I was with family recently when a discussion with my cousin led to a topic I know very well - books. 

We walked past a small table of titles and he asked which ones I'd read and what I would recommend to help him get back into reading. His requirements?

  • Must be maxinmum 200 pages (I negotiated up to 300)
  • Must be easy for him to read in English (he's French and bilingual)
  • Must have a gripping storyline. 

I'd love to say that I had an encyclopaedic knowledge and was able to reel off recommendations there and then, but I couldn't. I could have shared titles that were gripping, some books from our Star Books selection that are our must-reads for the captivating storylines. But would they meet the page requirements? And, perhaps more importantly, would they actually feel accessible and inviting to someone trying to reconnect with reading?

At LoveReading, we're all keen readers. We read voraciously, consuming books of all shapes and styles. But if you're new to books or returning to the world of reading and are on shakier legs, seeing that 800 page epic fantasy as a book you just have to read could feel daunting at best. Over facing. Unachievable and disheartening at worst. 

And so this collection was born. A collection filled with brilliant books with gripping storytelling. All no longer than 300 pages. Though by the time you're finished we hope you'll be chomping at the bit for more. 

The Best Formats for Getting Back into Reading.

One thing that I did mention as part of my conversation was audiobooks can be a great way to bridge the gap and introduce more reading into your life. They count as reading too! Use them in tandem with a copy of the book to become the lucky one that knows how to pronounce all the names and locations in that fantasy book. Listen on the commute or while you're doing the ironing if you want to read but struggle to find the time. Absorbing stories in any form counts as reading. Everyone has different lives, time and commitments, getting back into reading and finding the joy in reading will only happen when you incorporate reading into your life in the way that works for you.  

Quick Reads Helping You Get Back into Reading.

Quick Reads is the flagship programme by charity The Reading Agency that provides adults with a route into reading with great storytelling and an accessible, easy-to-read style. 

Quick Reads announces new books every year written by some of the most popular authors in the UK. Sometimes they are brand new stories but they also offer abridged versions of already popular titles. The Reading Agency are celebrating the National Year of Reading and the 20th Anniversary of Quick Reads with their most ambitious programme yet, all with the support of Stormzy.