To expect people I know to read my book?

Btw tell us the name of the book!

Self-published is a whole different kettle of fish.

Ohgod I never read friend's self published books.

I have bought books friends have written- whether to my taste or not - mostly self published books.
I do it to support them.
A book is a big thing- putting hours, emotions, so much thought process into them.
Can't compare to other services really.
For your book to be in Waterstones, that's a big deal.
Your 'friends' are being unreasonable.

For a good friend I would buy it, read it, give copies as gifts, and try to spread positive word of mouth.

I'm wondering if you move in circles where publishing a book wouldn't be unusual, and so they are more blasé about it?

I think there's a big difference between being a supportive friend...being excited for somebody about a big professional success, feeling proud of what a friend has achieved.... That is expected of any friend and those who don't, or are negative about it, probably aren't very good friends.

That's different though to buying and reading a book. I don't expect friends of mind to be that bought in to what I do at work, to the extent I would expect them to purchase something and then devote time to reading it. I mean, I have bought craft things or baked goods off people who are starting a small business from home etc. but only if I liked or wanted them in the first place.

So I would be pleased and excited for you, but I would only buy and read your book if I was genuinely interested.

Congratulations on the publication, but I think YABU to expect others to be as invested in it as you are. It was nice of your husband to buy a copy - didn't you get any free author's copies, though?

Congratulations on the book!

If I'm honest and my friend wrote a book I would buy a copy probably but I wouldn't read it unless it was about something I would want to read about.

I wouldn't be surprised they wouldn't read it... but it is very odd for them to not know that it's a real book buying really published and so on. Reading it is a bit of a red herring - they should be proud you got the book deal and the good reviews and all that! How is that different from other kinds of personal pursuits that your friends ought to root for?

Congratulations!

I write novels, and so do quite a few people I would class as friends (that I've got to know through book events and festivals), including my best friend -- and I don't buy their novels. I'm often sent copies, though. I don't review friends. I am two friends' first reader for anything they write, though, before their agent or editor sees it, which is an entirely different thing, in that it involves scrupulous honesty, trust and a willingness to give and accept criticism. (And can involve some seriously tricky moments, like telling someone that the last 30,000 words don't work at all, or that the way of writing a regional used for one narrative strand comes off as condescending, or the ending doesn't work...)

Actually, many writers' spouses don't read their work, at least among the people I know well. DH doesn't read mine. It's surprising how many novelists marry people who never read fiction.

Which is a long way round of saying that while my friends who read contemporary literary fiction will read my work, I certainly wouldn't expect the others to. I can't imagine anything worse than thinking of them ploughing their way grimly through something that really wasn't their bag, just because I'd written it.

But well done on your first book, @bethc765 -- don't let the fact that your friends aren't readers, or are weirded out by the fact that you wrote and published something, take the gloss off.

A touch of the green eyed monster?

I have a friend who has written a few books and I have dutifully bought them and said they were great (although I didn’t read them all and it’s not my bag. However, she has now started writing poetry and it’s deep, reflective stuff and not great (a la Adrian Mole). She keeps putting on Facebook and I largely just click the like button and leave it at that.

I've got family members who read my book, and some who haven't, because they're just not readers, or really not interested in the topic I wrote about.

It would be nice if they did, sure, but I don't expect them to plough through hundreds of pages on something they'd never be keen on learning about.

I'll read it if you tell us what it is!
What is the story about ?
Well done though.

Congrats OP, or coursd should be more vocally supportive. But they may be either waiting to see if you give them a signed free copy or they are worried they'll recognise themselves or others in it. One of my relatives wrote and self published a novel. I recognised several of the characters in it which made it a bit toe-curling to read. Obviously yours is a proper, well written book, but I think it's a genuine worry for some people.

YANBU congratulations OP, If you tell me the book I'll read it

I would buy five copies and be shamelessly proud! I would tell people, "this is my friend!!!" They would be impressed that I had a friend who wrote a book and many of them would read it that one step removed. I know this because I did it. Why can't people champion others achievements? Jealousy? I think it's weird they didn't read it, and weird people don't think it weird.

Perhaps @GlitteriestFluff her husband felt proud walking into Waterstones or wherever and purchasing a book written by his wife. Rather than an ambivalent putting of a free copy on the family bookshelf quietly whilst no one looked lest she be accused of showing off

I repair old motorbikes.

I don't expect my friends to buy them.

YANBU. Congratulations on getting a book published OP! I would also be disappointed in your situation.