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7 Reasons Why You Should Date a Reader

Dana Rosette Pangan

Staff Writer

Dana Rosette Pangan is a supervisor by day and a fangirl all the time. She holds a degree in Laboratory Technology but finds that she has more chemistry with language and writing. When she's not making embarrassingly lame puns, she can be found avoiding social situations and searching for something that can hold her attention for more than 30 minutes. She is from the Philippines and is probably doing something weird right now.

As a 26-year-old woman who is not in any romantic relationship, I am not exactly what you would call an authority when it comes to dating and romance. I am, however, a reader, so believe me when I tell you how awesome it is to date a reader.

Readers are less stressed.

Romantic relationships suffer when one or both parties are stressed out. It can lead to misunderstandings and a feeling of isolation and, probably, murderous thoughts. But if you date a reader, you are dating someone who experiences less stress than the average person, which in turn puts less strain on your relationship (as you, if you’re a non-reader, will most likely be the only one to bitch about something). Simply put, when in distress, readers are much more inclined to read a heavy volume than hurl it on your face.

Readers have more empathy.

Studies have shown that reading literary fiction improves empathy. Surely, a partner who is sensitive to your feelings is more desirable than one who has never lived a life other than their own and, thus, finds it hard to understand others.

Readers have a great memory.

It makes sense that reading improves the memory. After all, if readers still remember Sherlock Holmes’ birthday (it’s January 6!) even after more than a century, there’s no reason why they would forget yours. (I mean, if you’re dating, of course. Readers in general don’t just randomly know when you were born.) So, no more forgotten birthdays and anniversaries!

Readers have a big, um, vocabulary.

Readers are exposed to more words, and a lot of these words find their way into their everyday speech. How does this relate to romance, you ask? I have no idea. Just imagine your significant other making big-word talk instead of dirty talk, though.

Readers are passionate.

They read books. They read about books. They photograph, blog about, and talk about books. They can’t pass by bookstores without buying anything (or hyperventilating when they can’t. At least, that’s how it is for me). They love their book collections and display them proudly. And that kind of passion, that kind of love, is so pure and infectious that you’ll find yourself falling for the written word too.

You know what gift to give a reader.

Now this one’s tricky. Logically, you can’t go wrong with a book (or two, or three) as a gift for any occasion. The problem lies in which book to give them. Most readers have preferences, and you have to be sure that they don’t already own what you plan to give them. Ah, well. Better start putting together a list of all the books in their personal library then. Good luck!

Readers are better at sex.

…I guess? I mean, they’ve probably read a lot about it, right? Honestly, I have nothing to back this up, though researchers do seem to think that reading erotica increases a woman’s sexual desire. Anyway, you just gotta trust me on this. Readers, even the awkward ones, know how to do the sex.

via GIPHY