tbr – Page 3 – Dee’s Reading Tree

Monday Cleaning Day

May 27, 2019February 8, 2022 Dee’s Reading Tree

I’m so proud I’ve kept my TBR this week at a steady 64 books when it used to be more than 100. I’ve been adding only the first book of a series, because really if I haven’t read the first book in the series yet how do I know I will like the rest? Also, mostly all the books that have less than a four star rating are gone, unless something or someone convinces me to put them back on there. In case this is your first time reading my Monday post, I usually order my Goodreads TBR list in reverse chronological order, I skip the books I kept on other Mondays, and then I pick the first five books. I then decide whether to keep them on the list, or delete them.

A Curse So Dark and Lonely (A Curse So Dark and Lonely, #1) by Brigid Kemmerer

I actually read a sample of this book and loved it, so I bought a hard copy of it. You may have seen it on my Mother’s Day book haul post on my bookstagram. I can’t wait to read it since it seems to be a Beauty and the Beast re-telling and this is my favorite fairy tale of all time, except instead of the prince I always yearned for the giant Library.

Keep 🙂

Aurora Rising (The Aurora Cycle, #1) by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman

I’ve heard a lot of great thing about this one, and I hope it’s not one of those over-hyped books that end up being disappointing. I’ve never read a book by these authors, although the Illuminae Files have also been highly recommended and I recently bought the first one. I will keep this one until I read the Illuminae Files and then make a more educated decision.

Keep 🙂

Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia

I have a paperback copy of this book I really need to read. Everyone has recommended this to me. The reviews on Goodreads are a bit mixed when it comes to my friends, but the overall rating is a 4.26/5 stars which is great. I liked the sample I read, and I am interested in this unique story about a girl who lives her life mostly online and must choose to face the real world.

Keep 🙂

Illuminae (The Illuminae Files, #1) by Amie Kaufman

I don’t know why I added this book after Aurora Rising and not the other way around, but I will definitely read this one before I read Aurora. This book comes highly recommended by all YA/Fantasy fans I’ve met, and I should really get to reading it soon.

Keep 🙂

Skyward (Skyward, #1) by Brandon Sanderson

A ship with a soul, a teenager who wants to be a pilot, and alien starfighters, all set in a post-apocalyptic world. Sign me up! This book has great reviews on Goodreads, an impressive 4.55/5 stars, and I can’t wait to read it.

Keep 🙂

I’m so happy I didn’t have to delete anything this time, and I am excited to dive into all of these books soon. Have you read any of these? What are your opinions on them?

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Top Five Additions to my TBR

May 25, 2019February 8, 2022 Dee’s Reading Tree

It’s Saturday, and therefore I don’t have to worry about cleaning up my TBR until Monday 🙂 So here are my favorite latest additions to my never ending, ever changing TBR list.

The Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury

Someone mentioned this on my bookstagram. Thank you to whoever it was, and sorry I don’t remember you. To those of you who don’t have a bookstagram your TBR probably thanks you as well. It is so hard not to add all these books to my list after seeing people talk about them and how much they loved them, and looking at all the pretty pictures they post. Anyways, back to the book. I love fairy tale retellings, and with the new Aladdin movie coming out I couldn’t help myself. It has great reviews on Goodreads. Also, look at that awesome cover!

Red Sister (Book of the Ancestor, #1) by Mark Lawrence

This one was recommended by a friend from work who is also into Fantasy/ Sci-fi books. It also has good reviews on Goodreads, and it is part of a series. I love stories with strong female characters and this seems to be one of those.

Dragonflight (Dragonriders of Pern, #1) by Anne McCaffrey

I’ve found myself in a bit of a dragon withdrawal phase ever since Game of Thrones ended. I haven’t read a good dragon book since the Eragon series by Phillip Pullman more than six years ago. Also, I’m waiting for George R.R. Martin to finish writing the series before I even attempt to read it. This book promises to scratch my dragon itch. It is pretty old, but it has great reviews on Goodreads and it was recommended by a friend who has similar tastes in books.

Cinder and the Prince of Midnight by Susan Ee

Susan Ee is the author of Peryn & The End of Days series. I loved this series, and I cannot wait to read another book by this author. This new book seems to be a Cinderella fairy tale re-telling which is another plus, as I mentioned above I love these. It releases soon on June 3, 2019.

Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young

I recently had an audio book credit on my Audible App, and I decided to spend it on this book. It had good reviews, and I learned from my mistakes and listened to a sample of it before purchasing to see if the narrator’s voice would annoy me. It seems like a great book with a strong female character, and I can’t wait to listen further.

Have you guys read any of these? Would you recommend them?

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Monday Cleaning Day

May 20, 2019February 8, 2022 Dee’s Reading Tree

After doing a major TBR organization and clean-up on Saturday, my list on Goodreads is now looking a lot better and more manageable. Either way it’s always good to keep an eye on it and make sure I don’t go TBR happy again. Plus, all those pretty pictures on my Bookstagram lately have made me add so many books on there. Since my list is down to 76 books, this time I am only looking at the first five books I added in reverse chronological order.

Two Dark Reigns (Three Dark Crowns, #3) by Kendare Blake

I loved the first book in this series. It started out really slow, but once it picked up I couldn’t put it down. The same thing happened with the second book, except I got bored and actually put it down. Now, it’s just sitting there in my TBR basket waiting for me to pick it back up. Once I read that one, then I will read this one which is the third in the series.

Keep 🙂

Shades of Wicked (Night Rebel, #1) by Jeaniene Frost

I read a sample of this one and really liked it. Also, the reviews on Goodreads are great, it’s currently a 4.35/5 stars. I fear this author’s books might become my new guilty pleasure.

Keep 🙂

Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller

This one I picked up while on vacation at Fort Myers beach and I still haven’t gotten to it. It has good reviews and people really love the second one in the series called Daughter of the Siren Queen.

Keep 🙂

Wicked Saints (Something Dark and Holy, #1) by Emily A. Duncan

I feel like this book was just really hyped up online, but the reviews on my Goodreads seem like it hasn’t lived up to the hype. Maybe I will add it later on if someone can convince me otherwise.

Delete 😦

The Queen of Nothing (The Folk of the Air, #3) by Holly Black

This is not even a question. I have been highly anticipating this book. I loved the first two books in this series and I can’t wait for the last one.

Keep 🙂

I’m so happy my new organization system seems to be working. I only had to delete one out of five this time. How do you guys decide what to read?

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TBR Organization

May 18, 2019February 8, 2022 Dee’s Reading Tree

It all started the night before Mother’s Day. I had the perfect day planned, it included going to Barnes and Noble and then dinner with my husband and my kids. But as I was looking at my endless TBR list I decided it needed some type of system or it was going to drive me insane. What exactly did I need to look for at Barnes and Noble? With my two year old and my four year old tagging along I couldn’t exactly take a leisurely stroll around the store and browse to my heart’s content. That’s when I came up with a system.

To Buy

I made a Goodreads shelf named “To Buy.” I needed a list for the books I had yet to read but wanted to buy. The night before, I read samples of all the books on there and deleted the ones I didn’t really like. This made it so I didn’t even have to read the book at all in the store, I could just buy it with confidence. I then deleted the ones I still wanted to read but I didn’t want a hard copy of and I would be fine with an e-book.

I also put books in here that I already read but I want to buy for my bookshelves. For example, books that are part of a series I love and stand alone books that have made an impression on me and I would like to own hard copies of.

Own

This one is pretty self explanatory. Is a list of the books I own hard copies of, I don’t count e-books.

Classics

I have been at a loss of what to do with my classics. There are some that I have read and love, and there are some that I own and have been dreading reading. So I put them all in this list.

To be Released

I made this list to keep track of any upcoming releases from my favorite authors and favorite series. It’s a way to keep track of release dates and cover reveals as well. This way I have a quick reference if I need to brush up on a series before release date, or if I need to request an ARC.

Priority One

I really needed a shelf like this. This is where I put the books I really need to read next, whether it’s for a review or an ARC an author gave me, these are the books I must read soon before I even browse anything else. I don’t always do that, sometimes I stray into other books I really want to read just for fun, but I try not to. This list definitely helps!

Re-read (Second Chance)

This is the shelf where I put the books I did not finish but would like to try again. Maybe it was the mood I was in? I will give these books one last chance before I delete them completely.

How do you all organize your TBR? Any suggestions?

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Monday Cleaning Day

May 13, 2019February 8, 2022 Dee’s Reading Tree

I have come to really enjoy writing these Monday posts. They create the illusion that I have some sort of control over my TBR list. On these posts I got to my Goodreads TBR list, I order it in reverse order, and from “date added.” I then pick the first ten books and I choose whether to keep them or delete them from my list. I obviously skip the books I decided to keep in past weeks.

The Bird King by G. Willow Wilson

The first thing I noticed when I looked at this book is that the cover is gorgeous. As you probably know, I am a sucker for pretty covers. My friends on Goodreads have rated this book 3 to 5 stars, which is promising. But, what really sold me on this was the fact that one of my favorite authors Sabaa Tahir (author of An Ember in the Ashes) rated it 5 stars. If she loves it, then I will love it.

Keep 🙂

In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan

Lets face it, the cover is terrible. But, my friends on Goodreads who have read it all have given it above a four star rating. It seems like a feel good book. I just have to be in a certain mood to read those. But I will try it!

Keep 🙂

The Star Touched Queen and A Crown of Wishes (#1 and #2) by Roshani Chokshi

Both of these look really good, and they have great reviews from all my friends on Goodreads. Also, another one of my favorite authors Sarah J. Maas, rated it five stars so now I definitely have to read it!

Keep 🙂

Truthwitch (The Witchlands, #1) by Susan Dennard

There are a lot of mixed reviews on this one. But many of my friends on Goodreads did not finish it, and many more did not like it. So I will have to pass.

Delete 😦

Shadow and Bone Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo

I can’t believe I still haven’t read these. I loved Six of Crows, and I am currently loving Crooked Kingdom. I am sure I will like these as well.

Keep 🙂

Wonder Woman: Warbringer (DC Icons, #1) by Leigh Bardugo

I love everything Wonder Woman, and I love Leigh Bardugo, so essentially this book was made for me to read it.

Keep 🙂

King of Scars (Nikolai Duology, #1) by Leigh Bardugo

I guess I went on a Leigh Bardugo TBR spree for a while there didn’t I? I’ve heard great things about this one, and it has great ratings on Goodreads. But I will wait until I finish the Shadow and Bone trilogy and then decide if I want to read this one.

Delete (for now)

Ninth House (Alex Stern, #1) by Leigh Bardugo

Okay, I am noticing a trend here. It seems like Bardugo has started a lot of trilogies and duologies and has yet to finish them. That makes me nervous. Once again, I will finish the Shadow and Bone trilogy and then decide if I want to read this one.

Delete (for now)

Dangerous Beauty (Dangerous Beauty, #1) by J.T. Geissinger

This is one of my guilty pleasures. It has great reviews. I am keeping it there for whenever I am in the mood.

Keep 🙂

Verity by Colleen Hoover

I haven’t read one of her books in a while. It has almost all five star reviews, and barely any bad reviews. It looks like an interesting story. Also, look at that cover!

Keep 🙂

So I ended up looking at thirteen books, because they were part of a series. I deleted only three this time, but I still feel better about it.

P.S. You guys know how I said on my first Monday Cleaning Day post I had 70 ish books on my TBR list? Well…theres 109 there now, and I have no idea how that happened.

How are you guys doing on your TBR list? How do you manage it?

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WWW Wednesday

May 8, 2019February 8, 2022 Dee’s Reading Tree

This is a meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words where you answer three questions: What are you reading now? What did you just read? What will you be reading next?

I can’t believe it’s Wednesday again. But here is what I just read, what I’m currently reading and what I plan to read next. Although not everything ends up going to plan, I still try my best.

What I just read

The Red Scrolls of Magic by Cassandra Clare

This book was amazing. I knew I would love it because I love all her books and this was no exception. I missed these characters so much. My full review is coming up soon!

What I’m reading/listening to now

Shadow of the Fox by Julie Kagawa

This is the first audio book I try, and it’s a good one. It is voiced by three different people which is great when a male actually voices the male character. I’ve been listening to the audio on my way to and from work and when I do housework. Then, I switch to the real book on my down time. I’m loving the story. I liked the Immortal Rules series by her, and I knew I would love this one.

What I plan to read next

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

I’ve started this book and then left it a few times and I don’t know why. The beginning drops you right in the middle of the action and it seems like it will be a great read. I think I just stopped it because Red Scrolls got released and I just had to read that one, but I will definitely finish this one soon!

What are you guys’ WWW’s?

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Monday Cleaning Day

May 6, 2019February 8, 2022 Dee’s Reading Tree

I’ve actually been looking forward to doing this all week. I went a little TBR happy for a few days there adding everything and anything to my list. Now every time I look at it my OCD starts getting to me. Just like last Monday I organized my Goodreads TBR list in reverse chronological order. I then chose the first ten books and decided to keep or delete it. I obviously skipped the books I decided were keepers last Monday.

Marked (Eternal Guardians, #1) by Elisabeth Naughton

I read one of Naughton’s books a long time ago, it’s called Wait for Me, and it was published in 2011. At the time I was into these romance novels, but this is not that time.

Delete 😦

Rapture (The Elfin, #2) by Quinn Loftis and Surrender (The Elfin, #3)

I did like the first in this series, but once again that was many years ago and I don’t think I will continue on with it. The recent reviews for it are bad, and many of my friends on Goodreads also agree that this series went downhill.

Delete 😦

Consumed (Firefighters, #1) and The Thief (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #16)

Like I said on my Guilty Pleasures post, I have to be in a certain mood to read J.R. Ward books. I have heard a lot of great things about both of these books, especially The Thief. I do love me some Brotherhood vampires every once in a while.

Keep 🙂

Glitter (Glitter, #1) and Earthbound (Earthbound, #1) by Aprilynne Pike

These books have really bad reviews from everyone on Goodreads. I remember reading a few of Pike’s books when I was a teenager, but I think I have outgrown them. It’s a shame, because the Glitter cover is so gorgeous.

Delete 😦

Storm and Fury (The Harbinger, #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

I’ve been looking forward to this book which will be out in June. I really liked her Wicked series. I found it really fun and entertaining. Before that I enjoyed the Lux series.

Keep 🙂

To Best the Boys by Mary Weber

I’ve never read one of Weber’s books, but I have heard great things about this one, and that cover is gorgeous.

Keep 🙂

The Gilded Wolves (The Gilded Wolves, #1) by Roshani Chokshi

Once again this is another one I’ve heard lots of good things about. Everyone on my Goodreads friends list agrees this is a keeper. Also, look at that cover! I am a sucker for pretty covers.

Keep 🙂

Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen M. McManus

I think I added to my TBR list to recommend it to a friend who likes these type of books and then I forgot about it. I have since told said friend and deleted it.

Delete 😦

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

I understand I’m way behind the times with this one. Everyone says it’s great. It has just been sitting there on my TBR list and I have struggled to get to it, but I will!

Keep 🙂

The Beautiful by Renee Ahdieh

I really liked Flame in the Mist, but I struggled to get through Smoke in the Sun and eventually DNF it. I will attempt to read it again soon. But this one I’m really excited about because I love vampires, also the cover! It’s coming out October 8, 2019.

Keep 🙂

Once again I do realize I ended up talking about thirteen books and deleted six of them, but only because they were by the same author or part of a series. My OCD is thanking me 🙂

Have you done any deleting in your TBR list lately? Do you avoid looking at it sometimes like I do?

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Monday Cleaning Day

April 29, 2019February 8, 2022 Dee’s Reading Tree

Monday is cleaning day in my household. My goal is always to get all the deep cleaning done in one day so I can spend the rest of the week doing other things, and only needing to touch up here and there.

This week I decided to do the same on my Goodreads TBR list. I have 70 books on there right now and it’s getting a bit out of control. I started by organizing the list in reverse order, filtered by the date the book was added so that the older books show up first. Then, I went through the first ten books. For each one I read the reviews of those who’s opinions I trust on my friends list, I also read the synopsis again, and finally I made a decision. Keep or delete.

House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas

I’m not even going to pretend I thought about deleting this one. I will always read anything Maas writes, even if it’s a narrative about watching water boil. This book is highly anticipated and I cannot wait for the cover reveal. I know it’s going to be epic.

Keep : )

Imagine Me (Shatter me, #6) by Tahereh Mafi

I’ll admit I was a little disappointed with the last book. I felt like it was more like a filler book, and it could’ve just been a novella. That said, I definitely want to finish this series and I hope Mafi will redeem herself with this one.

Keep 🙂

Catwoman: Soulstealer (DC Icons, #3) by Sarah J. Maas

Please refer to book one on this post.

Keep 😉

Circe by Madeline Miller

I have never read a book by this author before which made me a bit hesitant. But, I currently have seventeen of my Goodreads friends who gave this book a good review. I also love books about Gods. It reminds me of the book Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor.

Keep 🙂

One Dark Throne (Three Dark Crowns, #2) by Kendare Blake

I really liked the first one of this series, and I am really curious to know what happens next. Her books do start out a little slow, but once they pick up they’re great.

Keep 🙂

La Belle Sauvage (The Book of Dust, #1) by Philip Pullman

I really liked the whole Eragon series. But I think I have outgrown these type of books.

Delete 😦

Shadow of the Fox (Shadow of the Fox, #1) by Julie Kagawa

I love most of her books, except the Talon series, so this could be a hit or miss. I decided to read a sample before making a decision. The first sentence reads “It was raining the day Suki came to the Palace of the Sun, and it was raining the night that she died.” Well now I have to read it.

Keep 🙂

Untitled (Oxygen, #2) by Shelly Crane

I loved the first book called The Other Side of Gravity, but I have lost hope that she is ever going to write a second one. She wrote the first one back in 2016. I’ve been holding on to hope for too long and it’s time to let go. If she ever does write one I am sure I will find out.

Delete 😦

The Seeker and The Soul (The Host, #2 and #3) by Stephenie Meyer

Meyer wrote The Host in 2008, once again I’ve lost all hope. I’m starting to think she never really announced these for real and it was all made up by the fans.

Delete 😦

Hold on to Me and Melt for Me (Against All Odds, #2 and #3) by Elisabeth Naughton

I really liked the first book in this series Wait for Me, but I feel like it should’ve stayed a stand alone book. I was happy with the ending, an it looks like a lot of other reviewers felt the same.

Delete 😦

Okay, so really I ended up deciding on twelve books instead of ten, but only because some were part of a series. In the end I deleted six out of twelve books and it feels right. Like spring cleaning.

Were you sad or surprised I deleted any of these? Which ones would you definitely keep? Leave me a comment!

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My TBR Basket

April 24, 2019February 8, 2022 Dee’s Reading Tree

Who else has a never ending TBR (To Be Read) pile?

Mine currently includes:

~The Lord of the Rings (#1 and #2, I still need to get #3) by J.R.R. Tolkien

~Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller

~One Dark Throne (Three Dark Crowns, #2) by Kendare Blake

Am I the only bookworm who has never read “The Hobbit” or “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy? I’m so ashamed to have those on my basket.

Daughter of the Pirate King was a new acquisition while on vacation. I’ve heard it has a strong female character, and those are my favorite.

Finally, I really need to get to One Dark Throne, the third one of the series is already out and it’s getting really hard to avoid the spoilers.

And these are only the real books I have yet to read. I still have a long list of e-books I haven’t gotten to, and a huge “To Read” shelf on Goodreads.

How about you?