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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I can’t stop buying books!

213 replies

cantstopbuyingbooks · 30/07/2026 14:43

Help!

I picked up a huge stack in Asda for my holiday, which I then started to read.

Then I got some more on Amazon, which I’ve broken into.

Then I got even more in Asda today! I just can’t help myself! I’ve read five in five days!

OP posts:
EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 30/07/2026 18:11

cantstopbuyingbooks · 30/07/2026 18:01

Oh and just for all the book snobs - I love a cheesy romance series. Preferably with hot cowboys or some form of athlete.

Abby Jimenez does a nice line in cheesy romance

DonaldWheresMaTweezers · 30/07/2026 18:08

It's not an issue if you're reading them (as long as you can afford to buy them). I would only be concerned if it was turning into 'book hoarding' with unread books piling up everywhere.

And read whatever sort of books you enjoy reading!

Original poster
cantstopbuyingbooks · 30/07/2026 18:01

Oh and just for all the book snobs - I love a cheesy romance series. Preferably with hot cowboys or some form of athlete.

OP posts:
Original poster
cantstopbuyingbooks · 30/07/2026 17:56

thedogisfine · 30/07/2026 17:34

I spend all my money on books from Vinted! It’s great, then I sell them on.

currently loving John marrs and Noelle W. Ihli

I think I’ll try listing some on Vinted and see if they sell!

OP posts:
looselegs · 30/07/2026 17:56

HauntingBillCrouse · 30/07/2026 14:47

It's not your fault. It's all those authors, they keep writing books, damn them.

I know!
How very dare they!

Original poster
cantstopbuyingbooks · 30/07/2026 17:54

AnAlpacaForChristmasPleaseSanta · 30/07/2026 17:26

But then how would those posters get their kicks out of feeling superior?!

Show quote history

I’ve read plenty of classics.

Tried to plough through Proust at age 17 and felt like ripping my eyes out. Some of the classics just aren’t that well written.

OP posts:
Original poster
cantstopbuyingbooks · 30/07/2026 17:53

SingForYourDinner · 30/07/2026 17:38

Drivel is drivel, more matter where it's purchased. How you read it makes no difference. Surely you can tell dross from something worthwhile, regardless of your specific subjective taste? If you like thrillers there's a difference between John La Carré or Mick Herron or the lowest slop.

It's hardly snobbish to say that the books Asda stocks will be the lowest common demoninator, not surprisingly, because it's a supermarket, not a bookshop, and no one goes there to buy books -- disposable thrillers and romance, romantasy, cookery books, minor celebrity autobiography, the dopier end of self-help etc. The only non-shit title I saw last time I looked at books in an Asda was Patrick Radden Keefe's London Falling.

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But who says that everything that’s written and read has to be a literary masterpiece or a classic? Maybe people just like an easy story, a crime with a twist or just something fun. I love romantasy and always will. You can pry my ACOTAR books from my cold, dead hands.

For the person who asked for recommendations, my favourite ever crime write is Janice Hallett. I adore her style.

OP posts:
FeliciaFancybottom · 30/07/2026 17:46

SingForYourDinner · 30/07/2026 17:38

Drivel is drivel, more matter where it's purchased. How you read it makes no difference. Surely you can tell dross from something worthwhile, regardless of your specific subjective taste? If you like thrillers there's a difference between John La Carré or Mick Herron or the lowest slop.

It's hardly snobbish to say that the books Asda stocks will be the lowest common demoninator, not surprisingly, because it's a supermarket, not a bookshop, and no one goes there to buy books -- disposable thrillers and romance, romantasy, cookery books, minor celebrity autobiography, the dopier end of self-help etc. The only non-shit title I saw last time I looked at books in an Asda was Patrick Radden Keefe's London Falling.

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So what you're saying is the weird judgement of books doesn't end, ok.

RemindMeIn15Minutes · 30/07/2026 17:40

HAPPILYMARRIEDSINCE2012 · 30/07/2026 14:55

This

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Seconded!

SingForYourDinner · 30/07/2026 17:38

FeliciaFancybottom · 30/07/2026 17:35

If a bookshop sells the same books as Asda, are they still drivel or are they superior because they were from a bookshop?
Is it lesser if you buy the Kindle version rather than the paper version? Is a hardback superior to a paperback?
Where does this weird judgement of books end?

Show quote history

Drivel is drivel, more matter where it's purchased. How you read it makes no difference. Surely you can tell dross from something worthwhile, regardless of your specific subjective taste? If you like thrillers there's a difference between John La Carré or Mick Herron or the lowest slop.

It's hardly snobbish to say that the books Asda stocks will be the lowest common demoninator, not surprisingly, because it's a supermarket, not a bookshop, and no one goes there to buy books -- disposable thrillers and romance, romantasy, cookery books, minor celebrity autobiography, the dopier end of self-help etc. The only non-shit title I saw last time I looked at books in an Asda was Patrick Radden Keefe's London Falling.

FeliciaFancybottom · 30/07/2026 17:35

onesinglepringle · 30/07/2026 17:18

If you're reading them then what's the problem? There are much worse things to spend money on.

There is a lot of drivel in Asda though, why not make a trip to a nice book shop or even your local library?

If a bookshop sells the same books as Asda, are they still drivel or are they superior because they were from a bookshop?
Is it lesser if you buy the Kindle version rather than the paper version? Is a hardback superior to a paperback?
Where does this weird judgement of books end?

thedogisfine · 30/07/2026 17:34

I spend all my money on books from Vinted! It’s great, then I sell them on.

currently loving John marrs and Noelle W. Ihli

user1471445064 · 30/07/2026 17:32

Our local library will order books for you.
just finished Yesteryear and London Falling both ordered for me.
For romantacy try the teen section.

NotSmallButFunSize · 30/07/2026 17:32

BauhausOfEliott · 30/07/2026 17:25

There is a lot of drivel in Asda though

Christ, what is it with Mumsnet and the chronic inability of posters to JUST LET PEOPLE ENJOY THINGS?

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It's hardly like Asda wrote them is it??

They do sell actual authors! I hate snobbery about things like books, music etc - it's just entertainment!

NotOnYourEllie · 30/07/2026 17:26

I love reading too but try to get at the library and secondhand. Booktok etc have made reading into an overconsumption trend

declutteringonedayatatime · 30/07/2026 17:26

cantstopbuyingbooks · 30/07/2026 17:22

I like drivel sometimes!

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So do I! I also like people being able to read threads too and see you have already answered about the library 😂🤔

thecatdidit · 30/07/2026 17:26

@cantstopbuyingbooks what a delightful problem to have.
I use my local mobile library and they order in any book I want including the new ones and I never have to wait long. Plus it's zero reservation fee (unlike the main library which charges £1 per book reservation)
It's been a game changer for me and I feel part of the book community in our local area and the librarian is fab. (South East England if you're wondering)

AnAlpacaForChristmasPleaseSanta · 30/07/2026 17:26

BauhausOfEliott · 30/07/2026 17:25

There is a lot of drivel in Asda though

Christ, what is it with Mumsnet and the chronic inability of posters to JUST LET PEOPLE ENJOY THINGS?

Show quote history

But then how would those posters get their kicks out of feeling superior?!

BauhausOfEliott · 30/07/2026 17:25

onesinglepringle · 30/07/2026 17:18

If you're reading them then what's the problem? There are much worse things to spend money on.

There is a lot of drivel in Asda though, why not make a trip to a nice book shop or even your local library?

There is a lot of drivel in Asda though

Christ, what is it with Mumsnet and the chronic inability of posters to JUST LET PEOPLE ENJOY THINGS?

AnAlpacaForChristmasPleaseSanta · 30/07/2026 17:24

Labyrinthian · 30/07/2026 15:39

I'm shocked at the difference in library services. In Ireland we can order any titles from any of the libraries in country and they are delivered to your local library for you. I very often get brand new releases I've pre-ordered and get the first copy to read the week it comes out. We can have 12 books out at a time and 12 on order. And even in my small town the library is open 10-5 6 days a week and until 8pm two evenings. And now they have newspaper subscriptions and electronic borrow box etc.

I used to work in council services in UK back in 2010 or a few years during austerity when they started to defund libraries, and running some with volunteers etc and it makes me so sad to see what's happened in the UK library system.

I am lucky to live in a part of England that seems to offer the same standard of libraries as you get in Ireland and no word of a lie, it's my happy place. To the point that my mental health took such a hit for a year in Lockdown when they closed.

I genuinely feel sorry for anyone who lives in a place with a less than adequate library.

Original poster
cantstopbuyingbooks · 30/07/2026 17:22

onesinglepringle · 30/07/2026 17:18

If you're reading them then what's the problem? There are much worse things to spend money on.

There is a lot of drivel in Asda though, why not make a trip to a nice book shop or even your local library?

I like drivel sometimes!

OP posts:
BauhausOfEliott · 30/07/2026 17:22

Doyouknowdanieltiger · 30/07/2026 17:11

Kindle?

She'd still have to buy the books for it, and they're frequently no cheaper than buying hard copies.

There are subscription services where you get a certain number of books you can 'borrow' for Kindles, but you're only allowed a few at a time and they're pretty limited in terms of authors and genres. You can also get some classics for free but they're often really badly produced/transcribed.

I love my Kindle but it doesn't save me any money.

onesinglepringle · 30/07/2026 17:18

If you're reading them then what's the problem? There are much worse things to spend money on.

There is a lot of drivel in Asda though, why not make a trip to a nice book shop or even your local library?

NoKnit · 30/07/2026 17:17

My advice = don't look at books on vinted 🤣🤣🤣

Need to be able to ban books from my search

Readingallthetime · 30/07/2026 17:16

Owning lots of books is a good thing. Why is it that other collections aren't criticised, for example when a man collects trainers, or when a woman collects art? Buying books supports a wonderful creative industry. It celebrates knowledge. It creates a legacy to pass onto others. It takes up far less space than clothes, and kitchen items, and unused gadgets. And it's even more important now that AI companies are buying up rare books in their thousands, scanning them and destroying them.