The reading life is full of ups and downs and from time to time, you might find yourself stuck in a reading rut. And reading ruts can come in all sorts of shapes and sizes.

You might find yourself stuck in a genre, reading the same one over and over. You might find yourself stuck in a format, reading or listening exclusively. Or, you might find yourself stuck in general, struggling to find the time to read or get started after finishing a book a long while ago. 

So, what’s a reader to do? There are a few tried and true tips for getting yourself out of a reading rut: ask a trusted friend for a recommendation, try a new genre or format to spark renewed zest for reading, read a short story for a quick reading win or join a book club for accountability and community.

But what if that’s not working? What if you’ve tried all of those suggestions and are still coming up short in your reading life? I have a solution: celebrate a lesser-known holiday with books. 

We all know about the big holidays: Halloween, St. Patrick’s Day, Christmas, Kwanza and more. But did you know about National Do a Grouch a Favor Day? National Split Pea Soup Week? National Egg Month? Or what about National Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day?

These lesser-known holidays celebrate particular days, weeks and months of the year offer the perfect opportunity to get out of a reading rut by celebrating a whimsical holiday with books. 

So, if you’re in a reading rut, here are twelve invitations to celebrate a lesser-known holiday month with books:

January is Bread Machine Baking Month:

Read a book set in a bakery or in the bread-baking business, like Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan or Caught Bread-Handed by Ellie Alexander. 

February is National Wedding Month:

Read a book focused on a wedding, like The Ship of Brides by Jojo Moyes or The Wedding by Dorothy West. 

March is National Crafting Month:

Read a book to spark your next creative hobby like Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn or City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert.

April is National Multiple Birth Awareness Month:

Read a book that centers twins or triplets as the main characters like Two Little Girls in Blue by Mary Higgins Clark or Three Wishes by Liane Moriarty.

May is National Pet Month:

Listen to a book about pets as you walk your own. You might try The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa or 99 Nights in Logar by Jamil Jan Kochai.

June is National Candy Month:

Read a book celebrating candy-making like The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris by Jenny Colgan or Dying for Chocolate by Diane Mott Davidson. Or better yet, read a book you love while eating candy, too!

July is National Picnic Month:

Read a book with picnic recipes inside like Picnic in Provence: A Memoir with Recipes or Lunch in Paris: A Love Story with Recipes by Elizabeth Bard. Then, go on a picnic and read!

August is Happiness Happens Month:

Read a book specifically devoted to finding more happiness in your life like The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin or 30 Things I Love About Myself by Radhika Sanghani.

September is World Candle Month:

Read a book with a candle on the cover, like It’s All Relative: Two Families, Three Dogs, 34 Holidays, and 50 Boxes of Wine by Wade Rouse. Or, read a cozy candle mystery like Vanilla Bean Vengeance by Agatha Frost.

October is National Go on a Field Trip Month:

Read a book that takes place in the destination of your dreams, like Island of Sweet Pies and Soldiers by Sara Ackerman set in Hawaii or Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch set in Italy. 

November is No Shave November:

Read a book whose main character has facial hair. Try Beauty and The Beard: A Mountain Man Romance by K.C. Crown or Ready to Fall by Daisy Prescott.

December is National Tie Month:

Read a book with the word tie in the title, like Danielle Steel’s Family Ties or Ties by Domenico Starnone translated by Jhumpa Lahiri.

Looking for a holiday that’s more suited to your reading taste and season of life?

Head to National Today and search for the current month, week or day. Read a book with the name of the holiday in the title, a picture of the holiday on the cover, the content of the holiday in the storyline or even read while enjoying the holiday treat you’re celebrating!

Either way, celebrating a lesser-known holiday with books is sure to get you out of your reading rut! What are your favorite holidays to celebrate through books? Share in the comments below!