I read a story on Reddit about a woman (26F) frustrated with her boyfriend’s dismissive attitude toward her love of fiction books. Here’s the situation,
The couple recently moved into their first place together, a small condo, and agreed to merge their book collections to make space. While she loves both fiction and non-fiction, fiction holds a special place in her heart as a source of inspiration and creativity. Her boyfriend, however, predominantly owns non-fiction books, many of which he doesn’t even read or resonate with anymore. Despite this, he’s refused to part with any of his collection.
She’s already donated a significant portion of her books to make room, but she’s still struggling to find space for her remaining collection. When she asked her boyfriend if he could donate books he no longer connects with, he agreed…but only if she got rid of more of her fiction books. His reasoning? “Yours are all fiction.”
The comment infuriated her. She tried to explain that fiction books are just as valuable as non-fiction, pointing out how they expand the mind, teach important lessons, and offer new perspectives. She even highlighted that many fiction writers conduct extensive research to create historically accurate and culturally rich stories. However, her boyfriend dismissed her argument, saying, “Well, you can’t reference a fiction book.”
This stung even more because he’s not a professor or researcher, so the need to “reference” books is irrelevant to his life. To her, the discussion wasn’t just about shelf space—it was about feeling like her passions and interests were being invalidated. She stopped responding to his texts, unsure of how to move forward.
“Fiction is absolutely valuable. Some of the most profound lessons about humanity come from stories. Your boyfriend’s attitude is dismissive and condescending.”
“Instead of getting rid of more books, why not get another bookshelf? It’s not just about the books, it’s about showing mutual respect for each other’s passions.”
“It’s not okay for him to devalue something that brings you joy and comfort. This isn’t just about books, it’s about how he views your interests.”
This story raises an important question: How do you balance differing priorities and interests in a shared space while maintaining respect for each other? What do you think was her boyfriend out of line, or is she overreacting?