Rebecca

The TBR Book Tag

I was tagged by the lovely Charlotte at Bewitching Books, Ravenous Reads to talk about my TBR {To Be Read}. As I told Charlotte, this is a fun – but daunting! – series of questions to consider. I’ve actually been sitting on the draft for a bit, because this feels like a good ending-of-the-year type post, as I’m looking ahead and making plans for 2025. {I use “plans” very loosely … but I’m feeling optimistic!}

How do you keep track of your TBR pile?
Pile is definitely the operative word, ha. I do keep track of “want to read” books on my goodreads account but not every book is listed there. Many of the books on my bookshelves I don’t add to goodreads, unless it’s a BOTM pick or other special edition – or if it’s a book I tagged to remember/come back to, and have since added a copy to my collection.
My goodreads TBR is mostly for keeping track of upcoming releases or things I may want to go back and snag from the library, or … things randomly added? But it is in no way a comprehensive listing. Goodreads is also what I’ll use to generate these answers, unless I remember something else.

Is your TBR mostly print or e-books?
I’d say mostly print. I have a habit of reading e-books in spells, and there are some that are just easier to read as an e-book than in print form {I’m looking at you, Crescent City tomes}. But as a general rule, my TBR is print.
My Paperwhite has definitely made e-reading easier and more fun though, and that’s being reflected in my reading – especially library loans through Libby.

How do you determine which book from your TBR to read next?
Whim!
I have tried to make plans in the past, but I tend to get distracted by library holds, or shiny covers, or falling down a rabbit hole. Very much a “mood reader,” which means I bounce all over that TBR.

A book that’s been on your TBR the longest
According to goodreads, The Rediscovered Writings of Rose Wilder Lane: Literary Journalist has been on my TBR since February 2010.

A book that you recently added to your TBR
Ida, in Love and in Trouble by Veronica Chambers

A book on your TBR you strictly bought because of the beautiful cover
I specifically purchased the UK edition of Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik, because it was worlds prettier than the US version. {I also snagged the UK paperback of Uprooted, because it’s gorgeous}.

A book on your TBR you never actually plan on reading
This is hard … I “tidy” my goodreads shelf periodically – removing books that have lost their appeal or I’ve learned more about since originally adding … If I had to pick one that’s there now, I’d go with Bringing Columbia Home by Michael D. Leinbach

An unpublished book on your TBR that you’re excited for
There are a lot of upcoming releases I’m excited for, but for now let’s go with Austen at Sea by Natalie Jenner

A book on your TBR that basically everyone has read except you
There’s several, but I’m going to go with Beach Read by Emily Henry.

A book on your TBR that everyone recommends
I’m going to go with The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood, although this is another one with multiple options.

A book on your TBR that you’re just dying to read
Oh man, there are so many! But let’s pick The Rushworth Family Plot by Claudia Gray since I wait every summer for the newest installment in the series.

The number of books on your Goodreads shelf
At this moment? 942. When I started answering these questions, it was 990, so I did a little cleaning up along the way {and actually added some since I started drafting as well}.

I am now super curious how everyone manages their TBR, so if you’re reading this: Consider yourself tagged. You can answer in the comments or make a post {let me know if you do!}, because curious cat wants to know. The questions are included below, for ease of answering/copying:

  • How do you keep track of your TBR pile?
  • Is your TBR mostly print or e-books?
  • How do you determine which book from your TBR to read next?
  • A book that’s been on your TBR the longest
  • A book that you recently added to your TBR
  • A book on your TBR you strictly bought because of the beautiful cover
  • A book on your TBR you never actually plan on reading
  • An unpublished book on your TBR that you’re excited for
  • A book on your TBR that basically everyone has read except you
  • A book on your TBR that everyone recommends
  • A book on your TBR that you’re just dying to read
  • The number of books on your Goodreads shelf

All of this list-examining and question-answering has gotten me excited about year-end reviews and data crunching and seeing 2024’s Big Picture – for both my reading and this blog! And, if you want a teaser of sorts, I’m pondering a few new things to add to the blog next year … we shall see what I decide on.

**Disclaimer: As a Bookshop.org affiliate I will earn a small commission on any purchase.**

12 comments

    • It was so hard to come up with an answer for that question!
      I am a space nut generally, and I remember how profoundly the incident touched me when it happened. I added it to my TBR after seeing a news story about the writing of it around release time, and it just keeps slipping through the cracks when selecting my next read.
      Maybe I’ll try and catch up on nonfiction in 2025 – I realized I’ve got a lot of really intriguing titles tagged …

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        • Grad school will definitely mess with your reading! I don’t miss those days, lol …
          I’ve actually read more nonfic this year than in many years, but it’s definitely much, much more fiction 😉 Rediscovering all the nonfiction that has caught my eye in the past was a good prod to keep slipping these in the mix.

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  2. Well that is a very comprehensive list and your answers are well thought out! I’m afraid my reading habits are too haphazard for a list like that, lol. I read some amazing books this year and am excited to dive into my TBR piles in ’25. I’m usually good for three books a month but this year, if I can get one more in, I will be at 57! So I’ve decided to set a goal for 60 books next year, alternating between what is on my bookshelves and what is on my Kindle. That won’t clean either off, but will make quite a dent, lol. Happy reading!

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    • Hey, you’re making great reading progress this year! 😀 I think 60 would be a good goal for 2025.
      And answering these questions helped me remember/reevaluate a lot of things on my TBR, which tends to get lost in the blur of whim-mood reading, hehe … We’ll see how this fresh awareness plays out in the reads to come 😉

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    • I love talking about reading habits and quirks 🙂 And I go in spells with the e-reading, but it’s definitely been picking up more this year – it’s much easier on my eyes at night. But I do dearly love those physical books, especially on my shelves 🙂

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  4. Ooh I really enjoyed reading your answers and I’m glad doing this has left you looking forward to all the end of year posts. I really must get on with mine 😅 I’ve mostly done my one about anticipated releases but majorly need to sort out the others. I’m also intrigued about your blogging plans for next year.

    I do agree that chunky books are easier to read on Kindle. Although I’ll also admit that I thought my progress was slow with one in the past then realised, after checking out a print copy in store, that it was because the font was pretty small but I couldn’t tell that on a Kindle 😂

    I’m glad you were able to get hold of UK editions of those Naomi Novik books. It’s so frustrating when you prefer a different edition and can’t get hold of it.

    I haven’t read anything by Emily Henry yet 🙈 so you’re not alone with Beach Read. Hopefully it’ll be worth the wait for both of us. I also majorly need to check out that Claudia Gray series sometime. I hope the next Installment is another hit for you.

    I’m impressed with how you managed to clear some of your TBR whilst doing this tag too. Well done. 48 books is quite a clear out.

    I hope you have a wonderful December and I’ll watch out for your end of year posts.

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    • That makes two of us intrigued about my blogging plans for next year 😂 I’ve got a couple ideas bouncing around, but not sure if they’re all sustainable for long-term or etc … Thankfully I’ve still got some time to plot 😉

      This is true – I was reading a giant on the Kindle and was like “wow, how am I only 6% through this thing?” Then I saw the physical come through the library: somehow I had missed it was a giant, LOL! Good times …

      I’ve read Emily Henry’s most recent few, but need to go back and play catch up. I think my favorite so far is the 2024 release Funny Story. (The library portrayal was just perfectly spot-on). So hopefully Beach Read (and People We Meet on Vacation) are both good reads.

      You have a wonderful December as well, and may we both have success with wrapping our year! ❤

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      • Well hopefully they’ll work out for you 🤞 and you’re really adding to the intrigue 😂 good luck with everything.

        I’m glad it’s not just me that’s done that 😂🙈

        Ooh I’m not sure if Funny Story is on my TBR 🤔 I’ll have to check but it should be. I love a book with a library in it. And I’ll keep my fingers crossed that theyre good.

        Thank you 🥰

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