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Why Would I Read the Same Book Twice in Three Months?
Sometimes you just need to go back.
On June 14, I read Autumn in Charleston by Anne Morrison for the first time. It was an ARC, and I read the entire book in one day.
A little over three months later, I found myself reading it again.
So why would I read the same book twice in such a short amount of time?
Well, this time, I was holding the actual published book in my hands.
This is the first time that I have read an ARC and then actually ended up with a published book in my hands.
The copy I received was gifted to me, which made the whole experience feel even more special. There is something about seeing a book you have already read digitally sitting in front of you as an actual physical book. Seeing the cover, holding it in my hands, flipping through the pages and seeing the print somehow made me want to experience the story all over again.
If you missed my PR package unboxing, you can check that out too. It was pretty fun getting to open the package and see Autumn in Charleston in person for the first time.
So, What Is Different About Rereading a Book You Already Loved?
For starters, I knew the story.
That meant I could slow down and appreciate it in a completely different way. The first time, I flew through the book in a single day. This time, I read it over about three days because I had plenty of other things going on. I was not necessarily trying to get to the end as quickly as possible. I was letting myself sit with the story a little more.
I noticed things.
There were little clues and details that I either completely missed the first time or simply did not recognize the significance of until I knew where the story was going. Some details in particular feel very special to this book, and I have a feeling they may become even more important as the series continues.
I am very curious to see if I am right about that.
There were also little moments involving two of the characters that stood out to me differently this time. Without giving anything away, some of the things one of them does are things I can relate to on a very personal level. Knowing the characters already made those moments feel a little different the second time around.
I would not necessarily say that my opinion of the book changed. I still loved the things I loved the first time.
I just noticed more.
The Charleston Feeling Was Still There
One of the things I remembered most strongly from my first read was that warm, comfortable feeling the book gave me.
That was still there. Completely.
I still had that little I want to go back to Charleston feeling while reading it. This time, it also gave me a slightly different kind of wanderlust. I found myself thinking about how nice it would be to take a little getaway somewhere.
It does not even have to be Charleston.
Sometimes you just need a little change of scenery. A small trip. A night or two somewhere nearby. Something that gives you the chance to step away from your normal routine, see something different and come back feeling refreshed.
That is one of the things I love about books. Sometimes they make you want to travel halfway across the country. Sometimes they just remind you that you could use a little adventure closer to home.
There Is Something Special About Having the Book Now
I also cannot stop thinking about the fact that this book went from an ARC I read on a screen in June to an actual book sitting on my bookshelf.
I genuinely cannot imagine what it must feel like to be an author and hold your published book in your hands for the first time.
For me, there is something pretty special about knowing I read this story before it was officially published and now having the finished book as part of my own collection.
Maybe someday someone else who lives nearby will ask to borrow it. I would love that, too. There is something nice about books getting passed from one reader to another and continuing to have a life beyond your own bookshelf.
Sometimes a Reread Is Exactly What You Need
Ultimately, I think that is why I was so glad I reread Autumn in Charleston.
I did not need a completely new story.
I needed to return to a story that already felt good.
This week, while I was working through all the normal things life throws at me, this book gave me a little reminder to slow down and appreciate the small things. It brought back the same cozy feeling I remembered from June, while also giving me new things to notice and think about.
Now I am left with a few more questions about where this series is going, a renewed desire to visit Charleston, and maybe a slight urge to plan a little getaway of my own.
Not a bad result for reading the same book twice.
Sometimes you do not reread a book because you forgot the story.
Sometimes you reread it because you remember how it made you feel.
What book would you happily read again?
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