12 Book Fair Purchases You Totally Regret
Here's a funny look at the book fair buys that seemed amazing at the time but ended up collecting dust at home.
- Chris Graciano
- 3 min read
School book fairs were exciting, filled with the promise of finding your next favorite read or cool item. But let’s be honest, many of those purchases weren’t exactly wise investments. From novelty pens to books no one actually read, here are 12 book fair purchases you probably regret.
1. Poster of a Random Puppy or Kitten
Berkay Gumustekin on Unsplash
Sure, it was cute in the moment, but it didn’t exactly scream “literature.” That poster usually ended up crumpled in a corner or peeling off the bedroom wall.
2. Scented Gel Pens
Nick Amoscato on Flickr
They smelled fruity and looked magical, but they barely lasted a week before drying out. Writing with them left smudges everywhere, and teachers hated them.
3. Erasers Shaped Like Food
Stilfehler on Wikimedia commons
Tiny hamburgers and ice cream cones seemed like treasures, but they didn’t actually erase well. They crumbled, smeared, and eventually got lost at the bottom of a backpack.
4. Joke Books
Lois Lindemann on Flickr
At the fair, they seemed hilarious until you realized every joke was painfully corny. You read them once, maybe twice, then tossed them aside.
5. Magic Tricks Kit
PickPik
A small box of tricks promised you’d become a magician overnight. Instead, it was a jumble of cheap plastic pieces and confusing instructions.
6. Bookmarks with Tassels
PxHere
They looked fancy, but the tassel frayed instantly, and you probably lost it within days. Somehow, the bookmark rarely stayed with a book.
7. Animal Fact Books
Johnny McClung on Unsplash
Titles like “100 Amazing Shark Facts” were irresistible at the fair. However, after flipping through once, they went straight to the shelf, never to be touched again.
8. Diary with a Tiny Lock
Drew Perales on Unsplash
That little lock made you feel like your secrets were safe, but anyone with a paperclip could open it. After a week, most of them were abandoned half-empty.
9. Glitter Notebooks
Heat Rhianon on Pinterval
The sparkly cover was eye-catching, but the inside pages were thin and flimsy. Pens bled through, and the glitter rubbed off everywhere.
10. Rip-Off “Goosebumps” Knockoffs
Kim on Flickr
Every kid wanted Goosebumps, but sometimes you ended up with a cheap imitation. The stories were poorly written, the covers looked off, and they never delivered the same chills.
11. DIY Craft Books
Johanna on Flickr
They promised endless fun with “easy” projects, but most required supplies you didn’t actually have. After one failed attempt, the book collected dust.
12. Tiny Pencil Sharpeners
RoonZ nl on Unsplash
They seemed useful, but the blade dulled after two uses and pencil shavings exploded everywhere. You probably bought more than one and regretted all of them.