The disclosure relates in some aspects to suspending a read for a non-volatile memory (NVM) device. For example, a lower priority read may be suspended to enable a higher priority read to occur. Once the higher priority read completes, the lower priority read is resumed. To improve the efficiency of the read suspension, the lower priority read may be suspended once data sensing at a current level of the NVM device completes. The data for each level that has already been sensed is then stored so that this data does not need to be sensed again. Once the lower priority read is resumed, the data sensing starts at the next level of the NVM device. The data output for the lower priority read thus includes the stored data for any levels read before the read is suspended, along with the data from the levels read after the read is resumed.