Book Nerd Novels & Stories

I couldn’t help but smile. He squinted his eyes at me. “Ah, you know something that I don’t.” “Know what?” My smile widened. “At least, you share my frustration. It’s a good book, right?” “Yes. One of the great books I’ve read.” “I don’t even know if you read.” He smiled sadly. “One thing only a few people know about me, but yeah, I read.” “What’s your genre?” “Thriller, mystery, nonfiction. But Midnight is a mix of—"

"It helps me think. Or not think, depending on what I need." "What kind of books?" "Everything. History. Philosophy. Fiction. Biographies. I'm not picky." I pull out a worn paperback. Look at the cover. "The Count of Monte Cristo?" "One of my favorites. Read it at least five times." "Really? The mafia boss likes classic literature?" He smiles. "The mafia boss is full of surprises." We settle on the couch. Not too close. But not distant either. The fire crackles softly. "So why couldn't you sleep?" Ocean asks.

He pointed out a tiny bookstore tucked between two cafés, said he used to come there for quiet when his life got too loud. “Let’s stop,” I said, tugging gently at his sleeve. He looked surprised, but followed. The bookstore smelled like paper and nostalgia. There were handwritten recommendation cards tucked into shelves, and a sleepy cat lounging by the register. Dean and I split up for a few minutes him disappearing into the nonfiction section, me wandering through poetry and travel books. When we found each other again, he was holding a book about dogs. “You think Vegas would approve?” he asked. “He’d probably want the deluxe treat cookbook instead.”

I cleared my throat in the hope I wouldn't sound like a feral animal straight out of the wild, "At least give me a hint." "There's no need, we're here," pulling onto the curb, he gestured with a nod of his head to a shop tucked between an antique store and a store that sold all-natural products. "A bookstore?" It wasn't that I didn't read. It was more like I didn't have the time, too. However, I loved fantasy and romance novels just as much as the next girl or even mystery thrillers. Jericho, on the other hand, didn't read much—unless it was manga. That was probably his only exception.

"Yeah, I know he does that. He is gonna be the valedictorian next year. What about you? Are you the topper of your grade?" "No, there are at least three or four people in front of me. I'm not really a nerd like you think." "Sure, I saw your room," I chuckle. "You are the perfect example of a bookworm. But I guess you spend more time on extra reading than studies." He leaves a sigh. "Why do you refer to people who enjoy reading as nerds?" "Who told you being nerdy is a bad thing? It's good to be a nerd."

In my case, I read them carefully and dramatically, line by line, including the footnotes and reader's reviews, and I still end up binge-reading more than ten until the evening. I borrow Alex's bicycle and pedal downtown to check out the library stores I have been eyeing on the past days. There are two bookstores I have been seeing so far, and I will be more than glad if they have interesting non-fiction books to offer. I think I am craving of history and social knowledge these days.

he says helping me kick off my shoes and getting me comfortable. “You actually fought someone?” He rubs the back of his neck, an embarrassed smile on his lips, and he sighs. “I blame purberty. And to answer your question, I had so many favorites I cannot count, but I had ones I could reread over and over again.” he tells me, his eyes scouring the rows of books, brows tugging towards themselves in concentration. He looks so good this. A very hot nerd is who is in front of me. His eyes browse the spines of books, fingers expertly, and gently pulling them down, one after the other, with the carefulness and precision of a new mother and her baby.

As I perused the books, I could feel Aidan’s gaze on me. The shop, much like the one downstairs, boasted an impressive selection. These were books to be enjoyed in the coffee lounge, not purchased or taken home. A smile tugged at my lips as I reached the romance novel section. So, Well Thumbed had these too. I wondered if they had hidden gems, perhaps something I hadn’t read or that Uncle Alex’s book club, Bound To Please, hadn’t discovered yet.

“Yes. Now tell me, just briefly, what all you’ve read.” “I have a cousin who is a professor of archaeology, another that is a professor of American literature and an aunt who teaches classic literature. There’s also an aunt who teaches ASL, an uncle who gives me an allowance on how many pages I read and another who is the dean over library sciences.” “Well, damn. What have you not read?” “Honestly, not much. Uncle Nate always recommends banned books. I get ten cents per page from my Uncle Owen, so I love the really thick books. And Cheryl pushes the history books.”