Whether you’re looking for a dark mystery, an edgy thriller or a literary/commercial mash-up that will never let you go, how and where can you find your next read without getting lost in the woods?

There are thickets of suggestions out there along with the usual suspects – Oprah Book Club, Reese’s Book Club, Popsugar, She Reads, Goodreads – for hyped recommendations.

Then the familiar and endless media scrolls on FB, TikTok and Instagram where the same titles keep popping up on repeat which have you wondering if only twenty-five novels exist in the world.

The truth is this – everyone’s out for your attention which, don’t ever forget, is valuable. You’ve only got so many hours to read, to escape, to explore, so make every moment count. Beware of clever algorithms and crafty publicists and websites backed by hefty marketing budgets conspiring to serve up titles whether or not they deserve your focus.

The path less taken

Where do you go to discover the gems, novels that are thrilling in every way, from twisty plots and riveting characters to a narrative voice you’d follow to the ends of the earth?

The path less taken is the one that will lead you out of the forest of hype and buzz. Avoid the obvious. The in-your-face, celebrity-endorsed parade of voices pushing the same flavour-of-the- moment novels.

Here are a few reliable sources that take a more subtle, critical approach, offering book reviews and recommendations from diverse and different perspectives that put you, the reader, first.

NPR Great Reads, Thoughtfully Curated. And they really mean it. A sweeping range of over 3,600 recommendations from NPR staff and trusted critics. Mix and match filters to find exactly what you want, with categories like “eye-opening reads” “seriously great writing” along with the usual historical fiction, mystery and thriller groupings. Easy to navigate with punchy reviews to capture your interest.

The Staff Recommends. Winter Haven Library’s staff decides what to review and what to recommend. Only after they’ve green-lit a book does the publisher pay a fee to be featured on the site. A nice and tight list with each title accompanied by a personal staff review and summary.

Whichbook. Truly clever. Whichbook organizes titles by feelings or states of mind. Move the slider to best describe your mood and the site generates a list of books. Each recommendation comes with a pithy review and brief excerpt. Better still, the site doesn’t just rely on recently published novels.

Independent Bookstores: Around the corner, in your downtown – search out the stores that are independently owned and managed. They may offer a table of the latest bestsellers, but they’ll also suggest titles their customers or staff love. Plus, they know their stuff. Tell them what you’re in the mood for and they’re more than enthused to make suggestions. Many have an online presence if you don’t want to leave the house or resort to Amazon.

Bookshop.org Not only can you find unusual book recommendations on this site, they also ship the book to you and give the profits to the local bookstore of your choice. A win all around.

Indiebound.org Independent Publishers These are the brave, bold publishers, apart from the big five, who seek original voices and diverse stories that might not get told otherwise. Indie is a “local first” shopping movement with a network of hundreds of independent bookstores sharing book recommendations and connecting readers and authors.

Go Global: The Irish Times, The Guardian, The London Review of Books – all offer a refreshing line-up of authors, books and reviews to get you out of a reading trough. Even easier – simply google Irish noir writers or British/Australian/Indian thrillers and see what comes up.

Now for Blogs – and yes, it’s still a thing.