Down the TBR Hole #4 | YA Fantasy, Thrillers, & Sally Rooney

Hello, everyone! I hope you’re enjoying your winter season (or summer for those in the southern hemisphere). Has it snowed for you? The weather keeps faking me out where I’m at, promising snow and then just winding up cold and rainy. Typically I love a rainy day but not when I’m waiting ever impatiently for snow…

While I wait, I wanted to take a peek at my Goodreads TBR. I recently made a post detailing my physical TBR (which I separate from my “to-read” list) and want to let go of the idea of some books before I start going on a buying spree. I’m on a sort of a book-buying ban but I think I’m about to break it to preorder Robin Wasley’s debut YA paranormal fantasy Dead Things Are Closer Than They Appear. All the more reason to get to this post!

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Down The TBR Hole is a meme created by lost in a story that revolves around cleansing your TBR of all those books you’re never going to read and sort through it all to know what’s actually on there.

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Date Added: September 2, 2021 (two years ago)

Generally, I feel like thrillers are good picks for me because if there’s a twist, I’m not usually trying very hard to predict it. Because of that, I experience the twists and turns in the way authors probably seek. That being said, though, they’re not my first choice, and unless it’s particularly renowned, I doubt I’ll prioritize it. Because of that, I’ll be removing Rock Paper Scissors.

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Date Added: September 6, 2021 (two years ago)

I’ve read Normal People twice, and both times I really enjoyed it up until the ending in which I start having mixed feelings — however, I sort of feel like that’s just what the novel’s nature calls. From what I’ve read, I enjoy Sally Rooney’s writing style, so I’ll be keeping Conversations with Friends on my “to-read” list.

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Date Added: September 9, 2021 (2 years ago)

At first, I was going to go ahead and remove this book because I didn’t have a lasting impression of adding it to my TBR. It was probably apart of my YA novel-in-verse kick several years back. However, I took a peek at the reviews, and they seem too favorable for me to write this one off. Because of that, I’ll be keeping Long Way Down on my list.

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Date Added: October 12, 2021 (2 years ago)

I know a lot of people call the enneagram and Myers-Briggs wave of psychology pseudoscience and maybe that’s true–but I don’t really care. It intrigues me so thoroughly and has helped me get a sense of people and myself so significantly that I really value it. However, I’m at a point where I’m comfortable enough with my knowledge of it and the ease of watching a YouTube video or reading an article online for any new information. Because of that, I’ll be removing The Complete Enneagram.

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Date Added: January 21, 2022 (2 years ago)

I’ve actually never seen Howl’s Moving Castle–or very many Studio Ghibli films at all (I’ve seen Spirited Away and bits of Arietty and The Wind Rises)–but I’ve heard good things about its source material/inspiration, and am interested in picking up one or the other or both. Because of that, I’ll be keeping it on my list. (Also, if you’re familiar with Studio Ghibli movies, what are your favorites?)

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Date Added: January 29, 2022 (2 years ago)

I’m not exactly sure how Daughter of the Pirate King wound up on my “to-read” shelf but I’m guessing it was through a BookTube recommendation. I’ve not read anything pirate- or nautical-focused (barring Siege and Storm…) but I’d be willing to give it a try. Because of that, I’ll be keeping it on the list.

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Date Added: February 1, 2022 (almost 2 years ago)

Back in the beginning of 2022 when I started this blog, I tried a few different things to find discussions on books online. One of these things was joining some groups on Goodreads, one of which being a Stephen King one. Since then, I’ve found Goodreads groups aren’t setup in the most user-friendly way, and, additionally, that my interest in Stephen King’s work doesn’t necessarily extend to all the corners of his catalog. Because of that, I’m removing Bag of Bones from my to-read list.

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Date Added: February 27, 2022 (almost 2 years ago)

I wouldn’t say my relationship with V.E. Schwab’s writing isn’t hit-or-miss so much as it is just a set of mixed feelings. Her prose is undeniably decadent, and I think it’s the strongest facet of the work I’ve read by her. Though Gallant has virtually no plot, I didn’t mind because of the gothic atmosphere and overall vibe of the novel. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue was too slow-paced for me, and I didn’t love the protagonist but, still, I enjoyed the prose and the deuteragonist. The fact that I’ve heard generally favorable things about Vicious leads me to the decision of keeping it on my TBR.

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Date Added: February 27, 2022 (almost 2 years ago)

I’ve seen a mix of very good and very bad reviews for Caraval. Because of that, I’m a little unsure about whether or not I should go for it. I’ve been wanting to read a little beyond my typical genres (which is fantasy, particularly YA) this year but at the same time want to stay true to my initial inclinations. I’m going to keep this on my list for now and see what happens from there!

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Date Added: February 27, 2022 (almost 2 years ago)

I feel like at this point not only has everyone already read The Cruel Prince but they’ve also probably moved on from it too. I did intend on reading this pretty immediately upon adding it to my Goodreads TBR list but then I was afraid the hype was overhype and that it might end up not being for me. However, I’ve seen way too many positive reviews and I feel like I have to read it at some point for context if nothing else. Because of that, I’ll keep this one on the list a while longer.

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Books Removed: 3
Books Kept: 7
Current TBR Count: 129 – 3 = 126

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As far as these Down the TBR Hole posts go, this is one of my less successful ones, at least in terms of paring down the list. The ones I’m keeping, though, are for the most part ones I’m pretty interested in picking up. So, actually, I’ll consider this one a win.

Have you read any of the books on this list? If so, what did you think? Do you think there are any I should consider giving another chance? Or are there ones I shouldn’t bother with? I’d love to hear your thoughts below!

• My 2025 Year in Books Ranked
• Top 10 Books on My Winter ’25-’26 TBR | TTT
• Fall ’25 Life Updates: Moving, Nanowrimo, & Hardly Reading
• Annual Library Book Sale Haul: 2025 Edition
• Spooky Appalachia by S. E. Schlosser: A Mixed Bag | Book Review

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