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Reader issues a scary warning to people who buy used books: "I wanna cry. I found three..."

It has been reported that books are one of the most common things that many people choose to buy second-hand.
PUBLISHED JAN 30, 2025
Screenshots of the TikTok user warning readers about second-hand books. (Cover Image Source: TikTok | @pickme.chooseme.readwme)
Screenshots of the TikTok user warning readers about second-hand books. (Cover Image Source: TikTok | @pickme.chooseme.readwme)

Second-hand purchases are a good way to save costs while supporting recycling, but there are some things that aren't necessarily in the right condition to be resold. Buying second-hand books is a common practice among readers but recently, a TikTok creator warned her followers to thoroughly check and disinfect all used books before reading them.

Izzy begins the video by saying, “This is not a drill. If you get secondhand books, please freeze them. Don’t be like me.” She acknowledged her mistake and expressed her regret for ignoring prior warnings about the pests. She said, “I didn’t listen to my friend when she said you have to freeze books. And now guess what? I have bookworms.” Izzy continued, “I found three in three different books and now I have to check my books, freeze my books.” A passionate reader, she explained that this has hindered her ability to fully enjoy her favorite pastime. “I wanna cry. I am scared to open another book. Freeze your books,” she added.

Screenshots of Izzy talking about bookworms. (Image Source: TikTok | @pickme.chooseme.readwme)
Screenshots of Izzy talking about bookworms. (Image Source: TikTok | @pickme.chooseme.readwme)

Izzy's experience left viewers in the comments horrified, with many realizing for the first time that bookworms and pest infestations were a threat. One TikTok user, @audiobookgirly89, wrote, "You can't be scaring people this early in the morning but thanks for the info though." Another person, @2022perspective, commented, "Bookworms are VERY REAL I found out the hardest way & lost so many. I didn't know you could freeze them. It's always good to KEEP SILICA PACKS IN BOOKSHELVES. Works for me." A third user added, “This is just giving me more reasons not to bring home anything secondhand. No books, no appliances. NOTHING worms, roaches, lice, bedbugs? What’s next?”

Image Source: TikTok | @deannazp
A comment about perks of e-books (Image Source: TikTok | @deannazp)
Image Source: TikTok | @cynwitdapen
A reader admitting she was unaware about the issue (Image Source: TikTok | @cynwitdapen)

Nevertheless, several others denied the existence of bookworms. @dosh211 commented, "We had a library at home with over 300 books or so for over 15 years, and no book worms no nothing ever. What are you talking about." The fact is that the phrase bookworm refers to a group of pests rather than a single insect that feeds on glue, paper, and book bindings. As reported by Fox Pest, silverfish are the most infamous of these pests. These sneaky intruders are a serious threat to book collections in addition to being unpleasant. They quietly destroy priceless books with their teardrop-shaped bodies, silvery scales, and lengthy antennae.



 

The term bookworm also includes certain beetles, book lice, and even termites, all of which can silently destroy your books. Meanwhile, beyond these paper-loving pests, there’s another hidden threat lurking in second-hand bookstores, in the form of bed bugs. If a seller unknowingly brings infested books from home, these tiny insects can spread through the store, only to travel home with unsuspecting buyers. Although freezing books can help, there are other safety measures to follow. Choosing paperbacks over hardcovers is safer because there are fewer spaces for bugs to hide in. Additionally, turning the pages can assist in identifying unwelcome visitors. However, booklice are particularly difficult to find because they are smaller than worms or bed bugs and are almost invisible to the human eye.

For more such informative videos follow @pickme.chooseme.readwme on TikTok.

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