What kind of reader are you? With different demands on our time and energy, not to mention different tastes, we all vary in how we choose books to read and how we tell others about books we’ve loved. Are you a loyal reader or an adventurous one? A word-of-mouth, grassroots cultivator, or a megaphone enthusiast? A vibrant reading community has all kinds, and this quiz will highlight your style and some of the benefits that come with it!
Track your points as you go through the questions. The total number of points isn’t good or bad; it only helps determine your individual style. This is a two-part quiz. Total your points separately for your reading style and your sharing style, then combine your answers for your overall style.
Your Reading Style
When picking where to read, I usually:
- Go to my favorite reading spot – 1 pt
- Pick from a few spots where I like to read – 5 pts
- I’ll read anywhere—in line, at home, in waiting rooms, at games, etc – 10 pts
When choosing a book, I usually:
- Choose the same genre – 1 pt
- Pick from one or two favorite genres – 5 pts
- Don’t pay much attention to genre, it’s more about what I’ve seen or heard about the book – 10 pts
When choosing which author’s work to read, I:
- Often read through an author’s entire body of work before moving on to the next – 1 pt
- Have a few favorites that are auto-buys for me, and around those I mix in the occasional new-to-me author – 5 pts
- Concentrate on the story itself more than the author – 10 pts
My favorite book settings are (add up points for all that apply):
- Small towns – 1 pt
- Mountains – 1 pt
- Something by water (oceans, lakes, rivers) – 1 pt
- Overseas – 3 pt
- Hard to pick, I like a few – 5 pts
- Someplace I’ve never been before – 5 pts
I have __________ favorite authors.
(1 point for each)
Guide to Reading Style Points
1 – 15 points – Loyalist – You know what you like, and you’re loyal to it. Authors appreciate your continued support, and because you know all the ins and outs of the type of fiction you love, you have the makings of a fantastic a beta reader. When other readers are looking for a specific niche inside your favorite genre, your expert level knowledge allows you to point them in the right direction. You also don’t run out of suggestions when someone says they’ve read all the _(insert your favorite kind here)_ books out there, because your dedication to your favorite genre means you read beyond the best-known titles and authors to those books that could use the word-of-mouth love.
16 – 34 points – Eclectic – You read outside the box, switching it up when the mood strikes. Your willingness to read something new and different is a get-out-of-the-dreaded-reading-slump free card. You keep a pulse on new books and authors while continuing to return to your favorites. Because you’ve branched out of your favorite genre at least a little, you’re a helpful resource for a loyalist looking to do the same while still reading books with some of their favorite elements. The variety broadens your perspective, making you an asset in book discussions.
35 + points – Adventurer – Blind date with a book? Yes, please! Your literary tastes defy definition. You crave the new and different, and have traveled the world—not to mention met all kinds of people!—through fiction. Your broad reading habits make you a great resource when your friends want a recommendation that suits their tastes because, chances are, you’ve read something they’d enjoy too. And if someone’s looking to branch out and try something different, look out, because you’ve got sooo many great ideas.
Your Sharing Style
For this section, add up points for all that apply.
To promote a book I love, I usually:
- Tell my in-person friends – 3 pts
- Recommend my library add it to their collection – 5 pts
- Mention it when someone asks for a recommendation, even years after the fact – 5 pts
- Post reviews on a few sites – 5 pts
- Recommend it to my book club – 5 pts
- Rave about it in multiple social media posts – 10 pts
If I love a book, my next steps are:
- To write a review – 3 pts
- To post on social media – 3 pts
- To buy another book by the author – 5 pts
- To connect with the author on social media – 3 pts
- To email/message the author and gush – 10 pts
- To volunteer for the author’s next launch team – 10 pts
So far this year, I have read and loved __________ books.
(2 points for each book)
Guide to Sharing Style Points
1-15 points = Grassroots Cultivator. You look out for your friends and make sure they don’t miss out on a great read. Because you’re selective in sharing, your opinions carry extra weight with your reading friends, and that makes you a great friend (and fan!) to have.
16-35 points = Buzz Builder. You go the extra mile to promote for books you love, supporting them in ways that help introduce them to new readers—potentially long after the book releases.
40+ points = Megaphone Enthusiast. When you love a book, the whole world is going to know about it! Your books raves may be just a little bit internet famous, and other readers know they can turn to you to help them out of a reading slump.
Personally, I’m an eclectic buzz builder. I generally read contemporary romance, but I’ve also been known to enjoy historical romance, split time, women’s fiction, and contemporary fiction. When I love a book, I will usually review and post about it a few times, recommend it a few different places, and keep an eye out for future books from the author.
Since you’re reading this blog, I’m guessing that whether you’re a loyal reader or an adventurous one, you’re interested in contemporary romance. If so, you might be interested in the 99¢ sale I have on two books in the Rhythms of Redemption Romances—An Awestruck Christmas Medley (1.5 in the series) and To Belong Together (book 2).
Also, wherever you fall on the scale, if you enjoy my books and would be willing to review the 4th book in the series, the To Believe In You launch and advance reader teams are open. Apply here.
Okay, it’s your turn! What did you get on the quiz? What extra benefits would you say comes with that type of reading and/or sharing style?
Emily Conrad writes contemporary Christian romance that explores life’s relevant questions. Though she likes to think some of her characters are pretty great, the ultimate hero of her stories (including the one she’s living) is Jesus. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband and their energetic coonhound rescue. Learn more about her and her books at emilyconradauthor.com.
I’m an Adventurer and a Buzz Builder.
Happy to explore and if I strike gold, I will pass the word along.
Happy Wednesday, Emily. Inspiring Reading Quiz. As a retiree, I am an Adventurer. I have more time to explore new genre and new authors. Since I have been following Inspy Romance for almost a decade, I have met new authors through this blog. I am a Buzz Builder. I enjoy interacting with authors through social media and emails. I am on Review teams. Best wishes. Stay cool.
I’m an adventurer megaphon enthusiast. ;)
Oh, I love that! So fun! Mining the mountains of books to strike gold :) Adventurers and buzz builders do important work!
It’s wonderful that you use your time to explore and get to know new authors! And thanks for following this blog for so long. We sure appreciate the support!
That doesn’t surprise me at all :) Thanks for all you do!
Adventurer- megaphone enthusiast
Woohoo! You’re all in for good books! :)
Eclectic megaphone enthusiast. I love CRC, cozy mysteries and biographies but I realise that I don’t often venture beyond those areas in which I am comfortable. Pretty much the way I live too!
Hey, when you know what you like, you might as well focus there, right?!
I am an Adventurer and a Buzz Builder
Adventurer grass roots buzz builder (the sharing part depends some on how crazy life is when I’ve read a book).
High fives to a fellow buzz builder!
Nothing wrong with that! You can’t do everything, but what you can do matters—you’ve been such an encouragement to me!
I’m an adventurer and megaphone. I guess you can ask Elizabeth, Liwen, Laurie, Meghann and Valerie Bodden how well I do! lol!!
Oh, I’m sure you do VERY well! I bet each of those ladies is very grateful for you!
What a fun quiz! I got eclectic reader and grassroots cultivator, which are both pretty spot on.
Oh, good! Ha, I was a little nervous about if people would feel their results were fitting. :) Here’s to eclectic readers! (I’m one too!) And as a writer, I’m so grateful for grassroots cultivator. Where would we be without your support? :)
Great quiz! I bounce between an eclectic buzz builder and an adventurer megaphone enthusiast.
We’re pretty similar then! Thanks for being such a champion for books you love!
I am an Electric Megaphone Reader. Thank you so much for the fun. God bless you.
That was fun but really made me practice my math skills! I’m an Adventurer & a Megaphone Enthusiast. I love to write reviews and do ARC books for several authors. There are just too many amazing authors and oodles of books to read. Staying home for all but doctor’s appointments-and taking books with me then-allows me a lot of time to read!
Eclectic Grassroots Cultivator
I am an Adventurous Megaphone Enthusiast, I think this year I have read about 5 genres although I tend to be drifting to cosy mystery. The last book I read I bought due to the cover and it was a new to me author (although I have a couple of there LI books on the tbr shelf). I have also read several new authors this year. I do have a few authors I have on must buy (although don’t always get to them as soon as I should). I do review and often share a review on a blog. Often mention on FB. The last one that I read due to the cover I mentioned on FB. I also often contact the author about how much I love a book.
Adventurer Grass Roots Cultivator. I really don’t promote the books I read all that much other than to share my copy with friends. As I work in a school library, I’m mostly trying to figure out which books to recommend to the kids I see each day.
That makes total sense, and I bet the students appreciate your help! And recommending books to friends when you can is a wonderful way to spread the word about good books.
My pleasure! I’m glad it was fun! I should’ve known there would be a lot of megaphone enthusiasts around a bookish blog like this :) I’m not often comfortable speaking for authors as a whole, but in this case, I think it’s fair to say we sure appreciate you!
Haha, I should’ve added a third section to the quiz related to how long it took everyone to add up their points!! It sounds like you had a lot of them to total up :) Good for you, looking for every chance you can get to read!
Nice! That’s a great kind of reader to be :)
Covers can really grab my attention, too, and it seems like I so rarely get to dive right into a book I’ve been looking forward to–there’s usually a wait for some reason–so I totally get it. It’s great that your reading is so varied and as a newer author, I sure appreciate readers who are willing to try out a book by someone who’s work they haven’t read before!
Haha, I need the practice here and there! I do a lot of editing work along with ARC so that helps add to my total reading. It is a blessing to have so many doctors appointments because that gives me time to read pleasure books. It’s especially fun when I go to my primary care doctor because he always asks what book I am reading, not just to see the title. He really wants to know the storyline, how much it centers on the character’s relationship with Christ, etc… He recommends most of those to his wife which I love! Makes it much more fun for me to share!
That’s great! Plus, he sounds like a doctor who really takes time with his patients, which is so helpful!
Eclectic and I’m not sure if im Buzz Builderor Megaphone Enthusiast because I have read too many books this year to count.
You sound like quite the avid reader! That’s amazing!
He does and that’s getting harder to find. I’m so blessed to have him & the two specialists I see the most do as well!
Adventurer and I skipped the second quiz. When I discovered ebooks I became extremely enthusiastic about sharing as I was reading voraciosly so I was banned from sharing about books. Instead my friends will check out what I’ve read and cherrypick a few books they like the look of. I live them but they think I have too many books rather than too few bookshelves or too little data storage :(
It’s great that your friends know they can count on you for recommendations!