Hey guys, I was wondering if you know of any great books that have the same feel as the Knives Out movies or like Murder on the Orient Express - so a fast-paced Whodunnit mystery with a bit of humor and possibly some foreshadowing. I‘d like it if there was a female lead since I feel like the detectices oftentimes are male, however if you know of something fun with a guy as the lead, that‘s fine as well. Thanks so much!

I’m not calling this a reading slump because I am VERY MUCH READING. I am inhaling 100k+ fanfics like it’s my full-time job. But actual books? Suddenly my brain is like absolutely not.

My TBR looks like a sad pile of obligations. Nothing on it excites me. Nothing is whispering, “you’ll love me, drop everything and read me right now.”

I want a book (or preferably a series) that CONSUMES me. Long-form. Multiple books. Characters I can bond with, obsess over, argue about, miss when I’m not reading. I want to live with them for 5–10 business books. I want found family, slow burn attachment, emotional damage. I want to CARE.

Instead, every time I start something new, I’m bored by page 30 and running straight back to fanfic because at least there I already love the characters and get instant emotional payoff. It’s humiliating.

This is not a slump. This is me being too picky and too self-aware and too desperate for ✨connection✨ apparently.

Has anyone else been here?? Did a series or book yank you out of this fanfic vortex? Or am I doomed to binge fanfic forever? Drop your recs for anything (fantasy, sci-fi, contemporary, mystery) long series or just characters I can connect with. I am suffering and I need help.

A not so simple question for you all Pagebound. Who turned you into a lifelong reader?

A teacher, a family member, a librarian? Can you remember what book it was that turned the light on?

My main reading influence was my maternal Grandmother and Aunt who used to read to me when they looked after me as a child and teen (to help with writing and language issues). The book that made me read as a teen was eitherPeeling the Onion by Wendy Orr or The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton.

Edit: I wish I had time to respond to everyone but there have been so many fantastic responses.

I'm going to a book signing tomorrow, and I have something I'd like to give the author as a gift—I do hand embroidery, and I made a small embroidery hoop with a line from the book. Is it weird for me to give her that? I made it with the intention of giving it to her at this event, but if it's weird to do that I'll just keep it for myself, lol. I know I'm overthinking this, but I always get so nervous about going to book signings...it's like I turn into a version of myself that's pure social anxiety 🤦🏼‍♀️

Edit to add: Thank you everyone for the reassurance! Giving it to her tonight :)

"With his salt-and-pepper hair, denim clothes and leather jacket, he reminded me of a TV actor, but he was just an English teacher." What do you mean by just an English teacher?!?! He looks like that AND he is an English teacher?! 👀 🤭 (Reading these books for the first time as an adult truly is wild, because not only do you worry about these kids getting into all sorts of dangerous situations, no, you also get to think the mom's boyfriend is 🔥interesting🔥)