Despite the widespread belief that younger generations are reading less, the reality is quite the opposite. Karyn Bonham, a bookseller at ABC Books, notes that she has seen an increase in younger customers buying physical books.
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Thanks to platforms like TikTok, social media communities, and a resurgence of interest in tangible experiences, more young readers are engaging with books in meaningful ways. Readers like Paige Poulin and Ashley Mercuri reflect this trend, sharing how books — especially physical ones — shape their reading habits, social interactions, and even their ideal reading environments.
For Paige Poulin, reading is more than just consuming a story — it's a full sensory experience. She prefers physical books over digital ones because of their tangibility, the satisfaction of flipping through pages, and the ability to track her progress in a way that's more immersive than scrolling on a screen.
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“Once you have that book with you, you have it,” she said noting that she also valued the stability of access to a physical book while an e-book requires a charger for prolonged usage.
One of the biggest differences between print and digital, in her opinion, is how physical books can spark real-world connections. "When you're reading something digitally, no one can see what you're reading. But with a physical book, people notice," she said.
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"I was on a trip reading The Handmaid's Tale when an older woman approached me and struck up a conversation about the book. This wouldn't have happened if I were reading on a digital format."
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That sense of community is a huge part of why she values print books. They're not just personal items but conversation starters. "Books can reflect your personality," she added. "Your bookshelf shows what you've learned, what interests you, and even how open you are to different perspectives."
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Beyond that, Poulin finds that reading physical books helps her focus better and absorb information more effectively. "Even in school, I'd rather get a physical copy of a textbook than read online. I feel I retain the information better," she said.
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As for her ideal reading setup? "Easy — on a beach, warm sun, a little breeze, sunglasses on, and a cold drink in my hand. That's all you need to finish a good book."
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For Ashley Mercuri, physical books aren't just a preference, they're a necessity. "I feel like a physical book actually makes me read everything. It keeps me engaged and entices me to finish," she said.
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Like Poulin, she too likes to physically see progress in a book — being able to eye how much she's read and how much she has left—adds to the satisfaction. But when it comes to distractions, Mercuri finds that reading digitally is an uphill battle.
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"If I'm on my phone or tablet, I know I can just open another app, check my notifications, or text someone back. I go and check all of these other apps and then I don't even go back to the book," she said. "If there's a book sitting on, like my nightstand or something that I can physically see, I'm gonna want to read that more." Unlike digital books, which can easily be forgotten in an app, a physical book serves as a constant reminder to pick it up.
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Mercuri also credits BookTok with expanding her genre horizons. "It's given me a broader spectrum of books. There's every genre imaginable — fantasy, romance, horror, and even crazy combinations like horror-romance," she said.
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While she has bought books based on TikTok recommendations (It Ends With Us and It Starts With Us by Colleen Hoover, were two major ones), she tends to trust word-of-mouth more. "I'd rather hear real opinions from my friends or family than an influencer who might have been paid to promote a book."
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Ultimately, BookTok has changed not just what people read but also who is reading, according to Mercuri. "Me and my 50-year-old aunts are reading the same books now because we see the same videos," she laughed. "It gets people talking about books who might not have picked them up otherwise." And in her opinion, that's a win for the publishing industry.
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As for her ideal reading setup? "Curled up in bed, dim light, and maybe some soft instrumental music — just enough to block out distractions but not enough to pull me out of the story."