Rebelling against reading resolutions

you can't MAKE me read

When I set a goal and make it a requirement, I automatically do not want to do it. This isn’t a hard and fast rule, and it doesn’t impede my daily functioning. For the most part, I’m great at holding up expectations, accepting responsibilities, and following through on promises. But every now and then, a rebellious urge just pops up out of nowhere and stops me in my tracks—especially in my reading life.

I know that reading projects, intentions, and goals work well for so many readers, but it’s the opposite effect for me. For example, last year I hoped to complete a reading project focused on “reading about reading” and I made it through one half of Reader, Come Home before ditching the intention. I swear I really, genuinely wanted to read about reading! Despite my legitimate underlying motivation, the urge to rebel won out.

I’ve been in enough therapy to know that being a “good girl”/oldest daughter/perfectionist/overachiever my whole life means my inner rebellious spirit needs an escape route somewhere. That somewhere happens to be my reading life, and this year I’m embracing it.

Instead of setting intentions just to dump them in two months, I’m spending my new year reflection time on noticing what worked well in my reading life last year. I won’t turn these observations into goals or resolutions, but I will keep them in mind as I choose what to read next, share book recommendations, or hit a reading slump and need inspiration to get out of it.

1. Listening to Literary Fiction & Memoir

Most of my favorite audiobook listens of 2023 fell under the literary fiction or memoir categories, and this isn’t the first time I noticed this pattern. For the last few years, I’ve gravitated toward literary listening, choosing audiobooks with a focus on structure, craft, and voice. Knowing that literary fiction (or memoir) works well for me on audio helps me choose my next audiobook before decision fatigue creeps up. I still listen to a lot of romance and the occasional mystery on audio, but literary listens often keep me hooked and make a memorable impression. Some favorites from the last few years:

• Writers & Lovers by Lily King

• All’s Well by Mona Awad

• Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

• Dinosaurs by Lydia Millet

• Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo

• Disoriental by Negar Djavadi

2. Flirty Historical & Realistic Contemporary Romance Novels

I have less data for this one, but I’m going with it. In the last two years, I’ve found myself drawn to more grounded and realistic contemporary romance novels while enjoying flirty, fun, and banter-filled historical romance novels. There are two things I’m considering here: one, I think the rom-com trend is dying down, and two, historical romance feels less schmaltzy when it’s not taking itself too seriously. Exceptions exist, of course, and I do love when a book can balance both humor and more serious themes—but overall, my favorite and most memorable reads follow this general trend. Examples: