How I Finally Figured Out What I Like to Read

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What My Reading Taste Actually Looks Like (and Why I Let Go of Goals)What happens when you stop chasing trends, ditch reading streaks, and finally admit what you don’t like to read? In this off-the-cuff solo episode, I’m talking honestly about my reading taste reset — what 2025 taught me, what I’m leaving behind, and how I’m shaping my reading life heading into 2026.I’m sharing how cozy mysteries pulled me out of burnout, why I stopped forcing genres that don’t work for me (hello, fantasy), and how setting gentle boundaries helped me read more — and actually enjoy it again. If you’ve been stuck in decision paralysis, overwhelmed by recommendations, or quietly falling out of love with reading, this episode is for you.📚 What I Talk About in This EpisodeWhy 2025 became a “taste discovery” year instead of a goal-driven oneLetting go of fantasy, high-stress thrillers, and reading guiltFalling hard for cozy mysteries, millennial mysteries, and mystery rom-comsWhy pop-culture nonfiction works when fiction doesn’tHow I use boundaries (not rules) to choose what to read nextWhy I broke up with Goodreads, streaks, and daily reading pressureReading like meditation: consistency over perfectionWhat you’ll see more (and less) of from me going forward⏱️ Episode Timestamps[00:00] Why I needed a reading reset[02:00] From romance burnout to cozy mysteries[04:00] Decision paralysis & setting reading boundaries[06:00] What romance still works for me (and what doesn’t)[08:00] Mysteries, millennial sleuths & cozy trends[10:00] Genres I’m stepping away from[12:00] Pop-culture nonfiction & reading curiosity[14:00] Letting go of Goodreads & reading streaks[16:00] Reading for joy, not numbers[18:00] How I plan my reading without overwhelm📣 Call to ActionWant the journal prompts I use to define my reading taste — plus curated Kindle Unlimited gems, library tips, and bonus podcast content?👉 Join my free Substack at whattoreadnextblog.com