Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
Original poster
cantstopbuyingbooks · 30/07/2026 15:50

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.

It’s such a shame. I remember going to the library as a child and taking out whole stacks of books.

I think you can order online now, but to be honest I don’t really feel that it’s worth it, because it takes so long to get them in.

OP posts:
Original poster
cantstopbuyingbooks · 30/07/2026 15:47

declutteringonedayatatime · 30/07/2026 15:24

I think they wouldn't be able to handle some of the spicy parts either 😱😂

Show quote history

Reminds me of when my nan got given 50 shades of grey by a joking cousin.

It was found, 17 pages in, next to her bedside when she was rushed to hospital with a stroke! We still laugh ow 🤣

OP posts:
WonderingAndOverthinking · 30/07/2026 15:47

You can join any boroughs online libraries without having to visit a branch, just sign up online. I’m a member of about 8 of my neighbouring boroughs libraries and have never been to an actual building in some of them 🙈 Between BorrowBox and Libby, there is always lots available. You can filter by books that are ready now or reserve them.

Original poster
cantstopbuyingbooks · 30/07/2026 15:45

Elsvieta · 30/07/2026 15:33

Get a kindle - new releases are cheaper. Then Amazon to get anything that's not new cheap.

I have one, but I’m a not a huge fan of the fact you can’t sell them on after. At least with we buy books you can get a few quid back!

OP posts:
AxolotlEars · 30/07/2026 15:44

It's not drugs or alcohol!

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.

SpunkyKhakiScroller · 30/07/2026 15:37

Normally I recommend Libby and signing up to multiple libraries for this problem. It works brilliantly for me as I read widely and across genres (not a snob - just as happy with fantasy as with lit fic). I have read 70 books so far this year and spent about £20 thanks to Libby.

But I tried to do this for my mum and realised book availability on Libby depends very much on the kind of books you read. She reads only crime and thriller and the waiting lists are looooong!

Since Asda tends to stock the latest bestsellers, I imagine the OP would not have much luck getting books from Libby when she wants them. But charity shops are full of the latest bestsellers so may be a good option if money or space is the problem.

It's a nice problem to have!

Fairyliz · 30/07/2026 15:36

auntiemaryhadaredcanary · 30/07/2026 14:50

Try the charity shops if you haven't already done so.

Some sell 3 paperbacks for £1.00 so fill your boots !

PS I hope you re-donate the read books back to charities?

I volunteer in a charity shop that does this. So I buy 3, read them then re donate. It’s cheaper than getting to the library.

Imaribenaberry · 30/07/2026 15:36

Ask around family and friends and get a book swap circle going, we pencil our initials inside the front cover to keep track of what we’ve read. Then they go to charity.

Elsvieta · 30/07/2026 15:33

Get a kindle - new releases are cheaper. Then Amazon to get anything that's not new cheap.

YoQuieroVino · 30/07/2026 15:30

cantstopbuyingbooks · 30/07/2026 15:21

Yeah the fact it’s never open outside of 10-3 Monday to Friday doesn’t help

Show quote history

Ours is open 10-3 Weds- Friday!

YoQuieroVino · 30/07/2026 15:29

HollyhocksandPeons · 30/07/2026 15:03

It is a gift to be an avid reader, but please don't buy from Asda - I have not seen one decent book there. There are proper books and proper authors - try second-hand book resellers online - true treasures - like all classical world literature, most French, German, Italian, etc. translated into English. Cheep as chips as well.

Show quote history

Not everyone likes the same books. If the OP likes the books she’s bought from Asda, why would she stop buying books from Asda?

isthisaplum · 30/07/2026 15:28

minipie · 30/07/2026 15:26

Re small/ underwhelming local libraries:

Libraries are often part of a network of local libraries in the same borough/county. Using their app you can request any book in the whole network and they will send it to your local library for you to collect. There is sometimes a small charge for this but much less than the cost of a book. You also get access to the whole borough’s ebook collection.

I don’t know if this is the case for every borough but it is for mine.

You can but a) it’s a massive faff and b) only works if you know exactly what it is you want.

If you just want to browse a selection of good books then that’s harder.

EmailsaysOOO · 30/07/2026 15:27

Someone has to keep the economy going..Good work, OP :)

ACynicalDad · 30/07/2026 15:27

We have a box of books for the family we've bought to take on holiday, just as well we're driving... There will be days that are light on activity, so the kids can read. They're cheaper than another day at a visitor attraction.

HollyhocksandPeons · 30/07/2026 15:26

cantstopbuyingbooks · 30/07/2026 15:11

No need to be elitist! They carry some really good ones.

Show quote history

I am not elitist. I am referring to chick-lit, aka Maupassant, Balsac, Flaubert, etc.etc. This is basically chick-lit with benefits of learning a few things on top, that is all.
Schopenhauer, Kant, Marx, Kafka - perish the thought, was not even thinking that.

minipie · 30/07/2026 15:26

Re small/ underwhelming local libraries:

Libraries are often part of a network of local libraries in the same borough/county. Using their app you can request any book in the whole network and they will send it to your local library for you to collect. There is sometimes a small charge for this but much less than the cost of a book. You also get access to the whole borough’s ebook collection.

I don’t know if this is the case for every borough but it is for mine.

ThatsRoughBuddy · 30/07/2026 15:26

There’s a meme I keep seeing lately but I can’t find it again but it said something like

Unfortunately I have a genetic condition which means I can’t produce books on my own so I have to supplement.

I see lots of suffer from this condition Grin

declutteringonedayatatime · 30/07/2026 15:24

cantstopbuyingbooks · 30/07/2026 15:21

Yeah, it was. It’s a tiny small town library that caters (god bless them) to the main demographic of the town. It’s an older town and they definitely have different reading habits to me. I love romantasy and they don’t carry any!

Show quote history

I think they wouldn't be able to handle some of the spicy parts either 😱😂

JennyChawleigh · 30/07/2026 15:24

Do you have any Little Free Libraries near you? https://communityclothing.co.uk/pages/our-story I always have a look when I go past -; have sometimes even found almost new recent hardbacks. Also you can download loads free from Gutenberg Project - not just the well known classics either.

AnonyMumAuDHD · 30/07/2026 15:22

I have this disease too. Not found a cure for it though.

And it does sound as though you are making your way through them - enjoy!

Original poster
cantstopbuyingbooks · 30/07/2026 15:21

isthisaplum · 30/07/2026 15:18

And - I know I’m risking MN wrath here but despite being an avid reader I don’t like my library much. It’s rarely open and it’s a pain returning books. I don’t bother taking my children to the library either.

Yeah the fact it’s never open outside of 10-3 Monday to Friday doesn’t help

OP posts:
Original poster
cantstopbuyingbooks · 30/07/2026 15:21

declutteringonedayatatime · 30/07/2026 15:16

I think someone (maybe the OP) has said that their library doesn't get new releases for ages so that is why they buy books instead.

Show quote history

Yeah, it was. It’s a tiny small town library that caters (god bless them) to the main demographic of the town. It’s an older town and they definitely have different reading habits to me. I love romantasy and they don’t carry any!

OP posts:
Fiddlesticks1 · 30/07/2026 15:19

ThatsRoughBuddy · 30/07/2026 15:17

I’ve just bought 5 kindle books for just under a fiver! I used to read all the time but then had children and just stopped. Even once they were older I didn’t go back to it but this year I decided I would set myself a reading goal and now I’m back to devouring books! Almost hit my goal and still have months to go. Grin

I have Kindle unlimited. A bargain as I devour books in a couple of days.

isthisaplum · 30/07/2026 15:18

And - I know I’m risking MN wrath here but despite being an avid reader I don’t like my library much. It’s rarely open and it’s a pain returning books. I don’t bother taking my children to the library either.