If you’ve been to my home IRL and/or follow me on bookstagram, you know that I have a pretty uncontrollable TBR shelf. (ICYMI and want more acronyms in your life—see what I did there?—TBR stands for “to be read.”)
I keep the books I still want/need to read on a designated shelf on the already filled-to-bursting bookshelves in our home. Over the years, I’ve experimented with different organizational systems for my books but nothing’s ever stuck. (If you can maintain colorblocking in your book collection, more power to you!) At this point, the only order that exists here is in designating the TBR books from the rest on their own special shelf.
I love that these cozy, colorful shelves are the focal point of our living room—and since this is the space that welcomes visitors into our home and the place where we spend most of our time, it’s basically the focal point of the whole house, too! I didn’t do this on purpose, but I’m glad that it’s happened that way.
Matt is constantly looking at the bookshelves—specifically that pesky TBR area—and insisting that we need more book storage space. I love him for validating my obsession by saying so, but (for now, at least) I’m committed to keeping my collection contained to what you see above. Having limited space holds me accountable to making regular donations to free little libraries and to sharing the love by lending things out to my reader friends and family members.
But that TBR shelf isn’t eligible for donating or sharing. Maybe I don’t play well with others, but I’m protective of those books. And as my network continues to grow and I’m lucky enough to be on the receiving end of advance copies and galleys, the TBR stacks just keep growing and growing… and growing.
Since I’m on a constant quest to keep up with my TBR as it expands, I thought it would be fun to wrap up the week with a fun little list of the books currently on my shelves that I’m most looking forward to reading soon… at least at the moment.
To be clear, I reserve the right to change my mind and reshuffle this list at any second—including the one that comes immediately after I hit PUBLISH on this post.
Anyway, here are some of the titles I’m most looking forward to jumping into ASAP (assuming I don’t get shiny object syndrome and completely reprioritize).
1. Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez
Truthfully, I’m not sure this is a book I would have chosen on my own if not for three factors: 1.) all the buzz it’s gotten, 2.) the fact that I got it as a Book of the Month freebie, and 3.) my recent craving for books that are warm and fun to read. As I’ve continued to settle into a new reading routine in motherhood, I’m focusing on grabbing books that simply make me want to keep reading and reading and reading. I don’t have time for anything that might slow me down! So many bookworms I love have recommended Yours, Truly—and I have a feeling it will do for my reading life exactly what I want it to.
2. Ready or Not by Cara Bastone
Another one of my recent BOTM picks! Friends-to-lovers, slow burn, Brooklyn… check, check, check! Books that are billed primarily as romances can be hit or miss over here, but I have a good feeling about this one, which seems to have a little extra something to it. Also, can we talk about this cover? I’m such a fan!
Currently Reading: Kiss the Girl by Zoraida Córdova
I just started this one last night and will have to report back shortly, but it’s another installment in Hyperion’s Meant to Be series, so I have high hopes. As you might remember, I really enjoyed By the Book a few months ago.
3. Friends in Napa by Sheila Yasmin Marikar
Sheila Yasmin Marikar and I share a literary agent and I was so excited to see her latest novel land on my doorstep the week before it hit shelves. It’s been fun to watch Friends in Napa get the Mindy Kaling treatment, along with love from many other writers. A little more than 200 pages, this should be a quick, engaging read.
4. Colton Gentry’s Third Act by Jeff Zentner
Here’s another one that I get to share some connections with in the publishing world. My editor also edited Colton Gentry, and she’s had the nicest things to say about it. She even sent me a copy to use as inspiration, since author Jeff Zentner made some creative decisions from which she thinks I could draw inspiration for my own novel edits. Jeff was on my podcast a few years ago and is such a nice guy, too.
5. Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll
I feel like I’m pretty late to the party on this one, but I’m still excited to attend! I loved Jessica Knoll’s Luckiest Girl Alive and was much less enthused by The Favorite Sister… but I’ve heard nothing but great things about her latest. I want to finally cross this one off my TBR list in the next few weeks!