The Next Book Problem (and How to Fix It With BOOX)
When you're reading a good book, it's really easy to keep reading, to pick it up during breaks or read before bed. You find yourself reading almost every day, but then you finish that book, and with the final chapter, your reading habit ends as well. Keeping up a steady reading habit is usually not about willpower; it is about momentum.
If your goal is to read a lot this summer, then you need to first solve the 'next book' problem.
The good news is that it's easy to solve. You don't need to overhaul your personality or make reading a chore. You just need to make reading easier, your library more accessible, and your selection system a 10‑minute decision, not a week-long debate.
And if you read on a BOOX ePaper device, you can make that system nearly frictionless.
The real cause: decision fatigue between books
Reading slumps don't actually start because you fell out of love with reading, but because choosing your next book often feels like work. After finishing a book you can quickly get overwhelmed by hundreds of online recommendations and a surprising amount of questions. Do you want something fun or something serious? Should you read that classic that you've been putting off? This friction becomes avoidance. And soon a day of no reading turns into two, and then a week, and suddenly summer is over.
The always-next queue
To make this system easier narrow down what books you'd like to read next. Most of us already have one but often they are way too long. Keep a constant list of the 3-7 books you'd like to read next that you will maintain even when you are currently reading something. Try to keep this list diversified, a comfort read, a challenging read, an educational read etc.
Anything that you don't think you could read next, goes into a separate list for "Someday". On BOOX ePaper devices like the Go 7 (Gen II) or the Go 6 (Gen II) this is made easy with bookshelves and tags so that you can set up this organization however you want.
Bridge reads: the secret weapon that prevents stalls
Many slumps happen after a “big” book. You finish a long epic, or an intense nonfiction book, or something emotionally heavy, then everything else feels like too much. That is when bridge reads save you.
Bridge reads are short, low-pressure books that help you transition. If you really can't see yourself picking up another long book this week, then read something else in the meantime. Articles, short stories, or novellas work wonderfully here.
How to pick the next book
A simple tip in order to get you back on the horse is... to just start. If you have decision fatigue just pick the first book in your 'next' list and just start reading for 10 minutes. If you still don't feel like this is the right book for you at the moment, then move onto something else. There is no rule saying that you have to finish everything you read. Reading more shouldn't feel like homework.
You can also read in phases. Most people do this anyway but you can lean in. Have you been really into fantasy lately? Then grab another! Try not to make yourself feel guilty for not reading that old classic just yet. Celebrate the fact that you are reading at all.
You can also try to match your books to your mood. On BOOX ePaper devices you can tag novels, so that you can sort them by genre and add tags for what vibe they give you. Then when you want a fun read, you can just filter through your library automatically instead of coming through your bookshelves.
How BOOX takes you a step further
BOOX ePaper devices are designed for long-form reading and note-taking with fewer distractions. You can keep your queue, your journal, and your reading in the same ePaper device, which reduces the tiny bits of friction that add up to a slump.
BOOX ePaper devices come with a built-in Notes app where you can take notes while reading, keep a reading log, and track your thoughts about each book. Plus, because BOOX runs on Android, you can download any reading apps, book review platforms, or note-taking apps you prefer, giving you the flexibility to use your favorite tools without switching ePaper devices.
Wrap-up
The Next Book Problem is not a character flaw. It is just decision fatigue plus a break in momentum. When you build an Always-Next Queue, you remove the biggest point of friction in a reading habit: the space between books.
Set up your queue once. Keep it small. Add books you would truly start tonight. And when you finish, promote the next title immediately.
If you do that, summer reading stays consistent. Not because you forced it, but because you made it easy to keep going.
