Yep, I said it. As much as I love TBRs and they give me structure and goals for each month, during November, I’m not making one.
I know this might seem out of character for me (it is), since I’ve been religiously setting myself a TBR each month since mid-2017, but I wanted to have a month where I let myself read what I want, when I want.
The main reason for this is that I’ve read to a pretty disciplined schedule recently because I’ve been part of a lot of blog tours, and, in order to make sure my posts go up on time, I planned out my reading out quite strictly. This sounds like a complaint about blog tours, but it’s definitely not; I adore being part of blog tours and am constantly on the hunt for new ones so I can promote books I think I’ll love. But the only downside of creating a strict reading schedule is that it doesn’t leave a lot of time for mood reading.
I used to be a huge mood reader about six or seven years back and now and then I miss the freedom of it. Sometimes I think the spontaneity of just picking up a book because you feel like it can augment your enjoyment of the story, since you were in the mood for that genre. So, for November, because I have no blog tours coming up, I thought I’d give myself a month where I don’t set a TBR. I’m just going to read what I feel like when I want.
Having said that, one book I am going to try and get to this month is Radio Silence; I asked you guys yesterday in my Top Ten Tuesday post yesterday which book on my backlists I should try and read, and Radio Silence got the most votes, so I’ll be picking up that. If possible, I also want to read my ARC of Girl’s of Paper and Fire, as it was just released yesterday, but we’ll see where the month takes me.
What are you reading this month? Are you a mood reader or do you plan your TBRs?
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I rarely have a TBR, only for my ARCs. And when I’m heavily loaded with them, I definitely miss the freedom of mood reading.
Yeah, I’ve missed it quite a bit and that’s why I decided to not pick anything to read this month – aside from Radio Silence! It’s been really liberating so far 🙂 I know what you mean about ARCs though – I always try to schedule my reading of them far enough in advance that I’ll be able to review them!
This is genius! And somewhat daunting… I mentally have an idea already but having a list was actually preventing me from reading so I picked up what I really wanted to read. But the unknown can be scary sometimes!! good luck!
Haha thanks Vanessa! It’s quite a change for me from picking out specific books, so I’m definitely enjoying it so far! I really like just grabbing a book off my TBR pike and thinking ‘yeah, I’ll read that!’ 😀
This is a good idea and I hope you enjoy your month-long TBR freedom 🙂
I have a TBR list, but only decide very late what I am going to read next.
Thanks Stephen, I feel like it’s going to be a very fun month! What will you be reading in November? 🙂
I am currently buddy reading How To Be Brave by Louise Beech – almost halfway and the storytelling is wonderful. Also planning to read The Innocent Wife by Amy Lloyd and A Stranger In The House by Shari Lapena.
Happy reading 🙂
I am such a mood reader. I’ve tried and failed to set a tbr so many times and now I’ve just given up and accepted that I am too much of a fickle to stick to them haha. Good luck with the non-tbr list. 😀
Haha, I don’t think that’s a bad way to be! It means you’ll always be reading things that you’re in the mood for! I’m curious, what do you do about blog tours and times when you have to read something specific? 🙂
If I know that the book is part of a blog tour I tend to make it my priority and read them as soon as I get them basically haha.
Enjoy your TBR-free month! ☺️
Thanks Rae, I’m sure I will!
Good idea. I need to do this myself because lately I’ve been really in to mood reading and not wanting to force myself to read a set list.
Thanks! Yeah, I think it’s a really good way to refresh your reading habits and pick up books you’re really ready for! 🙂
Totally, and I have a huge tbr I have been dying to hit, but it’s suffered because of review requests and tours.
ive never set myself a tbr so i hope it works out well for you 🙂
Hehe thanks Lauren! It’s been fun so far, but I’ve been reading quite slowly during the last week, so I’ve not got to as many books as I’d hoped.