It's been years since I've opened a book, at least not since high school. Now I'd like to get back into it but I don't know where to start - reading page after page just discourages me right away. Can you recommend something engaging but not too heavy?
Start with short, fast-paced novels like thrillers or mysteries that keep you glued to the pages without wearing you out: "The Girl on the Train" by Paula Hawkins or "The Da Vinci Code" by Dan Brown are perfect because the plot pulls you along and you don't have time to get bored. If you prefer something lighter, books by authors like Fredrik Backman (like "A Man Called Ove") have short chapters and a story that gets straight to your heart. The trick is to pick a genre that really appeals to you - if you love mysteries, go for those; if you love romance stories, that works too - so you read for pleasure, not out of obligation.
If the length puts you off, try comics and graphic novels - they're anything but "for kids" and reading images + text helps you get back into the rhythm without wearing yourself out 😊 I personally got back into books that way, with stuff like "Persepolis" by Marjane Satrapi, which I finished in two afternoons.
After that it felt natural to move on to actual short books - like the quick mysteries people were mentioning - but if that still seems like too much, comics are still a legit gateway. It's not cheating, it's just finding the right format for your current habits.
Don't tell me you've never tried short, standalone books like short stories - they're not long novels, so you don't find yourself already tired halfway through the plot, but they have the same narrative quality. Think of Italo Calvino's stories or short mysteries like Agatha Christie's: you can read one in two or three days without any pressure. A trick that a lot of people don't consider is also trying podcasts or audiobooks while you're doing other things - some people listen while they're jogging or driving - so you don't feel like you're "reading," it's almost like a conversation. And once you get back into the rhythm after some of these lighter samples, the other suggestions you've gotten (gripping thrillers or graphic novels) work even better.
A trick I haven't seen mentioned: listen to audiobooks while you're doing other things - while cooking, in the car, while walking. I personally got back into it that way, without the "pressure" of sitting in front of a physical book, and I discovered that certain narrators make the story even more gripping. Then once you find yourself completely immersed in the plot, you naturally transition to reading with your eyes, maybe starting with a book you've already heard halfway through and that you really like.
what saved me was choosing books where I actually cared about the plot, not out of cultural obligation - maybe a genre you already love (films, TV series, video games) and then find the book version, because you're already invested in the story. the risk with other suggestions is that you end up with a "right book to get back into reading" that doesn't actually grab you, and you ditch it after two pages.
I remember during one of my bike trips (I always stop to take ridiculous breaks along the routes), I started a light mystery thriller that was quick to get through - I read for two straight hours without even noticing, when normally I thought I had no concentration span. the difference was that I'd genuinely chosen it myself, not because someone said it was "the perfect book to start with".
In my opinion, the problem isn't so much the genre as the pressure you put on yourself to read "the right way". What nobody's saying is that a lot of people get back into reading and then quit again precisely because they pick a book that doesn't really grab them, maybe because someone recommended it or because "it's a classic". My advice is to start with something that genuinely appeals to you, even if it seems trivial - a novel about a topic you're actually interested in, maybe one you already know from movies and want to dive deeper into. And then give yourself permission to drop it without guilt if after 50 pages it's not hooking you: there are thousands of books out there, you don't have to force yourself to read that one.
What works best is picking a genre you're actually passionate about, not just something "easy" - if you love mysteries, fantasy, sci-fi, or even true stories, look there instead of forcing yourself with generic recommendations. Others have already mentioned thrillers and comics, which are good starting points, but the real secret is that if the plot really grabs you, pages fly by without you noticing, no matter how long the book is 📚 maybe start with a book you already know will be right for you, like a movie adaptation you loved or a theme that's been intriguing you for a while.
Getting back to reading after years away is something that takes patience with yourself, because the first book you pick up won't ever be the way you remember it from high school. The real trap is choosing something too "important" - like the classic everyone says is amazing - and then abandoning it on page 30 because you feel like you're supposed to read it instead of actually enjoying it. Better to go for stories that don't demand massive concentration but still make you lose track of time.
The thrillers other people have suggested work, but here's something I'd add: it's not just the book's length that matters, it's the number of characters and subplots. A tangled plot can exhaust your brain if you haven't read in a while. Try authors who know how to grip readers without too many details: Ken Follett maybe goes too far, but writers like Tess Gerritsen or procedurals in the style of Donna Leon keep up the pace without weighing you down. Start with one of those books you finish in three or four intense days rather than one that drags on for weeks.
The audiobook someone mentioned is clever, but fair warning: listening isn't the same as reading. With audiobooks it's easy to pretend you're following along while your mind goes somewhere else. If your goal is to get back to the pleasure of actual reading, a physical book or e-reader is better for now. Once you find your rhythm again, audiobooks become a bonus, not the main solution.
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