Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for letting me read an e-ARC of Bibliophobia by Sarah Chihaya! This book releases on February 4, 2025, so prepare to reserve it at your local library.

The author’s writing is slow-paced, but the slow pace allows readers to take their time with each word, sentence, paragraph, and let them languish in interpretation. The description and title led me to believe that we’d explore the concept of “bibliophobia” in relation to Chihaya’s experience with an aversion to books after being institutionalized. What unfolds is a journey through the author’s history and relationship to books. She takes a deep dive on specific titles that have deeply impacted her (considered “Life Ruiners” by the author) and the ways in which they have shaped her relationship with the world, books, and her critical interpretations of the written word.

While I have criticisms of the way that Chihaya leads readers somewhat astray about the book’s contents, it’s clear that she is a talented writer, as I found myself highlighting massive sections of text where she describes her experiences while reading deeply impactful books (ironic considering she tears apart the way readers identify with characters and themes in books later on in the text). I thoroughly enjoyed the process of reading this book, but it’s hard for me to pinpoint an audience to whom I’d recommend it. All things considered, I would read more by this author, and I’m curious to see if she’ll ever churn out any fiction that is more likely to cross my path in the future. If you experience any challenges reading personal stories containing references to self-harm, suicidal ideation, and the harms of academia, I would consider skipping this one. Check StoryGraph for CWs, as always.