Some young singles are “bookfishing” to appear more dateable. Bumble data shows 66% of Gen Z and Millennial singles are more likely to swipe right on someone who mentions reading in their profile. But singles have caught onto this trend, and it’s leading to what some call “bookfishing”—pretending to be a reader just to seem more intelligent or “deep.” This summer, YPulse told you about the discourse on “performative males,” where young guys reportedly join in on trends they realize young women are into, but not with sincerity. And because reading is big among Gen Z women, it’s become the newest green flag to adopt on dating apps. Tinder reports “book boyfriend” mentions jumped 306% from 2023 to 2025, while “reading” mentions climbed 184% year-over-year. But with so many suddenly claiming to be bookworms, it’s hard to tell who actually is and who just bought a copy of The Alchemist for the looks. (Popsugar)
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