that’s exactly what keeps me hooked. I love the thrill of thinking I’ve got it all figured out…only to be completely wrong or kind of right.
When I first listened to this one on audiobook, I was instantly pulled in by the main character, Millie, and the way she told her story. Especially with the narration. Each character’s dialect brought the story to life in a way that made the tension even more real. So if you have the option to choose between print or audio, I suggest the audio version.
If you’re into psychological thrillers, this is the perfect place to start. And once you finish, there are sequels waiting within this series.
3. White Lines by Tracy Brown
This was one of our book club picks and this was the book was when I learned that I am terrible at book clubs because I started going rogue. I had to know what happened next, and by the time we were supposed to check in on the first half of book one, I had already finished the entire trilogy. That’s how good it was.
White Lines took me right back to the early 2000s bookshelf in my mom’s collection of urban fiction classics. It felt like reading someone’s real life with the perfect mix of drama, survival, love, and loss.
Tracy Brown writes about such complex characters that you start rooting for them…even when you know what they’re doing is illegal, unethical, or just plain chaotic. And yet, you still want to see them win.
I mentioned earlier that I don’t run to a romance novel, but I wasn’t just invested in the love stories throughout this series, I was invested in the life story of every single character.
Because by the end of book one, you realize that everybody is a main character.
4. Verity by Colleen Hoover
While I don’t read her as much these days, Colleen Hoover was the author who made it easy for me to get back into reading. Her plots are intriguing, her writing is accessible, and her books are just easy to get lost in. But Verity is her best work and can be in competition with other top thrillers that I have read.
Verity earns a permanent spot on my Top PShelf.
It’s the book I recommend every single time someone says, “I want to start reading again” because I genuinely don’t think it’s possible to hate this book. It has the plot, the pulse, and the pace to keep you locked in from the first page. You’ll probably finish it in a few days… if not one.
It was messy, twisted, and a little dramatic—but that’s exactly what made it so addicting. It reminded me how fun it is to spiral over fictional theories. And even now, I still find myself scrolling Reddit threads and BookTok to see if people are Team Manuscript… or if they read that lost chapter.
5. The Arrangement by Kiersten Modglin
It’s fast paced, messy, and fully unhinged in the best way possible so that it keeps your attention. The title is exactly what it is about and the setup is simple: a couple in a stale marriage makes… an arrangement.
But from the moment the rules are set, you know someone’s going to break them and this book does not go the way that you think it will.
Time to get PSHelfish
PShelfish: the act of choosing books based on your personal interest, not public opinion.
Whether you’re easing back in with a slow-burn romance, diving headfirst into a messy thriller, or finally giving that one viral book a try—you are officially PShelfish life. To be PShelfish is to read what feels good, not what looks good. It’s skipping the monthly book club pick for that chaos-coded romance you’ve already read twice. It’s leaving a book on read after chapter three without guilt. It’s knowing that your reading log is yours and only stories that impact you deserve spine space.
Reading doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to pull something out of you.
And if one of these titles does that? My work here is done.
Here’s to revisiting old chapters, finding new favorites, and spiraling (softly) over fictional people.
Let me know which one you pick up first—and if it deserves a spot on your PShelf too.
Until next time,
stay booked & PShelfish with your next read
PS: Don’t forget—if you leave a book halfway through, it’s not a failure. It’s just… left on read.
What was the book that got you back into reading again? Tell me in the comments or DM me @pinkspines. I’m always want to hear your thoughts on my PShelf.
