Romanticise Your Reading Routine

There’s something so special about the moment you decide to settle down and sink into a story; that second you choose to escape reality in favour of galavanting through enchanted forests with a magical familiar, navigating the high seas for treasure alongside found family, or teaming up with a lifelong enemy to take down a villain. But with a few small changes, you can make more of the moment and take your reading further. 🧚‍♀️✨

Romanticising your reading routine isn’t about making it extravagant. It’s about transforming simple page-turning into a positive sensory experience by slowing down, enhancing your senses, and creating an atmosphere that draws you even deeper into the story. It has the power to maximise your engagement and make reading a ritual you’ll look forward to every day!

Whether you have just 30 minutes or hours upon hours to spare, here are a few ways you can romanticise your next reading session. 📖 💜

☕ Pour a Drink of Your Choice

Before you begin, be sure to prepare your favourite drink. Whether it’s a coffee to ease you into the morning, a tea to calm you in the afternoon, a smoothie to keep you refreshed or a hot chocolate to fuel a late-night adventure, the right beverage sets you up for a good reading session by allowing you to have longer, uninterrupted reading time. Plus, you get extra points for whimsy if you use a cute cup, bottle, or flask!

⏯️ Press Play On an Ambient Reading Playlist

From calming instrumentals and suspenseful movie scores, to fireplace crackling and falling rain sounds, the right background music makes your reading experience even more immersive. Not only does it set the mood and make you feel as if you’ve stepped into the story yourself, but accompanying ambient audio also masks distractions, making it easier for you to lose yourself within the pages.

🕯️ Light a Candle

The soft flicker of a flame and a comforting aroma can instantly alter the ambience of your space. If you keep lighting the same fragrance as you progress through your book, it will become a signature scent; a lasting association that transports you back to that particular story whenever you smell it. There are also many small businesses that have released scents inspired by bookish worlds for you to try!

✨ Switch On the Mood Lighting

Whether it’s a warm lamp beside your reading chair, the glow of a fire pit beside your garden furniture, or a trail of twinkling fairy lights, you can make reading in the evenings, inside or out, ever so cosy. Adding soft lighting touches creates a calming atmosphere, making it easier to escape the real world and slip inside your current fictional one. It’s a simple addition, but one that can make every reading session feel a little more magical.

🛋️ Settle Down and Get Comfy

Where you read can be just as important as what you read. Wrap yourself up in your duvet, sink into your favourite armchair, or set out a blanket on the grass. When you find a spot that invites you to stay awhile, you can slow down, relax, and truly enjoy the moment.

🥐 Make Reading an Event

It may be easier to just sneak in a few pages here and there whenever the opportunity arises, but prioritising reading and setting aside dedicated time to fully immerse yourself in one of your favourite hobbies can make all the difference! If you have a spare few hours one morning or a free afternoon, perhaps plan a visit to your local library and settle down to read once you’ve had a browse, or find a new bookshop to explore as well as a café you can read in with a sweet treat after. You also don’t even need go out to make it memorable! Reading sprints and read-a-thons are both wonderful ways you can create a sense of occasion from the comfort of your own home.

How Will You Romanticise Your Next Reading Session?

We’d love to know! And if you’re looking for items that can add a little whimsy to your reading life, our YA Book + Items Subscription Box features an array of bookish merch. From candles and book sleeves to picnic blankets and water bottles, every month you’ll receive lots of goodies you can use to romanticise you reading routine, alongside a beautiful Exclusive Edition of a new YA fantasy release. Spots for this subscription are currently closed, but you can sign up to the waitlist here.