Hot girls are reading all about it




A little dive into the rise of anti-intellectualism—and how we fight back.

We’ve overdosed on speed—dopamine hits, headlines, hot takes. Everything’s instant, everything’s empty. Our feeds are full, but our brains are starving. Somewhere between the collapse of curiosity and the cult of convenience, reading slipped out the back door like an ex we stopped texting. But now? She’s back—and hotter than ever. Not in a performative, tote-bag-core way. In a visceral, brain-on-fire, I’m-finally-feeling-something-again way.

Because books don’t scroll. They swallow you. They ask for time, attention, thought—three things we’ve been told are too much to give. But the girls are reclaiming it. The ones with good eyeliner, sharp minds, and zero patience for bullshit. They’re not just reading—they’re reprogramming. Tired of AI regurgitations and influencer-fed ignorance, they’re reaching for pages like it’s survival.

This isn’t nostalgia. It’s resistance.

Reading is officially sexy (again). From the rise of BookTok to the wild obsession with ACOTAR, the girls are reading—and not just for the aesthetic. It’s becoming a lifestyle. After spending years bingeing every kind of content imaginable, some of us are calling it quits. We’re tired. Done. And honestly? Picking up a book feels like a radical reset.

At the same time, there’s this growing wave of anti-intellectualism—partly thanks to over-the-top ChatGPT use. People are using AI for the most ridiculous things (yes, even asking which tube stop to get off at—thanks, TikTok). The endless clips exposing lazy, AI-dependent hacks are starting to feel less funny and more terrifying. Especially when you think about what it’s doing to our brains… and the planet. (Seriously, Google that.)

Critical thinking, attention spans, the basic ability to be self-reliant—it’s all getting lost. Call it what it is: mental decay. And if that doesn’t make you want to grab a book or chuck your phone across the room, what will?

So yeah—reading is hot again.
Say it to yourself. Say it out loud. Fake it ’til it rewires your brain. Saying you “read an article” (ahem, watched a TikTok summary) might actually feel better if you’ve, y’know, read something.

Being curious? That’s power. Knowing things? Even hotter. We’ve let genuine opinions and deeper thought get swallowed up by trends and hot takes. Time to take it back.
Alright, that’s enough of the existential spiral. Back to the books.

Book club is back—and yeah, it’s kind of hot.

Between Dua Lipa’s Service95 and Kaia Gerber’s Library Science, book clubs are having a full-on glow-up. Add to that more relatable creators like Sophia Tuxford, and suddenly, a whole wave of (mostly) young women are remembering how good it feels to get lost in a story for longer than a scroll.

And Sophia’s doing it right—chatting with her community about plot points, chapters, and characters. Not just “here’s the book, good luck.” It feels real. Cozy. Kind of like a group hang but with pages and opinions.

Even cooler? The cool girls are showing up with books in hand. Think Devon Lee Carlson energy, but with The Bell Jar in her tote. (Yes, we saw Addison Rae and the Britney book—iconic.) Even if it’s half for the aesthetic—whatever. At least they’re holding a book. Take a peek at their “what’s in my bag” dumps—spoiler: there’s usually a paperback hiding in there.

The hot girls are reading.
So… where are the hot guys?

Sure, everyone loves a man who reads. There’s something instantly magnetic about someone who’s genuinely into a story. But we’re still not seeing Gen Z men fully get into it. Reading helps you talk better. Feel more. Think clearer. It’s not deep—it’s just the truth.

And yeah, women aren’t immune to bad info online—but the rise of toxic male podcasters and dodgy “news” outlets is next-level. And a lot of these guys never get questioned. Ever. That’s a red flag if we’ve ever seen one.

Guys, you need to read too. Maybe you need a bigger nudge. But if we all start caring about learning again, maybe the loudest voices in the room will finally start getting tuned out.

Maybe we’ll talk to each other again.
Maybe we’ll slow the anti-intellectual free fall.

Is it too late?

NEVER.

Pick up a book and read today.

Hot girls are reading all about it

Credits:

Words: Issy McElroy / @issymac
Photo Editor: Nehir Kamasak / @nehirkamasak

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