It seems that TBRs are really popular in the book blogging community. It also seems that I am sort of a black sheep, given that I have never, ever done a blog post about my TBRs on this blog and probably never will.
Before heading into this: in case you are not aware, TBR means: To Be Read. You see that endless pile of books you have to / want to read, yet threatens to fall on top of you and just kill you? Well, that’s what I’m talking about. Sounds fun, right??
I’m not saying that I don’t have a TBR. I do have a massive list of books to read, even if it is pretty ridiculous compared to other book bloggers and big readers.
I have a ridiculous TBR. RIDICULOUS, I TELL YOU.
I have 307 books to be read on my Goodreads shelf. I know. Ridiculous, but let’s face it, this list grows and grows and grows, so that number means nothing.
When it comes to my physical TBR, a.k.a the books I own as physical (or virtual, in the case of e-books) copies, I have, *drumrolls*, 4 BOOKS. I am counting the book I am currently reading.
I’m not kidding, but this happens to me fairly often. It seems like, compared to most of the bookish population on here, I somehow have my book budget under control and do NOT buy any new books unless I have like, only 2 books left to read on my TBR – meaning, books I have at hand, ready to be devoured by yours truly.
I know. It’s weird, isn’t it? I have no idea how I do it, but somehow I can. Maybe I don’t belong in the book blogging community?? But… I can’t do a TBR when I really don’t know what I will be reading next, can I?
I have to buy all of my books
Thing is: I have to buy my books. ALL of my books. Okay, if I’m being completely honest here – you know, I always try to be -, I buy 99,8% of my books. I already mentioned it a couple times, but as an international bookworm, I don’t have a library to get books from, so… that’s unfortunately not a possibility. So why don’t I buy 100% of my books?
Because 0,1% of these come from my sister, family, loved ones that know how obsessed I am with books and are occasionally being very generous with me. Which results in me screaming and loving them even more. Obviously, they’re sick of me and regret it already.
The another 0,1% comes when I’m lucky, which doesn’t happen too often, but when it does, I am screaming even more. It comes from the giveaways I get lucky to win once every eleven months, the e-ARCs or ARCs I get lucky enough to receive every once in a while.
I don’t buy enough books to make monthly TBRs – well… for now. I never buy 10 books at once (which probably makes me a bit of a black sheep in the book community?). I don’t hold a list of books to buy next and even if I did, I am not really sure I would manage to follow it.
I’m a mood reader.
I also like to read whatever I want, whenever I want to. Which is probably the reason why I’m not participating in any reading challenge, or at least not the ones with strict TBRs or themed TBRs I can never follow because I don’t own the books, I can’t buy the books right now (see above, where I ranted about my not-book-buying abilities) and I am sort of a mood reader.
Thing is: I could never, ever do a fantasy reading challenge, or even a contemporary reading challenge, even if these are my favorite kind of books. I need to change things up, I need to read something weird, something fluffy, some incredible world-building, not in that order necessarily, but… my mind needs to change things up. Helps me avoid the dreaded reading slump and helps me WANT to keep on reading so much.
Monthly TBRs are very popular blog posts in the book blogging community.
Reading challenges TBRs as well, and so on. Just, TBRs everywhere. Saying that I don’t have a TBR would be lying. Saying that I don’t have tons of books I want to read next would be lying, as well. Yet, if I can tell you what book I will be reading next, right now, I can’t tell you what book I will be reading at the end of the month. Thrilling, isn’t it? The ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES.
When it comes to blogging, I know what’s coming next. I might not know what’s coming next month, or six months from now, but I have ideas, a schedule to follow, PLANS. When it comes to reading, I just let my next small book-haul and my mood decide what will happen next and… so far it has been working pretty well.
Do you make monthly TBRs? Why, or why not?
How does your physical TBR looks like? And your Goodreads one? Are you holding on okay??
Do you have your book-buying habits under control or… are you forever struggling to refrain yourself from buying all the books? Let me know in comments!
I have a list of books that i’d like to try and reduce the next month, so maybe I’ll pick one from the physical books hat i have lying around, but what i won’t do is pick exactly what books i’m going to read because like you, I am a mood reader.
My physical TBR? I think that I have 5 or so books? Which is actually a lot for me. My Goodreads TBR? I don’t even want to LOOK at that mess!!
I have a very strict amount of money that i can use for books, so even though i would love to buy books alll the time, I cant. But, I also wouldn’t like to have a huge physical TBR either because if i did, I’d panic / stress over it FAR too much!!
Really interesting post, I loved it!!
Ahahah, I think in a way, we are all lucky that all the books we put in our Goodreads TBR aren’t directly ending up in our hands. We’d go crazy, or just… die under all the pressure of the books falling on the top of our heads haha 🙂
I agree with you – I already stress a little bit when I get 5 books in my physical TBR, ahha, too much isn’t great for me either 🙂
Thank you so, so much!! <3 <3
OMG THAT WOULD BE BAD!!! They’d crush us all!!!!
Exactly, More than 5 books and I stress out!!
You’re welcome xx <3
I don’t do TBR posts either so you’re not alone. I love your reasons for not writing the posts and not doing reading challenges. As always, great post. Hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Oh thank you so much! I’m glad I am not the only one 🙂
I hope you’re having a lovely weekend as well! 🙂
I tried the TBR stuff, but I am too much of a mood reader. I never actually own more than five books that I have never read, but whenever I refer to my huge never ending TBR pile I mean my list of books I want to read. I have never and will never understand how and why people buy more books than they could possibly read. I honestly get pretty angry when I hear people who say “I have about a hundred unread books and I bought even more this month!” with a huge smile on their face…it’s such a waste of ressources and one of these moments where I just think…just because you can buy everything doesn’t mean that you should…it’s a real problem in the book community and it in some cases (not all) this excessive book buying really shouldn’t be treated as a joke…
I understand your feelings about this, Lisa. Everyone does what they want with their money and if they are okay living with 100 unread books on their shelves… well, that’s good or them, I guess. I am not that kind of person either, I would go crazy and feel bad about all of these unread books 🙂 I am just like you, I always own maybe… 5 unread books, 10 books at the very most and I don’t really go on and buy new ones until I’m done with these. That’s just how I and my brain works haha 🙂
Thank you so, so much for sharing your thoughts on this! 🙂
I have a TBR list (which is here https://moonplanet.dreamwidth.org/164421.html though I got some books for my birthday yesterday which I haven’t added yet), but I don’t make monthly TBR lists and I actually pick books to read which I feel like reading 🙂 and once in a while I cross books off this list (also when I decided to not read them, because I started and didn’t like a book).
Yay! That’s a great way, I think, to always pick up a book you are in the mood for. For me, it always helps me in enjoying whatever it is I am reading 😀
Thank you so much for shring your thoughts! 🙂
I always love hearing different perspectives on things like this, because, of course, not everyone does things the same way. I think in the book blogging community there is a tendency to talk a lot about the popular things (ie – doing monthly TBR’s) and sometimes that makes other people who don’t do those things feel like they can talk about their experiences or preferences. So, yay for posting this!
I used to be a big mood reader but this year I’m changing it up a little bit by doing some reading challenges and also the TBR jug to choose some books at random because my downfall is always the indecision!
Also, I’m really glad that you spoke so openly about your book buying habits. I’ve found that it can be a bit of a sensitive discussion topic but I do think we need to talk about it more. I talked about it a bit in my blog post ‘The Privilege of Book Buying’ and it’s always great to hear from non-US or -UK bloggers too. <3
You’re right – whenever we see monthly TBRs everywhere, or a book being read by so many people… well, we are kind of influenced to do the same, ahah 🙂
I hope the reading challenges and TBR will work out well for you! 😀
And thank you so much, that’s so sweet of you to say <3 I agree that it is a sensitive topic sometimes. I always want to be honest with my bookish problems on here though, and I know that, even if I am an international blogger and don't have access to a library, I recognize and am thankful that working helps me to have a small book budget, something that some people can't have.
Thank you so, so much for your sweet comment!! <3 <3
I used to do monthly TBRs but I never succeeded in them. I’m also a huge mood reader and back in college I also had 0 money to buy books so I also kind of depended on my relatives/parents to get new books and also selling some of my old books to be able to afford new ones. However in 2017 when I got my first job I splurged on books. I don’t think I would like to do that again this year because it really did hurt my wallet.
Ahah, it is SO hard to resist when there are SO many books calling out for us 😛 Well, now you have a lot of books waiting to be read, so you’re good to go for a little while? 😀
Thank you so much for your comment!! 🙂
I can not do TBRs! I even write seasonal TBRs and I cannot stick to them! I don’t know what mood I am going to be in or what book’s I will end up buying / receiving so it is impossible to plan my reading so far I’m advanced.
Same here – I never know what books I will want to read or order next, so I’d rather not plan anything haha 🙂
thank you so much for your comment!! <3
Very cool post, Marie!! One day I’ll be like you! Hahahaha I have way too many books and buy way too many books, but I am trying this year to read the ones I have and have just a few books waiting to be read… surely my digital TBR is quite long, but I really need to control my physical one. Great job!
Oh thank you so much, Naty, you’re so sweet haha <3 I don't really know how I do it, it's probably the guilt of having books unread that refrains my book-buying frenzy all the time, haha 🙂
Thank you!! <3
I admire your self control. I would LOVE to get to the point where I have nothing to read and actually NEED to buy books, but at this point I just have so many that I have acquired it feels impossible. That’s part of the reason I have put myself on a book buying ban (I found a loophole with the library though, whoops), and I have slowly been getting through my overflowing shelf. I am also a mood reader, so my TBR lists are always more of a guideline of books I am hoping to get through or that I have put off for a while.
Ahah, I get it – when you have a great library, it has to be SO tempting to just… well, get more books to read 🙂 Best of luck to get through your TBR, you can do this 😀
Thank you so much for your sweet comment <3 <3
It is!! I got three last time when I only meant to get one hahaha Thank you!!
Hahaha well… who can resist books 😛
I’m lucky that I live in a place that has a great library system, it saves me so much money! I don’t do monthly TBRs either. Sometimes I will do a seasonal TBR, but it’s more to remind me of books I’ve been meaning to get to or things I’m hoping to read soon, but I hardly ever read all of them.
I guess I’m kind of a mood reader; when I’m making my list of books for my next library haul, I pick the titles that are jumping out at me, but I also go by what I can get at the library at that time. Sometimes books have huge wait lists, so that affects when I can read them.
Oh I bet it does. If I had a local library with all the books, I’d be there… all the time, haha 🙂
I am doing the exact same thing! I pick my next books from the titles, the synopsis or just… really, it’s an impulse, knowing I want this book right now, haha 🙂
Thank you so much for your sweet comment, Angela! <3
I’ve also never done a TBR. I am such a mood reader I never know what I’d like to read next.
Also, whenever I’ve attempted to do one, I feel like I HAVE to read that book in that month and instantly, all my excitement to read the book banishes. It stops being fun and starts feeling like I’m obliguied to do it.
OH YES. I’m so glad you said this – that’s why I am kind of scared of starting a whole TBR-thing. I don’t want to feel obligated to read one book at a particular time, either 🙂
Thank you so much for your sweet comment <3
What’s your secret???? I don’t do monthly TBR but I have more than 4 books. And yes I buy all my books aside some ARCs but they don’t make for a long list.
I wish I could tell you, but…. I don’t know?? Maybe it’s the guilt of having books unread that refrains me from buying more and more books 😛
Thank you so much for your comment, Sophie! <3
I don’t think I’ve ever done a monthly TBR post in the five years I’ve been blogging. I’ve posted a handful of haul posts or book challenges but no TBR post. We can be weird together. I try to keep mine at around 200 books and clean it out every so often. I think some I’ve had on my TBR for almost six years which is ridiculous. I’m hoping this is the year when I can clear half of them. I think we’ll both need a lot of luck. LOL <3
YES let’s be weird together, Kelly, I’m glad I’m not alone anymore ahah <3
I hope to clean up my goodreads shelf soon as well. There are so many books I have added there… years ago and I don't even remember them. YES, we will need all the luck, but we can do this ahah 🙂
Thank you so much for your comment! <3 <3
“I also like to read whatever I want, whenever I want to.”
I can relate.
Ahah yay. I think that’s the best way to read 🙂
thank you for stopping by! 🙂
I’m pretty similar, actually! Whenever I buy books I get them in small quantities – I think the most I’ve bought in one go is maybe four. Another reason I don’t do TBRs is that I decide what book to read next by putting the names of the books I have to read in a jar, and then whichever one I pick out is the book I’ll read next 🙂
Yay for being… small buyers? Keeps things under control, haha 🙂 I love that book jar idea, it’s so clever! 😀
Thank you so much for your comment! xx
Omg, Marie, you are amazing, teach me your ways! I wish I could get my book buying under control. You absolutely belong in the book blogging community, I promise 🙂 You just have more self control than some of us haha. I never make TBRs either, because like you I’m a mood reader. Plus I don’t post that often, so if I did TBRs, my blog would get repetitive, because I’d probably only get round to writing a TBR post, plus a post about those books again. I might as well just write the reviews or wrap ups, so if I do have time to write other content it’s about different books or something else entirely. I think it’s totally okay to not know what you’re going to read next… that’s the fun of reading, in my opinion! 🙂
Aww you’re too sweet <3
I just don't want to be broke and feel too guilty afterwards, I think that's how I manage to keep things under control, haha. And I agree – it keeps reading fun and exciting, not making a strict TBR, for me 🙂 Thank you so much!! xx
You’re so welcome 🙂 Ahh that makes a lot of sense, I do spend a lot of the time broke and feeling guilty hahaha. xxx
I have a monthly tbr right now and I kind of like it but I also kind of don’t.. I like that I have something to tell me to pick up specific books because it’s much easier to decide what to read (I’m a very indecisive person), but it also feels limiting. My physical TBR is about 10 books excluding my ebooks which I buy on a whim every so often when they’re on sale. I got about 5-10 I think (excluding eARCs). Having a big tbr is really stressful for me, for some reason. It makes the pressure to read a lot higher!
Oh I understand, I am indecisive about a lot of things in life, so I get where you come from, haha. I think it’s great to have books you need to read specifically, as long as you’re not restraining yourself too much by saying, it is THIS exact book that I need to read right now, haha. And I could never live with massive physical TBRs, it would stress me out SO MUCH haha.
Thank you so much for your comment, Lia <3 <3
Yes, I definitely shouldn’t let having a monthly tbr stop me from reading the books I want to read! You’re welcome <3
Looove this post Marie ! Well, I do TBR, and I try to stick to it. But most of the time, I change my mind at some point during the month and decide to read a book I just got or a book that just wasn’t on my TBR. I’m also a moody reader haha ! And I love doing TBR because it helps me organize my reading month. But reading is a pleasure and should never become a burden, that’s why if I don’t stick to my TBR that’s okay !
Aww thank you! <3 It's so great that you feel organized when you do a TBR. I always want to be more organized with everything and like planning things out, I think TBRs is the only time where… I'm not that organized and just go with the flow 😛
I’m the same way! I try to make monthly TBR’s but they just never pan out because I’m a mood reader. I think it’s so great to have this reading plan at the beginning of the month but then by the end, I’m just dragging my feet because I want to read a book that’s not on the list! I keep a general TBR (that’s grown hopelessly out of control) just to keep track of books that I may want to read someday so they aren’t lost in the wormhole but I don’t really go down the list and read every book in order. If I pick up a book, it’s most likely because it’s available to me at the time (I have the entirely opposite problem with book availability: I have two large libraries near where I live but I never get around to actually going and checking out books because of everything else going on) and it’s just a coincidence that it’s on my TBR list. It’s always kind of awful to be reading all these posts at the beginning of the month when everyone knows what they’re going to read but sometimes it’s nice to be unpredictable 🙂 As another black sheep, I stand in solidarity with you, Marie! 🙂
Laura @BlueEyeBooks
Yay thank you so much, Laura! I’m glad you’re in the “unpredictability” team. I feel so weird when there are so many people doing TBR posts and I’m just here… well, feeling all alone, haha. But if I like keeping track of the books I want to read, in general, I prefer to be surprised by what I actually want to pick up next.
Thank you so much for your comment! xx
I refuse to do TBR and eliminated it from my Goodreads lists. I obviously have a huge list of books I would like to read eventually, but having a TBR list was just depressing to me. When I get to it, I’ll get to it, and stressing myself out about was not helping!
Yay! I think it’s a great system to have, we should never stress out about reading 🙂
thank you so much for stopping by! 🙂
Great post Marie. :D) <3 I don't really post monthly TBR lists, or really do any kind of TBR list to be honest. For me it's mainly that I'm a mood reader as well, I used to try and put a monthly TBR list at the end of my monthly recaps but when I rarely crossed off all the books I scrapped that idea because it kind of defeated the purpose you know?
Also yeah I have to buy all my books and it comes down to what I can afford each month. 🙂 Luckily I have enough books on my shelves that I've already brought still to get around to! 😀
Oh thank you so much, Beth! <3 I get it – I think having a list of books to follow is sort of a turn-off? I like to pick the books I want to read and having precise TBRs just… kills that vibe, ahah 🙂
Thank you!! <3
Yeah, and in my opinion if I’m forcing myself to read a book I’m not interest in it’s the quickest way to send me into a reading slump. Not worth it, I’d rather read what I want to when I want to than try and stick to a TBR list.
That’s all right! 😀 <3
I agree! 🙂 <3
I did TBRs last year and I NEVER followed them. It wasn’t until late in the year that I realized that I’m also a mood reader. I decided just to do wrap ups + reviews for now. I might push a brand new release to the top of my TBR but aside from that, it’s much more fun just to pick something at random.
My physical TBR are just a bunch of series I want to catch up on this year… eventually. But I’m no putting pressure on myself to read them ASAP. My Goodreads includes books I would like to get to in the late, late future. I have no time frame on my GR “Want to Read” list.
Great post!
I guess we all have to try before deciding that TBRs aren’t really for us 🙂
And oh, the dilemma of catching up on ALL the series. I understand that soooo much haha. I don’t own the books, but I am late on so many series, it’s not even fun anymore haha.
Thank you so much!! <3
Wow. Kudos for being so on the ball. I have taken part in TBR piles for Instagram and usually only read one… maybe two of the books I showcase. Mainly because I’m a mood reader. So, aside from review books that are on a set schedule, I tend to deviate from my “pile of the month” and go to my library’s website and download library books that I’m currently in the mood to read. I’m horrible about sticking with the books I set aside for the month. There’s just always new books coming out, or that my library gets (or my number is finally called on the waiting list), that I’ve never actually read all the books I plan to read for the month.
Aw thank you, you’re so sweet! 🙂 <3
You're so right – there are ALWAYS new books coming, or old ones we have a sudden interest in again. It's great to pick up the books we really want to read than trying to stick to a TBR, I think. At least, that works for me 🙂
thank you for your sweet comment! <3
Okay, I see your lack of TBR and raise you a total inability to stop adding to my TBR. The thing is, I don’t think of my TBR as a promise to myself. Its just a don’t-forget-this-one kinda deal. I really stink at remembering author’s names and so when I get the chance to pick up a book I get all random. Now, turn to this last fall which was total and complete crazy at my house. I did something bad. I started filling the holes in my happiness with paper. I took books from little free libraries, bought them, asked for them – it was hoarding. Then, like a good little Catholic girl I felt like poo for my physical richness. Hence, my big old physical TBR shelf of shame. I completely understand your lack of TBR and admire your self control and adventurous reading. My type A(+, thank you very much) personality won’t let me do it. But, I like your style. Fly free. Without the weight of the TBR holding you down.
Aw thank you, you’re so sweet <3
I understand that, and for me, my Goodreads TBR really is a "do not forget" kind of TBR. As for the physical books and e-books… I am trying really hard to follow my original rules, stick to my budget and read the books I have before getting more. Sometimes I have this overwhelming feeling of wanting to BUY ALL THE BOOKS, but I managed to have self-control… for now, I don't know how long this will last hahahhaa.
Thank you so much!! <3 <3
Love this post! I don’t set monthly TBR’s either because I’m also a mood reader. I always keep my Physical TBR under control because I don’t want to end up broke. I have currently 492 books in my TBR and slowly it’s getting out of my control because of the amazing upcoming YA fantasy releases. There are a lot of unfinished series in my TBR but I still can’t help reading the new books.
YAY for having physical TBRs under control, you’re the best, Raven!! It takes strength to do that haha, sometimes even I want to get on the dark side 😛
And the unfinished series… that’s a problem I ALWAYS have, haha.
Thank you so much!! xx
I can’t make TBR’s. I have a jar (two jars) that I pul titles from simply because I can never choose. There are certain books that I’ll read immediately upon purchase. The other go into my ever growing mountainous TBR.
Katie x
A Novel Idea
Oh what an amazing idea! I want to have my own little book jar now, too 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on this, Katie <3 <3
I do a sort of tbr for every moth, mostly because I’ve many unread books and I need some kind of order. So I chose five or six books and I read them in my favorite order when I want to. I’ve too many series to finish to read here and there with my mood or random books. I need a bit of order
It’s so great that this works out well for you! And not having a too strict TBR, having lots of books to choose from, must help, too 🙂
And the series problem… ugh, I have so many series to finish it’s not even funny anymore hahaha 🙂
Thank you so much for your comment, Camilla! 😀
I’m in a (somewhat?) similar position! I feel like a black (or at the very least grey) sheep sometimes because I don’t have a physical TBR list. I think I own…under ten books that I really need to read ((once I read a book I donate/give it away/something)) so that I can clear up my shelf. Unlike you I’m tremendously lucky to have an amazing library where I get 99.99% of all my books. I don’t know what I would do without it (cry? probably cry). I do have an astonishingly long TBR list on Goodreads and that really helps; whenever I finish a book I flip through that list to find something that catches my interest and then see if my library has it.
Yay for small physical TBRs! We are so little, we can create a little club ahah 🙂
It’s so incredible that you have a great library, I’d be there ALL the time if I had one, too 😛
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on this, Anna! 😀
I think it’s awesome that you have this TBR method!! If it doesn’t stress you out then it’s good right?! I personally can’t like make a set TBR list for a month…?I’m way too much of a mood reader for that. But I do probably have a ton of books in my room to be read (a lot of them I’ve been sent though or won) and I’m really lucky and privileged to be in that position. But I think any book worm should do whatever they want with their TBR! I admit I have about 800 added on my Goodreads wishlist shelf BUuuuuut I don’t own them! When I fall down a goldmine, okay that’ll be fun.?
I agree with you – every bookworm has their own way of dealing with their TBRs, whether they make lists or not, whether they have a library or not, whether they buy 100 or 1 book per month or year or whatever 🙂 As long as… we find a way that doesn’t make us too stressed out about reading it’s all good ??
Hahaha wow, the second I’m rich I will get all the books in the world, too ??
Thank you so much for your sweet comment, Cait!! <3
Right?? TBR posts seem to be really popular amongst bloggers. I’ve tried to stick to one in the past but it failed spectacularly!
Glad I’m not the only one ahah – seems like we are not that alone in not doing the whole TBR thing. It makes me feel better 🙂
Thank you, Jess!! 🙂
Yes! I absolutely relate! While it’s true, my Goodreads list of books I want to read is pretty long, the actual books I have sitting around waiting to be read is…um, 3? Yup. While a limited budget helps keep the pile down, I also make a conscious choice too. I finish a book, then I’m allowed to purchase another. Every so often something extra special will catch my eye and sure, I’ll go ahead then, but for the most part, I like to keep things under control.
YAY! I have a feeling you are EXACTLY like me, I love it 🙂 I like to keep things under control as well and, so far, working this way also helped me a whole lot in choosing books I love. Thinking about them for a long time before getting them helps haha 🙂
Thank you, Rebeccah! 🙂
I don’t make monthly TBRs either. In some ways it’s for the opposite reason as you. For most months of the year, my main form of reading is audio books I listen to in my car, but audio books are expensive. Therefore, I get almost all of mine from my library.
The wait list for audio books from my library tends to be 2 to 10 months, with an average of 4. I tend to get them all at the same time, so about half of them have to go back and go through the wait list process again before I get to them.
That’s not to say that I’m not grateful to have access to a library, I love my library, it’s just frustrating to wait. . . Hopefully, this doesn’t come across as too petty.
Ohhh okay. That has to be a little annoying, having to wait so long for some books to be available, but I guess it also helps a lot in keeping your books to read under control 🙂
Oh no, it doesn’t, don’t worry 🙂 It’s great you have access to a library, but I get that having to wait can be pretty frustrating sometimes 🙂
thank you so much for your comment!! <3
It can be. But, I wouldn’t be able to afford to listen to all of these audio books otherwise and would get through books about a third as fast, so I can’t complain too much.
Well, it keeps the choices under control at least 🙂
You’re welcome! <3
You know, I think the beauty of a community (rhyme-y) is that we are all different. We’re not clones, yo; so embrace your non-TBR-ing self. For me, I like to use challenges very loosely to guide me through my epic TBR (books on the shelf, at least). Most of my books are used, and that’s kind of a privilege to have access to cheaper books. Yes, libraries are a god-send even though I get very anxious to finish things fast. The question for you, then, is how you find books. Goodreads? Booktube? Bookstagram? How do you find sources you trust when it comes to reviews? And, like, how do you predict the mood you’ll be in next? So curious to hear your point of view. Stay awesome.
You’re so right – there is beauty in being different with our reading habits and that’s pretty amazing 🙂
To answer your questions: I find most of my books through blogs I read (I read A LOT of blogs ?), Goodreads and twitter (I follow tons of bookish accounts). I don’t watch booktube at all and, if I enjoy pictures on bookstagram, I don’t really remember to add the books there to my TBR ? My most trusted sources are some close blogger friends of mine I know have the same taste as I do or know my taste so well it’s insane ? ; and myself. I take a long time before buying a new book and think it over, which helps me in knowing what I should enjoy or not and whether I’m actually really interested in it, or not 🙂
As for my mood…. usually, I like to switch things up between contemporaries and ALL the other genres (I’m a huge contemporary reader) 🙂
Thank you so much for your sweet comment, Dina, sorry for that novel of an answer ??
fantastic post! <3 i *used* to do tbr's (monthly) but then i like,, stopped because i realized that i never actually freaking READ THEM SDLKFJDSKF
i have a huge tbr?? because i own so many books?? i should probably try and read all of them before i look for more tbh but it's just so great that you can do that!!
Thank you so much!! <3 <3 It's hard to refrain yourself from getting new books, I understand that struggle SO MUCH ? even if I manage to have things under control, for the most part… it is SO HARD TO RESIST ?
I might be the Queen of something but then you’re definitely the Queen of Self-Restraint. HOW DO YOU ONLY HAVE FOUR BOOKS?
I have like.. almost 150 – thank you, boyfriend, but not really – and it’s driving me nuts. I love the fact that I have a bunch of books to choose from whenever I finished a book but sometimes, just sometimes it would be SO FUN to look at my bookcases and go “Yup, and I read ALL OF THOSE.” As if that’s ever going to happen…
So, yup, I make monthly TBR’s. It’s kind of a “must” since I have monthly challenges for myself on my blog and it makes perfect sense to link a TBR to the theme every time, haha. Not to mention it forces me to keep an overview of my eARC’s – which would be a disaster if I wouldn’t put them on my blog every once in a while.
Physical TBR: 150+ [I have an owned-TBR shelf on Goodreads but he counts my A Song of Ice and Fire-box as one? Stupid Goodreads.] My want-to-read? *I haven’t checked that number in forever..* 277! Okay, I expected worse.. :’)
Book buying habits: I have to say those are okay lately but that’s because my boyfriend’s the pain in my butt on that account? We have an agreement in place when it comes to a habit of the other we find annoying. I buy a book = he gets to be annoying with his habit. He goes and annoys me with his habit = he has to buy me a book. Let’s just say that he’s pretty darn good at being annoying lately which has let to me getting over 15 books the last couple of months? [I’ve been annoying as well, but.. you know..] That agreement is making me restrain myself though! [Even if it’s just because I KNOW it’s a matter of time before he has to buy me a certain book. Now I’m even restraining myself even more from buying books since we’re going to my favorite bookstore next month and how great would it be if he has to buy me all the books? :D]
I did it again.
LOVE YOUR POSTS! Obviously. <3
Your comments always make me SO HAPPY, Kathy, I have to tell you this. You’re the sweetest, thank you so much!! <3
Also, you got the boyfriend jackpot if he gets you SO MANY BOOKS haha, that's so great. I don't know how you do it, though, I would be in constant panic mode with over 100 books unread on my shelves hahaha.
I think it's so great if TBRs help you being organized with your challenges and everything!
And… yes. I approve your little system you have here to get new books hahha that seems pretty efficient, too 😛 😛
THANK YOU so much!! <3
Yaay! So are you! <3
Haha, I know right?! He's amazing! [Oh, and don't forget the fact he loves cooking. That's like an even bigger jackpot in my book.]
Sometimes I go into panic mode; mostly when I have to decide my TBR for the upcoming month and realize I have waaaay too many options. :')
It is! Annoys the hell out of him that I'm "saving up on books" but he could easily stop being annoying for a month and then have me buying a ton of books which gives him a free pass for.. forever.. [Good thing he doesn't think that way though]
Thank YOUU! <3 <3
AHHHH COOKING, yes. That’s the dream 😛
It is! Fresh pasta every week <3
REALLY?? Wow, now that’s goals haha
Haha, he kept mentioning he wants to try making pasta himself so I got him a pasta machine for Christmas and made him promise to use it at least twice a month, so far it’s been every week. Wiiin! :p
Hahahaha, now that was a great AND useful gift hahaha. I’m so proud of you. 😛
Well, thank you, thank you! Haha. <3
Oh My God Marie, what are you? You are the angel I need in my life right now! How do you even manage it? I can’t manage the temptation of buying a new book. You are seriously great 😀 I am trying to control my TBR situation this year but let’s see 😀
I don’t do monthly TBRs either. Actually, I have tried it a few times but I have always failed 😛 I am also a kind of mood reader, I guess? Or I read on a priority basis.
Hahaha, I don’t know really ? I’m just… trying to keep everything under control and most especially my budget ? but it’s hard sometimes.
Yeees same here. The few books I am lucky enough to get early are prioritized, given their release date, but otherwise… I do whatever I want haha 🙂
thank you!! <3
That’s so great of you ?
I do monthly tbr even though I’m a mood reader too because it helps me sort of plan the books I want to read for the next month 😀 even though my mood changes, I can just switch the book up but until that time, I know what I need to read next instead of stressing myself deciding what book to read next 😀 I used to have my physical tbr under control, but lately it has been growing rapidly! I have around 17 books, but like 7 of them are gifts and the rest of them are books I got from annual sale event, so while I feel guilty looking at them, not so much when looking at my wallet haha!
As for ebook and goodreads tbr… well, let’s not go there because it’s a deep black hole xD
Oh that’s so great! I’m glad to hear it helps you figuring out which books to read next 🙂
Ahah yes, it’s crazy how a TBR can grow… even when we try and manage it – whenever I win something, it grows and I didn’t expect it to happen and I start panicking, even if I am happy about all the books, too ??
You’re right, let’s not…. goodreads IS a black hole ???
THANK YOU so much!! xx
I did try sticking to a TBR at one point but just like you I don’t do well with them. At most I have a general idea of which ARCs to tackle. I don’t participate in themed reading challenges as well since I know I’d never complete them!
While I do splurge on books occasionally, I don’t think it’s something that’s out of hand. I remember entering the book community first, being overwhelmed by people’s monthly/weekly haul. I think as bookworms we have this tendency to glorify the amount of books got and then cry about our TBRs *shrugs* Right now I’m sticking to my backlisted physical books and a few review copies 😀
You’re just like me – I only keep track of the couple ARCs I get lucky enough to receive, but other than that…. it’s a bit of whatever I want ?
You’re so right about this – I don’t know, I was terrified of seeing the amount of books people got??? I’m getting 5 books at once sometimes and I feel crazy ? I guess I just have a lot of control haha.
Thank you!! xx
I ADMIRE YOUR SELF RESTRAINT SO MUCH, MARIE. I literally have almost 2,000 books on my Goodreads TBR I think, and around 400 unread physical books at home. Whoops. I am a HUGE mood reader too, so I don’t follow a strict TBR, but I like having lists of books I might want to read at some point! (And it totally sucks not having any good local libraries. Ours only carry historical and educational texts.)
400 BOOKS UNREAD? HOW? ? It’s crazy that you have so many books, Aimee, but… it’s also great ahah, at least, since you are a mood reader, you will always find at least one book fitting your mood in this great stock 😀
I’m glad you understand that library problem. It makes me so sad 🙁
thank you so much for your comment!! <3
TBRs really are super popular. I remember getting tons of likes on the ones I did, also monthly book hauls work really well, which always fascinated me somehow, because they were the least informative posts. Anyway, I stopped doing them because I am a big mood reader as well. However, I definitely have tons more physical books at home and you know it haha because I am also a mood buyer and have a very fickle mind. So, I might order something, but by the time it actually gets to me, my mood will have shifted. But I AM working on my backlisted books now and I am making progress.
Yay! I’m glad to hear you’re making progress, and you don’t have that many books to go through at home, you’re still doing great haha 🙂
I think what matters is that the mood for the particular books you bought comes back around, eventually, haha. If it doesn’t… well, that would be bothering ?
Thank ,you, Kat!! <3
The mood DOES come back around but it takes quite some time hahaha
Well… as long as it does come back, it’s all good 😛
When realizing that planning out monthly TBRs or picking out books by a theme was a thing, I did try to make a monthly TBR list once… but I abandoned the idea as soon as I started it ? One of the joys of reading is that it’s not something we MUST do — we read for fun, and because we love it. If I have my month planned out and I suddenly come across a new book that I really, really, want to read, then I’ll feel panicked about whether I should continue following my TBR, or push everything back to read the new book ? In the end, since I read things in the physical copy as well, I’ve decided to dedicate a small portion of my bookshelf for books I want to read soon — but the most important thing is, the books on that shelf isn’t set in stone. I can change it whenever I want to accomodate whatever reading mood I’m in. ? You’re not alone in not making huge TBRs — just read whatever you want, whenever you feel like it! ?
YES, I so agree with you on that. When I started blogging and even now, I get some kind of pressure that I have to read and with obligations comes TBRs…. for me. that’s why I don’t do them, I don’t want to feel forced to read certain books and just, kill my reading mood haha.
Thank you so, so much for sharing your thoughts on this, Zoie!! <3
I don’t have TBR either. I’m also a mood reader. I also recently moved and had to get rid of 90% of my books to accommodate space in our tiny trailer that we moved with. I want to enjoy books as they come to me and not worry that I’m fulfilling a list. I use my GoodReads TBR to remind me what books sounded good to me when I have a chance to buy them.
I love your way of thinking here. I also want to enjoy books and not try to fulfill a list, it is so important 🙂
Thank you so much for your comment! 🙂
I am 100 percent mood reader! I’m lucky to have a fairly large pile of books to be read on my shelf due to Christmas gifts and the fact that my mother constantly buys books and then gives them to me. But I can never plan out what books, I’m reading when. It’s whatever strikes my fancy in the moment I need a new book. Great post!
Ahhh that’s amazing ahah, lucky to have a great mom giving you books all the time 😀
Thank you so much! Yay for being mood readers ahah 🙂
Oh, I adore this!!! Because I, too, do not do TBRs. I believe the only TBR posts I’ve ever truly done were made because of Top Ten Tuesday, but my reading plan wasn’t very rigid either. I like to think I’m fairly decent at budgeting my books, however, and that usually results in me buying books (about 97% of the time) in small quantities. Since joining Goodreads, I’ve added hundreds of books since first starting in March 2017, and have accumulated 367 books on my to-be-read. I’ve seen other bookworms with tbr shelves at 1,000+, and I think that’s absolutely wild. It also helps that I’m quite picky about my reads and don’t normally add books to my tbr unless they’ve got a certain rating on Goodreads. Yes, I’m that trusting with the bookish community. Anyway, happy reading!!!
I do the same thing – I always buy books in small quantities haha, helps me… not feeling the guilt too much haha 🙂
I’m also a bit… nervous about ratings on Goodreads and when a book has a rating of 3,5 or below, I don’t feel so sure about adding it to my TBR haha you’re not the only one 🙂
thank you so much for your comment!! 🙂
No, I don’t make monthly TBRs because I’m a mood reader too. The only books I could promise to read for the month are those required for my classes. My Goodreads shelf more reminds me that a book exists, and it has previously alerted me to Goodreads Giveaways that I don’t win. My physical TBR tends to be whatever books I’m drawn to at any given moment, mostly library books and books I own. I’ve been annoyed too about this obsession with the TBR pile lately. I don’t think my TBR is really out of control because I’m not promising that I’m going to read the book if it shows up on Goodreads. My goal at this point is to finish books that I’ve started – but not to the extent that I’m forcing myself to read something I hate.
Yay, that’s great! I think it is so important not to force ourselves to read all the books and not to make any promises we can’t keep. I know that, if I did this, it would only stress me out A WHOLE LOT haha 🙂
Happy reading!! And thank you so much for your sweet comment, Carrie! <3
Ah I relate so much! I used to try the monthly TBR thing, but I gave that up very quickly 🙂 Mostly because I’m also a huuge mood reader and I can’t force myself to read a book if the mood’s not right for it. I always try reading challenges but then I end up failing anyway because of this same reason. So now I’m just going with the flow 🙂 My book-buying habits on the other hand are not so well handled… I haven’t counted but I think I have about 20-30 books on my physical TBR and though I really want to read them, it’s just not going as fast as I hoped. But at least I won’t be running out of books to read soon haha 🙂
Yay for going with the flow, that’s great 😀 Oh I understand. If I have things mostly under control, sometimes… just a day, a book or two coming in the mail and… everything’s a mess again, haha. But it’s great to have a good physical TBR, like you said, you still have a lot to read and different books to choose from, for all or your moods 😀
Thank you so much for your comment!! <3
I don’t do monthly TBRS or posts about what came in or went out that month. I have over 400 books on my shelves, most unread, some waiting to be read again. My books are split in two: books I plan to keep (most of which I brought myself), and those I plan to give away (most of which I didn’t buy).
Oh that’s a great thing to do – there are many books we might not even be interested in reading anymore, it’s good to give some away for other readers 🙂
And 400 books, wow, that’s quite a collection! You have a lot of books to choose from, when you need to decide what to read next, that’s great 😀
Thank you so much for your comment! 🙂
I have over 1600 books on my TBR, but honestly, I add anything I have any interest in so that I get an email if there is a Goodreads giveaway. The read TBR is my weekly TBR, which is comprised of books I have or have access to. I am also a mood reader, and often bump a book in my weekly TBR for another. Everything is subject to change in my world. I am lucky that my public library grants me access to books and audiobooks online. I get a lot of books from there. I would never read as many books as I do, if I had to buy all my books. I would be quite poor if I tried.
1600??? WOOOOW. You are crazy haha. I think it’s so great that you’re being flexible with your TBR and your reads – it’s important to keep things fun and not too strict 🙂 And… that’s why I try and keep things under control haha, with no library it’s hard but necessary 😛
thank you so much for your comment!! xx
I FEEL LIKE WE ARE THE SAME PERSON? Okay not really because one, you live in France, and two, I have a bit more than 4 unread physical TBR books. But I’m also a huge mood reader, and whenever I do make a TBR, the chances of me following it are about 0. I think the furthest ahead I can do is plan to read 1 or 2 books? But everything else could be WHATEVER.
I do hope to read most of the books on my physical bookshelf though! I would say I’ve read half of them, which I think is pretty good compared to most people! You take the cake though 😛
YES WE ARE? MAYBE WE ARE SECRET TWINS living a continent away, who knows 😛
I think it’s great not to know everything we want to read next, keep things fun and anything can happen haha 🙂
Thank you, Val!! <3
Love your post! I used to be like you and not buy any books until I finished all (or most) of the books that I already have. But then I created my blog (which I do love) and that changed! I seen other people buying all these books and I wanted all the books and then it just got too out of control and now I am literally drowning in unread books. I have almost 500 UNREAD books. I don’t know how that happened in three short years UGHH.
I’ve made TBR lists before, but I end up not usually sticking to them. I end up not wanting ot read any of the books at the moment from the list that I created and then I feel bad because I said I would. Then it results in a reading slump! So I try not to do that anymore.
Wow, 500 is a LOT of books haha, but I completely understand where you come from. It’s crazy how being so immersed in books here makes us want to buy everything ?
Yay! I think it’s better not to force ourselves to read certain books at certain times. I know it works better for me when I just do whatever I want, haha.
thank you, Ashley!! xx
YES TO ALL THIS HONESTLY!! I loveee that you talk about how you don’t buy more then 10 books at once because I never see any other book blogger of booktuber SAY that. It’s always “here’s my monthly haul of 40 books and I think I did pretty good on my book buying ban”….AND HERE I AM CRYING because at Christmas I get to order 10 books and that’s lot ?. So thank you for making me feel less alone in the corner.
And I never understood TBR posts! Good for the people that make them if it helps them of course it’s just that I’m such a mood reader that I know if I did one none of the books on the list would end up being read ?.
Oh you’re definitely not alone… and, 10 books is A LOT. I almost never buy 10 books all at once, I’d feel guilty already. I find it crazy how people do book hauls of 10, 20, 30 books, it’s INSANE, I don’t know how they do it??
I agree, it’s great if TBRs works for them… for me, I don’t think it would haha.
Thank you!! <3 <3 <3
Ooooh I really enjoyed this post Marie… at first I thought it said, I don’t do DNFing, haha. It makes total sense you don’t have long monthly TBRs as you have to buy your books (and not to be competitive but I have 1000 book TBR, though I don’t buy my books, so… yeah no control). In fact I wouldn’t even read that much if I had to… so I’m very aware of how privileged I am! And I’m mystified why you can’t get tons of eARCs as you are so influential in the American Book blogging community, publishers really don’t know what they are missing!
Can I be honest with you, Dani? I don’t really do DNF-ing either?? Haha. I can’t remember the last time I DNF-ed a book, I think it was years ago.
1 000 BOOKS??? Wow, that’s a lot haha. Also, you are WAY too sweet, I am no idea if I am that influencial but that is the kindest compliment ever. Thank you!!! <3 <3 <3
I rarely set tbr goals because I know that once I lay out the books I intend to read I will not read them. It’s like I’m internally rebelling against any sort of commitment I make to the tbr haha. On top of that, my mood reading tendencies mean that I spend more time deciding on which book I’m in the mood to read than I do reading it. Basically my plan is to read through the books I own before I even think about buying new books.
Hahahaha, I so understand that. Sometimes, we just like to do whatever we want and won’t get into any kind of commitment haha.
You have the same plan as I do! I try to read most of my books before getting new ones and I always read all of my books 🙂
Thank you so much for your comment, Lois!! <3
This is impressive, honestly! Even when I did buy all of my books, I had backlog on my shelf, because I overdid it. Then I had ARCs and well, I overdid those too. Now, I rarely get more books than I read in a month, so that’s good, but the loooooong backlog will probably be around forever. I have at least 1,000 books to read, basically. My Goodreads list is worse, of course. I think there are about 1300 on my TBR now? Which is ridiculous. And I do pare it down, but then I add more and it is a never ending cycle.
As for a scheduled TBR though? NOPE. I do have an idea of like “okay, I have to read X ARC by X date” but that’s the only schedule I hold myself to, and it isn’t really a schedule. Idk how people can do it, I feel very trapped if I *have* to read certain books certain times.
Wow, that’s sooooo many books. Well, at least you have a lot to choose from, so that’s good? 🙂
It is a never ending cycle on Goodreads – there are just so many books and it’s so easy to add them. It’s when we want to clean up our shelves that it gets tricky, haha.
Same here – I only have a sort of very loose schedule whenever I get an ARC, other than that, it’s… whatever I want. I feel better this way haha 🙂
Thank you!!<3 <3
I used to set monthly TBRs but I don’t anymore because… it gave me too much pressure and I felt bad when I didn’t achieve them? Major blogger guilt because I announced them on my instagram and blog as well. But I discovered I was a mood reader when I did my reading every day challenge and well, that was kind of eye-opening for me (even though most people just know I didn’t know?? So weird :P) Anyway, and then I always have an overly ambitious one because I want to read all the books. So no more TBRs for me!
My recent post: http://oliviascatastrophe.com/2018/01/6-reasons-you-need-new-cool-socks/
Oh I understand – I always want to read ALL the books as well and would probably set my expectations up way, WAY too high hahaha. I think it’s great that you found your right rhythm and choose the books you want to read, when you want to read them 🙂
thank you so much for stopping by!! <3
Ooh, I love this post, Marie! I don’t really do TBRs either (except for my one huge 600+ books one on Goodreads :P) because I’m a huge mood reader, like you! This month was the only month that I really had a TBR, because I got books from Christmas and I planned BRs and all that. Sometimes I have a bit of an immediate TBR with library books? But usually I just read whatever I’m in the mood for!
Great post! <3
Oh thank you so much, May!! <3 <3 I think it's great to read whatever we are in the mood for… it so helps me in NOT falling into reading slumps 😀
I dont really do monthly TBRs either. It sucks you have to buy all your books :/ Libraries are such a great thing and I wish everyone had access to them *SIGH* I am a huge mood reader too so why i can have an idea of what i want to read, I pick up on what I FEEL like reading or you know If I’m buddy reading i make SURE I ACTUALLY PICK THE BOOK UP. ahem! WONDERFUL POST!
Libraries are amazing, to be honest I think I’m just living in the wrong country, haha. I am thankful to be working and to have a paycheck to help me afford all of these books, otherwise it’d be a nightmare haha 🙂
Thank you!! <3 <3
I actually totally agree with you. I do do TBR lists as I think it will help me want to achieve a goal but I find that I often ditch the TBR list a read what I feel like. Great post! Good luck with 2018. -Z
Oh thank you so much 🙂 glad to hear you feel the same way 🙂 thank you! <3
Yes! I am with you one hundred percent! I actually don’t have a physical or virtual tbr on any platform just because it overwhelms me and like you, I’m a moodreader so I just can’t make myself read things when I don’t fancy it! I feel your pain on the library front, I’m from a small town (population about 3000) so we do have a library but it is tiny and there is just one shelf of YA (my primary genre) mixed in with the children’s books so most of the time I end up buying my books, so to save money I try to buy as I read rather than having a big backlog of physical books I haven’t read yet! 🙂
Yay! It seems like you have the same kind of system as I do (except for the virtual TBR, I do have a TBR on Goodreads, I would never ever remember the books that interest me otherwise ? ?). I find it better to buy as I read as well, makes me feel a bit less stressed out about all the books I have to go through hahaha.
Thank you so much for your comment <3
Yeah, buying as I read definitely avoids stress! In terms of a virtual tbr I’ve pretty much got to a point where I feel like if I’m interested enough in reading something I’ll remember but if I don’t that’s life! ??
Hahahaha omg I do the exact same thing. I bookmark tons of books to read, but… if I remember to buy it, that’s a sign I have to read it ??
Exactly, it’s like a test of how interested I am in actually reading it and if it passes the test I have a duty to buy and read it! ??
I suck at TBRs the second I tell myself this what I am going to read next, I loose interest. Just like being assigned a book for school. I think that is part of the reason I have a hard time reading books sent for review, I feel obligated to read them sooner and that is almost like a TBR haha.
I get the feeling – whenever we feel like we HAVE TO read something, it kind of kills out all the fun, haha. I think it’s great to read whatever we are in the mood for, also keeps the slumps away, at least for me 🙂
It helps for sure, sometimes I just need one really good book to pull me out of a slump. Also I love short books and short chapters that keeps me going usually.
I can totally relate to this post! I never ever ever did TBRs in my entire life because I’m the biggest mood reader ever and I change my life every two seconds lol but then I started blogging and like you said, TBR posts were popular! I saw so many people doing monthly TBRs and I was only just starting out so I was pretty much copying what others were doing haha so I did TBR posts for like three months and…. I never read any of the books I had mentioned in said TBRs XD I just ended up realising that TBRs were not for me and I will never ever do a monthly TBR again and I guess the moral of the story is DON’T GIVE IN TO PEER PRESSURE AND POST WHATEVER YOU WANT TO POST. If you have never set a TBR in your entire life then DON’T DO IT just because others in the book community do it (me @ my past self XD)
Hahaha you’re so, so right. It’s hard NOT TO give in to peer pressure and just try to do whatever people are doing to fit in, especially when you’re starting out. But… I’m glad you found out that TBRs aren’t for you, let’s be free and read the books we want and just don’t do TBRs ever ???
Thank you, Jackie!! <3 <3
Yes to everything you said here!!! My Goodreads TBR always makes me super nervous because it keeps growing and I feel like I can’t ever keep up with it. I pretty much just use it now as a place to keep some books that I’m interested in and don’t want to forget about in the future if I ever find myself looking for a new read. But lately it’s been growing faster than I can keep up with it!
OH I understand the feeling! I don’t think I am too out of control just yet, as I have about 300 books on my Goodreads TBR, but… it keeps growing every day and book blogging and all the recommendations make it worse every day hahaha 🙂 Somehow, I want to believe we’ll manage to keep this under control and to read all the books we want. Someday, haha 🙂
Thank you so much for stopping by! 😀
I so relate to this post!!! TBRs are so popular but I just… can’t do them. My tbr is insane too. And I’m also a massive mood reader, so I don’t do reading challenges either. hehehe I agree that it’s thrilling 😉
YAY, I’m so glad you can relate to this 😀 yay for being mood readers 😀
I think this is a wonderful idea and will likely take it up as a habit. I decided to put myself on a ban for January and not borrow any books, or buy, but I don’t really buy books often. My Goodreads TBR has blown up since I started blogging, something I’m sure will only get worse but we have to BE STRONG!! I think this is a great way to keep the stress low and get back to the enjoyment of reading!
Hahaha, I get the feeling. My TBR has grown out of proportions ever since I started blogging just as well, it’s crazy. It’s so easy to get swept away and just read, read and read. I think it’s important to pick up the books we want to read and remember to enjoy ourselves 🙂
thank you so much for your comment! <3 <3
I am totally a mood reader, and my TBR is over 400! I usually have to buy my books because my local library does not have a decent selection at all.
yay, another book buyer! I’m sorry that your local library doesn’t have a great selection, if only we could have great libraries, that would be SO great haha 🙂
Thank you so, so much for your comment! <3 <3
I am addicted to the smell and feel of books, haha. I wish you had a nice local library too. It’s something that doesn’t get as much funding as it deserves.
same here, I’m a freak but I love smelling and hugging my books ??
I agree. I ‘m just living in the wrong country though, as I’m in France and wants more English books in my libraries ???
Ahh, that makes sense. I’m in Arizona,, but my local library literally has one small 10 foot wall for each genre and they rarely get new books in. The whole place needs a serious revamp but I don’t think they get enough funding 🙁
Oh no, that’s too bad 🙁 I wish libraries could get more fundings to expand their book collections and just have more titles overall. libraries deserve more than what they currently have <3
Definitely! I wish more kids were getting in to books instead of electronics too. The libraries would help. I remember being the book nerd that spent tons of time in my school’s library!
And I was the booknerd reading at the back of the classroom hahaha, we were destined to meet each other 😛
Yes we were! My in laws were here this past weekend and they just gave me a funny look when I showed them all the books I read. My husband doesn’t read either.
Haha, well we always feel a bit… well, people just are sometimes not getting how “bookworm” we can be 😛
Lol. So true. I guess you could compare us to football fanatics. I don’t understand them. ?
Hahaha, I don’t either 😛
Oh yes, this is so relatable Marie!! I gave in to the popularity of TBRs and may have made one once or twice, like, a year or two ago, but they’re not my thing at all? I didn’t end up following it very much, cause I am, like you, a mood reader and so it wasn’t very helpful lol. I don’t buy that many books, though that’s because I’m lucky enough to have quite a good library–I’m so sorry to hear you don’t have access to one! That’s got to be expensive for sure. :/
300 is a lot!! But I also have 2000 books on my Goodreads to-read shelf now so if you ever need to feel better about those 300 books… ?? It’s just so easy to add books on GR?! Aggghhhh the struggle. Love this post, Marie!
Oh I’m used to it – I manage to keep on my budget and not spend too much on books, even if sometimes it is very tempting ? I’m lucky to have a paycheck to buy books, too ?
OMG 2 000 ???? That’s insane ? but I get it, is is way too easy to add books to our TBRs 😛
Thank you so much, Analee!! <3 <3
I also buy most of my books (though I’m trying to cut back because I work at a university and have access to the library system) and I’m also a mood reader, but unfortunately my TBR is still out of control. *nervous laughter* I just…have a thing about buying books. They’re pretty and I want to hold them and put them next to me as I sip my coffee in the morning. I’m a painfully slow reader, so I end up buying more quickly than I read. But I’m really trying to cut down. I told my husband that I’m on a year-long book buying ban where I’m only allowed to buy books that are $5 or less. So far it’s working pretty well. 🙂
Oh I get the feeling, I have urges to get new books as well, you’re not the only one ? I’m mostly… still in control of my book buying habits though, thankfully ? I’m glad to hear your book – buying ban is going well and if you can enjoy a library, that’s great too! 😀
I think it’s only in the past ten years or so that your approach would be considered at all odd. I’ve been a huge reader for over 40 years, and it’s only been in the last ten that I’ve had an actual to-read list, as opposed to just having a few titles in my mind that I heard about from a friend, saw in a bookstore, or know is a classic. And I am lucky enough to have mostly lived near good library systems, so I would check out my books, read them, bring them back and get new ones. Pretty simple.
Now I have a good thousand books on my Goodreads to-read shelf, mostly because I hear about so many more books now and want to remember the ones that sound good. I also recently started buying a lot of books for my classroom library, which means there is a ton of YA and MG books on hand for me, and I start to feel panicky about how many I haven’t read yet.
All in all, I think you are FINE, except I’m always sad for people that don’t have good libraries. On the other hand, when I’ve lived abroad and only had access to tiny English language libraries, it’s gotten me to read some really interesting, obscure, or challenging books I wouldn’t have picked up otherwise.
I think it’s crazy how we hear about so many books now and it’s so easy to add them to our Goodreads shelves, get them and feel overwhelmed with everything we have to read. It’s a bit stressful, but it’s also great to have so many books to choose from 🙂
Thank you, that’s so sweet of you <3 <3 <3 Thank you for your sweet comment!
I don’t have a scheduled TBR either, and my Goodreads TBR is WAY longer than the list of books I own (the number is actually utterly ridiculous, and I just won’t even mention it). But I also own a ridiculous number of books, so… Hmmm… Yeah, I’m hopeless. 🙂
Hahaha oh no, you’re not hopeless, you have TONS of books to choose from, to pick your next read, that’s GREAT 😛
TBRs can be tough, no doubt! I tried doing that kind of posts but I think I managed to do only two and not even once did I stick to the books I had mentioned. Some of them are still sitting there for their turn. So, it’s kinda useless for me unless I’m some ninja who has full control on my reading mood…which is far from the truth. I have two ARCs I have to review before the month ends and haven’t picked up either of them yet because I’m not in the mood right now (I’m totally gonna pick it up today, that’s what I’ve said to myself today as soon as I woke up :D)
Also, you definitely are a ninja with all the control you have on your book buying strategy! 🙂
Ahah if only we could control our moods and manage to stick to TBRs and everything… that would be great, but I found out that it never works for me ? I hope you’ll find the courage and desire to read these two ARCs and that they will be great! 😀
Ninja, I don’t know, but I like that title hahaha thank you!! <3 <3
I DO make a month TBR, BUT I keep it to only a fraction (typically 50-ish%) of the number of books I will read that month. For example, I generally read about 10 books a month, so I will select at least 5 books to put on my TBR for that month. This allows me a little wiggle room for mood reading. Generally the books on my TBR are review books, book club books, and books for upcoming author events for the most part.
Ohhh that’s such a great strategy to have, I love it! 😀
This is such a great discussion topic. I have 3000+ books on my Kindle and I am sad to say that 95% of them are TBRs. Unlike you, I absolutely DO NOT have my book budget under control. I see a book and, if the funds are available, I buy a book (only ones I want, of course lol). I am working on reading more of the ones that I already have (including a massive NetGalley backlist). But, as for sticking to a TBR…they are always more fun for me to make than to stick to.
Thanks so much for sharing this 🙂
Oh wow, that’s A LOT of books… but at least, you got a lot of books to choose from? 😛
Thank you so much for your sweet comment, Megan! And best of luck for your TBR and all the books to read 😛 <3
It’s why I am backing off the tours for a bit lol. Time to start reading those I already have 🙂
Yay that’s a great idea 😀 and I’m sure you will find many books to love there, waiting for you 😀
It’s fun I have like you my TBR somehow under control! ( unless the books I’d like to read count? ?? ) I’m also a bookworm plugged to the lunar cycle, and have to buy all my books out of my pocket which may explain the phenomenon? eBooks are my life-savers, ( as long as they aren’t translate ) because physical books are too expensive in Switzerland so, I buy all of them when I go on summer holiday in your lovely country.
oh yes – I think that the fact that I don’t have a library to get books from and have to buy them all, really helps in not having long lists of books waiting and endless physical TBRS, haha ?
physical books really get expensive sometimes… I buy all of them online, haha. E-books can get really expensive as well, sometimes, it’s crazy annoying!
thank you so much, Morgane! <3
Oh riiiight, you don’t do ARCs, do you 🙂 (I mean, like, regularly xD) that’s partly why you don’t have a TBR xD most of my books are eARCs 😀 but! I really respect you for always knowing what you’re going to read (that implies only having 4 books xD) that’s SO respectable. You have your life together, Marie! I am utterly, utterly impressed. But like, you don’t even know how much!! This makes you very special, mostly because nobody else does it (or is able to restrain themselves :D) (me included…)
I never buy 10 books at once either. One or two on an ebook sale 🙂 it’s an international thing, I guess. I don’t buy print books almost altogether.
I read a lot of ARCs though (mostly because of past decisions, I don’t request all that much anymore, but can’t catch up), and I don’t think I’d have much of a TBR list if not for ARCs either 🙂 I have learned to do monthly lists now. Before that I was also a total mood reader 😀
It’s not that I don’t DO ARCs, it’s just that I only request books I really want to read and I am not that lucky to get approved for books too often, either as e-ARCs or physical ARCs, so… I can’t really have a TBR for that, haha.
Thank you so much ahah, that’s so sweet. I am trying my best to restrain myself and keep my budget okay, because… well, I need it ? and I don’t like feeling overwhelmed too much, either? ?
I hope that this monthly list thing is working okay for you? 🙂 As long as we don’t force ourselves to read, that’s what matters 🙂
thank you so much for your comment! <3 <3
Yess! I really don’t like making a tbr for each month – I just want to pick up whatever I’m in the mood for and devour it. I find that a lot more fun. Tbrs just feel too pressuring to me?
I also feel you on reading challenges! It’s why I’m probably not going to participate in any anymore, even though they seem fun, as in the past I’ve really struggled with not being able to meet certain criteria and I can’t just get books that do meet them #internationalbookbloggerstruggles
I’m with you, I feel a bit pressured when it comes to TBRs, so… I’d rather keep it fun 🙂
That’s what makes me nervous to ever do a reading challenge. Some are really… strict or do have to meet certain criteria, and we don’t always have the books at hand or can buy the books to do the challenge :/
Thank you!! xx
this is an excellent post. i’ve only started doing full TBRs as I’ve started reading more arcs and it’s nice but also stressful occasionally? who knows what I’m doing
Ohh I understand, when you start getting more ARCs, it has to be so useful to do TBRs…. I don’t know, I feel a bit stressed out with having a very precise list of books to get through somehow? I hope that works out well for you though, don’t let it stress yourself out too much and try and focus on what you still want to read the most? 🙂
Also… we never know what we are doing, I know I don’t know what I’m doing, like, 99,9% of the time, in blogging, reading and life hahaha.
Thank you SO much for your sweet comment! <3 <3
❤️❤️❤️ tbrs ARE useful, but I’m hoping that over time I read arcs enough time in advance that it won’t be a problem! and yes, I’ll work on the stress thing ?
I hope so! And if you find something good, in order not to stress out about everything… please let me know, haha 🙂 <3
Awesome topic! I also don’t do TBRs often because I tend to read whatever I want to read and sticking to a strict TBR schedule can make things difficult for me.
Aw thank you, so happy you enjoyed it 🙂
I’m with you, it feels so much better for me to be able to read what I want without having a strict schedule 🙂
Exactly!
I sometimes feel like we’re bookish twins! (not real life ones because I already have one XD). I agree with so many of your reviews, and like you, I don’t do TBRs! This makes me feel like such an odd one out, but like you I’m a mood reader. I decide what I’m going to read next when I finish my current book, or maybe if I’m a bit bored and want to read several things at once. And I don’t own too many books? I’ve bought 2 in the last week because they were second hand and didn’t cost much (like 2 dollars). I don’t understand people who own hundreds of books they haven’t read. It seems really sad to me.
Great, great post <3 <3 <3! Also, the GIF usage made me laugh XD
Hahaha, well… we can be bookish twins, that’s okay with me 😛 <3
I like to pick whatever I want to read next, and don't like to have pre-determined TBR. Also, it helps that I never have tons of unread books on my shelves. I'm lucky enough to be able to buy books, so I own a small collection, but all of them are books I have read. I couldn't own thousand of books unread, it would… make me sad, YES! And so unhappy as well. Poor unread books! :/
Thank you so much!! xx
YES TO EVERYTHING
I cannot make monthly TBRs?? the people who make them are usually organized and stuff and I’m NOT. it makes me so happy to know I’m not alone :’)
(I have to buy most of my books too 🙁 I wish my library had some better books tbh)
OH no you’re not alone! Weird thing is, I’m usually organized when it comes to everything, but there… no no, I just can’t, hahaha.
OH I’m so sorry to hear that, it’s so annoying when we don’t or can’t have great libraries 🙁
Thank you SO much for your sweet comment!! <3 <3
I don’t really do TBRs because of everything you’ve stated here and also because I’m a mood reader. I never know what I’ll be reading, maybe it’s going to be the book I’ve just bought or maybe I’m going to borrow a classic from the library, you never know with me. I’m so bad about it. I’ve been trying to make myself read more organized because getting ARCs also means you review them on certain dates (which can be alwful to mood readers, we are so baaad). Again, I’m so happy you’re speaking out more about not being able to buy 100000 books because watching booktube makes me so jealous, I’m there staring at the screen and wondering how these people buy so many books. I do have a bad habit sometimes with ebooks, I buy lots of them all at once. :-/ But I’m way more controlled when it comes to physical books probably because they are more expensive (mostly, I’ve seen some ebooks being even more expensive than hardcovers which makes no sense!!).
I think it’s great to be mood readers, but whenever you are getting ARCs, it can be a struggle, haha. I find out that changing between genres often helps me a whole lot, in loving what I read and keeping slumps away, too 🙂
OH I so get it with ebooks. Whenever I’m out of books to read and want to get ebooks, I am way more out of control than or regular books. They’re just… invisible?? I mean it’s not as impressive as a big stack of books?? hahha.
Thank you!! <3 <3
I really loved that post (what’s new?) and I’m glad to meet someone who loves to have a small TBR as well!
I had monthly TBRs when my TBR pile was crazy and unfortunately… it’s the case once again lately. Ever since my birthday I have too many books (at least for me, because I love to have at least 10 books or else I’ll freak out) and I have to control myself so organising myself like this helps a lot to handle my anxiety haha!
Right now my physical TBR is at +/- 30 books and it’s too much. My goodreads one is at 282 but I never cared about that? I mean, as long as I don’t have the book I don’t consider it as part of my TBR haha!
I also have to refrain myself to buy books because I’ll be moving out soon and I have to save money but I can control myself, as long as I book at least 1 or 2 books per month!
Aww thank you so much Clara <3
I understand the feeling – I am sort of freaking out whenever I have too many books to read, because I don't know where to start and… I feel a bit overwhelmed. I think that's also one of the main reasons why I don't get too many books at once and try, as best as I can, to control myself, to avoid having that anxious feeling 🙂
Wow, 30 books is A LOT. Take it little by little, maybe do a smaller pile of books, so you don't have to stare at the whole 30 books at once? If that makes any sense? ahah 🙂
Thank you so, so much for stopping by and for your sweet comment <3 <3