Hi friends! I hope you all are okay ?
It has come to my attention lately that I’m a little slow at getting books. Like, if you compared me to a sloth, you wouldn’t be too far off, at all.
Some people put books on their TBRs almost instantly. Some people buy books quicker than I can turn my computer on. They might be impulsive, they might be passionate, they might be very excited about the books. I’m NOT JUDGING, at all, to each their own. I’m just…. not them, at all. My process, from adding books to my TBR to actually getting to READ them, takes a whole lot of time.
Today, this is what this post is all about. Basically, me being slow. Also, me hoping I’m not the only slow one here. Please tell me I’m notttttttttt.
A million thanks to Chana @ Paper Procrastinators, whose comment on one of my latest blog posts about books I want to read, but don’t want to read, inspired this entire post. Chana & Malka have one of the greatest blogs and I encourage you all to check it out and support it!
? STEP 1: Finding out about new books to read
Before I started book blogging, I found out about new books to read every… wow. I can’t actually remember how I found out about new reads before that time.
Now, I find out about new books every single day, whether they’re unreleased, backlist titles or have just been out into the world.
My main sources to find new books in this first step are, in that order (I think):
- Book blogs & book bloggers
I read a whole damn lot of book blogs, even if I have slowed down a little bit lately, too. I still think book blogs and book bloggers and their recommendations are my number 1 bookish source. When I’m talking about book blogs, I’m thinking about “old fashioned” bloggers, meaning bloggers with their own website, whether it’s on wordpress, blogspot, etc. I’m often finding out about new books to read thanks to book blogs and, on any kind of post, really. Whether it’s a book review, a book recommendations’ post, a book tag or meme, or a monthly wrap-up, bloggers are always talking about books and… my TBR always grows because of them.
- Book twitter
I don’t spend that much time on book twitter lately, for personal and mental health reasons, but I can’t deny that, over the years, book twitter has given me some incredible recommendations through tweets. I think it’s the place where I managed to find out about new releases and upcoming books the most, given that’s where a LOT of book deals are announced. Basically, book twitter gives me ALL the books to read… in a thousand years, when they’ll finally get published.
- Bookstagram, Goodreads, NetGalley, Edelweiss.
These are all together because they’re the least likely to influence me, compared to the first two, but… they still do.
-
- I just recently made a bookstagram account, but I have been following a whole damn lot of them for years and, every now and then, bookstagram can make me curious about a book…. but more often than not, I scroll down and forget about it.
- Goodreads might influence me a little bit with the recommendations it gives, but I maybe watch them every couple of months or so, sometimes, scrolling down book lists and watching recommended reads next to a book I’m currently reading or adding to my TBR.
- NetGalley & Edelweiss sometimes gives me new book recommendations, but I don’t look at these often because, well, international book blogger and denial don’t make me want to click on everything either.
? STEP 2: Actually putting the books on my TBR
Oh boy. From finding out about new, potentially interesting books, to actually putting them on my TBR, there’s an OCEAN.
Also, small side note, here: when I’m talking about putting a book on my TBR, I’m talking about putting it on my goodreads TBR. Not my actual, physical TBR. But we’ll get to that later.
Some people are immediate-TBR-growers, let’s put it like that. They find out about new, potentially interesting books and immediately run to goodreads, or wherever they keep track of their books to read, and just add the books. THAT easily.
Why make things quick and easy when you can make them painfully slow and complicated? This should be the title of this blog post okay.
There are TWO different scenarios for me, when it comes to putting a book on my TBR:
- I do it immediately after finding out about the book. This rarely happens, but it does, I swear it does. If you’re telling me about childhood friends to lovers, if you’re talking to me about texting relationships, if you’re giving me new books by Morgan Matson, Mary H. K. Choi or like, any of my favorite writer of all times, I’ll do it in the NEXT SECOND. Also, more often than not, if it’s this kind of book, it ends up straight on my wishlist for me to get it as soon as I can.
- I do it after a little bit of time…. Will it be a day, will it be a year? I can’t really tell. It depends on the book, really. If I see it a lot and can’t get it out of my head, if I’m starting to get curious, itchy enough to want it on my TBR.
? STEP 3: THINKING about getting the book (a whole damn lot)
Remember when I said I’m making things painfully slow and complicated? Well…. here I am again.
Fair disclaimer here: as an international book blogger, I don’t have many solutions to get books. I’m either buying the book online (or in a bookshop, when I get to travel), or getting way too lucky to receive an ARC of said book.
If I had a library to get my books from, I think this step in my thought process would be… well, shorter, but right now, it’s not, so… ONTO THINKING WE GO.
See, once the book is sitting on my goodreads TBR, waiting for me to actually care about it again.
Because oh, I might forget it. Chances are, I WILL forget about it unless my brain is constantly simulated. So… I need to THINK about the book a whole damn lot to remember it.
For that to happen, I will:
- Read more book reviews, from trusted friends and from strangers, on book blogs and goodreads mostly,
- Read the book’s synopsis more than once, every now and then, to recall why it’s sitting there on my TBR…. (and why the hell did I add it anyway??)
- STARE at its book cover lovingly every now and then and imagine it on my shelves, because why not,
- Just leave the book the heck alone for a little while and see if my brain is still thinking about it, in a little while. Because chances are, if I still am, it’s a SIGN and I should probably read it.
To summarise, I’m a puppy with a short attention span, sometimes.
? STEP 4: Actually getting the book (finally!)
After all of this thinking, pondering and forgetting about the books… when I just can’t stop thinking about a book and keep on mentioning it to my sister in a very gentle way so that she knows she will kill me soon if I don’t shut it….
I’m actually getting the book, yay!
- This happens when I can afford it, obviously and when I am allowing myself to get new books, too.
- This happens when I get to visit a bookshop, every now and then.
In case you were worried about me being a very complicated and very very slow robot, well…. let me reassure you, I am not. I still have some space for spontaneity in my TBR additions, I promise.
Which is why my current Goodreads TBR is at 500+ books while I’m probably not interested in half of them anymore.
Which is why, when I happen to get the chance to visit an actual bookshop with books I want, I might get books I didn’t plan on getting right away, but just couldn’t resist.
What about once you got the book? Do you read it right away?
As a matter of fact… almost, yes. I kind of like having a smaller physical (and digital) TBR of books I’ve bought and have to read, so… the book will most likely be read in the next couple of months.
? Is it any different for ARCs?
Ahhh. ARCs, Advance Reading Copies, the eternal temptation of book bloggers. For so many people, being able to get ARCs with a simple click on platforms like NetGalley and Edelweiss makes them skip all the steps and make impulsive choices.
I was that person, sometimes, yes, but I’m not anymore.
Most of it all, because being an international book bloggers makes the simple clicking and getting approved process kind of really not that much of a given. I got denied two of my most anticipated reads just yesterday, despite knowing I want to read these books so deeply I want to cry a little bit, but well.
Any request I make, through NetGalley, Edelweiss or when sending an email, is a nerve-wracking experience and something I think of deeply and pour my heart and insides out, too. So I know, if I get lucky, it’s a book I really really want and am almost certain I’ll love.
Related blog post: My story with ARCs as an international book blogger
And now, in case you’re curious….
? Some books I skipped ALL of these previous steps for…
Meaning, I jumped to the wishlist-adding, or when I could get it right away, to the let’s order this book right this second now and SCREAM okay.
? Some books I’m still stuck on the 3rd step for…
Meaning, I’m still forever thinking about these books, but not quite getting them just yet.
Do you share a similar process when it comes to adding books to your TBR? Or are you more likely to add books instantly to your TBR?
Okay so… how long is your physical (and digital) TBR right now? Let me know in comments!
Twitter ☂️ Bookstagram ☂️Goodreads ☂️ Bloglovin ‘☂️ Support the blog
Oh my God, Marie!!! I can’t believe you actually have a process that involves several steps for this!!! I know that people think I am pretty impulsive in my buys, but I really only buy books I can not resist at all! I don’t really have an inbetween with my TBR and actual buying. Only if I am broke and know that I can’t afford a buying spree, I will put stuff on my TBR (or if they aren’t released yet … but then I forget about them pretty quickly). But other than that, I actually read a lot of backlisted books and continually work on my “at home” TBR pile. That’s probably also why I rarely post about new books (unless I mirarculously find them in a store and can’t resist), but a lot about books that were released 5-10 years ago.
I’m so terrible, I know ? I didn’t really think about my thought process until I got this comment and… well, it made me think of everything and this long, very long post ?
I think it’s so great that you’re still focusing on backlist titles. I’m getting (a little too) caught up in new releases and hype and everything and, while I am loving what I read and finding so many incredible books, I really need, when I buy books, to focus on the backlist titles I want, too!
Thank you so much Kat <3
It’s really interesting to read, especially to see it put into words like that, because maybe I have a long process too, but I never thought about it that way haha
Yeah, backlisted titles are still my babies! Since I read a lot more new books this year so far, I have seen that they spark more interest in the readers though. But sometimes, when it’s a well-loved title, it also sparks a lot of interaction, even if it’s older. There is no real formula to reviewing, I guess. So, I will just continue with whatever books I have at hand.
Yeah it’s hard to pinpoint what exactly will make people come to read your reviews, as well, sometimes older titles work just as well as new books 🙂 as long as you review books you’re happy about reviewing, that’s all good 🙂
Tbh I’m more of the impulsive reader ahha. ‘Oh I heard someone say this was good, lets start it right now’, without even remembering who liked, why or what the book is about haha!
I loved reading this though!
(www.evelynreads.com)
Ahah well I hope you’re finding amazing reads this way! 😀
This sounds like me! It takes me forever to buy books. I usually have to wait for Christmas when people give me gift cards. There are books on my TBR list that I put there in 2015. Once I have a book, it usually takes me 6+ months to get around to reading it. I am much faster with ARCs.
OH GOOD I’m so glad I’m not alone in my struggles ? I still have books from AGES ago waiting for me on my TBR and… I’m still undecided about getting them ?
Great post! If book catches my attention, I keep a note of them or simple add author’s name on wish list in my diary. If I’m so desperate to get the book I add them in Amazon wish lists and cart which I will surely buy sooner or later. I don’t add books to TBR until I actually have it in my hand to read, either e-copy or physical book. That’s why my TBR number hasn’t skyrocketed yet. It’s around 100 or 130 right now, I have to check!
Ahh that’s really great to hear! My physical TBR is never higher than, maybe 12 books, but my digital TBR is out of controoooooooooool ??
I’m kinda the same 😀 I always forget to add books to my Goodreads TBR and then when I have vouchers to spend on books I never know what book to buy *facepalm*
Oh god I’m glad I’m not the only one, this happens to me way too often ?? then I’m reminded of the book when I stumble upon it on a blog and I’m like “OH I wanted this book so badly” ???
This was such an interesting post to read! Sometimes I wish I was a little more selective in the books I add to my TBR, since I’ll often add things impulsively and then forget what originally interested me about it. And I agree that the more often I see a book – on people’s blogs, on social media – the more likely I am to add it to my TBR, simply because it’s at the top of my mind more often. And I’m impressed that you actually read the books you buy almost immediately!
Ohh thank you Margaret, I’m so happy you enjoyed this post 🙂
I used to add books a little more impulsively to my TBR before, so… my goodreads is still a bit of a mess, but we’re making progress ahah 🙂
Thank you so much!! 🙂
aren’t we all just puppies with short attention spans sometimes? ? my TBR-to-shelves process is actually kind of similar to yours, except for the fact that my actual TBR on Goodreads is just a mess, lol. i tend to find new books from book blogs i follow or my friends on Goodreads, and i mostly add them to my TBR without a lot of thought beforehand. XD also, i do mostly get books from the library, so it’s hard for me to be able to read books right away.
my TBR on Goodreads is 290 books haha, but I’m sure that a bunch of them are just books i added on impulse ? i loved reading your process through this post, hope you’re doing well! <3 xx
Oh yes, we all are ?
It’s so amazing that you can get books from your library though! I think I’d get way more books and be way more impulsive if I could get them from a library ?
Thank you so, so much! <3 I hope you're doing okay, sending you love <3
I have a pretty similar process as well, I either add the book immediately or it gets postponed indefinitely.
I get most of my books online since there aren’t any good bookshops or libraries where I live either, so I mostly add the ones I’ve heard most about directly into my Amazon Cart and then buy it as soon as I can!
Ahh yay! I’m glad you are the same way! 🙂
Thank you so, so much!! 🙂
I really enjoyed reading this Marie! It always fascinates me how people choose what they’re going to read. I always wonder if people have systems (like I do)! This was fun.
My process is similar with some variations obviously! For me, I get a lot of my book recommendations not only from bloggers (I trust your opinion on books ALL THE TIME, btw!) but I have a folder in my email called “Goodreads” it dates back all the way to 2016 (although I’m almost done going through all 2016 books woot woot!) and that houses all the Goodreads emails I get. I’ve started deleting emails from 2020 because it’s gotten a little out of hand haha!
From there I go through the book recommendations and I see if the library has the book… if it doesn’t I don’t usually read it. It has to look SUPER appealing for me to want to buy it. Then if it’s a series I have to make sure the library has all the books, nothing like getting to book 3 and they don’t have it… BEEN there ?
Then I have a an actually physical notebook where I write the book in… I usually write in about 20 books at a time, and I work with that list. I continue to add to it every few months once I get to the end, deleting Goodreads’ emails as I go. It’s very therapeutic to 1) delete the emails and 2) cross off I read the book! 😀 Obviously I go off course sometimes too! ha! 🙂
Meghan you made my entire week ?? I’m just so happy and honored that you trust my opinion on books ahh, thank you ??
Okay, so I am SO impressed by your dedication at keeping all of these emails and getting book recommendations from there! That’s so smart, I never read attentively the goodreads emails I get, but…. now I might hahaha.
That’s such a great idea! I love the idea of having a notebook and LOVE crossing things off lists ahah, i’ll have to try that out 🙂
Thank you so, so much for sharing your process!
Wow- I feel honoured to have, not only made your day, but your week, wow! ❤️☺️
Oh haha, thank you! Years ago when I first started book blogging, it was the best way for me to get recommendations, now I get them from everywhere haha. But these lists provide, I don’t know, a sense of comfort to know I’ll always have books to read ?
OH trust me crossing it off is so exhilarating… I sound lame, but I love it! Plus having the paper list is just that much more manageable!
Oh you’re welcome! I love telling people (who will listen) my process! 😀
You really really did, thank you <3 <3
I get that! I LOVE crossing things on my list ahah, I should do that more for blogging, too 🙂
You are SO welcome! ❤️I’m very glad I could shed some happiness amongst all this gloom!
Right?! Such a beautiful feeling! I totally encourage it! 😀
Ahh, I feel so called out by this entire post because this is completely me. I will literally read the synopsis a dozen times and see it on so many blogs before I decide to add it to my TBR. Probably 90% of my TBR additions are now from seeing it constantly positively promoted on blogs or by BookTubers I enjoy watching. (I don’t really rely on Twitter, Bookstagram, or ARC requests. The other 10% is divided between authors I automatically will read and random books I find.) The only difference is I rarely read my books as soon as I get them. I tend to “collect” the books and find new, shiny ones at libraries to read instead…So my physical TBR is insanely long. I’ve only recently started using Goodreads as a TBR list, but most of those are either not released or new releases, neither of which I really get a lot of chance to read, so I just want it there so I don’t forget the book exists.
OH I’m just so happy to find someone like me ? I tend to take SO much time before deciding to get a book, I don’t know how to impulsive buy, unless it’s a favorite author or favorite trope or something ahah.
Wow. I don’t know how you handle a massive TBR, though, this would give me so much anxiety ahah 🙂
Thank you so, so much for sharing your thoughts! 🙂
To be fair, being at college for 4 years and not actually *seeing* my physical TBR was a lot of help. Now that I’m home for good, it is a lot more intimidating. And I am definitely working on it for the sake of my sanity. haha
I used to love going to thrift shops or bookstores and impulsively buying books. I found so many goods ones that way! But I started getting so many books and not reading them that I had to stop. Now when I get the chance, I think impulsive library check-outs tend to be better…and cheaper…
Ohhh yes I can imagine, it doesn’t seem that daunting when you’re far away from it and don’t stare at it every day ?
I follow this process, too!
I just never get past the “thinking about buying it” stage, I don’t know how I manage to refuse to buy so many books that I want!
– Emma 🙂
Ahhh yes! I’m so glad I’m not the only one! 🙂
Oh no really? I hope you can cut yourself some slack and get! these! books! You deserve them! 🙂
Thank you!
I will put in an order to pick them up from my store as soon as I can 🙂
Oh, dear god, this is the comment of shame. I wish I was as thoughtful and disciplined as you when it comes to getting new books, but alas, I am a sucker for pretty covers and will buy them and that’s it. I’m such an impulsive book buyer and my wallet is crying and screaming at me to stop but my heart and mind are set on getting more books. That is why I lost my tbr out of sight, it’s just too huge and I don’t even want to get about my digital tbr. Woah, I’m gonna stop now and work on that mountainous tbr of shame 😀
happy reading 🙂
OH NO don’t be ashamed? I WISH I were a little more impulsive sometimes instead of taking FOREVER to decide! And at least… well, you can never run out of books to read! 🙂
I found this really interesting to read, thanks for sharing 🙂 aw man that sucks about libraries, I don’t know what I’d do without a library and I’m always complaining that any books I request take at least a month haha. I tend to only buy new releases or things I really want to read desperately that I don’t want to wait for (i.e. request at library), and of course when I get books from publishers it’s absolutely awesome because both of those steps can be skipped.
Ahh so happy you enjoyed it, thank you so much Cas! 🙂 I’d LOVE to have a great library, I’d spend FOREVER there ahah 🙂
sloths are adorable, so we will allow the comparison! this post was so interesting to read!! having my tbr constantly loaded with books from bookblogger recommendations is a MOOD!!! like im always drowning in my tbr, but the rec posts just make every book sound FANTASTIC
it’s so great to hear about your process for choosing which books to read and buy. it really is a big decision and requires a lot of thought. i love the way you detailed it out, super informative ❤️
I just love sloths so much. They feel so misunderstood and I’m such a huge fan okay this had to be said ?
RIGHT? All the bloggers’ recommendations are! incredible! and make me want to get all the books!!! <3
Thank you so, so, so much!! <3
“Why make things quick and easy when you can make them painfully slow and complicated?” ⬅️ If that isn’t the unfortunate motto of my life hahaha ?.
I loved reading how much consideration you take into your book selection process, Marie! Book blogs are my number one source for book recs too, and I’m also super slow in getting the stories to my TBR and shelf. I think we’re right to take our time with it because there’s the money and time commitment tied with every book we add ?.
I like keeping my physical and digital TBR to a minimum too! And I actually don’t really add books to my Goodreads TBR at all anymore! I couldn’t take the nagging guilt that I should be reading if they were any bigger haha ?.
Awesome post as usual ?! (It’s super neat how the comment inspired this whole thing!)
Oh GOOD I’m so glad you can relate to my sloth-way of living ??
Exactly! There’s time and commitment and there are just so many books, I just want to be sure that I will enjoy what I’m buying. YET sometimes I wish I were a bit more impulsive, because…. I’m frustrated by myself sometimes ?
Thank you so, so much Belle, I’m so happy you enjoyed this 😀
I generally don’t buy a lot of books; I tend to get it from the library first and if I really love it, then I’ll add it to my collection! I have a bad habit of buying books and then not reading them right away! But adding stuff to my TBR – that usually happens pretty quickly, since I can always delete it later.
Ahh that’s good, at least you can give the book a first try through the library, that’s awesome!! 🙂
I get that. I just constantly forget (okay. I am too lazy) to check and clean my goodreads TBR a bit! 🙂
I loved reading this post Marie! Its super fun to see your process for book buying and discovering books! We definitely have a lot of similar views on it, excepting I’m DEFINITELY an “immediate-TBR-grower” ??
Ahh I’m so happy you liked this post, thank you so much! <3 <3
Love this. I am much more like you in the buying process. If I have too long of a list it starts to really stress me out, so unless I get the immediate Must. Read. Now. feels then I generally don’t put it in my notes app, where my list lives. I also don’t like to have a big pile of books in my room waiting to be read – it makes me feel greedy. I also don’t have a ton of space where I live atm so I have to be a bit careful about what I buy!
I’m so glad you’re a bit like me! I don’t like to have a too big book pile, I feel… I don’t know, anxious about it a little bit haha 🙂
I add books to my Goodreads TBR ALL THE DAMN TIME, but then mostly forget about them for basically forever. Which is even better when I end up in a bookstore, and I’m like “look at all the shiny books!!!” only to realize, when I get home, that none of them were books I had on my TBR previously, so here’s just a new stack, and the Goodreads TBR is just never going to go away.
Although, I did recently put together a list of the top 20 books I’m dying to read right now for my friends for my birthday, so hopefully that’ll mean I’ll actually pay attention to them? Who the heck knows.
OH yes this happens to me too sometimes ? I find out about these lovely shiny books and… just forget the books that I had on my TBR already ?
AH this is a great idea! That’s what my wishlist is for, really, so I KNOW I won’t forget about prioritizing these books. Hopefully it works ?
Thank you so much for your comment! <3
the process of staring at the book cover imagining it on my shelves is one i’m incredibly guilty of, hahah. i also tend to think *a lot* before buying a book, especially because i regret some of the more impulsive buying i did. i have a couple of titles in my shelves that i owe FULL ON HARDCOVERS FOR and i literally have no idea why, because i hadn’t even heard that many good things about them and now i don’t know what to do with them, lol. i can’t exactly donate them, because they’re in english, and so they just sit on my shelves reminding me to always do some research before buying anything, especially hardcover books!
i hardly ever buy books spontaneously now, but i recently did with call it what you want by brigid kemmerer (ok it wasn’t totally spontaneous, because i already wanted to read other books by this author) and i was SHOCKED by how much i loved it. so i think even some unplanned things can have a positive outcome, hahah.
Oh no! I get that though, I used to be a bit more impulsive with my books and now, there are a couple books I feel sad about having, because… they weren’t favorites and I can’t really give them away either for the same reasons. It’s frustrating!
I’m glad your spontaneous buy ended up being a good one, yay! I REALLY need to read some things by this author 🙂
Thank you so much, Lais! 🙂
Haha this post is a mood!! Firstly, this — “wow. I can’t actually remember how I found out about new reads before that time.” Yep I have no idea what I did before book blogging or watching BookTube.
I think I can be spontaneous on occasion and like you suggested I am more spontaneous if I’m getting an audiobook or ebook from the library as I don’t have to give or promise anything for it.
But when I am adding books to my goodreads list sometimes I am thinking about it for days like do I want this book on my list or not. Then when I’m placing an order online for some books, it is lots of in-depth thinking and staring at the screen before I can dedicate myself to buying this book!! I’m ashamed to admit that buzzwords and on occasion covers can have a massive impact on this, I should probably read more reviews first!!
Great post *sloth half five* !! <3
OH yes I get that. I’d be way more spontaneous if libraries were an option here, that’s for sure! 🙂
I’m happy you can relate to this post! It takes me… AGES before deciding which books I want to get, haha 🙂
Oh my gosh! I’m can’t believe one of my comments inspired this post! It’s funny because even though I talked a lot about how picky I am about adding books to my Goodreads TBR in that post, I apparently still have more to say on the matter!
Books gets added to my Goodreads TBR for several reasons. Either I keep seeing the book or get recommended the book and I figure I’ll give it a try, so it gets added to my TBR. The reason this gets added so easily is because I tend to get those books from the library, so it’s no big deal for me to add them to my Goodreads TBR to remember to request them, especially if they’re new releases and my library doesn’t have a copy for me to request yet. A lot of times once I get these books out from the library I read a chapter or two, and then just remove the book from my Goodreads TBR since I don’t plan on finishing it, but also don’t consider a chapter or two to be a DNF. The hard part with these books is getting on to my TBR in the first place since I’m so picky about synopses. Once they’re on, however, they have a 50/50 chance that I’ll actually end up reading them, which aren’t terrible odds.
The fastest way a book gets added is if it’s a new release I’m anticipating from a new favorite author or a book with a synopsis I love, in which case it gets added immediately, and its presence on my TBR reminds me to go buy it when it gets released.
The last reason a book might be on my Goodreads TBR is if I already own it, or received an e-arc and need it on a shelf so I can label it as a book I own. However there are quite a few books that I have on my physical TBR that aren’t on my Goodreads TBR and vice versa. Because if there’s a book that I want to read eventually, but not in the next year or so, and I didn’t get it as an ARC or have any other reason to label it on Goodreads, I pretend I don’t see it on my physical shelf and therefore don’t add it to Goodreads. And of course because my Goodreads TBR is made up at least 50% from upcoming releases, it’s usually a slightly larger than my physical TBR, although it makes me anxious to have either of them too large.
At the current moment I have 27 physical books on my TBR, and 40 on my Goodreads TBR. However, I just ordered a whole bunch of books now that my library is closed, so both of my TBRs will probably grow in the next few weeks!
Can you believe how much one single comment made me want to rant a whole lot ? thank YOU for the inspiration, really!! <3
I so admire your dedication to removing books from your TBR, I am, like, SO terrible at removing books there, I keep on forgetting to do that ahah 🙂
I tend to label a whole lot more books than you on goodreads, but only because I know if I don't, I might never remember them at all ?
I’d say I’m more of an impulsive reader that also goes by what I know I like or if it’s by a favourite author. When it comes to adding books to my tbr I am guilty of immediately adding with the intention of using tbr’s as a reminder, but a lot of the cases I forget why I added them in the first place haha. It was really interesting reading into the system you have. It’s so methodical!
YES! I so get that. I sometimes add books to my TBR then… wonder why the hell they’re there ahahah 🙂
Thank you so much Lois!! 🙂
Ah, I love this post, Marie ?? I have a specific “from the TBR to the shelf” process, so it’s nice to see that someone else does too! For me, it takes a while to add a book to my TBR. It usually has to be in my preferred genre, and at least two or three bloggers/booktubers/people in the book community must have to recommend it. A book gets added to my TBR quicker if it’s recommended by people I trust. From there, the book immediately goes to my shelf—but only because I read 95% e-books, and virtual books are WAY easier to acquire than physical ones!
Ahhh that’s good to hear! I’m so glad I’m not alone 🙂
Oh I get that, if you read a lot of ebooks it’s so much easier to get them, too. Though… sometimes it’s SO frustrating because they can be just AS expensive as actual books and ughhh. :/
I love this! <3
Ahh thank you! 🙂
I loved reading about your steps to adding books ? I definitely ponder a lot about the books as well and will read a lot of reviews if I’m not sure about actually getting them. I’m also more likely to add a book to my TBR if I keep hearing about it a lot and it crosses my mind more often – that kind of happened with Red, White, and Royal Blue as it was everywhere ? I’m currently reading it and it’s amazing so far – so I guess the hype has worked out well with this one ?
Oh thank you so much Caro! <3 <3 I'm so happy you enjoyed this post and I'm glad that you ponder a lot as well, i feel less alone ahah 🙂
This was so interesting to read!! I usually don’t get many books often either, but I’m actually simpler choosing what to read. I follow my intuition (and, sometimes, the hype hahaha) and cross my fingers that I’ll like it. When I really have to be careful choosing a book (like, for my birthday) I do go through the same path as you, tho ??
I’m glad you do that too sometimes ahah. It’s terrible when I am choosing books to order, I am, the sloweeeeeeeeeeeeeest ever??
This post is perfect! 😀 I’m a very odd bookworm because I don’t buy books that I haven’t read yet? It’s extremely rare, and usually for a special occasion like my NYC trip. But my actual TBR is extensive, of course! Quarantine has warped my brain bc I have a library TBR, bookshelf TBR, and now an e-book TBR! ?
Ahhh I’m happy you liked this post, thank you! 🙂
And I think it’s so great that you can do that. If I had a library, I’d take most of my books from here and buy my favorites afterwards for sure! 🙂
This was such an interesting read, and I love that you have such a detailed process! My Goodreads TBR is a Mess full of books I forgot about and am no longer interested in reading (tastes change). I should clean it up honestly. Over the last year or so, I have been a lot more critical about my TBR adds because I had gotten so out of control with requesting eARCs and that impulsivity bled into my TBR & book buying habits. 2018 was a MESS!
A plus of reading so much is that I am better at picking books I am more likely to enjoy. But because I have the memory of a goldfish, I have to add it right away! So many times I have discovered a book when it was first announced, added it on goodreads, and then like a year later been like “OMG” when the cover reveal happens only to find it already on my tbr.
In terms of buying, I actually have started only buying books if they are already on my TBR or I read the ARC already. My owned tbr is a monster of embarrassment, so anything I can do to not feed that monster the better.
Oh yes, I should clean up my goodreads TBR as well! If I am more careful now and have been in the latest months about adding books, my shelves are still filled with books I spontaneously added years ago and can’t even recall WHY ?
AH yes that’s so great! One of the perks of getting to read so much for sure is getting to know what we love almost instantly. I love that so much! 😀
Thank you so, so much for sharing your thoughts on the topic <3