I’ve explained why reading so many genres is beneficial and I have given a rough rating guide for my reviewing system across genres, but how do you go about reading so many genres? Surely the jump from one type of book to seven all at once is too jarring to make? You would be correct, and I have faced those concerns myself, so let me guide you toward adding more genres to your usual reading and let’s see if we can get you familiar with some more genres by the end of 2025.

First things first: know your limits. There is no point is picking up books that you are not comfortable with, or books with dense content that you are not familiar with and cannot connect with right away. These key thing to remember along this journey of diversifying your reading is that it will only be sustainable and enjoyable if you take slow steps towards your goals. I know from experience that diving head first into extremely detailed science fiction series while I was still relatively new to the genre was a mistake. I also know that there are themes, tropes, and concepts that I will never be comfortable reading or interested in reading, and while they may be rich in one genre I am sure there will be books that don’t contain those elements that I can enjoy.

Now, as a sort of planning stage when it comes to increasing your reading genres and interests, it is important to take note of what you enjoy and gravitate towards now. For example, fantasy tends to be a popular genre and many readers will pick up hundreds of fantasy novels before thinking of branching out (and it is entirely possible to do so with the number of fantays books out there). An observation I have seen is that fantasy and science fiction are two ends of a horseshoe. Fantasy and science fiction contain a lot of world building and development, it just so happens that one is largely set in space or on a different planet and the other is set on “earth”. Both can be high (no elements of our world involved, i.e. Six of Crows or Spark of the Everflame) or low (set on earth with discernable details of humans and the world around us, i.e. The Mortal Instruments and The Lunar Chronicles). Both also have the possibility of including other species (supernatural creatures, aliens, etc.) while addressing very human subjects and themes. So, it is very possible that a fantasy readercould start reading science fiction books and find the difference managable. Knowing what similarities and differences there are between what you read and what you may be keen to pick up is an easy way to dip your toes into a new genre.

Another thing to keep in mind is the good old adage slow and steady wins the race. You will not have a smooth time on your reading journey if you jump into mulitple new books at once. That is likely only going to bring you to burnout and make you throw this plan of expanding your reading genres aside. Go slow. Start with one genre or an author you already read and like who has written in a different genre – again, fantasy and science fiction are very simliar so your favourite author may have a series they have written that you could try out. It is also important to remember that you should check in with yourself and see what it is about the genre that you like or dislike as your are reading it. Being able to pick up on little things as you read will guide your interests and make it easier to pick up more genres or read more in the new genre you have started. For example, when I started reading more romance this year, I found that I liked the stories that were more than just the romance – in fact, I gravitated towards the books that I knew had more layers and conflicts to the romance goal, i.e. Things We Never Got Over, An Academic Affair, and Love, Theoretically. I also know I cannot read perspectives that are overly sexual or explicit. I also know that regardless of the genre, I struggle to get into stories that contain themes of drugs, alcohol, and characters out of touch with reality in terms of finances, social issues, and class struggles.

Now it comes to the practical side of how. How do you get access to all these different kinds of books to trial them out and see if you enjoy them. This, my friends, is where I give you a freindly reminder that libaries exist and they are wonderful. I wouldn’t be able to do all the reading I do without access to a library because the number of books I get out a year is insane. If you don’t have a local library near you, then lets not forget about the cheaper ways to obtain books. Local thrift stores and second-hand stores have books sections that you can peruse and find some gems in. You can also join a local reading group or ask friends and family and see if anyone can recommend some books to you (and possibly give you a copy to read if they have the book in question). Then there is the ebooks and audiobooks, but I am aware that there is currently something happening with various platforms regarding author royalities on new systems so I won’t be saying uch on that point. You can use them if you want to, I won’t stop you, but perhaps check in with what you use to see if there is something going on first so that you are supporting the authors you want to read more of.

That should be more than enough information to get you started on your journey to reading more diversely and indulging in a few more genres by the year’s end. The key things to remember are your limits, your preferences, and taking it slow. You want this to be a long-term endeavour, so don’t rush it. Good things come to those who wait, and great books come to those who read widely. Happy reading!