AIBU to not lend out my unread books?

[TreeTrunkThighs]

I have a (admittedly large) pile of beautiful brand new books by my bed waiting to be read. DH has told MIL this and she wants to borrow one.

AIBU to say no? Or am I being precious?

FWIW I wouldn’t lend them to anyone, not just MIL.

I wouldn't but then I'm really funny about books. I hate libraries & wouldn't consider second hand shops. I'd maybe move it up the pile & read it soon then pass it on

How quickly does she read and how close does she live? Would she do spillers?

Mine's not that close but I would if it wasn't the next one on my to read list. She's really organised and good at returning stuff though.

I prefer books when the spine is a little worn so wouldn't bother me. If you don't like I'd get reading it so you can hand it over sooner and then discuss it.

God no. Opening a new book for the first time is such a pleasure.

Plus, people are so bad at returning books, and when they do, they are in such a bad state that I don't lend books to anyone now

Books I've read are fair game to be passed on (not cookbooks, though 😉) but NOBODY gets hold of my books before I've read them - that smell, the first crack of the spine, clean shiny pages. They're mine, all mine I tells you 😈

^Your DH can buy his mother her own damn book if she's incapable...

No, you're not being precious. An unread book is a joy to open. Say you'll pass it on when you're done.

Nope. Quite happy to lend a book once I’ve read it but not before.

I never lend books out, the have a habit of not coming back.

When I did lend them out though it was never before I’d read them.

Oh dear. I would feel the same as you but unfortunately too awkward to say no! I hate lending out books, read or unread, and avoid it where possible 😂

I don't lend books I want to see again.

A TBR is sacrosanct, If you have something similar you've read lend her one of those.

Never lend a book. Give a book, that's fine, but personally I would always make my peace with never seeing a book again when I give one to someone else. So therefore I wouldn't lend it to her, but I would probably give it to her after I read it.

This. wot @Tearsofgravy said.

Just like money, never lend what you can't afford to live without.

No, I don't lend books. Don't mind if it's one I'll never read again but not my favourites or ones I've not read. You're not a library.

Not a hope, new books are sacred.

I never lend out books. New or old, they're in pretty much mint condition even if DH and I have read them. We're pernickity and never crack the spine.
The only time I did lend one (to a work colleague) ...oh.my.God...it came back stuck together with sticky tape with the back cover and I think some pages missing AND no bloody apology!🤬
It went straight in the bin.
Never again.

Just say " I've not finished reading it yet, but when I have, of course you can borrow it."

Never before you’ve read it!! However one of my greatest joys is passing on books I’ve loved! Or buying a book for someone I think they will love. I have hundreds of books, love second hand books, new books, kindle 😂

‘Sure, I’ll drop it in as soon as I’ve finished it’

Never if I've not read them myself yet.

I'd rather buy her a copy of the book then lend my new one!

I'm a voracious reader and very generous with my books but ONLY after I've read them.

I had my mum to stay recently and she got the hump that I wouldn't let her read some of my new books. Just no!

She one of this readers that breaks the spines 😬😭 when I read a brand new book it looks brand new afterwards!

If she's a reasonable type of person who won't lose or destroy them, I would let her borrow them. Partly because you will then have someone handy to discuss them with when you do read them.

No way would I lend out unread books. People do seem to have a problem giving them back too, so these days if there's one I'm very fond of I buy a second-hand lending copy and lend that.

I’ve had too many experiences where I’ve lent books out, and they’ve been returned damaged or not been returned at all.

So now, I don’t lend books out at all unless I’ve already read them. Even after that, whether I lend them out depends on who the other person is, and on how much I like the book.

In the case of my MIL, I’d probably say something along the lines of “I haven’t finished with it yet, but you can borrow it once I’ve read it”

My husband won't read a new book from my tbr pile even if I offer it! He says it would feel wrong. I do sometimes take pity on him and read a book he is waiting for, but otherwise my new books are there until I get round to them.