Cutting Down My Young Adult TBR | goodbye books

Hey everyone !!

Do you ever look at your online TBR and begin to think about your own mortality because you will never manage to read them all.

Well, I definitely do. Therefore I thought I would reduce my TBR a little, specifically YA books. No hate on YA books as many of my favourite books are, in fact, YA. However, over the years, I have added a lot of YA books on my TBR, and now I want to be really picky about the ones I pick. This is (1) because my tastes have shifted more towards adult books, and (2) I say this with love, but YA fantasy (my main genre) can feel a bit repetitive at times.

Plus, having a smaller TBR number might feel more manageable for my mortal soul. probably not, but shush.

WARNING: I say ‘this sounds like a basic fantasy’ too much in this post, but I am moving away from YA fantasy. I am aware this isn’t my ‘age group’ anymore, and I’ve read a lot of them, so it is more likely for certain “formulas” to be tiring to me. As harsh as I sound, I don’t mean it in a bad way. I know it’s me, not them.

Books To Take Off My TBR

The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski

Throwing it all the way back to 2014 with a pretty classic fantasy premise. I’m not going to lie, there are still aspects of this book that would appeal to me, but it feels like a book I would only like, not love.

I think now it seems slightly cliché. This may not have been the case at the time but the split world system, defying the order and a romance between people from different social groups. I may be being a bit harsh, but nothing is jumping out to me.

Royal Bastards by Andrew Shvarts

I actually love the name and premise of this series. BUT… the reviews seem to be a bit ‘hit or miss’. I am worried it will once again feel like an average YA fantasy that is really predictable.

I am a bit on the fence about it, but I am certainly not rushing to get this book. If you’ve read it, I’d love to know your thoughts on it.

The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton

I think what turns me away from this book is how I’ve read the synopsis and still feel like I have no idea what the book is about.

It sounds like a heavy story with magical realism. Whilst I like weird, emotional and lyrical reads, I just feel like this isn’t going to be my cup of tea. Plus, I generally don’t feel drawn to magical realism.

The Edge of Everything by Jeff Giles

The idea of a bounty hunter sent to claim souls is very interesting, but the blurb makes it sound like a very romance led plot. Sadly, the romance sounds very cliché and boring to me.

Therefore, it’s a no.

Eon: Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman

The premise sounds like it has potential, but many reviews mentioned how it takes the protagonist ages to figure something obvious out. Granted, this does happen in some books. Sometimes I find it tolerable, whilst other times it is sooo frustrating. This book seems to run the risk of being the latter and seeing as it was never a high priority on the TBR, it is heading into the goodbye pile.

Long May She Reign by Rhiannon Thomas

Things I like the sound of…

• scientist female lead
• unexpected queen
• political drama
• it’s a standalone

but, just like my Starbucks order, I’m sensing more cliché vibes than wow vibes.

The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner

Look, I like the words serpent and king as much as the next fantasy fan, but this is a contemporary story with a lad that actually handles snake rather than an aesthetic brooding king. I don’t know how to feel about that.

To be fair, it does actually sound like an interesting contemporary that deals with real themes. I don’t feel the urge to pick it up though. Maybe another one I’m actually on the fence about. I need your help.

A Shadow Bright and Burning by Jessica Cluess

I like the sound of the ‘wait, is the prophecy truly about me?’ plot and that she has three boys, each one to either challenge, fight or betray her. However, this small potential is ultimately overshadowed by the generic ‘basic girl saves world whilst balancing love’ plot, and I don’t want it.

As You Wish by Chelsea Sedoti

This does have a unique plot about everyone in this town having one wish come true. I especially love the philosophical approach the book sounds like it will take… i.e. one wish coming true doesn’t equal happiness.

But apparently, I don’t love it enough to read it. Apparently, I only digest philosophical concepts through sitcoms… it’s the modern society effect.

Truly, Devious by Maureen Johnson

Look, I am tempted about a mystery at a boarding school. I love a good boarding school setting. However, I struggle with mysteries. I never find them twisty or gripping enough. Therefore, I want to try out really creepy ones going forward, which I believe this is not.

Air Awakens by Elise Kova

I am very much willing to die on the hill of elemental magic being the best, but that is the only thing tempting me to read this book. Once again, I’m getting ‘basic’ vibes. The romance between different social groups, everyone was taught to fear magic, life-changing decisions etc. I have read it before.

Dry by Neal Shusterman & Jarrod Shusterman

I actually think this sounds like a really unique and powerful book. However, there is an unreasonable part of me that just feels like it would be a drag to read… in an emotionally draining and slow-paced way.

I’m not saying never for this book. I am slightly curious, but I can’t face it at the moment.

The Kingdom by Jess Rothenberg

Whilst this book does promise an interesting mix of fairy-tale and sci-fi. I am neither overly interested in fairy tales or sci-fi. You see the problem here.

I can certainly see why I added this book to be my TBR. It sounds unique, dark and really fresh, but I know I won’t ever make this a priority to read. Hence, I’m just taking it off my TBR.

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

Again, this is one I could perhaps be tempted to read as mathematic dragons is a mix of two of my loves. Plus, the plot is by no means off-putting.

I just don’t have that urge to read it right now, and as I am being picky, it seems it may be time for it to go. Again, it feels like a remake of ‘girl with secret power joins royal court and solves the mystery with a boy’. It’s not that the book isn’t worth reading (or any of the books on this list), I just think it will be wasted on me in my current attitude to YA fantasies.

I Hope You Get This Message by Farah Naz Rishi

People faced with imminent, aka 7 days til, doom through the destruction of the earth. It’s a curious situation. What would you do with 7 days to live? I’d probably go to the beach. But hopefully, these characters have more impressive answers.

I think the strength of his book really relies on the ending, and I don’t know if I want to go through it all just to be disappointed by the end. Does that make sense? But, hey, maybe one day.

Thank you for joining me on this journey of being negative towards books with an acute bit of indecisiveness. I hope you enjoyed it.

Please feel free to say whether you think I’ve made the right or wrong choices by removing these books from my TBR. We can see if you can change my mind or not 😉.

Do you sort through your digital TBR often?

What books have you taken off your TBR before?

Have you read any of these books? What did you think to them?