Like many children who grew up in suburbia’s monotony, I found my local library a welcome escape. I relished checking out comically large stacks of well-worn hardcovers from authors such as Beverly Cleary and Alvin Schwartz. As I grew older, though, I tragically spent more time on social media and less flipping the pages of a novel.
In 2021, Covid-19 made it difficult to have much of a social life. So, as a lonely college student in search of new ways to fill my time, I purchased a Kindle. Ever since, I’ve consistently finished roughly one book a week.
Kindle aside, some simple strategies also helped me become a better reader, such as setting lofty goals with friends and trying out a monthly book subscription. Whether you’re a busy corporate manager or a student drowning in homework, these strategies can help you too. Below, I’ve shared 12 of my favorite ways to read often and a lot – including a completely free (and legitimate) way to access e-books, among them new releases.
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First, things that have helped me hit my reading goals
Amazon Kindle
$89.99 at AmazonPapier Reading Journal
$32 at RevolveBook of the Month subscription (trial requires a two-month commitment with the second month at full price)
From $5 per month at Book of the MonthKindle Unlimited Subscription
Free trial at AmazonRead more of our bookish recommendations
Need a page-turner or gift? Book recs from our e-reader tester
A mildly subversive gift guide: 10 banned books for curious and rebellious US readers
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Twelve tips to read often and a lot
Read a few pages before bed
I credit my Kindle for helping me achieve my reading goal of 50 books a year. I’m a night-time reader, and its softly lit screen always helps me sneak in a few pages in bed without having to turn on any lights.
Amazon Kindle
$89.99 at Amazon $89.99 at Best BuyAudible Subscription
Free trial at Audible***
Set the mood
Small tweaks to my environment help my brain associate reading with relaxation rather than a chore. I admittedly embody the cliche of sipping on a mug of tea, snuggled under my fuzzy blanket (and yes, I also light a scented candle). This has helped me read for hours from the comfort of my bedroom, getting lost in a thriller novel until I’ve somehow made it to the last page. Below, I’ve linked the teas and cozy items I love most.
Peppermint tea
$9.92 for a pack of 4 at Walmart $18.85 for a pack of 6 at AmazonAmazon throw blanket
$54.99 at AmazonAnthropologie striped mug
$14 at AnthropologieVoluspa scented candle
$16 at Voluspa $16 at Anthropologie***
Try a monthly book subscription
I like to think of a subscription as the literary equivalent of a gym membership – the money you’ve invested holds you accountable. In this case, we’re simply swapping cardio for romance novels (or your genre of choice).
Previously, I’ve subscribed to Book of the Month, which lets you choose a hardcover novel each month for $17.99. I love the feel of a crisp new hardcover, but I don’t love dropping the $30 at traditional retailers. I’ve found that a Book of the Month subscription can be a cost-effective alternative. I also loved having exclusive early access to new releases.
For e-reader devotees, you can try Kindle Unlimited, which has a free trial and charges you $11.99 a month for access to 4m titles, including audiobooks. As a speedy reader, I’ve loved using it to download all the titles I wanted for a fairly affordable price. If you’re an avid audiobook listener, Audible also offers a monthly subscription.
Book of the Month subscription (trial requires a two-month commitment with the second month at full price)
From $5 per month at Book of the MonthKindle Unlimited subscription
Free trial at AmazonAudible subscription
Free trial at Audible***
Keep a reading journal
If you’re fully embracing 2026’s analog takeover, you can try tracking your reading progress in a physical journal. Recently, I tested this stylish option from Papier, which has space to track 32 titles, create a reading wishlist and write book reviews. The journal’s helpful table of contents and book index make it easy to track my reading, and I’ve already recorded all four of my January reads.
Papier Reading Journal
$32 at Revolve $32.30 at Papier***
Read (or listen) on the go
You may have saved a Pinterest-worthy set-up to your 2026 vision board. Often, though, finding time to read looks more like pulling out your Kindle on the subway or in the waiting room at the doctor’s office. I’ve finished the lengthy 2024 summer hit God of the Woods and other 400-page tomes like this.
To fit reading into your routine, find a medium that matches it. If you have a long drive to the office, try downloading a few audiobooks to keep you company during your trafficky commute.
And if you’re on the hunt for an e-reader even lighter than the Kindle, we recently tested a new smartphone-sized e-reader that was revealed at the 2026 Consumer Electronics Show.
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Turn it into a challenge
Even when it comes to an activity as peaceful as reading, my competitive side emerges. I participate in Goodreads’ annual challenge, which lets me and other readers track our goals together. The (light) peer pressure motivates me to replace doomscrolling with evening reading sessions.
You can set all sorts of goals: the amount of books read, time spent reading per day or number of pages read, to name a few.
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Plan your reading list ahead
Like many things in our adult lives (like spending time with friends), reading requires a bit of extra planning.
For years, I’ve used Goodreads to stay organized, adding the books on my “to be read” list. At the start of each month, I like to outline the three to five novels I plan to read, placing holds at my library and downloading titles to my Kindle.
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Channel your inner book critic
On Goodreads, I enjoy tracking titles in the “My books” section and writing mini reviews. Even a few short sentences and a quick rating help me connect more closely with each book.
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Join (or start!) a book club
You might’ve heard that book clubs are trending among gen Z. I can confirm: while reading is a solo activity, it’s one of my favorite ways to connect with fellow readers. I’m a part of a monthly book club that has helped me foster relationships as someone new(ish) to New York City.
Joining a book club can hold you accountable to your reading goals. You can find many meetups on Eventbrite and local bookstores’ websites, and if you can’t meet in person, the social reading platform Fable offers virtual options.
Celebrity book clubs are trending too. I personally like Dakota Johnson’s literary fiction selections, especially The Wilderness, chronicling the decades-long friendship of five friends as they navigate personal struggles and the US’s political climate.
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Attend a book event
If you love a specific author, consider attending a book signing or panel discussion. You can discover these events on local bookstores’ websites or at larger retailers such as Barnes & Noble. I’m hoping to attend this upcoming event, where novelist Frieda McFadden will speak about her newest book, Dear Debbie.
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Put your phone away
If you have a rare moment to yourself, try cultivating a tech-free, calming space. I prefer putting my phone out of reach, so that I’m not tempted to take a scrolling break. I know: easier said than done. If you’re looking for a few tips, I recently spoke to experts for super simple ways to cut down your screen time.
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Bonus tip: borrow online from your local library
Though my Kindle cost $90, I’ve saved hundreds of dollars on book purchases over the years. I owe most of this to Libby.
Libby is an online book database that connects to your local library’s catalogue, allowing you to download books directly to your smartphone or e-reader. If you’d love to read the bestseller everyone is talking about, Libby’s “smart tag” feature lets you turn on notifications for books months before their release. That way, when they’re added to your library’s catalogue, you are the first in line to put a title on hold.
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What’s on the Filter team’s shelves?
Looking for your next read? I recently finished the horror novel: Play Nice by Rachel Harrison, which follows a stylist and influencer who decides to remodel her recently deceased mother’s supposedly haunted house. I’m also looking forward to reading Anatomy of an Alibi by Ashley Elston, a thriller that also happens to be a January Book of the Month pick.
Play Nice by Rachel Harrison
$23.29 at Walmart $23.49 at AmazonAnatomy of an Alibi by Ashley Elston
From $5 at Book of the Month (with subscription) $20.98 at AmazonThe last book I read cover-to-cover was Herculine by Grace Byron, a novel about a woman who flees an exhausting life in New York City to join an all-trans commune in rural Indiana. At first, everything seems idyllic – until she finds out it’s a cult with literal demons. It’s funny and spooky and a wild ride all around. Karen Yuan, Filter US commissioning editor
Herculine by Grace Byron
$24.36 at Amazon $25 at Barnes & NobleAt the dawn of the second world war, technology bestowed humans with a newfound superpower: raining hellfire from the sky. Is there a right way to do that? The Bomber Mafia depicts the clash between two wildly divergent schools of thought, and how good intentions get ground down by the brutality of war.
I have to confess to “reading” the audiobook version of this, and while I know that will elicit eyerolls, Malcolm Gladwell made it in that format first, so it sounds more like a five-hour podcast than someone reading off a page. Archival audio means you get to hear many characters, such as the icy Gen Curtis LeMay, speak for themselves. Nick Mokey, Filter editor
The Bomber Mafia by Malcolm Gladwell
$9.78 at Walmart $13.02 at Amazon
