What I’m Learning About My Reading Habits
I usually have a stack of five to ten books sitting on my desk at any given time, waiting patiently for their turn. This isn’t a review – it’s more of a reflection on what I’ve been learning about myself as a reader and the habits I’ve noticed along the way.
Over the years, I’ve figured out exactly what kind of book buyer I am: easily swayed by an eye‑catching cover and completely sold by a compelling back‑cover copy. If the design has splashes of color or an intriguing image, I’m already halfway to swiping my card – and if the summary wraps me in? it’s over. I’m a Thriller girl at heart, but a few books in my current TBR stack fall outside that comfort zone (I’ll share the list further down).
And, once I have a good book in hand, the missing piece is always the same: a good cup of coffee, preferably a latte. Coffee + Good Book = Happy Niki. With that said, here are a few things I’ve learned about myself since starting this book‑blog journey (which, honestly, I should’ve started years ago).
Like I said, thrillers will always be my first love. Give me a story about a psychotic doctor (An Anonymous Girl, anyone?) or a character who’s just a little bit off, and I’m in my element. These are my comfort reads in the same way other people reach for romance or historical fiction.
It’s never surprised me that these are the stories I gravitate toward. I’ve always been fascinated by forensics and investigations – I even considered investigative journalism at one point – and I’ve probably watched 90% of the true‑crime documentaries out there. (Is that weird? Maybe. Do I care? Not really.)
But despite thrillers being my go‑to, I’ve noticed myself branching out more lately. The Mad Wife is a perfect example. The back‑cover copy hooked me, but it wasn’t my usual pick. The historical‑fiction angle intrigued me, and I surprised myself by grabbing it at the bookstore. I ended up being pleasantly surprised by that choice, even if I wanted a bit more from some of the characters.
As a communications professional, I always start with the same two questions when writing: Who is your audience, and what do you want them to know? Those are the anchors. When I read, I sometimes wonder if I’m the audience the author imagined. For historical dramas, maybe not – but it’s fun to step outside my usual lane, try something new, and be glad I did.
I’m still a work in progress when it comes to the kind of reader I want to become, but one thing I know for sure is that I want to keep the momentum I’ve built these last few months. I go through reading slumps, which is why Latte Lit Musings currently sticks to two reviews a month (I know myself!), but I’ve been doing better at honoring my goals.
As promised, here’s a peek at my current TBR. I’m limiting it to four books because no one needs to see the full fifty‑book chaos that is my actual list:
- Rich and Pretty by Rumaan Alam
- The Summer Pact by Emily Griffin
- The League of Lady Poisoners by Lisa Perrin (I’m REALLY excited about this one)
- In Every Mirror She’s Black by Lola Akinmade Åkerström
If you made it this far, thank you for reading.
What are you learning about yourself as a reader?