What Your Favourite Books Reveal About You and Your Identity
Choosing a favourite book is rarely just a judgement of literary merit. It can be a window into your memories, your values, and even your social connections. As Australia's ABC Radio National launches its Top 100 Australian Books poll, a new analysis shows how our reading choices are deeply tied to how we express ourselves and find community.
In her research on online reading communities, Shakiba Barghi, a PhD candidate at the University of Melbourne, argues that readers form relationships with books that go far beyond the page. 'We don't just evaluate books. We form relationships with them, and some of those relationships outlast the first reading,' she says. Barghi, a 2026 ABC Top 5 program recipient, studies how books become part of how readers present themselves to others.
Why a favourite book is not the same as the 'best' book
A favourite book can be attached to a specific memory, a sense of comfort, or a character we identified with. It might be the novel that kept you awake under the blanket as a teenager, or the one you have re-read so often its binding is hanging by a thread. These choices are not about objective quality. They are about personal history and emotional resonance.
Barghi's research shows that readers do not simply evaluate books. They form lasting bonds with them, and these connections often shape how they see themselves. 'When you're telling someone this is one of my favourite books, you are also telling them this is one of my worlds,' she explains.
Taste as a way of saying 'this is me'
In online reading communities, taste is a form of self-expression. A romance reader might not just say 'I like romance.' They might discuss slow burn, yearning, or specific types of 'book boyfriends' in detail. These preferences tell other readers what kinds of books they enjoy, but they also communicate what kind of reader they understand themselves to be.
Barghi notes that expressing a preference for a trope does not reveal your personality. Instead, books give people a vocabulary for presenting their taste. This is especially visible on platforms like BookTok, Bookstagram, and BookTube, where readers publicly share their favourite genres, aesthetics, and reading habits.
Favourite books help us recognise our people
Books provide shared reference points that help readers find community. A fellow romance reader understands when you say a book made you 'giggle and kick your feet,' in BookTok parlance. Romantasy readers recognise the appeal of a grumpy male main character you think you can fix. These shared signals allow readers to identify one another, whether through a genre like sci-fi, an aesthetic like dark academia, or a particular way of reading.
Social media has made this process more visible. Previously, reading taste was often a private matter. Now, it is expressed publicly in posts, lists, comments, and lively conversations. Barghi argues that these platforms make the reader visible, not just the books.
When loving a book becomes something you display
For many readers, a favourite book becomes something to live with, not just something to read. You might own multiple editions of the same book, arrange your shelves by genre, or collect objects associated with characters. A Mr Darcy figurine on your shelf is a signal of attachment. These displays are common on Bookstagram, BookTube, and BookTok, where readers show off special editions, themed objects, and detailed knowledge of fictional worlds.
None of these are necessary to enjoy a book, Barghi notes. But they show how a favourite book can become part of your identity and your daily environment. A shelf tour says something about your taste. A trope list says something about your preferred reading experience. A comment defending a character can signal your group membership.
What your list of favourite books says about your history
Think about your own list of ten favourite Australian books. One might be a sentimental favourite from childhood. Another could mark the moment you discovered a genre you still love. Yet another might connect you to a community you found through reading, online or offline. Or you might choose a book you return to not because it is perfect, but because it still feels like yours.
Barghi suggests that selecting favourites is a way of tracing your own history as a reader. It is not about ranking quality. It is about mapping the moments, people, and feelings that shaped you. As she puts it, 'Favourite books can help us recognise our people.'
How to participate in the Top 100 Australian Books poll
ABC Radio National's Top 100 Australian Books invites readers to nominate up to ten of their favourite works by Australian writers. The results will be counted down on air on October 17 and 18. For Namibian readers, this poll offers a chance to explore Australian literature and reflect on what your own favourites say about you.
Whether you are a lifelong bookworm or a casual reader, the exercise of choosing favourites is a personal one. It is also a way to connect with others who share your tastes. As Barghi's research shows, books are not just objects of enjoyment. They are tools for self-expression and community building.
'When you're telling someone this is one of my favourite books, you are also telling them this is one of my worlds.'
Frequently asked questions about favourite books and identity
Why do we have favourite books that are not the 'best' books?
Favourite books are often tied to personal memories, comfort, or nostalgia, rather than objective literary merit. They can represent a stage of life, a character we identified with, or a community we entered.
How do online reading communities shape our book choices?
Platforms like BookTok and Bookstagram make reading taste public, allowing readers to express preferences through tropes, aesthetics, and shared references. This visibility helps readers find like-minded people and signal their identity.
Can favourite books help you find community?
Yes. Books provide shared reference points that allow readers to recognise one another. Discussing a specific trope or genre can signal group membership and create bonds with other readers.
Shakiba Barghi is a PhD candidate in the School of Culture and Communication at the University of Melbourne and a 2026 ABC Top 5 program recipient.