While I’ve been asked on occasion for my TBR list, I’ve never felt comfortable publishing it, as it fluctuates like crazy. I’ll have 3 or 4 books lined up for my upcoming reads, and then I receive an adamant recommendation or two and the whole list shifts!
I brought up this issue on Facebook:
Maryse’s Book Blog: What am I gonna doooooo? I feel like I have 100 books at my #1 spot in my TBR list… My reading list keeps changing, growing, expanding, fluctuating, repositioning itself. ACK! It’s as if it’s become it’s own living breathing thing!! Ahhhh well. Can’t complain. I just gotta go with the flow. 😉
and after a few adamant recommendations about what should be next on my list, and a bunch jumping in and seconding the recommendation, I went and downloaded those too (even though I already had a bunch in my #1 spot). So instead of choosing one, I added more!:
Maryse’s Book Blog: Awesome!!! Seeeeee!!?? This wasn’t even on my radar a few days ago, and my TBR list just shifted again! I swear it’s alive!
prompting Gail to ask:
Gail: I feel like I am always 2 books behind you. How do you choose your next book to read? and do you have a book that you just can’t wait to read?
Maryse’s Book Blog: LOL! Gail… I always have a running list of “books to be read” that I’ve either had recommended to me, or that I’ve found and am curious about. But how I choose really depends on the day. If I start a book simply because it is the next one on my list, I may not “read it right”… you know? If I’m not in the mood for dark and gloomy or for a sweet/funny read, or for an angst-y heartwrenching read, and the next one is something I might not be in the mood for, then I might struggle with it. So I always read the synopsis of a few books, and choose whichever one makes me go “Ohhhh YAH!! I wanna read THIS now!!” LOL! Not very scientific, but it *mostly* works out well.
Do I have a book that I can’t wait to read? Hrmmm.. well yes. I had three on my list yesterday – all excellent reviews, and I chose the one that had some readers in an emotional uproar, so much so, that they had to *get away* from the book a bit. I want to read them all, but the “angst” in this one was just calling to me all weekend, so I chose it, last night. I was just too excited to see what all the fuss was about, and so far, I’m enjoying it!
sidenote: If I remember correctly, the book I was talking about and was reading that day was S.C. Stephens “It’s All Relative” (it’s a free read for now, on her Feedbooks page). A bit repetitive and drawn out at times, but sure enough, it was thought provoking and incredibly romantically/emotionally intense. But. It certainly had it’s uncomfortable “eeeeeeep” moments. Definitely some cringe-worthiness. I felt bad for being so thoroughly entertained by their “dilemma” but, hey, it was a fun read.
So here is my list as of right now:
My friend Jackie will totally flip out if I don’t read this one soon so it’s next. It HAS to be. I’ve been agreeing every step of the way, but for some reason, some other book always jumps in and takes my focus. And you know what? I just know that once I read this, I’ll be kicking myself for not having read it sooner. I have a feeling (by the way she talks about it) that this will end up in my all-time forever and ever favorites list. After all, she and I have VERY similar tastes in books, and I’ve never seen her so insistent. She’s been adamantly demanding (and I mean demanding – LOL!!) that this is THE NEXT BOOK on my list and to quit worrying about what’s next. THIS IS IT!!
Jackie: Ok so you bought BOATK – when are you going to actually read it????
Maryse: I’m finishing Siren – I have two book reviews to do, and 2 MUST reads. Collision Course by SC Stephens and The Opportunist
those are the next two on my TBR list but I gotta move yours up too, so I remember it. Out of sight out of mind with me…Jackie: STOP! read the damn book! I’ll pester you.
Maryse: yah but… hahahaha. Ok then on to BOATK.
She (and a few of our book buds) have read it, and all insist it is an absolute heart warming AMAZING favorite.
The Fifth Favor by Shelby Reed
Thanks to the little reminder from Lise… I had to add it onto this list. OMG YES! This is a definite MUST read within the next book or so. I have two copies sitting on my nightstand, ’cause it’s only available in print for now. One for me, and one for a giveaway on my review. Highly recommended by Sylvia Day herself, I’m just waiting on Jenny to get her copy so we can read it together. This one is calling me, Jenny… I keep starting at it longingly wondering if I could just *start* it without you. LOL!! But I won’t, ’cause I have a feeling once I start I won’t be able to stop, and you ‘n me have a reading date.
Gitte just went crazy for this book “… it affected me completely, emotionally and I have never read a book with an unconventional love story like this before….I can REALLY recommend it!!!”, and a few others are already saying they are loving it too! I noticed it a few days ago (hey, it had tattoo in the name!!) so of course it ended up in my TBR list, but it just moved up to more then likely “next” in line. I mean, after Bear, Otter, and the Kid of course. 😉
I love S.C. Stephens (her books have such a detailed intensity to them, and frequently push my comfort zone with situations that are just not the norm in romance reads. But I love it. This one has been recommended a ton, and when my friend Tina messaged me saying: “I started Collision Course last night. My heart hurts. So far very good.” I knew it had to be soon! (And see… this one was #2 on my next to read list, and now Butterfly Tattoo threatens it’s TBR position).
There are a TON more on my list, but these are what I am aiming to read over the next week or so. But you know how that goes… 😉
Latest reads that were high on my TBR list, that I just finished:
The Siren (The Original Sinners) by Tiffany Reisz
I was looking for another book to add to my “what to read after Fifty Shades” list, and while this one was amazingly written, beautiful, thought provoking and eerie, it wasn’t exactly what I was looking for. Liked it, but I didn’t feel complete, or full after finishing it. I’m sure there will be another book after it, so that might be fix it, but as a whole, while there is “love”, there was more turmoil, introspection, feelings of unworthiness leading to character growth, then of romantic intensity. But like the main characters repeats, this is a love story, not a romance. Writing is 5 stars, story is 4 stars but overall I just felt 3.5 stars on this one. Dunno why? It is what it is, feeling wise, for me.
This fixed it for me. That fluffy romantic intensity that I craved with an obnoxious alpha male, this one had it. And while not perfect, and at times the alpha said the most “eye-rolling-iest” things that deserved a kick you know where… well, overall, it was a good read that satisfied my romance sweet-tooth. Not *squee* worthy but a great in between read, especially after a dark and heartbreaking one. Old school Maryse-reading… paranormal romance style (not really paranormal but the whole genetic half human/half animal DNA thing.. you know)
These reviews coming up next…
