Read what you love, without apology - Library Notes
Published on November 05, 2025
Read what you love – without apology.
By Jennifer Walton, Library Engagement Team Lead
As a librarian, I experience the joy of talking about books with people in the community every day. I get to see the spark that lights up when someone finds a story that speaks to them. Yet, over the years, I’ve also noticed something else, a quiet hesitation in some readers, a reluctance to share what they truly enjoy reading. Too often, people feel whakamā (embarrassed) about their reading choices — as though certain books are more “worthy” than others.
I’m here to say that fear doesn’t belong in the library, or anywhere else.
There’s a misconception that only nonfiction or “literary” books have educational value, while fiction is dismissed as simply entertainment. But fiction teaches us in ways that facts alone never could. Through stories, we learn empathy, stepping into the shoes of characters whose lives, choices, and challenges differ from our own. We explore cultures, emotions, and ideas beyond our lived experience. A mystery sharpens our problem-solving skills. A fantasy world stretches our imagination. A romance can remind us of compassion, vulnerability, and the courage it takes to connect with others. Every story, no matter the genre, offers something to learn if we’re open to it.
Mills & Boon publish over 700 new titles every year, they say there’s one sold every 10 seconds! Yet, I rarely hear people declaring their love of their M&B’s. A lot of these get whipped through the self-checkout while no one’s watching. It’s as if the joy of reading them needs to be hidden. But there’s no shame in reading what brings you happiness.
When choosing your next melodramatic suspense, eye roll inducing self-help or steamy romance, ask yourself, will reading this bring me pleasure? If the answer is no, move on, life’s too short to read bad books. If the answer is yes, continue reading and be confident in the knowledge that reading for pleasure has so much value. It enriches our lives, reduces stress and builds connection and the title or genre of your chosen read does not matter one bit!