It’s time for some Spring Cleaning! At least of my TBR list. This week’s Top Ten Tuesday topic is really a freebie, meaning we can twist “Spring Cleaning” to mean whatever the heck we want it to mean.
Over the last year or two, I have been a bit overwhelmed with the amount of books on my docket. From library books to books I own to ARCs and preorders from my favorite authors. I just can’t always find the time. Really, once I went back to work after years of being a homemaker I had a hard time fitting in what I wanted to read. I’m sure I’m not alone when I say I want to read All. The. Books. Yet real life doesn’t let me do that. I find that sometimes I’m not in the mood to read a book that I have a blog tour post commitment approaching. Or that my library book is due back any day and I haven’t touched it yet. Don’t get me wrong, I am extremely grateful for the chance to get ARCs and participate in blog tours. But I was, quite frankly, overextending myself.
I’ve tried to make a real commitment to stepping back from how many ARCs I request and/or accept. I’ve really only thrown myself into this since the beginning of the year and I’m just now starting to see my schedule open up a bit. Unless the book is by a favorite author or from a publisher I’ve had a great success rate with or has such a wonderful blurb I cannot think of passing it up, I’m trying to give myself a break and learning to say no. That means I may (fingers crossed) have more time for my library books.
Here’s a list of 5 library books I’m hoping to get to in the next few months. These are books I have gone on the waiting list for over and over, only to have to pass when it’s my turn because of other reading commitments. And a list of 5 books I own that keep getting pushed aside for the same reason I’ve missed out on my turn at the library books.
Books From the Library
Game Changer by Rachel Reid
Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust
The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams
The Country Guesthouse by Robyn Carr
The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs
Book I Own
Dark Lover by J.R. Ward
Lies by Kylie Scott
Cup of Joe by Annabeth Albert
The Remaking of Corbin Wale by Roan Parrish
House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas
I always find it fun and informative to see what other bloggers do with freebies like this week’s. Inevitably, there are a few out there that make me wish I had thought to spin it a different way. And honestly, that’s part of the fun.
All In Good Time 
I hope you enjoy these when you get the chance! Here is my Top Ten Tuesday. Thanks!
It’s cool you returned to work after years of being a homemaker! That’s something I’m looking into doing. If it’s okay to ask, what field do you work in? Did you take any classes or do any volunteering before getting hired in your field?
I hope you enjoy all of these books.
My post: https://lydiaschoch.com/top-ten-tuesday-books-about-fresh-starts/
I was working in prosthetic and orthotic billing and got very burned out. In the US, it’s a fight to get these things covered. My youngest really needed me at home and I was lucky enough to have a spouse who made enough for me to leave the paid workforce. I spent the years volunteering at my son’s school and taking care of my dying mother-in-law, among other things. Once my son graduated I worked for a bit more than a year at a local coffee shop for some friends until it closed. Now I’m part time doing admin type stuff at a local union. I’m someone without formal education but a jack of all trades that learns quickly. It has served me well. That all being said, I would love to go back to college some day. It just hasn’t fit into my life yet.
I read Girl, Serpent, Thorn last year and it was pretty good. I also still need to get around to House of Earth and Blood.
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2021/03/09/top-ten-tuesday-306/
I know what you mean about overextending with ARCs. I love my library and definitely try to make sure I have plenty of time to read those books. It looks like you have some good picks to get to, the only one I’ve read is Girl, Serpent, Thorn! I really enjoyed House of Earth and Blood. I hope you enjoy all of these! 🙂
I decided last year not to do scheduled reviews anymore. It’s been SO liberating! I still accept a fair amount of books to review, but I always tell people I’ll get to them if/when I can. It’s taken so much pressure off of me – I should have made this policy years ago. Good luck with all your reading commitments 🙂
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
I’m slowly finding a happy medium. It’s hard for me to not have a schedule, but then the schedule stresses me out. So I’m learning to let go.
Good luck! I hope you get to The Bromance Book Club soon.
I’m not exaggerating when I say it’s been my turn on my e-library at least 8 times and I’ve had to turn it down. I finally stopped putting a hold on it since I knew I wasn’t going to have time for a while.
Loved Country Guesthouse and Crescent City! Hope you get to read them all!
I really enjoyed all of the other books in the Sullivan’s Crossing series. I just need to find time and be in the right mood when it’s my turn.
Girl, Serpent, Thorn is on my tbr too, I loved Crescent City and Dark Lover!