Books Are Great, But They Don’t Text Back

This post is a little different from my usual bookish ramblings, but I have a feeling it might hit home for more than a few of you.

So here’s what’s going on. I recently moved back to my hometown. On paper, it seemed like a great idea. I get to be around family again, eat proper home-cooked meals, and reconnect with the city I grew up in. And honestly, being with my family again has been wonderful. But there is a small problem that keeps creeping in.

I feel lonely.

Now, this wouldn’t be that surprising if I were a quiet introvert who enjoyed solitude. But I am very much an extrovert. I feel most like myself when I am surrounded by friends, laughing over coffee or planning spontaneous weekend plans. So to suddenly find myself without a local social circle has been strange and unsettling.

And while I could easily blame the move or the timing or just how adult friendships are harder to make, I have come to suspect that something else might be contributing to the problem. The one thing I spend most of my time doing. Reading.

I love books more than almost anything. But I am starting to wonder if this beautiful, comforting hobby of mine is also quietly standing between me and a vibrant social life. Reading is, by its nature, a solitary activity. You close yourself off from the real world to dive into imaginary ones. You shut the door, curl up in a cozy corner, and let everything else fade away. And while that is magical, I have started to ask myself if I have also been using it as an excuse to stay in rather than go out and meet people.

Books offer comfort, entertainment, and even companionship. But they are not going to introduce you to new friends or help you build a local support system. I found myself saying no to plans or not even looking for social events simply because I was content with my fictional friends and made-up worlds.

After chatting with a few fellow book lovers, I found out I was not alone in this. Many of them admitted to feeling the same way. Loneliness is very real, and having a hobby that encourages solitude can sometimes make it harder to break out of that feeling.

Some might argue that books do not have to be isolating. There are book clubs, libraries, and online communities filled with readers. And that is true. But I think there are a few things that get in the way. First, when you are new to a city and do not know anyone, it can feel overwhelming to put yourself out there. Especially when staying home with a book is just easier. Second, not every city has an active or accessible bookish community. I love Delhi, but I do not always feel the safest going out on my own to random events, and there is definitely a lack of easy, casual reading spaces. Third, and maybe most importantly, social media is playing a huge role in how we engage with reading now.

BookTok and Bookstagram have created beautiful spaces filled with people who love reading, but they also promote a certain type of content. The videos that go viral are often the ones showing someone curled up in bed with ten unread books, saying they never want to leave the house. There is this quiet pressure to read more, to buy more, to keep up. It turns reading into a competitive sport, and it also glorifies staying in and being alone.

I think it is time we remember that reading, while incredible, should not come at the cost of connection. Your books will be right there when you come back. They are patient. But the people in your life? They might not keep inviting you if you keep cancelling to reread your favourite fantasy.

So this is your gentle reminder to go outside. Call a friend. Say yes to a plan, even if it feels awkward at first. Let books be your refuge, not your excuse. Life is not just something you read about. It is something you get to live.