For the longest time, I thought I hated reading.
I wasn’t one of those people who could sit down with a book and get lost in it for hours. Actually, I was the complete opposite. Every time I picked up a book, it felt like a chore instead of something enjoyable. Summer reading especially was the worst for me. It felt forced, boring, and honestly pointless. I would try to read because I knew I had to, but I could never finish a book. I would lose interest after a few pages, or I would read a page and not even remember what I read by the end of that page.
Because of that, I convinced myself that reading just wasn’t for me. I would say it all the time, “I hate reading” and I truly believed it. Looking back I realize that was not true at all.
Turning point
Everything changed during my junior year of high school.
One day, I picked up a romance book, just to give it another try and because I was struggling to sleep and I had read online that reading before bed makes it easier to fall asleep. I was not expecting anything different, but this time, something clicked. For the first time, I actually wanted to keep reading. I became interested in the characters, I cared about what was going to happen next, and I found myself thinking about the story even when I wasn’t reading. Instead of forcing myself to read, I was choosing to.
That one book completely changed my perspective. It showed me that reading didn’t have to feel like a chore, it could actually be something I enjoyed.
There is a genre for everyone
What I learned from that experience is that reading itself isn’t the problem; the type of book is. There are so many genres out there, and each one offers a completely different experience. Some people love romance, like I do, because of emotions and relationships. Others prefer mystery, where they can solve clues and stay on the edge of their seat. There is fantasy for people who enjoy magical worlds and adventure, science fiction for those who like futuristic ideas and technology, and there are even science romances, which are really fun to read, especially if you are into STEM.
Of course, you also have thrillers, horror, historical fiction, self-help, biographies, and the list goes on. Not everyone is going to enjoy the same kind of book, and that’s exactly the point. Reading isn’t one-size-fits-all. The mistake many people make is assuming they hate reading when they’ve only been exposed to one type of book, usually something assigned in school.
Effort makes the difference
I used to think that people who loved reading were just naturally like that, but now I see it differently. Sometimes it just takes a little effort to find what works for you.
If you only try one or two books and don’t like them, that doesn’t mean reading isn’t not for you. It just means you haven’t found your genre yet. Once you start exploring and trying different types of books, you increase your chances of finding something that actually interests you.
That is exactly what happened to me. The moment I found a genre and authors I enjoyed, reading became something I looked forward to instead of something I avoided.
Where I am now
Now, I can say that I love reading. Since that first book that caught my interest, I have stayed consistent and have read many more books that I ever thought I would. It has become part of my routine and something I genuinely enjoy doing in my free time. I can also say that it does, in fact, help me fall asleep faster.
I still love romance, but I’ve also started exploring other genres. I’ve found that I really enjoy mystery as well, and I like the feeling of trying to figure out things as the story unfolds. I’m even planning to start reading fantasy to expand and see what else I might like.
So, if you think you might hate reading, maybe you don’t. Maybe you just haven’t found the right book yet. All it takes is one good book to change your mind.