Love at first sight is real—at least when it comes to books. The problem is, we don’t always choose what books we fall in love with. Sometimes, The One is a hot new bestseller of the highest literary caliber. Sometimes, it’s a battered old secondhand paperback with notes scribbled in the margins. And sometimes, it’s a bona fide guilty pleasure book.

These are the kinds of books you’ll hide inside of other, more acceptable books to read in public—and that’s only if you’re feeling particularly daring. Books that make you want to shout your love of them from the rooftops, but instead, you’ll bottle all of that joy up because you can’t stand the thought of the judgment that will follow. And make no mistake, it will follow.

But don’t let that stop you. You have nothing to be ashamed of. Letting go of bookish guilt is easier said than done, of course—but it can be done.

• What Makes a Book a Guilty Pleasure?
• The Trap of Internalized Book-Shaming
• How to Read Guilty Pleasure Novels Without the Guilt
• Sharing My Guilty Pleasure Reads

What Makes a Book a Guilty Pleasure?

A guilty pleasure book is any book deemed somehow “lesser than” that you enjoy but may feel embarrassed about reading. Romance novels often make the list because of their reputation for being shallow and lewd. Fanfiction and self-published books tend to be seen as less professional, and therefore less valuable reading material, than traditionally published novels. Genre fiction is, for whatever reason, deemed inferior to literary fiction for numerous reasons too varied (and frankly too dumb) to get into here.

People who buy into these stereotypes confuse opinions for facts, and generalizations for universal truths. Romance novels can be shallow and lewd, but they can also be deep, complex explorations of the human condition and the role of love in a sometimes cruel and hateful world. Self-published books can experiment with narrative in ways traditionally published fiction often isn’t allowed to. Some fanfics weave epic tales hundreds of thousands of carefully-edited words long; some even surpass the quality of the source material. 

And don’t get me started on the worth of genre fiction. I wouldn’t read and write fantasy fiction so voraciously if I didn’t believe wholeheartedly in its value and limitless potential. Genre is merely a tool for categorizing and organizing different types of stories; it is not, nor was it ever meant to be, a measuring stick.

Let’s not forget, dear readers, that novels—of any kind—were once looked down upon in the way some folks now thumb their noses at particular kinds of fiction. Jane Austen got so worked up about it, she went and wrote Northanger Abbey in defense of novels and those who read them.

In short—no book should be a guilty pleasure, because you shouldn’t feel guilty for deriving pleasure from words that some author out there likely poured their heart and soul into. 

As an exception to my own rule, I will say this—there are some books, though rare, that are written out of hate with an agenda of spreading that hate like a plague. Mein Kampf is a classic example. These books are still worth reading (if you can stomach them) for scholarly purposes. But if a book like that actually sparks joy for you, then maybe it’s time to take a look at your life and make some changes. Maybe talk to someone about it. Just saying.

The Trap of Internalized Book-Shaming

The best way to beat ignorance is through education and demonstration. So to tamp down the flames of book shaming, the best thing we can do is talk about it openly and honestly and… well, read openly and honestly.

It’s not easy, I know. Just a few weeks ago, a book on TikTok caught my eye. So I ordered it then and there and counted the seconds until it arrived. I felt that spark of joy Marie Kondo is always talking about the moment I held it in my hands. But tangled up with that joy was a flush of embarrassment—this book struck me as a thinly-veiled fanfic, a romance at that, and ye olde stigmas started to rear their ugly heads.

“This book is just a silly bit of fluff.” “I’m being such a girly girl right now.” “I should be reading something more useful.”

Here’s the thing: I would never say any of these things to someone else, especially someone I cared about. And I would be pretty pissed if someone else said them to me. So why the heck was I book-shaming myself?

Because, somewhere in the past, I internalized certain literary stigmas (not to mention gender role stereotypes) without even realizing it. The good news is, the more aware of them I am, the better I can get at shutting them down.

And so can you.

How to Read Guilty Pleasure Novels Without the Guilt

It’s going to take practice. It’s going to take time. And it’s going to take a lot of patience—with the process, but most of all, with yourself. But it’s important to do things that bring you joy, such as reading those so-called guilty pleasure books you like so much—and it’s equally important to try and let go of the guilt that holds you back from enjoying those things to the fullest.

So how do you do that? I’m afraid there’s no foolproof blueprint I can give you, no secret code I’ve cracked that will instantly make you suddenly immune to embarrassment. As I said, I’m still working on it myself.

But here’s what I’ve learned so far that might help:

• Accepting what you love is an act of self-love. The books we truly love become a part of us; the more freely you can learn to enjoy your guilty pleasure books, the better you can care for yourself.
• Loving despite stigma is an act of rebellion. To let yourself be vulnerable is to be brave. If it helps, think of yourself as a word warrior—because that’s exactly what you are.
• There is power in a name. Don’t think of these books as guilty pleasures. Think of them simply as books you like, and leave it at that.
• You don’t have to go public to be free. You don’t have to share everything you read with the world; secret pleasures, free of guilt, are sometimes the most satisfying. The important thing is not letting others’ opinions dictate your actions (or your feelings).
• You are your own best bookish advocate. Imagine yourself as your own best friend if it helps you treat yourself more kindly. Your books deserve love and care, and so do you.
• You are not alone in your tastes. Out of eight billion people in the world, you are not the only one who bought that book. You are not the only one who likes it. And if you ever need to find one of those someones to talk to, well, that’s what the internet is for.
• Letting go of self-shaming means letting go of shaming others, too. It’s not enough to stop book-shaming yourself; make a conscious effort to be kinder to your fellow readers, too. This includes being aware of how you treat yourself publicly; if you post about how you shouldn’t be reading what you’re reading, it can make others who share your tastes feel guilty about their own choices.

You don’t have to jump in headfirst, by the way. You can start small, and privately, simply by practicing better self-talk and self-care. Once you feel more comfortable with what you read on your own, you can move on to sharing what you read with others a bit at a time—at your discretion and your own pace.

Sharing My Guilty Pleasure Reads

In the spirit of reading openly and honestly, it’s time for me to do the brave thing and share a few of my guilty pleasure books—books that I hope I can learn to love better as time goes on. So, without further ado:

• A Song of Sin and Salvation by L.H. Blake
• Alice in the Country of Hearts (series) created by Quin Rose
• Irish Born (trilogy) by Nora Roberts
• Beast by Donna Jo Napoli
• The Secret Loves of Geek Girls (anthology) edited by Hope Nicholson

When was the last time you read a book you were embarrassed to share? Would you be willing to share it now?

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