Tricks to Finish Books Faster!! Reading novels is fantastic—until you realize that the book you picked is 700 pages long, and your weekend is only 48 hours. Whether you’re trying to finish a novel before it becomes a movie, impress your book club, or just clear your ever-growing TBR (To Be Read) pile, speed reading can be a lifesaver. But don’t worry, I’m not here to turn you into a robot—just a faster, more efficient bookworm.
1. Find Your Reading Zone (A.K.A. Avoid the Chaos)
If you’re trying to speed-read in a noisy café or while your sibling blasts music in the next room, good luck. Find a quiet spot, grab a comfy seat, and make sure no one is around to ask you “What are you reading?” every five minutes.
2. Cheat a Little—Preview the Novel First
Think of this like stalking a book’s social media profile before committing to reading it.
- Read the synopsis (so you don’t spend half the book wondering what it’s actually about).
- Skim chapter titles (to mentally prepare for the rollercoaster ahead).
- Read a few reviews (because sometimes the internet knows best).
This way, you already have a roadmap before diving in.
3. Use Your Finger Like a Magical Reading Wand
Your eyes love to wander—sometimes to the next paragraph, sometimes to your phone, and sometimes to existential thoughts like “Did I leave the stove on?” Using your finger or a pen to guide your reading keeps your focus locked in. Think of it as your reading GPS, minus the annoying “Recalculating” voice.
4. Stop Whispering the Words in Your Head (Yes, You Do That)
Subvocalization (that little voice reading along in your mind) is cute but slows you down. Instead of treating a novel like a bedtime story you’re reading to yourself, train your brain to recognize words as visual patterns. The faster your brain processes these patterns, the quicker you read.
5. Read in Chunks, Not Word by Word (Your Brain is Smarter Than You Think)
If you read each word individually, your reading speed will match that of a sleepy snail. Instead, practice looking at groups of words together—your brain can process them just fine. Trust me, it’s been preparing for this moment your whole life.
6. Don’t Keep Rereading the Same Line (We’ve All Been There)
Ever read a paragraph, then immediately forget what you just read? Welcome to the human experience! But don’t keep going back unless it’s crucial. Your brain is better at retaining information than you think. Keep moving forward, and if something makes no sense, blame the author, not yourself.
7. Set a Timer (Because Panic = Productivity)
If you want to read faster, trick yourself into it. Set a timer and challenge yourself to read 10 pages in 10 minutes. Your brain will be like, “Oh, we’re racing? Cool, let’s go!” Timed reading sessions force you to focus, which speeds up the process.
8. Skim the Never-Ending Descriptions (Sorry, Classic Literature Fans)
Look, some books describe a sunset for five whole pages. If it’s not crucial to the plot, feel free to skim a little. I promise, skipping one paragraph about the protagonist’s thoughts on the meaning of life won’t ruin your reading experience.
9. Read More, Because Practice Makes You a Book Ninja
Like any skill, speed reading improves with practice. The more you read, the faster you’ll get. Before you know it, you’ll be finishing books before your friends even pick theirs up. “Oh, you’re still on Chapter 2? That’s cute.”
(Tricks to Finish Books Faster) Final Thoughts:
Speed Read, But Still Enjoy the Story
Speed reading is great, but don’t rush so fast that you miss the magic of a book. After all, the goal is to finish books and enjoy them—not just to brag about if you read novels faster. (Unless you’re in a competition… then, by all means, read like your life depends on it.)
Now, go forth and conquer that book pile before it conquers you! Want me to recommend some fast-paced novels to test your skills on?
