Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week’s topic is Books I HAD to Have Immediately but Still Haven’t Read.
As the host explains, this is a throwback topic from 2022. My post from back then is here, in case you’re interested. And I’m a bit embarrassed to say that of the ten I highlighted, I’ve still only read three!
And yet, I keep buying books! (Don’t we all?)
Here’s a new batch of books I couldn’t wait to get my hands on… and still have not touched:
- Starling House by Alix E. Harrow
- Hemlock Island by Kelley Armstrong
- Daughters of the Sun and Moon by Lisa See
- Theo of Golden by Allen Levi
- This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews
- The Once and Future Queen by Paula Lafferty
- Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor
- Jane Austen’s Bookshelf by Rebecca Romney
- The Fair Folk by Su Bristow
- The Shattering Peace by John Scalzi
Have you read any of these? Any recommendations about which should be my top priorities?
Do you have any books that you couldn’t wait to buy… but still haven’t read? Please share your TTT links!
Bookshelf Fantasies 
I still need to read Theo of Golden, too. L
I’ve heard such good things, and I really do intend to read it! But somehow, it just hasn’t made it to the top of my priority list quite yet…
Great list! A few on here that I also want/need to read but I’m most excited for Ilona Andrews’ book. I’ve read Starling House and loved it so much. I hope you enjoy these books whenever you get to them!
So glad to hear that you loved Starling House! I’ve loved everything else I’ve read by her, so there’s really no reason at all that I haven’t gotten to it yet.
I’ve also loved everything I’ve read by her! I love the way she writes. Honestly, there’s no reason other than hype for why I haven’t picked up The Everlasting. I feel like I’m going to love it, but the desire to love it also ups the pressure, haha. 😂
We just keep buying more books 😂
I haven’t read any of these but saw a review for just one damned thing after another and am very tempted by it.
I’ve had my eye on it for such a long time! It’s the first in a series that I keep swearing I’m going to start. Maybe this year finally…
You have some good books waiting for you!
I’m happy to hear that! I really do want to read them all 🙂
Lisa!!! You are in for some AMAZING reads! Theo of Golden is probably going to be my top read this year! Starling House, Daughters of the Sun and Moon, and This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me were all fantastic too!!
I’m so excited for all of them — just struggling to figure out which to grab first (and how to read them all plus all the ARCs I have waiting for me…)
That Jodi Taylor book is just chilling on my bookshelf, unread too. That Theo of Golden book is getting a lot of buzz.
I swear I’ve been talking about reading the Jodi Taylor book for years now! I have to just go ahead and make it happen!
I also have This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me on my own TBR. The Once and Future Queen and Just One Damned Thing After Another sounds interesting as well!
I Hope you enjoy all of these once you eventually get to them 🙂
My Post:
https://thegentlechapter.blog/2026/07/28/top-ten-tuesday-books-i-have-not-read-yet-but-had-to-have/
Thanks so much! I’ve been wanting to read This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me since I first saw the cover reveal — not sure why it’s taking me so long to actually do it!
Same! I have the audiobook in my library but it is always checked out so I guess that is the excuse I am going for lol.
We have none in common, but I hope you’ll enjoy them eventually!
My TTTT: https://laurieisreading.com/2026/07/28/top-ten-tuesday-how-am-i-doing-on-my-2026-backlist-titles/
Thanks! I don’t think we readers will ever run out of books to buy or eventually read!
Oooh I like the cover to The Once and Future Queen! And reading 3 books from your last post is pretty good! There is a pretty solid chance I won’t read most of the books on my list 😂
That just seems to be the way it goes! I’m so excited about new books… and then they just sit there on my shelf. The cover for The Once & Future Queen is the reason I first grabbed it — but I do think it sounds good, and want to read it before the end of the year!
A few are on my TBR too. I have read Daughters of the Sun and Moon which I’d recommend.
Thanks for sharing your #TTT
I’m looking forward to that one — I always appreciate Lisa See’s books.
I’ve brought This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me home from the library twice now without reading it. I liked, but did not love, Theo and Daughters of the Sun and Moon, but that could just be me.
Good to hear your perspective! Every time I’m about to start Theo, something else grabs my attention. Hoping to read it soon!
I’ve been trying to read This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me for months! I’m determined to get to it by the end of the year😁
Same! Especially since I bought a hardcover already — seems crazy that I haven’t read it yet.
I’ve read Hemlock Island and recommend it. I haven’t read an Armstrong book I haven’t enjoyed.
100% — I’ve loved everything I’ve read by Kelley Armstrong, and have no reason for not reading Hemlock Island already, other than always having other books to read!
If it’s any consolation, I didn’t love HEMLOCK ISLAND, and I’m a big Armstrong fan. I hope you like it better than I did and that you enjoy all these others when you get to them.
Happy TTT (on a Wednesday)!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
Thanks! I’ve seen both positive and not-so-positive reviews for Hemlock Island by now… but given how much I’ve loved everything else I’ve read by her, I do need to give it a try at the very least !
Great list! 3 of your titles are also on my TBR!
How fun! Which 3? Maybe we’ll both finally read them 🙂
Starling House, This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me, The Once and Future Queen
Starling House was amazing! Enjoy!
Thank you! I’ve loved everything else she’s written, so I’m sure I’ll love this one too once I finally read it!
I enjoyed Starling House, hope you do too!
Thank you! I’ve loved everything else by her, so I have high hopes!
I think it’s no secret that I love the St. Mary’s books. 😉 I also have multiple of the remaining titles on my TBR… Somehow the only way I actually pick up books straight away is when they are ARCs, because otherwise even most anticipated books don’t always get read quickly haha.
Same here! With ARCs, I feel the pressure to read them by (or near) the publication date… but everything else can just sit there, no matter how excited I was for them originally.
Starling House and TKWNKM – definitely good books that I enjoyed very much.
Lynn 😀
Great to hear! I’m still hopeful that I’ll read them before too much more time goes by!