My “Desperate to Read” list… (my latest TBR list)

Going over the fun “TBR list” quizzes that I’ll be posting in the next few weeks, I realized, mine was in sore need of an overhaul. Or at least an update.  From what I can tell, I haven’t posted an official one since October 2015! I’ve been meaning to make a new list for some time now. I have many unfinished TBR lists, but I hear many of you do, too, so I don’t feel so bad. Tee hee!

But come on!! How can anyone blame us? Considering all of these new releases coming out, or when we’re in the mood for a little genre-change, or when our best book-addict friends INSIST they’ve read one they know we’ll love like crazy, it’s impossible for a book-addict to stick to just one.

Amy: Oh geez…*throws hands up in the air**tosses TBR list backwards over head*

Sandi: Ok, I’m going to have to put my foot down! My TBR list is just too long and you keep putting too many up that sound good. I can’t be held responsible because I have to keep checking…so you have to stop!

Fabi: *Tbr fist bump* I was just looking through one of Maryse’s tbr lists from a couple of years ago and I think I’m depressed now. Most of those are also and STILL on my tbr. I feel like I’m missing out on so many great books that I meant (still mean) to read but haven’t yet for some unknown mysterious reason…

Salllie: Man my tbr/ to be bought list is getting longer and longer!

No worries, you guys! Having plenty of choices is a wonderful thing. A TBR list is a great guide, but not necessarily one we have to stick to from start to finish right? We can just keeping adding. Rearranging. Or just making new one after new one, like I do. But! I save all of mine, so I can always backtrack (and I do!)

P.S. Here’s the smorgasbord of MY TBR LISTS (there are umm… a few of ‘em on there. Tee hee!! ALL the books on those lists, that I haven’t read yet, I still badly want to – so these lists are still valid)

Okay and to be fair, there are HUNDREDS more on my current TBR list (old and new), that I can’t wait to read, but right now, at this very moment? Consider this:

MY DESPERATE TO READ LIST:

• It Ends with Us: A Novel by Colleen Hoover <— Because I absolutely love everything this author writes, and I just read an excerpt of a review a few days ago that said something along the lines of how this one was very different from her other books, and was… I dunno…. GUT WRENCHING? Or devastating. Anyway, it appears this book will destroy me. Or make me? Maybe both? Either way, I want that! Jawdroppingly good was the impression I had from that snippet.
• Undone: A Novel by John Colapinto <— WHAT I’M READING RIGHT NOW!!! I’ve had this one on my list for a month or so now, and I’ve been nervous. As nervous as I am to read the one called Tampa (below). But I’m also titillated ’cause it’s a risqué, taboo read that has received plenty of accolades, and yet, toes the line of too risqué for some. When you’re reading something significantly sordid, thinking you knew what the “sordid” part was from the beginning, but it turned into something so much more… sordid. It’s all sorts of moral distress.  That’s where I’m at. Tee hee!!! READ!!! MY REVIEW
• Unbreak My Heart by Nicole Jacquelyn <— When I’m in the mood for unrequited love, romance angst and a sweet but SO sad sounding story. This one sounds like EVERYTHING I love in a potential love story, and I am on pins and needles waiting for it!
• Until You: The Fall Away Series by Penelope Douglas <— Because even though I already read Bully and loved it, supposedly this one (from HIS POV) is even better. And NOT the whole story retold from his POV… very different, in fact, and my book-friends are insisting this cannot wait any longer.

• The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchison <— Sounds like the ultimate psych-thriller, and the reviews are AMAZING. It’s only coming out in a few days, but I AM SO ON THIS.
• Angel of Redemption by J.A. Little <— For when I want a slow-burn with a jack-butt! LOL! 😉 My book-besties are LOVING this one!!!

Kandace: A few of us read and loved Angel of Redemption by J.A. Little. It’s a longer book (600 pages). He’s an moody but lovable jackbutt. She’s a bit feisty and sassy. Their chemistry was sizzling. It’s a bit of a slow burn romance but once they connect….THEY *Ahem*….connect often! The foster kids’ story was just as interesting. …I think a lot of you would love this book.

Shirley: After being in a book slump the past few weeks, I started Angel Of Redemption last night and I’m loving it!!! I agree with Kandace in what she said about this book!!

• The Jack & Jill Series by Jewel E Ann <— When I’m “ready for a “cry so hard you can’t see and also laugh so hard you can’t breathe” series” (<— as per Rebecca 😉 ) ’cause so many here read this trilogy and LOVED IT LIKE MAD!!!

• Sunset Park (Five Boroughs Book 2) by Santino Hassel <— When I’m in the mood for an awesome M/M romance book, and I hear this author is one of the best. Plus so many of my friends LOVE this series, and a few loved THIS book the most (it can be read as a standalone so YAY me!!).

Fabi: I finished the Sunset Park in, like, a day because I couldn’t put it down. I’m not sure I got any work done today at all. I’m in a total book fog. This next one needs to either blow it out of the park or be cute and funny. It’s really hard to read that next book after finishing an awesome one.

• Tampa by Alissa Nutting <— When I’m in the mood for infuriating, morally confusing, taboo forbiddenness. It’s a love or hate fest for this one, but it seems to be unforgettable no matter what. And that crazy risqué blurb scares me good!

S. Ann: Maryse, you should totally read TAMPA! For those who have kids, it might be cringe-worthy, but it’s worth the experience being in the head of a pedophile. For me, I was fascinated! Mind you, I rated it 2.5 stars on Goodreads only because at the 70% mark the protagonist did something completely unforgivable in my eyes. It pissed me off royally, and I rated the book poorly because of that one incident. That said, I will be going back to upgrade my rating because TAMPA has turned out to be one of those reads that NEVER leaves my mind! Even though it’s been quite a while since I read it, I find myself thinking about it all the time. And that, in my honest opinion, is what makes a good book.

• The Empty Jar by M. Leighton <— When I’m in the mood for a solid ugly cry from start to finish. Just look at all of the 5 stars (and pretty much ONLY that). When I’m ready to go deep, this is the one for me.

• The Last Hour of Gann by R. Lee Smith <— When I’m in the mood to immerse myself in an extremely long book, but in for an epic, long and crazy kind of darkish sci-fi romance feel, that has so many here LOVING IT like crazy.

Jan130: Finally finished Last Hour of Gann last night. Yeh, it’s a megaread, but so totally worth it. Completely gripping adventure. A lot of it is about desperate people behaving badly, and you just never know what’s going to happen next. The story is actually quite uplifting in many ways. Smith isn’t afraid to show us the worst side of humanity (and of the aliens, who behave just like humans anyway).

But she also shows us how people (and aliens) with integrity can grow and develop wisdom.I usually can’t stomach books or films with too much violence or darkness, but in this case the violence is totally an essential part of the story and the characters. You even find some sympathy for some of the bad dudes (like Zhuqa) when you understand their history and motivations.

And the romance of Amber and Meoraq is totally lovely. This isn’t one of those schlocky human woman meets hot alien with extraordinarily large **** for kinky sex type books. It’s a well-written book that also explores some very interesting philosophical questions through the storyline, without being preachy. Well done, R. Lee Smith.

Fabi: yes The Last Hour of Gann should not be missed. …dark and gritty and takes you on a wild ride.

• Radiance (Wraith Kings Book 1) by Grace Draven <— Another paranormalish? Fantasy-ish LOVE story that everyone here goes crazy for, and insists we NOT judge the book by it’s cover.

• Warprize (Chronicles of the Warlands Book 1) by Elizabeth Vaughan <— For when I’m in the mood for another like The Golden Dynasty by Kristen Ashley. I just love a book where a bad-ass, untouchable and seemingly unloveable warrior wins a woman (aka: forces her to be his). Ugh right? But in books, I love that love-story journey… when it’s done right.

• Broken Prince: A Novel (The Royals) by Erin Watt <— Relief from that cliffhanger on the first book, and more bully-rich kids drama that I can’t wait to devour.
• Swear on This Life: A Novel by Renee Carlino <— She reads a best selling book that she’s entranced with and realizes that it’s HER story! Someone from her past wrote about her life, and is doing VERY well with that book… and she’s mad!!
• The Goal (Off-Campus Book 4) by Elle Kennedy <— When I’m in the mood for more Elle Kennedy “new adult” romance. Wait… when am I NOT in the mood for her awesome stories? She’s hilarious, her books read like you’re watching the BEST sitcom or best romcom movie ever, and I can’t WAIT for this one.
• Hidden Bodies: A Novel by Caroline Kepnes <— When I’m in the mood for psych-thriller, crazy stalker love-story fun! I can’t wait!!! You was darn good, so this… well. I’m reading it as soon as I get it!!

Now… I wish I could add a terrifying horror story or two to the bunch. Maybe another gut-twisting psych-thriller.  *waggles eyebrows* I love my love stories (and I have a TON of awesome sounding ones on my TBR list), but I also love my adrenaline pumpers, so let me know if you have a super-recommendation of something scary or mind-mess of an awesome book!