Books That Got Me Out of a Reading Slump.
For anyone who wants to read more but doesn't know where to start.
One of my goals for 2026 was to spend less time on social media and more time reading. I used to love reading, but somewhere along the way it started to feel like a chore.
While living in New York, I stumbled upon the cutest little indie bookstore on the Lower East Side and started popping in whenever I was nearby. A few impulse purchases later, I found myself excited to read again.
Below are the books that got me out of my reading slump.
Fiction:
Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors
Twenty-four-year-old Cleo is a British artist in New York struggling to stay afloat when she meets Frank, a successful man nearly twice her age. After a whirlwind romance, they impulsively marry. This sets off a chain reaction that ripples through their friends, families, and former lovers. What begins as a glamorous love story unfolds into a sharp, funny, and human portrait of addiction, ambition, and the people we become when we are desperate to be loved.
I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman
Thirty-nine women are held captive in a barren underground bunker, guarded by silent men and given no explanation for their imprisonment. When an unexpected opportunity for escape arrives, the youngest woman ventures into a desolate landscape. Having no memory of the outside world, she begins searching for answers about humanity, freedom, and what it means to truly live. It is a quiet, haunting look at isolation and resilience.
Tender Is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica
After a lethal virus makes animal meat unsafe to eat, society normalizes the practice of breeding and consuming humans as livestock. Marcos works within this gruesome new industry, mechanically carrying out his job at a processing plant while wrestling with his own grief and the moral collapse of the world around him. This dystopian novel is relentlessly unsettling and forces readers to confront uncomfortable ethical questions.
Memoirs & Non-Fiction:
Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage by Belle Burden
A candid memoir about the illusion of intimacy. When Burden’s husband of twenty years leaves her without warning during the pandemic, her steady partner overnight becomes a man she hardly recognizes. She reflects on her marriage, old-money privilege, and betrayal, looking at how two people can build an entire life together while remaining unfamiliar to one another.
Philosophy & Personal Growth:
The Wisdom of Insecurity by Alan Watts
Though written in the 1950s, this book feels perfectly tailored to modern life. Drawing heavily on Eastern philosophy, Watts explains why our constant search for certainty and security often creates more anxiety rather than less. It is a thoughtful, accessible read filled with passages you will want to underline.
The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer
A practical guide about the constant voice in your head and why you do not have to believe everything it says. Singer explores consciousness, self-awareness, and inner peace by teaching you how to observe your thoughts instead of getting swept away by them. It breaks down spiritual concepts in a way that feels grounded rather than preachy.
The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins
The premise is simple: let people do what they are going to do. Whether dealing with a friend, coworker, family member, or romantic partner, Robbins argues that you surrender your own peace when you try to control others. By adopting the “Let Them” mindset, you can drop the burden of managing everyone else’s behavior and focus on your own life.
Creativity, Style & Culture:
The Creative Act by Rick Rubin
Written by one of the most successful music producers of all time, this is not just a book about the music industry. It is a book about paying attention. Rubin explores creativity not as a rare skill reserved for artists, but as a fundamental way of moving through the world, listening to your intuition, and remaining open to inspiration.
The Art of Intentional Dressing by Erin Walsh
Part fashion guide and part reflection on personal identity, written by a celebrity stylist. Rather than chasing trends, Walsh encourages readers to use their closets to reflect their goals. She asks you to think deeply about why you wear what you wear, offering a practical approach to using clothing to communicate who you are.
Less a rigid style guide and more a cultural mood board. Written collaboratively by four Parisian women, the book covers everything from fashion and beauty rituals to dating, confidence, and entertaining. It is charming, witty, and occasionally contradictory. Best enjoyed with a coffee in hand.
Happy reading!!
xx, Alex