Tried it, Was Alright: Blind date with a Book

Sometimes you just get into a little slump with your favourite hobby. If that hobby is reading books, and you're not sure what to read next despite having a big to-be-read pile, this fun little activity is for you.

A lot of libraries and bookstores offer this fun way of picking a book these days; they wrap it up tightly in some paper, and just draw images or write the bare minimum of plot points on it so you have a rough idea of what you are picking, but nothing else.

I needed some new books as all of mine were back home in the UK, so based on a friend's recommendation, I headed to the Strand Bookstore at Broadway.

They had the biggest collection I've seen of wrapped books!

The "Blind Date with a Book" table was the first thing I saw upon entering the store, and I was spoilt for choice. Unlike the usual blind date packaging (which is usually just brownpaper with some bullet points written on it), these covers were colourful and attractive. They still didn't give very much away though- I grabbed a couple that seemed to depict the tropes I love, picked up some other books that one of my favourite YouTubers (The Book Leo) recommended.

The checkout process was surreal, with the cashier covering the little LCD screen so the book titles did not flash up as he scanned the barcodes. The also folded the receipt into a little square with instructions not to open it until after I'd unwrapped the books.

My chosen books- flipped one over so the plain back is visible

As you might see in the above pictures; this wasn't cheap. One book was $19. This is a lot more than I'd usually spend on books- I tend to either get books from the library or buy them when they're on a multi-buy offer at my local Waterstones.

Still, I couldn't find a library that did them near to me, and I missed my chance to get some from the on-campus store before they changed up their displays.

Anyways, let's see what I got!

My unwrapped books, plus my other two purchases

I am actually really pleased! I have gotten "You, Again" by Kate Goldbeck & "Don't Want You Like a Best Friend" by Emma R. Alban. Neither of which I'd have purchased on my own if I just saw them on a shelf. (I am not a romance girly when it comes to buying a book outright), but reading the synopsis has me intrigued. I cannot wait to get into these over the summer!

I also picked up "These Violent Delights" by Micah Nemerever and "Circe" by Madeline Miller as they have been on my TBR list for quite a long time.

Despite having an extortionate amount of work to do, I couldn't resist; I started reading when I should've been working on an assignment. Worth it.

This is my idea of a good time

Try it Once or Twice?

This is try once. The novelty is great, and it's a fun way to get out of a reading slump. Or even just to get started with reading. But I was more excited for the books that I intended to buy, and I started reading those first.

If I feel the urge to do this again, I'll head to a library instead of a bookstore. $19 is a lot to spend on a book that might not be for me.

Watch this space though because I might change my mind once I read those blind date books!

Cost: kind of high (you're gambling on a book). Can be free if you use a library

Tries: a couple

Recommend: if you want to get back into reading and don't know where to start.