Your Survival Guide to dating someone who's already taken by fictional characters.
TL;DR/Quick Overview: Dating a book lover means entering a world rich with imagination and quiet depth. These witty 10 commandments will help you understand, appreciate, and happily coexist with your bibliophile partner. It’s less about changing your habits and more about appreciating theirs.
Dating a serial reader? Congrats! You've got yourself a partner who can hold fascinating conversations and never runs out of stories. But here's the thing - loving someone who's perpetually lost in the pages of books comes with its own delightful rulebook. Master these 10 commandments for dating a book lover and you'll navigate their bookish world like a pro.
10 Commandments for Dating a Book Lover
1. Thou Shalt Not Interrupt Sacred Reading Time
When we're deep in a book, we're not ignoring you - we're literally in another dimension. That "just one more chapter" isn't a suggestion; it's a solemn vow. We'll surface eventually, probably with fascinating insights about fictional characters you've never met.
2. Thou Shalt Not Say "Why Don't You Just Watch the Movie?"
Oh, sweet summer child! The movie is never the same. We didn't spend 400 pages getting to know these characters just to watch them get butchered by Hollywood in two hours. The book has seventeen subplots, three love interests, and a magic system that would make your head spin.
3. Thou Shalt Not Touch Our Books Without Permission
Our books are not just books - they're old friends with perfectly broken spines and margin notes that tell stories. These books are our home. Do not trespass.
4. Thou Shalt Not Be Jealous of Our Book Boyfriends (and Husbands)
Look, when we sigh over Mr. Darcy's brooding intensity or a fictional dark prince's morally grey decisions, it's not a reflection on you. These men have been crafted by professionals to be impossibly perfect and never leave their socks on the floor. Consider them less like competition and more like a very entertaining, very fictional hobby. We promise, you're still the one we want to share the remote with.
5. Thou Shalt Not Suggest We "Have Enough Books"
News Flash: There's no such thing as enough books. Saying we have too many books is like saying we have too many dreams. It's like clipping our wings and hindering us from flying. It's suffocating and offensive. Suggesting that is considered a glaring red flag in our world.
6. Thou Shalt Respect the Sacred Bookstore Browse
When we enter a bookstore, time becomes irrelevant. We will touch every spine, read every back cover, and have meaningful relationships with books we might buy someday. Your patience during these literary pilgrimages is deeply appreciated.
7. Thou Shalt Learn to Love Our Reading Nooks
We've engineered the perfect reading spot with optimal lighting, the coziest blanket, and strategic snack placement. This isn't just a corner - it's our fortress of solitude, and we'd love for you to show it reverence.
8. Thou Shalt Appreciate Our Literary Date Ideas
Library visits, bookstore browsing, and quiet coffee shop reading sessions aren't boring - they're romantic. There's something magical about sharing comfortable silence while we both get lost in different worlds.
9. Thou Shalt Understand Our Book Buying Impulses
When we say we're "just looking," we both know that's adorable optimism. Yes, we already have twelve unread books at home. Yes, we still need this one. It's called planning for the future.
10. Thou Shalt Ask About Our Current Read
"What are you reading?" and "How was your book?" are languages of love in their own right. We love sharing our literary adventures. Ask us about our current book and prepare for an enthusiastic plot summary, character analysis, and possibly a passionate rant about why this author is either brilliant or completely overrated.
FAQs: Dating a Book Lover
Is there a dating site for book lovers?
Yes, there are several dating apps and sites for people who love to read, each offering a unique way to connect with fellow bibliophiles.
- Niche Apps: Platforms like Bookmark and BookLovers.dating are designed specifically for readers to find romantic connections. Bookmark even keeps your photo hidden until you've exchanged a set of messages, prioritizing conversation.
- Interest-Based Apps: Broader apps like Boo use personality matching and interest "universes" where you can find and chat with other book lovers.
- Creative Avenues: While not dating apps, platforms like Goodreads (through its friends feature) and Meetup (via book clubs) can also be great ways to meet like-minded readers organically.
What do you call a girl who likes books?
A bibliophile is someone who loves books, a term from Greek meaning 'book lover'. While this term applies to any gender, it's the most common and accurate descriptor.
- Bookworm is another popular and widely used term for someone who reads a lot.
- Less common, but equally charming terms you might hear in bookish circles include 'book dragon' (someone who hoards books) or 'librocubicularist' (a person who reads in bed).
What are the signs of book obsession?
Here's how to know you're dating someone with a book obsession. Look for these signs:
- Their "To Be Read" (TBR) pile is a teetering tower that defies gravity, yet they continue to buy more books.
- They carry a book everywhere, seeing any moment of waiting as a golden reading opportunity.
- They might decline social plans because they have a "previous engagement" with the final chapters of a gripping novel.
- They own multiple copies of their favorite books—one pristine copy for the shelf, another "loaner" copy for friends, and one on Kindle for traveling.
- Vacations are planned around potential uninterrupted reading time.
What is the personality of a bookworm?
While every bookworm is unique, many share a few common personality traits cultivated through their love of reading.
- Patient: They have the patience to get through 800-page fantasy epics, and that patience often extends to people and relationships.
- Empathetic: By living thousands of lives through characters in books, they often develop a deep sense of empathy and understanding for others.
- Imaginative: They are often dreamers who have explored countless worlds without ever leaving their reading nook.
- Articulate: Spending so much time with the written word often makes them thoughtful and expressive communicators.
What are the tendencies of a bibliophile?
A bibliophile's tendencies go beyond just reading; they have a deep, reverent love for books as objects and ideas.
- They are collectors. A bibliophile doesn't just read books; they curate a personal library. Their collection is a source of immense pride.
- They love the hunt. They find joy in browsing bookstores and libraries, always on the lookout for hidden gems or special editions.
- They have an insatiable appetite. Their hunger for reading is never fully satisfied. They are always seeking new authors, genres, and stories to consume.
- They follow authors, not just trends. They often develop a deep connection to their favorite authors and will follow their careers, read their interviews, and eagerly await new releases.
Which of these golden rules for dating a book lover do you relate to the most?
21 comments
Dear Lux, wonderful tips. I smiled through these commandments.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing. ❤️
This is hilarious! My hubby isn't a reader, so I definitely relate!
ReplyDeleteLol, I love it :D ANd yes do not disturb my reading time
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun and entertaining post Lux! You have me pegged well. ☺️
ReplyDeleteHahaha.. I'm sending this to my husband.
ReplyDeleteAmen to all of that. I had to buy two new bookshelves last year because beside translating work, I get up to ten books a month from my publisher to write reviews.
ReplyDeleteI love this so much! And, I am blessed, my husband loves to read, and loves going to bookstores, library, or whatever :) Some of our favorite dates have been bookstores.
ReplyDeleteGracias por los consejos. Te mando un beso.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with these.
ReplyDeleteThose were really interesting, you did great research!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun post! Thank you for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteThese are great! :-D
ReplyDeleteThis is great!!! And who knew there were dating sites for book lovers? I guess there's one for everyone!
ReplyDeleteLOL! My poor husband has lost me more times than either of us want to count to a good story. Love this post. Too fun!
ReplyDelete"We didn't spend 400 pages getting to know these characters just to watch them get butchered by Hollywood in two hours."
ReplyDelete😂
This was witty and a lot of fun! Also, I didn't know there were dating apps for booklovers, and it's neat that one of them doesn't let the other person see your pic until you've exchanged a number of messages.
Hi, Lux!
ReplyDeleteThis post made me smile, dear friend, as I recognize the dynamics of my own relationship with Mrs. Shady. She is a bibliophile. Perhaps "book dragon" would be the better term given her personality :) and the fact that she is a hoarder. She also reads in bed every night, so let's add librocubicularist to the list. I, on the other hand, fall into the movie buff and TV binge watcher categories. Every evening, we watch a few TV shows together, but I can tell she'd rather be reading. I have a problem reading because my mind wanders so much that it slows me down. I tend to become impatient and quit.
I thoroughly enjoyed this essay outlining the dos and don'ts in your 10 Commandments for Dating a Book Lover. Thank you for visiting Shady's Place today, dear friend Lux. I hope to see you again at the end of the month when I return with my second post celebrating Halloween 2025!
I had no idea there were dating sites for readers!
ReplyDeleteWonderful posts and so true about those commandments!
ReplyDeletenew knowledge for me...
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing
Lol, I love these!! Thankfully, my husband is pretty great at supporting my reading habits!
ReplyDeleteLOL - what a fun post!
ReplyDelete