My Top 5 “Mistakes” as a Bookstagrammer

Let’s Have a Little Fun: My Top 5 “Mistakes” as a Bookstagrammer

If you’ve spent any amount of time in the book community, you already know there are certain things people feel very strongly about. Some of the things on this list may even make fellow book lovers gasp in horror (yes, I’m talking about dog-earing pages), but honestly? I’m going to wear those badges proudly.

This post is meant to be lighthearted, reflective, and maybe just a little bit rebellious. These might be considered “mistakes” by some people online, but for me they’re simply part of why I’ve loved being a book blogger and bookstagrammer for so many years.

So let’s have some fun and see if any of these make you say, “Wait… I do that too.”

The Top 5 “Mistakes” I’ve Made as a Bookstagrammer

1. Too Many Commitments

Whenever a new campaign email comes in for an upcoming release, I immediately want to sign up for it. Even if my calendar is already packed. Because… well… books.

To be fair, it’s not an irrational “I must click every sign-up form immediately” kind of reaction. I’m actually pretty selective about the campaigns I participate in. The problem is that most of them are books I would have picked up on my own anyway.

So naturally, my reading calendar fills up months in advance.

Then someone reaches out personally asking if I’d consider reviewing their book, and somehow I end up saying yes to that too. Apparently my inability to resist books extends beyond my TBR pile.

Thankfully, it’s manageable for the most part. But if there’s one thing book lovers excel at, it’s convincing ourselves we absolutely have room for “just one more book.”

And honestly? I am no exception to that.

2. Damaging Books

Yes. I’m guilty.

I break paperback spines.

I dog-ear pages.

I highlight favorite lines.

And I genuinely love books that way.

There’s something cozy and comforting to me about a paperback that flops open naturally from being read often. Perfectly pristine books are beautiful, but well-loved books feel personal. They feel lived in.

I know some readers consider breaking a spine the equivalent of literary betrayal, but for me it’s part of fully enjoying the reading experience. My books aren’t decorative objects sitting untouched on shelves. They’re companions.

Dog-earing pages is another controversial habit I fully admit to. I’m terrible at keeping bookmarks nearby, and with an eight-year-old daughter who constantly steals my bookmarks for her own collections, folding the corner of a page is simply more reliable at this point.

And while I’m not a huge annotation person, I do love highlighting meaningful quotes and adding little tabs to favorite scenes. Seeing those colorful flags sticking out of a book always makes me smile because it reminds me how much that story impacted me.

To me, those worn pages and highlighted lines are signs a book was deeply loved.

3. Not Being Trendy

There are constantly new trends moving through the book community, and I genuinely enjoy watching other creators participate in them. But when it comes to my own content? I’ve learned that I’m happiest staying in my own lane.

My Instagram is mostly filled with reviews, quotes, cozy reflections, and the occasional rambling post like this one. I still spend time creating detailed aesthetic flatlays even though they aren’t nearly as common as they used to be.

I actually saw someone mention recently that handmade flatlays have become rare now that pre-made templates are everywhere. Meanwhile, I’m still over here arranging books, flowers, coffee cups, and candles around my dining table like it’s 2018.

And honestly? I still love it.

Another huge trend right now is face-forward content and talking reels. I genuinely enjoy watching them, but they’ve never felt natural for me personally. Every once in a while I’ll include myself in a photo, but for the most part my content stays quiet, cozy, and focused on books themselves.

Even my YouTube channel is mostly faceless and talk-less.

I guess it’s my own version of silent films for the modern social media age.

4. A No Negativity Space

One commitment I made to myself very early on was that I didn’t want my platforms to become places filled with negativity.

And considering this blog has existed since 2011 and my Instagram since 2015… I’d say I’ve stuck with that commitment for quite a while now.

I don’t post negative reviews.

I don’t write angry takedowns.

And I don’t spend time publicly tearing apart books I didn’t enjoy.

That doesn’t mean I love everything I read. Absolutely not. If a book doesn’t work for me, I quietly set it aside and move on. You’ll probably never hear about it again.

For me, reading has always been about connection, enjoyment, reflection, and encouragement. There’s already enough harshness online, and I want my small corner of the internet to feel thoughtful, welcoming, and safe for both readers and authors.

At the end of the day, authors pour years of work into their stories. Even if a book wasn’t personally for me, I don’t feel the need to publicly shame something another reader may deeply connect with.

That approach may not work for everyone, but it’s always felt right to me.

5. Writing Long Reviews

If you’ve ever read one of my reviews, you’ve probably noticed something immediately:

I use a lot of words.

My reviews tend to be detailed, thoughtful, and admittedly a little lengthy. But that’s intentional.

If I loved a book enough to spend hours immersed in its world, I want to fully explain why it mattered to me. I want readers to understand what made the characters memorable, what emotions stood out, and why I think the story deserves attention.

I come from an academic and business background where writing clearly and thoughtfully has always been important. Over time, that naturally carried into how I review books.

And honestly, I’ve never really connected with one-sentence reviews or quick star ratings alone. I love digging deeper than that. I love reflecting on stories and sharing those thoughts with all of you.

If someone takes the time to read one of my reviews, I want it to feel worthwhile.

Bookish Confessions Time…

So now I’m curious…

Do you break spines?
Dog-ear pages?
Ignore trends?
Overcommit to ARCs?
Write overly detailed reviews?

Tell me your most controversial bookish habit in the comments because I know I can’t be the only one doing some of these things.

At the end of the day, being part of the book community should be fun. Whether your shelves are perfectly aesthetic or filled with bent pages, sticky tabs, and overflowing TBR piles, the important thing is that we’re all here because we love stories. And honestly? I think that’s pretty wonderful.