The Aspirational Reader: How to Turn “I Wish I Read More” into “I Just Finished This”
Here's something that might surprise you: 55% of people wish they read more than they actually do. That's not just non-readers feeling guilty, it includes people who already read. They look at their nightstand, see that half-finished novel collecting dust, and think, "I really should finish that."
But they don't.
According to the Australia Reads research, there's a massive gap between wanting to read and actually reading. And the book industry has spent decades marketing to people who already love reading, the avid readers who devour books like oxygen. But what about everyone else? What about the aspirational readers, the 14.7% of people who genuinely want to build a reading habit but can't seem to make it stick?
That's where the real opportunity lies. And if you're reading this, chances are you're one of them.
The "Intent vs. Action" Gap: Why You're Not Finishing Books
You want to read. You buy books. You add them to your cart. You even start them. But somewhere between Chapter 3 and the middle of the story, life happens. The book sits on your nightstand, judging you silently.
The Australia Reads report breaks down the barriers to reading into three main categories, and here's the kicker, these barriers aren't about intelligence or willpower. They're about design.
1. Capability: The Intimidation Factor
Let's be honest, 400-page novels are intimidating. When you haven't read consistently in years, cracking open a brick-sized book feels like signing up for a marathon when you haven't jogged in a decade. You worry:
- "What if I don't understand it?"
- "What if I lose track of the characters?"
- "What if I start and never finish… again?"
That's not a confidence problem. That's a book size problem.
2. Opportunity: The Time Trap
You're busy. Between work, family, Netflix, and scrolling Instagram, finding a two-hour reading window feels impossible. Traditional novels require sustained attention, something modern life doesn't exactly hand out freely.
The real surprise? You don't need two hours. You need 15 minutes. But most books aren't designed for that.
3. Motivation: The Scroll vs. Read Battle
Here's the uncomfortable truth: your phone is engineered to be more addictive than a slow-burn literary novel. TikTok gives you dopamine hits every 30 seconds. A traditional mystery might not get to the good stuff until page 80.
Guess which one wins when you're tired after work?
Breaking the Barriers: How Short Reads Solve the Aspirational Reader Problem
So how do you go from "I wish I read more" to "I just finished this"? You don't need more willpower. You need better book design.
That's where short reads come in, specifically, short mystery books under 100 pages that are engineered to solve all three barriers at once.
Solving Capability: The 100-Page Confidence Builder
When you finish a book, your brain releases dopamine. It's the same chemical reward you get from completing a workout or checking off a to-do list. But if you never finish books, you never get that reward.
Easy read mystery books under 100 pages give you that finish-line feeling in one or two sittings. You're not committing to a week-long reading project, you're committing to tonight. And when you finish? You prove to yourself that you can do this.
That's capability unlocked.
Solving Opportunity: The 15-Minute Fiction Habit
You might think you don't have time to read. But you probably scrolled social media for 15 minutes this morning. The opportunity is there, it's just been hijacked by other habits.
Short mystery books fit into the gaps of your day:
- 15 minutes before bed
- Your lunch break
- Waiting for dinner to cook
- Saturday morning coffee
You don't need to clear your schedule. You just need a book that respects your time.
Solving Motivation: Fast Plots That Beat the Scroll
Here's what traditional publishers don't want to admit: slow starts kill reading habits. When you're rebuilding your reading muscle after years away, you need a plot that grabs you on page one, not page 87.
Novellas like the ones in the C.T. Mitchell series are designed with one rule: every page has to earn its place. No filler. No 50-page setup. Just fast-paced, gripping mysteries that make you want to turn the page instead of reaching for your phone.
The "First Win" Strategy: Why a Novella is Your Best Entry Point
If you're an aspirational reader, your first book back matters more than you think. Pick wrong, and you're back to guilt and abandoned novels. Pick right, and you start a momentum cycle that builds into a real reading habit.
Short mystery books under 100 pages are the perfect "gateway drug" back into reading because:
- You finish them. That dopamine hit? It's real, and it makes you want another book.
- They're forgiving. Lose track of the plot? You're only 20 pages back, not 200.
- They fit your life. No one's asking you to cancel plans or stay up till 2 a.m. reading.
The Australia Reads research shows that emotions drive behavior. When you finish a book, especially after years of not finishing, you feel accomplished, capable, and excited to read again. That emotional win is what transforms aspirational readers into actual readers.
How C.T. Mitchell's Novellas Became the "Bridge Books" for Lapsed Readers
Let's talk about the elephant in the room: not all books are created equal when it comes to rebuilding a reading habit. You need books that are specifically designed to work with your barriers, not against them.
That's why thousands of lapsed readers have turned to C.T. Mitchell's novella series, they're the perfect "bridge books" to get you from "I used to read" to "I just finished three books this month."
Jack Creed Series: Hard-Boiled Mystery in One Sitting
If you like gritty crime thrillers but don't have patience for 400-page detective epics, the Detective Jack Creed mysteries are your answer. Each novella is under 150 pages, featuring a tough-as-nails detective solving murder cases in the Australian outback.
You get:
- Complete cases solved in one book
- Fast-paced action from page one
- No cliffhangers holding your reading hostage
Lady Margaret Series: Cozy Mystery Meets British Charm
If you prefer your mysteries with a side of tea and manners, the Lady Margaret series delivers classic whodunits with modern pacing. Think Agatha Christie meets one-sitting reads.
Perfect for readers who want:
- Character-driven mysteries
- Clean, clever plots
- That satisfying "aha!" moment without the 300-page slog
Selena Sharma & Miss Coco Series: Mystery with Heart
For readers who like their crime fiction with a touch of warmth (and maybe a dog sidekick), these series prove that cozy mysteries don't have to be slow mysteries.
You get the comfort of cozy fiction with the pace of modern thrillers, no 80-page backstory required.
The genius of these series? They're designed for the finish line. Every book gives you a complete story, a solved mystery, and that crucial sense of accomplishment that keeps you reaching for the next one.
The No-Judgment Reading Revolution
Here's something the Australia Reads research emphasizes: there's no "right" way to read. You don't need to tackle literary classics. You don't need to finish 50 books a year. You don't need to impress anyone with your reading list.
You just need to start.
The aspirational reader isn't broken. The traditional book industry just wasn't built for you. But that's changing. More authors are creating short reads specifically designed for busy people who want to rebuild their reading habit without the guilt or time commitment.
Your reading journey might start with a 90-page mystery novella. That's not "less than" reading a 500-page epic, it's smarter reading. It's reading that fits your life, builds your confidence, and actually gets finished.
Your "Reading Muscle" Workout Starts Now
If you've made it this far, you're already doing the work. You're reading. You're engaged. You're proving to yourself that you can focus on words instead of scrolling.
Now imagine that same feeling, but with a mystery so gripping you forget to check your phone. A plot so tight you finish the whole book in one sitting. A story that makes you think, "Wait, I just read a whole book. When's the last time I did that?"
That's the aspirational reader becoming an actual reader.
Start small. Start short. Start today.
Check out the C.T. Mitchell mystery series and prove to yourself that you're not someone who wishes they read more: you're someone who does.
Because here's the truth the data won't tell you: you're one finished book away from becoming a reader again.
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