You’re overthinking this. Read what you want. I’m 44 and I read everything from Babysitters Club to Stephen King. As long as you’re enjoying it, that’s what matters.

Most of what I read (listen, more accurately) as a 30 something with no time is Stephen King. He has called himself the McDonalds of literature and neither of us take offense to that. It makes me happy. If I want to learn myself some shit I can read up on the internet.

It was a struggle when I got back into reading. There is so much Booktok popularized books everywhere that you get caught up. I had to start looking up older titles of books I used to read and then it started changing my algorithm. Now I’m able to find more books from the genres I prefer.

Since the pandemic I’ve only read thriller/mystery/action series. Of varying quality. Sometimes when I’m reading a lesser entry I feel like I’m wasting a time a little bit. But even in the lesser entries most of them have redeeming qualities that remind me why I enjoy the series.

I am 68 and read whatever I feel like reading: ”Young Adult”, classics, stupid romances (but not too stupid, please), & mostly SF-Fantasy
I will not read horror or modern ‘dystopian’, and have not read a biography since my teen years - and tend to avoid books with only the ‘Best Seller!’ lists to recommend them.

I read to please myself or learn something (which actually is still in the “please myself” category) and don’t give a flying fig what anyone else thinks of my tastes.

Not really. I used to, and found myself slogging through books I thought I “should” like. Reading should be enjoyable! As an adult, it’s a hobby - not an assignment.

I mean, I’ve read everything from the epic of Gilgamesh, to fanfic. Sooo, read what you want. But my all time favorite will always be this one queer fantasy WEBTOON that I’m obsessed with. It’s your life, isn’t it?

I read for my own enjoyment, so I really don’t care if the books I’m ready are “quality” as long as I’m enjoying them. I’m not reading to impress anyone.

Nobody exists on purpose. Nobody belongs anywhere. Everybody’s gonna die. Come read books

I only picked up reading again only once I focused on having fun, instead of reading what I thought I should read. And when my habit got re established, I got some pretty “quality” books under my belt, also while reading fairy smut (and fourth wing! I just started the second book :D ). Read what you enjoy, even if it isn’t Proust, or whatever is considered “quality”.

Yes, occasionally. I am a voracious reader and not close to a library. I mostly read free books from Kindle (I read too much to afford to buy them) and Kindle Unlimited.

i’m 39 and i preordered the 2nd book in the fourth wing series. i listened to the audiobook for fourth wing with my wife and we both enjoyed it. there is no age range on books you’re allowed to enjoy. you don’t need to read challenging things unless you want to. i read a lot of “big brain” books all the time and have since i was a kid. since i met my wife i’ve branched out to more “fun” books and they are not any less enjoyable to read than reading brothers karamazov or other big brain literature. they just fill a different niche. both are valuable.

Humans since the beginning of time have liked stories. People read for different purposes. Sometimes it’s to be challenged, sometimes it’s for entertainment. Reading something fun like Fourth Wing can be great self care.

Always read something that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it. - P. J. O’Rourke

Life is too short. Read for pleasure and enjoy the ride.