Why Nostalgia Shapes Our Reading Habits

There’s something so comforting about the smell of a library book. It instantly transports me back to being a teenager, fingers running across the spines of dark dystopian titles, librarians shushing gossiping grandmothers, and vampires waiting patiently within the pages of my next obsession. Nostalgia is the largest driving force in my reading. Life introduces new people and experiences every day, so it’s comforting to return to something familiar. Escaping into nostalgia with my books allows me to truly slow down. In a world that constantly moves forward, revisiting the stories that once shaped us feels grounding. Almost like returning to a past version of ourselves who first discovered the magic of reading. It’s also a great way to hit your reading goals when nothing new is catching your attention.

The Social Media Trend: Books That Got Us Into Reading

This year, nostalgia took over social media, with readers all across the world sharing the books that first got them into reading. It was an easy, fun, and deeply personal trend to jump on. Something every reader can participate in, regardless of the size of their bookshelf or how often they read. Because at its core, it’s not about how many books we’ve read, it’s about the one that made us fall in love with reading in the first place.

And maybe that’s why the trend resonated so strongly. It reminded us that reading journeys rarely begin with literary classics or perfectly curated shelves. Instead they start with a single story that captured our attention at just the right time. A book that felt bigger than our own world, and exciting enough to return to again and again. I LOVE inclusive trends, especially the ones that invite every reader, new or seasoned, to look back and rediscover where it all began.

My First Reading Obsession: Vampires & Fantasy

For me, everything truly started with vampires. I had been surrounded by books since the toddler stage, but it was vampires that made me fall in love with reading on my own terms. The kind of reading where you don’t have to be reminded, where you read because you want to, not because you should.

My favourites were, of course, Twilight and the House of Night series by P.C. and Kristin Cast. Vampires and boarding schools? Say less. It was dramatic, a little bit hot, immersive, and just the right amount of escapism for a younger Maren looking for a world bigger than her own. Even now, it’s a world I love escaping back into when life becomes a little too loud. There’s something incredibly nostalgic about returning to the books that first captured your imagination, the ones that didn’t just entertain you, but shaped your identity as a reader. After all, there’s nothing quite as comforting as a blood-sucking vampire waiting between the pages.

What Books Got Our Team Into Reading?

I asked the team what books got them into reading, and it instantly reminded me of how many of us have shared the same quiet ritual at some point, girls reading under the covers long past bedtime, completely absorbed in a story that felt more important than sleep.

• Jenny: Northern Lights by Philip Pullman
• Antina: The Famous Five series by Enid Blyton
• Kristin: The House of Night series by P.C and Kristin Cast
• Paula: All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

Revisiting the books that got us into reading reminds us that every reader’s journey begins with one unforgettable story. Whether it was vampires, mysteries, or childhood adventures, these books shape who we become as readers. Tell us: what book made you fall in love with reading?