Book Lovers Day: 15 signs your reading addiction is out of control

It’s Book Lovers Day and to celebrate the written word, you could buy a new novel, reread a classic, visit your local library or even host a book club – because are there any better combinations than wine, books and talking about books?

Whether you’re hooked on thrillers, fantasy or good old romance, as any true bookworm will know, there are only a few drawbacks to a life dedicated to reading – the cost, the space needed, the awful moment when someone borrows a book never to return it… alright, we could go on.

Here are 15 signs you’re mildly addicted (but that’s OK).

1. Your bookshelves/cupboards/floorspace is so packed you consider throwing out clothes to make more space for your ever-growing book collection (probably organised alphabetically or by genre).

2. You’re visibly stressed when you realise there are only 20 pages left but the book has A LOT to explain.

3. You’ve thrown a book across the room in anger because the ending wasn’t adequate and you legitimately felt betrayed.

4. You feel in a constant limbo between wanting to finish a book and not wanting to finish a book.

5. You’re actually quite heartbroken that realistically, you’ll never be able to afford a house big enough for a library with ladders to reach the top shelves.

6. You take it as a personal insult if you recommend or lend a book that completely changed your life to someone, and they don’t immediately fall in love with it too. Or they can’t even be bothered to open it.

7. You’ve cancelled plans with friends more than once because you were way too involved in a really good novel. Why is ‘I’d rather stay at home and read’ not an acceptable excuse?

8. You feel a warm, special bond with a complete stranger when you spot someone reading a book you’ve read. Is it ever OK to interrupt them and talk about it?

9. You’ve mourned fictional characters by crying in public, and all around you everyone is just acting like nothing has happened.

10. Your head says, ‘Save money’ but your heart says, ‘You can never have enough books’. And you certainly can’t walk into a Waterstones without parting with cash.

11. You actually kind of enjoy a long commute, plane or train ride, because it means you can really get stuck in. But if anyone tries to interrupt, they might lose a hand.

12. You know which books are being turned into films before all your friends and no, you’re not happy about it.

13. Narrowing down the books you’re going to take on holiday leaves you in absolute turmoil. No, you will not buy a Kindle.

14. The first thing you consider when buying a new bag is, ‘Is this big enough to fit a book in’. Or maybe two for those situations when you need to carry around an extra one – just in case you finish your current read.

15. You’re about to put your book down at 1am and finally go to sleep – when then there’s a MASSIVE plot twist.  You don’t need sleep, you need answers.

Are you a lover of books?