10 Things Every Book Lover Should Try At Least Once a Year

Admit it, books don’t just reside on our shelves. They live in our minds, in our habits, and in the quiet corners of our days. For readers, every page is an invitation to see the world differently. But even the most devoted bookworm can fall into routines: sticking to the same genres, re-reading only familiar authors, or cycling through similar titles.

That’s why it helps to shake things up once in a while. Reading, after all, is not just about consumption but about discovery, connection, and delight. Here are ten ways to keep your reading life fresh. These are little rituals and adventures every book lover should try at least once a year.

Step Into a New Genre or Author

We all have comfort zones. Maybe you’re happiest wandering through historical fiction, or you can’t resist a twisty, fast-paced crime thriller. But once in a while, reach for something unexpected. A sci-fi novel might sharpen your imagination, a memoir might give you insight into a life unlike your own, and a poetry collection might slow you down to savor language in a way you’ve forgotten. The first few pages may feel strange, but that’s often how discovery begins.

Join a Book Club

Reading is intimate, but it doesn’t have to be lonely. A book club offers the chance to share insights, argue about plot twists, and laugh over characters’ questionable decisions. You might walk in for the books, but you’ll often stay for the community. Some readers say they enjoy a novel twice: once while reading, and again while discussing it with others.

Work as a Bookseller

Few jobs allow you to be surrounded by books all day, recommending stories and helping people discover their next great read. Even if just for a short while, working as a bookseller offers a behind-the-scenes look at the world of bookselling and publishing. 

It’s more than stacking shelves. It’s also listening to customers’ tastes, finding the perfect book for them, and sharing in their excitement when they light up at your recommendation. For a true book lover, it’s a chance to live inside the magic and community of books, not just as a reader, but as a guide for others.

Attend a Literary Event

There’s something unforgettable about watching words leap off the page and into the air. At a festival, a poetry night, or an author Q&A, stories feel alive in a way that’s different from solitary reading. You hear the cadence, the pauses, the emphasis, and the parts that mattered most to the writer. And in the mingling of readers and writers, you realize that literature is also about community, about people gathering to celebrate the written word.

Get Your Books Signed by Your Favorite Author

There’s something deeply personal about meeting the mind behind a story that moved you. A signed copy turns a book into a treasured keepsake, a reminder that the author’s journey and yours intersected, if only for a moment. 

Whether it’s a bustling book festival or a quiet signing at an independent shop, having your favourite author inscribe their name adds another layer of meaning to your reading experience. Every time you open that book, the signature feels like a whisper from the creator themselves: this story was for you, too.

Revisit an Old Favorite

Books change as we do. A novel that comforted you at sixteen might challenge you at thirty. A story that once felt romantic might now seem bittersweet. Re-reading is like meeting an old friend: familiar, yet layered with new meaning. It shows you how much you’ve grown, or sometimes how much you’ve stayed the same.

Create a Reading Nook

Every reader deserves a sanctuary. It doesn’t have to be elaborate; a chair by the window, a blanket draped just so, a lamp that casts the right kind of glow. The point is to create a space where your body relaxes and your mind opens. In that nook, reading isn’t just an activity; it’s a ritual, something you step into fully.

Gift a Book to Someone

There’s something magical about placing a book in another person’s hands—not just any book, but one that has touched you in a special way. Books carry pieces of us: the ideas that moved us, the stories that stayed with us, the characters who felt like friends. Gifting a book is like saying, “this story meant something to me, and I think it might mean something to you, too.”

It can be as simple as surprising a friend with a novel you think they’ll enjoy, or passing on a book that once changed your perspective. The best part of it all is that every time they flip through the pages, they will think of you, the person who was thoughtful enough to share a story.

Browse a Local Bookstore That’s Not Your Own

Every bookstore has its own soul. The lighting, the scent of paper and coffee, and the way the shelves lean under the weight of old favourites and hidden gems. It all creates an atmosphere that’s never quite the same from one shop to another. Venturing into a bookstore that isn’t your usual haunt feels like entering a secret world waiting to be explored. 

You might stumble upon an author you’ve never heard of, a quirky staff recommendation tucked on a display, or even a conversation with a fellow browser that turns into a friendship. Sometimes, the best adventures begin when you wander into unfamiliar aisles.

Set a Reading Goal

Some readers shy away from numbers, but goals can be gentle companions. Maybe it’s twelve books in twelve months, or maybe it’s a bingo card of prompts like “a book set in another century” or “a debut novel.” These challenges give your reading year shape and keep you turning pages even when life gets busy. And the satisfaction of looking back at what you’ve read is a gift in itself.