21 Signs You are REALLY Into Your Book

While some books are easier to put down than others, every voracious reader occasionally has a moment when they realize, “I am really into the book I’m reading right now. Really.” Here are a few signs that you are enjoying your current read…a lot.

1. When you’re in the home stretch of finishing it, anyone who foolishly tries to get your attention gets the MGM Lion treatment.

2. You send all calls straight to voicemail because you just need to finish this chapter. (Or, you pick up and tell them you’ll call them back because razza frazza busy-can’t-talk.)

3. On your way home from work, you realize you left your book at the office—and go all the way back to get it. (I once left The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo at work over the weekend, and I was thisclose to just going to the bookstore and buying another copy so I didn’t have to wait until Monday to get back to reading it.)

4. You haven’t even finished the book yet, but you’ve already formed a list of people you know who have to read it, and you’re planning to buy a copy for at least one friend.

5. You post about how much you’re loving the book on Twitter or Facebook, then refuse to let yourself read any responses, because there could be SPOILERS. (Gone Girl, I’m looking in your direction.)

6. Your favorite show is about to come on, and last week’s episode was a cliffhanger—but…that’s what DVR is for, right?

7. You’ve already read it (several times), but you still find yourself hoping it ends differently this time. (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Y u no ever change your ending for me?)

8. You start to panic when you’re on a train or a plane and you realize you’re coming dangerously close to finishing your book, with nothing else to read—then realize that, as soon as you finish, you can just start it over again from the beginning.

9. As you read, you keep thinking things like, “I am SO glad I picked this book up,” and “Why didn’t I start reading this sooner?”

10. People ask what your Friday night plans are, and you hear yourself say, “Well, I’m reading this great book…”

11. You almost miss your bus (or subway, or train, or trolley) stop because you’re so engrossed in your book. (Ok, maybe you do miss your stop. Our little secret.)

12. You wonder how your commute could have possibly been so short today. You JUST got on the bus a minute ago and you’re already here?! Did this thing just go express without telling you?

13. You wonder whether you can get away with reading your book under your desk or while hidden away in a corner at work (the trick you used to try to get away with at school).

14. You’re halfway through book 1 of a series, and you’ve already ordered books 2 and 3.

15. Listening to an audiobook in your car, you arrive at your destination and sit there for just a few more minutes because you can’t turn it off, not yet! (Or, if you’re listening with headphones, you keep them on until whoever you’re meeting is actively speaking to you.)

16. When you’re not even halfway done, you realize you’re sad that you’ll never get to read this book again for the first time.

17. You portion the book out to make it last, only letting yourself read a chapter or two every night—or, at least, trying to only let yourself read a chapter a night. Good luck with that. (Ahem, every Harry Potter book while the series was still being written.)

18. When you speed-read a great passage a little too quickly, you immediately go back and reread it so you can savor it.

19. You find the author on Twitter and get all squeally.

20. You’re up half the night reading, even though you have to get at least 8 hours of sleep becauzzzzzz….

21. When you spot a stranger reading the same book in public, you have to stop yourself from lunging at them like an overexcited Labrador puppy and asking them what they think. Do they like it? Huh? Huh? Do they?

How do you know when you’re really into a book?