I Need to Read Fewer Books
Image Courtesy: The Espresso Addition
Ever since I could read on my own, I’ve had a book on my person. That might be a slight exaggeration— I don’t know exactly how the logistics of an elementary school kid just carrying around a loose book would work— but you understand what I mean. Reading has been a fundamental part of my life for as long as I can remember, and while that is a great thing in theory, in practice my reading habit has become sort of a problem.
This year, I’ve read 90 books. NINETY. That is too many books. On top of that, 98% of what I read is what I describe to other people as “rom-com nonsense” that is basically the equivalent of watching TV, only I get to come up with the pictures. While reading that much might positively impact my vocabulary, improve my concentration, and strengthen my ability to empathize, it also takes up a decent amount of time that could be used doing more directly productive things. So, in a rare moment of planning ahead, I have decided that my New Year’s resolution this year is to read fewer books. Mom, are you proud? I’m recognizing my problem.
Although I’m trying to curb my reading habit, the amount of books I’ve read this year and in years past grant me a certain expertise. I tend to go for romance books, usually lighthearted ones with illustrated covers, and can usually tell pretty immediately whether a book will suck me in or feel like mild torture to get through. With that in mind, here are the three best and worst books I’ve read this year:
BEST:
Image Courtesy: Emily Henry
Book Lovers by Emily Henry – I’m a sucker for books about people who love books, and this rom-com about two publishing-industry rivals did not disappoint. Although the author’s millennialism tends to show through her work, she gets a pass for crafting storylines that consistently give me that warm fuzzy feeling inside.
Source: Michelle Hazen
Breathe the Sky by Michelle Hazen – Enemies to lovers, unique character backstories, and women in stem? Sign me up! I had never heard of this author before and just read this on a whim, but I’m so glad I did! I highly recommend!
Image Courtesy: Tessa Bailey
My Killer Vacation by Tessa Bailey – Oh boy, does Tessa know how to write a romance. I love all of her books, but this most recent one was the best parts of a mystery and a steamy rom-com rolled into one. I cannot thank my roommate enough for recommending this grumpy/sunshine romance to me!
WORST:
Image Courtesy: Penelope Douglas
“Punk 57” by Penelope Douglas – TikTok really did me wrong with this recommendation. I wasn’t a fan of the cliché “he’s mean to you so he must like you” premise, and overall, it felt like pulling teeth to get through.
Image Courtesy: Jillian Cantor
The Code for Love and Heartbreak by Jillian Cantor – I was really excited for this sweet YA reworking of Jane Austen’s “Emma”, but I had a hard time relating to the oftentimes whiny and pitiful main character. This could be a sign that I’m outgrowing YA novels, but I believe that high school characters can still be problem solvers.
Image Courtesy: Colleen Hoover
It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover – Yet another TikTok recommendation that fell flat for me. Colleen Hoover and Penelope Douglas are practically interchangeable to me and I’m just not a fan of giving characters trauma as an excuse for them lacking any depth.
It is no surprise that too much of a good thing can, in fact, be bad. I’ve decided to use the next couple of months as a pre-resolution trial run; putting away the screens instead of reading when I have idle time on my phone, setting a timer to put a bookmark in it, and reading more nonfiction are all ways I plan to tackle my little reading problem. Maybe next year I’ll even be able to pick 10 books out of my comfort zone to take my time with instead of my usual easy fiction reads—quality over quantity, or something like that. Wish me luck.
Strike Out,
Katherine Rhodes
Editor: Anna Albright
Athens