Almost two years ago, I wrote a post about what’s working in my reading life, based on a semi-frequent episode topic on the Currently Reading podcast. I thought it had only been a year since my original post, but time is a flat circle, I guess! So today, let’s talk about three things that are working really well right now in my reading life:
Using the Bookly app
Bookly is an app where you can track your reading time, star ratings, reviews, and more. I used it religiously many years ago, but it’s kind of annoying to use, so I stopped. For some reason, I decided to redownload it at the beginning of 2025 and track my reading time throughout the entire year. So far, so good!
The app is simple to use: you add the book you’re reading, log the page count and any details (like genre), and then start the timer whenever you sit down to read. When you’re done, you stop the timer and note the page (or percentage) you reached. Then, Bookly estimates how long it will take you to finish the book based on your reading pace, which is pretty fun. (For audiobooks, it only tracks listening time, so you don’t track where you stopped and won’t be able to see your reading pace.)
There are lots of different things you can track for the books you’re reading, too, like character notes, favorite quotes, random thoughts you have while reading, etc. You can also join readathons and set reading goals. I don’t really use all of that, though. Mainly, I like tracking my reading time and keeping up my streak of reading every day (I have yet to miss a day this year!). I’m also a whore for reading stats, so I love seeing things like how many hours I’ve spent reading this year (398 hours) and my average reading speed (85.2 pages an hour).
There’s also a widget option for your phone, so I love tracking my 7-day reading average. It’s fun to see if I’m keeping up my usual pace or not!
My audiobook routine
I love audiobooks, but I also have a long list of podcasts that I want to listen to every week. Since I live alone and there are parts of my job where I can put on a podcast or audiobook while working, I tend to have a lot of hours available for listening.
Anyway, I’ve developed a system that helps me get through a few audiobooks each month without falling behind on my podcast queue. I use Overcast, which lets me create custom playlists. So what I do is choose five episodes (30+ minutes in length; if an episode is under 30 minutes, I’ll choose two shorter episodes to count as one) and put them in a playlist. Once I’ve listened to those episodes, I switch to my audiobook for two hours. Then it’s back to podcasts. Back and forth, back and forth.
It’s a system that’s been working really well for me lately, even if it might sound complicated to some.
Keeping things light
I’m a highly sensitive person, so I always have to be careful about the books I read. While I try to push myself to read books that may not be fully in my comfort zone, I also recognize there are seasons of my life where I need to keep my reading light. And right now, I’m in one of those seasons. Is it because living in the United States feels like being plopped into one of the many dystopian series I’ve read in the past? Probably. Reality feels very dark, and I need my reading to be light. I need the escape. I need to forget what’s happening and how it’s only been nine months of this shit. I don’t want to read about WWII or people dealing with heartbreaking issues, and I definitely do not want to read anything resembling dystopian fiction. Give me romances and lighter fiction and funny memoirs and escapist thrillers, please and thank you.
What’s working in your reading life right now?
For me, I have to balance what kind of books I read and not read too many sad things in a row. I just read two beach reads last week along with a dystopian novel (I don’t generally like dystopian but this was good). I also read every day, it’s a real priority for me! I’m still working on DNFing more but I’ve had a couple this year, so I’m definitely trying!
Oh, I am with you on keeping things light right now! I just can’t do deep and depressing right now, no matter how good the book it. I’m also being quicker than I used to be at stopping something that isn’t doing it for me, for whatever reason. Life is too short, and heavy: it’s not a knock on a book to say this isn’t for me right now, and move on.
Bookly sounds like a fun way to track your reading stats!
Your podcast / audiobook strategy is awesome. I never listen to podcasts because I prioritize books, but there are LOTS of podcasts I would like to listen to. I wonder if I could try a truncated version of your system.
My reading life has been a lot of misses lately. What’s working for me is to move on quickly rather than try to force myself to slog through something I don’t really like.
I’d never heard of Bookly will have to check it out! I’m so behind in my reading, I apply for advanced reader copies which I love, and I go to the library and pick up random books while I pick up my holds. So many books, never enough time but it’s hard if the books aren’t great but I don’t like not finishing. At the same time if I can’t get into it I’d rather get onto a better book for me .
I figured out that I WILL use my Kindle if I buy something I really want to read…
I don’t do any kind of tracking of my reading at all, aside from posting on my blog. I have a goodreads account, but I haven’t posted there in MANY YEARS. Probably since I set it up. Does this work for me? Eh. I’m decluttering, and I come across books and think I should get rid of them, but then can’t remember whether I’ve read them or not. Even a little spreadsheet would help, right? As would goodreads. As would posting book reviews, but I don’t do that as often as I think I do, based on the 4 books I got rid of recently that yes, I had read at some point.
My current listen is Say You’ll Remember Me. I think you suggested it. I just started it, I’m about 15 minutes in, and I’m invested in the pets at least. The people too, but the pets mostly. LOL.
I’m suuuuper impressed that you can switch between podcasts and books. If I’m listening to an audiobook, t’s my entire life. I am listening to one right now and I don’t even have time to think about a podcast. My brain just can’t handle switching back and forth.
You know I love a post about reading!!! I still haven’t listened to an audiobook (which was one of my reading goals for 2025). I’m just always listening to podcasts. I also don’t do much to track the books I read, other than just keeping a written list in my planner. That Bookly app sounds fun- except I’m worried that I would start getting too competitive with myself, like “hey, why am I reading slower today?”
I also do NOT want to read dystopian books right now- they really stress me out. My equivalent of your romance genre is mysteries. Not thrillers, but just regular mysteries- Those are my comfort reads right now.
Oh that app. I want to download it this instant. Not that I need yet another app that is tracking me and my process and time spendings. Sighs. But it doesn’t looks so good. I wish there was an app that would track it all. I dont want to open all these things and sometimes add double the information. I guess I would have to build that myself.
anyways, I am struggling with my reading lately. My mind is very scattered and have a hard time reading deeper books that are not all fluffy. But that was my goal that year. But I may give myself some slack and pick up more romance for the rest of the year. I just can’t handle the world, the pressure, the news, some people and all the things on my to-do list.