I mean time of day specifically, though you're welcome to respond with other time frames if you'd like! Personally, I like reading at night best. Reading right before bed is the best feeling ever. I love drifting off in the middle of the page; maybe I wake up to put my book away, or maybe I just end up falling asleep next to it. I sometimes end up losing my place or realize that I don't quite remember the last chapter that I read while half-asleep, but that's okay XD But then sometimes I end up reading for hours past a reasonable bedtime, and I sorely regret it in the morning haha. I'm sure I'm not the only person who's had this problem, but I sure wish I had more hours in the day to read! I know a lot of people try to read during their commutes, but I personally find myself feeling rushed/unfulfilled when I do this. But as a somewhat busy person myself, I find myself reading in little chunks like this throughout the day is often the ONLY way to keep up with my reading goal.

A horror story centered around contamination OCD ? 😅

post has been flagged.

I follow this creator on instagram, Steven J. Reese, who is currently reading a book set in each of the 50 U.S. states. I love this project and have been really inspired by it. Personally, I've been trying to expand the scope of what books I read, particularly trying to read from different parts of the world (shoutout to women in translation!) I majored in English in college and the texts we read were largely from the States or Europe, particularly Britain. I've recently read a few books by Korean authors, Tender is the Flesh (Argentinian), amongst others. To keep track of my progress I'm thinking of both creating a few lists on Pagebound and also getting a physical map to check off the places where I've 'read from.' If you have any recommendations or want to follow along let me know!

I’ve definitely read some that I didn’t like at all, but there are also a few that I’ve really connected with. I don’t see them as something that’s going to fix my life, but I do like having them around for when I need a little perspective or motivation. Sometimes I see TikToks making fun of these books and it makes me wonder if it’s weird that I actually enjoy some of them. Like I know it's not for everyone but it kinda makes me feel that these books are a "scam" by the way they're reacting.

Hey, Pagebound readers! I've noticed something about book covers that really bugs me: those featuring real people/photographs. Whether it's a face staring out or a posed figure, I get an instant aversion, and I suspect I'm not alone. I can’t quite explain why... maybe it’s too direct or breaks the imagination’s spell? If you also get this reaction, what’s behind it for you? Do you get through it and read the book anyway? The truth is that I've never ever read a book with a cover like that, even though I understand there are many great books behind those covers... I simply can't get past it. Can you help me unpack why these covers turn some people off? What about them clashes with the reading experience? 📚

So I recently finished a book and it got me thinking about implicit biases quite a bit. When the protagonist of the books was described a bit later in the books, I flinched a little disappointed because I instinctively didn't like the way the protagonist looked which is to say that she was a larger and curvy woman and then I caught myself because why the fuck was I disappointed? Oh right because larger bodies have never been seen as protagonist material and since when you're a kid you've just been taught to be disappointed in larger bodies. I'm not large. I'm skinny and that allows me to be more privileged compared to other people because of how the society is structured and I still have body issues and I wish I was taught body neutrality at a younger age so I could see bodies as they were and not immediately try to gauge their worth because of how they look. This bias has been ingrained in me (by my own family) and if I didn't know that I was biased, I would have missed out on so many good books. It's not a bad thing to have biases. As a human being, you are bound to have some because of many factors. The question is if you try to move past them. If you actively try to fight them. Once you do, you're gonna open yourself to so many amazing media and literature! So for context, I recently finished Hemlock & Silver and I quite liked it! It could have been about a 100 pages shorter because I felt like there was some exposition but overall a solid book. And in case anyone is interested in what body neutrality is (which I find works better for me than body positivity because I can't be positive all the time); it's when you focus on what your body does for you instead of how it looks. You don't love your arms because they look a certain way, you love it because it allows you to hug your friend. Your love your belly because it allows you to eat and store delicious food and you love your legs because you can walk to your favourite gym. Things like that!

Romance readers, I simply must know: what is your favorite sub-genre within the sub-genre? If you like historical romance is your go to time travel or road trip or mystery? For my science fiction romance lovers, do you prefer space travel or mars-needs-women? Personally I want my historical to be rom-com with all other tropes and plot points up for consideration.

I'm usually reading a book while listening to a different book for times when I'm doing mundane adult shit or hobbies where I can't have a book in my hand but want my mind engaged in a story. Anyone else think it would be cool to have a "listening" status or do you consider listening to audiobooks and reading physical books the same thing?

Lately I’ve been thinking about how different it feels to read fanfiction compared to physical books. With fanfiction, certain tropes (enemies to lovers, hurt/comfort, coffee shop AUs, etc.) are almost expected and even comforting, like you know exactly what you’re signing up for. In published books, the same tropes sometimes feel more judged, as if they need to be subverted or made more original. For me, fanfiction can also be more comforting because you already know the world and the characters, so it feels easier to dive in and just enjoy the story. Physical books, on the other hand, often feel more polished and permanent, which changes the reading experience. How is it for you? Do you experience fanfiction and published books differently? And what do you think about tropes in both worlds: comforting or cliché? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

I've realized I've accumulated a bunch of 'bookish' habits now that I've started reading more. And I'm not talking about actually reading related habits, like annotating or anything I started collecting bookmarks unconsciously. Just started seeing more and more pretty ones and I was like, I need this! So now every book that I start has a matching bookmark (as close as I can get the match at least). My favorite one is a string bookmark from yarn, at the top it has the head of a little sloth with glasses (like me!). Now it's in my copy of a man called Ove Now I always notice bookstores or small book marketplaces on the street. I peer at the copies they have, and if its under 5 Euro deals I make sure to evaluate each one When I'm feeling a little less than happy and merry, or when I have breaks in my schedule and I'm downtown, I browse bookstores. I don't even buy anything, it just makes me feel calmer to exist in a bookstore for a while and check out books Bonus! If I don't like the smell of the paper I don't buy the book. For books that I'm not entirely sold on, or popular ones who are published under multiple publishing companies, I just stand there smelling the pages bfr making my final decision

I have been on Pagebound for a few months now and I genuinely think that Pagebound is such a wonderful idea come to fruition. I’ve been using other bookish apps for years and never felt inclined to post written reviews when I’m done with the books (I feel too intimidated sometimes especially when I feel differently about the books and the book community can be harsh 😰). But on Pagebound, the no pressure ability to post my thoughts at random intervals throughout the book helped me develop the confidence to post reviews on the books I finished reading as well and I’m starting to find joy in that. I’m glad I stumbled upon this site. It’s been magnificent and the community is amazing. Thank you so much!! ☺️

Just got back from a few days in London where we've visited a bunch of bookstores, it was SO COOL. We went of course to the biggest: Waterstones in Piccadilly. And the quirkiest: Word on the Water, a tiny bookstore on a boat. We also visited a LGBT bookstore: Gay's the Word. Have you had the chance to visit London's bookstores? Which one was your favorite? ☺️ PS. My bookshelves and my wallet are weeping.

I know classics are classics for a reason, but is there a classic book that everyone loves and that is considered this huge masterpiece, but you just couldn't get through it? It's happened to me a few times. I struggled with the Lord of the Rings trilogy for years before I was able to read it and enjoy it. I think I was too young when I first tried to. I still haven't been able to finish Jane Austen's Emma or F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. I don't know why, and I've tried many times for years. I've read other Austen books, but I struggle with Emma for some reason. I still want to try again with these books, maybe I just have to be in the right space for them to click with me haha.

I think miscommunication is overhated. There is an actual distinction between unnecessary, dragged out miscommunication to pull the reader for another 20 chapters without resolve of the issue, and understandable, character supported miscommunication that is to be expected in human relationships Communication is key but humans are complex and often don't like being open about their feelings in arguments. And I get that. There's also a story to be evolved, and if they deal with their issues two pages in thats not a book to write I also quite enjoy comedic stories with a main miscommunication plot. It can make for some rly funny scenarios, yk the stupid miscommunication kind I have three archetypes: Evil miscommunication; annoying, wattpad like, the author needed to make more money so they wrote another 100 pages Helpful miscommunication; character consistency, good pacing, when opportunity to resolve it arises they do Stupid miscommunication; it's the dumbest, most juvenile, this character genuinely has no brain shit and can make for some wonderful comedic elements For reference I'll use Ali Hazelwood's love hypothesis (this will contain spoilers moving forward so, heads up). Olive not figuring out the guy in the bathroom was Adam was evil. Any conflict with Adam and him being a dick or afraid to approach her romantically, helpful (or the matter with Tom and Olive's hesitancy). Olive's friend not dating her ex until she kissed Adam in front of her? The dumbest fucking shit on the planet (I will admit the stupid can fall under the evil and helpful categories at the same time, if the comedic elements aren't consistent and actually yk funny, it's evil)