How to Read More in 2025: Science-Backed Habits, Top Trends, and the Books Everyone’s Talking About

If you’ve ever set a goal to read more, only to find yourself stuck on page 30 two months later, you’re not alone. In 2025, data shows a continuing decline in daily leisure reading, with U.S. adults spending less time with books and more time scrolling. But there’s good news: reading is also experiencing a cultural revival, fueled by passionate online communities and more accessible reading tools than ever before.

Whether you’re rebuilding a dormant habit or leveling up your literary life, this guide blends psychology, emerging trends, and real-world strategies to help you read more, enjoy it more, and remember what you read.

The Science of Building a Lifelong Reading Habit

Reading isn’t just a pastime, it’s a cognitive workout with long-term benefits. Studies show that consistent readers experience improved focus, reduced stress levels, and even delayed cognitive decline. But knowing why to read doesn’t help if you can’t seem to do it.

So what works?

1. Habit Stacking: Attach Reading to Existing Routines
Psychologists推崇 (favor) “habit stacking”, linking a new behavior to an established one. For example:

• Read five pages with your morning coffee
• Swap 10 minutes of evening screen time for a chapter before bed
• Listen to an audiobook during your commute

This small, consistent effort leverages your brain’s natural tendency to associate routines, making reading feel less like a chore and more like a natural part of your day.

2. The 5-Minute Rule: Overcome the “I Don’t Have Time” Trap
One of the biggest barriers isn’t time, it’s inertia. Committing to just five minutes removes the pressure. You’ll often read far longer once you begin, but even if you don’t, five minutes is still progress.

3. Track What You Read, And Why It Matters
Tracking isn’t just for data lovers. A simple journal entry or digital log reinforces your reading identity. Writing down a few thoughts, “What did I enjoy?” or “How did this book make me feel?”, boosts retention and emotional connection.

Pro Tip: Try journaling right after reading, while your impressions are fresh. Even a sentence or two creates a personal archive you can revisit later.

2025’s Hottest Literary Trends: What’s Everyone Reading?

This year, readers are craving both escapist joy and emotionally resonant storytelling. Thanks to platforms like BookTok, buzz is building early around titles that blend heart, humor, and authenticity.

Here are the trends shaping 2025 reading lists:

1. “Feel-Good Fiction” Is In
After years of dystopian and dark narratives, readers are turning to uplifting stories with relatable characters and satisfying arcs. Look for books like Say You’ll Remember Me by Kristina Forest, a romantic, witty tale of second chances that’s already a viral favorite.

2. Narrative Nonfiction with a Personal Twist
Memoirs and investigative books that read like novels are dominating bestseller lists. 2025 delivers powerful titles like The Silence Habit, a blend of personal journey and cultural critique on the science of stillness in a noisy world, and All That’s Lost, a poignant memoir exploring grief, legacy, and art.

3. Diverse Voices and Global Stories
Readers are embracing literature from underrepresented backgrounds with unprecedented enthusiasm. Publishers are responding with richer, more inclusive lineups, think Nigerian speculative fiction, Korean coming-of-age novels, and Indigenous poetry collections finding global audiences.

4. The Rise of the “Slow Read” Movement
In contrast to speed-reading challenges, a quiet revolution is brewing: savoring one book for weeks, annotating it, and truly living inside its world. This mindful approach aligns with journaling, re-reading, and discussing books in intimate reading circles.

Top 2025 Books You Can’t Miss

Want to read what everyone’s talking about? Here are a few standout titles to add to your stack:

• Fiction:
  Say You’ll Remember Me by Kristina Forest – A charming, voice-driven romance perfect for fans of Book Lovers and People We Meet on Vacation.
  The Sun is a Compass by Hafsah Faizal – A fantasy with lyrical prose and fierce heroines, already hailed as a genre standout.

• Nonfiction:
  All That’s Lost by Tessa March – A moving memoir weaving family history with the loss of a sibling; expect tears and beauty in equal measure.
  The Future of Forgetting by Dr. Elias Nouri – A thought-provoking dive into memory, AI, and what we risk losing in the digital age.

• Hidden Gem:
  The Library of Forgotten Books by Clara Benning – A novel-within-a-novel about a woman uncovering her grandmother’s unpublished manuscript in a dusty Lisbon attic. Ideal for bibliophiles and journaling enthusiasts alike.

How to Remember Every Book You Read

Finishing a book only to forget it a month later? You’re not alone, and there’s a solution.

Create a Simple Reading Journal:
You don’t need elaborate spreads. Start with:

• Title, author, and date finished
• One-sentence summary
• A rating (1–5 stars)
• One quote or moment that stood out

This lightweight structure helps solidify your experience and makes it easy to look back and rediscover favorites.

Use Tags to Build a Personal Library:
Label entries by theme (e.g., #grief, #found-family, #travel), mood (#hopeful, #challenging), or even scent (yes, some readers journal how a book felt, like rain or cinnamon). Over time, you’ll see patterns in your taste and know exactly what to read next when you need comfort, adventure, or inspiration.

Make 2025 Your Best Reading Year Yet

You don’t need to read 50 books to be a “real” reader. But you can make every book count, by reading with intention, curiosity, and joy.

Start small.
Stay consistent.
Celebrate every page.

And when you find a story that changes your perspective or lingers in your thoughts? That’s the magic worth protecting.

Want to track your reading journey, set goals, and remember every book you love?
Try Liryo , your personal reading journal app.
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