I think you're right, but it goes a step father. They then associate that with reading in general, and liking books. Then they start to believe that self-insert dystopian YA is just as literary as, say, actual dense literature that explores the human condition. Or they make books their personality, without ever reading them. r/books is full of examples like this, where it almost seems they talk more about the idea of reading than they do the books, while also constantly seeking validation for not even attempting something challenging.
