One plight many readers, though often I feel alone in this, may be able to relate to is that of the unread books on my shelf. If you are anything like me, you have a lot of them, hence the reason why I decided to find twenty (though there are many others) instead of the list traditional number of ten.
LIST | RANKING TAYLOR SWIFT’S ‘THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT’
20 OF THE UNREAD BOOKS FROM MY SHELF. Looking at a mere 20 (there's too many more!) of the books doing nothing on my shelf but remaining unread! #TopTen #TopTenList #BookList #TopTenTuesday #BookLists #Reader #Reading Click To TweetWhen I purchase these books I have good intentions to read them. Most I’m even overly excited about. But instead of reading these unread books, I tend to continue buying them, which is why sometimes I go through periods where I buy next to none. It feels like a good reader exercise. Regardless of all that, let’s meet twenty of my unread bookshelf books.
Also, sidenote, if I do take the time to look up how long I’ve owned some of these, it will be embarrassing to admit these are still in the unread column.
TWENTY UNREAD BOOKS FROM MY SHELF
PRICED TO MOVE, GINNY AIKEN
This series, at the time, sounded so dang fun (it’s about a shopping network). Have I read it? Nope. Have you read them? Bought April 2008. Goodreads
THE NATURALS (SERIES), JENNIFER LYNN BARNES
A series I thought sounded really interesting but haven’t read yet. It’s pitched as a young adult Criminal Minds. Bought February 2015. Goodreads
THORNWICKE, CHARITY BISHOP
A fantasy novel about a heroine questioning whether she’s a witch. Bought October 2013. Goodreads
PRISONER OF NIGHT AND FOG, ANNE BLANKMAN
This one has been on my shelf for a ridiculously long time. This one is a WWII novel that I picked up not just because of the cover, but because it’s a YA historical and I don’t have many of those that seem like good reads. Bought February 2015. Goodreads
ROOK, SHARON CAMERON
Picked this one up because it’s a lose adaptation of The Scarlet Pimpernel. Bought June 2015. Goodreads
THE CROWN, KIERA CASS
The spinoff book to Cass’ popular The Selection series. Bought March 2016. Goodreads
WORDS IN DEEP BLUE, CATH CROWLEY
This one does look and sound so good. Still haven’t read it. Are we surprised? Bought May 2017. Goodreads
WENTWORTH HALL, ABBY GRAHAME
Pretty sure I bought this one because it was at the height of my love for Downton Abbey. Bought June 2012. Goodreads
SCOOP, RENE GUTTERIDGE
Had this one for the longest (of the books I’m featuring), and while it does sound fun, I never read it. Bought September 2007. Goodreads
STONE, RONIE KENDIG
I used to read some of Ronie’s book years ago, mainly her military books. But it’s been a long time since I read something by her. One of these days I should remedy this oversight. Bought December 2021. Goodreads
WAIT FOR ME and IN ANOTHER TIME, CAROLINE LEECH
More young adult historical novels, these books have been on my shelf since January of 2017 and July of 2019. They’re WWII romances that sound interesting, so are they still worth a read? Goodreads
NOWHERE BUT HERE, KATIE MCGARRY
This one sounds kind of edgy and different compared to most books I pick up. Bought September 2015. Goodreads
MY LAST KISS, BETHANY NEAL
Not sure I remember the why of buying this, but I think it was because it sounded unique. Bought July 2017. Goodreads
DEAR READER, MARY O’CONNELL
This is a young adult mystery that sounds like it could be fun, and I think the synopsis mentions Gilmore Girls. Bought May 2017. Goodreads
A LADY OF HIGH REGARD, TRACIE PETERSON
This series looked so good, and I think the pretty and delicate cover art was something I intended to read. But never did. Bought March 2016. Goodreads
THE WEDDING RINGER, KERRY REA
I was curious about this one and thought it would be a really fun wedding comedy. It’s been on my shelf for a while now though so reading it should be something I put on my to-do list. Goodreads
THE FREEMASON’S DAUGHTER, SHELLEY SACKIER
I’ve had this one for a while (like most of these), and like Prisoner of Night and Fog, I think I added this one to my shelf too because of its historical young adult genre. Bought April 2017. Goodreads
ORDINARY GIRLS, BLAIR THORNBURGH
Inspired by Sense and Sensibility, this follows two complete opposite sisters. Bought June 2019. Goodreads
PLOT TWIST, BETHANY TURNER
I liked one of Turner’s novels and another not as well, but this one with its cheerful yellow backdrop background and fun concept pulled me in all in the hopes I’d like this one too! Goodreads
FAIR GAME, ELIZABETH WHITE
I’ve read a couple of novels by White, but I don’t think this is one of them; it’s a story about a widow returning home in a disastrous return. Bought July 2008. Goodreads
DON’T TOUCH, RACHEL WILSON
This novel sounded so interesting to me about a girl who manifests the idea that if no one touches her skin, somehow her life will piece itself back together again. Bought July 2014. Goodreads
Have you read any of these? Which do I have to read first? Which ones should go in the unhaul bin? Comment all of your thoughts below. Let’s chat.
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Linking up with That Artsy Reader Girl April 23: Unread Books on My Shelves I Want to Read Soon (Bonus points if you tell us how long it’s been sitting on your shelf waiting for you.)
I hope you like all of these books when you read them.
Here is my Top Ten Tuesday.
Thanks! I hope so too. :)
Ordinary Girls sounds interesting! I love Sense and Sensibility.
I think so too, Erin. That’s one I plan to keep and still give a chance. :)
I’ve only heard of a couple of these but haven’t read any of them. I hope you are able to get to these books at some point and enjoy them when you do.
Thanks so much, Sarah. I hope so as well. :)
I have a lot of books I haven’t read yet either, though I’m trying to work my way through them. I’ve had them for an embarrassingly long time as well!
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who has books for an embarrassing amount of time. :)
Katie McGarry :D i love her when i was a teen, although I never read that book
That’s good to know! I haven’t read anything by Katie, but these books always did sound interesting. :)
I’m unfamiliar with these books, but I do understand the pain (pressure?) of having so many books staring at you waiting to be read. I hope you enjoy these when have the urge to read them.
Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!
https://readbakecreate.com/ten-more-random-books-on-my-goodreads-tbr/
Same. I hope so too, Pam. :)
Now I want to read Dear Reader just because it mentions Gilmore Girls, LOL! Yes, I am with you, loads of unread books on my shelves, and a little guilt over not having read them. I am still trying to read more of them and buy less…but there are still books I want to buy ;) I am a work in progress. Have a great week!
A work in progress indeed. I do go through periods where I buy very little but now I’ve been buying more. ;) One of these days I’ll get the reader vs buying balance right. Hope we both enjoy Dear Reader!
Rissi, it’s a goal we all aspire to obtain, LOL! Good luck to us all :)
Right? We sure do need all the luck. Though I bemoan all the books I haven’t read, it’s all my fault, so I have to live with it. ;)
NIce, you went with 20 books! I haven’t read any of these, but I hope you’re able to read them soon and that you enjoy them!
There’s just too many yet to read from my shelf! ;) Thanks for visiting, as always.
I read the whole The Naturals series some years ago, but really enjoyed them. Hope you’ll like them too.
Thanks, Alicia! I hope I do as well. :)
So excited to see some older books on your list because SAME. I went through a hoarding era from 2012 – 2016 or so, and the amount of older books on my shelves right now is kind of funny to me. Especially since I’m now more of an ebook reader, and I tend to only buy physical copies of books I’ve read and loved OR am sure that I will love. :D
I remember reading Prisoner of Night and Fog, and yeah, there definitely wasn’t a whole lot of good YA historical fiction back then — unfortunately, I think I ended up giving this one 2 or 2.5 stars. I THINK I read Don’t Touch or at least attempted to read it, but I can’t remember anything about it if I did. 😂😭
I’m glad I’m not the only one, Aimee! It’s a problem for sure. But some of these do still sound interesting, so I may still give them a chance. Although I’m overdue for a book unhaul so we’ll see if they survive that. ;)
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on Prisoner of Night and Fog. I always thought that one sounded interesting, but with all the Twitter drama nowadays, who knows if I’d like it anymore, and I have books like ‘Don’t Touch’ too. Titles that I read but don’t remember. In my case, it’s probably a curse of getting older. ;) Thanks so much for the visit!
Funny enough, ROOK is the only book by Sharon Cameron that I haven’t read. I even have a copy sitting on my shelves. I need to read it already! I hope you enjoy all these when you get to them.
Happy TTT (on a Wednesday)!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
Hope we BOTH enjoy “Rook,” Susan! It sure sounds interesting so I hope it’s a good read, for both of us. :)
I’ve not read any of these, but Ordinary Girls sounds interesting! Might add to my never-ending TBR list…
I think it sounds really interesting, too, Caroline. Hoping it’s a good read. :)
I remember The Naturals and wanting to read it first came out! I think it was because it sounded like Criminal Minds when I first saw the cover, but I never got around to it sadly.
I haven’t read any of these personally despite recognizing some, but I hope you get around to them soon and enjoy them!
Thanks, Sophia! I hope I enjoy these all too. And I think The Naturals does tease Criminal Minds as a kind of “if you like” the show recommendation. Hoping it’s a fun read. :)
Great list, and I love that you broke the mold of choosing only 10, and expanded the list to 20 books, because I know I can do that easily, and I’m guessing that many of us can. Most of these are new to me, but I read the first 4 books in The Selection series, and gave up on it just before The Crown – it changed a lot between the first 3 books, which I liked, and then focused on a new character I didn’t connect with. But hopefully you’ll make a dent in this list and love them!
Thanks, Leah. I hope I enjoy them too. I know many feel the same about The Selection books. I really enjoyed the first two books as easy-reading type titles. Hoping I enjoy the rest, but I know the spin off books weren’t well loved so I’m curious to know if I would enjoy them. :)
I have a pile of unread books too. I would suggest the oldest book in your list or you could pick a random book by closing your eyes.
Both great suggestions, Carlyn! I definitely need to make some progress with those titles I haven’t read. :)
The Wedding Ringer is still on my TBR too. Hope you’ll love all of these no matter when you get to them, Rissi!
Thanks, Lindsey! I hope so too. :)