Why Re-Reading a Favourite Book Is a Radical Act of Self-Love

And yes, I’ve read Jane Eyre more times than I can count.

There’s a quiet sort of rebellion in choosing to re-read a book when the world is telling you to move on, read more, go faster, stay current.

But here’s the truth: re-reading isn’t lazy or indulgent.
It’s healing. It’s sacred. It’s deeply, defiantly yours.

And it might just be one of the most powerful ways to show yourself some real, radical self-love.

The Magic of the Familiar

My favourite book of all time is Jane Eyre. I’ve read it dozens of times — sometimes from cover to cover, sometimes just a chapter, sometimes just the scene where she absolutely demolishes Mr. Rochester with truth and fire and self-respect.

And every time, it hits different.
Because I’m different.

Sometimes I’m reading as the lonely girl who needed to feel seen.
Sometimes I’m the heartbroken woman searching for her spine.
Sometimes I’m just someone who needs to remember that fierce, quiet love — especially for ourselves — is still possible in a chaotic world.

Why Re-Reading Is Actually Brave

In a culture that glorifies newness, speed, and “what’s next?”, re-reading is an act of slowing down and choosing comfort over productivity. It says:

“I don’t need something new right now.
I need something true.”

It’s a return to safety. A soft place to land. A conversation you already know will go well.

And honestly? That’s braver than chasing the next buzz.

Re-Reading Is a Comfort Ritual

Think of it like:

• Rewatching your favourite movie when you’re sad
• Listening to a song from your childhood just because
• Making the same cup of tea every night, because it works

Re-reading a beloved book is a form of emotional grounding.
It can calm an anxious mind, soothe a lonely heart, or gently reconnect you to the person you were the last time you read it.

A Mirror, A Marker, A Memory

Every re-read is a little time capsule. You might notice:

• New lines you never saw before
• A sentence that suddenly lands differently
• A character you used to judge — but now understand

Re-reading shows us how much we’ve grown. Or healed. Or softened. Or toughened up.

It’s a love letter from past you… to current you.

Permission to Return

So this is your permission slip:
Re-read the book you love. Again. And again. And again.

Because it makes you feel whole.
Because it reminds you who you are.
Because it feels like coming home — and you deserve to come home to yourself.

I’ll be here, re-reading Jane Eyre for the 100th time, still feeling that same fire in my chest when she says,

“I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will.”

And maybe next time, I’ll feel it even deeper.
That’s the gift of the re-read.