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Every Day I Read: 53 Ways to Get Closer to Books
From the author of the international bestseller Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop, a heartfelt invitation to reflect on your relationship with reading and celebrate the joys of books.
Why do we read? What is it that we hope to take away from the intimate, personal experience of reading for pleasure?
Rarely do we ask these profound, expansive questions of ourselves and of our relationship to the joy of reading. In each of the essays in Every Day I Read, Hwang Bo-reum contemplates what living a life immersed in reading means. She goes beyond the usual questions of what to read and how often, exploring the relationship between reading and writing, when to turn to a bestseller vs. browse the corners of a bookstore, the value of reading outside of your favorite genre, falling in love with book characters, and more.
Every Day I Read provides many quiet moments for introspection and reflection, encouraging book-lovers to explore what reading means to each of us. While this is a book about books, at its heart is an attitude to life, one outside capitalism and climbing the corporate ladder. Lifelong and new readers will take away something from it, including a treasure trove of book recommendations blended seamlessly within.
Why do we read? What is it that we hope to take away from the intimate, personal experience of reading for pleasure?
Rarely do we ask these profound, expansive questions of ourselves and of our relationship to the joy of reading. In each of the essays in Every Day I Read, Hwang Bo-reum contemplates what living a life immersed in reading means. She goes beyond the usual questions of what to read and how often, exploring the relationship between reading and writing, when to turn to a bestseller vs. browse the corners of a bookstore, the value of reading outside of your favorite genre, falling in love with book characters, and more.
Every Day I Read provides many quiet moments for introspection and reflection, encouraging book-lovers to explore what reading means to each of us. While this is a book about books, at its heart is an attitude to life, one outside capitalism and climbing the corporate ladder. Lifelong and new readers will take away something from it, including a treasure trove of book recommendations blended seamlessly within.
193 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 20, 2021
263 people are currently reading
12803 people want to read
About the author
Hwang Bo-Reum
5 books1,184 followersHwang Bo-reum studied Computer Science and worked as a software engineer. She wrote several essay collections: I Read Every Day, I Tried Kickboxing for the First Time and This Distance is Perfect. Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop is her first novel, which has sold over 150,000 copies in Korea and been sold into 9 territories. Before its release as a paperback, the novel was initially published as an e-book after winning an open contest co-organised by Korean content-publishing platform ‘Brunch’.
대학에서 컴퓨터공학을 전공하고 LG전자에서 소프트웨어 개발자로 일했다. 몇 번의 입사와 퇴사를 반복하면서도 매일 읽고 쓰는 사람으로서의 정체성은 잃지 않고 있다. 지은 책으로 『매일 읽겠습니다』, 『난생처음 킥복싱』, 『이 정도 거리가 딱 좋다』가 있다.
대학에서 컴퓨터공학을 전공하고 LG전자에서 소프트웨어 개발자로 일했다. 몇 번의 입사와 퇴사를 반복하면서도 매일 읽고 쓰는 사람으로서의 정체성은 잃지 않고 있다. 지은 책으로 『매일 읽겠습니다』, 『난생처음 킥복싱』, 『이 정도 거리가 딱 좋다』가 있다.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 174 reviews
November 25, 2025
What a pleasant and relaxing read! As someone who also reads every day, I picked up this book to compare my experiences with the author’s. It made me feel comforted and understood, and the many chuckles and smiles I had while reading were an added bonus.
September 15, 2025
ARC for review. To be published December 2, 2026.
Translated from the Korean by Shanna Tan.
4 stars
This was a nice, simplistic little book about the joys of reading (and sometimes writing.). Very short chapters give various reasons to read and suggestions for when you do. Lots of great quotes and I was introduced to the idea of a book bar, which is apparently a thing in South Korea. You go in with your book, get a table, order a drink (and maybe a snack? I’m certainly hoping that there are snacks!) and then you are left alone to enjoy your book, surrounded by other people who are doing the same. I hardly need say how much I love this idea and if I ever hit the Powerball I’m going to start my American empire. Anyone got a clever name? Let me warn you in advance I’ll be stealing it and giving you no credit whatsoever. OK, maybe a free drink. Once. This place has to make a profit, you know.
“You just need one single bond…a person you can truly trust, a person who rejoices in your existence. If there’s one such person in your life, you’ll be able to keep going.” THE UNUSUAL SOCIABILITY, Nakajima.
“Whether it’s fatigue, anxiety, worry, anticipation or anything else, tomorrow, as always, I’m going to replace them all with a book.” BED AND BOOKS, Jung Hyeyoon.
When to stop reading a book? “If I’m no longer curious about what’s next.”
“If I am what I have and if what I have is lost, who then am I? Nobody but a defeated, deflated, pathetic testimony to a wrong way of living…. if I am what I am and not what I have, nobody can derive me of or threaten my security and my sense of identity.” TO HAVE OR TO BE? Erich Fromm
“I have never known any distress that an hour’s reading did not relieve.” Montesquieu
“…it’s impossible to be happy when one lives in fear of the future.”
“Some people think of reading only as a kind of escape: an escape from the ‘real’ everyday day world to an imaginary world, the world of books. Books are much more. They are a way of being fully human.” Susan Sontag.
Translated from the Korean by Shanna Tan.
4 stars
This was a nice, simplistic little book about the joys of reading (and sometimes writing.). Very short chapters give various reasons to read and suggestions for when you do. Lots of great quotes and I was introduced to the idea of a book bar, which is apparently a thing in South Korea. You go in with your book, get a table, order a drink (and maybe a snack? I’m certainly hoping that there are snacks!) and then you are left alone to enjoy your book, surrounded by other people who are doing the same. I hardly need say how much I love this idea and if I ever hit the Powerball I’m going to start my American empire. Anyone got a clever name? Let me warn you in advance I’ll be stealing it and giving you no credit whatsoever. OK, maybe a free drink. Once. This place has to make a profit, you know.
“You just need one single bond…a person you can truly trust, a person who rejoices in your existence. If there’s one such person in your life, you’ll be able to keep going.” THE UNUSUAL SOCIABILITY, Nakajima.
“Whether it’s fatigue, anxiety, worry, anticipation or anything else, tomorrow, as always, I’m going to replace them all with a book.” BED AND BOOKS, Jung Hyeyoon.
When to stop reading a book? “If I’m no longer curious about what’s next.”
“If I am what I have and if what I have is lost, who then am I? Nobody but a defeated, deflated, pathetic testimony to a wrong way of living…. if I am what I am and not what I have, nobody can derive me of or threaten my security and my sense of identity.” TO HAVE OR TO BE? Erich Fromm
“I have never known any distress that an hour’s reading did not relieve.” Montesquieu
“…it’s impossible to be happy when one lives in fear of the future.”
“Some people think of reading only as a kind of escape: an escape from the ‘real’ everyday day world to an imaginary world, the world of books. Books are much more. They are a way of being fully human.” Susan Sontag.
December 14, 2025
I loved this author’s fiction book, Welcome to the Hyunam Dong Bookshop, so I was really looking forward to reading this nonfiction book about books. There were a lot of things I loved about this, I love how cozy and comforting this book felt to read, like someone who truly gets how special books are and the way they can change us and transport us. It was a gentle reminder about why I love reading in the first place, and it was very comforting to listen to this one on audio.
But I also couldn’t help but feeling some of it felt a little surface level or even pretentious? In the second half it was starting to feel like this author had an agenda with wanting people to read more classics or “difficult” books, and that’s fine, but I feel like she also could’ve touched on how it’s also okay to read silly light hearted books for escapism too. The message just got a little muddled for me toward the end and I wasn’t connecting with it as much as I did with the beginning.
But I also couldn’t help but feeling some of it felt a little surface level or even pretentious? In the second half it was starting to feel like this author had an agenda with wanting people to read more classics or “difficult” books, and that’s fine, but I feel like she also could’ve touched on how it’s also okay to read silly light hearted books for escapism too. The message just got a little muddled for me toward the end and I wasn’t connecting with it as much as I did with the beginning.
November 15, 2025
First of all, what a gorgeous cover!!! I would hang a print of this in a frame on my wall.
This is a quick read. The essays are short and easy to digest. Author Bo-Reum brings up some interesting points about reading habits and choosing books, and I love her overall passion for it. The way she escapes her problems by spending time with other people’s words is very relatable.
I was particularly comforted by the section about forgetting what you read, because sometimes that happens to me, too. Bo-Reum says that books transform you as you read them, so it’s okay if you don’t remember everything.
I was struck by many quotes in this, but loved this one specifically: “A book must be the axe for the frozen sea inside of us.” Essentially, we must read to work through the tough things.
This is a nice little tribute to reading and even has book recommendations from the author. 3.5 stars rounded up.
Thank you to Netgalley and to the Publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
This is a quick read. The essays are short and easy to digest. Author Bo-Reum brings up some interesting points about reading habits and choosing books, and I love her overall passion for it. The way she escapes her problems by spending time with other people’s words is very relatable.
I was particularly comforted by the section about forgetting what you read, because sometimes that happens to me, too. Bo-Reum says that books transform you as you read them, so it’s okay if you don’t remember everything.
I was struck by many quotes in this, but loved this one specifically: “A book must be the axe for the frozen sea inside of us.” Essentially, we must read to work through the tough things.
This is a nice little tribute to reading and even has book recommendations from the author. 3.5 stars rounded up.
Thank you to Netgalley and to the Publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
November 1, 2025
I saw this book at my local library on a new release shelf. I was intrigued as I read every day and always have a book with me. The author expresses what I feel about books in her 53 essays.
I came away with new ideas on my approach to reading. Using a timer, collecting quotes, keeping a reading list and much more. I enjoyed this book immensely with the author’s passion for reading eloquently expressed in the short essays.
I liked her set of rules on book reviews. “Do not be tempted by reviews that are too emotional and peppered with exclamations - what an amazing book! - and instead trust objective reviews that provide a good synopsis and a selection of quotes from the book. “
I plan to reread it again in a few months. I also loved the type set in Minion inspired by late Renaissance era type.
I came away with new ideas on my approach to reading. Using a timer, collecting quotes, keeping a reading list and much more. I enjoyed this book immensely with the author’s passion for reading eloquently expressed in the short essays.
I liked her set of rules on book reviews. “Do not be tempted by reviews that are too emotional and peppered with exclamations - what an amazing book! - and instead trust objective reviews that provide a good synopsis and a selection of quotes from the book. “
I plan to reread it again in a few months. I also loved the type set in Minion inspired by late Renaissance era type.
October 18, 2025
This book is the perfect remedy for a reading slump. The 53 short chapters explore the joy of books and reading, There are interesting quotes, good recommendations and lots of new ideas for enjoying and documenting the reading experience.
This is one of the few books I've wanted to read again the moment I finished. There are so many great questions to turn over such as, are books useful? Or thoughts on digital reading, or reading aloud vs reading silently.
The author reads globally, she sites many western writers as favorites. I especially enjoyed her references to Korean authors I hadn't heard of. I am inspired to start a new TBR list. Hwang Bo-reum's book Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop will be on the top of the stack.
Thank you to Netgalley for an advance copy of this charming book.
This is one of the few books I've wanted to read again the moment I finished. There are so many great questions to turn over such as, are books useful? Or thoughts on digital reading, or reading aloud vs reading silently.
The author reads globally, she sites many western writers as favorites. I especially enjoyed her references to Korean authors I hadn't heard of. I am inspired to start a new TBR list. Hwang Bo-reum's book Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop will be on the top of the stack.
Thank you to Netgalley for an advance copy of this charming book.
November 21, 2025
Loved reading this book so much✨ Hwang Bo-Reum's writing is just so so beautiful and cozy🤍 Every chapter was heart warming and I had to underline soo much, definitely one of my favorite reads of the year. Will write a full review once I gather my thoughts together💌
November 3, 2025
On the surface, this book doesn’t say anything new that an avid reader hasn’t already known or felt—but reading it was deeply self-assuring and satisfying. It reaffirms the importance of reading every day, of reading for fun, and of engaging in deep, thoughtful reading.
The author reminds us that there’s nothing wrong with enjoying bestsellers, while also emphasizing the value of reading classics and longer books. She beautifully explores how we grow as readers and how every book gives us something in return, each in its own way.
It was comforting to realize that readers everywhere share the same feelings and experiences—that none of us are alone in our love for books. This book also inspired me to write more. As a writer herself, Hwang Bo-Reum speaks honestly about the challenges of writing and reassures aspiring writers that we can write too—and that the only way to become better is by reading widely and consistently.
The author reminds us that there’s nothing wrong with enjoying bestsellers, while also emphasizing the value of reading classics and longer books. She beautifully explores how we grow as readers and how every book gives us something in return, each in its own way.
It was comforting to realize that readers everywhere share the same feelings and experiences—that none of us are alone in our love for books. This book also inspired me to write more. As a writer herself, Hwang Bo-Reum speaks honestly about the challenges of writing and reassures aspiring writers that we can write too—and that the only way to become better is by reading widely and consistently.
November 22, 2025
3.5 stars
This is a really good book for people who are getting back into reading and have that rush of excitement of all the worlds that await them. For someone like myself, who has been an avid reader for such a long time, while there were some really nice anecdotes and a lot of books I have written down to check out. But the essays felt a bit surface level for me.
This is a really good book for people who are getting back into reading and have that rush of excitement of all the worlds that await them. For someone like myself, who has been an avid reader for such a long time, while there were some really nice anecdotes and a lot of books I have written down to check out. But the essays felt a bit surface level for me.
November 15, 2025
A cosy and introspective read about why reading is so wonderful 😌
August 22, 2025
This is a thought provoking book all about the various aspects of books and reading. It’s impossible to read this short book of essays without reflecting on the joys and comfort that reading brings. So many books are recommended in the essays, I’d recommend reading with your TBR tracker handy! Thanks to NetGalley for an early copy.
December 9, 2025
4.5 stars! this book is the perfect remedy for a reading slump. it's quiet, cozy, and full of reminders about why we fall in love with reading in the first place. the super short chapters explore the joy of books and the act of reading with such warmth, and i completely agree with the reflections on why stories stay with us, even when the details fade. there are thoughtful quotes, great recommendations, and so many new ideas for savoring and documenting the reading experience.
the questions the author poses are deceptively simple yet so meaningful: are books useful? what does digital reading change? How does reading aloud shift the experience compared to reading silently? I found myself nodding along constantly.
The author reads widely and globally, citing many Western writers, and I especially loved her references to Korean authors I hadn’t encountered before. It made the whole experience feel even richer—and yes, I’m absolutely inspired to start a new TBR list. Hwang Bo-reum’s Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop is now firmly at the top of my stack.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy of this charming, cozy read.
the questions the author poses are deceptively simple yet so meaningful: are books useful? what does digital reading change? How does reading aloud shift the experience compared to reading silently? I found myself nodding along constantly.
The author reads widely and globally, citing many Western writers, and I especially loved her references to Korean authors I hadn’t encountered before. It made the whole experience feel even richer—and yes, I’m absolutely inspired to start a new TBR list. Hwang Bo-reum’s Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop is now firmly at the top of my stack.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy of this charming, cozy read.
December 6, 2025
This is a beautiful collection of essays. I wanted to highlight so many passages!!!
''Reading lets us leave ourselves behind and explore the bigger world out there. There isn't a need to feel like we have to accomplish much out there. With just a slight change in mood, we'll be able to live today as a different person from yesterday. Some say those who read are idealistic. Perhaps they are on their own exploration of the world. Why must we always be 'realistic'? Sometimes it takes a little escape from reality to make our lives a tiny bit better.'' (pg 193)
''Reading lets us leave ourselves behind and explore the bigger world out there. There isn't a need to feel like we have to accomplish much out there. With just a slight change in mood, we'll be able to live today as a different person from yesterday. Some say those who read are idealistic. Perhaps they are on their own exploration of the world. Why must we always be 'realistic'? Sometimes it takes a little escape from reality to make our lives a tiny bit better.'' (pg 193)
November 16, 2025
This book felt like a warm hug on this chilly Sunday. An ode to the love of reading that will have you nod your head in agreement throughout the book. Many a times, we readers get asked peculiar questions like why do you read novels or why do you read at all? We know the answers well but struggle to articulate them because they are so personal. The author of this book has managed to answer all those difficult questions for us. Highly recommend this book if you are in a reading slump.
November 18, 2025
Every Day I Read by Hwang Bo-Reum | 5 stars out of 5!
This book feels like a comforting conversation with one of your most understanding friends, and it is certainly a book I will be thoroughly annotating and coming back to every year. Hwang Bo-Reum created a collection of essays taking an introspective dive into our relationships with books and the various ways we can deepen that connection. As a reader, having a relationship with books seems obvious, but I've come to realize I never really thought about it much beyond the concept itself existing.
I usually enjoy nonfiction books that read like memoirs or feel like a conversation with a friend or acquaintance. Hwang Bo-Reum captured this preference of mine while reminding me of how nice it can be to go through a few shorter essays each night. Like I mentioned earlier, the author’s tone also made it feel like I was hanging out with a friend. The cherry on top, as someone who loves to get into the nitty-gritty of the text, was finding another person who uses mindfulness when reading and enjoys stories by diving into themes, character development, and more.
I failed to find any major flaws. The book was exactly what it promised to be, and I really enjoyed the author's thoughts and ideas. Additionally, I was pleasantly surprised by how introspective this book left me. I expected some sort of existentialism, but I did not expect to feel so comforted and motivated at the same time.
I recommend this book to all readers, and those who have been wanting to get back into reading again, but are struggling to do so. It's definitely not short, but it certainly reads quickly and is very easy to pick up and put down. Oh, and to anyone who is obsessed with hunting down quotes. You will feel very validated.
Thank you, Bloomsbury Publishing, for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
#EveryDayIRead #NetGalley
This book feels like a comforting conversation with one of your most understanding friends, and it is certainly a book I will be thoroughly annotating and coming back to every year. Hwang Bo-Reum created a collection of essays taking an introspective dive into our relationships with books and the various ways we can deepen that connection. As a reader, having a relationship with books seems obvious, but I've come to realize I never really thought about it much beyond the concept itself existing.
I usually enjoy nonfiction books that read like memoirs or feel like a conversation with a friend or acquaintance. Hwang Bo-Reum captured this preference of mine while reminding me of how nice it can be to go through a few shorter essays each night. Like I mentioned earlier, the author’s tone also made it feel like I was hanging out with a friend. The cherry on top, as someone who loves to get into the nitty-gritty of the text, was finding another person who uses mindfulness when reading and enjoys stories by diving into themes, character development, and more.
I failed to find any major flaws. The book was exactly what it promised to be, and I really enjoyed the author's thoughts and ideas. Additionally, I was pleasantly surprised by how introspective this book left me. I expected some sort of existentialism, but I did not expect to feel so comforted and motivated at the same time.
I recommend this book to all readers, and those who have been wanting to get back into reading again, but are struggling to do so. It's definitely not short, but it certainly reads quickly and is very easy to pick up and put down. Oh, and to anyone who is obsessed with hunting down quotes. You will feel very validated.
Thank you, Bloomsbury Publishing, for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
#EveryDayIRead #NetGalley
November 19, 2025
When I saw this book at the bookstore, I was immediately excited, since the other book written by this author, “Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop”, is one of my favorite books of all time.
So, I didn’t even look inside and just took it with me. I was surprised to find that this was a non-fiction essay collection on books and reading. However, I am not dissappointed.
I really liked this essay collection. While I do not believe that the author made any new or revolutionary discoveries on reading. I really liked her perspectives as well as what she took away from the books she read. Some of the “tips” on how to get closer to books were also really nice.
I also really liked the writing style. There is just something I really love about works that were translated from Korean. I think the sentence structure and flow just feels different, in a way that really appeals to me personally.
I think I will come back to this book multiple times in the future when I feel like I am in a reading slump.
So, I didn’t even look inside and just took it with me. I was surprised to find that this was a non-fiction essay collection on books and reading. However, I am not dissappointed.
I really liked this essay collection. While I do not believe that the author made any new or revolutionary discoveries on reading. I really liked her perspectives as well as what she took away from the books she read. Some of the “tips” on how to get closer to books were also really nice.
I also really liked the writing style. There is just something I really love about works that were translated from Korean. I think the sentence structure and flow just feels different, in a way that really appeals to me personally.
I think I will come back to this book multiple times in the future when I feel like I am in a reading slump.
October 31, 2025
in an era of book quantification, it feels so validating that one of my fav authors is as krazy with reading and books as i am 🥹🫶
(on a side note: i think each chapter is a fantastic journal prompt. might do this later on!)
(on a side note: i think each chapter is a fantastic journal prompt. might do this later on!)
November 28, 2025
A book about the author’s love of books. Normally, I loved it, since my thoughts and opinions about book in general are very similar to the authors. Reading is my main passion in life and I hope it continues that way. Also, I got so many book recommendations. I would definitely reread this book.
Want to read
November 7, 2025BCLC
November 8, 2025
A great way to think about how starting or continuing some habits may be good for our self esteem or stretch us in other ways
November 12, 2025
If I had to read nonfiction, my first choice would always be real life stories, simply for the versions they share. And when it happens to be one by a favourite author who loves everything books, cats, and cozy vibes, how could I possibly skip it?
In writing this book, he has answered so many questions and raised even more. It felt like peeking into the internal dialogues of an author’s mind. I didn’t know this was his first published work in Japanese, but I’m glad I got to explore it now (all hail translations).
It’s not dramatic, but it has that subtle flow of life that makes you pause and reflect. The chapters are short, giving a lovely sense of progress, and I liked that feeling of accomplishment. A few sections focus entirely on lines the author admires from other great writers. The part where she discusses how different authors perceive happiness and how no two books agree on a single definition was such an interesting contrast to read.
There are phases of inspiration, of normalcy, of mediocre days, and of depression swinging by like an occasional pendulum. This was a wonderful encounter that truly held my heart. I could read and reflect on those words without the pressure to learn or grasp anything, simply to relate and exist on the same plane.
In writing this book, he has answered so many questions and raised even more. It felt like peeking into the internal dialogues of an author’s mind. I didn’t know this was his first published work in Japanese, but I’m glad I got to explore it now (all hail translations).
It’s not dramatic, but it has that subtle flow of life that makes you pause and reflect. The chapters are short, giving a lovely sense of progress, and I liked that feeling of accomplishment. A few sections focus entirely on lines the author admires from other great writers. The part where she discusses how different authors perceive happiness and how no two books agree on a single definition was such an interesting contrast to read.
There are phases of inspiration, of normalcy, of mediocre days, and of depression swinging by like an occasional pendulum. This was a wonderful encounter that truly held my heart. I could read and reflect on those words without the pressure to learn or grasp anything, simply to relate and exist on the same plane.
Read
November 4, 2025I do not agree with each of Bo-Reum's suggestions in this title (and I feel that some of them contradict each other), I do agree that this indeed the perscriptive book for those in a reading slump, on the verge of a reading slump or just not enjoying their current reading life to its fullest.
While I only (currently) found value in 20% of her suggestions, this is a title that I will keep with me and read later and again with the the expectations to find inspiration in entirely different selections.
I leave these pages feeling better due to the following sections:
52) What have you been reading? The #1 takeaway for me: be interested in what others are reading and have read. I realize I use apps like goodreads to track the literary conquests of friends, but I do not always take the time to get them to tell me about it. The suggestion of not only discussing books in clubs and buddy reads, but also get someone to surprise you with their current interests out of the blue - was eye opening. Allow yourself to be polinated!
6) Underlining and Annotations - she speaks about forgetting a lot of what she has read, and using annotations as breadcrumbs for herself for her thoughts while reading a particular section. I sometimes worry that I am forgetting things for books that I am speeding through, which is why I leave meandering reviews like this one - to remind me of the value I derived from said read.
29) Read When Your Happy, When You're Anxious and the Moments in Between - I read a lot while commuting, but I do not use reading to calm me down (especially when public transit is failing me). I need to allow myself the serenity that comes from passing time by during these anxious moments, and not only read while everything is convenient for me to do so.
9) Using a Timer App - for me, it is less than the time if my dive into a read, but more of a forced pause in doing something else, whether it be reading another book, writing my thoughts about a book I just finished (hence this current reeview), or just taking a break. There is something to be said about taking pauses between reading marathons (very The Pomodoro Technique)
Finally, a list of the chapter headings from this book to give one an idea of the suggestions within (however, some of them are not self evident, and you will find value in seeing exactly what she has to say).
1. Read bestsellers
2. Read Beyond bestsellers
3. Read on the train
4. Read small books
5. Read big books
6. Underlining and Annotations
7. Always have a book with you
8. Choose books, not the internet
9. Use a timer app
10. Read classics
11. Read novels
12. Read poetry
13. Online Bookshops, Facebook, Instagram
14. Bed, Night and Lights
15. Favourite Author
16. Books and Drinks
17. You don't always have to finish it
18. Are books useful
19. Visiting the Library
20. The Joy of Collecting Quotes
21. Book Clubs
22. Read to Seek Answers
23. E-Books
24. Pockets of Free Time
25. Read Slowly
26. Life Changing Reads
27. Indie Bookshops
28. The Next Book to Read
29. Read When Your Happy, When You're Anxious and the Moments in Between
30. Movies and Novels
31. Let's Discuss Books
32. Reading Multiple Books at Once
33. Reading Silently vs Reading Aloud
34. Read Books that Resonate
35. Read Beyond Success and Failure
36. Read During the Holidays
37. The Flavour of Words
38. Parents Who Read
39. Read Widely, Then Deeply
40. Keep a Reading List
41. Read to Live the Life You Want
42. Read Book Reviews
43. Write Book Reviews
44. The Character's Charms
45. Organize Your Bookcase
46. Read Books like an Axe
47. Read Books that You're Interested In
48. Read Beyond What You're Interested in
49. Read to Overcome Despair
50. Read Difficult Books
51. Read Books that Preserve Your Sense of Self
52. What have you been reading?
53. If Books disappeared from the world
While I only (currently) found value in 20% of her suggestions, this is a title that I will keep with me and read later and again with the the expectations to find inspiration in entirely different selections.
I leave these pages feeling better due to the following sections:
52) What have you been reading? The #1 takeaway for me: be interested in what others are reading and have read. I realize I use apps like goodreads to track the literary conquests of friends, but I do not always take the time to get them to tell me about it. The suggestion of not only discussing books in clubs and buddy reads, but also get someone to surprise you with their current interests out of the blue - was eye opening. Allow yourself to be polinated!
6) Underlining and Annotations - she speaks about forgetting a lot of what she has read, and using annotations as breadcrumbs for herself for her thoughts while reading a particular section. I sometimes worry that I am forgetting things for books that I am speeding through, which is why I leave meandering reviews like this one - to remind me of the value I derived from said read.
29) Read When Your Happy, When You're Anxious and the Moments in Between - I read a lot while commuting, but I do not use reading to calm me down (especially when public transit is failing me). I need to allow myself the serenity that comes from passing time by during these anxious moments, and not only read while everything is convenient for me to do so.
9) Using a Timer App - for me, it is less than the time if my dive into a read, but more of a forced pause in doing something else, whether it be reading another book, writing my thoughts about a book I just finished (hence this current reeview), or just taking a break. There is something to be said about taking pauses between reading marathons (very The Pomodoro Technique)
Finally, a list of the chapter headings from this book to give one an idea of the suggestions within (however, some of them are not self evident, and you will find value in seeing exactly what she has to say).
1. Read bestsellers
2. Read Beyond bestsellers
3. Read on the train
4. Read small books
5. Read big books
6. Underlining and Annotations
7. Always have a book with you
8. Choose books, not the internet
9. Use a timer app
10. Read classics
11. Read novels
12. Read poetry
13. Online Bookshops, Facebook, Instagram
14. Bed, Night and Lights
15. Favourite Author
16. Books and Drinks
17. You don't always have to finish it
18. Are books useful
19. Visiting the Library
20. The Joy of Collecting Quotes
21. Book Clubs
22. Read to Seek Answers
23. E-Books
24. Pockets of Free Time
25. Read Slowly
26. Life Changing Reads
27. Indie Bookshops
28. The Next Book to Read
29. Read When Your Happy, When You're Anxious and the Moments in Between
30. Movies and Novels
31. Let's Discuss Books
32. Reading Multiple Books at Once
33. Reading Silently vs Reading Aloud
34. Read Books that Resonate
35. Read Beyond Success and Failure
36. Read During the Holidays
37. The Flavour of Words
38. Parents Who Read
39. Read Widely, Then Deeply
40. Keep a Reading List
41. Read to Live the Life You Want
42. Read Book Reviews
43. Write Book Reviews
44. The Character's Charms
45. Organize Your Bookcase
46. Read Books like an Axe
47. Read Books that You're Interested In
48. Read Beyond What You're Interested in
49. Read to Overcome Despair
50. Read Difficult Books
51. Read Books that Preserve Your Sense of Self
52. What have you been reading?
53. If Books disappeared from the world
November 27, 2025
Everyday I Read by Hwang Bo-Reum is gentle and soft and perfect for book lovers. The cute cover is a bonus.
What I adore most about this book is how welcoming it is. This isn’t a book meant only for “serious readers” or people who read 100 books a year.
It’s for everyone - for the occasional or lapsed reader, for the busy person who has a desire to read, and lifelong bookworms who already live in bookstores and libraries but maybe need a reminder of why they fell in love with reading in the first place.
Hwang Bo-Reum never talks down to the reader; this is what I love the most about her. She simply shares non-cliché, refreshing tips about building a reading life, tips I honestly didn’t realize I needed.
She talks about reading for joy rather than achievement, about picking any book you want to pick, whether it’s a bestseller or an obscure little title you grabbed because someone recommended it.
My favorite part is when she says it's okay to put down a book the moment it stops bringing you happiness instead of forcing yourself through it like homework.
She makes you remember that reading isn’t a performance or a competition.
It’s supposed to be something you savor, not something you complete for bragging rights.
And the only reason I had to keep pausing was the book recommendations. Every chapter carries a handful of titles she loves, and instead of feeling like a list, they feel like little Kinder Egg Surprises, lol.
I found myself taking photos of pages just to add more books to my TBR.
It reminded me so much of Dear Reader by Cathy Rentzenbrink, which is another one of my favorite books-about-books, but Everyday I Read has this different, calming energy to it.
It gives you permission to slow down and simply enjoy one book at a time without worrying about the next ten.
What I took away from this book is a deeper permission to read slowly. As a person who speeds their way through books and put unnecessary pressure on myself, I really needed this!
This is a book I will keep close, recommend often, and return to whenever I feel distant from my own reading life. 5 Stars!
What I adore most about this book is how welcoming it is. This isn’t a book meant only for “serious readers” or people who read 100 books a year.
It’s for everyone - for the occasional or lapsed reader, for the busy person who has a desire to read, and lifelong bookworms who already live in bookstores and libraries but maybe need a reminder of why they fell in love with reading in the first place.
Hwang Bo-Reum never talks down to the reader; this is what I love the most about her. She simply shares non-cliché, refreshing tips about building a reading life, tips I honestly didn’t realize I needed.
She talks about reading for joy rather than achievement, about picking any book you want to pick, whether it’s a bestseller or an obscure little title you grabbed because someone recommended it.
My favorite part is when she says it's okay to put down a book the moment it stops bringing you happiness instead of forcing yourself through it like homework.
She makes you remember that reading isn’t a performance or a competition.
It’s supposed to be something you savor, not something you complete for bragging rights.
And the only reason I had to keep pausing was the book recommendations. Every chapter carries a handful of titles she loves, and instead of feeling like a list, they feel like little Kinder Egg Surprises, lol.
I found myself taking photos of pages just to add more books to my TBR.
It reminded me so much of Dear Reader by Cathy Rentzenbrink, which is another one of my favorite books-about-books, but Everyday I Read has this different, calming energy to it.
It gives you permission to slow down and simply enjoy one book at a time without worrying about the next ten.
What I took away from this book is a deeper permission to read slowly. As a person who speeds their way through books and put unnecessary pressure on myself, I really needed this!
This is a book I will keep close, recommend often, and return to whenever I feel distant from my own reading life. 5 Stars!
December 15, 2025
Perhaps something was lost in translation here but this book was quite a disappointment. The author would share one opinion in a chapter, only to express the opposite in the very next chapter. Most of all, it was disappointing to hear her share criticism of ebooks, even going so far as to share a quote that stated that people who read ebooks are not readers but "users." I've never encountered such an ableist statement before within a book that's trying to lift up readers and the act of reading. There are many reasons why readers choose ebooks, to disparage that choice is unacceptable IMHO. And the author doesn't even bother mentioning audio books so who knows how she feels about people who listen to books.
My hot take: read what you want. Whether it's literary fiction and obscure philosophy like this author promotes, or the number one bestselling fiction novel this season. Read for enjoyment or to learn or whatever you need. Don't let books like this one tell you what you should or shouldn't do. All readers are welcome here.
My hot take: read what you want. Whether it's literary fiction and obscure philosophy like this author promotes, or the number one bestselling fiction novel this season. Read for enjoyment or to learn or whatever you need. Don't let books like this one tell you what you should or shouldn't do. All readers are welcome here.
December 15, 2025
Have you ever imagined someone exhuming the corpse of Herman Hesse in order to give him sloppy head in the hopes of blowing him back to life? I hadn't until listening to this book driving back from Asheville today. I suggest reading what you want, how you want, and steering clear of pretentious, ableist jive like this steaming pile of performative dreck. The best thing about it was that it was short. The worst thing about it was it was the only audiobook we had left between our two phones. If you want someone to tell you reading e-books isn't reading but then in the next breath encourage you to "steal 20 minutes of reading 'Anna Karenina' by Tolstoy while [my] hair dries," this will do that trick. I guess old dead white guys are the pinnacle of literature in Korea, but I'm fuckin sick of em.
Read
December 11, 2025Every Day I Read: 53 Ways to Get Closer to Books is framed as a how-to book for those wanting to develop a reading habit. Although that aspiration doesn’t necessarily apply to me–I have the habit perhaps to a fault–I enjoyed Hwang Bo-Reum’s advice and the explanations behind each suggestion. For seasoned readers, each mini-essay provides a reflection point for considering our reading lives and possibly finding new ways to enjoy more of all the good books out there. Every Day I Read will also give teachers and librarians ideas on how to cultivate bookish inclinations in readers of all ages.
Thanks to Libro.fm for providing early-look educator access to this title.
Thanks to Libro.fm for providing early-look educator access to this title.
November 5, 2025
This book was informative and helpful
This book used simple and every day language to connect with the audience
The author mentioned that she had 500 personal books as storage and this showed her commitment to books
What was nice was that she would be asked what is a good read and she would say depends but she dropped her favourite books from what I read and how they made sense to her in her ordinary life and how honest she was about it. It was a good read and I enjoyed it as I also live an ordinary life and without books and spiritual books my life would be consumed with none sense.
This book used simple and every day language to connect with the audience
The author mentioned that she had 500 personal books as storage and this showed her commitment to books
What was nice was that she would be asked what is a good read and she would say depends but she dropped her favourite books from what I read and how they made sense to her in her ordinary life and how honest she was about it. It was a good read and I enjoyed it as I also live an ordinary life and without books and spiritual books my life would be consumed with none sense.
November 26, 2025
I read books for many reasons: to travel without leaving my sofa, to experience things I might ever be able in reality, to calm my anxious days, to remember to breath when depression arrives, to think straight when life feel meaningless and to remember there's many ways to love.
And this book summed up all my thoughts about books.
And this book summed up all my thoughts about books.
November 28, 2025
What a gem this book is! I love the writer's rumination over reading, how to read, books, book clubs, book reviews etc. So many things resonate with me that I regret that I'm holding on to a library copy and can't annotate on it!
This is a book that book lovers can read and discuss over coffee - chapter by chapter. The writing is simple yet profound in some ways. I love it!
This is a book that book lovers can read and discuss over coffee - chapter by chapter. The writing is simple yet profound in some ways. I love it!
November 2, 2025
this book feels like a warm hug, i feel so seen and less lonely after reading it. i had so much fun highlighting the lines that resonated with me and also the beautiful quotes. truly it is a joy to read everyday, or whenever i’m able to and thus, i will keep reading as long as i can. 💛
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