Reading slumps are awful. Every reader can vouch for that, because we've all encountered the monsters that eat up our will to read, live, and breath. So, if you are currently in a reading slump, or want to prepare for the inevitable future, here are a few things to do and not do when a reading slump attacks you at your most vulnerable moment.

       1. Pick up a new book.
If you aren't interested in the book you are currently reading, you aren't going to want to read. Try picking up something you have been wanting to read for a while.​ If you can't get into that book, pick up something else. Don't force yourself to read something you aren't enjoying.
       2. Book-to-movie adaptations.
Movie adaptations of books are a great motivation to read. Find a movie you want to go see, and read the book first. This works especially well for movies that are in theaters, because you can only go see them for a certain amount of time. That way, you want to read the book, and you have to push through it quickly.
       3. Pick up a short story or a collection of short stories.
I love shorter reads, because they make me feel good about how much I've read. They are also great for keeping your attention, because you are constantly being presented with new stories, especially in anthologies. You are also more likely to set aside time to read one story, because you know it won't take you very long.
       4. Set aside a specific time to read.
Everyone has that time in the evening that they set aside to watch their favorite show, or do something for themselves. It's just as easy to set aside reading time! My favorite way to do this is to start my nighttime routine 15-30 minutes earlier. (My nighttime routine consists of showering and brushing my teeth. Not too extensive...) That way, when you would normally put on your pajamas and crawl into bed, you can curl up with a book and get in some more reading time.
       5. Grab an audio book.
If you just can't find time to read, audio books are a great alternative to traditional reading. You don't know when to listen to it? The easiest way to integrate it into everyday life is to listen to it whenever you would normally listen to music. Car rides? Done. Exercising? Easy. Cleaning? How fun. In the shower? Um.........I like to sing. But if you don't sing, that's a great place to listen to a story.
       6. Take your book everywhere with you.
When you take your book with you when you go out of the house, you will realize just how much time you have to read. A couple minutes on the bus here, a few minutes during lunch there. All of a sudden, you've read fifty pages throughout the day, but you didn't do anything different from normal.
       7. Make it a group event.
If you are finding that you can't stick with a book, try reading one with others. Start or join a book club, or pair up with a buddy to read. This way, you have a goal, a deadline, a friend with whom to chat, and it will be spoiler free. It's a quadruple win.

       1. Netflix and Youtube
If you turn on a internet video of any kind, you're doomed. You'll say, "One more episode," to Stranger Things one too many times, and look up at four in the morning and realize you've wasted your entire life doing nothing. (Sorry. That got a little dark.) Anyways, stay away from Netflix. It's a trap set by the reading slump monster.
       2. Push through a book.
When you force yourself to read something you aren't enjoying, you won't want to read. It seems so common sense as you read it right now, but I don't know how many people do it.

       I have not tried these ideas out for myself, I, either came up with them, or found them in the online crafty world. Please use caution when trying these DIY's.

       Nerve (68%) was not the read I was expecting. It wasn't a "sit down to read a thought provoking intelligent novel" kind of book. This was the kind of book you read if you want some action, and that's about it. I thought there would be more of a plot. 
       Although there wasn't much plot, the ideas in the book were great. I loved the idea of the internet taking over people's lives. Other than that, the book didn't quite round itself out. The characters were flat, the story didn't seem to progress, and it all around just didn't quite work for me.
       Jeanne Ryan did, however, do a fantastic job of keeping me on the edge of my seat. I always wanted to know what was going to happen next. I didn't realize that I spent the entire afternoon reading. But, hey, what better way to spend a summer afternoon?
       All around, this is a great book if you want to curl up with a thriller. Other than that, there really isn't much more to this book. And if you have wanted to see the movie, but have been waiting because you always read the book first, I wouldn't waste your time. Unless you are really into thriller novels and are dying to read it. The movie is very loosely based on the book, so you won't be missing anything.

       Over the years, there have been books that I am dying to talk about with someone. But, as soon as that feeling strikes, everyone who has read that book seems to disappear, leaving me as the lone survivor. Not really, but there have been times that I wish I had read a book with someone, or think that a certain book is a good discussion book. So, I have compiled a list of books that I think would be perfect for reading with a group to discuss.

       I have actually read this book with a group of girls in my Algebra class a couple years ago, and it was a huge success. We would read a couple chapters a week, and it was hard for all of us to stop. We all just wanted to keep reading. It was great book for discussion since Sloane goes on so many adventures throughout the book.

       We Were Liars is an awesome book for discussion. But, it's also best if you go into it without knowing the premise. So you're going to have to trust me on this one, and I promise I'm not leading you astray. This is an awesome read.

       Red Queen is a book with a way deeper meaning than what's on the surface. Sure, a girl has powers that she isn't supposed to have, she gets to hide away as a princess, but some very controversial topics are discussed. Racism, politics, oppression, and other themes are very present in the novel, which are great discussion points.

       The Selection is a great "read for the fun of it" book. This book is definitely a dystopian version of The Bachelor. I really liked being able to talk about it with a few friends of mine, since we all read it at about the same time. I'm sure it would be lots of fun if you are in an all girl group, but if the guys want a shot at it, I encourage them to go for it too!

       If you're in need of a fantastic middle-grade book for a school book club, The Lightning Thief is perfect. There is Greek mythology, humor, adventure, and is perfect for a large group of people, especially kids learning about mythology.

       Looking for Alaska is great read for a high school book club, especially seniors preparing for college. It takes turns you just aren't expecting, and provided me with a "can't put it down" experience. I think it is a great discussion book, and would've loved to have had someone to talk to about this book.

       I cannot tell you how much I loved Aristotle and Dante. It is another book that covers lots of different topics, and is a "finding yourself" book. It's a great read for people trying to figure out things about themselves, including sexuality. You can read more of my thoughts by clicking the link to your right.

       Why We Broke Up is a perfect book for a group of friends whose members have gone through a recent relationship status update. It's a great and empowering read, which I really loved. The main character also finds herself after throwing herself at a boy. Again, the link to your left takes you to my full post about it.

​       Graham met his best friend, Roxana, when he moved into her neighborhood eight years ago, and she asked him which Hogwarts house he’d be sorted into. Graham has been in love with her ever since.
       But now they’re sixteen, still neighbors, still best friends. And Graham and Roxy share more than ever—moving on from their Harry Potter obsession to a serious love of comic books.
       When Graham learns that the creator of their favorite comic, The Chronicles of Althena, is making a rare appearance at this year’s New York Comic Con, he knows he must score tickets. And the event inspires Graham to come up with the perfect plan to tell Roxy how he really feels about her. He’s got three days to woo his best friend at the coolest, kookiest con full of superheroes and supervillains. But no one at a comic book convention is who they appear to be...even Roxy. And Graham is starting to realize fictional love stories are way less complicated than real-life ones.

       The Geek's Guide to Unrequited Love (71%) was a great book for everyone who is a geek in something. Although, this book isn't just a fictional recount of NYCC, there is a lovable main character with a charming plot to propel the novel into a great, quick read.
       As fun as this book was, it's not something you can go into with a mindset that it is going to be a "super complex and deeply meaningful" book. It's perfect for a lazy summer day by the pool. (Which I can back. I read almost all of it by the pool.)
       I have to say, even though this book only takes place over a weekend, Tash does a wonderful job building her characters as much as she can over the short span of time. I feel like, as a reader, I really got to know the characters.
       My favorite part, however, were all the amazing little nerdy references and cameos. I'm almost positive that everyone who reads this will have a reference to appreciate about their chosen movie/TV show. It always brought a smile to my face.

       Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway! I am excited to announce to announce that the winner (who was chosen completely randomly) is Irene Justice! I will send out your copy of The Young Elites this weekend, so be sure to look out for it in your mail.

       The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (82%) was a much different read than I expected. I was expecting more of a middle-grade book by what I had heard about it, but I didn't ever really look into it too much. My mom actually recommended it to me, so shoutout to her.
       Ann Brashares does a great job building all of the girls' characters throughout the story. Sometimes authors can get swept up in prioritizing a character, that the others seem dull. But in Sisterhood, none of them get left off the character arc train.
       This book was also surprisingly funny. It was so much fun to read because I was entertained the entire way through the book. Whether it was the funny things the girls said or wanting to know what was going to happen next, I couldn't put it down.
       One of my favorite things about this book was that even though the girls were apart from each other, they were still very much together. It really gave me a lot of hope that all of my friendships will have a chance after high school. (Even though I know that that's probably not the case, but we'll have to wait and 

       Being a nerd is a wonderful thing. You find something that intrigues you, you fall in love with it, and then you obsess over it with friends, either online or in real life. I'm almost positive if you're reading this, then you are here because you are a book nerd (like me). Since I'm always looking for more pop culture to obsess over, I thought I would share some of my favorite nerdy topics.

       If you haven't gotten around to Star Wars, first off WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN SINCE 1977? (No, I'm serious. Where have you been?) You could be like me, who only joined the Star Wars fandom about six months ago. Nevertheless, you are missing out on the king of all classic sci-fi movies. (Although, I can't vouch for Star Trek. I'm still trying to figure out where to start with that...)
       If you need some direction on the order to watch, I suggest the Machete Order, which has an in-depth explanation here. If you want to experience Star Wars the way I did, I watched in Release Order, except I skipped over Episode I and saved it for the end. The Machete Order link has great reasoning on skipping Episode I and other possible orders, so I suggest you go check it out for a more detailed approach.

       Marvel Movies are great for someone who really wants to get into superheroes, but doesn't want to have to figure out the comic book world. (I have tried, I promise. I just don't have the commitment to ALL the comic books.) The movies are great, the way they intertwine is really genius. Once you watch one, you have to watch them all. With these, I don't feel like there is a specific order you should watch. Here is a chronological order of all the MCU works. I have watched them all except for Agent Carter, Agents of SHIELD, and Jessica Jones, but I can vouch for everything else on the list.

       The Bourne movies are definitely my favorite crime/thriller movie ever. I watch them all the time, and they never get old. There is always something you missed the last time, and finding those little foreshadowing moments is so neat. These are movies that are great the first and the tenth time. (And early 2000's Matt Damon is super hunky. And he's beating people up. Let's be honest, who doesn't want that in their life?)

       I feel like this is a given, but I thought I would mention some of my favorite '80's movies, in case you've missed any.

• The Princess Bride
• Dirty Dancing
• Footloose
• The Outsiders
• Indiana Jones Franchise
• Ghostbusters
• Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventures
• Rocky Films

       I know these are not all of the classics, but these are just a choice few of my favorites. Feel free to add your favorites to the comments below!

       Fanart is a bit of an uncharted territory for me personally, but I do make a little bit here and there. I'm sure there are whole communities surrounding fanart, and I enjoy recreating my favorite characters in my drawings. It's so much fun to put things you love into your own style as well.
       If you haven't, go to Google and search "fanart" with your favorite movie or TV show. The art that pops up is phenomenal.

       If you're in any fandom, you have probably seen or heard of cosplaying. It's basically taking your favorite nerdy Halloween costume and giving it nerd steroids. Cosplaying is a great way to express your passion for a character, and a fun way to create. There are no rules when it comes to creating your costume, so go get started!

       Merlin is a British television show that follows the story of King Arthur and the sorcerer Merlin in their younger years. It is very much a fantasy show over a historically accurate one, with lots of magic involved. I enjoy it for the action, story, and humor that's involved. Arthur and Merlin are always joking and picking at each other, which is so entertaining. I love the casting, as everyone does a wonderful job. It's definitely a great Netflix watch.

       Sherlock is probably the smartest television show I have ever seen. It is a modern version of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes book series. The writing of the show by Mark Gatiss, Steven Moffat, and Stephen Thompson is so amazing. Everything that happens either references to something that has already happened, or to something that is going to happen. It's everything you could want from a show of this genre, and I absolutely recommend it.

       Booktube is a great community if you are already into book blogs. It's a community of people on YouTube who talk about books. There are quite a few to choose from, and it's also a great place if you want to start a blog, but are more into videos over writing. A few of my favorites include:

• PolandBananasBOOKS
  JesseTheReader
• ArielBissett
• Katytastic
• Tashapolis

       These are just a few, so please comment your favorites!

       Theater is such an amazing and open community. It's also super easy to meet others who are interested in it. If you're still in school, almost all schools have some sort of drama department or theater group to join. If you're out of school, there are lots of community groups to go see or to join. Some of my favorite shows are:

• Shrek: The Musical
• Fiddler on the Roof
• The Wizard of Oz
• The Sister Act
• Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
• How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
• Into the Woods

       There is a show out there for everyone, though. Go and find yours!