When you can’t shake off the story world you finished a week ago, you’ve got a book hangover. Whether it’s your first or your millionth, working around it can be tough. You’re a bookworm. You want to drink in every book on your growing TBR list. So how do you honor the story world you just left while making your way to the next one? Consider these 3 suggestions. | Hint of Jam

A Bookworm’s Guide to Dealing with a Book Hangover

Have you ever had the feeling you can’t leave behind the story world you finished? . . . Weeks ago? You, my friend, have experienced a book hangover.

If you haven’t had the good fortune of stumbling across a story that stayed with you for days (months!) after you’ve walked away, no worries. The right world is waiting for you.

For those new to the concept, let’s put a definition to this phenomenon.

A book hangover is a mental (and sometimes physical) state of being stuck in a book’s world with the inability to function in and / or to return to reality without concentrated effort.

Aha! I see y’all smiling. You know what I’m talking about.

Being in this state is cause for joy and frustration. Joy because the book world you’ve just walked away from was wondrous and well-written. Confetti and cake for the amazing author, editor, and support crew behind the extraordinary tome!

However, you’re also faced with frustration because now you can’t move on with your bookworm / book dragon life since no matter what book you open, your mind is still stuck in the previous realm.

Stuck in the last story world for weeks now? Let's talk 3 ways to get over this book hangover. | Hint of Jam

Oh, the blissful pain!

Not to fret, lovely. That’s why we’re going through a few ways to begin making the transition. Shall we?

  • Spread the word. Write reviews on as many book sites as possible — Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, OnlineBookClub. Create a themed post on your blog. Talk about it with your friends and family. Already talked their ears off? Find more bookish friends to share in the goodness!
    Let the story world leak out of your system while ushering more people into the fandom. Or, at least, trying. I know, I know. Uncle Rob isn’t a reader, and he’s politely nodding in the hopes you’d one day stop talking about The Night Circus (affiliate link) . . . even though he knows that one day may never come. But you talk it out, lovely! Give it all you’ve got.
  • Jump on another bandwagon. Find another series / novel other readers are raving about. Try one similar to the previous book’s genre or one completely different! Reading something that already has a large fandom means you can hop on the ride without having to think too hard about positioning yourself. Instead of you driving the imagination, other bookworms are helping you along. Less effort on your part but still moving forward. Y’know me, we gotta have that win-win. 😉
  • Take a week off. You’re not serious, Jamae?! That’s crazy talk! Hear me out. Giving your mind space to mull over the story world you’re stuck in allows you to honor the book while letting the images settle. Like baking. Once the goods are taken out of the oven, you let ‘em rest. Same thing with your brilliant brain and its imagination.

Whether you spread the love, catch onto a trend, or take a break, make sure to contact the author. Let ‘em know what you enjoyed most about her / his work and how you can’t seem to get enough. Not only are you keeping the literary circle going, but you’ll be an encouragement to her / his hard work. We all need some love every once in a while.

Now, dive into that next story world, warrior. Here’s to the bookworm life. *Raises glass of wine*

When you can’t shake off the story world you finished a week ago, you’ve got a book hangover. Whether it’s your first or your millionth, working around it can be tough. You’re a bookworm. You want to drink in every book on your growing TBR list. So how do you honor the story world you just left while making your way to the next one? Consider these 3 suggestions. | Hint of Jam

When you can’t shake off the story world you finished a week ago, you’ve got a book hangover. Whether it’s your first or your millionth, working around it can be tough. You’re a bookworm. You want to drink in every book on your growing TBR list. So how do you honor the story world you just left while making your way to the next one? Consider these 3 suggestions. | Hint of Jam

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What ways help you get over a book hangover? Share your strategies in the comments below, lovely!

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