I always encourage people to dig deep into their hobbies—but what does that really mean? How deep are you supposed to go? For me, getting deep into my hobby meant reading books outside my usual style and taste, pushing myself to explore new perspectives, and ultimately learning a whole lot about who I am, not just as a reader, but as a person.
In this post, I want to share how my reader journey has transformed my life and how understanding my own “reader style” helped me reconnect with one of my earliest loves in a more meaningful, soul-fulfilling way.
If reading is one of your hobbies too, maybe some of the things I did will help you fall in love with it all over again—or dig deeper into your favorite things in a way that feels truly grounding.
The Plot-Driven Girl Era: My High School Reading Life
In high school, I was that girl who read a lot. Like, a book-a-day kind of reader. I tore through fantasy, historical fiction erotica like my life depended on it. I was obsessed with Simone Elkeles’ books and would laugh out loud at The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot. Honestly, I read all her books because I was completely hooked on her writing voice. I devoured the Drama High series and Uglies by Scott Westerfeld.
I even gave slower reads a shot—like Sarah Dessen’s books. I remember being both bored and intrigued. I’d be like, “Why is this book so long?” but still finish it anyway. Back then, I didn’t even think about DNFing. I just powered through, even if I wasn’t vibing with a book. I’d be like, “Okay, it’s a three,” and move on.
Looking back, I think that era of my reader journey taught me endurance—but also a little passivity. I didn’t question why I liked certain books and not others. I didn’t know what I needed from a story to feel satisfied. I just read for the sake of reading. And honestly, that has its own kind of magic too.
The Shift: Reading with More Intention
Fast forward to now, and I’ve definitely grown in my reader journey. Especially after becoming an educator, the way I approach books has changed completely. On TikTok (yes, shameless plug—follow me if you want to hear more of my chaotic reader thoughts), I once said something that I still believe deeply: we are losing critical thinking skills. And one of the easiest, most natural ways we used to build those skills was through reading.
As a teacher, I spend a lot of time helping my students learn how to engage with texts—and doing that has made me a better reader too.
If you want to learn about how I annotate my books, check out my post, How to Annotate and Rate Books!
Learning to Read Slower, Smarter, and Deeper
As an adult, I still naturally gravitate toward fantasy. It hits so many of my reader needs effortlessly—unique world-building, high stakes, urgency, movement. Fantasy hooks me. It gives me that heart-racing, can’t-stop-turning-the-pages feeling, and honestly? That’s what makes it fun for me.
These three things specifically drive me forward:
- Emotional high stakes – I need to feel like the characters have something to lose.
- Forward movement / urgency – I don’t like books that drag or meander.
- External conflict – Give me something happening. A breakup, a mystery, a family secret. Anything but stagnant vibes.
If you also like books with these things check out my post, Best Romantasy Books That Will Ruin You (In the Best Way). All the recs there hit all three!
These are the things that make me love a book, but I know everyone reads for different reasons. Some people love a slow-paced read with lots of descriptive language, others love exposition. I used to only read for the things above.
But over time, I started asking myself: Is this the only way I want to read?
While fantasy checked a lot of boxes, I wasn’t really reading for the smaller details. I wasn’t looking for subtext, themes, or emotional nuance. I was just in it for the ride. And for me, that was enough…until it wasn’t.
I started to feel curious about romance, specifically contemporary romance. I wanted to explore a genre that was more grounded in real-world relationships and emotional growth. But let me tell you…it was a struggle at first.
I’d pick up a book, flip a few pages, and immediately feel bored. I kept thinking: What is wrong with me? Why can’t I get into this?
Then something clicked. I picked up Archer’s Voice and was completely pulled in. I loved it. The stakes were emotional but still intense. The pacing kept me engaged. Things were constantly happening—not necessarily action-packed things, but emotionally weighty moments that moved the story forward.
Then I picked up Love, Theoretically and didn’t feel the same hit. It wasn’t bad, but it didn’t move me in the same way. And I finally realized what was missing for me: urgency.
Archer’s Voice had high emotional stakes: a misunderstood man with a traumatic past, a town full of judgment, and a woman trying to reach him. The tension was palpable. In contrast, Love, Theoretically focused on softer themes—people-pleasing, career anxiety, internal growth. Those are real and important, but they unfold more gently. I wasn’t yet the kind of reader who could sit with that subtlety.
That’s when I understood:
A lot of contemporary romances do have emotional high stakes—but they ask more of the reader. They require patience, softness, and a willingness to sit with discomfort.
And at that time in my reader journey, I didn’t have that skill yet. So I decided to grow it.
Not because I had to. Not because I wanted to “force” myself to enjoy a genre. But because I care about being a good reader. I don’t just want to consume stories. I want to engage with them. Analyze them. Appreciate their craft. And that’s what I mean when I say I like to dig into my hobbies.
Now I find myself slowing down. Annotating. Pulling out themes. Letting my brain work harder. Letting my emotions sit longer. I still get joy from fantasy, but romance gives me a completely different kind of reward.
If you’re looking to read more books and deepen your own reader journey, check out my post, How to Read More Books in 2025: Top Strategies for Avid Readers.
And that’s the beauty of hobbies. They evolve with you. They can challenge you. They can stretch you. And if you let them, they can help you learn more about yourself than you ever expected.
That’s why it’s called The Nerdy Babe Life. Because I care about stuff like this. I love being curious. I love leveling up. And I love that even in something as simple as reading a book, I can keep growing.
Final Thoughts
The more I reflect on my reader journey, the more I realize it was never just about books. It was about learning how to listen to myself—my tastes, my needs, my emotions. It was about paying attention to what excites me, what challenges me, and what helps me grow.
Whether you’re a fantasy lover, a romance reader, or somewhere in between, your reading life can be a mirror. And when you take the time to understand what that mirror is showing you, it becomes a powerful tool for self-discovery.
If you’ve been feeling disconnected from your hobbies—or unsure of what you even enjoy anymore—I invite you to start paying attention to how you engage with them.
Ask yourself:
- What excites me?
- What bores me?
- What patterns show up in what I love or avoid?
Your hobby might be reading, or writing, or running, or painting, or building spreadsheets (hello, neurodivergent babes—I see you). Whatever it is, dig deeper. Get to know your personal style.
Because the better you understand yourself, the more fulfilling those quiet moments of joy become.
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