I grew up in a small town in Argentina that consistently ran bookstores out of business. There was a tiny library that didn’t have any interesting books. It was before tablets, so I didn’t have access to ebooks. But I really, really loved to read. That’s probably why I developed the habit of re-reading my favorite books multiple times.

Ever since I’ve had access to more books, I’ve always felt a little guilty re-reading. There are so many good books in the world and so little time to read, so why am I re-reading a book I’ve read half a dozen times before? Shouldn’t I expand my horizons?

The answer is yes—I should read more new books (and make more time to read). But I also think there’s a lot of value in re-reading books many, many times.

Have you ever felt guilty about re-reading a favorite book rather than reading a new one? If so, read on to find out the five reasons re-reading multiple times is not just okay, but valuable.

1. You understand what you weren’t ready to understand the first time.

Most people agree that if you read a book as a kid and re-read it as an adult, you’re going to discover plenty of things that went over your head. You’ll uncover subtexts, messages, metaphors, and even problematic aspects you never noticed when you were younger.

This isn’t limited to books you read as a kid. Any length of time that elapses between read-throughs of a book will change your perspective. Books I read when I was twenty feel completely different now that I’m twenty-five. I’ve become a much more discerning reader and I also bring a whole different life experience.

By the way, I’m not saying your reading experience as a child or a younger person was less valuable than the experience you’ll have now. There are things you understand and connect with at certain points in your life that you can’t understand or connect with later on. Reading a children’s book when you were the same age as the characters gives you a completely different, and equally valid, perspective as re-reading that book when you feel more empathy toward the adults.

2. Even if you haven’t changed much, you’ll still get new insights every time you re-read.

But what if, like me, you re-read a book a few months or a couple of years later? What if you have a habit of re-reading a series every year? You might not have matured that much or changed your perspective that much. Will you still get new insights?

Yes, of course! Books are always different the second, or third, or fourth time you read them. You’ll naturally focus on different details every time. On your first read-through, you might be wrapped up in the plot. On your second read-through, since you already know the plot, you might pay more attention to the characters. Once the characters feel super familiar, you might become interested in the themes or the real-world implications of the book.

3. You can learn how the story is put together.

Whether you’re a writer who wants to learn from your favorite books or a reader who loves to pick apart how your favorite authors work their magic, this is a fun side-effect of re-reading multiple times. The first time you read a book, it’s natural to be immersed in the story and not pay much attention to what the author is doing. But like I mentioned in the previous point, once you’re familiar with the basic story elements, you can start to pick up on the structure and techniques that make the story tick.

My favorite example of this is mysteries. The first time you read a good mystery, you’re wrapped up in trying to figure it out. You don’t know when the author is dropping hints, because good hints blend into the background.

The second or third time you read it, you already know the end. Now you’re attuned to every throwaway detail or line of dialogue that points to the resolution of the mystery. It’s almost like getting a peek behind the scenes: you can track the setup of that reveal that you know is coming.

It doesn’t have to be a mystery, though. Every good book builds up towards a satisfying resolution by sprinkling certain details throughout. Once you know what’s coming, you understand the end-goal of every scene and can track the author’s strategies, which can be tons of fun—and if you’re a writer, teach you some good techniques!

4. It’s comforting.

I’ll be honest—I haven’t made much time for reading lately. I’m working multiple jobs in addition to trying to develop my writing career, and when I have time to read, I want to read something comforting. There’s always a risk in picking up a new book. For me at least, it can be more of an emotional investment. Reading a new book can be like making a new friend, while re-reading a book can be like hanging out with people I’m already comfortable around.

It’s obviously not a good idea to ignore new books—otherwise, how will you have favorites to re-read in five years? 😉 But there’s nothing wrong with occasionally curling up and reading a book you already know will make you feel a certain way and allow you to hang out with characters you already love. It’s why so many people I know re-read their favorite series every year.

5. You can make up your mind about a book or give it a second chance.

Like I mentioned before, you understand new things every time you re-read a book. Sometimes, the first time through, you just don’t “get” it. Maybe it’s a complex book, you’re in the wrong headspace or emotional space, or it’s different from your expectations. Whatever the case, if you feel the urge to give a book another chance, re-reading can help you discover a new favorite—or realize that you were justified in your initial reaction.

When I’m reading poetry, I usually try to read each poem twice, because I know it will take me one read-through to get my head around the full thing and one read-through to really dig down and understand what’s going on. The same is true for some books: you need to re-read them to get the full experience.

Do you re-read books? Let me know on social media! I’m @JimenaINovaro on Twitter and Instagram. I’d love to connect with fellow re-reading aficionados.

Speaking of new books you should take a chance on, did you know that my upcoming YA fantasy, The Relic Spell, is available for pre-order RIGHT NOW? And that I’m running a PRE-ORDER GIVEAWAY? Learn more here!

Magic rolls through Orion Tamura’s history classroom like a tidal wave of golden light that only he can see. The spell is deadly, and Orion has no idea who cast it or what they want.

Answers are scarce—all of Port Monica’s sorcerers vanished fourteen years before, including Orion’s father. Armed with his limited knowledge of magic, Orion is the only one left in the city who is strong enough to investigate the origins of the spell.

But the city’s leaders will stop at nothing to censor and sabotage anyone who gets close to the truth. Invisible otherworlders watch every move Orion and his friends make, and a mysterious sorcerer who knows the answers haunts Orion’s dreams.