Don't Yuck My Yum—Why We Need to Stop Shaming People’s Tastes

I’ll never understand why some people feel the need to judge what others enjoy—whether it’s books, fashion, or food. Are their lives so dull that they get a thrill out of making others feel bad about their preferences? Imagine taking pleasure in that.

I've taken a break from social media because I'm tired of the drama. Apparently, "audiobooks are not reading." Or "Comic books and graphic novels aren't real literature." And let's not forget about calling every romantasy book dragon smut, trying to devalue an entire subgenre and the people who enjoy it.

Personally, if I don’t have something nice to say, I just don’t say anything—especially if no one asked for my opinion in the first place. And if they do ask? I won’t pretend I loved the book they’re raving about, but I can be happy they’re enjoying it.

Why Do People Care So Much About What Others Read?

Lately, I’ve seen a lot of comments about whether certain books are “critically acclaimed,” “worthy” of praise, or simply “acceptable” to enjoy. Since when did reading become a competition?

If we all liked the same things, the world would be painfully boring. We don’t all eat the same food, watch the same movies, or wear the same clothes—so why should books be any different? People have different tastes, different interests, and different ways of finding joy. That’s what makes the world interesting.

Social Media and the “Wrong” Books

One of the latest things to draw criticism? Social media’s influence on book trends. Some people roll their eyes at bookstore tables labeled “As Seen on TikTok” like it’s some great literary crime. Personally? All I see is more people discovering a love of reading, and that’s a wonderful thing.

Do you remember the first time you picked up a book and fell in love with reading? Why would anyone want to take that experience away from someone else?

So many people grew up thinking they hated books—because school reading lists made them feel like a chore. Now, thanks to communities like BookTok and BookTube, they’ve realized they can read whatever they want. That’s a win.

Read What You Love, Ignore the Noise

At the end of the day, no one should be shamed for what they read. If someone scoffs at your favorite book, it says more about them than it does about you. Maybe they’re stuck forcing themselves through a book they hate because they think they should read it—and they resent the fact that you’re simply enjoying yourself.

Life’s too short to read books you don’t love. So read what makes you happy, ignore the critics, and keep turning those pages.

Happy reading!