Men on dating apps often start their conversation with Angela Liu by asking “What are you reading?” Ms. Liu loves literature, but she noticed that many men aren’t interested in those kinds of books, so the question ends up backfiring. “I don’t like guys who only read self-help books or things related to their job,” said Ms. Liu.
There’s something special about physical books that tablets and smartphones can’t capture. Meeting someone in a library, bookstore aisle, or while reading on the subway is a romantic fantasy for many. Very few Friday night activities in New York City beat potentially finding a fellow book lover while surrounded by sweet prose.
“I love when people have bookshelves because I just go there immediately and stare at what they have,” said Ms. Liu. At a meeting of McNally Jackson’s new After Hours Book Club (tag line: “Read, flirt, sip”), single attendees, including Ms. Liu, gathered at the bookseller’s location in South Street Seaport in Manhattan for an evening of wine, beer, and discussion about “Dogs of Summer,” a novel by Andrea Abreu.
More than 20 people, mostly women, chatted at the event, discussing the book and the connection between reading and romance. Michael Hoang, 28, said he was motivated to attend the discussion because the book choice and the event’s name intrigued him. He appreciates fiction readers and considers reading a selection in terms of mutual interest when interacting with others.
A fondness for books is a trait that many look for in a partner. The connection between reading and sex is well established. Instagram pages like @HotDudesReading once captivated the internet and was later turned into a book.
Megan Mueller, a graduate student at Cornell University, said that while a love of reading is preferable, it’s not a deal breaker when dating. She shared a story about a man she dated three years ago who had no books, which didn’t faze her but was noted. “Everyone has different interests,” she mentioned.
