Ever since I got into reading this year, books have become one of my favorite hobbies. I genuinely want to read.

But with this second half of the year, I can already feel the responsibilities piling up—deadlines, goals, and everything I want to accomplish before each month or season ends.

It's just that every time I look at my bookshelf, instead of excitement, I feel... guilt(?) Like I should be doing something "more productive," even though reading is something I genuinely enjoy and value.

Has anyone else gone through this? How did you balance having a busy life while still making time for books without feeling like you were neglecting your responsibilities? 🥲

When I got back into reading this year, I noticed there were tons of commonly used acronyms that I had no idea what they meant, and I’ve seen other new readers have questions about them too, so I thought I’d make a compilation of acronyms and definitions!

ALC - Advanced listening copy (like ARC but for audiobooks) (thanks @redhead.rambles !)

ARC, eARC - Advance Reader Copy ; A copy of an unpublished book given to select readers to review before the publication date. A lot of people get these through Netgalley. (The “e” is for “electronic”)

BE - Bad ending (thanks @sitacchi !)

CNC - Consensual non-consent (thanks @Indie !)

CR - Currently reading

CTM - Crime, thriller, mystery (thanks @sitacchi !)

DNF - Did not finish

DNFfn - Did Not Finish (for now) (thanks @irmknitss !)

DNR - Do Not Read, books you don't want to read (thanks @Indie !)

DRC - Digital Review Copy (thanks @MaddiHunt !)

Dub-con - Dubious consent (thanks @Indie !)

GN - Graphic novel (thanks @Myth.Ink !)

HC - Hardcover (thanks @CaitlinByHerShelf !)

HE - Happy ending (thanks @sitacchi !)

HEA - Happily ever after

HFN - Happy for now (usually used to describe the ending of a book where characters are happy, but there is potential for future conflict)

JE - Juvenile early readers (thanks @Myth.Ink !)

JPB - Juvenile picture books (thanks @Myth.Ink !)

JMU - Juvenile moving up books (thanks @Myth.Ink !)

LFL - Little free library ; Designated bookcases in public areas where anyone can take a book or leave books for other people to enjoy!

LI - Love interest (thanks @maggiebogo !)

LT - Large type (thanks @Myth.Ink !)

MC, FMC, MMC - Main character, Female main character, Male main character

MG - Middle grade (thanks @proudraindrop !)

NA - New adult (thanks @Indie !)

NB - Enby/nonbinary (thanks @Myth.Ink !)

Non-con - Non-consensual (thanks @Indie !)

PB - Paperback (thanks @CaitlinByHerShelf !) and also Pagebound! (thanks @KittyFeathers !)

PNR - Paranormal romance (thanks @Indie !)

RH - Reverse harem (thanks @FairyPeriapt !)

RTC - Review to come (thanks @acidicchaos !)

SF - Science fiction (thanks @Myth.Ink !)

SFF - Science fiction fantasy

TBR - To be read

TK - To come ; When speaking about book content that's in progress, like images, dedications, and more, not yet included in the book. Examples: “Review and link tk” ; In ARC books: “Dedication tk” (thanks @Myth.Ink !)

TW, CW - Trigger warning and Content warning

WC - Why Choose ; Romance between more than two people, in a polyamorous way (thanks @ctrlaltdelete !)

WIP - Work in progress

YA - Young adult ; Usually used to describe books written with a teenage audience in mind

Please let me know of other acronyms I’ve missed and I’ll add to the list!

P.S. When you use an acronym for a book title or author name outside of a relative context (like in the Pagebound club instead of a book’s forum), consider using the book/author’s full name first before the acronym so everyone will know exactly what you’re talking about. It’s easy to forget that a name acronym that is common to you, could be completely unknown to someone else. This way everyone will be able to fully follow what you’re talking about.

I hope this post is helpful for some people :3

do you guys have preferred pillows or seating positions to avoid neck and shoulder strains caused by reading ?

I sometimes catch myself using similar words or phrases in my reviews or comments. If PB were to have a feature that could show you which words you repeated the most in a month, I would probably be embarrassed at how many “absolutely”s and “action-packed volume”s I’d end up with 😅 So I was super curious to know what other folks love to say on here! What words/phrases do you think you use often?

What is your favorite book that you've read this year so far? I think mine would be either Circe by Madeline Miller either The Poppy War by RF Kuang. Circe made me feel understood like no one or no book ever did before, felt like I wasn't the only woman in the world misunderstood and brought my heart a bit of healing The Poppy War brought me anything BUT healing, but the world building, the characters, the plot, the war strategy... Never have my brain felt this satiated by a book and it was amazing

Tell me about yours!!

How do you pick them? Do you have a variety of picks that sum up your taste, or do you spotlight favorite or recent reads? Is there any book in particular that you feel represents your taste as a reader?

I love looking at what people list in My Taste - it always makes me curious about them! For me, I try and have some variation in my picks to represent the genres and story elements that I like best.

Thank you in advance for letting me be nosy about your taste, because I WILL be looking 🕵️🫡

Did anyone feel like their connection to New York City affected their enjoyment/read of this book? As someone who is not from New York, I found the boroughs-as-people to read more like exaggerated impressions rather than multidimensional characters. I understand that was sort of the point, but in my opinion it made all of the characters feel one dimensional. I would love to hear how other people’s experiences differed though, especially if you’re from NYC!

I'm currently reading My Life as a Yorkshire Vet by Matt Jackson-Smith and it has just dawned on me that at the start of the chapters in this autobiography, and others that I have read previously, the first 4-5 words of each chapter are in all capital letters. I don't recall this being the case in any of the fiction books that I have read (or perhaps I just haven't realised it if this has been the case).

I was just wondering if anyone knew why they do this? Is there a specific reasoning behind this? And does this happen in fiction books too and I just haven't noticed?

Copying and pasting the book's sinopsis, without farther additions, is not a review. I am tired of entering in Goodreads, checking the reviews of an ARC and seeing SEVERAL posts that are literally just "This story is about x character, in x place and shit happens. Thank you so much for the ARC!". Word for word from the original book description text. Nothing more. And don't get me wrong, you can do a simple, light and short review. I find those great. But that Control + C ➡️ Control+ V thing is just ridiculous. So here are some things that you can add to your book reflections:

🔸Rhythm: Is it fast? Slow? Does it linger in specific scenes? Why? 🔸Author's style: Realistic/Mystic/Descriptive/Onirical... 🔸 Characters: are they well constructed? How about their evolution through the book? What is the dynamic between them like? If there's a romance, do they have chemistry? Favorite POV? 🔸 Worldbuilding: Unique/Simple/Complex/Over-explained/with gaps/Solid and inmersive 🔸Atmosphere: Is it oppressive? Nostalgic? Thrilling? 🔸Symbols and metaphors 🔸REP (LGTB, disability, BIPOC...) 🔸Great quotes 🔸Was it a fast, addictive read? Was it a more calm and intimate experience? Did you read it for a book club, or a challenge? What did you expected from it? 🔸Emotional or spice levels 🔸History research if it's real historial event based

Just some ideas, feel free to add some more to the list or to discuss my first comment hahaha

Good evening Bookaholics!!

I have a good question for you all today!

If you could only read 2 genres for the rest of your life, what would they be? 🤔

Personally, it would be Romance and Classics for me. I feel like romance itself can have so many subgenres within the book, and classics itself is such a huge range with so many different genres that all fit into 'classical literature'!