A charming collection of reflections on the reading life

For so many of us, reading isn’t just a hobby or a way to pass the time—it’s a lifestyle. Our books shape us, define us, enchant us, and even sometimes infuriate us. Our books are a part of who we are as people, and we can’t imagine life without them. In this collection of charming and relatable reflections, beloved blogger and author Anne Bogel leads you to remember the book that first hooked you, the place where you first fell in love with reading, and all the books and moments afterward that helped make you the reader you are today.

I’d Rather Be Reading is the perfect gift for any bibliophile and will command an honored place on the overstuffed bookshelves of any book lover.


You can order a signed copy from Anne’s local independent bookstore Carmichael’s Bookstore. Order online or call them at 502-896-6950. Just tell them you’d like a signed copy, or put “signed copy” in the order comments.


The cover art is available as a wallpaper for your phone. Click the link to download to your phone, then edit your wallpaper according to your phone settings.

Book Details

Publisher: Baker Books
Original Release Date: September 4, 2018
Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audio
Hardcover ISBN: 9780801072925


Praise for I’d Rather Be Reading

“Personal and fun, Anne Bogel’s essay collection is a self-portrait in books—weaving together all the readers she has been. I’d Rather Be Reading is her winsome musings on books, not just as a way to enjoy a good story but as a way to become a whole person. Anne believes books find their way to you when you need them. You need this book in your reading life.”
—Kathleen Grissom, author of The Kitchen House

“Everyone who loves books and reading needs this little book in their lives.”
—Emily P. Freeman, author of A Million Little Ways

“This book is a reader’s delight. Lovely illustrations and Anne’s witty commentary will keep you laughing and nodding all the way through. Whether you gulp it down or revisit it time and time again, I’d Rather Be Reading will make you crazy grateful for your own unique reading life.”
—Sarah Mackenzie, author of The Read-Aloud Family and host of the Read-Aloud Revival podcast

“Anne Bogel’s beguiling latest is a love letter to the reading life, infused with all the warmth, charm, and brilliance her fans have come to expect. I found myself—and my reading community—inside its pages, and you will too.”
—Joshilyn Jackson, New York Times bestselling author of The Almost Sisters

“I’d Rather Be Reading is a book lover’s delight. Readers will be reminded of the books that shaped their own lives (and maybe add a few more to the list).”
—Annie Spence, librarian and author of Dear Fahrenheit 451: Love and Heartbreak in the Stacks

“Books help make us who we are, and they make us better people. Anne Bogel’s charming essays in I’d Rather Be Reading, all about the bibliophile’s journey through life, will make you fall in love with books all over again.”
—Jane Mount, founder of Ideal Bookshelf and author of Bibliophile: An Illustrated Miscellany for People Who Love Books

“In this thoughtful essay collection, Anne Bogel reminds even the most weary reader among us that there is no greater pastime than that of getting lost in a good book. I’d Rather Be Reading is a charming exploration of all the ways books entertain, challenge, and change us. It’s a call to read with exuberant joy and a meditation on the things that hinder us from doing so. A must-read for anyone who calls themselves a book lover!”
—Ariel Lawhon, author of I Was Anastasia


For every reader who has finished a book under the covers with a flashlight when they were supposed to be sleeping.