The 5 stages of Reading a book that ruins you emotionally

There are books that entertain you. There are books that make you feel things. There are books that make you love humans.

And then there are books that destroy your soul, rearrange your DNA, and leave you staring at the ceiling like you’re in a Lana Del Rey music video.

If you’ve ever finished a book and said, “I will never emotionally recover from this,” this post is for you. Welcome to the five stages of reading a book that ruins you.

Stage 1: Curiosity (“Everyone’s Talking about it”)

You see it on Bookstagram, you see it on TikTok. Your best friend won’t shut up about it.

Everything shouts “Will leave you emotionally devastated” about this book. But that only makes you more drawn towards it. You say: “I’m built different. Let me see what the fuss is about.”

Spoiler: You’re not.

Stage 2: infatuation (“this book owns me”)

Fifteen pages in and you’re obsessed.

The characters? Flawed but perfect. The writing? Like it was washed through holy water. The plot? Smooth like butter. The vibes? Immaculate.

You start cancelling plans, skipping meals, and whispering “just one more chapter,” like it’s a prayer.

You don’t realize it yet, but the book has you in a chokehold – and you’re loving it.

stage 3: emotional ruin (“who let this happen?!”)

And then – boom.

Something happens. You’re not okay.

You close the book and stare at the wall for five minutes, wondering if you’re being dramatic or if this is actually the worst pain you’ve ever felt. More than often, it’s both.

Your chest physically hurts. You cry in public. You start texting your best friend who recommended this like:

“I’m not fine.”
“HOW COULD THEY DO THIS???”
“Why didn’t you warn me?!”

At this point, the book has devoured your soul and you’re just letting it happen.

stage 4: hangover (“now what?”)

You finish the last page.

Silence.

You look around questioning your existence, the point of life, and maybe even faith. You wonder if there is a support group for the survivors of this book.

You try to start another book and can’t. You compare every character to them. Nothing feels right.

You scroll through fan art and quotes and random strangers’ Goodreads reviews just to feel something. Welcome to the void. Stay hydrated.

stage 5: obsession (“let me ruin others too”)

You may be broken, but that won’t stop you from becoming the book’s most passionate ambassador.

You start pushing it on your friends. You reread your favourite lines like they’re handwritten letters from the past. You bookmark your favourite pages. You might even start writing fanfiction or imagining alternate ending where everyone is emotionally stable and alive.

The truth is: you’ll never be the same. And you don’t have to be.

Bonus stage: eternal devotion

The book now lives rent-free in your head. Forever.

You quote it when you’re sad. You think about those characters when you can’t sleep. You have a new personality trait based on it now.

It’s not just a book – it’s a wound you’re weirdly proud of.

To the authors writing books that emotionally ruin us: thank you.
To the readers who keep reading them anyway: we’re not okay, but we’re in this together.

Now you tell me – what’s your emotionally devastating book?

I’ll go first – “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini