Do you have a Book Twin? What is a Book Twin? Do you need a Book Twin? How do you find your Book Twin? How many of the books on your bookshelf are recommendations from a Book Twin?
(this is not a post about twins as book characters!)
How to Find Your Book Twin
***This post contains Amazon Affiliate Links
In the book world, you might have heard the term Book Twin. A recent episode of the Currently Reading podcast discussed Book Twins and it inspired this discussion post. I resonated with their talking points and realized how much I depend on Book Twins in my reading life. In this post, I share why finding a Book Twin is important to me and why it might be an important element of your reading life.
What is a Book Twin?
Book Twins do not agree on every book.
A Book Twin is someone who shares your reading tastes overall. You often recommend books to each other. Because you share reading tastes, your bookish conversations are easy, enjoyable, and filled with recommendations. You enjoy many of the same themes, plot devices, character arcs, content, and pet peeves. At times, you will have differences of opinion, reading experiences, and Star ratings. However, your opinions are aligned most of the time.
I have a friend with whom I share recommendations and many reading tastes. I wouldn’t have read West With Giraffes without her recommendation. This week, she asked if I had read her recent favorite, The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion. Sadly, I reported that I had tried Vol I three times and set it aside, but I hadn’t given up because of FOMO. She wasn’t concerned and simply reflected that not every book is for every reader. I trust that we’re still Book Twins and will continue to enjoy each other’s recommendations. Book Twins can handle the occasional difference of opinion.
Do I Need a Book Twin?
Book Twins help you find your next read and help you curate a satisfying reading life.
Even though reading is a personal experience and no two readers read the same book, one of the joys of the reading life is sharing great books with other readers. It is particularly satisfying to find someone who loves a book you love. Over time, this reader has the possibility of becoming a Book Twin. From this person, you will receive trusted book recommendations and enjoy deep bookish conversations.
Can you have an Anti Book Twin?
It can be devastating when a person absolutely hates one of your lifetime favorite books. Or, she might list a book you didn’t like as her favorite of the year. An Anti Book Twin can be helpful in your reading life because you learn to discount her recommendations. I have a few Anti Book Twins. Two of them are the hosts of podcasts I listen to regularly. I greatly enjoy their book reviews and thoughtful book discussions, but our book tastes rarely align. I keep listening because of the smart book talk, the occasional overlap in our reading tastes (hello, Sipsworth), and the opportunity to decide which books to skip.
How Do You Find a Book Twin?
You can find a Book Twin in a variety of ways:
- Start with your friends and family, or your IRL book club. Notice the times you share the book love (or dislike).
- Track your recommendation sources. Which friend’s recommendations do you enjoy the most? Do you enjoy the books from a certain celebrity book club more than others? Is there one podcast or print publication that you enjoy recommendations from more than others? Start noticing!
- After listening to various book podcasts over a few years, I’ve curated a list of five that I listen to faithfully. Two of them fall into the category of Anti Book Twins (see above). My favorite of the five is Sarah’s Bookshelves Life. Our reading tastes don’t always align because she reads “darker” than I prefer. However, she reads a variety of genres, shares her opinions candidly, invites wonderful guests (cohosts and authors), and talks about books in a really smart way. I joined her Patreon community to gain access to more episodes, and I’m using her Reading Tracker this year.
- If you have an Instagram Account, search out bookish content. Bookstagram is an Instagram Account with bookish content. My account is a Bookstagram account because all my posts are book posts. When you start following and engaging with bookish content, the algorithm will bring you more of that content. You can follow and engage with authors and publishers and search for specific books by using the title and a hashtag.
- I currently love @kellyhook.readsbooks (where I first discovered The Correspondent) and @kaitlynmlilly who provides engaging video content (reviews)
- I also follow fellow bloggers, podcast hosts, authors, etc.
- Social Media: follow bloggers and other book content creators. Following one will lead to others. You never know which path will lead to finding your Book Twin!
- If you track your reading on Goodreads or Story Graph, follow the reviewers who enjoy the same books.
Do You Have a Book Twin?
One thing about finding a Book Twin is that you don’t have to tell her (or him)! You can be anonymous! This might reduce the pressure if you don’t happen to love the same books. You can just quietly take note of what they are reading and loving.
Or, you can declare each other Book Twins and revel in the joy of shared book tastes and allow for the occasional outlier. Fair warning: it does hurt when your Book Twin doesn’t love your book!
Having a Book Twin is not required! However, it can greatly enrich your reading life and fill your bookshelves!
QOTD:
Tell me about your Book Twin!
How many books on your bookshelves are there because of a Book Twin?
I’m linking up with Deb @ Deb’s World and friends for the March installment of #WhatsOnYourBookShelf Challenge.
Happy Reading Book Pals!
“Ah, how good it is to be among people who are reading.” ~Rainer Maria Rilke
“I love the world of words, where life and literature connect.” ~Denise J Hughes
“Reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad ones.” ~Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
“I read because books are a form of transportation, of teaching, and of connection! Books take us to places we’ve never been, they teach us about our world, and they help us to understand human experience.” ~Madeleine Riley, Top Shelf Text
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After co-hosting this link-up for a few years now, I read some posts with the library app open because I know their taste mirrors mine. Others I follow on Goodreads for the same reason.
It can be so helpful to find your book twins! 📚
I’ve found a few book twins on here over the years and I’m starting realise I have few in real life too 😂
Yay for book twins! 🙌
You are definitely one of my book twins! 📚👯♀️
Same! 🥂
Because I read so many different genres, I have several booktwins. You are definitely one of them, Carol. I have a real life friend who is also a book twin. We read a lot of the same books and recommend to each other. it is wonderful to have others whose reviews and recommendations you can can trust.
That’s true about having different book twins for different genres! And yes, I think we are book twins! 🥂
I don’t have a real book twin, although my sister and my mother and I share some book favorites. My favorite reviews are written by Kendra at KendraNicole.net—she not only writes beautifully, encapsulates the story perfectly and completely (without spoiling, of course), but she writes about the good, AND the bad, and for instance, WHY she only gave a book 3 stars. Her reasons can be similar to mine, she doesn’t like excessive swearing, she doesn’t like explicit sex, and she hates infidelity as a theme. We don’t always agree on a book, but she’s a first go-to for me. I always want to know what Kendra thought!
Yes, I love Kendra and follow her! She writes thoughtful reviews and I value her opinions! Thanks for sharing!
Thumbs up! (can’t find emojis)
I have never thought of it this way Carol but I do understand the concept and think that I maybe have a couple of close matches. Thanks for stopping in to the #WBOYBS. Bernie
Book twins are the best! 🙌 Thanks for stopping by Bernie!
Hey there, book twin! Thanks for all of your recommendations! ❤️
Hey! 👋
you’ll be happy to know I finished Emma M Lion vol 1! I switched to audio format and that helped! I’m in line at the library for vol 2.
Happy reading and keep sending those recs! 🌻📚
[…] as charming as his books. Paperback vs. Hardcover: Which is Better For Readers (and For Writers)? How to Find Your Book Twin—In which Carol introduces me to a new term. Quirky Picturebooks to Read Aloud for Rhyme Times […]
Thank you! 📚🌻
I might not have a book twin in RL but I have an anti-book twin who is a great friend. And I have several book siblings.
Book people are the best people! 📚
Yes Carol, I have a friend who is my book twin, now I know what the correct term is. We often recommend books to each other but don’t always agree on all of them but generally we have similar tastes. I love the discussion on this and also the anti-book twin description. Thanks so much for sharing this with us for #WOYBS!
I’m happy to hear you have a book twin! Book people are the best people!
I don’t have an identical book twin but do have someone who does share many of my interests/preferences. The one area where we diverge is that she reads a lot more non fiction than I do.
Book people are the best people and yay for a book twin!
I’ve never thought about book twins before. I have some friends and bloggers whose tastes align with mine but never thought of the concept of a book twin until now ☺️
Book twins are fun! 📚🙌