It’s that time of year when I dramatically fling myself upon the table and confess I am so so behind on my TBR pile.
And then at least four and a half of you kindest readers pretend to be shocked. The rest of you are just sighing and saying, “SURPRISE WOW CAIT.” Look, ok fine, all the time sometimes I collect more books than common sense. Other times they just manifest in my room. That’s not my fault. I swear the library books follow me home.
I also have realised I’m very bad at time-awareness and keep thinking I can do 3 hours of reading in 15 minutes. So odd that this doesn’t work????
I did a similar post to this in 2017 and listed 15 books I should’ve read! GUESS WHAT. Looking back?! I realised I have now read…6 of them. Lmao. Can someone just…roll my body into the sea? I’m 3/4 there already.
➸ ok last year I confess to procrastinating all ebooks because I’m SO SICK of reading on my iPod screen and turning a page every. five. seconds. (But I now have a kindle!! For the first time ever!!! So this should improve!!)
➸ I felt like a beaten egg in 2018 and my brain couldn’t handle epic fantasy. So my list of fantasies is very tol. It is yelling at me.
➸ I am scared of books over 400+ pages. WHEN WILL I GROW OUT OF THIS FEAR ERMGHSGHS.
➸ I get sent a lot of unsolicited ARCs and they mount up.
➸ SOMETIMES I’M SUPPOSED TO WRITE BOOKS MYSELF. THIS TAKES MORE THAN 15 MINUTES TOO. SO RUDE.
➸ If I go into a library, I walk out with 10 more books than I should have taken. My ARCs threaten a divorce.
➸ MOOD READER. Blame it for everything else.
➸ how do I read 200 books a year and yet I’m still behind?????
so onto a list of 10 books I should’ve read last year but…oh no.
[Top Ten Tuesday ~ Books I Meant to Read In 2018 but Didn’t Get To]
1. GODSGRAVE
I love Nevernight. Love it. I even reread it in preparation for tackling Godsgrave and then I just…didn’t.
Ok aside from the fact it’s huge and I was mentally exhausted last year, I know it’s going to absolutely murder my feels!! I KNOW IT’S BRUTAL. I have seen the piles of slain readers all over twitter and my thinking is: Wait till Darkdawn is out. Be killed ONCE by two books. That’s smart. I am smart.
2. BRIDGE OF CLAY
I actually got sent a surprise ARC of this!! which is…an intense honour. But I’m also frustrated, because I knew I’d need it on audiobook (saves me from getting overwhelmed at the fact it’s 170 years long) and I wish the ARC could’ve gone to someone who really wanted it.
I meant to read the ARC anyway but then I went away for a month too. Dude.
Also why is it so ugly. My bookstagram account is coughing up blood just from looking at it.
3. SCARLET TRILOGY
I got sent the whole series from Bloomsbury with the new covers and I HATE MYSELF RIGHT NOW. I NEEDED TO HAVE READ THEM. It’s just one thing lead to another and I turned into a tree and moulted leaves for 5 months and these books stayed unread.
I swear…this year??? is the year??? I become a human???
They’re also genderbent Robin Hood I think which seems fun.
4. NOT EVEN BONES
All I can say is…I have nothing to say. It sounds thoroughly like a ME book, with people who murder supernatural creatures and sell their body parts on ebay. Or ok fine it doesn’t say “ebay”. Maybe Etsy. I don’t know where the supernatural murderers hang out.
It fell prey to (1) wrong mood, and (2) being an ebook, excuse its poor soul.
5. YOU’LL MISS ME WHEN I’M GONE
This is like illness and sisters and CLASSICAL mUSICIANS and the list of reasons I should love it could reach up taller than me. And then slap me. But anyway. I actually even have the author’s second book as an eARC too lmao maybe I will read IT on time!! But this one is a bought one, so I feel slightly less guilty.
(Also the blue/green naked spine is AMAZING for my bookstagram rainbows. Shhh. I am not shallow.)
6. FOOLISH HEARTS
I got this as an Owlcrate book! Everyone I’ve heard of who’s read it said, “Wow I didn’t expect to ADORE this so so much!!” Which leaves me promising 15 x a week I will read it too!!
Have I?!!! No!!!!
I’m cRYinG.
7. THE POPPY WAR
This falls in the same shame-pile as Godsgrave. It is EVERYTHING I know I’ll love. But my brain just wasn’t coordinated enough to accept that words on the page actually mean things. 2019 will be different. (SHE SAYS VALIANTLY BUT PROBABLY LIES.)
Also 100% of the reason I bought this was because of twitter freaking out how excellent it is! Just in case you want to know if you’re blogger-recommendations mean something. They do.
8. WE’LL FLY AWAY
Another ebook that is looking at me reproachfully while I scramble madly through my pockets for reasons to give. Although in my defence it’s also the title of this REALLY annoying hymn and every time I think of it, the hymn starts playing in my head round and round. That’s a carousel I need to throw msyelf off, necks broken or not.
Book: hi I am–
Me: I cAN’T LOOK AT YOU WHILE YOU’RE WEARING THAT
9. SKY IN THE DEEP
I think this came out in January, which makes no sense why I haven’t read it because everyone knows January lasts 17 years. But again: it’s fantasy. Otherwise it has like sUPER COOL female Vikings and I follow the author on instagram and she’s so nice!!
I love how nice authors always write the murder books.
I will read this one this year or DIE TRYING.
10. SAY YOU’LL REMEMBER ME
I’m not actually sure why I requested this one on Netgalley, but I DID. Then I wandered away like the hyperactive squirrel I am. It sounds like a contemporary I’ll love (not-really-bad-boys doing community service, for starters, is a huge yes after I loved Letters To The Lost so much).
Also I have, um, guilt issues, because the title is literally SAY YOU’LL REMEMBER ME and I freaking forgot it was on my kindle.
I need life help.
➸ HONOURABLE MENTIONS
(because I hate myself apparently and this is a post of SHAME)…(But also I swear I’m going to read this entire list this year. I swear it grrr.)
I haven’t read any of these books either, so don’t feel too bad! Unlike me you’re probably determined enough that you’ll be able to read most of them this year, while mine are going to be sitting gathering dust for at least another 12 years…
Oh good we can be flailing slow pokes together here. 😂Although going from my terrible effort of looking back at last year’s post…WOW. I am bad. 😂
Foolish Hearts really way so, so adorable. It was my gateway Mills book, and I have read the others since . You’ll Miss Me When I’m Gone is messy and heartbreaking and yes, all the tissues. Spellbook and Restore Me were both great reads as well. So many books, too little time.
I need to just get on with reading ALL OF THESE. *tries to utilise two eyeballs to read two books simultaneously*
I have this never ending list of books I should have read but haven’t. Last year I was exhausted from Uni and then beginning to work all day every day. But most of the time I’m just so tired mentally and emotionally that I can’t focus on a book so I end up rewatching films or TV shows instead while wrapped in a blanket and eating 2000 cookies.
I hear you with being tired emotionally/mentally and how it effects wanting to read. *wails* Same. Sometimes TV and being a blanket burrito is just easier. (And also maybe good for us to rest!)
I’ve been putting off The Poppy War for ages, too, because it just looks so damn big and intimidating. Also, epic new fantasy world to wrap my head around. Then all of a sudden, yesterday motivation struck again and I started it today! I’m about 75 pages in and it’s soooo good. How can something be so good after 75 pages?? And yet it is.
Oh. My. God. Read Godsgrave. Do it, do it, doooooo it. More stabby assassins except this time with stabby gladiators. Need I say more? That series is the most unexpected love of my life and I am dying waiting for Darkdawn. *breathes heavily until September*
I’m so so with you *wails* Like I LOVE epic fantasy when I get into it, but it’s daunting and trying to absorb the world building is always a hit-and-miss of “will I actually mesh with this or drown in info dumps”. Lmao. But I’m so glad you’re loving it!! I will definitely read it this year. GODSGRAVE IS GONNA KILL ME.
ahahah relatable. i have books here from 2016 but i have also finished books that came out 2 months ago. i really need to fix this 🙂
It’s just…impossible?! LIKE WE NEED MORE HOURS IN THE DAY.
Great list! You’re definitely not alone, and to be honest sometimes I think waiting for a series to finish before you continue reading it is the best way to read a series. I wanted to read The Poppy War last year, too, and somehow never got around to it so I need to get to that one soon.
Also Not Even Bones sounds amazing and is going on my TBR immediately – thanks for bringing it to my attention!
I do like to read series like ALL at once, but I’m also aware that if the early books don’t get support, they might get cancelled. And that’s so devastating for the author awk. So I at least try to buy the first.😭😂 TRY. I do not have the funds for always hahah. But yesss Not Even Bones is going to be AMAZING.
I’m scared of long books, too!
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday.
we can panic over them together 😂
i’m actually almost finished with Foolish Hearts right now and I’m sorry to say it again but I ADORE it <3 It definitely wasn't what i was expecting but I still love it! also some of those books are currently collecting dust in my TBR pile, so don't feel bad 🙂
Aw I’m so glad to hear that! I will definitely get to it soon 😍😍
Yes, both of your books are in my TBR.
Which one of them is taking a month to get here and the other isn’t even out yet.
FUN! MORE AGONY FOR ME! 😹
But I’m really really excited to read itttt
*squishes you* DID I MENTION YOU’RE THE BEST.
I guess I’m joining the club of people who were impressed by Foolish Hearts! Emma Mills has really been a surprise overall and I’ve really liked everything she’s written so far (well… I haven’t gotten my hands on her most recent release yet, but I’m looking forward to it). I’m not usually a huge contemporary reader, so she’s rather surprised me by becoming a favourite author. In Other Lands was also fantastic! I think I’ve read (and audiobooked) it four times since it came out…
Aw that’s such a good compliment when an author can win readers over to a genre they don’t even always read!!
All of these books have such pretty covers. I hope you love them.
This is my Top Ten Tuesday post.
Thanks! I hope I do too hhahaha
Not Even Bones was on my list this week too! I also need to read the Scarlet trilogy, I’ve had the first book on my shelf for like three years and just haven’t got around to it. Probably my most embarrassing one is Vengeful, I totally meant to read it right after Vicious but it was just HUGE and INTIMIDATING and I didn’t get around to it. This year though.
I definitely understand the Vengeful feel too! I actually didn’t end up loving it as much as Vicious which I feel bad about. 😂
Ughhh I need to read all of these!!! I’ve barley read anything in 2019 so far hahaha 😂😂😂 but I really want to read Bridge of Clay and You’ll Miss Me When I’m Gone. Hopefully I’ll get through those before the end of February!! We shall see…
Thanks for another fabulous post, which I can forgive for making me feel guilty because you provided me with so many more good books to read!!!
aw you always leave such nice comments! THANK YOU. And tbh I’m in the most shame here because how do I even read SO many books and yet get nowhere?!😭😂😂
I hope you get a chance to read these soon! Bridge of Clay made my list, too. I’m not special enough to get an ARC, so I preordered it and then didn’t read it. I have no excuses! Well, the book is really long, so I guess that’s an excuse. I also have to read Sky in the Deep. People have been raving about it for a year, and I haven’t even tracked down a copy yet.
I feel SO bad about the Bridge of Clay ARC 😭😭 I wish it’d gone to someone who deserved it???
*face dives into the shame bucket* I’m actually surprised that my TBR hasn’t eaten me, or sacrificed me for the greater good yet?
Sky in the Deep has been on my tbr since it’s release too ; _ ; I really want to read the viking book with all the stabby people with axes. But the book itself wants to do hurl an axe at my face for not picking it up.
*clutches heart* Say You’ll Remember Me does sound like Letter to the Lost…. I NEEEEEEEED IT!!!!!! I’ve been wanting to reread LTTL for a while, but if there is a new book that’s somewhat similar….. You bet I’m going to eat it!!!
Oh. Oh no. The honourable mentions ……. I forgot about all those…..
*turns into breadcrumb*
Same tbh. Like how do we even EXIST?? Our TBRs must be so mad by this point lmao. And oh we should both yell at the walls until we read Sky In the Deep. We’ll get it done. *nods*
Not Even Bones was pretty awesome! I bet you’ll love it.
I’m SURE I will. I just need to hurry up😂
I still have yet to read Nevernight so I’m behind on all the books. OOPS! I didn’t get to The Poppy War either, but I definitely want to in the near future! Probably not this year though!
I hope we both get to the Poppy War this year then!
I think for most of us who love books, and book blogging makes it worse, the number of books I want to read just increases exponentially. I think I need another 3 lifetimes just to fit them all in. You are not alone.
Here’s my Top Ten Tuesday.
Yesss! Every year we just add more books to the pile!
Sky in the Deep looks intriguing (totally judging it by it’s cover). I’ve also been meaning to read Scarlet, but I keep getting distracted by newer releases and rereading my old favs. I hope enjoy everything on this list!
I think it was even a bestseller when it came out which is pretty huge!
I really hope you get to the Scarlet trilogy and Foolish Hearts soon! Foolish Hearts is my fave Emma Mills books.
My TTT: https://bookworm716.blogspot.com/2019/01/top-ten-tuesday-books-i-meant-to-read.html
I’ve only heard good things about Foolish Hearts so I am EXCITED 😍
I FEEL YOU WITH NOT EVEN BONES. It’s a book written FOR me yet I haven’t had the time to read it yet 💀
I should’ve read Jade City, Strange the Dreamer, Uprooted and a hundred more books last year but alas the world is too unfair. I WISH I CAN READ MORE THIS YEAR. MY BOOKDRAGON FLAMES ARE STILL VERY HUNGRY.
P. S. The Poppy War says hello, Cait 😉
Oh good we can go sit in the corner of shame together *shares shame cupcakes with you* also Jade City for me too?? I don’t own it but WANT.
I totally forgot Sky In The Deep. I have also mean to read that. It sounds quite bad ass.
But I must admit I can’t believe you haven’t read Bridge Of Clay when you have a physical arc!! No hate all love. :)) One can’t read all the books in the world.
It looks AMAZING! And honestly I can’t believe I haven’t read Bridge of Clay either lmaoooo why are there so many books 😭
My reasons are also time management and mood reading… Mood reading is the devil but I just don’t work any other way. *shrugs*
Honestly relatableeeee 😭 mood reading kills me hhhaha
Is it even a tbr of you DON’T complete it??? Like we all complain about not completing these books but at least we’re not alone. So books I should’ve read by now are
-also Sky In the Deep, I just got really burnt out on YA fantasy, I swear I’ll read it, eventually
-Heart of Iron, I loved Geekerella and space yet haven’t read this, shame on me
-Heartless by Marissa Meyer, it has been sitting on my shelf way too long
-Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken (The Darkest Minds #2), I loved TDM! When I read it in August, why am I like this?
-The Sun is Also a Star
-any other Holly Black book besides The Spiderwick Chronicles and The Cruel Prince
-The Kill Order by James Dashner, this has been sitting on my shelf for months but I was a little disappointed with the other TMR prequel book The Fever Code so I just have to low of expectations
-The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien, am I even a Tolkien fan if I haven’t read this??? I think not
-Made You Up by Francesca Zappia, I loved Eliza and Her Monsters so I should be really motivated to try this, right??
-And I Darken, it has everything I love yet I haven’t read it, weird
This is true. The book blogging community is grown out of all of us confessing we’ve got 93084 books on our tbrs and then crying softly into the carpet. Look at us go. But hey at least we’re both failing with some of these!! *hi fives for Sky In the deep and Heart of Iron* WE WILL GET TO THESE. Also The Silmarillion? You are brave!!
Ok stop everything you are doing, pick up Godsgrave. It is by far the greatest thing ever.!!!!! I swear if you loved Nevernight you will not believe your mind what happens. I literally screamed at a point, like full blown shrieked. Going to shut up now. Also Sky in the Deep is amazing
I’m gonna diiiie aren’t I?!😂 Maybe I should wait till Darkdawn is nearly out and then just put aside a week to be murdered by Jay Kristoff novels???
Aaah I have a bunch in common with this list 🙈 But I have read We’ll Fly Away and you should definitely read it! It sort of reminded me a bit of The Wicker King? I don’t know, apparently I make wild comparisons between books and should not be trusted. I was supposed to read the Throne of Glass series last year, but lol that didn’t happen.
OMG IT REMINDED YOU OF THE WICKER KING??? *SCREAMS* I’M READING IT RIGHT NOW.
I hate reading on my phone and tend to only do it when standing in line at the grocery store or other places. But, I love my Kindle. It has helped me read a ton more than I used to read.
You’ll get there! And good luck with the writing as well. 🙂
Oh good! Hopefully I’ll actually make my kindle TBR a little less angry at me too.😂
Oh yes I have so many books I should have read and am still reading. But . . . I don’t feel bad. Because I can only read one book at a time and I’m doing that in my own time ahah! Also, I read a lot of old books so those take time ;D I really like the look of that Bridge of Clay book. Totally would read that . . . but still needing to read Book Thief, too – It’s sitting on my floor waiting to be read. Wow, maybe I feel a little bad??? hahaha yeah not really;D
I feel like we’ll never catch up unless, like, TIME PAUSES FOR A WHILE.😂
Some of those sound so intriguing! I want to read the Nevernight books, but after what happened to my blood pressure during the Illuminae trilogy, I’m not sure it’s such a great idea. I’m so far behind on recent releases that I’ve kind of stopped caring. My focus this year is back list books since my TBR stretches back about 5 years. If you want to count classics, it’s more like 150 years. So awesome.
Nevernight is AMAZING and stressful and kind of enjoys stabbing your feelings so like, typical Kristoff book.😂
I’m not a big contemporary person, but everyone saying they unexpectedly adored Foolish Hearts is making me think I’d perhaps like to read it. Whenever you get around to it (no rush, reading should be more enjoyable than stressful!), I’ll be interested in hearing your thoughts! As for me, I can not beLIEVE I didn’t get to Hank Green’s An Absolutely Remarkable Thing last year. I am full of shame. *hangs head*
Eleanor | On the Other Side of Reality
Looool I always feel stressed about how behind I am in reading these days.😂I need to work on that, or it’s going to feel like a job!
I’m scared of big books too that’s a mood like, all the time 😂 you’re not alone in this AT ALL! 🙂 I really want to read You’ll Miss Me When I’m Gone just as well, I read her sophomore novel, Our year of Maybe and I LOVED IT way too much so I am very excited to read the author’s debut 😀
I really liked Spellbook of the lost and found (ireland and magical realism and way too atmospheric and rainy and I loved ittttt), and Restore Me was great just as well, that ending was. well. I screamed, so get ready? 😂😂
Happy reading!! <3
We are like TWINS IN THIS. Smol scared twins.😂 And I hope we both get to You’ll Miss Me since we usually love contemporaries, right!? *hi fives* And I’m so here for all the elements of Spellbook so the fact I haven’t read it is totally bad.😂
I literally have not heard of ANY of those books aside from number 9. That one sounds good and I’d like to read it. I haven’t read the popular trilogies and duologies like Six of Crows, Bone Witch, even Red Queen (which is so shameful at this point). It’s going to take me about 4 lifetimes to get to everything I’ve missed the last couple of years.
Ohhh I can confirm that Six of Crows is AMAZING! I admit I wasn’t in love with Red Queen, but if you read it, I hope you like it!
Ooooh, putting Sky in the Deep on my TBR!! I love standalone fantasy, esp. when it’s historically-inspired.
I hope this year is a better year for you! <3
I’ve heard it’s particularly amazing so like..?? WHY HAVEN’T I READ IT YET. 😂
I’ve read Foolish Hearts and wholeheartedly agree that is SO DANG ADORABLE. You gotta read it 😛
I have also read Heart of Iron and adored it. I’ve started Shadow of the Fox and I need to read Sky in the Deep asap – they both made my list.
I will definitely get my act together and read these soon!!
If you read 200 books a year and are still behind, then there’s like NO HOPE for the rest of us. 😂😭
I totally just remembered that hymn when I saw that cover this time even though I’ve seen it before! 😂
Also Say You’ll Remember Me makes Wildest Dreams by Taylor Swift pop into my head and now it won’t get out so thanks. 😂
DUDE I KNOW. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO.😂I don’t even know what I read last year?!? But it clearly wasn’t the books that are yelling at me.😂
AH! I meant to read The Poppy War too, BUT IN MY DEFENSE I got the e-book and then promptly lost my kindle and completely forgot about all e-books from now until eternity soO. (I actually forgot about it so dramatically I even forgot to put it on my TTT. SO. That’s where we are with that apparently.)
omg I feel for you with losing your kindle!! I like HAVE a kindle staring at me all day and I still forget what’s on it lmao.😂
I randomly rearranged my bookshelf this week and found about twenty bajillion (rough estimate, ya know) books that I haven’t read yet. And they’re sitting on my shelf staring at me judgingly with their prettiness, but here I am … not reading them?
See, once I got my kindle, I just kinda … stopped reading physical books. I had too bad of a habit of skipping forward and reading the book out of order, and my kindle kept me from doing that. Plus I had fifty bajillion (again, rough estimate) books on my kindle that I’d picked up for free. I have, in the last year, gotten better about reading “real” books, so I’m slowly chewing through the backlog … but at the same time, I keep buying more books, so… yeah.
Some honorable mentions (Not specific to last year because reasons.)
(And yes, I am counting some currently reading books ’cause I read about twenty books at a time, and some of them fall to the bottom of the stack.)
1. Eldest and Inheritance. (But not Brisngr because that was actually the first book of the series that I read.) I have the whole set on my shelf (also very pretty for rainbows!), but while I finally chewed threw Eragon the other year, the other two remain unread. (And glaring at me. Those dragon eyes on the spines are quite intimidating.)
2. Talesin Series by Steven Lawhead. I picked up the first three books at a library sale a few years ago, and yay! Arthur retellings. My friends tell me that they’re good. But have I read them? Nope.
3. Mansfield Park. I um, decided to start a project where I retold all of Jane Austen’s novels as high fantasy/fairy tale mashups, but this requires me to ACTUALLY READ THE BOOKS. I had long-since read P&P and Emma, and S&S did get read last year. But Mansfield Park? This book is sooooooooo wade-y. Like, I only JUST reached chapter 7.
4. Mark of the Raven by Morgan L. Busse. This book looked good, so I bought an autographed copy from the author when she made the offer on Instagram. It’s on my currently reading shelf. But have I made it past the first page? Nope.
5. Dagger’s Sleep by Tricia Mingerink. I LOVE a good Sleeping Beauty retelling, so I bought it at Realm Maker’s last year, and have proceeded to barely make it to the second chapter. The first chapter was intriguing, though.
6. The Story Peddler by Lindsay A. Franklin. See 4. and 5. for the basic jist of this story.
7. The Redeemer Chronicles and Ashlynn’s Dreams by Julie C. Gilbert. I received these as giveaway prizes from the author last year, but while I’ve made it a couple chapters into the former, Ashlynn’s Dreams is barely touched.
There are more, but that’s a good stopping point.
I’m glad you read lots of kindle books though! I’m opposite in that I still always go for physical books and forget entirely I have a book if it’s just on my kindle lmao. 😂😂 I hope you get to tackle your list soon too!
oh my god cait you absolutely must read the poppy war! it’s absolutely incredible – i read it recently myself and I was literally thinking while reading “omg cait would love this.” I have a review up and it’s incoherent squealing.
also i’ve been meaning to read Emma Mills….. ahaha i should get around to that (I’ve been procrastinating her since 2016 what is wrong with me)
MY NUMBER ONE TBR FOR THIS YEAR IS THE BOY WHO STEALS HOUSES THO. Idk if you know it but yeah. TBR 😉
I will, I promise!! It’s huge but I’ve got an audio so I WILL GET TO THIS. And omg Emma Mills books are adorable! (ajfdkasld I’m so pleased TBWSH is so high on your TBR 😍I’m honoured!)
City of Brass is on my TBR too! Haven’t ready any of the above mentioned as well. Hahahjaha
It’s SO huge 😂 I hope we both get to it soon hahah.
Yay for kindle! It was such a life changing thing for me. I can read more now, because i can just take it anywhere, and also if i wake up in the middle of the night and can’t sleep, i read a few pages on it, and don’t even have to move and turn on lights, etc. Which seriously a massive thing for me. Like, yes, i can’t sleep, but getting up and turning on a light is actually committing to being awake for a long period of time which totally stressed me out, just to think about it 😀
Hope you manage to read all these books soon 🙂
I did get the one without lights (accidentally lol, I didn’t realise it wouldn’t come with a backlight) so that part disappointed me but otherwise, OMG I’M SO READY FOR A DECENT SCREEN FOR READING!!
Aah the library problem… I know that one too well. Whenever I tell myself that I am just going to return the five ones I just read without borrowing anything else because SEVENTYTHREE BOOKS ARE WAITING FOR ME ON MY OWN DAMN SHELVES I still end up borrowing like ten more. Why am I like this?! Anyway, a few of the books I should REALLY read already are “History Is All You Left Me”, “Genuine Fraud” and “Sing, Unburied, Sing”.
Omg why does this happen to us??😂it’s like…the books are just THERE and FREE and they WANT US.😂
Ha, Not Even Bones feel by the wayside for me, too, precisely because I haven’t been in the mood to finish it. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Darker books like that one are super tricky for me to finally read because if I’m feeling down, I want to read a fluffy rom-com, and if I’m feeling happy, I don’t always want to risk my mood shifting by reading a creepy/depressing book! I’m so finicky.
Agh that’s a shame. I’ve heard a ton of people DNF it actually so maybe that subtly influenced me not to start it yet. 😂 But ugh mood reading can be the worst!! I spent like ALL of last year not in the mood for epic fantasy, so my fantasy-TBR is out of control now.😂
GIRL YOU HAVEN’T READ WOLF BY WOLF YET??? dang it’s good, and blood by blood is even better! Such a big fan.
but also literally no pressure because I haven’t read so many of the books on this list and wow I need to somehow make there be more time in a day.
IT’S BEEN OUT FOREVER. I’M JUST SO ASHAMED BY THIS POINT. And I’ve self-hyped it for years lmao, I better like it.😂
Not Even Bones and Poppy War are on my owned TBR constantly judging me and my mood reading.
We can be judged together ahhh 😂
Hahahahahaha we’ll just,,,not talk about my TBR. I was in a sort of slump the end of 2018, which is the WORST time to be in a slump, bc goodreads reading challenge ><
And I've already read like, 17 this year??? but my TBR isn't any smaller. I think it's a trap. Must get out.
my comment didn’t save all the way? but the first sentence in the second paragraph is supposed to say, I acquired about 80 books with the intention to read during my winter break which,,,starts in 5 days ><
Ok WordPress is probably being a miscreant here, sorrrry. But DUDE 17 THIS YEAR ALREADY. YOU ARE RULING!! I only got to 18 and no wonder my TBR never shrinks.😂
I also bought Poppy War because of all the crazy recommendations and I also have yet to read it. Why? Honestly, I have no idea either. Here’s hoping we both get to it in 2019!
Yesss we will get our lies together in 2019 FOR SURE. 😂
The Scarlet Trilogy is SO GOOOOD!!! I wouldn’t necessarily call it a gender-bend though, it’s much more akin to a straight retelling. I do think it’s really well done, and it lives forever as one of my favorites!
I want to read basically everything ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ so that’s that.
Wishing you luck on your TBR!!!
OH. I didn’t know that haha 😂I will go in with adjusted expectations then!
Omg Cait, you HAVE to read Foolish Hearts and basically EVERY Emma Mills book (have you read This Adventure Ends? That’s literally my fave one, I’m soft). I read Foolish Hearts recently and it’s such a great book; Gideon is my softest funniest boy and oh my God, THE FRIENDSHIPS IN THIS BOOK (the mc who’s a shy RPG game player + the popular razor sharp mean (she’s not really mean) girl who get paired up together for a project). And it’s funny.
I haven’t read Heart of Iron either, despite it being on my 2018 Most Anticipated List :/
I will definitely get to it! I liked First & Then! and I also have This Adventure Ends lol 😂 why is my life full of just piles of unread books. It’s terrible.😂
I hope we both get to Heart Of Iron soon!
I am scrolling through your list like “YEP me too I also fail” but then I got to a few that you really must read because I say so, like You’ll Miss Me When I’m Gone (SO good), Not Even Bones (messed up, delightfully so!), and Sky in the Deep (though that one has mixed reviews, so I am more adamant about the other two hah).
You also made me want to check my 2017 version to see how badly I failed! Oh Cait. Are you ready for this? I listed 39 books. 39! And I read… drumroll… THREE. Three out of 39. WHAT EVEN!?!? I need to… Idk, go sit in a corner or something, this is unacceptable!
omg 3 out of 39…😂😂WHAT DO I EVEN SAY, SHANNON. Ok except that I feel better? Seriously it’s just impossible to keep up. Every year we get 9380 more books to read and the old ones just start crying.
i haven’t read any of these either 🙈 (other than in other lands,, which i’m super keen to hear what you’ll think!) ,, so don’t worry, you’re not alone!
i’m super keen for shadow of the fox and spellbook of the lost and found myself
I will definitely get to In Other Lands this year!! WHY IS THERE NOT MORE TIME TO READ.😂
We’ll Fly Away? I thought the title of the hymn was I’ll Fly Away. Is it different in Australia? Or are there *gasp* multiple hymns 😮 😮 😮 how could this be
Haha yeah same thing. 😂
oh my gosh I just did a post on this and turned it into a tag XD Also, girl, 100% agree with you on Zusak’s book. It’s rather ugly.
Whyyy is it so ugly omg it’s not fair 😂
Whispers: Don’t read The Oddling Prince. It was one of the few 1 star reads I had in 2018.
Yes Not Even Bones. I still have to buy it. ._.
Awww noooo. That’s so frustrating because I kind of have to because its an eARC (Shh I know I’m REALLY bad haha) 🙈🙈
I only read like 8 books last year.😬 I have been listening to so many backlist titles on audiobook this month. In February I need to read this January’s releases that I have and at least one ARC. Honestly, audiobooks is how I plan on catching up on ALL THE BOOKS.
Some years are just busy hhaah. But audiobooks are LIFESAVERS. I love them so much.
How have you not read Restore Me yet?!?!?? But also, don’t. Too much of feelings and cliffhanger. Read when Defy Me is out!
Becaaaaause I didn’t finish my reread of the first books. I reread the first two and still haven’t gotten to the third *wails*
Aaah I totally want to read the Poppy War! also, I HAVE read Blood for Blood and I freaking loved it!
So I have the same problem, ordered one book from the library, came out with seven… bought three books this week…. not to mention all the ones I already have. I kind of hate it when I start getting stressed out by my tbr instead of enjoying the experience of reading!! (But also… I really really want to read all those library books before they are due back!!!)
And currently to make matters more sloooooow I am reading the Queen of Air and Darkness which is the most biggest huge book I have ever held in my hands and it’s taking me forever to go through it. I am halfway now! Also… I really like the illustrations and kind of wish I could have illustrations inside my book…. did you see Jay Kristoff is also going to do that on his next fantasy series? I wonder if this will become a thing???? I actually really hope so!!!
So anyway…what a long comment, I have to read:
Sawkill Girls
The Good Demon
Circus Hearts
Begin End Begin
The Dark Spaces
The Girl King
The Wicked King
The Impossible Girl
Seraphina
and many…many…many more…..
🙂
Because it’s also like !! Your name! 😂😂 But omg libraries are the worst….it’s like there needs to be a sign at the door saying “ARE YOUR EYES BIGGER THAN YOUR COMMON SENSE HERE” before we leave with 48904 books.😂 Not that that would stop me. But yet.
And omg QOAAD is amazing! I hope you ended up loving it. And the illustrations were perfect. I hope she keeps putting illustrations in her books *heart eyes*
Oh my god, Cait, I don’t even think about making such lists, as they will go on forever. And also, I am of the opinion that we should read the books we want to read, when we want to read them, and that is all. Mood reader, too. I won’t feel guilty, it’s in my review policy! Lol.
I will tell you that Spellbook of the Lost and Found is AMAZING! As is City of Brass! And Shadow of the Fox is pretty awesome, too! I also have Not Even the Bones to read. And I really, really want to read You’ll Miss Me When I’m Gone! The Poppy War… is amazing, in regards to storytelling, and history, and research. However, the story itself wasn’t for me. I just didn’t enjoy it. But that’s just me!
Also, I thought you might want to know that the term “genderbent” is problematic – a non-binary person tweeted about it. It implies two genders. Though I am not sure of another appropriate term. I myself am now going for, “..but where Robin Hood is a girl!” and hoping for the best. Lol.
ALSO! Random, but last night I dreamt that I was at work at my book shop, and new editions of A Thousand Perfect Notes arrived! They were in hardback, and they were shaped like a butterfly (title was only on spine), but also kind of curved (with flat bits in the center and at the very edges for stacking purposes) to look like they were mid flight! So you could put in flat center down, and the wings would be up, or you could put it flat edges down, and the the wings would be down! The pages inside the book were all flat and normal, though – also rectangular. I don’t know how this works, but it just did. And there was weird beautiful illustrations weird cut outs in pages so you could see the illustrations several pages early, and unique formatting! None of it really pertained to the story of ATPN, but it was just a gorgeous, beautiful book, and even in my dream I was all “I MUST TELL CAIT!” So here is me telling you, my imagination created a beautiful, impossible hardback of your book 🙂
Ah hahah 😂😂yes this is like the tip of the iceburg for me really lmao. But at least I’m kind of shaming myself into hurrying up!? I seriously am going to tackle these this year! IT WILL BE A GOAL.
Hmm, I mean I wouldn’t contradict someone who was NB and said they didn’t like the term “genderbent”, but I’m so confused why you’d say it indicates there are two genders?? lol that makes no sense to me! It’s saying it’s not the original gender.
(omg I wish ATPN was a hardcover 😂)
Sorry, I don’t think I was clear enough; it was the person who tweeted that said it implies two genders. I’ve just been through my profile on Twitter, trying tot find the original tweet to link you to, but I can’t find it. So this isn’t a direct quote, but the person who tweeted said something along the lines of, “genderbent” instead of being one gender, it’s the other. They may not have said “two genders”, they may have said it implies gender is binary. I can’t quite remember, it was a few weeks back. But yeah, they were saying “genderbent” and “gender switched” were exclusionary.
And also, sorry if it came across as me criticising you! That wasn’t what I was trying to do. And I’m really sorry if I’ve made you mad! I just thought you’d want to know. Sorry. >.>
I’m not mad! I’m sorry if I sounded mad 😭 I respect everyone’s opinions for sure, especially if it’s a nonbinary person pointing this out. I’m confused about it though because like even recently I was reading an article by two nonbinary people and they used the term “genderbent” without any preamble? So I guess there’s multiple opinions for this one?
I would do a post like this but it would quickly turn into “100+ books I should’ve read by now but…” and it would just be a disaster. I keep telling myself to not add any more books to my TBR pile but then I do. And not just one. Like twenty.
Ah haha I could’ve made this list a LOT longer too 😂