Here I am, asking philosophical questions about book bloggers’ minds. Before, I never thought about books that would, could eventually release a couple weeks, months, years from now. Unless we’re talking about a favorite author I’m following and will read anything from and am always expecting something new from, well… I rarely paid attention to books being released a long time from now.
Hell, I didn’t even know you could already add books from 2020 on your TBR on Goodreads.
Well…. now I know and it has ruined my life. I even made a brief mention of that in the things I’m thankful for, when it comes to book blogging, but to be honest, if I’m half happy to have incredible books to look forward to, it also has ruined my life. (in a way. let’s not be overdramatic. but I am. TOO MANY BOOKS).
There is something thrilling about adding books that aren’t released, hell, adding books that just have a small blurb and don’t even have a cover, don’t even have a TITLE YET. I did that for Wildcard because I loved Warcross so very much, for instance. There’s something amazing about expecting a book that much and finding out about it, little by little, title, book cover, full synopsis and so on.
There isn’t much that makes me this thrilled. Or maybe getting a new book in the mail, that does the trick, too.
I have started noticing, especially since 2018 started, that I get really focused on new releases. When I’m talking about new releases, I am talking about books releasing this year. Then about books being released in the next year, the year afterwards and so on. It’s like, whenever I’m asking myself “which book should I get?”, I get a thousand ideas and, without realising it, I have quoted mostly books that have been released in the current year.
I guess it’s because people talk about these books so much. They hype them up, they read it as ARCs, they read it as soon as they are released and they are everywhere. In a way, it’s incredible and I am all for this. Hyping up books is a book blogger’s responsibility – sort of? We do it because we love it, though. Getting in all the pre-orders, contributing to first-week sales and so on is good, it’s GREAT even, it does wonders for the author. I am not criticizing that at all, I am ALL for this.
But I just really want to remember the old books, too.
(brb crying because this GIF is terrible)
The ones that have been sitting on my TBR for a thousand years and that I never got to, because they’re from 2016 and that’s light-years away and somehow my mind has forgotten that time, and that book existed. Blinded by the new releases, somehow. Blinded by everyone getting ARCs of amazing books I compulsively add to my TBR because they sound amazing and end up anticipating.
I also know I read most new recent releases, because I don’t want to be out of the loop. I don’t want to miss out on the next big thing, the book everyone is currently talking about. I have massive fear of missing out, okay.
Yet, I have also been missing out on old, hyped books *six of crows hello*, because there are so many books, I just didn’t have the time, or took the time to.
So how do you balance things out? How do you know if you’re focusing your attention on new releases or old releases? How the hell do you face the fear of missing out?
Doing the Beat The Backlist Challenge helps me, and I think I’m doing fairly okay with it overall – but when I look at my book ratio, I have read my share of 2018 releases already, as much or even more than I’ve read older books. It’s so easy to get distracted by new releases, by trying to get the latest ARCs that sound incredible, by trying to be part of the hype, at this very moment and forget about the hype you’ve missed two years ago.
To be honest, I just want to be able to do the “right” thing, to be a “good” book blogger by equally hyping up new books and getting old releases on your radars, too. But I guess finding good balance for that is impossible – and what matters the most anyway is that I try and read whatever the hell I want to and feel like reading at the moment.
Me to me. I have a complicated brain okay.
So I thought I’d finish this small rant by a LIST, because everyone loves lists and hates me for adding books to their TBRs. In keeping with this blog post and idea overall, here are some…
New releases I want to get to as soon as I can
a.k.a me adding books to your TBR that don’t release until 2019 at least, you’re welcome.
Clones and prestigious school setting = I AM HERE FOR THIS OKAY.
THAT COVER + everything looks amazing about this okay.
This is blurbed as Project Runway meets The Wrath and The Dawn and WHAT.
I loved Always Never Yours and I’m here for thiiiiiiiiis.
“Old” books I still haven’t read that I really want to read
a.k.a books prior from 2018 because apparently it’s already “old”.
I know. My sister said she is going to get me that one soon SO I AM EXCITED.
I want this one because it sounds amazing and also because Kat recommended it and I trust her 200%.
This sounds SO cool and that cover, I’m in love.
I NEED AND WANT to read all of this author’s books because I’m certain I would love them.
Do you find yourself reading more new releases (books from this year), older releases or a little bit of both? How do you balance things out – if you manage to do so?
What are some new releases you want to get to as soon as you can? And some oldest books you’d love to read?! Let me know in comments!
I relate to this so much! Lately, I’ve found that I’ve been way too focused on new releases and got into the habit of reading new releases very quickly. Doing the Beat the Backlist challenge also helps me to keep track of backlist books and it’s incredibly helpful. I need some recommendations for backlist books because I’m starting to feel slumpy because I’ve run out of new releases I’m interested in…
Oh I’m so glad you can relate to this. It’s so easy to focus on new releases, as they’re what everyone currently talks about.
I’m also trying to do the beat the backlist challenge and doing my best haha, I think I’m on track and it’s good to fix ourselves a little goal, to try and read more backlist books 🙂
I’m sorry to hear that you’ve been feeling slumpy :/ I hope you’ll find new books that interest you soon – can I be of any help? What kind of books would you be looking for? 😀
Thank you so much for your sweet comment! 😀
Thank you so much Marie! I’m contemporary trash but I read a lot of sff too and other genres so anything’s good 🙂
I AM CONTEMPORARY TRASH TOO YAY! <3
Hmm so off the top of my mind and with the help of my bookshelves haha, here are some books I'm thinking of:
Girl Out of Water (Laura Silverman), Amy & Roger – or anything by Morgan Matson, a quiet kind of thunder (sara barnard), the serpent king (jeff zentner), i'll meet you there (heather demetrios), the summer of chasing mermaids, alice osemans books, the disreputable history of frankie landau banks,
girl against the universe (paula stokes), highly illogical behaviour 😀
I hope you'll find some books that could interest you there 😀
thanks so much marie! you’re a gem
You’re so welcome! 😀
I would say yes the book blogging community seems to focus a lot on new releases. I have a couple arcs in my queue right now but I think I might take a break from them after I’m done, because there are sooooo many older books I want to still read.
Oh same here, there are so many older books I still want to get to. I guess we all need to try and find the right balance for us and focus on what we really want to read at the time, too 😀
Thank you so much for your sweet comment! <3 <3
Ooh, nice post! This question has been bothering me since I started to actively participate in the bookish community. I used to have some books on my TBR that were already published and a few years old but nowadays, half of me is busy anticipating the newer releases and the other half of me is worried I am not actually reading the books I wanted to read for a while.
It’s a tough situation to be in because I want to read all the books. So, totally glad that you also face the same problems, well, glad and relieved. I was wondering if I was one of the very few.
I feel EXACTLY the same way, I’m so glad I’m not the only one. Half of me is wants to get all the new books and is anticipating all of them, while the other half just wonders why the heck I keep adding 2020 books on my TBR while I haven’t read some from 10 years ago hahaha.
So you’re definitely not alone <3 <3 I think it's good to try and find what we really want to read, and to try and browse our goodreads shelves, shelves, books overall for older releases we might have forgotten, but still really want to read 😀
Thank you so much for your sweet comment! <3 <3
I have a horrible habit of buying new releases and then not reading them for a long period of time. I’m pretty sure it’s because I’m not a big fan of paperbacks but I’m sure it has something to do with wanting to own a book a soon as possible. I think I’ve created a decent enough system with my TBR pile (a physical pile of 6 to 8 books that I will be reading next) that I mix the newer releases that make my blog more interesting and the backlisted books I’ve owned for 750 years.
But yeah, I hear you, I’m excited about books that don’t have covers and barely a blurb that won’t be released until 2020.
OH I get that feeling – I really sometimes want to get my hands on a book as fast as I can haha, I can’t help it. Thankfully I manage to keep that need under control, most of the time, otherwise my book budget would be insane haha.
I think it’s amazing that you manage to do a TBR like that, it’s such a great idea 😀
Thank you so much for your sweet comment and for sharing your thoughts on the topic <3 <3
I’m little bit both! I’m among those bloggers who are too occupied with books they bought or received from authors, as part of tour, or via Netgalley. There is little time for reading all new releases. I have list of many famous books that many might have read ages ago but I haven’t.
Oh yes there is not enough time to read all the books we want, it’s frustrating haha. I think making a list to remember these old books we really want to read it a GREAT idea 😀
Thank you so much for your sweet comment! <3
This is a really thoughtful discussion post!
I find it difficult to achieve a balance between reading new releases and reading backlist books, primarily because it feels harder to get people hyped about backlist books whereas with new books everyone knows about them and is reading them at the same time so wants to chat and engage. Although numbers and engagement aren’t *everything* in the world, I find it’s really noticeable when you post a review of a new release vs. a review of an older book, and it’s not about the numbers so much as it being hard to share the love for a backlist book if no one seems to be engaging with discussions of it – it feels a bit like shouting into the void then!
Aw thank you so much, Emma, so happy you enjoyed this post <3
I completely get your point here and I so agree. I have noticed that new releases and recent books get most of the love, while backlist titles may not get as much engagement or discussions as them. It makes me a bit sad and I wish we could do something about it, but alas I guess that's how it is, people like to engage with book they have been hearing of the most lately :/ I wish there was a magical solution for that haha 🙂
Thank you so much for your sweet comment, Emma! <3
All it takes is the decision to mix the TBR monthly pile. Because, honestly, those old books were once new releases too 🙂
Yeah definitely, need to mix it up a little bit more 🙂
Thank you for stopping by! 🙂
I always felt as if I was a bad reader for not having the famous “release in 2019/2020 etc” shelves on Goodreads. I tend to try to read old releases and new ones, at least the ones which just came out and I am doing fine for now! I am still reading rather old books because I love to be up to date with everything and I don’t want to miss anything. But I really feel pressured into having to check what’s going to come out next, to always know everything. Like, Cassandra Clare is my favourite author and I always feel stupid if I don’t know what she has planned for the next few years… Which is stupid! I feel the same on bookstagram because people ask me a lot of questions and it feels as if I’m supposed to know everything, when sometimes I don’t. ANYWAY I meant that yes, I manage to read both, old and new releases, but it always stresses me out to know what’s going to come out too early! (And great post as always Marie but you aren’t my favourite blogger for nothing!)
I felt that way, too – I only recently added these 2019 – 2020 shelves on my goodreads when I realized I couldn’t and wanted to keep track on these releases, too. I think that makes me really a book blogger for that haha, I just get excited for books with no cover and just a blurb. I hate and love it as well haha.
I understand – well I can imagine with your astonishing reach on instagram, the questions you can get. Yet we can’t follow it all, we’re already doing our very best to keep up with what we’re reading, there is nothing wrong with not knowing everything. I know I feel frustrated when I don’t feel “in the loop” either, but… we can’t know everything. I wish I could stop pressuring myself about this for sure.
Aw Clara, this honestly means SO much to me, especially coming from you, you’re so incredible and definitely a bookish role model with everything you do on instagram. Thank you <3 <3 <3 <3
That’s why you’re an amazing book blogger haha!
We sure put way too much pressure on ourselves with everything… Hopefully one day we won’t care much 😉
Thank YOU, you are an angel and that means a lot to me ??
One day we will, and in the meantime we can be there for each other and remind ourselves to take things easy ???
This is such a great post, Marie!! ❤ I’m also noticing this trend in my reading and it’s making me super sad, I tried to combat it though this month. I already read like 4 books that are backlist, so I say that’s a win!
It’s kind of sad that we overlook all these amazing books, I don’t know when was the last time I read a classic and sadly, that’s because of blogging since they aren’t quite popular ?
Aww thank you Marta <3 <3 I get that, I'm trying to combat it as well and to focus on books I wanted to read for a while as well, and more backlist titles. It's not always easy though.
And I'm sorry to hear that – if you love classics though, you could totally mix things up and talk about one or another every now and then, I know a couple bloggers that love these books, too! 😀 <3
I feel like a black sheep in the blogging community because I don’t care about new releases. I don’t review ARCS and generally don’t know what’s coming out soon. Out of the 52 books I’ve read this year, 2 of them were released in 2018. Sometimes I’m sad about missing out on the latest excitement, but I also don’t like the pressure of keeping up with new releases. There are a lot of brilliant older books in the world. I’m happy with the way I do things.
honestly, I WANT to be just like you haha. Sometimes there’s tons of pressure (coming from me, myself and I haha, I’m like that) to know everything that’s being released and to feel in the loop overall. I think it’s fantastic to focus on older books too and there are so many books out there that are a bit forgotten. That makes me sad and I really need to try better. <3
Thank you so mch for your sweet comment! <3 <3
AAAH! You decided to write the post we talked about 😀 As you already know, I think that new releases aren’t all they are made out to be sometimes. Of course there are books I want to get to right away (and your post just added The Similars and The Blood of Stars to that list), but overall I enjoy reading “older” books every now and then. I sometimes need for expectations to have died down a little and not everyone to scream at me about how amazing/not great a book is at the same time.
Also, I am so happy you continue to trust in my bookish judgement haha It’s an honor to be in that circle of trust.
YES all thanks to you, you inspired me, Kat, thank you again for that!! <3 <3
I'm SO glad I added these books to your TBR – they sound fascinating, I'm already in love haha.
I'm with you – sometimes I need for expectations to die down a little bit (look at me reading SoC only now, haha). Yet sometimes, it's hard to wait, because I feel like I need to be "in" and to read the latest releases, too. It's frustrating haha.
ALWAYS, your bookish judgment is one of the BEST! <3
Thank you so, so much Kat! <3 <3 <3
Oh no, no! You came up with that all by yourself 😉
And I totally get why you were a little anxious to start SoC. It was a daunting task, but NOW YOU ARE IN THE CLUB! WELCOME TO THE LOVERS OF THE DREGGS!!
I AM SO HAPPY I love this little squad sooooooo much <3
I will never get tired of hearing that <3 they are the best!!
I definitely read way more new releases than old releases. I have a hard time letting myself read backlist books, or even books from a few months ago, because I have so many upcoming releases that I want to read and I worry that I’ll somehow be wasting my time on backlist titles even though there is of course nothing wrong with reading backlist books! I think part of it is that bloggers and other influencers pretty much only talk about newly released or upcoming books, so it can make you feel like you’re falling behind if you dare to spend time on backlist books. I for sure need to get better at allowing myself to read backlist books and not worrying about not reading as many new releases, because the books will always be there once they’re out, so there’s no need to worry, in reality. It is just hard sometimes.
That’s EXACTLY it, I feel like I’m falling behind if I spend a little time reading backlist titles. Even if there are some pretty incredible backlist books I’m missing out on. I need to make more of an effort and somehow balance that new/old releases better, despite the pressure I feel about it sometimes.
Thank you so, so much for your sweet comment! <3 <3 I hope you'll allow yourself to do that as well, we can encourage each other haha <3
I really try to do both!! I have a lot of books that I already own (I think I own like 70 – most are eBooks), so I try to alternate between one of those and then either an ARC or a book that just came out that I need to buy and read right now. I think I’m “pretty” successful at doing this…at least in the last little while! It can be so hard though. And it’s so easy to request too many ARCs so that all you’re reading is ARCs, or get too caught up in all the amazing-looking books coming out soon!
I do find, though, that as a book blogger it’s easier to have conversations about the older books. I tend to get more comments on reviews of books that have been around awhile, which makes total sense since more people have had a chance to read them. So, that’s a nice benefit for reading/reviewing the older books.
Oh that’s so amazing – I really want to try and do that as well, balance everything better. I have a lot of old releases to read and that I want to read, but I know I tend to buy new releases too, because I’ve heard so much and I am too curious not too hahaha. 🙂 I’m so glad you have a rhythm that works out, that’s my goal someday 😀
Oh really that’s so interesting! I feel like new books get more people interacting and commenting, but I guess it depends on blogs and our audience, too? It’s definitely great to see that old books still interest people 😀
Thank you so much for your sweet comment! <3 <3
Yes we are..
Great post ?
Aw thank you so much! <3 <3
great post!! honestly, i feel like i wasn never this interested in New Releases before i started blogging?? back then life was easy and i would just read whatever i wanted, and most of the time i wasn’t even aware when a book was published or what publisher it was from. and now??? it’s almost more important than a blurb when talking abt books??? i think that, like u said, a lot of it comes from us reading arcs and ppl generally hyping up UPCOMING books, but also just te sheer amount of books being published lately? i mean, i dont rly have numbers to compare lmao but i kinda feel like we’re getting A Lot these days and more importantly, it’s all good?
and yeah, how can one focus on backlist books when there’s just SO MUCH coming out every tuesday???? :<<<<
YES YES YES that’s EXACTLY it – I wasn’t aware of all the books before and now I’m drowning in new releases and most anticipated reads and it’s a whole NEW world opening up haha.
I also feel the same way – or maybe it’s just because we are more “into” it all, book publishing and everything, because we’re book bloggers, maybe we pay more attention to it all, but I feel like there are SO MANY INCREDIBLE BOOKS everywhere and my TBR will crush me haha.
The bookish struggles are endless haha. 😛
Thank you so much for your sweet comment, Anna!! <3 <3
ur very welcome, marie!! :>>
and im glad we totally see eye to eye here. like u said, it really feels like it’s a whole new world! everywhere i look now, there’s some new book i HAVE to read! and let’s not even mention all the ppl over on twitter talking abt their WIP’s……………
OH don’t get me started on that, there are so many incredible-looking WIPs and they’re not even part of the publishing process yet I’m already anticipating them like CRAZY hahaha
we thought waiting a few months for books to get published is bad huh?????? :<<<<<
WELL THAT IS WORSE haha when you just get aesthetics for a story that isn’t even entirely written yet, and you want it right now ???
That’s true! I mean we all like new books but the tendency is that you have to read everything that’s new and then you have no time to read the older releases… I think balancing will be good because they are a lot of good books that are old 🙂
YES definitely – I think finding the right balance is great and it’s definitely my goal – I know there are so many books I want to read that have been released already. Just need to focuuus and not get distracted by new books haha. 😛
Thank you so much for your sweet comment! <3
I like this discussion, I got into reading only like 3 years and so I had a lot of catching up to do. I started with books that I felt I will like or that were just available in the local bookstore, I took many recommendations from friends because I was new and not oriented. Forward one year and I have finished 86 books and developed my own preference. I used to read many of the old books, people were reading the new books and whenever I read them then there were newer books and I always was behind. I then took a decision that I will try to read books as soon as they are released, that means I won’t be affected by reviews and I will be able to share my thoughts with people. For 1 year now that was probably the best decision I had, I always check what new releases are there in a new month and I plan to read them, some months are full and some have only a book or two that I am interested in and that’s when I can read older books <3
Oh thank you so much, so happy you enjoyed this post! <3
I'm glad you found a system that works out for you! You're so right, whenever a book has been released for a little while, or has had a lot of hype, we can't help but feel a bit influenced by others' reviews at times. It's amazing that you found a rhythm like that, that's my goal haha 😀
Thank you so much for sharing!! 😀
You’re welcome <3
Yeah it took me some time but I am happy I found a way but those ARCs are now making it even harder!
Hahaha I get it, they’re just so tempting 😛
This is a really interesting post. I have never actually been one to look forward to a new release. Like you mentioned, the one exception is if it’s an author I really love. I am already behind on so many books, that I don’t really have the time or the need to look forward to new releases! If I was a book blogger, I know that this would be a serious struggle for me! Great post Marie xx
Melina | http://www.melinaelisa.com
Oh I completely get it – if I weren’t constantly surrounded and looking out for new releases like the crazy book blogger that I am, I wouldn’t know about anything? I love being in the loop and finding out about great new books, but… there are so many books to read that are already released. The struggle is endless ? I’m glad you’re not struggling with that, Melina! 😀
Thank you so, so much for your sweet comment <3 <3
I think that because of sites like Netgalley new releases are super easy to get attached to. I am dedicating myself to finish all my Netgalley books so I can get back to reading books on my shelves. I think finding balance is really important!
YES NetGalley is the devil ? I think it’s so easy, because of these websites, to somehow get “addicted” to all of these new releases. Let’s hope we both find the right balance soon 😀
Thank you so much for your sweet comment! <3 <3
Same, *cries*. I have SO MANY older books that I haven’t read yet and completely forgot about. I’ve been trying really hard not to read many new releases (or even buying many new releases), so I can finally get around to reading older books I have. There are A TON of books that I have been dying to buy, but haven’t because I feel so guilty about all the older books on my shelves that I still have no gotten to. SAD DAY! I made a list of 120+ older books on my shelves that I really wanted to try to read this year and I think I only read 10, ughh! I decided to make a new list with a realistic number of 20 older books that I hope to read before the year ends. I know I won’t be able to get to 20 of them, but I am hoping to at least get to half. HAHA.
I get it, it’s so hard because there are SO many fantastic-looking new releases there and yet, there are so many older books we still have to, and still want to read as well. The endless book blogger struggle ?
I hope you’ll manage your little challenge, Ashley, 20 books seem good, YOU CAN DO THIS! 😀
Thank you so much for your sweet comment! <3 <3
Omg, this post is so me! I feel so guilty dor not picking up older books, but also feel left out if I don’t read the new releases. Balancing is so hard!
Oh I’m so, so glad you could relate to this – but also kind of sad, balancing is the hardest thing ever and I wish there was a magical solution to do it all. Or just read all the books all at once ??
Thank you so much for your sweet comment! 😀
I think I do a pretty good job of reading a mix of both new and old releases (although I probably don’t talk enough about older releases on my blog). I do enjoy reading new releases soon after they’ve come out, but I don’t always give in to the hype, in fact I’m usually the last person to read a hyped book. It’s amazing when book bloggers can really get the word out there about new releases, but at the same time, seeing the SAME book on every blog can get a little tiring.
YAY that’s fantastic Angela, I’m so glad you’re doing so good at balancing things out like that. That’s my goal, lately I’ve been focusing on new releases and that’s thrilling, but also, the old books need love, too.
I 100% get that – I feel the same way, which is probably why I haven’t reviewed Children of Blood and Bone on my blog ?
Thank you so much for your sweet comment!! <3 <3
Well Marie I completely agree with you here! I am always attracted to new shiny books. Plus ARC or new releases attract more readers and followers so it’s important for a book blogger. But on the other hand I want to read some of my “old” books. So I try to read 3 new for one “old” one or something like that but nothing is planned really. I’ve decided to cut back the ARCs for August and September to make room for moody reads and older reads. I will (try to) avoid Netgalley LOL
Key word in that sentence is trying ? I always tell myself I will avoid it, but then somehow I find myself there again ? I’m kind of glad in a way that they’re mad at international bloggers, because I have less books to read now ?
I think it’s good to try and read one old book for three new books, a rhythm like that. I definitely want to try and do that too. Even if new books attract more, older releases also need the love <3
Thank you so much for your sweet comment, Sophie! 😀
I think there is a huge emphasis on new releases. I personally think that publishers push new releases out as ARCs waaaaay too early sometimes. Like why are books that are going to be published in 2019 being put out as ARCs in spring 2018??? I think that the vast majority of readers are not likely to pre-order authors that they don’t know very well so if they start the hype cycle 6 months before the book is even released they are wasting a huge amount of marketing potential. I think. I am no expert in marketing but it makes a lot more sense to me to put out review copies within a month or so of the release date.
For this reason I refuse to read a book more than a week-ish before its release date. As a reader I naturally have a problem with constantly adding books to my TBR so there is already no way that I will get to everything that I want to read. And much less so if I am ALWAYS trying to be on the newest book. It is an interesting balance trying to stay relevant with new releases but also reading whatever I want to read.
I get what you mean – I thought at first that ARCs weren’t released that early on, yet when I saw some people with copies of books releasing almost a year from now, well… that seems a bit crazy to me somehow? I have no idea how marketing works when it comes to that, but it would make more sense to me as well to hype up books only a couple months prior the official release date, too.
Oh that’s such an interesting strategy – it’s always so hard to stay relevant to everything being released while not forgetting the old books… it’s hard being a blogger and loving all the books so much hahaha 😛
Thank you so, so much for your sweet comment and for sharing your thoughts on this <3
I’ll be honest, I don’t really look at release dates when I pick what book to read next…though I’ve started to with my one personal challenge to read 5 selected books from each of the last five years. But I don’t actively go, “hmm, I need to read a book from 2017 next”.
Thanks to ARCs, I do read a lot more current releases (ie 2018) and with my one feature, I try to read newer books. But my library can take awhile to get the newer books sometimes; or has a crazy wait so it can take me a long time to get my hands on a copy. I do add future releases to my TBR on Goodreads but mostly to track sequels that I may or may not read in the next year…usually it’s two years later when I get to them so I can binge read the last two novels together 😛
Oh I don’t really look at release dates either when it comes to picking up books, but I noticed that I tend to want to read more books from this year, because I have heard so much about these in the last few months and they have been hyped up so, very much haha 😛
Hahaha I’m with you on series – I never get to these on time hahaha 😛
Thank you so much for your sweet comment! <3 <3
I relate to this post 100% its hard to focus on the amazing older books when you constantly have a bunch of new releases being thrown into your face! Also having been looking foreword to we set the dark on fire (it looks amazing!) I’m trying to branch out by reading a mix of books (both old and new releases) but ultimately I want to be able to read whatever I’m in the mood for. Great post as always 🙂
I know right, it’s almost impossible to focus when there are so many new books coming every week hahaha I just can’t focuuuuuus. I really hope we’ll be able to balance things out a bit more, that’s my goal for sure 😀
AND YES We Set The Dark on Fire looks INCREDIBLE, right 😀
Thank you so much for your sweet comment!! 😀
I guess when it comes to old books at least you can say better late than never right?!
Honestly when it comes to my TBR list I try not to add books that are being released more than a year in the future, mainly because I know if I do I’ll forget all about them and then what’s the point in even having them on my TBR list you know? I don’t really give a lot of thought to how many new releases/old books I read. I pretty much pick up whatever I want to read at the time and that may be an ARC but it may be a books that’s five years old you know? I think though looking at my read list I do get around to more recent releases than older ones, but that’s mainly because of the hype. If people are talking about a book loads I want to know what all the fuss is about, and most times people are talking about the latest releases.
Great post Marie, also on a side note definitely read Anna-Marie McLemore’s books ASAP. You’ll love them I’m sure. 🙂 <3
YES you’re so right about that, that’s what I was thinking when I read Six of Crows, better late than never hahaha.
Oh I understand – to be honest I keep track of the new releases and the ones releasing a bit later, because I’m scared to forget about them hahaha and I just want to pick them up at some point <3
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on the topic, Beth!! <3 I really need to read Anna-Marie McLemore's books soon, I hope I can soon 😀
I forget about books that are already released that are on my TBR list, I’d have no hope when it comes to books being released two years down the line still. 🙂
That’s all right! 🙂 <3
ahaha I get that, too many books, we can’t remember them all 😛
I’m a mood reader so I don’t know if anything I say will be helpful lol!
Back when I was a full time book blogger (back in 2010) and I had a deadline for certain titles I would make monthly challenges (I still do this btw). It starts in Oct and runs to Dec. Oct is scary/paranormal books, Nov is Holiday reads and Dec is usually Dystopia. Sometimes I make Sept Fairytale Retellings, depends on my mood. Then I would plan my TBR accordingly, mostly the books I had pushed to the side the longest are read first. But I’m also weird and I like to read more than 10 books a month and race time to see how many I finish before the month is over (most I’ve done is 12 and I was so burned out!) I can’t understand how some people read like 30+ books a month!
I never give myself deadlines and I don’t do challenges either – that stresses me out and I am a mood reader + never have enough books at my disposal to do an actual challenge haha. I kind of never plan my TBR and just read whatever I have at and and what I am in the mood for 🙂
I don’t get people reading 30 books a month either, they do that ALL the time and nothing else?! haha 😛
Thank you for your sweet comment 😀
I meant to comment on this account, whoops!
Ahah no worries 😀
Yep – I can relate! Although banning myself from NetGalley and Bookbridgr until I’ve caught up on some of the (many) books on my shelves has helped!
That’s definitely a good idea 🙂
Thank you so much for your sweet comment! 😀
Honestly, I try to read at least 1-2 new releases per month, but I don’t stress if I can’t get to them. I love reading new releases but we gotta support older authors and older releases too!! ❤️❤️
Yes exactly, you’re so right about this, supporting older releases is so important as well <3
I just TBR’d all the new releases you mentioned because they sound so interesting. <3
Ohhh really, this makes me so happy! I hope we’ll both love all of these books <3
Oh I definitely find myself mostly reading new releases!! I do agree it’s kind of a “book blogger thing” and I mean some of the reasons I do think it happens is because if we can’t afford to buy books and we get sent (or request) ARCs…well, they’re obviously going to be the new books! And also I kind of love how it’s like one big giant book club across the communities when a ton of us are reading the same hyped books?! So I have no problem with it. ? But I love love loooove SO many old books! And actually this week I read two books from 2014 and 2015 and it was really cool!? They were random library finds and it was great! The only downside is no one to talk to about them afterwards. ??
I never saw it that way, but I LOVE IT, this idea of one giant book club all around the world, now THAT is amazing! 😀
Ohhh that’s so great that you found amazing old books, it feels like finding hidden treasures, I love it <3 <3
Thank you so, so much for your sweet comment, Cait!! <3 <3
Ah I couldn’t agree more with this! I’ll be the first to admit that I give in to the hype surrounding new releases and I’m quick to make an Amazon order. I’d say that ever since I discovered the book blogging community and bookstagram, I’ve been more likely to read new releases, purely because of how hyped they are, and as you say, to stay in the loop! My TBR list however is mounting with books from only a few years ago waiting to be read. I think I need to put myself on a book buying ban and read all of them. I feel as if I’m neglecting so many older books purely because no one else is talking about them, but there are some amazing books out there nonetheless! Loved this post!! X
Evie x | https:/eviejayne.co.uk
I feel the exact same way, like I am neglecting the older releases in favour of the new ones. It feels good to be in the loop and to talk about what everyone is currently talking about, but… there are so many cool books waiting for us since, years now. Here’s to hoping we can get to them as well 😀
Thank you so, so much for your sweet comment, Evie! xx
I’ve really tried to do better with mixing the two and I think I’m doing that pretty well this year. I try and go back and forth between ARCs and books I already have on my shelves. Not buying a ton of new books helps and I don’t really get tons of ARCs, so sometimes all I have are the ones I already own (whether they are from last year or way before that lol). I think going back and forth as much as you can helps so you aren’t stuck on a pattern of doing new after new after new or even old after old after old…unless that’s what you want! Honestly, I don’t care what book bloggers review – new or old – I just like to hear about books and find out which ones I should be reading!
Lauren
http://www.shootingstarsmag.net
I’m so happy you’re doing better with mixing it up – that’s honestly my goal! <3 I just want to read whatever I am in the mood to read and not force myself to read old, or new releases… just find a right rhythm haha. That's the hardest thing ever, I think 🙂
Thank you so much for your sweet comment, Lauren! <3
Such a relatable post! Before blogging, I never paid attention to new releases, but now it’s difficult not to wish to read every new and hype book that shows up in the WP Reader! Although a lot of the books I read, are fairly recent, I like to try to force myself to read books that released years back as well. One of these is the Seven Realms series by Cinda Williams Chima. I read the Demon King a few months ago and LOVED it! 🙂
Aww thank you so much! It’s hard to avoid the new releases when they are everywhere, haha 😛
Ohhhh thank you, I’ll have to check these out, I’m curious now 😛
I feel EXACTLY the same. I always want to keep up with new releases because I have serious FOMO when everyone talks about it and I’m just sitting there twiddling my thumbs. But I also love to read books that are well-loved because they’ve had years of people reading them to build up a reputation. And that’s great because then I feel the reactions might be more genuine rather than just some big hype over a new release? And there are so many books out there I can’t keep up with but still want to read, so they become “old” very quickly. Just because a book was published 5, 10 years ago doesn’t make it any less good! Classics are still read, so other books between classic and new-release really shouldn’t be left in the lurch. And then there are books I find that aren’t popular in the “bookish” world, but still pique my interest. Sometimes it’s really overwhelming so I totally get you!
I also have serious FOMO and honestly it’s annoying at times hahaha I wish I didn’t feel that way.
I get what you’re saying and I so agree – there is something beautiful about reading a book that people love and still talk about, years from now. Some books are hyped for a second while others are for years and that’s incredible <3
Thank you so, so much for your sweet comment! <3 <3
This is SUCH an interesting and thought provoking post, I love it! I think I honestly don’t get too caught up in new releases because I literally cannot keep track.?I read people’s posts that are like “10 releases you should read” and I get all excited and then two days later I can’t remember any of them? Honestly, right now the only release I know of is What If It’s Us, haha.
I wish I was a little more involved in it, but I think it’s also a good thing that I’m not because I can focus on books that came out a few years ago and still deserve all the love!
Great post!
Oh thank you so much, Olivia! <3 I get it, there are just so many books, it's impossible to keep track of them all hahaha 🙂
I agree that it's a good thing to try not to pay too much attention to them, there are so many other books deserving all the love as weell <3
Thank you so much for your sweet comment! <3
I just read what I want. It’s much less stressful for me that way and I’m finding that I’m reading more books I really love, versus books that are okay but were really hyped up.
This is honestly the BEST way to deal with it all 😀
Thank you so much for your sweet comment! <3 <3
OMGAD PREACH GIIRL! PREEAACH ??❤️ Honestly I find it hard to manage both WHAT I WANT TO READ as already published books vs NEW BOOKS coming out every single day ?
I know right, it’s just impossible, there are tooooo many books hahaha 😛
Brilliant post! I’m probably in the minority here…but I tend to read more older releases. I go to my library a lot, and because they have so many pre-2018 releases that I still really want to read, I generally read older books more. I want to read newer books as well though, as it’s what everyone is talking about at the moment so it’s nice being able to have a conversation about the same book with others! I probably need to try to set up a system where I read a couple of new releases a month and then the rest old releases. Something like that might help me! xD
Oh that’s so great! I think that, if I had a library at hand, I would definitely read more old releases. Since I buy most of my books though, I tend to be influenced by everyone else in the community and to get the latest hyped book, to see what all the fuss is about haha :p
I think setting up a system like that is the best idea, I really want to try and do that, to mix things up 😀
Thank you so, so much for your sweet comment, Kyra! <3 <3
It is far too easy as a book blogger to focus on new releases – especially as it seems to drive traffic.
I try to read one “new” and one “old” at a time, so I’m mixing it up. Although new for me means within the past year haha.
Cora | http://www.teapartyprincess.co.uk/
It really is hard to focus on old releases and new releases haha. For me, I feel like a book is already old if it was released in 2017, which doesn’t even make sense, because last year is not that far ahaha.
Thank you so much for stopping by, Cora! <3
Again, a great insightful post! ?
I find myself focusing a lot on new releases as well and often buying them when I have some book money to spend. But I also try to catch up on some backlist Series and books I missed out on when I wasn’t reading much pre 2016. So far it’s working I guess, I’m reading both old and new 🙂
Oh thank you so much! <3 <3 It's amazing that you found a rhythm that works for you – I definitely need to try and do that more and put these backlist titles on my TBR 😀
Thank you!! <3 <3
Before I started book blogging I did not stay up to date on new releases… I didn’t even track my reading on goodreads. I basically went to the library or bookstore and picked up any books that sounded good. I think the obsession with new releases is something most of us in the book blogging community are guilty of. It is hard not to get caught up in all the hype.
Yeah definitely – I guess that’s a side-effect of being a book blogger, always wanting to be on top of all the latest releases haha 🙂
Thank you so much for your sweet comment! <3
I totally feel your pain and the conflict with new releases. I feel the same way.. .wanting to be in on the best books of the year through ARCs yet at the same time being slowly crushed under the weight of my TBR! This year I determined to do something about it and kept myself at 4 ARCs a month so that I can read 4 backlist a month then I made a moody list for those 4 backlist slots. It’s worked pretty well and I’ve finished my Asian to read list and made a new list for the rest of the year. Keeping balanced between the two is certainly something you have to do deliberately and with a will. ❤️
Oh that’s a fantastic idea. I really want to do this better as well – balance between backlist titles and new releases <3
Thank you so much Dani! <3
I’ve been a LITTLE better this year about balancing new releases and backlist books, but it’s definitely a struggle. Review books always end up taking priority because … well, I’ve agreed to review them. It can be hard to fit in the oldies but goodies!
Yay that’s great! 😀 Exactly, whenever you commit, well, you have to follow through and sometimes it’s hard to maintain a balance. Here’s to hoping I can do this too 😀
Thank you, Nicole! <3
I’ve actually been falling behind on reading new releases so I’m still playing catch up haha. But I usually tend to focus on books that have been published recently. The exception to this rule is when people who have similar bookish tastes recommend me books that really intrigue and I’m fairly certain I’ll love it. For example, I read The Shadow of the Wind this year because one of my friends was obsessed with it and it was available at our school library. It wasn’t a book that I would normally pick up on my own but I really enjoyed it and it was a reminder that I should leave my comfort zone more haha.
OH the shadow of the wind was SUCH a great book, I LOVED IT! <3
I completely get waht you mean – I also tend to focus on new books, unless when someone recommends me an older book at times. I really want to balance things out a bit better and give love to the older books too 🙂 and YES getting out of your comfort zone is good sometimes, you make AMAZING discoveries 😀
Thank you so much for your sweet comment! <3 <3
You know what, I do talk about the new books a lot as well, but then I partly forget about them until they’re out, and then I’ve been reading books from my tbr and my bookshelves? So I actually don’t feel like I take too much part in that hype. (And I work in a bookstore – can you believe it?) ?
Ohh well that’s quite amazing – to be honest I tend to be drawn to the hype a little more than I should haha, I need to mix things up a little better 🙂 it is amazing that you can focus on the older books like that 🙂
Thank you so much for your sweet comment! <3
I never really thought about it before I read your post. I guess I’m happy I’m able to? Of course!
And great post btw!!? Yours is my one favorite blog and the only one i actively look for in my feed?
Oh wow, thank you so, SO much for your sweet words, this means the WORLD to me, really <3 <3 <" <3
So much truth to this. I have realized as well that I read way too many new releases compared to all the amazing books I want to read and have been released for a very long time. Finding the balance is not easy, especially when there’s a great new release that you MUST read at least once a week. Even worse when your reading speed is not the fastest out there. Definitely a tough life. ? Great post, Marie! <3
It really isn’t easy. I know that I also tend to focus on the hot new releases, because well, that’s what everyone is talking about and I can’t help but being curious haha. and yes, I’m not that speedy kind of reader, if I could squeeze in a couple more books per month, maybeeee…
Yes haha, the tough life of book bloggers indeed ?
Thank you so, so much for your sweet comment! <3 <3
Hello Marie!
I love this discussion post! You are so right that there is a lot of focus in the blogging community about new releases, and I did notice that I don’t even hear much about books that had once been popular last year.
Call me a bit of a laggard, but I am actually pretty hesitant about new releases unless it is an author that I know and love (like Leah on the Offbeat or Wildcard!!) I prefer to sit back and wait until the dust settles and see if people are still talking about the book later on. Most of the books on my TBR are actually quite old. I feel that if a book stands the test of time, after the hype fades away, then it is a book that is worth reading.
Starfish and Six of Crows are definitely on my radar 🙂
Love this post and thank you for sharing <3
I 200% get what you mean – I know that, if sometimes I’m getting a bit carried away by the hype, I also sometimes prefer (and manage) to wait a little while, to see if the book really stands the test of time. That happened with Six of Crows and now, years later, I’m really really glad I read it, because it was still worth all that previous hype haha 🙂
But I love your system, though. It’s so easy to get carried away with tons of books we don’t know, it’s good to focus on the names we do recognize and focus our excitement on these 🙂
Thank you so, so much for your sweet comment, Sophie! <3 <3
It’s about time that I read Six of Crows too haha. It means something when people are still talking about a book or a series years after it was published 🙂
I’ll be waiting to hear your thoughts about it 😀
I definitely feel the same way. Before joining the book community, I hardly paid attention to new releases. I just picked up a book that I felt like reading. Now I kinda do a mixture of both. I pick up both new releases and old releases but I feel like I get more old than new. Like most of the books on my bookshelf are from 2016 and 2017. I hardly have any 2018 releases because I want to catch up but it’s so hard and sometimes it’s hard to resist. But when I joined I basically got all the new releases but now I balance it out. I try to get some new releases but get a lot of old to compensate. Plus I don’t want to miss out on something great just because it came out a few years ago! Thank you for this post! Also my TBR is endless and always will be. But I think that’s a good thing because when I was in middle school there was a point I ran out of things to read and my dad being supportive is like “Let me take you to the bookstore!”
I agree, it’s important to remember that there are so many older releases that are so, so very cool as well and that we shouldn’t forget. I’m trying to make more of an effort to read older releases, well, as much as I can on top of the books I already have and / or need to read haha. 🙂
Thank YOU so much for your sweet comment! <3 <3
Oh, goodness. Even your old books aren’t that old! One thing I don’t like about everyone reading books released this year is I lose sight of a blogger’s individuality. Like, they all start to sound the same. Book blogs that have a theme or a goal that that get to every so often to remind me of how thy are different endears me to that blogger. To try and balance out my reading, I decided for the new year I would have the goal of reading and reviewing one book per week minimum. I would read one book from each category: a book I own that’s been shelved the longest, a book I own that’s the newest shelved, a book for my Reading Fat Women challenge, and one random book for whatever I’m feeling. It’s been working out GREAT!
Hahaha I KNOW. I have so many books on my TBR though, I have much older books hidden somewhere in there, too, don’t worry haha 🙂
This is such a great goal – and a great way to diversify your reading for sure!! I hope it will go well for you! Happy reading!! 😀
Thank you! Are you going to try and set goals for your blog so you’re mixing it up, or was this post more like a question spoken out into the internet?
Oh it was a general question I asked myself, but I know I want to try and do better when it comes to this, too. It will probably take time haha to find a good rhythm, but I’ll see 😀
You always have the best discussion posts 🙂 I think the hype train for upcoming books is both fun and kinda annoying for me. I get so distracted by new and upcoming stuff that I ignore stuff on my shelves that I really want to read *squirrel moments*. I also love your list of back list titles to get to 🙂
Aww thank you so much, that means a lot! <3 <3
I completely agree – I get annoyed at myself for being so distracted by all the new, shiny book releases hahaha. 🙂
Yep I feel like I have so many squirrel moments lol
I do find that I can get so caught up in new releases, that I completely forget about old books on my TBR! And I also can get caught up in one particular new release and NOT EVEN KNOW ABOUT NEW BOOKS! I get frustrated by that happening a ton! I think the industry pushes a select few and we can not even really hear about super important own voices or unique books hitting the market.
YES exactly! Sometimes I feel a bit frustrated, because… I get so blinded up by some new releases, I am certain that I am missing out on some other amazing books, whether they’re older or also new releases, but, because they are not as hyped, well, I’ve never heard of them. That breaks my heart, honestly. I’m trying my best to balance things out, but sometimes it’s hard, with all the hype surrounding us about certain books, too :/
Thank you so, so much for your sweet comment, Elizabeth! <3 <3
I just picked up Dear Martin and am so desperate to read it – although it’s going to sit at the bottom of my (very long) TBR pile for a while me-thinks! Gorgeous post Hun I agree with everything you said 🙂
Grace Louise || http://www.gracelouiseofficial.blogspot.co.uk/
Ohh that’s so great! I hope you’ll get through your TBR quickly so you can read it haha, I would love to know what you think of it 😀
Thank you so much for your sweet comment! 😀 <3
This is the absolute truth. I have felt this too that I am more inclined towards new releases than the older ones and that’s why my TBR is so high. We caught up reading the new books because we see all those floating around the community and it is hard to resist them. But I like to read older books and taking up a few reading challenges really helps with it.
My goal is to read a classic and an Agatha Christie each month (which I am failing off course) so that I can read those books.
And yes from your list, you need to read Starfish!
Yes exactly, we see all of these new books floating around and we can’t help but be curious about them, want them as well, haha 🙂 Challenges are certainly a great way to keep track with old releases, too… I suck at challenges though hahaha 😛
You will be VERY happy to know that I have a copy of Starfish! FINALLY! I’m hoping to get to it soon and I am sooooo impatient 😀
Thank you so much for your sweet comment!! <3 <3
Omg ? You got Starfish! I can’t wait to know your thoughts ? And have you seen the cover??
I AM I LOVE WITH THE COVER. I am already in love with this book haha I can’t wait to start reading it <3
I totally understand how you feel! I think I just lose motivation to read ARCs when it’s been awhile since they came out – they aren’t all new and shiny anymore.
Beat the backlist challenges have really helped me. I’ve also been trying to personally challenge myself to read a few classics (like, Dickens or genre must-reads, etc) a year so I can have a good foundational knowledge to see how a genre or literature in general got to the point it’s currently at. I’m really loving seeing how genre have developed and it makes reading retellings so much more meaningful.
Good luck catching up on all your old books! There are way too many books in the world to properly read all of them.
Oh this is such a great idea – I kind of suck with challenges and everything, but I admire people challenging themselves to read books like these in a year so much. I hope that it’s going well so far and that you found amazing books you loved! 😀
There are way too many books indeed… I’m hoping we will get to the ones we want the most someday haha 🙂
Thank you so much for your sweet comment! <3 <3
I tend to read more older releases. I just love having the opportunity to read other reviews before deciding if I actually want to read the book or not (mostly because I don’t really have the money to buy many new books). Plus there is a bigger chance that more people have read an older release and that means that I can discuss it with them easier and better! 😀 That’s something I adore doing!
Though I do also read new releases, especially from authors that I already love. Those books I always eagerly anticipate and buy as soon as they come out. (Most of the time that is.) I just think I prefer older releases because new releases have a lot of hype to them and that frankly intimidates me. I feel as if I “have” to like them, which is ridiculous and something I’m trying to work on.
Amazing post Marie, as always! <3 🙂
OH that’s such a great point – you’re right that you have more people to chat with, whenever you read an older release, that’s for sure. I also love checking out other people’s reviews and it is easier to find some, whenever the book is a bit older… or unless it’s a very recent book that everyone has somehow already read hahaha 🙂
I completely get what you mean, there is something a bit intimidating about the new books everyone is raving about. There is a bit of pressure to enjoy them, I guess, and it’s better to wait sometimes until the hype dies down 🙂
Thank you so, so much for your sweet comment, Anna! <3
This is so so true! I haven’t been as involved in the whole book blogger world recently, but I know how we can get so worked up over new releases. Yes, promoting new books is part of our ‘jobs’ (the whole paid/unpaid thing is a whole other debate) but I also think we shouldn’t have to feel guilty about reading older books (and older generally means like last year). (or feeling guilty about rereading! You should enjoy your favourites!). I love the book blogging community, don’t get me wrong, but this kind of thing feels very silly. We should unite over our love of reading, not divide over it. Great post (as always)
Yesss that’s so it. It feels like it’s our “duty” to read new releases, as book bloggers, to raise awareness and hype and everything, but we shouldn’t feel guilty if we read “old” books either. What matters is that we enjoy what we read after all and I should really remember that more often 😀
Thank you so much for your sweet comment, Shar! <3
YES. Yes we are hahahah. Seriously though- I find that the shiner and newer (aka, unpublished and barely an actual book) the thing is, the more I “need” it. Which is silly because all the released books were once books I desperately “needed” too. I have been trying really hard lately to balance out the backlist with the new crap- I have been asking people to pick books for me to read so that I kind of feel obligated to read them, because apparently that is the only way I can read books, oops?
Though one thing I have been VERY good to not do is read books as soon as I get them- like if I have a 2019 ARC, I am NOT reading it now, half because it’s ridiculous but also half because I’ll forget what it’s about? (Fine it’s more the second thing hah.) Great topic!!
I am so happy you get what I mean, I have kind of been feeling this very same way, with the “needing” thing and… well, I’m not a fan of that feeling at all ? I guess it’s so easy to get swept away, whenever you’re book blogging, whenever you’re seeing all of these shiny new ARCs and new releases making their way everywhere, it’s only human to want the same things, I guess. I’m trying to focus on the books I really want to read though and trying not to get too swept up by everything. It’s a work in progress for sure haha 🙂
OH that’s such a good system, too! I don’t have ARCs that go that far, but whenever I have a book that releases only a couple months from now, I always try and read it a bit later… otherwise, well, I just read then forget everything about it by the time I need to review it ??
Thank you so, so much, Shannon! <3 <3
Nice post, Marie !
I have no self-control and always read new release tho I should read other books, like sequels for exemple. I STRUGGLE SO HARD to read older books, because I’m just way too distracted by new release !
Aw thank you so much, glad you enjoyed it 🙂
I get it, new releases are SO distracting haha, we need to…. try and forget about them for a little while haha 😛
I am horrible at reading new releases. I buy most of my books on sale or just use the library. So even some of the books on your old books list, I still see as new releases haha.
Oh that’s amazing – I wish I had a library to get my books from 🙂 And well… there are so many “older” gems to read 😀
You don’t have a library near by ?
I don’t have a library at all to get my books from 🙂 I live in France and if we have some libraries here and there, they do not come with the selection of books I want to read, so no library for me. That’s the case for tons of international bloggers, unfortunately… :/
Such a shame, I’m Canadian so I get that to some extent, but mainly people don’t ship to us. But we don’t have library issues.
That’s lucky, at least you can always rely on libraries, that’s good 🙂
Ahhh, yes!! Totally. We book bloggers, unknowingly and unintentionally, give into the hype or give into building a hype. I pick up a 2015 release, mark it read on GR, feel happy about myself and then suddenly there’s this ARC I had requested that got accepted and now eff all the promises I had done to myself about reading only backlist books for a while. I think being a reader and being a book blogger are widely different things which is why we can’t seem to find a balance between the two. Imagine if we didn’t have any blog tours to do or no ARC deadlines (no ARCs at all, in fact) then we would be picking up books simply because we want to read it. Period. No other reason. Maybe we want to read it because everyone is reading or because the person I trust the most in this world liked it. No other reasons or deadlines. Ah well, that would make a great scenario but there’s nothing we would change when it comes to book blogging 😀 I loved this post! Also, The Similars SOUNDS SO GOOD! Thanks for increasing my TBR <3
I love your sentence here, it perfectly describes book bloggers, either giving into the hype or into building it. THIS IS EXACTLY IT! 😀
I feel like my reading life has changed so, so much since I became a book blogger, before there was no such thing as hype, I did not know that ARCs were a thing that existed, I didn’t know about blog tours and everything else. It is INCREDIBLE to be part of such opportunities, to build up hype and discover incredible books though, that’s for sure 😀
Thank you so, so much for your sweet comment, Fanna! 😀 <3 <3
I fell off the reading wagon a few years ago, and have only recently been trying to get back on. So I’m just swamped with alllll the books that have come out within the past three years and it’s going about as well as you would think. Especially since everyone hypes up the new releases so much, and then I find myself wanting to read those while I still have at least 40 older unread books glaring at me disapprovingly ?.
Oh I completely get the struggle, there are just WAY too many books everywhere haha. In the end, you should try to listen to that inner voice and picking up the books you are the most excited about 😀 Easier said than done in the book community, but… trust yourself, you can do this 😀
Thank you so much for your sweet comment! <3
Ugh, yes, this is definitely a problem I have. I think what makes it hard to ignore new releases for backlist titles is that most bloggers – including myself, to be fair – tend to concentrate on new releases A LOT, so there’s a lot of hype centering around new releases. Seeing the same titles pop up on twitter, bookstagram, goodreads and blogs makes me want to read ALL of them haha.
That said, I feel like I’ve learnt to balance it out more evenly, and I’m also doing Beat the Backlist to further push myself to read backlist novels. Also, I’ve gotten into binge-reading series this year, which obviously only works with backlist titles.
Great post! 🙂
Veronika @ The Regal Critiques
Yes yes yes that’s exactly it – as book bloggers, we tend to see and want to be part of the current hype, so obviously we will be attracted to all of the books that are currently talked about everywhere on social media and blogs. We can’t help it, I guess it’s in our blogger’s DNA 😛
That’s so great – I also need and want to balance things out a bit better, becuase there are so many backlist titles that are incredible, I’m sure 😀
Thank you so much for your sweet comment, Veronika! 😀
I think there’s a short period of a few months where a new release is still a new release. After that it gets pushed with the rest of the back log if I haven’t read it yet. Honestly, the window is quite short. I frequently find myself getting overwhelmed with all the books I want/need to read. Sadly, sometimes the gap has been too long and I find I’m no longer interested in a book I was waiting a year for! But I try to keep the mindset that as long as I’m reading and supporting authors, the exact timing doesn’t matter too much.
Oh yes – it’s so short, a book is only new for a couple of weeks and then it feels like it’s been released forever, we forget about it and/or we just see the new releases coming up. It’s a vicious circle 😛
YES exactly, that’s how I’m trying to think of it and how we all should view things, the exact timing does not matter too much, we do what we can and we support the authors at some point 😀
Thank you so much for your sweet comment! <3
This is all so true!!! I’ve read over 60 backlist books this year, but I’ve also read 200 books total so far, so it’s less than 1/3 of the books I read. and I definitely don’t hype backlist as much either. I wish I did more of that and maybe it’s time to start a weekly backlist post day or something, because it’s kind of crazy how we’re obsessed with all the latest and greatest! wonderful post, Marie!
Wow, you have read 200 books already?? what kind of magical powers do you have, and where can I get some? ? It’s fantastic that you get to rea so much 😀
I agree with you – and that weekly backlist post is such a brilliant idea, I love it! We definitely are too focused on new releases at times and it feels so good when we discover an amazing backlist title 😀
Thank you so much for your sweet comment!! <3 <3
ahaha just a bad trigger finger on Netgalley & a strong urge to procrastinate bahahaha
backlists definitely need more love! even four months later really buzzed books can basically disappear.
Well, you are my role model hahaha, that’s so awesome you get to read so much! 😀
I feel the same way, the books released in January are already old news… :/
I used to struggle with this A LOT so I feel you Marie! I don’t know when exactly it happened, but at some point I kind of lost sight of which books are coming out and when? I only know of sequels, or new books by favourite authors. Otherwise I’m pretty much clueless haha. I guess that also happened because I’m not as active in the book blogging community anymore? At least not as much as I’d like. It’s really easy to lose sight of new releases that way too. I’d say don’t pressure yourself too much and just read what you want ❤️
Oh I understand that – I feel like I’m missing out on TONS of things and not focusing so much on what’s going to come whenever I take a little break. Once I’m back all in the community, I know everything released in 2019 and it’s almost scary ?
I think it’s so important, like you said, to try and really focus on reading whatever we want, even if it’s hard sometimes with the community’s pressure, it’s what makes us the happiest after all 😀
This is such a familiar balancing game, haha. I don’t have my spreadsheet with me, but I do plan on looking back at the end of the year and check how many 2018-releases I’ve read compared with older releases. That will definitely give me some insight in how I handle the balance.
Right now, I don’t feel like it’s necessarily tipping one side or the other, but that’s probably because I simply don’t KNOW.
What I do know, is how I’ve read very little of my pre-2018 TBR so far. Only about 35 books of the.. about 150, I think? But that doesn’t mean all other reads were 2018-releases so that doesn’t give a proper view of things either.
[Have to admit, I’m looking forward to 2019 simply so I can read the hell out of my pre-2019 TBR :’) There’s a LOT of new releases on my TBR right now that I really want to get through, but I’m trying to focus more on my pre-2018 TBR because of a challenge my boyfriend set me at the start of the year..]
Let’s just end this with: I hope I’m keeping things balanced, but I’ll only know for sure once I’m able to check my spreadsheet. :’)
You are so, SO very organized with your spreadsheet, I admire you SO much ? I just check my goodreads and… for now Ithink I’m okay at balancing things out, but…. sometimes I’m also reading A LOT of new releases and… finding balance is SO hard ?
There are always so many books we want to read though, it’s so hard to know which ones to prioritize, we want them ALL ???
Thank you so, so much for sharing your thoughts!! <3
HAHA. No I’m not. I opened my spreadsheet for the first time in two months past weekend and I had to add everything I read during that time all in one go – it was awful. Not to mention how I still have to check whether or not I reviewed all my reads on Amazon and stuff like that. Haven’t done any of that yet. I’m not organized – I’m a flailing mess. 😀
Finding balance is definitely hard!
Sometimes I wish we could read a 350-page book in an hour. Simply so we could go “now I’ll read THESE ALL TODAY” and actually finish them all too. :’)
<3
Well… you HAVE a spreadsheet so that’s one step towards being organized, for me? ? you’re doing GREAT in that way? ?
YES oh, how awesome would that be. We need to know how to speed-read and everything. But then… would we REALLY appreciate a book as much if we read it super fast? I wonder. ?
Hahaha. Now I only have to turn the spreadsheet into something that actually works decently instead of getting on my nerves like it does now. ??
Hm. I think we would! And we can always decide to take our time with one too. Just the OPTION to read one more quickly would be nice, really. ?
With time (and a bit of patience I guess?), I’m sure it will work out perfectly 😛
YES, just having that option would be great ?
I was totally planning on working on my spreadsheet yesterday and then ended up.. writing posts.. Awesomesauce. ?
Well… YOU DID SOMETHING so that’s still a win for me? 😀
I think I’m pretty balanced in my reading. This past year I might have swayed a bit more to older books but that’s because I’ve really been focused on cleaning off my To Review Shelf and I wasn’t good at saying NO when I first started blogging so I have a lot of older titles there. I have a few new releases at Netgalley but those are mostly authors I love and can’t wait to read their latest. But I do feel the pressure as a book blogger to read the new releases. I don’t want to miss out on the media buzz that might bring more traffic to my blog.
I think that’s amazing that you found a right balance! It is hard NOT to focus on newest releases though as book bloggers,I agree, because they’re the things bringing more traffic to the blog, too, and… let’s face it, we all want that too. As long as we focus on things and books we’d love, that’s what matters the most 🙂
I don’t find myself too obsessed with new releases but I also read almost exclusively nonfiction. I think it’s cool when I get to read a book that’s not released yet but I don’t pay much attention to upcoming releases unless I get a review request for them.
I love reading old books too.
Oh that’s great that you read a lot of non fiction! I read mostly fiction, ahah 🙂 and yes, you can find some gems in old books, too, agree! 🙂
Thank you for your comment! 🙂
I am SO BEHIND on YA releases, I’m not even trying to keep up with new releases. It helps that I have a really low approval rate on ARC requests for YA. I’m probably about 50/50 on old vs. new releases for romance reads, so I think I strike a fairly good balance there (with some KindleUnlimited ones thrown in for good measure even!)
I feel like ARC requests are very competitive in the YA field, there are just so many book bloggers there? ? I think that 50/50 is a PERFECT balance, you’re doing awesome!
Thank you for your comment! 🙂
Personally, I am more likely to read backlist books than new releases. I think most people read new releases because they’re excited about them, but I think hype plays a part too. Everyone wants to be able to join in the discussion. I know I’ve read a couple of books before just because I was told they were good.
Oh yes, everyone wants to be able to join the discussion and that’s a big part of why they’re actually getting new releases, too, I know that’s happened to me, too ? in the end, what matters the most is that we get to read the books we really want to read 🙂
Thank you so much for your comment! <3