What book should I read next? Start with what you liked

Say why the last good book worked

Choose two features you actually noticed. Were the chapters short? Did you like spending time with one narrator? Was the mood playful, tense or reflective? 'Fantasy' names a shelf, but it does not settle any of those questions.

Library recommendation practice uses reading-appeal terms such as mood, style and characterisation. You do not need that vocabulary memorised; ordinary descriptions are enough. Our worksheet turns it into questions you can answer without knowing a book's genre.

Source: EBSCO NoveList · Reading appeal

Use this four-line request

For example: 'I liked the puzzle in my last mystery. I want another story with a small cast and some humour, but not detailed violence. I will be reading in short evening sessions.' A librarian or friend now has something more useful than 'recommend a bestseller'.

You can also ask for a sample that demonstrates the style. A jacket description sells the premise; the first pages show how the story is told.

• I enjoyed: one title, and the particular part that worked for me.
• I want more of: two features, such as a small cast and brisk chapters.
• I would rather avoid: one genuine dealbreaker, not a list of every possible flaw.
• This time I can manage: the format and reading commitment that fit my week.

Compare three candidates on the same basis

Read a sample of each candidate in the language and edition you plan to use. Note one reason to continue and one possible obstacle. Keep the comparison short enough that you still have time to read a book afterwards.

If the samples are all appealing, check access: available at your library, a price you accept, or an ebook your device can use. Translations and formats matter here. A recommendation for a work is not a recommendation for every edition of it.

Draw only after you have a usable shortlist

Random choice is handy when each remaining book would be acceptable. It is less helpful when the list mixes one book you want with several you feel obliged to read. Remove the obligations first.

Picknado supplies book suggestions by genre and lets you skip works you have already read. It does not infer your taste from this worksheet. Use the questions to assess its candidates, then sample the actual edition before buying or borrowing.