Reading Books is Sexy Now

Remember when admitting you spent Saturday night with a book was social suicide? That was certainly the case back in the 90s, when I was in college. 

Well, apparently reading is so sexy now that people are lying about it on dating apps.

I nearly spit out my coffee when I discovered this article on bookfishing—the latest dating trend where people pretend to love books just to seem more swipe-worthy. 

According to Bumble, 66% of young singles are more likely to match with someone who mentions reading. Suddenly, everyone is a Dostoyevsky devotee and their perfect Sunday involves curling up with a good book? Sure.

The data is wild. Mentions of “book boyfriend” on Tinder jumped 306% in two years. Reading references in bios leapt 184%. At this rate, by 2027 everyone on dating apps will claim they're working on their debut novel or memoir. (And come to us for help, I hope!)

Then again, I get it. I mean, I was into bookish men long before it was cool. 

Before Kiran and I met, I told my friends that I gave any man I was considering dating “The Bookshelf Test.” No books? No go. A paltry shelf filled only with the latest mass fiction reads by Michael Crichton and James Cromwell? Probably not. I needed to see some literature on those shelves. Poetry, even. 

I’m just happy the rest of the world is finally catching onto the idea that we readers are irresistible. Just check out our vast vocabularies and our ability to sit still for hours! Sexy! 

But pretending to love books to get a date? Well, I’m pretty sure you won’t be able to keep up that facade for long. “Tell me what you liked about Ulysses, Joe.”

Keep reading (for real), my friends. 

Aloha,

MeiMei

TIP OF THE WEEK:

Share Your Bookshelf

When was the last time you actually took a long look at those books lining your shelves? 

Kiran and I clean ours out every few years, pairing down to only “the books we love,” yet somehow our collection still numbers in the hundreds.

Sigh… 

This article inspired me to create a freewheeling, top of mind list of my favorite books of all time, across genres:

• The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera
• The Golden Compass (and the entire His Dark Materials series) by Phillip Pullman
• Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
• The Path with Heart by Jack Kornfield
• Any book of poetry by Mary Oliver
• Peace is Every Step by Thich Nhat Hanh

What are yours? Share them with me… And on your dating profile 

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