Growing up, school made reading stressful. You didn’t get to pick the books, there were pop quizzes, and your teacher forced you to find the symbolism in blue curtains. But at a certain point, long beyond threats of “this will be on the test,” you might’ve come back to reading as a hobby. While you’re getting reacquainted with your favorite titles, we recommend finding little rituals or gadgets that make the experience even more comfy-cozy.
While you don’t need any extra accessories to read, things like an adjustable book light, some strong earplugs, and a subscription that picks new titles for you can make the experience a lot better. So whether you’ve been devouring books for forever (like Matilda) or you’re just starting to read for fun again all these years later, let the items below infuse a little more joy into your page-flipping.
Searching for some inspiration? Take a look at SELF’s Well-Read Book Club picks, which span topics like the politics of running and the state of modern motherhood.
Our top picks:
- Best E-Reader: Kindle Paperwhite
- Best Subscription: Book of the Month
- Best Highlighters: Sharpie Clear View Highlighter Sticks
- Best Bookmark: Sprout Bookmark
- Best Noise Blocker: Loop Quiet Ear Plugs
Perusing your local bookstore or library for your next read (perhaps with a coffee, a la Rory Gilmore) sounds like a nice exercise in romanticizing your life. But for one SELF editor, a Kindle is the best way to actually get through her list of want-to-reads. Her favorite, the Paperwhite, is a typical tablet with a screen that looks like actual book pages (read: no annoying glare) and emits very little blue light, in case you’re worried about it messing with your sleep.
“I’m a huge fan of the warm light setting for its homey feel, and I can confirm that my Kindle has never given me a headache, even after marathon reading sessions,” she says. But the real pro is that your access to books is practically endless, since you can shop in the Kindle store, get a Kindle Unlimited subscription, sign up for an Audible membership, or tap into your local library with Libby.
“It’s easy to fall into a reading rut, where you turn to the same authors over and over again. I like that Book of the Month gives me the push to try new folks out,” one SELF editor says. Every month, you get to pick one title from a curated list of five to seven books (you can also skip months too). The books are labeled by genre and include a brief summary to help you finalize your decision, and you’ll often see an early release on there (um, fun!). “I’ve gotten so many books I’ve really enjoyed but would have probably never heard of or picked up in the wild,” another SELF editor adds.
Not to give you flashbacks to first period, but having a set of highlighters for marking up pages can be helpful if you’re reading for a book club or skimming something dense and want to remember a noteworthy line. These Sharpies come in a pack of eight for all of your color-coding needs, and they have a thin tip that can be used for writing notes in the margins too.
This cutie bookmark slips between the pages to mark where you fell asleep, but is also tiny enough to stand up in the centerfold and mark the specific spot where you left off, which is why one SELF editor recommends it. They come in a pack of six in case you want to mark a few different pages, read multiple titles at once, or lose one—it happens.
Do you ever realize you just read the same line four times because you weren’t paying attention? These earplugs will be a godsend when you need some quiet to concentrate. “They’re super lightweight and unnoticeable once they’re in your ears,” one SELF editor says, adding that she slips them in during work-from-home days when there’s noisy construction and she’s reading drafts (like this one—how meta).
If there’s one thing my mom taught me, it’s that task lighting matters (seriously, she yells at me if she catches me reading, working on a puzzle, or doing anything under a dim lamp). She’s also the person who introduced me to this gadget, which wraps around your neck and shines two bright, adjustable (in strength and color) lights in front of you. It’s a lot sturdier than other book lights I’ve tried in the past, and I don’t have to fidget with it in between pages.
Let me set the scene: You slip into your favorite pair of pajamas, make yourself a cup of tea, and cozy up with a new book under the glow of this candle. That’s actually a preview of how you’ll catch me as soon as the weather cools off—and speaking of autumn, it has yummy notes of nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanilla.
These days, you don’t even have to hold your own book: A pillow can do that for you. This one is triangular, so you can prop it on whichever of the three sides gives you the right angle. It’s especially nice if you like to read in bed and want to plop it in your lap or if you’re taking notes while reading and need your book to stay upright on your desk.
Unless the title I’m reading is in my field of vision, I’m prooobably going to open TikTok and mindlessly scroll until I fall asleep instead. Basically, if I had this bedside caddy, I’d probably read through my bookshelf a little faster. Its slots are big enough to hold your current page-turner, whether you’re a paperback or Kindle person, along with your glasses and book light.
Before I knew these bookshelves existed, I saw a full one in the background of a YouTube video and genuinely thought this person precariously stacked a ton of titles on top of each other—not very practical, but definitely aesthetic. It really says “books are the decor.” If you have an impressive collection, it’s a great way to keep them on display and remind yourself what options you have to read next.
Is there anything more annoying than lending one of your prized possessions to a friend, only to never see it again? We can’t guarantee they’ll give you back a loaned book just because you stamp it with your name…but it could guilt them into bringing it to your next party. Moreover, it’s a sweet touch that harks back to old-school library days, when you’d stamp a book to check it out (and it makes for a cute gift too!).
Here’s another take on a bedside caddy—but this one can sit on top of your nightstand or on the side table next to your couch. It’ll hold your volume open where you left off and house your other essentials, like your glasses or phone. It even has a spot for a mug filled with the hot bev of your choice.
Get more of SELF’s stellar product recommendations delivered right to your inbox (for free!).
Related Reading: