Heyyyy look! My first discussion post since *checks notes* March! Let's do this!
I've always liked to think that I don't have guilty pleasure reads, but the last few months have taught me that I absolutely do. It isn't necessarily that I feel embarrassed about reading them, although that is sometimes the case. Most of the time the guilt comes from feeling like I'm somehow wasting time by rereading books that I've already read that I know are objectively not that great. Especially when I could be reading something for review or something newly released that I'm dying to get to.
Not surprisingly, the first thing that comes to mind when I consider guilty pleasures is the Twilight Saga. I honestly couldn't tell you what it is about this series that speaks to me besides nostalgia, although I was in my early 20s when I first read them.
When Midnight Sun was announced I mocked it, but you better believe I was reading it on release day. Throughout the 600+ pages of this book I continually had to remind myself that it's OKAY to enjoy it, even knowing that the story is certainly worthy of all the cringes. One of my best bookish friends made fun of me throughout the entire reading process and I debated publicly even saying that I was reading it, but you know what? I'm too old.
Reading Midnight Sun was cathartic because it made me realize that I'm past being embarrassed about enjoying something. Yes it's cringe-worthy and problematic. Yes I get secondhand embarrassment for the characters. But the world sucks right now in so many ways, so I'm taking my enjoyment wherever I can find it. I dived right into New Moon after I finished. Don't @ me.
Another book that comes to mind is A Court of Thorns and Roses. I was shocked to realize this year that I had read this book FOUR times. Just the first one. I don't know when it happened, but A Court of Thorns and Roses became THE book I go to when I'm feeling depressed, overwhelmed, or otherwise emotional.
I'm well aware that this isn't regarded as the best book in the series, but there's something immensely comforting to me about Feyre's journey in ACOTAR. I could have spent all that time reading something new or something people consider to be better. I know a subset of the bookish community likes to poo poo on Sarah J. Maas, but something about this book specifically just makes me feel better.
What are your guilty pleasure books?
Do you ever re-read?
Let me know in the comments!
Let me know in the comments!
