This question is for the people who once loved reading, then stopped and somehow found their way back. 🩷 I’m trying to help a close friend fall back in love with reading, and I could really use your help. (:

She used to be that kid: The one who got in trouble for reading too late. The one whose punishment was having her books taken away.

Reading was essentially a part of who she was. Think:

Percy Jackson. Heroes of Olympus. Harry Potter. Divergent. Throne of Glass. After (yes, we know, and it's our toxic guilty pleasure).

Then 2020 happened. And somehow… that connection never fully came back. ):

Recently, we went to a bookstore together, and she told me that the books she owns now feel like they belong to a past version of herself.

She misses reading. She wants stories that still have magic and romance, but that meet her where she is now, as a young adult, not the kid she used to be.

From what I’ve gathered, she enjoys: 🪄 fantasy ❤️ romance 🔥 emotional intensity 🎭 high-drama, almost musical-theater energy

I suggested ACOTAR, Fourth Wing, and possibly Circe (I haven’t read this one myself) as possible entry points, but I'd love to know what you think!

So here’s my question: If you had one book to hand her that could bring her love of reading back… what would you suggest, and why? 👀

Bonus question: Do you think romantasy could be the best "gateway" genre for her, or is there something else you’d recommend?

TL;DR: My friend used to love reading, then stopped after 2020. She wants fantasy + romance that fits her as a young adult now. What book would you give her now?

ETA 1: I forgot she told me she also enjoyed Divergent so I added that to the post!

ETA 2: I didn't know SJM and Rebecca Yarros were zionists. If she wishes to read their books, I'll let her know.

As this year comes to a close I have been attempting to add emojis and sub ratings to the books I read prior to joining Pagebound. It’s been lovely to reflect on what I have read, but I’ve discovered an interesting trend. There are many books that I have thought about, many months on, that I gave lower ratings than I anticipated to right after finishing. There is something about them that I cannot shake, that some of my 5 star reads have not even inspired within me. It is making me wonder if I should re-evaluate ratings once a year to see which ones have sat with me and inspired me many months on. Is that what a 5 star rating truly entails more than just sheer enjoyment and contentment while reading?

Has this happened to anyone else? How do you all approach ratings with books that grow, or in my cases envelop you, slowly over time?

Hi everyone!

I’m looking to get much more into the spookier side of reading next year, it’s one of my favourite genres but I’m a bit limited at the moment of things to pick from.

I’m looking for stories that are unsettling, as well as downright scary. I’m looking for urban legend, folklore, things in the woods as well as unsettling, something weird is going on but what exactly is it? I’m open to ghosts, demonic presences, creature features, botanical weirdness, haunted houses, basically anything except an ‘oh it was just a regular guy doing this all along’.

Some favourites I’ve read that might help to understand the vibes I’m looking for: Stolen Tongues, House of Hollow, basically anything by T. Kingfisher, Small Favors, We Used to Live Here, The Shuddering, How to Survive Camping, The Devil Makes Three.

I've been digitally tracking what I read for fifteen years whilst also tracking in a notebook.

In 2010, because I was a big bookworm, my Dad took me to a local stationery shop to buy a little notebook. This was for me to write down all the books I read as a physical record. He has done this since he was young, and is still using the same notebook he bought when he was in school! We just write the book title and author, and I write the date at the top of each page when I turn to it. I can flip through and see when there were years I did not read much, and years (like this year) when I read a lot because three pages have 2025 at the top. It has travelled around with me through university and working abroad. I really like having a little piece of childhood follow me around.

Do any of you physically track your reading? I've seen people say they keep journals and write their thoughts and reviews. I would love to do this somewhen, but the pressure of writing stifles me and it feels daunting just suddenly starting now when I have hundreds of books I have already read and not made notes on 😂

So do you do anything analogue that can be done online/on apps? Have your friends/family/anybody else influenced you or encouraged you to do something like this?

😊😊

So far, so bored 🫣 This simply might not be my cup of tea. I think I'll give the audiobook a shot until I reach 15% and then I'll decide if I'll DNF it or not.

Heyyy, so it kinda feels like I’m the only one who didn’t like this book. I really wanted to love it, but it just didn’t work for me. The plot felt very predictable, and the characters were quirky to the point of falling straight into stereotypes.

What bothered me the most, though, was the found family aspect. Instead of feeling organic, it felt more like a checklist you know? Each character has a clearly assigned a role, but without enough development or meaningful interactions to make the relationships feel earned.

That said, I absolutely loved Aunt Jasmine. I would die for her. She was easily the highlight of the book for me.

I know a lot of people find this kind of cozy fantasy comforting, so I’m genuinely curious, did anyone else feel the same way, or did it work for you?

I have two books in my currently reading and i'm determined to finish them before the new year creeps up on us...