Reading is like visiting an amusement park on a hot summer day, where the only ticket needed is a book. No queues, open all day long, and non-stop fun! A book can be a roller coaster ride; climbing on the suspension track, reaching the top, and then falling full-speed, twisting and turning violently. A story is like a hall of mirrors, where a new bizarre version of oneself is reflected, stretching and squishing reality. Lastly, a book resembles a ride on bumper cars, where, while minding one’s business, a love triangle or a dramatic revelation is suddenly dumped on you; a fun mess!
Surely, an amusement park is not always the best place for a bookworm, since reading is a sacred act, where peace and quiet are mandatory. There are different types of readers, though, and some do not mind reading while the world is in chaos around them.
Do not worry, our fellow book lovers, because we have your back once again. Let’s explore some of the best places to read your favorite books, public or secluded, and we assure you that your reading experience will be elevated, and you can reap all the benefits of being a bookworm!
Some lucky people have the ability to turn a mind-switch off and enjoy a book even in the noisiest places.
No, we will not challenge you to do such a thing in the near future; we would rather not test anyone’s patience here.
However, we can recommend a list of cool places, where one can enjoy reading outdoors. Let’s get to it right away!
Local, small cafés are your best chance to have a wholesome reading experience. The smell of freshly brewed coffee, the cute decorations, and the vibes in general make local cafés a favorite place for a book lover. Imagine a petite café in Paris, a warm latte and a philosophical book at hand. How classy, right?
Who needs clothes or food, when every neighborhood has at least one cute, little bookshop? Strolling through the bookshelves, inhaling the old books’ aroma, and searching for your next great book is a hobby of many bookworms. The bookshop is our safe haven, a place where we can free our consumerist self without guilt! Who can blame us for spending money on knowledge, for crying out loud?
Short stories are a good choice for someone who is visiting a bookshop, as they can be short and sweet and not interrupted by the dozens of people walking around seeking their next read.
For those who identify as hopeless romantics—or not—being around nature while reading is the best situation they can find themselves in. Fully bloomed flowers, water running from a fountain, and even a low, light academia-themed playlist playing in the background, make the dreamiest reading spot. Who doesn’t want to feel like the protagonist of a Regency romance story, where a duke finds the wallflower, reading quietly in a secret garden, hiding from her insufferable mother? Make sure you add a historical fiction romance book to your tbr list!
The all-time favorite place for a bibliophile is a library, duh? Students, teachers, and even tourists visit libraries all over the world to share the unique sensation of being inside a building that hides the secrets of the mind. The older the library the better, as a reader seeks the thrill of intimidation being inside a huge, ancient, historical place. Certainly, visiting a local library for a reading session is fine as well… Always support your local librarians!
Which genre would we recommend in such a context? Classics, of course, starting off our favorite Jane Austen’s works, and here is a guide for you on where to start with Jane Austen. Maybe our Outlander book review will inspire you to check out some time-travel romances, too.
The sound of the running water can be a great stress reliever, creating the perfect environment for a harmonious reading session. Relaxing on a bench or lying on the grass next to a river, with your nose buried in a good book, is the best anti-stress activity anyone could pick. Especially during spring or summer days, you can combine your reading with some tanning. Start building your summer body right away—not! Grab an adventure story, a fiction or non-fiction book, and let the words flow smoothly in your head.
Every bookworm who respects themselves has a spare book left at the bottom of a tote bag, in case of a spontaneous trip, or on their way to work, or school—especially when someone uses public transport. All of us have romanticized reading on a train, our favorite playlist on our noise-cancellation earphones—we definitely plead guilty. It may sound a bit melancholic, but trust us, it is your best opportunity to reflect, organize your thoughts, and appreciate yourself. So, a great book for such an occasion would be a biography, or some poetry, where someone could annotate, or fill in their book journal at the same time. On the other hand, a thriller would be a nice choice if we keep in mind that trains are the perfect spot for mystery!
For someone living in a big, busy city, a coffee shop is their first stop for the day. We shall encourage our fellow bibliophiles to look for some no-brand coffee shops, hidden between the city’s uncountable streets. There may not be that dreamy or fancy-decorated, but they always have a spot for a reader—and an unending source of caffeine! With plenty of romance subgenres to choose from, a bookworm’s day has only just started!
Window seats are made for bookworms; a favorite spot for anyone with a book on their lap. The second thing people who love books include in their house is a reading nook with a special window seat—the first thing is a giant bookcase, in case you didn’t get it. Even if someone can’t afford such an expense, window seats are everywhere; cafés, public transport, boats, cars, trains, airplanes, etc. Let’s admit that we all get the vibe of the main protagonist in a spot like that, especially on a rainy day! A supernatural romance seems a good genre to match the occasion.
Luxurious? Maybe, but it is an unforgettable experience; the breeze, the salty smell of the sea, being in the middle of nowhere…magic! It is a quiet place, where someone can make the most of a book. The tranquility creates the perfect atmosphere for both a lighthearted romance book, and also some more reflective works of literature.
Here, we are proposing reading on a secluded beach, where someone can enjoy the hot sun on the sand and cool seawater without noisy jams from beach bars, or kids’ happy cries. The smooth sound of the sea crashing on rocks is the perfect background music for a reading session. Plenty of people end up on such a beach when they need to relax. Why not carry a book with them and take advantage of the situation? Some young-adult fantasy or contemporary romance novels could be a good company.
For an idyllic getaway, get your book club bodies and rent a mountain cabin for a weekend. Fill the shelves with snacks, tea, coffee, and cupcakes, and prepare yourself for some reading challenges. Grab a bottle of wine and use our ultimate book club questions checklist to chat about the book you are reading. A mystery or a fantasy book sound like a great choice to match the atmosphere of the mountain.
Blessed are those who have a fireplace in their house. Such a cozy winter corner for a bookworm to wrap themselves in a blanket and sit in front of the flames. That feeling, like a potato in the oven, is priceless, so do not feel guilty if you spend all your Christmas holidays in your parents’ house, warming up by the hearth, lost in a Christmas story romance! Or maybe a smutty story to light things up more? Let the flame spark your soul.
If the fireplace is a must as a reading spot in the winter, then a terrace is a must for the summer! A homemade cocktail in one hand and a book in the other, colorful lights hanging from the posts, and a comfy cushion are all you need to create the perfect reading spot for the hot summer nights. Sounds like a great opportunity to make a summer reading list as well! Have you ever heard of steamy historical romance novels? The sweet aftertaste of the drink combined with a witty, dark duke will certainly get a bookworm giggling uncontrollably.
Most houses or apartments have a balcony, as miserable as it can be. With a little care and cute little plant pots, a dull balcony can turn it into an ideal reading spot. We won’t even start describing the bliss of a balcony that has a sea view… Anyway, just looking at the horizon—or parts of the sky between buildings—is quite relaxing. Reading in such a cute, little spot is priceless, as the view helps the reader to relax their eyes, averting their gaze every so often from the book pages. Last but not least, the realization that we are a part of something bigger than ourselves is priceless—yeah, a view from a balcony can do that to you. So, what better way to reflect on life, than with a good self-development book on your lap?
Hey, our nyctophiliac bookworms! We did not forget about you. In case you have access to a terrace, or a balcony, or you are brave enough to find a spot outside during the night, grab a blanket, and lie down. The moment your eyes are fixed on the night sky, you’ll be lost in its magic. Just make sure you are away from any strong, harsh light, so the brightness of the stars can reach you. We would definitely recommend relaxing on a beach to read at night, preferably with company. On such an occasion, where the light is limited anyway, some might choose to read something from their Kindle. We would say it is the perfect time to do a re-read of your favorite sci-fi series.
If you don’t get dizzy, rocking in a hammock while reading books is the perfect combination of the senses. The physical movement, along with the mental enjoyment, surely spark some happy hormones in a bookworm’s system—if one doesn’t get lulled into sleep right away. Again, imagine the comfort and the surroundings; chilling under a tree shadow, with a cool smoothie in one hand and a book in the other—sounds like paradise. Any book recommendations? Any book is a good book, so make sure you pick the best time of day to read in a hammock—the golden hour!
It is true that there are many benefits to reading fiction, and one of them is certainly the ability to move your reading to any place you please! One can have it all and become a better reader if they are in the mood for it. There is no other perfect place to enjoy a good book than your particular special spot. It is as simple as your bed, by the fire, on a bus, on a balcony, or a cabin, a yacht, or a great, historical library for the more adventurous bookworms. It’s enough as long as the bookworm feels happy and safe—and how does someone achieve that? Step one: find the trending booktok books and decide if they are worth the hype.
Or click and subscribe to our Crew Newsletter right away and explore the most majestic book content you can imagine. For more posts like this, visit crewfiction and get lost in a bookworm ocean of pages and book worlds.
Nikki Sheryee insists that she’s “up to no good” whenever she’s in the company of books. Armed with a degree in English Language and Literature, she wields the power of words like a mischievous wizard. Her lifelong dream? To be the editor who sprinkles magic dust on manuscripts! To Nikki, a book is more alive than a caffeinated squirrel on roller skates. Readers nurture it, cuddle it, scold it, and occasionally challenge it to a duel! But in the end, a book does its own thing, pulling at our heartstrings and revealing our inner human-ness. Nikki’s favorite pastime? Well, it’s none other than the noble art of daydreaming! And she wears her daydreamer’s badge with pride, sharing this delightful delusion with the crème de la crème of her friends.
