SOME OF THE BOOKS I READ (BUT DIDN’T EVER REVIEW)
I’ve been here for over ten years now. The look has changed, the url become a dot com and there has been a shift in content, but it’s still the same kind of space. However, there was a life prior to this space (and yes, for me, social media happened subsequent to this blog), and this means there were also books I discovered and read long before this. Since we often talk about the books we’re reading now or the new releases we eagerly add to our shelves, we’re collectively taking a pause from that today by looking at the books I read but didn’t review.
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SOME OF THE BOOKS I READ (BUT DIDN’T EVER REVIEW). #TopTen #BookList #TopTenTuesday #Books #Reader #Reading Share on XI’ll be honest, I’m repurposing part of an old, now unpublished list I published years ago since we had a similar subject (all about books we read pre blogging) quite a while ago (throwing it back to 2017 to be precise and a time when I was taking hundreds of bookstagram photos). For me, this is pretty much the same topic because I try to always review the books I read (unless I detest them passionately). But I also added some additional titles and swapped out some. This list is full of prairie fiction because, yes, that was a whole phase I went through.
BOOKS I READ but DIDN’T REVIEW
SENSE and SENSIBILITY, JANE AUSTEN
I probably didn’t read this one before I started my blog, but thanks to order histories (which can be helpful, yes, but they also make me feel old), I purchased this book way back in 2010 (the year before I started this blog). I’m guessing I read it after that though and while I didn’t write any kind of formal review, I did write something for a webzine I used to write for. Which makes me want to dig up that final and cringe read what I wrote. Goodreads
FIRE by NIGHT, LYNN AUSTIN
It’s been years since I read this one. But my finishing PBS’ Mercy Street reminded me of it. As I remember, it’s a fabulous 5-star kind of story. Goodreads
LOVING LIBBY, ROBIN LEE HATCHER
Unless I’m delusional I think I read this book on a long plane flight. It was years ago, and probably not a book I’d be super fond of now (I’m not much of a historical fiction reader) but at the time, I loved it. Goodreads
TRUE DEVOTION, DEE HENDERSON
Ah, the heroics of a Navy hero. Before Dani Pettrey (my favorite!), I read this series. Of course, I love the nod to the military and the wonderful way in which the author portrays the military. Goodreads
ONE TUESDAY MORNING, KAREN KINGSBURY
I don’t know that I can say I “enjoy” this series because tears! That said, it’s a beautiful story about the aftermath of 9/11 and just one example of the emotional fallout of the attacks. Though fiction, the idea and emotions of the story are no less complex and well, emotional. Goodreads
THE MANDIE BOOK SERIES, LOIS GLADYS LEPPARD
Childhood reads from many moons ago, these followed a spirited girl who was always getting into new scrapes and finding adventure alongside her cat Snowball and her besties, some of which come and go throughout her life. Goodreads
[COUNTLESS] LOVE INSPIRED NOVELS
I used to buy these mass market paperback novels all the time. I read most of them up until a point and I’ve long since not read any. Goodreads
WHEN CALLS the HEART, JANETTE OKE
The novels that inspired (a term I use loosely) the Hallmark Channel drama of the same name, these were the books of my teenage years, and I adored them. It makes me sad that the show is so different. I think I wouldn’t mind it telling a different story at this point (because it’s been on, what, twelve years now?), but I think its setup should have been faithful to the novels. Goodreads
DANGEROUS SANCTUARY, LOIS RITCHER
A series of mystery-esque novels, this trio was another I did enjoy, but please, don’t ask my reader mine to remember them. Goodreads
SISTER FREAKS, REBECCA ST. JAMES
A non-fiction book I bought in 2009 (!!) this one is a collection of stories about women who’ve done interesting or unique things. I don’t think I finished it completely, but I did read some of it and it’s actually probably a book I have buried in my closet still. Goodreads
A PLACE CALLED HOME (SERIES) and THE PRINCESS, LORI WICK
An oldie sweetheart of a story that I read long before blogging. Someday I’d like to revisit its charming world. ‘Home’ Goodreads • ‘Princess’ Goodreads
HI, HONEY, I’M HOME, LINDA WINDSOR
This one is a blast from the past. I cannot remember details, but feel as though I did like the book at the time I read it. Goodreads
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Linking up with That Artsy Reader Girl February 18: Books I Never Reviewed (Share the titles of books you never reviewed on your blog/tiktok/insta/etc. and if you liked them or not!)
I find it really hard to review classics like Sense and Sensibility. What can I say which hasn’t been said already? Good luck on your project. Here is my list: https://headfullofbooks.blogspot.com/2025/02/ttt-books-ive-read-but-never-reviewed.html
Very true, Anne. I guess I’d just say what I do vs don’t like about the book, but 100% know what you mean. There are already SO many reviews and thoughts about classic lit. There is very little left to say. :)
I read some of the Mandie books, too. I think I stopped around the time her mom got pregnant with her baby brother.
I don’t remember how many I read, but I know I read several and I liked them all. They were favorites at the time and I loved the cozy mysteries. :)
Oh, I didn’t even think about how, despite having two of Austen’s books on my all-time favourites list, I still haven’t actually reviewed one of her books! 😂 I think they’ll forever remain unreviewed because sometimes I struggle to adequately put into words how much I love a story, lol.
I know the feeling, Dini. I struggle with reviewing books I loved that much too. Sometimes I just sit there and wonder how I am supposed to concisely share what I thought of the book. :)
Great intro to this post! I did not read Love Inspired books in the past, now I can’t get enough of them. I really enjoyed this. Thanks for sharing!
I used to read SO many of those Love Inspired books. It was a whole thing for me to check the store each month to see what new titles they’d put out. ;) I think I’ve donated nearly all of them at this point because the amount I had was a little out of hand. ;)
The only one on this list I’m familiar with, besides the Austen, is the Oke series. While I’ve not read this series, I have read and enjoyed one of her other books.
Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!
https://readbakecreate.com/favorite-mysteries-i-read-in-2024/
I’ve read an enjoyed lots of Oke’s books, too. They were childhood and teenage favorite of mine. :)
I’ve never heard the term “prairie fiction,” but I do love a pioneer/homesteading type story. I’ve never read any of these books or authors, although some of them are on my TBR list now or have been in the past. Great list!
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
The terms you mention are probably the right ones, Susan. :) But the western-y type books are definitely ones I read a LOT of back in the day. It was a whole reader phase. :)
Great list! I’m struggling myself with writing reviews lately, so unfortunately I have a big selection to choose from when it comes to books I read but didn’t review…
That’s great for lists like this then! :) I try to write a review for everything I read (even if I don’t publish them anywhere) although I am sure I miss some. It was “easier” to look back at the books I read pre blog days, but I’m sure I have some post blog-days that would fit too.
I haven’t read any of these.. There are so many early days books that just slipped under the radar.
For sure! Probably lots I didn’t feature that would be on my list, too. :)
I am not sure I reviewed Sense and Sensibility when I read it either about three years ago now that I think about it. A lot of things fell by the wayside for me around that time, but I count myself lucky that I was still reading. I ended up going with more recent reads of the nonfiction variety (and it gave me an excuse to finally kind-of-sort-of-review them).
I didn’t take this chance to review any of these… but at this point, I wouldn’t remember them enough. Still maybe someday I’ll reread some. :)
Yes, One Tuesday Morning, such a powerful book! I also read it but never reviewed it (before I had a blog). Great list.