Happy New Year, book lovers! For me, January 1st came and went like a flash, and my TBR pile hasn’t budged one iota since the start of 2022. Not ONE. SINGLE. MILLIMETER. In fact, it’s grown even taller. And the pileup on my e-reader? At this stage it’s reached monumental proportions—a traffic jam of delectable books just waiting to be unleashed.
I should begin by confessing that I never make New Year’s resolutions. I only end up disappointed and mad at myself, and who needs more of that? Even where reading books is concerned, especially where reading books is concerned, I simply can’t commit to powering through all of them within a set time frame.
My physical TBR pile isn’t an actual pile. It’s made up of stacks of books scattered hither and thither throughout the house. Is there a rhyme or reason to the disorder? Not really. A new hardcover might end up on my bedroom nightstand, or it might find itself plopped atop another stack on my living room end table. Eventually, it might find itself resting under a cat who’s using it as a temporary perch.
You know what I find hard to resist? Those emails alerting me that a book by one of my favorite authors is available for purchase, or for pre-order. Try as I might to ward off temptation by giving it the evil eye, I usually cave, knowing it will only add to my pile and create a bigger backup.
Did the onset of 2023 find you in a similar predicament? Do you mentally beat yourself up for not having read all the tantalizing stories right there, at your fingertips, just waiting to be chosen? Do you hear them crying pick me! pick me! when you tiptoe like a burglar past that teetering stack when trying to decide what to read next?
If so, you are not alone. This is the plight of nearly all book lovers. Unless you can devote every waking hour to reading or you read at the speed of light, you’re going to have a book backup. The solution? In my humble opinion, there isn’t one—and that’s okay. As long as authors continue to write the books we crave, we’re going to want to read ’em. That’s the way the universe is supposed to work, and let’s all thank our lucky stars for that!
There’s a lot of great advice out there for whittling away at your TBR pile. Sort your books in the order you want to read them. Separate them into genres to make it simpler to tackle whatever suits your current mood. Turn off your mobile devices so you can read without distraction. Take a book with you everywhere you go. These are all good recommendations, and I especially like the last one. I always tuck my e-reader into my purse before I leave the house. Even a ten-minute wait in the dentist’s (gulp) office can propel me through a chapter.
So, if guilt is nibbling away at you because your TBR pile is growing instead of shrinking, kick that guilt to the curb and let it go. One thing I feel sure about: every author whose book is waiting patiently in your TBR pile thanks you sincerely for choosing them.
If making the decision on what to read next is causing you stress, let me offer a few suggestions! Here are some of my recent favorites to start your 2023 reading off right:
- A Doomful of Sugar by Catherine Bruns, the first entry in the delicious new Maple Syrup mysteries, is a fast-paced cozy with relatable characters, a twisty plot, and a hint of future romance. The charming Vermont setting had me wanting more, and I’m anxious for the second installment!
- Cheddar Off Dead by Korina Moss, the first in the Cheese Shop mysteries, was an absolute delight to read. Cheese shop owner Willa charmed me to the core, and I fell head over cheddar wheel for her posse of supporting characters. With a killer who eluded me until the satisfying denouement, this is a cozy I highly recommend to all who love a good mystery!
- Buried in a Good Book by Tamara Berry, first in the new By the Book mysteries, features a thriller writer as sleuth, a cast of engaging characters, and a trail of perplexing clues that will keep you guessing all the way to the surprising conclusion!
- Laid Out to Rest by J.C. Eaton is the first in the new Charcuterie Shop mysteries. With a cantankerous ghost, a laid-back beagle, and suspects as varied as a charcuterie board, amateur sleuth Katie has her work cut out in her hunt for an elusive killer. The culprit sneaked past me so cleverly that I never guessed the ending. Don’t miss out on this scrumptious new cozy!
- Pint of No Return by Dana Mentink, first in the Shake Shop mysteries, charmed me from the get-go with a lovable main character who opens her Shimmy and Shake Shop after splitting from her embezzler husband. Descriptions of her “monster” milkshakes had my mouth watering, and the mystery was a puzzler that kept me in suspense all the way!
Readers, are you overwhelmed by your current TBR pile? Do you have a particular method for choosing what to read next? Share with your fellow book lovers!
