As consummate readers and book-bloggers, we favor reading above most passtimes. We are, to paraphrase J.K. Rowling, "ruthlessly protective" of our reading habits and reading time, and we put a lot of thought and energy into it. (You didn't think reading was a workout? Now you do.)

But yet.

At times, this reading time is usurped, the habits are disrupted, the thought we put into it is in vain, and... we've got ourselves a reading problem. So this week for our (late, rebellious) top 10, we've each picked the ten problems we face while reading, time after time, and to which other readers might - just might - be able to relate.

1. Getting spoiled



So, you're invested in a book that you're absolutely loving, the story is building up and you know shit is about to go down. Then, some troll accidentally brings up or posts a spoiler for the plot twist in your book. Well, thanks a lot! There's nothing worse than being spoiled, so we decided to put this at number one.


2. Non-matching covers




Having matching sets are important, especially if it's a series that you absolutely love. But it's such a pain when you have the series but all but one don't match. It's like the Unearthly series for those of us in the UK. The publishers didn't pick up book three, so we only have the first two books with those covers. We need to re-buy them in the US. So much effort, and it certainly adds up cost-wise. 



3. No comfy reading positions



The book is SO GOOD but we just can't get COMFY! Isn't it annoying? 



4. Friends damaging books



Sadly, we are victims of friends borrowing books and giving them back, damaged and soggy. It has taught us a lesson which is to never lend books out, but surely they know us well enough that we're letting them borrow something that's important to us. Look after your stuff, and more importantly, OURS. One of us has a very abused copy of Mockingjay which was given back in such a horrible state that i t's upsetting to even see it. In case you're wondering, they didn't replace it. And no, they've not borrowed anything else since.



5. the Book Buying problem



"I'm just going to go in and browse, see what they have"

*two hours later*
"Yeah, just these ten books, please. And yes, I do have a loyalty card. I think I deserve a platinum card"



we can't help it, the books are there and they're one's we've wanted for ages. They look so pretty and they just jumped into my arms, how can I abandon these books here?  Also, they're on sale. It certainly strains our bank accounts, if we could stop, we would but it's a serious problem.


6. Waiting for the next book




*finishes the most epic book ever*

Yes! Oh my goodness, I must get the next book- oh shit. It's out in a years time. I can't even- why do we have to wait so long!
And the vicious cycle goes on and on. It's hard waiting for the next book in a series - especially the final book.



7. No room for new books



Following the book buying problem, we also have issues with storing them. There's only limited space on my bookshelf, also in my house. Where can I store these babies? I can't just throw them anywhere. Maybe we should stop buying books......yeah, that won't happen.



8. Losing sleep 



You know the classic line. "Just one more chapter". Quite self-explanatory. We sure pay for it the next day though, but it was definitely worth it.



9. Not affording hardbacks



They're so pretty, so much easier to read but....why you so expensive?? We're not talking a little but more expensive...but a lot.



10. Nobody you know reads



This is why the internet is such a wonderful thing. We can go onto websites like GoodReads and talk about books with other readers, complain or fangirl about our latest read. Sadly, not all of our friends read, and the one's who do can't keep up with us or love books as much as we do, so it's not the same. 





1. Book hangover

A book hangover is commonly described as "an inability to start a new book because you're still living in the last book's world". It's also that moment of dawning realization that the world around you is going on even though your mind has just been blown / heart clobbered / stomach turned by a book which the world hasn't experienced. At the present, a book hangover is not recognized as an affliction by either the WHO or the APA, but we expect it to claim its rightful place among other illnesses soon.


2. Wanting to read everything

Okay, so, book hangovers make it impossible to start a new book. But there are also times when we just crave to start five hundred books at the same time. These times are especially texing after a trip to the bookstore/library/ebook store.


3. Constant interruptions

As Tumblr so wisely paraphrased it:

"If I lay here,
If I just lay here,
Would you leave me alone
And let me read my book?"


4. Sympathy for the devil

Now, not every reader has this problem, but a lot of them will experience it at some point in their (reading) lives: liking a character one is absolutely not supposed to like. On a milder scale, this problem manifests itself as just going non-canon and wishing that insignificant characters got more pagetime, that very unlikely pairings would get together, that the book would suddenly completely change genres, et cetera. It all makes us suffer when it doesn't come to pass. And it's not okay.


5. Making excuses

Good books breed liars. This is how it's done. 

 Step 1: A reader picks up a book. 
Step 2: The book is really good. 
Step 3: The reader is enthralled. 
Step 4: Their friends call them to go out. 
Step 5: "Oh, uh, I can't, I uh... have a family thing. Yeah, total emergency. Last-minute. I know, it sucks. Some other time then." 
Step 6: "You'd think I'd feel bad, but..." 
Step 7: Reader frantically goes back to reading.


6. A fandom of one

On the one hand, there are readers who know no other readers in their immediate circle of friends and therefore have no one to talk to. On the other, there are readers who do, in fact, know other readers, but they read books so obscure/new/strange that they have no one to talk to about them. Even Goodreads only has 5 ratings and no reviews! This is especially grueling for "industry professionals" who get advanced copies of yet unpublished books, with a caveat of "You are not allowed to say a word about it until two weeks before the release date". Of course, it is still a privilege to have read this book. But will someone please talk to me about it?


7. Language barriers

Forget waiting for a book to be translated to your language (though this is a legitimate problem, too) - imagine living in a foreign country with absolutely no books, bookstores or libraries in your preferred/native language. It results in Amazon purchases. With hefty shipping charges. And then a customs charge on top of it.


8. Fictional mourning

Not only has our favorite character just died, our favorite series just gone downhill, our favorite author just released a terrible book, our most anticipated release failed us - but nobody can understand our agony. This is the kind of mourning that requires a tub of ice-cream and an understanding ear.


9. Recommending favorites

The anxiety over recommending a favorite series to a friend (and fearing they might dislike it) is matched only by the anxiety of picking up a friend's favorite series (and fearing you might dislike it).


10. Bad movie adaptations


Sometimes, a book doesn't need to become a movie. If it does, the movie should bear at least a trace resemblance of its source material. If not, then it is hopefully directed by a genius. If not, then it should not exist. Back to square one.

What are some of your most prominent bookish problems? Share yours with us in the comments below, or find us on social media where we routinely struggle to find ways to overcome them and share them with the world.