So I don’t really follow BookTok because TikTok is banned in India. Most of what I see comes through YouTube commentators, and if something’s interesting, I bring it to Pagebound to have an intellectually stimulating discussion. A few minutes ago, I came across a YouTuber talking about BookTok in 2026—specifically the drama surrounding Tracy Deonn. And it got me thinking about what content creators, authors, and entertainers actually owe their fans.

Here’s the situation: if you don’t know what happened, there was this woman named Samira who went up to Tracy Deonn at a signing with a bookplate. When she met her, she started going into a monologue about how much Legendborn meant to her, very personally. But Tracy interrupted her mid-sentence to ask where she should sign the bookplate.

Now, in my opinion, if you actually watch the video, it doesn’t feel like Tracy Deonn was being rude. It just seemed like she was confused about where to sign and asked a practical question—and honestly, she asked it pretty sweetly. But Samira felt it was rude and now fans are saying that Tracy should be “cancelled” over it. And that’s what’s bothering me. Do content creators really owe you constant warmth and enthusiasm every single time you meet them? Does someone deserve to be cancelled over a 20-second clip, especially when you don’t know the full context—like the fact that it was chaotic, it was a signing session and not a meet-and-greet, and things are naturally rushed in those environments?

It also made me think about the pressure we put on creators and entertainers to make us feel special every time we interact with them, as if we “made them famous,” so they owe us something. And then there’s another layer: gender. Why do we especially expect women to always be smiling, warm, and emotionally available? Like, “Oh my God, how are you? That’s so sweet!” all the time? And beyond that, she’s also a Black woman. There’s a long history of Black women being unfairly labeled as aggressive or rude. So when she behaves completely normally and it still gets interpreted that way, I think it’s worth questioning why.

If you truly love an author, there are so many ways to show it. But expecting them to stand there and absorb a full monologue in a chaotic, time-limited setting—it’s just not realistic. Maybe you expected her to accommodate you in that moment, but she didn’t, and that’s okay. Not everything has to center you. I think what’s happening here is extremely unfair to entertainers, to creators, and specifically to Tracy Deonn—especially when her work is genuinely loved by so many people. Meanwhile, there are authors with far more serious issues, like being transphones, rapists, or zionists who continue to receive—and I will be using a hindi slang here because it sounds fun—bhav (which means attention). But someone gets dragged over something like this?

It just doesn’t add up. So yeah, I’d really like to hear your thoughts on this whole situation with BookCon and Tracy Deonn, because right now it just feels deeply disproportionate and unfair.

Edit: Y'all I've accidentally been using the alternative version of her name's spelling "Samira" instead of "Sameera". Both are pronounced the same but my apologies. Please use Sameera from now on. Thank you 🫶

I'm gonna say this one time. And anyone who needs this explained to them, in any other context, is welcome to be sent right back here to learn this lesson.

This user, now deleted, wanted to throw a tantrum because what they wanted in terms of assembled literature on antisemitism, didn't already exist here. That was where it started. And where it ended was the nature of this user only being interested in pro-Israel, pro-Zionist representations of Judaism and antisemitism being brought to light. That went round and round until the person deleted their account. And at the core of this misunderstanding isn't whatever content on Judaism we do or don't have here. It's the lack of respect and understanding this user has for this platform.

There is no AI, no algorithmically generated book curation going on here. Nothing is automatically creating reading lists and quests here on every imaginable topic and human interest. Everything here is user created. The quests, the lists, the events, all of it is hand made by an actual person.

I'm gonna say something really honest, and I want y'all to hear what I'm saying, and only what I'm saying. There was jack shit on this site for black fantasy, science fiction, and speculative fiction when I joined. I'm not accusing anyone of anything when I say this. That was just the reality of the situation. So I sat my ass down and curated that content! I made the things I wanted to see on this site, and that's why they're here now. I have added hundreds of books to this site, in those genres and many others, specifically from black authors. I have given so much of my time to that endeavor because I care. I can bitch because it's not here, or I can do something about it. I can complain that the potluck doesn't have what I want to eat, or I can bring something I want to eat and share with others.

On this platform, no one is special or exempt from that.

If you want something to exist on this website that isn't already here, you have to build it yourself! If you're an expert on something, congratulations! You're the one we've been waiting for to build the lists and content for that subject. It's you, or it doesn't exist. And if you aren't willing to do that, it's because you don't actually care that much. You want someone else to do it for you. You see those of us who do that work as your servants, not your peers. You expect us to reach outside of our expertise and interests to create things for you, when YOU are the one who should be sticking out your neck and being judged on your efforts.

This is what I find profoundly offensive. It's not that someone with questionable views of Zionism showed up here. There really isn't a better place for them to be. I have no problem showing them zoharejacobi and moving on with my day. It's that they showed up here expecting to be served and catered to. That was their error and why they received the reactions they did.

If you have something only you can teach, then teach it. If there's a contribution only you can make, then make it. Don't expect anyone else to do it for you. Respect the labor it takes to build all of this by hand or go back to fucking Goodreads.

It's great when you meet people who love your favorite books. You know what's even better? Finding people who hate the same books as you do!

I often go find one-star reviews of books I despise and give the reviewer a follow. It's funny to me that mutual hatred is more often a better predictor of shared taste than mutual endorsement :))

Here are some popular books I cannot stand or found underwhelming (apologies if this offends anyone here):

First and foremost, the star of the show: A Little Life ✨: this is easily one of my MOST HATED books of all time. I could make a five-hour video explaining why that is, but others have already done that. I hate it so much I'm using it as a coaster just to be disrespectful.

Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson: I know, I know, this is a favorite among many. This one I don't "hate" tbh, I just didn't care for the writing, the corny dialogue, the characters, and some plot points I found ridiculous. The world-building and the magic system was cool though. (I had this feeling it would be a much better experience as a video game!)

The Jade City: yes, another very popular fantasy, but I disliked it so much I DNF'd it after 100 pages. I really hated the objectification and over-sexualization of female characters, and I didn't care for the male characters or the plot either.

The Goldfinch by Donna Tart: I'm a sucker for big, slow-paced books with good writing so I had high hopes for this one but good grief this one KILLED ME. It was SUCH A DRAG. loved the prose but this did not have nearly enough substance to justify this much yapping. I might read her other book though.

The name of the wind by Patrick Rothfuss: I read this many years ago in farsi and I don't remember much except the main character was very clearly the writers' self insert and utterly insufferable. Some say this has good prose, but I read a translated version so this had no redeeming qualities for me.

What are your most hated books? Name them in the comments and see if you can find friends:))

Personally, the perfect audiobook speed for me is 1.5x but when I’m really in the zone I like to go to 2x. My husband’s is a strict 1x and I have a coworker who only listens to her audiobooks on 2x speed! I was just curious to see what other people’s perfect audiobook speeds are!

it’s may, we’re far enough into the year that i think this is a fine question: any trends in topics/genres in your reading so far this year? rabbit holes you’ve gone down? consistent themes you’ve noticed yourself going for? was thinking about this and i’d love to hear!

Hello! so sorry I didn’t post a question yesterday, college decided to take up any spare time I had 😅 The question is..

• What is something that makes you want to DNF a book or makes you immediately DNF it? •

I’ll go first, something that makes me want to DNF a book is if it has false promises. And by that I mean when the book is promoted as a ‘perfect enemies to lovers romantasy with fiery tension!’ but then in reality they only slightly hated each other for 52 pages and then fell in love by chapter 8, and the worst thing he did was call her a bitch 🙄 For me personally a good enemies to lovers has to be dragged out over to the second book in the series. The reason why this makes me want to DNF a book is because it ruins my whole mood when I’m anticipating a trope/plot just to get the complete opposite shoved in my face 😩

Hello, May I ask for a recommendation for romance book? I've been eyeing Paladin's Grace by T. Kingfisher for a while now, I rarely read romance when it comes to a written book (novel), would love to change that this year. It would be nice if it has fantasy in it. What do you think of starting with this one or do you have any other recommendations? My online friend mention of Captive Prince(?), and I honestly don't know where to start haha. Thank you!

im a girl who gets motion sickness if i try to read on the car, and ive been doing a lot of long drives with family recently, so its hard to listen to audiobooks. ive been using the motion indicator on my phone which helps a little, but i dont want to be restricted to just reading on my phone.

so to my fellow boundlings who get motion sick: any ideas or tips to avoid it? has anyone tried those motion sick glasses? (they look so gimmicky and goofy but if it works it works)