Adoring books and literature has its perks. You're never, ever bored, you've got the whole proper grammar thing down, and you actually have better social skills than non-readers (yay, empathy!). Still, loving books can present a few unique conundrums for your love life: What do you do when your significant other loathes your favorite genre, or is uninterested in reading altogether? Even worse: What if he or she is also a bibliophile, but borrows your books, bends your spines and dog-ears your pages?
Here are 15 dating problems only avid readers understand:
1. It's hard to meet new people, because your nose is constantly in a book.
2. When someone does finally engage in conversation with you, it rarely meets your expectations.
3. The same applies to texts and e-mails; one-line responses to your wordy proclamations just don't cut it.
4. You overanalyze every word your significant other says, looking for meaning where there is none.
5. When you finally see someone's place for the first time, you're overcome with anxiety.
6. Book preferences can be deal-breakers, even if someone's a great match otherwise.
7. On the other hand, bookishness can blind you to loads of blatant flaws.
8. Neglecting to read a recommended book is as bad as forgetting a birthday.
9. But borrowing a book without asking is a big no-no too.
10. Sometimes, all you want to do is read.
11. And reading isn't exactly a group activity.
12. Sometimes you get so caught up in what you're reading that you project your character analysis onto other people.
13. You expect everything to be resolved neatly and conclusively.
14. Break-ups can feel like postwar negotiations, and divvying up your bookshelf can be complete hell.
15. How, exactly, are you supposed to balance dating with the precious time you need to spend with all of the wonderful authors on your to-read list?
