I know many of you, like me, have an overflowing TBR (to-be-read) pile.
Lately, I’ve been struggling with choosing my next read.
For the most part, I’m a mood reader, so I choose based on how I’m feeling.
However, I also enjoy reading books from different genres simultaneously, so if I finish one genre, I pick something else from the same genre, as I likely have other genres I’m also reading.
And yet, even with those two loose parameters, I often find myself doing a switch-up either because a book I want to read just came out or I’m suddenly wondering why a book that’s been in my pile for a while hasn’t yet been read!
So I’m wondering . . . how do you choose?
Latest published date?
Earlier published date?
Date acquired in your collection?
In other words, do you have a system?
Or do you choose by mood, genre, or even just a random selection (I’ve seen people wrap their TBR books and pick one to read without knowing what it is)?
Do you have different criteria for picking your next physical book read vs. an ebook or an audiobook?
Inquiring minds want to know!
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I read for review for authors and publishers. So I read by what is being published next or a deadline for a tour. And try to sneak in books for challenges and books I win.
That certainly makes the choice easier! And how fun to get to read all those new releases!
Since I’ve been attending reader events again the last few years, I’ve started making smaller TBRs based on those events. I look through my Audible, Kindle, and bookshelves to find the books I own by the authors who will be attending. It’s amazing how many books I find that I already own (and how many of them I haven’t read yet… oy). Then I try to choose books from those lists based on what I’m in the mood to read. There’s usually a good mix of genres so I have plenty of options. I’ve also found a few new-to -me authors that have backlists and so I’ve created little TBRs specific to those authors so I can check off their books as I read them. And then, of course, I have my book club lists (I have two book clubs) so each month I try to read the books we’ll be discussing. I never seem to run out of options and it’s rare that I’m not in the mood for something on one those TBRs… Sometimes though I’m just in the mood for a particular book or trope or author and so I’ll grab whatever fits the bill.
Ah, another mood reader! 🙂 I love that you curate your TBR stacks by author events. That’s so fun!
My next read is either something waiting in my TBR pile or a recommendation I’ve spotted on a blog, Instagram or an Inspirational Fiction Facebook page that catches my interest.
Those new recommendations do a number on my TBR pile! It’ amazing how many times I’ll jump one of those to the top! 😂
When I have a lot of to be read books I arrange them in setting date order. It really helps to immerse myself in the period.
Setting date order! I love it!
Mood more than anything. I have so very many books that I’ve purchased (even years ago) that I haven’t yet read because something new releases that fits my mood more. I just spent yesterday, combing through the unread books in my Audible library. Found a book I’d totally forgotten (released in 2021) and decided to read it. As most bookaholics, I can’t resist buying another book even when I know I have more books than I can manage still to read. I try, but I never quite succeed when it comes to resisting the next great book.
Yes, sigh. So many older books literally waiting on my bookshelves–and in my kindle. I can’t stop buying even when I have plenty to read, which makes choosing the next reader even harder–especially when there are still new releases I’m anxious to read! I think with all the books we have, you have to be a mood reader or it would become just a chore list to check off, right?
What I actually read is determined by my Libby holds but I have books I want to read through Kindle Kindle Unlimited and kindle books I’ve bought on sale.
That makes sense. You have to get them read if you have a due date! 🙂
Mostly I read what fits my mood. However, sometimes I read based on what I can physically get from my local library because I want a PHYSICAL book. I literally walked into my library one day and combed the shelves for any book by an author I knew just because I wanted a physical book. (I do read digital books when the mood suits me, but I much prefer physical books.) I also try to slip in a book for a reading challenge. Also, I try to read from different genres or time periods. For example, last night I finished a book set in the 1300s England and then started an Amish book.
I do a lot of that jumping around in genres and time periods. (Unless I’m reading a series where all the books have been published and they are all in the same time period.) I like shaking things up, like you do. I wish I could still read physical books but my eyesight makes ebooks so much easier to read!
Great question. My TBR is an insurmountable mountain. 🙂 Like Paula, I read many books as a reviewer for authors or publishers Those get priority but when I don’t have obligatory reads I rotate through my book list by author last name. Example: My latest read is by Lynette Eason so my next one will be by an author with a last name starting with F. I can still be a mood reader, but this narrows down my choices.
Great idea! I love that!
I love seeing these ideas! I read by mood and like to mix up time periods/genres a little bit. Does anyone else struggle with unread book guilt, lol? I start feeling guilty about those books in my physical TBR pile that I’ve had for years… Oddly I don’t worry about the ebook ones, maybe out of sight out of mind? I prefer physical books anyway! I don’t have a good system of picking the next one.
So. Much. Guilt. Especially when the books in my TBR are written by friends! But it’s so hard to keep up when new releases send the pile higher! 🙂