Look, I need to have an honest conversation with you. Not about a book this time, but about everything that happens around the books. The towering TBR pile on your nightstand. The shelves you’ve reorganised four times this month. The book haul you swore would be your last. We need to talk about all of it, because if you’re anything like me, the bookish lifestyle has completely taken over your life, and you wouldn’t change a thing.
The TBR Pile: A Beautiful, Guilt-Inducing Monster
Can we just acknowledge that no reader on this planet has a “manageable” to-be-read pile? It doesn’t exist. I’ve tried. I really have. I’ve told myself things like “I won’t buy another book until I’ve read at least five from the pile,” and then I last about three days before a gorgeous new release catches my eye and suddenly I’m at the checkout with two books I definitely do not need.
My TBR situation right now is honestly a bit chaotic. There’s the physical stack on my bedside table that’s threatening to topple over in the night. There’s the separate pile on the shelf that I’ve mentally categorised as “will get to eventually.” And then there’s the Goodreads want-to-read list, which at this point is less of a list and more of a deeply unrealistic life plan. I would need to quit my job, cancel all social commitments, and do nothing but read for about two years to get through it. And even then, I’d probably add more along the way.
The funny thing is, I wouldn’t have it any other way. There’s something genuinely comforting about knowing you’ll never run out of something to read. Sure, it comes with a side of guilt every time you walk past a stack of untouched books, but it also comes with endless possibility. Every unread book is a world waiting to happen, and that’s pretty magical when you think about it.
Shelfies: Decorating or Obsession?
Now let’s talk about bookshelves, because if you’re a book lover, you know that organising your shelves is basically a hobby in its own right. I have gone through every possible method. Alphabetical by author. Organised by genre. Colour coded (gorgeous, but completely impractical when you actually want to find something). Sorted by size. Sorted by vibes. Yes, vibes. Don’t judge me.
There’s a reason #bookshelf and #shelfie have millions of posts online. A well-styled bookshelf is a thing of beauty. It tells people who you are without you saying a word. It’s part personality test, part interior design, part flex. And honestly, rearranging my shelves has become one of my favourite ways to procrastinate from actually reading the books on them.
I’ve also fallen deep into the bookish decor rabbit hole. Little bookmarks tucked between spines. A candle that smells like “old library” (yes, that’s a real thing, and yes, it’s incredible). A tiny print propped up against the books with a quote from a favourite novel. My shelves aren’t just storage anymore. They’re a whole mood.
But here’s the real question that divides the bookish community: do you keep every book you read, or do you only display your favourites? I used to be a keep-everything person, but space has forced me to be more ruthless. If a book was just okay, it goes to a charity shop or gets passed on to a friend. If it made me feel something real, it earns its spot on the shelf. My shelves have become a curated collection of the stories that genuinely meant something to me, and I love looking at them for that reason.
Book Hauls: The Thrill, the Guilt, and the Justification
Oh, book hauls. The sweet, sweet dopamine rush of coming home with a bag full of new books. Whether it’s a trip to a charity shop where you scored five paperbacks for next to nothing, a wander through a beautiful independent bookshop, or an online order that arrived in a very satisfying box, there is nothing quite like the feeling of a fresh stack of unread books.
I’ll be the first to admit that I have a problem. I don’t need more books. My shelves are full. My TBR is out of control. And yet, when I see a title I’ve been hearing about, or a cover that’s just chef’s kiss, or a deal that feels too good to pass up, something in my brain short-circuits and I simply must have it.
The justification process is always the same, too. “It’s a classic, I should own it.” “This was recommended by three people I trust.” “It’s only a few pounds, it would be silly not to.” “I’ll read it next, I promise.” Spoiler: I will not read it next. It will go on the pile with the others, and future me will deal with it.
But you know what? I’ve stopped feeling guilty about it. Books are one of the most affordable, enriching, screen-free pleasures out there. If buying a stack of novels brings me joy, and it does, then that’s a perfectly good use of my time and money. I’d rather have too many books than not enough. Every single time.
The Little Rituals That Make It Special
Beyond the shelves, the hauls, and the ever-growing TBR, it’s the small rituals that really make the bookish life feel like home. Making a cup of tea before settling in with a new chapter. Picking out a bookmark that matches the mood of the story. Turning off your phone and letting yourself get completely lost in someone else’s world for an hour.
For me, reading has never just been about the books themselves. It’s about the whole experience. The anticipation of starting something new. The cosy corner of the sofa that’s become “my reading spot.” The satisfaction of closing a book you loved and just sitting with the feeling for a moment before reaching for the next one.
And then there’s the community. Talking about books with other readers, whether that’s online, at a book club, or just with a friend who finally read that novel you’ve been recommending for months. There’s nothing like that moment when someone says “I just finished it” and you can finally scream about the ending together. That connection over shared stories is honestly one of my favourite things about being a reader.
So, What Kind of Book Person Are You?
I think every reader falls somewhere on the bookish lifestyle spectrum. Maybe you’re a minimalist who reads on a Kindle and keeps a tidy shelf of ten carefully chosen favourites. Maybe you’re a maximalist whose house is basically a library with a kitchen. Maybe you’re somewhere in between, trying to find the balance and mostly failing (hi, that’s me).
Wherever you fall, I think we can all agree on one thing: there’s no such thing as too many books. There’s only not enough shelf space. And honestly? That’s a problem I’m more than happy to have.
Happy reading, friends. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a TBR pile to ignore while I browse for more books.
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