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Books

Thu Feb 5 2026

Clare Mulroy | Books Reporter

If there's anything that changed my reading habits in 2025 , it was hybrid reading. I'll often start my next read with a physical book, then knock out a chapter via audiobook on my commute, then switch back to physical reading when I'm home for the night.

My plea for you to try hybrid reading isn't about productivity. It's about allocating your time differently. For me, hybrid reading helps combat doomscrolling. I can't always bring a physical book with me when I'm out and about, and I certainly can't read it while I'm walking or doing chores. In these times – sitting in waiting rooms, packed like a sardine on a crowded subway – I numb with social media. It never makes me feel good.

Use your camera and Spotify app for seamless audiobook to physical reading.

Courtesy of Spotify

I will always prefer to read physical over digital, but having easy access to the same book on multiple platforms lets me get lost in a story, finish more books and stop spending my time in a virtual black hole. I'm a Spotify Premium user, so my subscription includes 15 hours of audiobook listening. I've also tried out Audible and Libby, which lets you rent from your library for free. There are plenty of ways to hybrid read without breaking the bank.

But there's always been one flaw – how do you find the page you left off on in one platform and switch to the other? I was excited to learn about Spotify's new "Page Match" feature , which begins rolling out this week. You can use your camera to scan your physical book or e-reader and the sentence-matching technology automatically syncs to your place on audio, and vice versa. Read more on how to try "Page Match" here.

Have you tried hybrid reading? What did you think? Share your thoughts at cmulroy@usatoday.com or by reaching out on Instagram. Thanks for checking out USA TODAY Books this week!