It’s time for my annual end-of-year tradition — a look at all the books I meant to read! Here’s a look back at all the books I purchased in 2025, but just didn’t get around to reading for one reason or another.

As I noted last year, I’ve gotten much better about being thoughtful about which hard copy books I add to my shelves. I’ve leaned much more heavily into borrowing library books, and when I do spend money on new books, it tends to be for e-editions (since both my husband and I do the bulk of our reading on our Kindles).

However… I do still give in to temptation! There are certain authors whose books I need no matter what! I picked up a couple of signed books at author events this year, and treated myself to a few books that caught my eye and were total impulse purchases. In total, I bought fewer hard copy books than in previous years — and of the ones I bought, many were copies of books I’d already read, loved, and then decided to add to my bookshelves.

When it comes to e-books, I must admit that my restraint seems to go out the window. I tend to grab copies of ebooks when I see a good deal — I just can’t resist when a book on my TBR is available for $1.99 as a one-day price drop! The downside is that I end up adding books that I don’t necessarily intend to read right away. So, you’ll see lots and lots of new Kindle books added in 2025 and not yet read.

Let’s get to it. Here’s a salute to my unread books of 2025!

First, the hardcovers and paperbacks:

As for the ebooks added to my Kindle library in 2025:

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The e-book list is pretty overwhelming. Almost all of these were purchased when their prices dropped to a dollar or two… but still, that’s way more than I really should be adding to my library, when I still have so many books yet to read. I’ll try to do better in 2026 (but also, I acknowledge that I say this every year!)

End note:

While I’m talking about “meant to read” books, I thought I’d take a look at my quarterly Top Ten Tuesday TBR posts of 2025, to see if I actually read the books I listed as my priorities each season. Turns out, I did okay! Of the 37 books I named (three books were listed in more than one quarter), I read all but seven. My unread TTT/TBR books are:

• The Naturalist Society by Carrie Vaughn: I really like this author, but didn’t feel interested enough to read this one.
• Run Away with Me by Brian Seltzer: Just didn’t get around to borrowing this book from the library. Maybe someday, but it doesn’t feel like a priority.
• City of All Seasons by Aliya Whiteley and Oliver K. Langmead: DNFd this one after a couple of chapters.
• Swordheart by T. Kingfisher: Still plan to read
• The Fair Folk by Su Bristow: Still plan to read
• Brigands & Breadknives by Travis Baldree: Still plan to read
• A Town with Half the Lights On by Page Getz: Still plan to read

Have you read (and loved) any of my 2025 “meant-to-read” books? Please let me know if you see any you’d consider best of the bunch!

Onward to 2026! Happy New Year!Save

It’s time for my annual end-of-year tradition — all the books I meant to read! Here’s a look back at all the books I purchased in 2024, but just didn’t get around to reading for one reason or another.

I do think I’m getting much better at keeping my purchased hard copy books under control. More and more, I’ve been leaning toward mainly buying either (a) new books by authors or in series that I know I want to own, or (b) buying hard copy books for my shelves after discovering (either through an ARC or the library) a book that I love.

Of course, I still do give in to temptation when I happen to walk into a brick-and-mortar bookstore, especially a used book store! Then all restraint goes out the window.

When it comes to physical books, I seem to have improved my track record during this past year! I bought fewer hard copies overall, and many of the hardcovers and paperbacks I purchased were copies of books I’d already read, loved, and then decided to add to my bookshelves.

In terms of e-books, there are many, many more of those purchased in 2024 but not yet read. I tend to grab copies of ebooks when I see a good deal, not necessarily when I have an immediate intention of reading them right away. So, you’ll see lots and lots of new Kindle books added in 2024… and most of them still to be read.

Let’s get to it. Here’s a salute to my unread books of 2024!

First, the hardcovers and paperbacks:

Note: I’m reading The Spellshop right now… so maybe I’ll actually finish before the end of the year!

As for the ebooks added to my Kindle library in 2024:

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Yes, that’s a ton of e-books! Keep in mind, almost all of these were purchased when their prices dropped to a dollar or two… but still, that’s way more than I really should be adding to my library, when I still have so many books yet to read. I’ll try to do better in 2025 (but also, I acknowledge that I say this every year!)

End note:

While I’m talking about “meant to read” books, I thought I’d take a look at my quarterly Top Ten Tuesday TBR posts of 2024, to see if I actually read the books I listed as my priorities each season. And guess what? I did pretty well this year! Apparently I did a good job naming books that I was truly interested in, and ended up reading all but four of the 39 books I named! (Yes, 39 is correct — one book was listed two quarters in a row, but I did finally read it!). My unread TTT/TBR books are:

• Starling House by Alix E. Harrow: Still plan to read
• The Thorns Remain by JJA Harwood: Still plan to read
• D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding by Chencia C. Higgins: DNFd — just not for me
• On Her Own by Lihi Lapid: Still plan to read

Have you read (and loved) any of my 2024 “meant-to-read” books? Please let me know if you see any you’d consider best of the bunch!

Onward to 2025! Happy New Year!Save