Top Ten Tuesday is a feature hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s theme is: Books On My TBR I’m Avoiding Reading and Why
Funny story time! As I was at work brainstorming this post working very hard at my job, I saw that Nicole had the same exact idea as I did: Do it on a Thursday! I had seen this circling the blogosphere and it was too fun not to do, plus I am hoping some peer pressure will make me read a few of these, who knows but anyway it’s just proof that Nicole and I have eerily similar brains.
Honestly guys this could be literally hundreds of books. So I cut it down the best I could. I didn’t include sequels because everyone knows they’re impossible on a good day. I also have to own them, because come on. If I don’t even own them how am I going to read them? Onward, friends!
The Book: In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters
The Situation: Okay honestly it’s the last Cat Winters book I have left and I don’t want to be done. Maybe when homegirl announces her next book, yeah?
The Book: Atlantia by Ally Condie
The Situation: This is probably one of the first books I ever pre-ordered. I loved Matched. The cover is just heart-eyes. But then the meh reviews came in and I got scared. And apparently stayed that way.
The Book: Bone Gap by Laura Ruby
The Situation: That bee looks like a real asshole, does it not?
The Book: We All Looked Up by Tommy Wallach
The Situation: Gah, this was one of my most anticipated books of 1973. But then… I think maybe I got scared of my own expectations? Then the author started being crappy. But I did love another one of his books so who am I kidding, he probably wasn’t crappy enough that I won’t read this one day.
The Book: Passenger by Alexandra Bracken
The Situation: While I love the premise, sometimes her books can be a little… verbose. And some people love it, some people hate it, and Idk if I want to make the commitment yet. Or something.
The Book: The Next Together by Lauren James
The Situation: Honestly if I don’t read this book by the end of 2019, you are all allowed to throw actual trash at me. Lauren James is phenomenal and everything about this book screams “Shannon”. Gather ye garbage.
The Book: Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth
The Situation: This is a two-parter, olé! First, I was still having some pretty serious trust issues after Allegiant, as you do. Second, some problematic stuff came to light about this one. I genuinely forget what since it’s been a few years. But after reading her latest story collection, I will say this one stays firmly on the TBR.
The Book: Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco
The Situation: “I’m waiting for the series to be wrapped up before I start”, she told herself. As the series had wrapped up and she’d not made an ounce of progress, it was clear this was a lie.
The Book: Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson
The Situation: The situation is, I suck. I loved The Remnant series so much, so why have I not devoured this and its sequel? Your guess is as good as mine, but I’ll just stick to me sucking.
The Book: Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett
The Situation: I’ve never met a Jenn Bennett book I didn’t love. But it’s really far back on my Kindle, years back by this point, and sometimes scrolling is hard, okay?
The Book: Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan
The Situation: I genuinely have no good reason here either. I genuinely want to read this. Someone just tell me I should read it in the comments, yeah?
The Book: All the Rage by Courtney Summers
The Situation: Honestly? I am terrified of the feels, and yes, the literal rage this book will undoubtedly make me feel. But I will do it one of these days!
And a few more that someone maybe can convince me to read (cause I really do want to!):
Girls of Paper and Fire is on my list as well. I have two copies of it and just haven’t picked it up yet. And I Darken is a pretty interesting book. There are some little things that could use some work but I enjoyed it and read it fairly quickly. I still need to read the rest of the series.
Great list!
Oh yay, good to know about And I Darken, thanks! And I hope we both love Girls of Paper and Fire when we get around to it!
I haven’t read Passenger yet either but it’s been staring at me from my shelf for a while! Maybe I’ll try to get to it by the end of the year. I’m also terrified of All the Rage feels!
Every time I think I might try it… I just don’t! And I can’t entirely figure out why!
In the Shadow of Blackbirds is probably my favorite Cat Winters book – it’s HARD to decide, though! – so I really hope you’ll love it! I can’t wait for her next one – a few weeks ago she tweeted that she is really passionate about it, more than she’s been about recent projects, which is very exciting! (I couldn’t even finish The Raven’s Tale, and I’m sad about that. *cries*) Bone Gap is one I relate to; I’ve owned it for years and I’m just never in the mood. The These Broken Stars books (I always forget the name of the series, maybe Starbound?) are AMAZING, one of my favorite series, I think. The Every Breath series is also awesome, I loved the characters, though the last book was disappointing. Pacifica was good, so was Daughter of Smoke and Bone. I also need to read The Arsonists, I loved the author’s debut, so I have no excuse. Hope you’ll get the strength to read all these haha. 🙂
Oh YAY I am so glad to hear that! And I am soooo happy that Cat is back to writing (and being excited!), I agree with you, Raven’s Tale was a mess, I was soooo disappointed too. I finished it, but barely. I really hope I end up reading them all too, so many of them sound awesome!
“sometimes scrolling is hard ok” is so very very relatable ?I don’t even know why. It is just truth and I don’t dispute. Also BONE GAP IS REALLY GOOD. Look at the UK cover instead, the bee is not so prominent and not threatening you or your 6 generations of offspring. Also I ended up hearing later that all the crap with Carve the Mark was half made up just as mob nonsense. Like people taking stuff completely out of context. But it also went on my list as I actually got hate mail from owning it (I just had it in a wrap up post when things were BAD) and like people calling me disgusting things for owning a book terrified Smaller!Cait lolol. I never read it. I do want to now, but it’s also long so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ WHO KNOWS.
Bwhahah right? One misscroll and you have to start all over, it’s just daunting. I knooowww I need to read Bone Gap. I almost bought the UK one but I own the US one on my Kindle, so it seemed ridiculous. I did just read 13 Doorways and LOVED it so I am definitely going to read Bone Gap soon.
Wowwww seriously with Carve the Mark!? That is ridiculous! Someone unfollowed me on Twitter because I refused to take Nevernight off my TBR so I actually can see this. I really want to read CtM though at some point because I have heard good things, and especially hearing that the “problem” was mostly bogus.. I am DEFINITELY reading it, so thanks for that!
Hehehe! Yes, we are of one mind! And, yes, I could have easily made this like a four or five hundred book list—just ask my husband, who stares at me in disbelief each time a new book comes in the mail.
This line made me guffaw, just so you know: “sometimes scrolling is hard, okay?” Because, yes, this is so very true. I think that the poor books on my shelves are sad and lonely, but the older books on my Kindle probably need archaeologists to unearth them at this point.
I’m not even going to comment on your books because you already know you have to read them all. It’ll happen … someday.
Bwhahha RIGHT!? It’s so, so true. I have a couple weeks to read non-review books and I am so overwhelmed by my choices that I don’t know what to even read!
YES can you even imagine all the books we got like, back when we were baby bloggers? Those will never see the light of day. And yes… someday I might get to these. Or you know, not ?
There are so many good top 10 themes, but I just never seem to have the time to do them anymore! This is one I could totally do! Stalking Jack the Ripper is one I keep saying I have to start reading, among several others on your list. Sometimes, I don’t know why I don’t get to them, other than these days maybe I have blog tour reviews due and so the non-tour books slip to the side?
That is exactly how I am- I haven’t even been checking to see what they were, which is probably not good. When I saw this one… had to ! YEP that is me too, the review books come first so everything else takes a backseat, sadly.
Can we take a moment to appreciate that you’re not reading Bone Gap because the cover bee looks like an asshole? Bahahaha! But let’s face it, he probably is. I’ll join your wallow in shame over The Next Together. A physical copy is sitting on my shelf and I avert my eyes every time. Whyyyyy??? Go forth and read Alex, Approximately. It’s worth the scrolling. Really.
Bwhahah RIGHT? You know he’s gonna sting us when we least expect it! DUDE we should buddy read Next Together! Maybe it’ll hold us accountable! And yes I promise I WILL read Alex because I have no other Jenn Bennetts to look forward to, the horror!
I’d had very few buddy read experiences but the few I’ve had have taught me one thing: I am NOT the fast reader that I thought I was. LOL I used to think I was a fast reader but with each buddy reader I was totally proven wrong. I’d be checking in like, oh, I’m on page 60 and here’s what I think. And the response would be like, uh, I finished that one two days ago, sorry. LMAO And I would silently slink away and continue reading the book for the next 4 days. Meanwhile, the other person has read 17 books and listened to 64 audiobooks. Bahahaha! (That being said, I really do want to read The Next Together. 🙂
My two cents on the ones I’m familiar with:
The cover bee is a SWEET SWEET HONEY BEE, not some asshole wasp. And the story is terrific. Read this one.
I think? We All Looked Up? Had an unsatisfying and vague ending? And then I read about Wallach being a jerk, so yeah, go ahead and ignore it.
All the Rage is good, but Sadie is better.
That Inevitable Victorian Thing is good, but Exit Pursued by a Bear is better (she’s great at titles!)
The Program is okay. The series goes on and on and on, and never really digs deep enough for me, but my middle schoolers like it.
I loved the first two Daughter of Smoke and Bones books but got bogged down on the third and never finished. Much prefer Stranger the Dreamer/Muse of Nightmares.
Good luck getting to whatever books you choose!
Oh I definitely WILL read it! I just finished 13 Doorways and it was phenomenal, so I am absolutely going to read Bone Gap, even with the asshole bee. (You say nice honeybee, I call shenanigans ?)
I just LOVE the premise of WALU, but if the ending is vague… ugh that is annoying! I liked Sadie a lot! And I have liked her other books, I really need to read it at some point
I AGREE those titles are among my favorites! Funny you should mention Exit because I couldn’t decide which to put on the collage- I own both hahah.
I have heard that The Program is a lot like Girls With Sharp Sticks which is probably part of why I’m putting it off. I loved Girls, but… do I need to read it twice?
YEP I have heard that about DOSAB, which is why I have been so hesitant! You reminded me that I stiill need to read Muse as well, oopsie! Thanks for all the thoughts on these!
Girls of Paper and Fire was really interesting but there were some things that made it very very hard to read. TW*rape*TW
Daughter of Smoke and Bone is amazing and magical, I highly recommend even though I haven’t read the last book in the series yet.
I started Jack the Ripper and stopped after the first 20ish pages, I need to revisit.
My big confession: my husband preordered me a signed copy of Allegiant that I have never read because someone on facebook ruined the ending for me. He still makes fun of me for the $30 book on my shelf I’ve never opened.
Yes I have heard that about Girls of Paper and Fire, thanks for the heads up!
I am a little nervous about DoSaB because I have heard mixed reviews about that last book! But if the first two are good, I really should get to them!
Omg that is so funny about Allegiant! Honestly, you are probably way better off than the rest of us ?
Yeah Atlantia looked good to me too because, you know, underwater stuff, but I think the same thing happened- I saw some meh reviews and I was like next. And Ooh I read We All Looked Up once upon a time ago. It was fairly underwhelming for me. The Program I kinda want to read. Rocks fall Everyone Dies- I mean we have rocks falling on HOUSES on the cover. That definitely deserves a closer look.
Two Roads From Here- love the cover there too.
YEP that is exactly it, the mixed reviews scared me off and I never opened it! Though it is a GORGEOUS finished copy, sparkly endpapers and such. So I don’t really regret buying it even if I never read it ?
UGH no one liked the damn We All Looked Up it seems! Now that one isn’t particularly pretty so I probably should just read it to say I read it and get rid of it. Or leave it there forever unread? Probably that one.
Yep NEED to read Rocks Fall. I am kind of mad at myself for this fail, tbh.
Well… I don’t think you’re missing much if you skip We All Looked? Although I know I sometimes want to read a book myself even when others are like ewww that sucked, so I get that view too! Haha and who knows- maybe you’ll like it? Probably not tho. 🙂
I am so tempted to read it just to see if I agree which is such an odd thing like- why wouldn’t I just trust everyone’s opinions!? (And I GUARANTEE I will regret reading it afterward and be like “yeah, you were right” ?)
Oh man, I have so many books in this category that I’ve simply lost interest in reading! Trust me I’ve read We All Looked UP and it wasn’t great lol. And I absolutely LOVED stalking jack the ripper, I hope you pick it up too!
Right?! I could have listed actual HUNDREDS hahha. Wow so everyone hated WALU, so I am either going to have to hate-read it or get rid of it, tough call ? I DEFINITELY will read SJtR, I have the first 3 books in the series, signed and personalized so… I really need to love them!
You’re not alone, a few of these are on my TBR too! I can’t believe I still haven’t read Girls of Paper and Fire and Cat Winters is an author I seriously need to check out asap. I’ve haven’t read any Alexandra Bracken, but I’m intrigued by Passenger and recently picked up a copy in a charity shop! Considering I love historical fiction, I don’t read enough time travel books.
OMG you would LOVE Cat Winters I am honestly surprised you never have, she’s like such a queen of historical fiction! The Cure for Dreaming is one of my all-time favorites! I have TWO copies of Passenger, so who knows what my malfunction is ?
I have a copy of The Next Together. I have to look into that more. I started Bone Gap, but I was getting lost in the audiobook and set it aside, where apparently, it has stayed for eternity. Alex was so good. It was my Jenn Benn gateway book. I think you would like it. I read Rocks Fall Everyone Dies a while back. I just could not resist the title. It was ok. I wasn’t a fan of the ending, but I liked the magic and mystery.
Oh I definitely think I’ll love Alex when I get to it! AND The Next Together. It’s such a problem because I only read like, 2 non-review books a month if I’m lucky so it’ll take me til the end of time I guess. Ugh noooo I hate crappy endings. I do love that title though, maybe I should jsut leave it alone for now, hate to ruin the illusion ?
Oh dear. I see at least two books here that have been sitting on my shelves for . . . a while, too. >.> We’ll get to them someday, right? Surprisingly, I haven’t read any of the separately listed out books here, but I’ve read a few from the collage at the end. These Broken Stars/Daughter of Smoke and Bone were okay, but not super great and I never wound up continuing the series. The Evaporation of Sofi Snow had a little too much focus on the politics at play for me to love it, but I still want to read the sequel (which promises more action and aliens). Every Breath was dark and very much about some messed up teens (I’m trying to think of a The 100 comparison for you), but with an Australian accent, which apparently worked and caught me at the right time because I really enjoyed it. 🙂
Bwhahah exactly like. WILL we?! But we’ll pretend yes ? Oh wow neither series won you over? That’s sad. I loved Mary Weber’s most recent book, and Sofi Snow sounds even more up my alley, so we’ll see! I have heard GOOD things about Every Breath (and hey, with Aussie accents, they can be Bob and Eliza hahahha) so I have to get to it SOON!
TBRs are hard, I swear! Torture for readers. xD Or maybe that’s just me. I love your reasoning, though, especially for your reason for Stalking Jack the Ripper. Made me cackle, because I’ve told myself that so many times. My situation for The Girls of Paper and Fire is pretty much exactly the same as yours. I kept telling myself it was because I didn’t have a copy I could get my hands on … and then I bought the Kindle version … and I still haven’t read it. Oops? lol.
THEY ARE! Because you have to make choices and I am BAD at choices. Plus I have so many review books that I only read one or two non-review books a month, so it’s hard to decide which to prioritize!
I AM NOT FAILING AT READING SHANNON!!
I have kicked my TBR’s butt and I only have 37 books left and they all fit on my little rolling book cart. But I might have an existential crises when it’s empty. Who would I even discuss this with – because this is a problem NO book blogger has lol
Having said that – The Bone Gap is one of those books. I picked i up *because* the bee looked like an asshole but upon further inspection it’s not…about a pissed off bee?? so I haven’t read it yet lol
Karen @ For What It’s Worth
Not even one book? I call shenanigans! ? No I know you are doing AWESOME. You are right, none of us can comprehend your accomplishment, we’re all like, drowning in ours!
Bwhahah well fine maybe the bee is not an asshole, but it’s still a weird cover choice! I DO want to read it though, just having finished the author’s latest book and LOVING it!
Stalking Jack the Ripper does sound like a good read.
My TTT.
It does! Hopefully when/if I get to it by like, 2028, it’ll be great ?
CARVE THE MARK. Yeah, I had a LOT of trust issues with Roth after the last book of the Divergent series. First of all, it was written so poorly and let’s not even talk about the ending (which I didn’t read because I got to 30% of the book and hated the editing so I went and read spoilers instead of continuing). CARVE THE MARK, though, was pretty good. I listened to both on audio. And yeah so the “controversy” about this book was pretty dumb. You can search for it, but don’t bother. The book is totally fine on its own.
YESSS that’s just it- the ending itself was garbage BUT the whole book was a mess! It just felt so unlike the first two, I wasn’t sure WHAT had happened! And I am glad you liked Carve the Mark! I am definitely going to read it now that I know that the “controversy” was dumb, so thanks for that!
Hahah, I told myself the same thing about Stalking Jack The Ripper. “I’ll wait for the rest of the series to come out, so if I like the first book, I can get the others right away.” Well, nope. Still haven’t read it.
YEP exactly! And are you going to, now that it’s over? No, no you are not ?
I finally read In the Shadow of Blackbirds this year for book club and loved it. I also really love Stalking Jack the Ripper. I need to read the final book, but hey, it DID just come out this month, so I think it’s okay you haven’t started the series yet. haha
I also love The Daughter of Smoke and Bone and I want to read All the Rage, and just more by Summers in general.
-lauren
Oh YAY I am so excited to get to Blackbirds. Especially now that I hear that Cat has another book in the pipeline, woo! And I think I will like Jack, so hopefully I will start it soon! I agree, Courtney Summers is really good, I have loved everything of hers I’ve read so far!
LOLOL @ the comment about SJTR. I read the first one, loved it. For some reason didn’t immediately continue then hit the same like “well, it’s almost finished so I’ll just wait”. I’ve made no progress either lol
YES like why are we bookish folks like this!? I do this ALL the time. Like I can think of at LEAST a dozen series I have done that with! Good luck, I hope you do get to them eventually!
This post is me ? There are so many books from authors I trusted that I just haven’t read, for no reason. Or just have a copy already but haven’t got the time to pick it up, case in point is Rock Falls, Everyone Dies. I love Alex, Approximately though, so I hope you’ll get the chance to read it soon!
I definitely want to read Alex soon, because I love Jenn Bennett. And exactly, that is how I am- so many books, but I am always so busy with review ones that I read maybe one or two that I own a month. It’s bad!