How I Pick What to Read as a Mood Reader

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Welcome to a post in which I expose myself as the flakey mood reader that I am. It’s true. I’m the kind of person who says they’ll read a book and instead gets distracted by another one. But how do I pick what to read as a mood reader? Well, this post explains my process!

Because my TBR is generally screaming at me, I have figured out some criteria that help me pick my next read so that I don’t get stuck in the endless “I have a shelf full of books but don’t know what to read” dilemma.

What is a Mood Reader?

I’m not sure if there’s an actual definition but to me, a mood reader is someone who picks what to read based on moods and vibes instead of sticking to a list. You had strong plans to read a specific book? Well, too bad because suddenly all you want to read is something entirely different. We are spontaneous and fickle creatures. Does this stop me from making TBR lists? Not at all!

For me personally, a side-effect of being a mood reader is always reading multiple books at once. I like to have different stories going across formats so that I always have something that I’m excited about! If I choose my books well, this usually keeps me from reading slumps.

Criteria I Use to Pick My Next Read

I’ve thought about the ways I pick what to read as a mood reader and found that it comes down to six categories. Hype, recommendations, covers, format and tropes.

I have included some examples for books I have chosen through each category because examples are fun and maybe you’ll want to pick up one of these, too! And in case you want to read my reviews of them, I’ve linked them for your convenience. Now let’s get into the criteria I use to pick what to read!

Hyped

Honestly, my brain is a very simple thing. I might as well be a crow, I like shiny and new things and get easily distracted. Subsequently, one way that I tend to pick books to read is by looking at what is currently hyped on my timelines. Some books are EVERYWHERE and there’s usually a reason for that: readers love them! This one can be a bit hit and miss, but because I follow a lot of people with similar reading tastes, I haven’t been led astray that often.

Book Examples

Gallant Review

Shadow and Bone Review

The Gilded Wolves Review

New and Shiny

Other than hyped books, I also look at any new and shiny releases that catch my eye. Admittedly, this is a new thing for me and is very much influenced by my joining the online bookish community! Back before I was here, I rarely kept up with new releases. And while my TBR might be crying, I have no regrets. Reading newly released books is so exciting! And that excitement is often the momentum I need to actually read a book.

Book Examples

The Other Side of Perfect Review

Project Hail Mary Review

Recommendations

Word of mouth is powerful. Many of my favourite books were recommended by bloggers and bookstagrammers I trust! I have a running list of books that my favourites talked about that I want to check out. Personally, being able to recommend a book that someone loves is a big part of why I do what I do! I’ve made it my mission to get books in the hands of the right readers and hearing that I’ve succeeded is the best compliment. So if you’ve ever gotten a recommendation that you liked, be sure to tell the creator!

Some of my favourite bloggers to get recommendations from include:

• Lili from Utopia State of Mind
• Sumedha from The Wordy Habitat
• CW, Joce, and Skye from The Quiet Pond
• Bianca from Your Words My Ink
• Fadwa from Word Wonders

Book Examples

We Could Be Heroes Review

Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow Review

My Year of Rest and Relaxation Review

Covers

Yes, I sometimes pick books by their covers. I know, “don’t judge a book by its cover” and all that. But why would cover design be a thing if we’re not supposed to take it into account when choosing our next read? To me, picking a book you think looks pretty or interesting is a very valid way to figure out what to read! After all, a great cover communicates a lot about the story.

Book Examples

The Ravens Review

A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor Review

The Devil Makes Three Review

Format

Sometimes, I’m just not in the mood to pick up a physical book. And reading is reading, regardless of format (don’t let people tell you otherwise!). I have super weak wrists and the thought of having to hold a super chunky book for multiple hours just doesn’t sound appealing a lot of the time. Maybe the adjustable font size on an e-reader makes reading more accessible for you or you love audiobooks because they allow you to get chores done!

If I’m in the mood for a specific format, I simply look through my library of that category and then use one of my other criteria to pick a story that sounds appealing. However, I’ve also found it helpful to consider my mood, energy levels, and the kind of story I want to read first and then pick the best format to accommodate that! So you can really arrive at a decision based on the format in multiple ways.

Book Examples

Sleeping Giants Review

I Killed Zoe Spanos Review

Tropes

Finally, a way that I love to choose my next read is based on tropes! This is especially helpful when I’m in a bit of a reading slump. Knowing the kind of tropes a book has and subsequently the experience you’ll get can be super nice going into a book! For example, I am a big sucker for fake dating, found family, or enemies to lovers. Whenever I’m stuck on what to read next, I simply look through my TBR for books with those tropes!

Book Examples

Majesty Review

Beach Read Review

Victories Greater Than Death Review

Let’s Chat!

Are you a fellow mood reader or do you like to stick to a predetermined TBR?
If you’re a mood reader, how do you pick what to read?
Have you ever gotten a really good recommendation from a book blogger?

I hope you have a lovely day,