Here’s another edition of Down the TBR Hole, a meme created by Lia at Lost in a Story where we decide whether to keep or remove books on our TBR.
The rules for Down the TBR Hole:
- Go to your Goodreads to-read shelf.
- Order on ascending date added.
- Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books
- Read the synopses of the books
- Decide: keep it or should it go?
I’ve switched it up some and will only list the books I plan to remove from my Goodreads TBR. Those with a green Kick Off are ones I’ll probably change my mind on and read at some point.
Batch #1
Book of Shadows by Cate Tiernan
A YA paranormal novel about a girl who might be a witch.
I’m not exactly sure what this is about because the synopsis on Goodreads didn’t say much.
Kick Off
Alice Hartley’s Happiness by Philippa Gregory
A novel about a woman who leaves her adulterous husband to move in with a student “with an excessive libido.”
The synopsis makes me think it’s about sex, sex, and more sex. But despite that —
Kick Off
The Matchmaker by Elin Hilderbrand
A romance novel about a matchmaker who falls in love.
Not feeling it.
Kick Off
The Empathy Exams: Essays by Leslie Jamison
A nonfiction book about empathy written by a medical actor.
I know this is a great one to read, but I’ve lost interest.
Kick Off
A Rogue by Any Other Name by Sarah MacLean
A historical romance novel about a disgraced gentleman and a lady exploring her desires.
I’m not big on romance (though I’ve been reading quite a bit of them this year). I wonder why I placed this on my TBR.
Kick Off
Batch #2
Sweetshop of Dreams: A Novel with Recipes by Jenny Colgan
A contemporary romance novel that seems to be about a young woman whose love life is reinvigorated when she moves cross country to care for her ailing grand aunt and manage her grand aunt’s sweet shop.
I’m developing an interest in romance these days and this sounds sweet, so I might read it.
Kick Off
Save the Date by Mary Kay Andrews
A romance novel about a wedding planner.
Not feeling it.
Kick Off
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen by Paul Torday
I think it’s about a doctor who goes off to discover if there’s salmon in Yemen… Yeah, don’t quote on that. I don’t know what it’s about.
Wish I knew why I placed it on my TBR. I’ve totally forgotten.
Kick Off
Dancing on the Head of a Pen: The Practice of a Writing Life by Robert Benson
A nonfiction book that seeks to inspire people to write or pursue their artistic interests.
I’m trying to cut down on the amount of writing books on my TBR and I refuse to buy any more until I’ve read the ones I own.
Kick Off
The Accidental Highwayman: Being the Tale of Kit Bristol, His Horse Midnight, a Mysterious Princess, and Sundry Magical Persons Besides by Ben Tripp
A YA fantasy novel set in 18th-century England about a boy who must rescue a princess.
It sounds fun, but I’ve lost interest.
Kick Off
Batch #3
The Skeleton Cupboard: Stories From a Clinical Psychologist by Tanya Byron
Seems to be a memoir about the author’s years of training as a clinical psychologist.
I don’t think I’ll read this one.
Kick Off
Goddesses in Everywoman by Jean Shinoda Bolen
Described as: “A classic work of female psychology that uses seven archetypcal goddesses as a way of describing behavior patterns and personality traits.”
I’m no longer interested and don’t know why I placed it on my TBR in the first place.
Kick Off
Belzhar by Meg Wolitzer
Seems to be a YA magical realism novel inspired by Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar. It’s about a girl trying to cope with her trauma (I think).
Unfortunately, I’m no longer interested in this.
Kick Off
Should I Go to Grad School?: 41 Answers to An Impossible Question, edited by Jessica Loudis, Bosko Blagojevic, John Arthur Peetz, and Allison Rodman
It’s about exactly what the title says.
Well, I’m no longer debating this question, so…
Kick Off
All done.
Let me know if you’ve read any of these books and what you thought of them.
Zezee with Books 
I think books need to sit in my TBR for a while while my subconscious decides if I should read it. It hasn’t been too wrong. Sometimes I wonder why I decided to read a particular book. I keep passing it over for another. Thanks for sharing your kick off list! ❤️❤️
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Same here. The books I add remain on my Goodreads TBR for a long time before I decide to kick ’em off.
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Do you happen to know if Lost in a Story is still hosting this meme? I checked out the website, but didn’t see any recent posts in this category. I’d love to add this to my book blog meme directory, but wasn’t sure who to list as the active host (or if there is one).
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I don’t know if she still is. Sorry.
I don’t think it’s a meme that will always keep going because eventually you won’t need to remove anything else from your TBR. You could just say it was created by Lost in a Story.
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This is such a fun post. I like your “Down The TBR Hole” series a lot. 😀
I’ve read one book by Jenny Colgan before (The Bookshop on the Corner) and though it was no brain-teaser but had enough feel good vibe to make me read her other books again in future.
“Salmon Fishing in the Yemen” is another book I’ve read great reviews from my “book-snob” friends but the premise sounded kinda meh to me as well.
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Oh I didn’t even realize that she wrote Bookshop on the Corner. I think that’s on my TBR. I’ll try her work when I’m in the stressed and need something light that’ll make me feel good.
Lol at book snob friends. I have some of those too. Yea, not feeling the fishing in Yemen
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Haven’t read any of these. Also, I’m really bad at going through and taking things off my want to read list lol.
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Lol I’m usually bad at it too, but this meme forces me to take a look and remove stuffing know I won’t read. Though looking at my Goodreads the has renewed my interest in some stuff too.
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