We all love to read. I mean, that’s why you’re subscribed to Inspy Romance, right? You love Christian romance so much you want to read everything you can from your favorite authors! But there are many types of readers out there, and inquiring minds would like to know…
What type of reader are you?
The Mood Reader
Your reading choice is fully dictated by your mood. This means you may read a romantic comedy when you need to laugh, or a romantic suspense when you’re in the mood for some detective work. Maybe you read Biblical fiction when you want a deep-dive into scriptural analysis. Or if you just want all the sweet feels and uplifting faith, you stick with Christian contemporary romance.
The Binge Reader
Once you pick up a new series, you’re hooked. Must. Read. Every. Book. In. Series. Even if you’re up all night and barely accomplish anything other than reading for several days. (No judgment. I’d join you if I could!) Once that series is done, there is some letdown. Hopefully some sleep. And then you’re on to the next series, ready to consume.
The Picky Reader
Hey, I get it. Trying new authors is scary, and you don’t want to waste your precious reading time when there are so many books to be read, so little time. So maybe you just stick to the authors you know and trust, waiting patiently for their new release, rereading your favorites in the meantime. This used to be me, until I realized there are so many good books out there undiscovered if I don’t give a new author a try!
The Forgiving Reader
You are brave and daring, always ready to try out a new author or new subgenre. You’ll give anything a try, and you won’t give up on page 1 or even chapter 2 if it’s not everything you hoped for. You give each new book a fair chance and enjoy whatever you can from it. Even if it’s not 5 stars, you’ll give the author another try on another book. After all, nobody’s perfect!
The Voracious Reader
You read everything in sight. You read endlessly. You’re one of those who can read 300 or 400 books a year (I’m in awe…). You read ARCs. You listen to Audiobooks. You read in Kindle Unlimited. You buy paperbacks and ebooks. You read in any format possible. Reading is breathing, and you can’t live otherwise.
The Expansive Reader
You are actively trying to challenge yourself to read new things, to explore new genres and subgenres. You join monthly Instagram reading challenges that force you out of your comfort zone and into reading waters you would never tread otherwise. You love to discuss deep thoughts about books in reading clubs. When you don’t particularly care for a certain book, you can still dissect it and find something redemptive about it, something you gleaned from the reading experience. Reading is never a waste.
The Pleasure Reader
You don’t make reading goals. You don’t stick to certain genres. You don’t sign up for ARCs when a positive review is expected. You don’t require yourself to finish a book you don’t enjoy. You DON’T do Bookstagram. Reading is your escape, and you want zero stress attached. No one and nothing should dictate what you read or why you read. So you won’t ever let anything pressure your reaching choices.
There are probably more types of readers out there, and there are likely a lot of different combinations. I’m mostly a pleasure reader, little bit of a mood reader. It’s normal to be a blend.
I’d love to know which type(s) of reader you are. Comment below and let me know. If I missed your type, tell me what it is!
Emily Dana Botrous is an east-coast transplant who now calls San Diego home. She is a wife and mom of four. When she’s not busy doing laundry, packing lunches, and picking toys off the floor, she enjoys reading, cooking, music, long walks, and writing. Always writing. It is her goal in all things to make Jesus first, last, and always.
I’m kind of a weird mix of several of these. I’m not typically a mood reader, unless I’m planning on reading something more serious, like nonfiction (Radium Girls devastated me). I will binge read a series, but that’s usually over the course of several days. I’m kind of a picky reader, though I have a pretty long list of authors that I already like. I am pretty forgiving (also my attention span is long), and I’ll give any author a second try (unless there was something seriously wrong). I would have called myself a voracious reader, but that was before starting a small business during high school, while I was also dual enrolled in Bible college… I’ve made a point to finish every book that I start. Maybe it will get better before the end. When it doesn’t (because there’s something really messed up in it), I write a review with my honest thoughts. Also, I’ve learned a lot about writing from books that I didn’t care for. I do definitely read for pleasure. I will set a goal of reading at least 50 books in a year, and I’ve surpassed that goal for the last few years. I don’t sign up for ARCs, not because of the review, but because I don’t like feeling like I’m proofreading.
I’ve come up with my own rating system: 5 stars = I loved it, recommend to anyone. 4 stars = I liked it, recommend to some, 3 stars = I didn’t like it, but it’s a free country. 2 stars = I really didn’t like it, don’t recommend at all. 1 star = if I believed in book burning, I’d burn it. If you want to see my system in action, my handle on BookBub is TheCrochetBookworm. I’ve written a ton of 5 star reviews, a few 4 star, and a couple of 2 and 3 star. Fortunately I haven’t read a 1 star book yet.
I am a voracious reader, and sometimes I binge on a series or specific author. I love ARC reading, and even get satisfaction highlighting corrections and I am very happy writing reviews. There are some genre I avoid, and I definitely am not into suspense – my poor heart and nails can’t handle them!
I really enjoy a biography as a change from novels.
Hi Emily from frigid, windy, not very snowy SW Michigan. Winds are howling across Lake Michigan. An excellent day for snuggling under a fuzzy warm throw and binge read. LOL
This retired high school German / English teacher is a combination of all the readers. When I retired over a decade ago and became a part of this blog (I read Valerie Comer’s Farm Fresh series), I read primarily CCR books. I taught American Literature and the classics, plus AP German, so in retirement I read primarily for entertainment. Over the last ten years I have branched out – reading cozy mysteries and historical romances. I am on a handful of ARC teams. I belong to several book clubs (one in person, two through Facebook) which has me exploring new authors and genre. As I age, I am a picky reader – no longer finish a book, I do NOT ENJOY! Life is too short with many choices available. Best wishes to all – stay warm and safe.
Good morning!
I’m more of a forgiving reader from the list above. I have my favorite authors and genre but will try new authors and genre, if the books pique my interest. The only reason I don’t finish a book is because of the language or steamy scenes that weren’t listed as being in the book. I’m also on a few ARC teams. I do reading challenges on Goodreads, Amazon kindle, and the local library.
I bounce between a mood reader and binge reader. Historical fiction and contemporary are my favorite with a dash of WW2 when my heart can handle the heaviness.
I start off by wanting to read something that goes with the season, or if I’m traveling I want it to match the location I’m going.
Somehow, I end up binging a authors books. Last year Toni was my Author of Choice .
This last year for example, I wanted a book for autumn and found Toni Shiloh’s Maple Run series and had to binge them.
Then I wanted something for Halloween and found Michelle Griep’s series Of Monsters and Men.
And then I started Carolyn Miller’s Muskoka Shores (Which I have been waiting ALL YEAR to read after finishing the Original 6 series) and have moved on to binging that series because it has a Christmas book.
During the Summer I travels to Mackinaw Island and read Carrie Fancett Pagels
Behind Love’s Wall (Doors to the Past).
I devoured the doors to the last until I had to wait for more to be released.
I always set a reading challenge goal with Goodreads for 24 books.
Good morning from Texas! I am a Forgiving and a Pleasure reader. I usually alternate between standalone and book series. I enjoyed reading your post. Have a great weekend.
Hi, I think I’m a mix of the types as I don’t fit entirely in any one category. I enjoy reading for pleasure, but I read different genres, I’ve let go of I need to be fair and finish the book even if it is dreadful. I don’t commit to ARCs anymore except for friends who I know are great writers and never for books only released on the awful zon.
Anyway I’m a rebel so of course I don’t fit, but you could make a patchwork of me from bits and pieces of each category, lol!
I’m a blend of voracious, pleasure, and forgiving. I very rarely binge read, as I usually read each book in a series as it comes out. I’m not about to wait for the whole thing before reading!! I never read by my mood, never have. I’ll try new genre’s, though only if I know the author or if the book has really caught my attention from the description, and it HAS to be CF. It took me 10 chapters to get into This Present Darkness, and then I didn’t want to put it down!! Same thing happened the 2nd time I read it, though it’s still one of my very favorite books!! Now, if I can’t get into a book after a few chapters, I’ll skip ahead to see if it gets any better, and then if not I’ll skip to the end and see if that’s any better. If not, then I just don’t finish. And, I LOVE to read ARC’s!!!
This is interesting. I think I’m mostly a pleasure reader these days, I used to be more of a voracious reader when I had a long bus commute to work and would easily get through 5+ library books a week, but these days I don’t have so much time.
I’m not sure what category I fit best. I love ARCs. Generally, I will read something deep or intense and then switch to something “fluffy” and then, maybe an historical. I do sometimes wait until a whole series is published to start the series… so I can binge it, of course. But, other sometimes, I read as the books come out. Especially with a prolific author who writes several series at a time. In that case, I might have to go back and read a previous book or two. That happened to me this week. I started a new book, but it had references to things I didn’t remember, so I went and read the end of a couple of books. I am also a “charter”. I spreadsheet a lot of authors and series so I can keep track of who did what and where. I have been known to Mood Read, especially after an intense historical, like WWII fiction. I love those books, but I need to rest after a highly involving book. I sometimes do online book clubs, but the book club I facilitate at my church takes a lot of that time. As you can tell, when I respond to questions, I’m kind of wordy. My apologies.
I am an Expansive reader with hints of all the other types. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
Wow, you really are a blend of all types! Very neat. I like your rating system, too! Thanks for joining the discussion today!
Hi Jeannette, suspense is definitely not for everyone! I need to try more biographies. Thanks for joining the discussion!
Hi Renate–you can keep your frigid weather! I get extra thankful for San Diego during winter when I see weather reports from other places I used to live. Not sure I could ever handle going back!
Hi Bonnie, we authors appreciate forgiving readers like you! Happy reading!
Hi Kristina, well 24 books sounds doable! I should consider such a goal. I like the way you get sucked into a series. Makes sense to me! You mentioned some great authors. Happy reading!
Hi Alicia, right back at you from San Diego! I’m glad you enjoyed the post. Happy reading!
Hi Dianne, it’s normal to be a mix! A lot of the respondents are. :) Thanks for joining the discussion today!
Hi Trudy, thanks for joining the discussion today! I think it’s great that you give books so many chances. Some simply aren’t for every reader, that’s certain. Happy reading!
Hi Ruthie! Wow, 5+ books a week sounds like a dream! I definitely used to read more, but my time is also so limited now. I hope one day I can be a voracious reader!
Wow, Dana, you sound like a busy reader! That is amazing! And so impressive that you chart the stories and series. Thanks so much for joining the discussion today.
Hi Debra, yay! I admire expansive readers so much. Thank you for joining the discussion today!
I am like you a Mood and Pleasure reader. I don’t mind taking on an ARC but it will be mostly authors I know I will like and am happy to do a review but I also know I am not a fast reader and will have times I hardly read (haven’t really read all year just a few pages). and am Im happy to leave a review but if you say it has to be 5 stars or don’t review I won’t sign up. I also DNF books. I also read by mood but in a different way to you. its more what am I in the mood for Historical, Cozy Mystery, PI suspense (if Susan Page Davis has a new book in her current series thats my mood when it releases). A book with a cat on the cover (yes I am fickle and have read several books because of the cat on the cover). Right now I am in the mood light and short.
When I have to read books if I get behind I tend to get a road block. that happened last year with 3 books parked. One I will read, one probably not and the other again will but later. One author moved the release up by about 3 months when I signed up I had plenty of time but suddenly it was when another was due, I had just moved, Henry (cat) went missing then I got him back and he use distressed I was stressed and got sick. (He Henry is now living in the old neighborhood looked after by a lady up the road who he now loves) But the pressure as put in a mental block for reading. (a bit like writers block)
I am a mix of pleasure reader, forgiving reader and moderately expansive reader.