I'm already planning my 2026 reads, and I decided to do an A-Z non-fiction challenge. I know a lot of folks have mentioned wanting to read more non-fiction, and if that's your goal for the next year, I suggest trying this challenge! Since 26 books (and non-fiction nonetheless) is a big feat, you can just do a list and select a book from there as you see fit, or if you want to add a little whimsy, put papers in a jar and select your book blindly. What I did was get all the dopamine from the get-go and open a random picker to plan my year.

My recommendations for people who want to get started reading nonfiction are:

• Start with memoirs or autobiographies. They are easy to read, feel like gossip or talking to a friend, and you can pick someone you already want to know more of. Paris by Paris Hilton was an incredible read.
• You don't have to pick topics that you are not interested in. No one is better just because they read nonfiction, we are all readers and have different interests. There are no rules or expectations, it should be fun!
• Doing a buddy read or being active on the forums allows you to digest the book, share your thoughts and socialize in PB, which can be a great motivator. I added Ten Tomatoes that Changed History because I'm getting FOMO from the Tomato Wars.
• You can DNF at any time. Sometimes, the topic is interesting, but the writing style is not captivating. You can always find another option, this should not be a chore.

Here are the non-fiction quests and side quests so you can learn and earn some badges:

• Feminism Without Exception by beautiful crybabybea
• Freedom of Speech Essential by human sunshine Pipsy
• Non-Fiction Starter Pack Vol I by the one an only PB creator jenniferPagebound
• Memoir & Biography Starter Pack Vol I by lucyPagebound the other half of PB
• Justice For All by PB icon notbillnye
• Tiny but Mighty Nonfiction once again by notbillnye featuring the cutest badge ever
• Critically Acclaimed Memoirs by once again, my most parasocial relationship, crybabybea

Here are some lists I have created or saved that might come in handy:

• This is why we can't have nice things
• Feminism: Theory, science & politics
• It's all in your head...
• Testimonies of collapse
• The doctor will (not) see you now
• It's Always That Deep by crybabybea
• Living that Recession life by ChaosReader
• All things wild and wonderful by ayzrules
• "nothing about us without us" by lauraaaa.mercedes
• Teach me something new and oddly specific by endless_tbr_list
• Horror 🫱🏽‍🫲🏽 Non-Fiction by my fav polterbooks
• non-fiction for every situation by lynnnn
• Children's Liberation by sunnysunshine
• How Democracies Die by Pipsy
• Black Radicalism by crybabybea
• health justice + critiquing the MIC by lauraaaa.mercedes
• And all I got was trauma and student debt… by sailorsoftgirl
• Walkability by clb2326
• Fashion That Lasts: Books for Conscious Style by chelssicle
• Trans & non-B Non-Fic by Pipsy
• Women's Memoirs and (Auto)biographies by Storyteller

I'm sure there's plenty more. Feel free to share your book/list recommendations in the comments, and let's learn something new this 2026!!

So I was wondering… how do you guys determine how big your reading challenges are? Because I’ve made mine bigger 3 times so far and was wondering how you guys determine a number. Also are there ways to add more than one challenge for yourself on Pagebound?

i’m desperately trying to finish the 2025 popsugar challenge and i need recs for books involving/about soccer. not a sports gal so ideally the book just involves it and doesn’t CENTER around it. open to all fiction genres! help!!!

YOU KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS It’s time for Who’s Who Wednesday where every Wednesday we introduce ourselves and make new friends. This is part 4. 😮😮😮

If you participated any of the times before, you don’t have to introduce yourself again but you can share some different facts about you, an opinion you have, or how your week is going.

If you’re new, introduce yourself!

I’ll go first.

My name is JadeLovesBooks.

I LOVE the golden girls My favorite thing ever is to buddy read - lmk if you’re down, I need new buddy reading friends I’m a night owl. I stay up until 3am/4am My socks are ALWAYS mismatched I listen to audiobooks on 2.5 speed bc my brain be zoom zoomin 🚘

So, when I got back into reading about 5 years ago, the fanfic website Ao3 played a fundamental part in me enjoying reading again. I discovered queer found family and a kind of sheltered I can hardly describe (while getting my heart ripped out simultaneously). I‘ve been chasing after books that make me feel this way ever since. What are your favorite books about found family? Bonus points if they’re queer in one way or the other <3