Not Genesis. Here's a starting order that actually makes sense.
Most people who try to read the Bible cover to cover stall out somewhere in Leviticus. Genealogies and ceremonial law aren't where a new believer needs to start. Start with the Gospel of John. It was written specifically so people would believe. Then read a short New Testament letter, like Ephesians or Philippians, to see what the Christian life actually looks like in practice. From there, the book of Acts shows the early church figuring all of this out in real time.
Once those feel familiar, go back to the Old Testament. It makes far more sense once you already know how the story ends.
Read in paragraphs, not isolated verses. A single line pulled out of its surroundings can be made to say almost anything; the context around it is what actually controls the meaning. Ask who wrote it, who they were writing to, and why, before you ask what it means for your life today. That order matters. Application that skips interpretation usually gets the application wrong too.
And don't rush it. A few verses read slowly, with real attention, will do more than a chapter skimmed to check a box.
Want more structure than this? The Growing in Grace app is built for daily reading, and our upcoming How to Study video series goes deeper into method. Stuck on a specific passage? Ask.