Today’s Down the TBR Hole is the final one of 2024. My first post of 2023 started with 899 books on my want-to-read shelf on Goodreads. Before writing this final post, I’m at 780 books. So I’ve definitely put a dent into this list. Hopefully I can decrease it even more next year. I’m nearing the end of my first round, so next year I’ll probably start over and see where I stand with some of these books.
Down the TBR Hole was originally created over at Lost in a Story. This meme is now being hosted by Jody from I’m Into Books. It looked like a fun and productive way to finally make a dent in that Goodreads TBR. I went through my want-to-read shelf a little while ago but I think I was still to kind on a lot of books. Let’s see what I’ll make of it this time around. I decided to go with 10 books at a time so lets get started!
It works like this:
- Go to your goodreads to-read shelf.
- Order on ascending date added.
- Take the first 5 (or 10 or 15 or 20, if you’re feeling adventurous) books
- Read the synopses of the books
- Decide: keep it or should it go?
- Keep track of where you left off so you can pick up there next week!
Current “to-read” shelf: 780 (my last post ended at 780. So nothing has changed since the last time.)
The Death Club – Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti
So these authors have written quite a few books and seeing how I’ve loved what I’ve read of Zodiac Academy, I’ve been wanting to read other things. The Death Club is the start of a new series, but I believe that it’s in the same world as another series I haven’t read. So for now, I think I’ll remove this book until I’m caught up.
Remove
The Kiss Curse – Erin Stirling
So here’s another book I’ve already read, but Goodreads doesn’t notice this if you mark a different edition as read. I have to say I enjoyed The Kiss Curse just a bit more than The Ex Hex. If you’re looking for a fast and fun witchy read for spooky season, I do recommend these.
Remove
Let’s Get Quizzical – Kelly Ohlert
Besides the fact that I love second chance romances, Let’s Get Quizzical drew my attention because our main characters go on a trivia game show. That sounds like such a fun concept. I hope we get some of the trivia scenes in this story. I actually have an eARC of this that I should’ve already read, haha. So it’s on my 2024 TBR.
Keep
Thank You For Listening – Julia Whelan
Another case of I’ve already read this book, but Goodreads sees a different edition. This was a fast and fun read (even if one of the chapters was over 100 pages long…) and I thought it was cute. My only comments on it were that I didn’t love how romance was talked about at times. It’s kind of weird a romance book is looking down at romance?
Remove
Don’t Overthink This – Kelly Piazza
Don’t Overthink This released in 2022 and I have to say I haven’t heard many people talk about, but this book sounds really good. The reviews I see are also pretty positive. This is a story about a recovering drug addict uses his best friend’s wedding as a way to gain his first love’s trust. I have a feeling this is going to be a very emotional story.
Keep
A Lady for a Duke – Alexis Hall
So I have quite a few books by Alexis Hall on my TBR that I really need to get to. A Lady for a Duke is a queer historical romance. It sounds amazing and one I really need to pick up soon.
Keep
Second to the Right – T.S. Kinley
For the first time this post, I don’t remember a book. Second to the Right seems to be a why choose Peter Pan retelling. The few reviews I read weren’t that positive and I don’t own the book, so I’m going to take this off of my shelf.
Remove
A Forgery of Roses – Jessica S. Olson
A Forgery of Roses is a gothic murder mystery with a main character who paints portraits that can actually alter a person’s body. This sounds like such an interesting concept. I’m so curious about this one.
Keep
An Honest Lie – Tarryn Fisher
Tarryn Fisher is an author I’ve seen many people talk about, but I haven’t read anything by her yet. I don’t really read the synopsis of thrillers, because I want to know as little as possible going in. The reviews are pretty good for An Honest Lie, so I still want to give it a go!
Keep
Gay Club! – Simon James Green
The synopsis doesn’t give us much when it comes to Gay Club!, but I’ve heard amazing things about Simon James Green. So of course, I need to give this one a go myself.
Keep
Removal Percentage: 40%
Current “to-read” shelf: 776
So that was my final Down the TBR Hole of 2023! I’d say it was a good post, because I removed almost half of the books I talked about today. It helped that I had already read two of them, haha. Have you read any of these? Which one should I read first? Let me know in the comments! I’d love to hear from you.
