For the Indecisive Reader

You may be stressed out by the stack of books you didn’t get to this year, or the reading goal you set for yourself. But figuring out what to read, if you desire to do so, should not be difficult. At the end of the year it’s important to take a pause for yourself and stress out as little as possible. If books are where you turn when you need to unwind, hopefully this article can give you a nudge in the right direction. Read on for a winter reading guide featuring six genres for the indecisive reader.

1. Your Favorites. Give yourself the gift of nostalgia by re-reading a book you love. If you are someone who has a favorite book, now is the perfect time because the end of year is all about reflection. It’s time to get cozy and comfortable with your old favorite—your TBR can wait.
2. Winter Vibes. Reading a book with the same weather right now hits different. The synergy adds to the immersion of the reading experience. If you’re going old school, The Chronicles of Narnia is an obvious choice to read, or any Jack London book. There are tons of YA winter romances out there—basically look for anything snowy on the cover and you’re set! A few releases are So, This is Christmas by Tracy Andreen, Recommended For You by Laura Silverman, and indie published Christmas As We Know It by Sarah Sutton.
3. A Series. What better time to start a series than winter? (Okay, maybe summer, but this is a winter list…) Maybe you’ve always wanted to read The Lord of the Rings series or The Throne of Glass. Now is the time to start! Fun fact: The Throne of Glass series is one of the longest YA series on record, totaling over 4.5 thousand pages.
4. A Thick Boi. If a series is too much commitment, why not read that one really big book you’ve been meaning to? Some books that come to mind are Dune by Frank Herbert, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, and To Sleep in a Sea of Stars by Cristopher Paolini. All of these I’ve read and would recommend. Dune is part of a series, but it reads well as a standalone, and these types of books are perfect to feel like you’ve read a really long book without feeling tied to reading the whole series.
5. A Retelling. There are some great, snowy fairytale retellings out there. If you’re really in the winter mood, ones you should look for are Snow White or Little Red Riding Hood. Marissa Meyers has written one of each in her Lunar Chronicles series. Released in November 2021, For the Wolf  by Hannah F. Witton is a Red Riding Hood retelling with an even darker twist. If you’ve had enough of these stories, a less common option—but still snowy! — is Entwined by Heather Dixon Wallwork, a 12 Dancing Princesses retelling.
6. Romance. You knew this was coming. Holiday romances are abundant this time of year. Something about winter makes us feel closer to others and want to read about other people falling in love or just having a good time. Sometimes a light rom-com is all you need to get out of a reading slump or take off the pressure. Try one with spiced cider or hot tea, and drink responsibly. Wouldn’t want to ruin those pages… 

Did you find some inspiration for your next read? Let us know what you’re picking up by leaving a comment below! No matter what book you choose, we at JUVEN Press wish you a warm winter filled with cozy reading.
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Grayson Yount

​​is a writer based in North Carolina. She attends writing classes of all kinds at UNC Chapel Hill and has a particular fondness for sharp imagery. In her free time, she drafts her own novels.
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