I’m so sorry if I haven’t been able to write any new posts since May started, and it’s all because I’m currently suffering from a book hangover of Sarah J. Maas’ A Court of Wings and Ruin, and I’ve done nothing but reread it again and again until I come up gasping and crying all over again! But hopefully, I will be able to get out of this hangover soon to be able to write new reviews and blog posts!
But let’s define a book hangover first.
Epic Reads defined book hangovers as “the inability to start a new book because you are still living in the last book’s world”. That actually sums everything up when a person goes through a book hangover. The longest book hangover that I experienced was last year when I finished reading A Court of Mist and Fury, and that took me THREE MONTHS to get over, but after those three months, I was still thinking about it while reading a new book. So yes, Sarah J. Maas gives a really bad case of book hangovers for me (but I still love her books).
There are different ways on how to get over a book hangover. But unlike curing an actual hangover that has a good solution in the form of an aspirin and a bottle of water, book hangovers are treated like how a doctor treats his patient – you observe and analyze, and then calculate the treatment they will be using based on their body. Basically, it’s different for every person.
So I’m here now to present my top 5 treatments in curing a book hangover!
1.Have a buddy to talk about the book to
Talking is some sort of release, and if you talk to someone about that particular book, chances are you’ll be able to tell them everything – even the most minute detail. It’s actually more effective when both of you have read the same book already, so that your friend is able to understand you and all your yapping. This often works to me, especially since I’m on Tumblr a lot and I have a lot of people that I can talk to about the book. You wouldn’t believe the really lengthy discussions we had while dissecting the book and just fangirling about it. So yes, a bookworm friend is a really good cure.
2. Reread a book or series that you already love
I actually use this treatment also in curing reading slumps. You don’t just reread any book, but pick up that one you absolutely adore with all your heart, and probably have read for the nth time. It’s more effective because you know you’re heart will be able to get into the story all over again, and you’ll get to jump into that book world easily. Currently, I’m rereading Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo, since it’s one of my most favorite series and the story line and humor is so different from ACOWAR.
3. Or try reading a book from a totally different genre
This is an even more effective way of curing book hangovers, and I personally favor this form of treatment. If you’ve read something in a fantasy genre, try reading something from the paranormal or contemporary sections, and then vice-versa. When I get into book hangovers, the first thing I do is try to read something with a totally different genre because everything will be so different, especially the story line. If you’re deep into a world filled with Fae and magic like I am, go for a book with really cheesy characters and a very cheesy plot. I’m also rereading a book with a different genre, and that is Some Kind of Perfect by Krista and Becca Ritchie, since this is a New Adult contemporary book.
4. Binge-watch a movie or TV series
This is the treatment I’m currently doing right now. Binge-watching TV show or a movie distracts you from reading, and it’s a fool-proof way of getting out a book hangover because you’ll have a point where you will start to realize that you’ve been watching too many shows or movies and your eyes start to hurt, and then you suddenly feel guilty for not reading. To how long you’ll expect that realization, I’m not so sure, but you’ll eventually reach it!
Currently, I’m binge-watching Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and I’m almost finished with season 1, and already on my way to season 2. And I regret nothing about this show! Shameless plug: if you haven’t watched B99 yet, you really need to start now.
5. Go find yourself some other hobby
If none of the first four works for you, try deviating yourself from reading anything for the meantime. I strongly believe in the words that “you can’t force yourself into doing something you don’t want to do”. Go draw, knit, play with your pet, or bake some cookies. Just do something you love apart from reading. Because if you force yourself to read something new even if you’re not into it yet, chances are high that you’ll end up not liking it. Just go distract yourself with another hobby, and when you finally feel like reading again, go pick up that book.
I hope all of these tips can help you in curing your book hangovers! If you have any other treatments that I haven’t mentioned, feel free to let me know on the comments section!
angele reads books 
Pingback: How I “Try” to Read Books While In Med School – angele reads books