A Bookseller’s Guide to Choosing Books You’ll Actually Finish

After twenty years behind a bookshop counter, you get to know things. You learn the crisp, almost sharp scent of new paper versus the sweet, vanilla-like fragrance of aging pages. You can feel the satisfying weight of a well-made hardcover in your hands. But honestly, the most important thing you learn is how to see the story behind the reader.

I’ve seen people’s reading lives ebb and flow with new jobs, new loves, and just the general chaos of life. Lately, social media has brought this incredible new energy to reading, making it a shared, exciting thing again. It’s fantastic, and I love seeing all the new faces it brings into the shop.

But there’s a flip side. I have these quiet conversations with customers who feel… well, a little lost. They pick up a book everyone’s raving about, get fifty pages in, and just stop. They’ll ask me, almost whispering, “What’s wrong with me? Everyone loves this book.”

And I always tell them the same thing: Absolutely nothing is wrong with you. A recommendation is just a starting point, not a prescription. The real secret is learning to look past the hype and match a book’s mechanics to what you genuinely need right now.

By the way, even I, a supposed professional, get it wrong. I remember when a certain massive fantasy book came out. It was a cultural phenomenon. Everyone I knew devoured it. I bought the gorgeous, thousand-page hardcover, brewed a pot of tea, and… gave up. Three times. The world was amazing, but my brain just wasn’t in a place to absorb that much detail. It taught me a valuable lesson: being a good reader isn’t about finishing every book; it’s about knowing yourself well enough to pick the right one.

First, Figure Out Your Mood: Sprint or Scenic Walk?

Before you even think about genre, you need to understand a story’s heartbeat, which is what we call pacing. It’s the single biggest reason you either fly through a book or abandon it on your nightstand. There’s no “good” or “bad” pacing, only what fits your current state of mind.

So, which one are you in the mood for?

• Plot-Driven (The Sprint): This is a fast, thumping heartbeat. Think short chapters, constant action, and a narrative that’s always pushing you to ask, “What happens next?!” Thrillers, mysteries, and a lot of commercial page-turners live here. These books are designed to hook you from the first page and not let go. They’re perfect for when you’re feeling distracted and need a story to grab you by the collar and pull you in.
• Character-Driven (The Scenic Walk): This is a slower, more deliberate rhythm. The focus isn’t so much on what happens, but why it happens and how it feels. The story sinks into the internal world of the characters, exploring their motivations, flaws, and growth. Literary fiction, deep-dive historical novels, and intimate memoirs thrive on this pacing. These books ask for your patience, but they reward it with incredible emotional depth. They’re ideal for when you’re feeling reflective and want to truly live inside someone else’s head for a while.

A mismatch here is the number one culprit for unfinished books. If you’re craving a quiet escape, a fast-paced thriller will feel like a panic attack. If you’re desperate for distraction, a slow character study will feel like watching paint dry. Neither book is bad; it’s just the wrong tool for the job.

The 60-Second Bookstore Vibe Check

Okay, so how do you figure this out before you commit? You don’t need to read the whole first chapter in the aisle. Just become a book detective. Here’s my quick and dirty method:

1. Flip It Over: Read the back cover copy. Is it full of questions and urgent language like “a race against time” or “a secret that could destroy everything”? That’s your sign for a fast-paced, plot-driven book. Does it talk more about a character’s “unforgettable journey,” “a deep exploration of love,” or a “life-altering decision”? That hints at a slower, character-driven experience.
2. Check the Chapters: This is a great little cheat. Flip through the book. Are the chapters short, maybe 5-10 pages each? That’s a classic technique to keep you saying, “Okay, just one more.” Are you seeing massive 40-page chapters with no section breaks? Prepare for a long, immersive soak.
3. Read the First Paragraph: Not the whole page, just the first paragraph. Does it drop you right into the middle of a car chase, a tense conversation, or a discovery? Plot-driven. Does it start with a long, beautiful description of a landscape or a deep dive into a character’s internal thoughts and memories? Character-driven.

This little routine takes less than a minute and will save you so much frustration.

Let’s Look Under the Hood: A Few Examples

Understanding how a popular style of book works is way more helpful than a plot summary. Let’s deconstruct a few common types.

The Modernized Myth: There’s a whole category of books that take old legends—say, a classic Greek epic—and make them feel deeply personal. The original stories were often about war, gods, and grand destinies. The trick the pros use now is to shift the focus. Instead of the sweeping battlefield, they zoom in on the quiet moments between two people. They often tell the story from the perspective of a minor character, which creates an instant emotional connection. The prose is usually beautiful and poetic, but the language is modern and clear. If you love history but need a strong emotional core to connect with, this style is probably for you.

The Twist-Heavy Thriller: You know the ones—the books that everyone is talking about because of the ending. These are masterpieces of plot-driven pacing. A common technique is the use of an unreliable narrator, where you slowly realize the person telling you the story is hiding things or might not be stable. The story is often told in a non-linear way, jumping back and forth in time to slowly reveal clues. It’s all about building suspense and messing with your expectations. If you love puzzles and that “aha!” moment, this is your jam.

The Curious Non-Fiction: How do you make a book about, say, the history of salt or the science of decomposition an absolute page-turner? The answer is voice. Some of the best non-fiction writers have a voice that is intensely curious, funny, and a little bit weird. They inject their personality into every page, taking you along on their journey of discovery. It feels less like a lecture and more like you’re exploring a strange topic with a hilarious and incredibly smart friend. If you want to learn something but hate dry, academic writing, look for a non-fiction book where the author’s personality shines through from the first page.

Permission to Quit: Red Flags It’s Not the Right Book (For Now)

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, you and a book just don’t click. It’s okay to break up with a book! Here are a few signs it might be time to move on:

• The 50-Page Slog: You’ve given it a fair shot, but picking it up feels like a chore. Life is too short and there are too many other books.
• The Wrong Headspace: The book is over 500 pages, and you’ve been feeling scattered and tired lately. That’s a bad match. Put the epic tome on the shelf for when you have more mental energy. It’s not a failure; it’s just bad timing.
• You Hate the Narrator: If the voice of the book—the personality telling the story—grates on your every nerve, you will never, ever enjoy it. Don’t force it.

A Quick Word on Format and Budget

Heads up! Sometimes the problem isn’t the book, but the format. Before you give up on a story, consider if a different medium would work better.

For instance, those slow, beautiful character studies can be absolutely transformative as audiobooks. They’re perfect for a long commute, letting the story wash over you when you might not have the focus to sit and read. A good narrator can bring a character to life in a way that’s pure magic. You can find audiobooks on platforms like Audible, or even better, borrow them for free from your local library using an app like Libby.

And don’t forget the budget! A brand-new hardcover can run you $30 or more, which is a big investment for a book you might not finish. Your local library is your best friend. You can also find amazing deals at second-hand bookstores or on websites that sell used copies. There’s no shame in being a savvy reader.

Ultimately, reading should be a joy, not a test. The goal is to become your own best book curator, trusting your instincts and knowing what you need. Happy reading.

Galerie d’inspiration

Is it the book… or the format?

Sometimes the hurdle isn’t the story itself, but the way you’re trying to consume it. Beyond pacing, consider what medium fits your current life rhythm.

The Ebook: Ideal for the reader with “found moments.” It’s lightweight for a commute, the font is adjustable for tired eyes, and you can carry an entire library in your bag. Perfect for sampling a book everyone’s talking about without committing to shelf space.

The Audiobook: The ultimate multitasking tool. Apps like Audible or Libby can turn chores, a workout, or a long drive into reading time. For dense fantasy or complex non-fiction, a talented narrator can make the text feel incredibly accessible and dynamic.

The Physical Book: A deliberate, sensory escape from screen fatigue. The weight, the smell of paper, the simple act of turning a page—it’s an experience that encourages you to slow down, disconnect, and fully immerse yourself. The perfect partner for a “scenic walk” read.