Why you shouldn’t judge others for their reading tastes

Lately I’ve heard a lot of people comment on whether books people like are “critically acclaimed”, classics or something that’s deemed to be socially acceptable.

It’s extremely annoying. If someone connects with a book, whether it’s a classic or a young adult summer read, it doesn’t matter as long as it made that individual happy. Why suffer reading something you aren’t going to enjoy?

If everyone liked the same things, life would be boring. Do you like the same food, movies or clothes as everyone else? Probably not because that’s what’s so wonderful about the world. Everyone has their own tastes and own interests – none of which they should be shamed for.

It’s incredible so many books exist that there are friends, places, dragons, new worlds and so much more to explore beyond our own realities, without even leaving our homes.

I will literally read anything and while I enjoy the likes of Pride and Prejudice and The Picture of Dorian Gray, I’m not ashamed to say I read books aimed for children and teenagers from time to time. Come on, The Hunger Games is one of the greatest of all time. While I love critically acclaimed books like Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors and Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan, I’m not ashamed to say I find “chick-lit” and thrillers the easiest to read. They may be pushed aside by some as “just a holiday read” but Sophie Kinsella and Lindsay Kelk have me in stitches and every single Lisa Jewell thriller I’ve read so far, especially Then She Was Gone, has gotten me out of a deep reading slump. Nor am I bothered to say that I don’t always “get” poetry. I’ve been trying to read more but I won’t be upset if it’s not something I take to and neither should you.

Social media is the latest to be criticised for making certain books trend. People have been aghast at tables in bookshops labelled “As seen on TikTok”. All I see is more people discovering their love of books and that’s truly a joyous thing. Do you remember your first time picking up a book and loving it? Why would you want to take that away from someone else? So many people thought they hated reading because they only read the recommended reads in school and since the rise of BookTok and Booktube have found they can read whatever their heart desires which really is a pretty cool thing.

Exploring new genres is fun. Recently I rediscovered my love of fantasy books and also found a new fondness for graphic novels. Some of my favourites have included the Caraval series by Stephanie Garber and An Ember in the Ashes by Sabah Tahir.

My point is, read what you want to read. No one should judge you and if they do, they’re probably stuck reading some book they hate because they think they should and are inflicting their own issues onto others. Life’s too short to read books you don’t enjoy. Happy reading!

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What’s your favourite genre to read? Let me know in the comments! I’m also on Instagram and Twitter – @bookwormgirl_24