For so many people, reading isn’t just a hobby or a way to pass the time–it’s a lifestyle. Our books shape us, define us, enchant us, and even sometimes infuriate us. Our books are a part of who we are as people, and we can’t imagine life without them.

I’d Rather Be Reading is the perfect literary companion for everyone who feels that way. In this collection of charming and relatable reflections on the reading life, beloved blogger and author Anne Bogel leads readers to remember the book that first hooked them, the place where they first fell in love with reading, and all of the moments afterward that helped make them the reader they are today. Known as a reading tastemaker through her popular podcast What Should I Read Next?, Bogel invites book lovers into a community of like-minded people to discover new ways to approach literature, learn fascinating new things about books and publishing, and reflect on the role reading plays in their lives.

This was a very relatable read.  I found myself nodding along or going, “Hey, that’s me!” through the chapters.  Of course, I didn’t relate to every single thing that was talked about in the book, but you get the idea.

In I’d Rather Be Reading, Anne Bogel (Modern Mrs. Darcy and What Should I Read Next?) writes about all things books.  From how people organize their shelves, to common bookworm problems, to utilizing the library… she gets it all.  Some of my favorites included the relatable problems (pretty sure I said yes to all of them) and the section on being book bossy.  I think those of us who want others to read our favorite books can be guilty of being this “book bossy” that Anne writes about.  It takes a while, but we learn that we cannot force our favorites onto others (even thought they really should read them!).

Of course she also talks about her love for libraries and bookstores, which again, relatable.  I think if we bookworms had our way, we’d spend all our free time (and money) in one or both of those places.

One of my favorite chapters was at the end, where Anne talks about wishing she had logged the books she read as a child.  I have actually been thinking the same thing lately.  It would be so amazing to look back and see exactly how many books I read, when I read them, and what I thought of them at at the time.  I think if I could go back and do one thing over in my life, that would be it – starting a reading journal in my very young age.

Again, I mostly enjoyed the book, though I did find some parts where my eyes sort of glazed over.  But overall, this was a cute read and I’m sure most, if not all, bibliophiles will appreciate this book one way or another.

Rating: 3.5 stars