Outdoor Activities Were Preferred Over Summer Reading

Guest writer Liza Semenova dreaded reading in school and now, as an adult, she's a voracious reader who can't wait to read her next book

Hi readers,

When Liza responded to my request for guest writers, her idea piqued my interest because she said she had been a non-reader through school and now was a passionate reader who likes to write about the books she reads. She hinted at struggles with reading assignments in school and having to write about books she read over the summer. I wanted to know more about what changed and why, and she’s here to share her secrets. Welcome to SoNovelicious, Liza!

Hello SoNovelicious readers! I’m so happy to be here. Thank you, Gayla, for this wonderful opportunity to share my story with the SoNovelicious community. My name is Liza, and I’m a passionate content creator and writer. I’m also the author of

The Bookmarked Newsletter

, where I share my book reviews, recommendations, and snippets from the world of books. While I love books and writing about them, it hasn’t always been a love affair. If anything, it was the opposite.

As a child, I thought reading was boring. Unlike those kids who would spend the entire day cuddled up with the book in their room, I preferred the outdoor activities, spending endless hours playing games with friends and climbing trees. For a 10-year-old me, reading was a chore.

At school, summer reading lists were my nemesis and evoked a sense of dread in me. Every summer, I struggled to muster up the willpower and make myself read something so I didn't look and feel like a failure. At the beginning of each school year, we had to write an essay, “How I spent my summer” (yep, we really did that), and list all the books we read. While I had much to say about playing hide-and-seek outdoors, I had zero input about the books. Once, to save myself from embarrassment, I included a few titles I hadn’t actually read (because who will ever know?). To my disappointment, my efforts failed—I misspelled the author’s name, so my teacher figured it all out. 

It is fair to say that books and I did not get off on the right foot. This was a humble reminder of how disengaged I felt from the literary world. I considered myself not a book person and went on with my life, focusing on other hobbies like music and sports. Until one day, things changed.

How I transformed into an avid reader

It wasn’t until my early twenties that I fell in love with books. At that point, I lived in a big city where the weather was always grey, depression was a state of mind, and a one-hour commute was the standard.

During one of my rides to work, I looked around the subway and noticed many fellow commuters reading a book or a newspaper. The metro was built so deep underground that the mobile reception didn’t work there, and ten years ago, there was also no Wi-Fi inside, so there weren’t many entertainment choices. This immersion in reading sparked curiosity in me. I was going through something at that moment and was looking for a distraction, so I decided to give books a try.

I started this book adventure by reading Queen Margot by Alexandre Dumas, which was recommended to me by my colleague, and my life hasn’t been the same since. The narrative, the storytelling, and the complex characters were so captivating for me at that time that I became obsessed with this book. When reading it in my free time and during my daily commute to work wasn’t enough, I found myself secretly opening a PDF file on my computer during working hours (I admit, I wasn’t an employee of the month!). Following my newly found passion, I went on to read other masterpieces like The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt, The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton, and Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand, which remain some of my favorite books of all time.

I became fascinated by the power of words. Masterfully written by someone else, they can transport you to another reality, helping you cope with your own. These books were my support when I needed it the most. They occupied my time and mind when I wasn’t working (and even when I was), entertained me, and taught me new things. But most importantly, they instilled in me a love for reading that I cherish to this day.

For the first time in my life, I was immersed in reading material of my choosing at my own pace. Unlike summer reading lists that forced you to read what the school program dictates, even if you’re too young to comprehend and appreciate it, I was consciously reading what I wanted to read and when I wanted to read it. I’m grateful that I stumbled upon these books that resonated with me and rediscovered reading at the right moment of my life.

How my love for reading impacted my life and career

My newfound passion for reading accelerated my personal and professional growth. It led me to become a writer, start a bookish newsletter, join the local book club, and write about books.

I love spending my free time reading, and I can’t imagine a better Sunday than cozying up on a couch with a book, coffee, and a blanket. As a book lover, I enjoy everything from fiction to nonfiction, paperbacks to ebooks, and science to mysteries. I also love sharing my favorite books with friends and exploring their collections for hidden treasures.

Today, I find joy in crafting content for clients and sharing insights on my Medium blog. I enjoy writing about personal growth, entrepreneurship, health & lifestyle, traveling, and, of course, books and reading. Through

The Bookmarked Newsletter

and local book clubs, I hope to build a community of enthusiasts united by our love and passion for books.

In retrospect, immersing myself in the world of books has been one of the most impactful and eye-opening experiences of my life. What began as a casual reading experiment has turned into a passion. To those who say, “I don’t like reading,” I invite you to reconsider. Books are powerful and can help you embark on a journey of self-discovery and personal growth. I believe there is no such thing as “not a book person.” There are only people who have yet to discover the beauty of books.

As you reflect on my journey, I encourage you to think about your relationship with reading: have you experienced a moment when a book transported you to another world? Have books helped you find solace in difficult times? What’s the book that impacted you the most? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments or reach out to discuss your experience—I’m happy to hear from you! Thank you for joining me on this journey and reading this far.

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Besides being an avid reader and a content writer, Liza lives in Vienna, Austria, with her boyfriend and her English cocker spaniel, Charlie. She writes a free newsletter with her book recommendations to help you find your next favorite read. She loves music, sports, ice skating, traveling, attending concerts and festivals, and spending time with her friends and family.

She can be found at the following places: Newsletter | Medium | Website | Instagram. Instead of her own Instagram account, she enjoys posting funny content on her dog’s page, so check it out if you’re a dog person!

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Liza, thanks so much for being here and sharing your reading life with others. I know your story will resonate with readers everywhere. It makes my bookish heart smile to read your story of how you came to be a voracious reader as an adult after dreading reading so much in school. It makes reading more profound and special when you come to it as you did—by choice and not dread. Charlie is so cute! I checked out his Instagram, and he looks like he has so much fun having you as his very special hooman.

Readers, head to the comments to share your thoughts. Feel free to ask Liza any questions about her reading life and Charlie, and share something about your own reading life so she can get to know you a little better, too.

That’s it for this week. I hope you have a great week. Happy reading!