“Thinking: Maybe if I had more money, I could be a better person.”

1. oh
2. yeah :(
3. do not get me on my poverty-versus-wealth-and-the-effect-on-ability-to-participate-in-democracy soapbox !!! I’m serious someone TAKE THE SOAPBOX AWAY

Where I am it is the morning of the 25th already. I woke up and exchanged good wishes with friends and family, but it would be incomplete without sending all the wishes and good vibes to this community. I wish everyone who celebrates the merriest Christmas and a wonderful time ahead. To those who do not celebrate or celebrate other things: may you also have the best time, full of fun and lots of love. The year 2025 was not looking good for me, it was hard, and quite eye-opening that is until PB showed up in the second half and became my solace for the hardest days. Thank you to each and everyone of you who have interacted with me, made me feel appreciated, heard and loved and became my friends along the way. L and J have been the very best founder duo and it would not have been possible without them 💕💕

Did anyone else get the email newsletter for it? What were your favorite things to see? I personally loved seeing the stats and most used emojis!! Also the spellshop tomato war posts getting a feature kind of sent me lol (for context, see Jennifer’s unofficial tomato war side quest list).

The average book rating being a 3.9 also felt very fittingly positive for the vibe and community on here. Im so excited to continue using pagebound next year!

In honor of the fact I just missed picking up my library hold for Careless People, please please please tell me you also have missed a hold for a popular book and had to go back to the bottom of the list of checks notes 345 people 🙂 which book was it? Why did you miss your hold pickup?

yayyyyy, i'm so thrilled this side-quest is open for business, yippee!!

this has been a niche interest of mine for a few years, and i'm excited to welcome both veterans of the optional punctuation brigade and brand newbies who've never read a book like this in their life.

thank you so much for the enthusiasm on this quest already. i wasn't sure how many people would truly be interested and i'm so happy to see the warm response!

please note this is a side-quest which means i cannot take on any recommendations as the booklist is final, to allow us to get that competitionist badge.

question for you all: is anyone interested in an unofficial readalong either february or march next year? please comment your interest (and preferred month) and if there is a consensus i'll make a post so we can choose the book to read together.

i hope you enjoy exploring the books in this collection and please keep me updated on your progress in the quest!

xxxxxx

i’m SO excited for this quest! and (just as importantly for me, someone who likes to gather trinkets) LOOK at how gorgeous that badge is! which book is everyone most keen to read?

my heart loves grammar & punctuation but loves silliness & textual storytelling & fascinating stylistic choices MORE!!! loving this quest idea a whole bunch 🤭🤭🤭