12 Addicting Page Turners to Get You Out of a Reading Slump

Liz
6 min readFeb 2, 2023

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A white woman with brown hair in a messy bun holds up an open book to her face. She is in profile against a brick wall.

We’ve all experienced the dreaded reading slump. You know how it goes.

No matter what book you pick up, you can’t seem to focus or get drawn into the story. Reading slumps are totally normal. We can’t be hyper-focused on reading all the time!

However, there are times we actively want to get out of a slump. That’s where addicting page-turners come in!

I’ve put together a list of the most riveting page-turners out there to help you get out of a reading slump. Most of these reads are fast-paced and will hook you from the very first page.

I hope you enjoy! Happy reading!

Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano

The cover of Finlay Donovan features a white woman with brown hair holding the collar of her black turtleneck up to her face. Her mouth is obscured, giving her a mysterious air. The background is pink and the title is black.

If you’re a fan of mystery comedies, then this book is for you! Finlay Donovan is a newly divorced single mom who is barely keeping it together. When she attends an ill-fated Panera Bread meeting with her literary agent, a mysterious and wealthy customer mistakes her for a hit woman. Things get wild from there.

This is the first book in a series, and I can attest that the second book is just as entertaining as this one. There’s more humor than violence on the page, and you’ll be rooting for Finn the whole way.

People We Meet On Vacation by Emily Henry

The cover of People We Meet on Vacation features an illustration of a white woman and white man lounging on beach chairs. Tropical palm leaves peak out from both sides of the frame. The background is orange and the title is white.

Most of Emily Henry’s books are page-turners. You can’t really go wrong with any of her books, but this is one of my favorites.

Poppy and Alex have always been friends, nothing more. Until two years ago, when they completely stopped talking. Now, they’re going on vacation together like old times, and things will change forever. This book will make you smile and relate to Poppy all too well if you’re a millennial.

Goodnight Beautiful by Aimee Molloy

The cover of Goodnight Beautiful features a rusted yellow digital illustration or photograph of a moth’s wing. The background is black and the title is white and yellow.

This is one addictive thriller! Newlyweds Sam and Annie have just moved back to Sam’s small hometown. With Annie’s encouragement, he has opened his practice in the downstairs portion of their new house. However, Sam suddenly disappears one day, and things get twisty-turny.

This has one of the best plot twists I’ve read in a while. Listening to the audiobook version is highly recommended!

Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert

The cover of Take A Hint, Dani Brown features an illustration of a Black woman with cropped pink hair being held in the arms of a Brown man with a beard. The woman is wearing a black dress and gold necklace. The man is wearing a blue shirt and black pants. The background is bright yellow and the title is white and blue.

All of Talia Hibbert’s romance books are page-turners, but Dani Brown is my favorite! This book has the classic “fake dating” trope, and the relationship between Dani and Zaf is sweet AND steamy. Get ready to turn those pages and stick your book in the freezer, because the romance scenes are fire.

Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson

The book cover of Grown features a young Black woman with short cropped hair. She is wearing gold hoop earrings that read “Grown” and she is looking directly at you through the frame. The background is mustard yellow.

This book is by no means a light and fluffy read, but it will get you out of a reading slump for sure.

Based on the predatory behavior of R. Kelly, Grown follows Enchanted Jones as she is taken under the wing of Korey Fields, a famous musician who ends up murdered. But who killed him? We learn, bit by bit, how Enchanted’s fairy tale turns into a nightmare. This addictive mystery will have you rooting for Enchanted the whole way, even through the twists and turns.

The Guest List by Lucy Foley

The book cover of The Guest List features the title written in bright yellow. In the background is a dark gray scene of a stormy ocean with an island in the background. A “Reese’s Book Club” sticker is on the left side.

This book was wildly popular on Bookstagram and BookTok a while back, and I’m honestly not surprised.

A group of family and friends gather on a remote island off the coast of Ireland. Everything seems idyllic and glamorous on the surface. However, everyone has a secret. With lots of twists and turns, The Guest List will keep you guessing who you can trust.

The Switch by Beth O’Leary

The Switch book cover features a colorful, pastel-focused illustration of two white women. The woman at the bottom of the cover is walking a dog. The older woman at the top is standing outside a cute building.

The Switch is such a feel-good, addictive page-turner. It will leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy on the inside once you finish it, I promise.

Leena needs to take a break from her life. As a result, she escapes her busy city life to live at her grandmother Eileen’s house in the country. Funnily enough, Eileen and Leena decide to trade places, and cute shenanigans ensue.

Empire of Wild by Cherie Dimaline

The book cover for Empire of Wild features dark woods and the book title in all white. The letters and bare trees of the forest overlap each other.

This propelling book is inspired by the Métis story of the Rogarou.

Joan’s husband Victor has gone missing. But, one day in a Walmart parking lot, Joan spots him reigning over a revival tent congregation. The thing is, this man says he’s Reverend Wolff. Joan sets on a quest to get her husband back, fighting off legendary forces bigger than herself. There is a whole lot of action in this one! Also, I LOVED the ending!

A Court of Thorns & Roses by Sarah J. Maas

The cover of A Court of Thorns and Roses is bright red. A stylized illustration of a magical beast covers most of the frame and the title of the book is printed in the foreground in bright yellow.

Sarah J. Maas is an internet favorite, so I won’t be surprised if you’ve already read A Court of Thorns and Roses. If you haven’t, then what are you waiting for?!

This YA fantasy series is extremely popular. It’s guaranteed to keep you up late at night so you can learn what happens to Feyre next. If you love the first book, there are several more books in the series!

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

The book cover of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo features a white woman in an emerald green dress laying diagonally across the frame. She is laying across a green background.

Taylor Jenkins Reid is an incredibly atmospheric writer. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo will suck you right into old Hollywood and the life of movie star Evelyn Hugo.

The thing is, Evelyn isn’t real! As you read the book, you will doubt that and will be tempted to Google her outfits and movies. Yes, Jenkins Reid is just that good. Oh, and you’ll cry a little bit too.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

The cover of Gone Girl features a bright orange cover with whisps of white hair peeking from the left side. The title is in all black text.

I know, I know. Mostly everyone has read this book or has watched the movie. But if you HAVEN’T, you should pick up Gone Girl.

It’s probably one of the most well-known modern-day thrillers, and for good reason. Nick and Amy are a seemingly perfect couple, but they have a darker side to their relationship. Amy has apparently gone missing, and it’s not what you think. This book will definitely keep you turning the pages.

Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

The book cover of Jurassic Park. It features an all-black illustration of a T-rex skeleton against a white background.

Michael Crichton is the king of the action book. This first book of the Jurassic Park series follows the movie pretty closely, and Crichton writes action really well. Even if you already know the story, the book version will keep you turning the pages. Who can say no to some dinosaurs?

✨ If you somehow made it all the way down here, you can read what I write about reading at Far Flung Readers.

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Liz
Liz

Written by Liz

Just reading, writing, and crocheting.

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