How to Find Your Next Favorite Read

Are you drowning in a sea of "must-read" books, constantly adding to an overflowing TBR, and struggling to find a book that truly resonates with you? In this episode of We Read Smut, I’m going to help you navigate the vast world of book recommendations and discover your perfect next read. Say goodbye to disappointing, overhyped books and hello to reads that genuinely excite you!Key Takeaways:Recognize Overhyped Books: Understand that overly hyped books may not be the best fit for your personal reading preferences and it's okay to skip them.Embrace the DNF (Did Not Finish): Life's too short, and your TBR is too long, to force yourself through a book you're not enjoying.Identify Your Unique Reading Preferences: Go beyond genre and consider your mood, desired pace, specific themes (like kinks or tropes), and the representation you seek (LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, disability)Seek Out Diverse Creators & Niche Communities: Actively follow diverse book creators, explore specific hashtags like #OwnVoices, and join diverse book clubs or reading challenges to find new authors and perspectives.Leverage Local Expertise & Direct Requests: Don't hesitate to ask booksellers at your local bookstore or library for recommendations, and post highly specific book requests on platforms like Threads or Facebook groups to get tailored suggestions.Ready to expand your reading horizons and discover those hidden gems? Take these tips and start exploring new places for your next read! Which strategy will you try first?BOOKS/AUTHORS MENTIONED:Diverse Bookstagrammers to follow from 2023Diverse Trope Challenge | On StorygraphDiverse Baseline Challenge | On StorygraphSapphic Reading Challenge | On Storygraph20 Books by Black Women Challenge | On StorygraphRunning list of books mentioned (Doc)Support the showJoin the After Dark Substack CommunityConnect with Alesia:StorygraphInstagramThis podcast was produced by Galati Media.Proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective.