Information technology's (near) that time again: As the holidays approach, nosotros're reminded to set up goals for the year ahead. And i that the OprahMag.com team happily suggests? Read, read, read!

Just like Oprah has shown u.s.a. with her game-changing book club—and its iteration at Apple Books—nosotros beloved to read and encourage others to practice then, likewise. So if you're looking to fall in love with your next page turner (Reese Witherspoon has a book club, too), we've put together some useful tips to both read more than and get added enjoyment out of books in the year ahead.

Read before yous fall asleep.

Skip out on that late-night scroll through your Twitter feed and go quondam school. Read a bedtime story to lull yourself to sleep. If you do this oft plenty, it can get a part of your nighttime routine.

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"I hear a lot from people that say they're too tired before they go to bed to read, and I ever ask them, 'What do y'all do before yous constrict in?'" says Sarah Gelman, the editorial director of Amazon Books. "They'll say, 'I look at Instagram, I check emails.' I actually think people need to put their phones abroad and option upward books or their east-readers. Fifty-fifty if you read the book for five minutes and fall asleep with information technology on your face—which has definitely happened to me—you have read it for five more minutes than you would have otherwise, and it just becomes a habit."

And, perhaps even when you wake upwards in the morning.

If your schedule allows, instead of perusing your emails or immediately start the solar day's to-do list, have a moment for yourself and dedicate anywhere from 15 minutes to an hr for reading. And yes, you can stay in bed.

Follow "bookstagram" accounts for literary middle-candy.

Yes, "bookstagrams"—aka book Instagram accounts—are a total thing. It'south a dedicated community that posts covers of their latest reads (and then some). The artistry of these accounts will inspire y'all to head to your local library. If you need any suggestions on who exactly to follow, we've got a diverse listing right here.

Always have a book on deck.

Whether yous're commuting to the office or on your mode to a girls' getaway, have a defended space in your bag for your next read. This style, whenever y'all notice yourself with some unexpected down time, reading will always be an option.

Embrace sound books.

While you're not technically reading, Gelman explains that listening to a book with an engaging narrator can get you excited almost finding your next novel—even for those who think of themselves every bit former schoolhouse book readers. "For people that don't honey audio books, I establish nonfiction books read by the author—particularly memoirs—were a sort of gateway."

We've included a few of Gelman's recommended Audible picks above and here are some of our favorites.

Remember, there'southward no such affair every bit a "guilty pleasure" book.

You should never let embarrassment for liking a particular type of novel cease you from picking out a book.

"There'due south a reason why 'guilty pleasure' books are popular," Gelman says. "Information technology's because they're skilful. They have a compelling story and they're fast to read. People have to let go of this stigma of 'what I should be reading' versus 'what I want to read.' Just read what you relish. It's so freeing."

Remember about your TV time as reading time.

This mental trick volition hopefully urge you to run into the value in sitting down with a expert book. Those three hours you'd usually spend bingeing The Crown? Maybe utilise at least half of that time to finally try out Oprah's latest book society pick, Isabel Wilkerson's Caste.

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"A traditional 30 minute show is like 22 minutes if you fast forwards through commercials, and an 60 minutes show is 42 minutes," Gelman says. She likes to spend those 22 or 42 minutes reading, explaining that time tends to become slower when she's engaged in a titillating text.

Participate in a reading challenge.

Devoting time to a challenge is a style to compete against yourself while still working toward your reading goals. You can continue it uncomplicated with Goodreads and cull a specific number of books to read per year, every bit the site allows you to easily runway your progress.

Bookish too offers a reading claiming, though the terms are a bit more than complex. In an endeavor to keep participant'southward selections diverse, their 2020 terms set a goal of 42 books, sending readers on a literary scavenger hunt. A couple of fun examples? I request was that y'all find a story dedicated to social justice, while another urges you to discover a National Book Award winner.

Check out "all-time lists."

Selecting a book from the endless array can be overwhelming. To narrow down the field, peruse reading lists from the institutions that make it their business to find the best of the best.

The New York Times best sellers list is a tried and truthful test of a good book to read. (The current height spot for combined impress and e-volume fiction is The Law of Innocence past Michael Connelly). And Goodreads' 2020 "Best Books" are being chosen past millions of bibliophiles equally we speak.

And, of course, we can't forget our own trusted O book editors, who have curated tons of meticulous collections that bridge across genres. We've got the top LGBTQ novels of 2020 and even erotic brusque stories. No matter where you look, at that place's a picayune something for everybody.

Bring together a local book gild.

Not simply will you have fellow book lovers holding you answerable to read more, simply you'll also be a part of a new community that makes finishing a volume a priority. Non to mention the discussions about the volume can expand your mind and perspective.

While it may seem impossible to notice the right group, the American Library Association's "Volume Club Key" offers plenty of resources to get started, including heading to your nearest library to consult the reference desk for information about local book clubs. Some other place to check out is an contained bookstore, where agile clubs tend to seek out new members who as well enjoy reading. There are besides sites similar meetup.com or my-bookclub.com, where you lot can find clubs in your area.

If you prefer to stay home, Goodreads allows readers to join a virtual grouping through various word boards based on genre, from immature developed to romance novels.

Read some verse.

Whether you dig into a whole verse book or read renowned honey poems online, poetry can be a compelling break from traditional fiction and nonfiction reads that tend to dominate the best sellers lists. "Poetry is brusk and digestible, yeah," says O's banana books editor Michelle Hart, "but reading poesy is as well a great way to get the artistic part of your brain working."

To get yous started, consider one of 2019's buzziest verse collections: Camonghne Felix's Build Yourself A Boat, a powerful read about being a Black woman in today's America.

Try out a story before you commit.

It happens to the best of u.s.. Yous option up a book based on its eye-catching comprehend and enchanting synopsis, only for information technology to collect dust on your volume shelf afterwards just a few pages. It's hard to work up the free energy to read more if you select duds. Hart has a tip to combat this dilemma.

"LitHub, which is, equally the name suggests, a hub for all things literary, posts a short story or an extract from an upcoming novel every mean solar day," she says. "It's a expert way to try out a novel or an writer before ownership a book."

Kindle

Amazon Kindle

Invest in an e-reader.

While devoted book worms everywhere volition likely e'er debate e-readers vs physical books, there's no denying that devices similar Kindles tin brand information technology easier to read on demand. According to Statista, 335.7 million eastward-books were sold in the U.S. in 2019. The hassle of taking a trip to the bookstore is gone when you have a tablet that acts equally a personal mobile library. And an e-reader stores thousands of books—new and old—that cross various genres, with prices starting as depression as 99 cents. All y'all have to practice to start reading is tap on a screen.

Listen to a book podcast.

Information technology may sound counterintuitive to plug in your earphones to improve your reading habits, but Hart insists that certain podcasts will spike your interest in literature. She points to the New Yorker's "The Author's Voice" and "Fiction" as pick programming. You can listen to each for free on Apple or Stitcher, which are bachelor on both Android and iOS.

The New Yorker's fiction editor Deborah Treisman invites a different author on "Fiction" to read and talk over a new short story each month. (One of Hart'due south favorite episodes is with comedian David Sedaris.) "It's a groovy way to take hold of up on the New Yorker's acclaimed short stories, and equally a bonus, you get to hear the story read by the authors themselves," Hart says.

And in case y'all need more suggestions, nosotros've curated a list of our favorite volume podcasts, too.

Download a reading app.

If you find that more oftentimes than not your reading hours slowly brainstorm to turn into even more phone time, make your device less of a distraction and download a reading app. Apple Books, NOOK, and more offer digital bookstores with thousands of reads to choose from that you can pick instantly. So the next time you unlock your phone and have the urge to tap that Instagram icon, maybe you'll be tempted to open up your Scribd app instead.

Take your fourth dimension and set reading goals.

Ofttimes after purchasing a new volume, the idea of even attempting to end a multi-affiliate novel tin can be intimidating. Just remember, reading is not a race. You can finish a story as fast or every bit slow every bit you wish. To maintain your preferred pace, in add-on to keeping yourself accountable, create personal goals. This could look like 20 pages a solar day, 2 chapters a calendar week, or finishing the book by the end of the month. Whatever works for your schedule is attainable.

If y'all demand a bit of encouragement, the Bookly app has a diverseness of tools including statistics that track your reading progress and an option to set up monthly and yearly goals.

Explore unlike genres.

It'southward totally okay if yous can't go through the yr'due south trendiest memoir or if you're finding that classic novels never seem to catch your attention. There are a diverseness of fiction and non-fiction genres (hazard, thrillers, biographies, short stories, graphic novels) for you endeavor out in order to discover what truly keeps your attention.

Designate a cozy reading space.

Sometimes it'southward all virtually the atmosphere. Designate a space in your abode as your official reading nook, and go far as cozy as possible in club to associate reading with comfort and relaxation. It's as simple as slipping on your softest slippers and lighting your about cherished candle to fix the mood.

Go a book subscription box.

Make reading exciting with a monthly gift to yourself by choosing from a diversity of book subscription boxes. A couple of suggestions? BlackLIT curates selections by Black authors, The Page i Book Subscription has their creators choose a read for you based on a detailed profile, and My Thrill Gild specializes in criminal offense, mystery, thrillers, and horror.

And to get you excited to read even more...

O, the Oprah Magazine'southward volume editors curated a listing of 2020's all-time books. Beneath, a peek of some of those titles.

Happy reading!

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