If you are an avid reader like myself then you will be (hopefully) familiar with the signs of epic book romance just as I am. Perhaps you may not love to read as much as the next guy, but still you find yourself relating to some of the signs. Books are pretty powerful that way. It can take one book or story to change one’s life, or it can take hundreds. Sometimes you click with a story and sometimes you don’t. I’d like to think there is a perfect book for everyone out there.

So without further ado, here is my beautifully crafted and ever-growing list of things all booklovers may know!

1) Pre-order

Pre-ordering books is a whole mix of experiences and emotions. For me personally I like to look at all the book reviews before I purchase a book so I can really get a sense for the book. Sometimes the books I pre-order meet my high expectations, other times I’m left just a bit disappointed.

2) Packing for trips

Packing for trips, especially long ones, is always a tad stressful. I never know what books I want to bring because sometimes the mood strikes and there is only one story that can fix it. Usually on trips to Florida where my parents live I will get a hankering for fantasy or adventure. I’ve been known to pack a separate suitcase just for my books.

3) Book-lending

When I lend a friend one of my books, it is more than just a bittersweet temporary goodbye, it is also the high hopes that they’ll love the book just as much as I did! There have been a couple of cases where I am positively sure that someone is going to love a book I recommend to them, only to discover they didn’t like it at all. However, in most cases people love the books I lend them and sometimes I don’t get them back! I’ll be honest…I have failed to give some people their books back (Sorry Molly!) and it is something that I’ll probably feel guilty about for the rest of my life.

4) E-books versus paper books

We’ve all heard about this debate and usually have an opinion too. I’ve had a few long discussions with friends and coworkers on the matter and as a person that has a kindle and an overflowing bookshelf I see wonderful benefits for both. I have a system where if I know I’m going to love a book and want to reread it for years to come I’ll go ahead and buy a physical copy. If I’m wanting for a quick fix of storytelling I’ll just buy the kindle version. And if I’m feeling super ambitious I’ll get both versions!

5) Rereading

I LOVE rereading books! Seriously, there are some stories that NEVER get old. I know some people who have reread books as many as six times (okay, I’m one of those people), and that isn’t including the Harry Potter series! Sometimes a book just gives you that unique feeling that you’ll want to revisit time and time again.

6) Finding the time to read

As a college student with a part-time job and a few clubs under my belt I don’t have as much time as I’d like to read. I have been known to read a whole book the night before a final essay is due (procrastination kills, don’t do it kids!) So I don’t always find the most appropriate times to read, but honestly it’s not liking I’m reading and driving!

7) Budgeting

If I had to guess, I would say I spend about 40% of my paycheck on books. The other 60% is spent on food! If there is anything I’ve learned from my love for reading it’s that sometimes books are worth waiting for. If I can’t afford it this week, I can just buy it another week. It isn’t like the book isn’t going to be available anymore. Still, trying to decide which book to buy before the others is a little stressful.

8) Bathroom reading

Sure, it’s probably not the most hygienic activity, but I’m not gonna lie and say I’ve never read a book on the loo. Sometimes I’m just too engrossed in the story that no bodily function can separate me and my book!

9) All-nighters

This sort of goes along with number nine. There have been occasions where I’m so captivated by a book that sleep just loses all attraction. I’ve pulled all-nighters on school nights in high school and the nights before tests. During the summer it isn’t so bad because I don’t have to get up early.

10) To-be-read piles

My TBR pile of books has become so big I’ve put all of them on the top shelf of my bookshelf to make them a priority. A lot of times I’ll think Oh, I’ll just read this over a long weekend or over the summer but no dice! Sometimes life gets too busy or stressful to sit down and fully enjoy a book. I’ll probably be working on my TBR pile for years to come.

11) Ending a good book or series

This is probably the biggest part of reading that I love and hate. When I finished the Twilight series lo those many years ago I cried like a big baby. When I finished reading The Outsiders I was so distraught I took an hour-long shower and cried. Sometimes if I finish a really good book I’ll flip right back to the first page and read it all over again because I’m just not ready for it to be over.

I could keep going with this list but I don’t want to go down a rabbit hole! Some other things readers might understand are reading a sad part of a book in public and crying (TFIOS and Eleanor & Park are not good books to read in public!), when people criticize you for texting on your phone all the time but really you’re just reading from your Kindle app, waiting for an ordered book to arrive in the mail, and reading so many sci-fi novels you constantly think of “what-ifs” for everyday situations that are borderline unrealistic conspiracy theory. I took a very long time to decide whether I wanted to get an iPhone and it’s because I’ve read a lot of sci-fi books that make me constantly wonder about absurd theories. Falling in love with characters and setting up unrealistically high expectations for real life people is another feeling I’ve grown accustomed to.

Reading isn’t all fun and games, it’s actually pretty serious and help many people through stressful or difficult times in life. Reading is definitely therapeutic for me and I can’t imagine a world where books don’t exist. If you’ve made it this far down the list then you must be an avid reader like myself! Perhaps it’s time to go read one of the many books I’m sure you are currently reading!