Pagebound-coded books

A list of books that embody the kindness, joy, and community, along with the curiosity for radical justice, deep analysis, and deconstruction of systems of oppression that I see on this platform. In honor of PB’s birthday (Aug 13, I've been told)! I welcome everyone to leave a book + their explanation for why they feel it embodies PB energy in the comments; there’s no right or wrong answer, I would love to see everyone's perspectives!

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created by ayzrules

last updated August, 2026

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Comments

This is such a lovely list ayz!! No recs from me but I'm excited to see everyone's perspectives on how different books embody the community of PB! And happy birthday Pagebound 💗

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I would recommend a book by T. Kingfisher but I unfortunately only read three books written by her. I would say What moves the dead but if anyone else has a better recommendation for representing her please let me know. For me Kingfisher is a “Pagebound author” because she gets recommended everywhere and I only heard positive things about her work. That’s why I would feel that one of her books would be perfect for this list 🙂‍↕️. I talked with @jaybelzebabe about her and she said something along the lines that T. Kingfisher is the chosen author of Pagebound and I agree with that.

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I would probably say Nettle and Bone, firstly because it’s really good, but also it’s a standalone and is, IMO, pretty characteristic of her vibe! I haven’t read the new one about bugs yet though 🙈

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY PB 🎉😽

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It’s no surprise that she’s a Leo

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leo sun, sag moon, libra rising 😝 your honor, she's perfect

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Happy happy birthday to the best app/website/community/book tracker!!!

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Something by Alix E. Harrow for sure! I see her books read all over PB. I've only finished The Everlasting and Starling House and out of those, I'd pick The Everlasting for embodying PB je-ne-c'est-quoi the most. But maybe there's a better fit in her body of work!

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Oooo I second the everlasting!!

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The everlasting. I never would have read it without 🫛🐝, when I started reading it I got such a chorus of excitement from folks here, and the forum made it an even more special experience.

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Lobster. I love seeing everyone's reviews and comments on such a strange book that I wouldn't have come across otherwise.

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Definitely Lobster. A beautiful part of the weird wonderful world that is PB 🙂‍↕️

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Lobster didn’t cross the Atlantic ocean twice to get left off this list. 😛

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if i may rec: the deep by rivers solomon

my reasoning is a combination of personal sentimentality but also community belonging here in pb: this book was the first readalong book organized by the lovely @baileyisbooked when her quest went live last fall! readalongs (whether official for the season or not) are a huge, huge part of the pagebound community/experience and bring people together through the action of experiencing a book simultaneously and sharing thoughts and discussing books with other readers in real time.

the act of being able to share thoughts, engage in intellectual discussion, and build community for FREE in the capitalist hellscape that this world is, is in and of itself, a radical act. this book, which focuses on community, the shared experience of generational trauma, and collective liberation, all written in the context of the violent suffering and abuse endured by black people during the transatlantic slave trade, aligns with the commitment to exploring and dismantling systems of oppression that i’ve seen from many people on this site/app.

as a more personal aside, the reason i picked this book specifically is because when i was a new baby pagebounder last summer, bailey was one of the first people to reach out and include me within the community as a friend, and i will never forget that act of kindness from her :)

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I’m going to say Robin Hobb’s Assassin’s Apprentice. It’s the first in the realm of the elderlings quest, I never would have read it without PB, and it’s the first step into such a kind, character-focused, empathetic world that has been a pure joy to experience in community.

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Oh man! I didn’t realize PB was a Leo Sun, but that hella tracks. I’ll have to look at the chart later!

It’s technically new to me, but it’s the first one that came to mind, and I feel like the topic and the way I came across it encapsulates PB energy: Calling In by Loretta J Ross. A moot commented on @karigan’s activity card, and I got to see a number of folks talking about the book and the way they relate to its ideas before yoinking it myself. I’ve read more NF since joining Pagebound than I ever have, and I’ll always be grateful to it for that! 💕

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Yay, Happy Pagebound Day!

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for me i always think lobster. it’s absurd and fun and i don’t think any other platform could support such fervent love for a book so odd. in the best way possible 🩷

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I love this Ayz, you always have the best lists🥹 My recommendation would be Let This Radicalize You, another PB unofficial reading book for the Justice For All quest all about the power of community. I had incredible conversations in the forum all about how we imagine and create a better place for everyone💖💖

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE BEST PLACE ON THE INTERNET!!! 🥳🥳🥳

A book… maybe Remarkable Bright Creatures… I think it’s about the curiosity of Marcellus the octopus, how he was just there with the only idea of following his dream, just like J+L followed their dreams and created PB! 🙂‍↕️ they brought us together, just like Marcellus brought together Tova and her new found family!!! Does it make sense?

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I'm going to say the Murderbot Diaries, in the sense that we all much rather would be consuming our media instead of serving our capitalist overlords.

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yes, murderbot slaps and is very much the vibe

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for me when i think of books intertwined with my pb experience it's Chain Gang All-Stars all the way - anti-capitalist anti-carceral dystopian queer fiction with basis in true radical idealogies is quintessential pb vibes

(also Mad Sisters but of course that's already included 🙂‍↕️)

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oooh yeah, that one sounds so good and i've heard such great things about its commentary! ty for the rec!

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Happy PB day to one and all!! Thanks for the list 💜

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This is how I find out PB and I share a birthday

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WHAT omg that's absolutely amazing! happiest of birthdays to you!

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PB's birthday 😲 I had no idea! A special event to celebrate with a cute badge would've been nice. But anyway, this list will do instead, as I love the criteria to choose the books so much! Kindness, joy and community describes it perfectly 🙂‍↕️

Happy birthday, PB! 🎉 🎂

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