We all partake in guilty pleasures, and something about summer seems especially fitting for easy, breezy reading of guilty pleasure books. I try to practice moderation in all things, but that doesn’t mean I don’t occasionally eat an entire bag of Tostitos in one sitting. I savor each bite of crunchy, salty goodness and the heat of my favorite salsas for what it is: pure indulgence. So for every work of literary fiction read, and for every high-brow short story anthology perused, I balance my love of reading for craft and structure with an equally important love of reading fast-paced fluff.
Like all preferences in life, our tastes for guilty pleasure books shifts from time to time. My current obsession makes sense given my love of reality TV and popular culture. At the start of this year, I made the commitment of listening to one AudioBook a month. I’ve found I either gravitate toward literary fiction I’ve previously read or celebrity memoirs. Let’s face it, attention spans can waver when it comes to listening to books while out walking the dog. So far, memoirs I’ve listened to this year incude Tina Fey’s Bossy Pants, Dan Harris’s 10% Happier, Robin Roberts’ Everybody’s Got Something, and of a more serious nature, Malala Yousafazi’s I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban.
My newest download is Rob Lowe’s Stories I Only Tell My Friends. I’ve had a crush on him ever since I was a little girl, and I’m not afraid to admit my heart still goes pitter-pat every time he’s a guest on Ellen. Talk about great genes! His writing has received generally positive praises, and now that he’s just released a follow-up memoir, I figure it’s time I read the first. Nearly my entire audiobook wishlist includes celebrity memoirs. Typically, their narratives are segmented and jump around to various anecdotes in the celebrity’s life.
Like millions of others, I found myself binge-reading Stephanie Myers’ Twilight Series over a long Thanksgiving break from teaching back in 2008. I’ve already covered that bout of Reading Fever in a guest post for fellow writer A.K. Andrew. The funny thing (or maybe not so funny thing) about guilty pleasure books is that they tend to make for even worse movies. I have no desire to re-read Twilight, but I can appreciate its out-of-this-world high drama and sappy portrayal of love. Yet, when translated to film, it comes across as totally campy. The same can be said for Lifetime’s recent made-for-TV movies of Flowers in the Attic and Petals on the Wind.
As a teen and pre-teen I gobbled up entire V.C. Andrews’ series in weekends of binge reading. The highly-formulaic stories of rich families with deep-dark secrets perfectly matched my teenage need for titillation and soap opera quality drama. Now the the recent disappointing translations to the small screen, I find myself tempted to re-read Flowers in the Attic again just to see how my adult self would react to the pulp that kept me engrossed for hours on end back in the day. Lesser guilty pleasure books of mine also include any kind of horse or dog story. I’m almost positive I will re-read the entire Black Stallion series one of these days.
Oddly enough, I also have a hankering for westerns. Maybe it’s because a good deal of my youth was spent watching Clint Eastwoood and John Wayne movies with my dad. So just know for as much as I proclaim my general aversion for reading most sci-fi and fantasy, I proudly partake in a good deal of other guilty pleasure reads. GoodReads even maintains a list of Popular Guilty Pleasure Books.
Okay, time to fess up. What are some of your guilty pleasure books?
Join me on Wizard of Words for my latest guest post–Book Review: 10% Happier by Dan Harris.
The cover images used in this post are for promotional purposes only and comply with fair use guidelines.
My daughter got me started on V.C. Andrews books when she was in middle school. I’ve read most of them, though the last few were been somewhat mundane. I like Dan Brown, but again, The Inferno was disappointing.
Glynis, I drifted away from VC Andrews after the first four series. Once she passed away and a ghostwriter took over, the books never really reached that same level of absolute drama they did in the first and second series.
My guilty pleasures include V. C. Andrews books. I have read every one! I even saw the two movies recently on Lifetime, too. The books are better. Then again, they always are.
Lorraine, so much was cut out of the Petals on the Wind movie. They should have made mini-series out of each book to fit all the shenanigans in!
I’m on vacation right now, so my Kindle is FAT with a wide assortment of “summer” reading material. Inexplicably, the first two books I read were historical novels. The first, set in Salem during the witch hunting was OK, but I AM LIVIA — the ancient Rome novel was fabulous. I swallowed it in three days of “visiting” ancient Rome while in contemporary World Cup crazy Netherlands.
I also have a travel book in the summer reading line-up — Yosemite anyone?
Summer reading comes in all sorts of flavors — romantic, suspenseful, mysterious, scary… but for me, summer reading takes me someplace. I’m traveling through books while traveling!
Candy, you are such a voracious reader! I’m sure you’ll find some new reads while on your trip as well, plus some inspiration in all the art you are bound to see 😉
Already writing with renewed inspiration!
Thanks so much for the mention Jeri:-) I also like Rob Lows mojo! And good to hear he has a memoir . I think audio books are a different beast, and I went through a phase of listening before I went to sleep. I tended to listen to things that I otherwise might not have read, like The Wizard of Oz… Partly because they were free on Librivox. it has some good stuff on it, but the reading , as it’s all volunteers, is variable. So it’s good to check out who’s reading. I think the reader . as much as the content makes all the difference in audio. But I like the idea of mixing up what I read for different situations too. Thanks for the post Jeri. Always a pleasure
A.K., I couldn’t agree more about the reader’s voice being a major factor with audio books. I try to find books read by their authors, but for One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest I went with the version read by John C. Reilly over Ken Kesey. Turns out Kesey would have been the better choice after all because Reilly’s ability to give so many voices to the characters starting to be a detriment to the flow of the story. Thankfully, Rob Lowe’s reading voice is as yummy as the rest of him is…
I read VC Andrews years ago, like you, I thought them delicious summer reading when I was in high school. I will admit that my guilty pleasures have gotten even guiltier with time. I’m currently sitting at a cottage in Nova Scotia and the books I have with me include Quiet, by Susan Cain and Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell (my second look for both) but what I’m actually reading at the end of each day is a paranormal romance by Christine Feeham. 🙂
Debra, summer reading at a cottage… life doesn’t get much better than that. I’m always the person who hangs out at any given campground reading my book while sitting in my camp chair enjoying a tasty beverage.
Funny, I used to read all VC Andrews books when I was a teenager, and now all I seem to read is memoirs! I read Rob Lowe’s book recently and loved it. It was super fun hearing about how he got started in acting (and his early relationships with the Sheens and other young actors). I didn’t expect him to be so candid! In any case, thanks for the well-written article (and I’m planning on checking out some of the memoirs you mentioned!).
Michele
Michele, I’ve been more than pleasantly surprised by how funny and well-written Lowe’s memoir is. I wish more celebrity memoirs were as candid, heartfelt, and engaging as his.
I’ve reread Pride and Prejudice so many times I guess it could be called my guilty pleasure!
Jan, if I look at rereading as part of guilty pleasure reading, I guess mine would be Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes were Watching God. Love that book on so many levels!
Hi Jeri…
What an interesting question.
I must admit that I have some books I should hide below the bookshelf, as if they were not well-bred…
I would mention all self-help book about some Holistic philosophy as a way to pursue happiness and guides of self-reliance.
Just a few titles in english “How to Win Friends & Influence People” (Dale Carnegie) “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho and “Living Loving and Learning” by Leo F. Buscaglia…
I know right?: Guilty of Charge!…(mea culpa)…
Best wishes, Aquileana 😀
Aquileana, what a great line: “I must admit that I have some books I should hide below the bookshelf, as if they were not well-bred…” You just made my day with that, and it’s been such a long day, so thanks so much 🙂
How nice to read that 😀
Thanks dear Jeri !!!…
Aquileana 🙂
–Oh, Rob is still quite delicious.
I actually heard that the writing was good. True?
Guilt pleasures: All of Elizabeth Berg books. I read & listen to them again and again.
For example, Talk Before Sleep & Pull of the Moon. They speak to me.
I wrote to her a few times about my addiction to her stories. She never wrote back. I must admit, this makes me not adore her as much.
Love your posts, as usual. x
Kim, the writing in Lowe’s memoir really is the real deal 😉 As if the man doesn’t already have enough talents!
I am guessing for those that know me it would be no great shock to learn that my greatest pleasure comes from reading books with a foundation of adventure and travel; especially historical. For example George Orwell’s Burmese Days is one of my favorites. As for guilty pleasure reads that generally keep me awake long after I should have nodded off and ones that keep me company on long flights these would be the airport purchased murder mysteries and ensuing manhunt of international proportions.
Tim, I hauled a paperback copy all over Greece and Turkey. It was right before I got my first Kindle. I haven’t read Burmese Days, but really need to one of these days. Orwell is tops on my list of writers any day.
I was fascinated by the book and made my visit to Burma even more exciting and full of anticipation.
I don’t make a conscious effort to balance more cerebral material with fluff, but a quick audit of recent history confirms I build in the guilty pleasures anyway. In addition to magazines I mix in re-reads of children’s books and novels where the first read may have been informative but subsequent ones are simply for a comfortable rhythm. For writing, I do make a conscious effort to balance … a bit like when we drive and stay fresher by periodically changing the focal length of observation. Apparently for reading,the brain just does that instinctively.
Paul, I’d agree that the brain does tend to balance reading based on how strenuous it is. When I had to read lots of academic articles, my fluff reading list would get really, really trashy 😉 I think it’s great how you do one serious post and a funny one each week. Humor takes great skill too, and it’s even harder to do it well. So kudos for being able to pull both off.
Hi Jeri,
The biggest regret I have is that I could never read ‘guilty pleasure books’! Probably never got them or was too serious as a literature student or didn’t have those kind of friends who introduce us to such books. And now…I feel I won’t be able to read them!
Never read a book twice!! Incredible? yep, I also feel so at times!
Balroop, I too tend to veer toward being ever the serious student of literature, but celebrity memoirs in audiobook form really do take me away…
Hi Jeri – I don’t know if I have any guilty reading books – I do read fluff books, especially if I’m busy or stressed, I like historical novels of all kinds, Maeve Binchy, Rosamund Pilcher – are they guilty reading books? To me they just represent enjoyment and relaxation.
Lenie
Lenie, we probably all think of guilty pleasures in slightly different ways, but if those books aid in stress relief, they probably foot the bill.
I can’t think off the top of my head any books that come to mind that are guilty pleasure books. Rob Lowe is not only adorable but really down to earth. I met him years back when we were in Hawaii and he came up to us and started talking. My heart was pounding and my husband had no idea who he was. Maybe it was better that way because we didn’t look like typical drooling fans.
Arleen, how fun to hear that you met RoB Lowe back in the day. I always say I wouldn’t be tongue-tied if I ever met a celebrity, but in reality, I bet I would forget how to speak.
I don’t know that I have any “guilty pleasure” books. I’ll binge read anything that interests me (currently it’s a series of books by a blogger I follow). I guess if I was to feel guilty about anything, it’d be Karen Marie Moning’s books, because they get sexy at times (not really what I lean toward). I’ve never read Twilight, but that’s because I’ve been busy reading other stuff. Maybe I’ll read it someday.
Loni, but there are so many other books you could get to instead of Twilight. I hope the days of sparkly vampires has come and gone. I’ve never read a single Harry Potter book or seen any of the movies. Crazy, I know.
I’m not sure that I have any guilty pleasure books any more, although I read a lot of what could be called fluff in high school. Now I think they call it YA! LOL But I do find myself going back to Jane Austen and Virginia Woolf once in a while and I really do love re-reading the classics! I think I get more out of them because they are no longer “required” reading! It’s a great discussion though! If you like westerns Jeri, I’d recommend Mckendree Long and his series… Dog Soldier Moon and No Good Like It Is. I loved them!
Jacquie, I’ll add McKendree Long to my reading wishlist. Thanks for the recommendation.
Guilty pleasure books would definitely be anything my friends pass along and say “must read!”. Mostly those end up being vampire series, Memoirs, fantasies, and sometimes some good ole fashion erotica. 🙂
I have to say/admit right along with you, I absolutely loved the Twilight series! I devoured those novels several years ago, one right after the other. Then I saw the movies….and was embarrassed to even admit I’d seen them. So so bad.
Beth, definitely nothing wrong with some erotica every now and again 😉 I saw the end of the first Breaking Dawn movie the other day on TV and just laughed, and laughed, and laughed at the wolves.
Darn! When I saw the title of this post, I was hoping I’d find someone mentioning Chocolatour. What could be more of a guilty pleasure than a book exclusively about the world of chocolate?
For me, guilty pleasure books are always about travel. I’m always scheming where to go next.
Thx for the terrific post, Jeri.
Doreen, it seems like I’m always reading a travel book as well. I used to pick them up all the time at used book stores, but started weeding them out a bit when I had to move. It’s just good excuse to get more though.
I guess I am weird because I don’t have guilty pleasure reading. I read what I read and don’t really make a judgement about it. But then what I read others might consider as a guilty pleasure.
Jon, even the admission of not passing judgement is a way to pass judgement…
I had a crush on Rob Lowe, too, and he has certainly aged well.
Denise, indeed.
I have loved Rob Lowe since I was a pre- teen. I thought his brother Chad was cute but Rob had/has my heart lol. He is still FINE! I’m actually interested in reading his book, let me put it on my wish list. You brought back some good memories with V.C Andrews. I remember reading Flowers in the Attic in the 9th grade. We had a reading group that would meet on Wednesdays after school with Mrs. Lee. We would drink tea and discuss what we read. My guilty pleasure reading right now are magazines.
Niekka, one of my former co-workers also would meet with students after school for tea and book chat. You’re lucky to have had a teacher like that. Books are a great way to bond.
Hi Jeri,
I suppose you could call books in the areas of my interests “guilty pleasure” books, which are about personal development, psychology and spiritual intelligence. I’m currently enjoying “Happiness Is” by Dr. Shawn Christopher Shea, about 5 dynamic elements of happiness. I alsoa find myself revisiting writings by Dr. Bruce H. Lipton, Leo Buscaglia, John O’Donohue, Og Mandino, and Wayne Dyer. Enjoy your week!
Bill, ahh I see. We each have our own niche when it comes to guilty pleasure reads 😉
Hi jeri; as a blind person i get all my books in audio. they used to come in the mail on album sized discs or cassette tapes. but now you download them to a digital player. I read about 50 books a year on average. most of my reading is done while exercising, but i do take hours or days away from the laptop and get lost in a good story. my books are divided between autobiographies, personal development, and straight fiction. authors most people don’t know i read include stephanie laurels, norah roberts, judith michaels, sandra brown, and ann rice to name a few. one of my all time favorites is philippa car victoria holt’s alter ego but none of them are available via download yet. the books everyone knows about include j d robb robert b parker john sandford stewart woods steven king dean kountz james patterson patricia cornwall lisa scotolina etc. I finally started reading the harry potter series and even gave twilight a try but it put me to sleep. I plan to read the girl with the dragon tattoo and the other two books but have no interest in the 50 shades books. well i’ve run on yet again. thanks for the thought provoking post. have fun in your hammock by the pool or wherever you are reading, max
Max, guilty pleasure reads are great for use when exercising 😉 I think you’ll really like the dragon tattoo books.
Great analogy between the bag of tostido’s and your guilty pleasure book. Mine is a box of mac n’ cheese and a sports book, preferably about some aspect of soccer. There’s something that just helps me shut off when reading about rivalries between nations, cities, and neighborhoods.
Carl, great combo. I’d be inclined to read sports books if they are memoirs. I also like to indulge in mountain climbing reads as well. I don’t partake in extreme sports, but get a rush reading about those who do.
I have guilty pleasure books too. My ears perk up every time I hear about a blog post discussing books. I read Twilight and wouldn’t do it again. I read a biography of a celebrity and it was definitely a guilty pleasure which I would not admit in most cases: Jenny McCarthy. Never again as well.
Kerry, never again is something I think we can all relate to when coming across certain books.
As with everyone, my guilt pleasure could include VC Andrews. I often migrate toward books that lend me an escape from the everyday world. 🙂
Susan, I have not read the many other books that came after the first few series. A good and fast read always has its place, that’s for sure.
Read everything from economics to thrillers. So I guess you would call the latter my guilty pleasure books. But I don’t entirely agree. Used to know Fredrick Forsyth when I lived in London and the way he researches his books is amazing. In other words, you learn even when you read such a book:-)
Catarina, I agree as well. Not even all guilty reads are created equally…
My true guilty pleasure reads are the Janet Evanovich number books. Truly no redeeming value except entertainment. They’ve declined a bit over time, as most formulaic fiction does, so now I’m reading Nelson DeMille, The Quest. I love summer fiction. I have to limit myself to only occasional fiction, otherwise I get lost in book after book and never get anything done!
Meredith, the admission of needing to limit yourself to only occasional fiction just brought a smile to my face. So many books, and so little time!
Thanks for sharing some of your readings. Funny thing is when I was in school, I dreaded reading Shakespeare, now that is what I like to read.
William, as a former English teacher, let me just say it can be quite the task to try to get 25 students interested in Shakespeare… which is too bad because there is so much to like. Kids want to read what they’re interested in, and lines of iambic pentameter can be quite off-putting.
I NEED to read some guilty pleasure books, I’ve been reading so much non-fiction lately that I’m jonesing for something lighter, but every time I turn around, another relevant non-fiction title is recommended to me. Next on my list is Too Loud, Too Bright, Too Fast, Too Tight. It almost sounds like a guilty pleasure book, but alas, it’s not.
Laura, I think you may be the first person to use the word jonesing when it comes to getting your fix of guilty pleasure books 😉
I do too much of academic books and after that magazines. I need to start also finding these guilty pleasures books to indulge.
Welli, I can relate to reading too many academic books… so much so that I often prefer them over indulgent fiction. Does that make them my fix then?
OK So my guilty pleasure, is finishing this series of Larissa Ione who writes paranormal romance novels. Never thought I would be into paranormal anything, but she has me hooked, and this summer I may start a new series of another book of hers. But ssshhhh….that’s totally on D-L.
Haha, I’ve been known to indulge in a paranormal book or two at times as well.
Hi Jeri! I love your post this week! I grew up reading V.C. Andrews as well. I read Flowers of the Attic, The Ruby series, and other series as well. It was like a soap opera! lol I love celebrity memoirs too! I read Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton’s, Shania Twain’s, Loretta Lynn’s, and a few others. Some of my guilty pleasure books are some of John Grisham’s books too. I just love books and summertime is a great time to catch up on reading. =)
Crystal, I loved the Johnny Cash bio that I read, but I haven’t read Dolly’s or Loretta’s. I’m sure I’d like both, so thanks for mentioning them so they will be on my reading radar now.
I’m at the age now where I mostly read guilty pleasure books! When someone mentions a book that I “should” read, my first question is always “Does it have any redeeming value?” It’s meant as a joke, but I don’t want to feel obliged to read a book because it’s what everyone is reading so how could I not read it? I like thrillers and mysteries, as you know. To me, one of the great joys in life is to start reading a book and stay up all night to finish it. I don’t do that too often, but more than once I’ve finished a book as the sun was rising. Seriously, I do read other books, mainly biographies and memoirs, which I do enjoy.
Jeannette, staying up all night to read a great book really is one of the best feelings, isn’t it?
I don’t have any guilty pleasure books. I need to find something new to read that’s not just motivational lol.
Jason, motivational reads are great. Just think though, even fiction can provide the same effect if it’s the right kind of story.
It helps that Rob Lowe is so cute on his cover. I think I’m going to have to check out Tina Fey’s Bossy Pants. I’m in the mood for a good laugh.
Christina, Fey’s book will definitely provide some good laughs.
I don’t particularly like the term “guilty pleasure books”. Why should we feel guilty about any book we enjoy? I read a variety of books, including literary fiction and genre books, although generally not horror or fantasy. For pure escapism, I like mysteries.
Donna, it’s interesting to me though how the label gets associated with certain types of books. I’ve met a good number of people who will state they don’t read any kind of fiction because it can’t be of immediate use to them. That’s when I feign keeling over and point out literature holds a mirror up to all of humanities strengths and flaws.
OMG! A whole bag??? I just can’t do that. Actually I read all the time so I just can’t wrap my mind around it being a guilty pleasure. But during this time of year, hot dogs and hamburgers are on that list. I really love to grill out, or even better, help my husband do the grilling and chow down on what he cooks. Happy 4th Jeri.
Pat, yeah I know… I’m a there’s just no saying no as far as Tostitos are concerned when it comes to me 🙁 Hope you’re Fourth was a good one as well. And yes, I did enjoy a bag of chips, though I managed to make it last two days.
I wish I had more time to be able to say I’ve been reading guilty pleasure books! I do have a few guilty pleasure foods though… 🙂
Christy, my guilty pleasure reads are pretty far and few between lately as well. My summer reading list is all business at the moment.
I think you already know that I am a huge sic-fi & fantasy fan. I like the Twilight movies. I read the entire series of books and found the movies much more palatable. I read books about witches & vampires. I also read some historical fiction at times. I have read many of the Janette Oke books. I don’t like the way they took liberties with some of the movies they made from the books. Big sigh… My Kindle is just full.
Cheryl, historical is one genre I tend to like when I come across a book that appeals to me, but I never remember to seek titles in that genre out.
My current favorite is The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion. A touching romantic comedy. I wouldn’t be surprised if it became a movie. Mysteries are also always on my list. Now if only I had more time for these guilty pleasures. Usually, I read before bed and fall asleep before getting through a chapter.
Jagoda, I try to read before bed, but nowadays it always seems like this or that electronic screen captures my attention…
You beat me to the punch, Jeri! I have many guilty pleasure movies and even wrote a post on them. But, I really only have one book…and it’s a book series. Yep, The Twilight Series…I LOVED them!! THEN with the guilt through some fascinating conversation I came to find out several of buddies liked them all as well!! Funny how that works in life sometimes, eh? 🙂
Mike, my husband read the Twilight series as well after he witnessed how I gobbled them up.
I guess if we are discussing guilty pleasure publications mine might be anything by Tom Clancy. In years past I did curl in a knot in a corner of the house and stay with that book, and other fattening foods for several days.
Edward, that is awesome and paints a totally different picture of you than what I get from you music blog 🙂 The last time I did a book coma fest was on a Thanksgiving holiday from school when the Twilight books were all the rage.
A friend loaned me “The Trials of Apollo” by Rick Riordan. My reading list tends toward heavy, but I love mythology and get his jokes. Laughing before going to sleep is a good thing. Thanks for your confessions and tips.
Elaine, thanks for chiming in. One of these days I am going to go back and re-read the Flowers in the Attic series. It will be fun to see what my adult-self will take away from them as opposed to what my middle-school self did.