How to Pick Your Next Read? Either Solo or Group

January 25, 2026

If you’ve ever stared at your bookshelf (or your TBR list) and thought, “Why is it so hard to choose?”—you’re not alone.

Whether you’re picking a book for yourself or helping a group decide, the goal isn’t to find a “perfect” book. It’s to find the right next book for your mood, your time, and the kind of reading experience you actually want.

This post gives you a simple method you can use solo or with a book club, plus a quick vote system to make group picks feel easy again.

Want the shortcut? I made a simple printable you can reuse every month:

➡️ Book Club in 10 Minutes: Vote + Plan + Roles (Printable) ($0.99) —

Why choosing your next book feels harder than it should

Sometimes it’s not the book—it’s the decision fatigue.

• Too many choices
• Mood changes week to week
• You want something “worth your time”
• In a group: different tastes, different reading speeds, different vibes

The fix isn’t more scrolling. It’s a simple process that makes the decision feel lighter.

The easiest method: pick with purpose, not pressure

Here’s the simplest way to choose:

Decide what you want, narrow to a few good options, then pick the best fit.
If you’re choosing with a group, vote using a method that feels fair.

If you’re choosing solo (2-minute method)

Ask yourself these three quick questions:

1. What do I want my reading to feel like right now?
   Comforting, adventurous, uplifting, thought-provoking, cozy, spooky, inspiring…
2. How much time do I realistically have?
   Short (under 250 pages), medium, or long
3. What format am I most likely to stick with?
   Print, audiobook, or ebook

Now pick one book that matches all three. That’s your next read.

If you’re choosing with a book club (10-minute method)

This works whether your club meets in person or chats online.

Step 1: Gather 3–5 options

Options can come from:

• members bringing 1 suggestion each
• a short theme (like “uplifting fiction” or “mysteries”)
• a quick shortlist from your host

Step 2: Agree on 3 simple “guardrails”

This prevents regret later:

• Length range (so it’s doable)
• Mood/theme (so it matches what people want)
• Availability (library, audiobook, easy to find)

Step 3: Vote (simple + fair)

Each person picks their top 2 choices.

• Tally votes
• Highest wins
• If there’s a tie, do a quick second vote with only the tied titles

Tip: Choose a runner-up as your backup pick (especially if availability changes).

Vote categories that keep everyone happy

If your group struggles to decide, vote using categories instead of “pick your favorite.”

Try:

• Most of us can access it easily
• Best fit for this month’s mood
• Most discussion potential
• Shortest / most doable right now

The picking process that keeps a book club running smoothly

The best book clubs aren’t perfect—they’re consistent.

Before your book club meeting ends, decide:

• next meeting date
• who’s hosting (or rotating)
• how choices will be suggested
• how you’ll vote next time

That’s exactly why I made the Book Club in 10 Minutes printable: it keeps everything in one place.

➡️ Grab it for $0.99 here

3 Reading Recommendations

If you want three very different “next read” directions, here are a few from the shop:

1. The Expendable Spy by Jack D. Hunter (1965) — Vintage espionage intrigue

2. L’Arbre au Grand Coeur by Shel Silverstein (1973) — A quirky, thoughtful vintage find

3. The Mammoth Hunters by Jean M. Auel (1985) — Epic historical adventure (Earth’s Children series)

January Book Club Month Roundup

Catching up? Here are the posts and downloads from January in one place:

• Week 1 post: Book Club 101: What Happens at a Book Club + A Simple Agenda, Rules, and What to Talk About Week 1 download:  Share Your Reading Life 
• Week 2 post: What do you say at book club when nobody’s talking? | Week 2 download: The Hand-Me-Down Story List
• Week 3 postW: Hot Takes, Cozy Snacks, and Vintage Finds Worth Discussing  | Week 3 download: The Perspective Shift Dratf
• Week 4 post: (you’re here)

Explore all Book Club Printables: Here

Wrapping Up

If you’ve been feeling a little stuck on what to read next, I hope this helps you choose with a little more ease—and a little more joy.

Tell me in the comments: What should we read next month?

And if you’re planning ahead, don’t forget the printable you can reuse every month:

➡️ Book Club in 10 Minutes: Vote + Plan + Roles (Printable) ($0.99) 

Author Bio: Pam of Reading Vintage

Pam is a vintage book seller who turned her passion into Reading Vintage, a online bookstore. She finds old classics, fun collectibles, and hidden literary gems throughout Michigan. 

When she’s not exploring estate sales for her next treasure, Pam enjoys walking in the woods with her dog, teaching water aerobics, and curling up with a good read.

Leave a comment

Comments will be approved before showing up.