Ever
since the Great Reading Slump of 2018, us Weres have been a little
worried about
how our yearly reading challenges would go. Add in a pandemic and we
really weren't sure if we would read any books, let alone read books
that
would count for our challenges. We did way better than we thought we
would! We did so well that we're setting high expectations for 2021. To
see which challenges we're doing this year, check out this post.
Over
the next week, we're going to be wrapping up how we did with each of
our challenges. Today, Rose Red is going to be wrapping up her Tackle My TBR 2020 challenge.
A few years ago, I participated in a challenge called Rock My TBR before
we started doing Beat the Backlist. It was great because it made me
focus on downsizing the number of unread books I had on my shelves.
Unfortunately, that was the last year Rock My TBR happened. I then begin looking around for a new TBR challenge to replace it. I wanted a challenge that would help me focus on
reducing the number of unread books I own but let me include new releases and not just backlist titles.
I'm so glad that I found the
Tackle My TBR 2020 Challenge hosted by Kim from
KimberlyFaye Reads. I had so much fun participating in this challenge and I kicked some serious TBR butt doing it! I loved how low-key and chill it was which was a definite plus for a year like 2020. I got to go at my own pace and it made a huge difference in how I felt about this challenge. I also loved how there was a monthly theme to help you choose a TBR book if you got stuck! I can't praise this challenge enough! But enough backstory, let's talk about how I did with the Tackle My TBR Challenge.
Tackle My TBR Challenge
My original goal at the first of 2020 was to read 12 physical books from my TBR to achieve the Safety level of the challenge. After
successfully completing the Safety level early in the year, I upped my
goal a couple times until I decided to set my final goal for the challenge at 30 Books I
Own for the First Down (25-36) level. I'm so
happy with how I did! I'm happy to report that my number of unread books on my shelves dropped by 36 this year! Holy cow! That was three times my original goal!
I also tried to complete all the TBR theme challenges and I was successful with finishing them all except for December's theme of a Holiday Read. I apparently had no unread holiday books on my TBR. Who would have thought that was possible?
The best thing about this challenge was the fact that I adored every single book but one I read for it! That is really unheard of for me! With the books I've collected on my shelves, I usually DNF one for every four books I read or the book will be a two, maybe three star read at most. None of the books I read were less than four star reads. I'm going to list all the books I read with covers and I will make sure to list the monthly theme in parentheses if it was the one I read for it.
The books I read for Tackle My TBR 2020 were:
Loose Ends by Morgan Brice (Published in 2019)
Hither, Page by Cat Sebastian
The Pale Light in the Black by K.B. Wagers (Diverse Read)
Storm Cursed by Patricia Briggs (Favorite Genre)
Smoke Bitten by Patricia Briggs
Alpha Night by Nalini Singh
A Gentleman Never Keeps Score by Cat Sebastian
Two Rogues Make a Right by Cat Sebastian
Slippery Creatures by K.J. Charles
Check, Please! Book Two: Sticks and Scones by Ngozi Ukazu
Attachments by Rainbow Rowell
Network Effect by Martha Wells
Something to Talk About by Meryl Wilsner (New-to- Me Author)
Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman (TV/Movie Adaptation)
This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone (LGBTQIA Book)
Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall (Summery Read)
Deal with the Devil by Kit Rocha
Archangel's Sun by Nalini Singh
The Necromancer's Dance by S.J. Himes (Back-To-School)
The Necromancer's Dilemma by S.J. Himes
The Necromancer's Reckoning by S.J. Himes
Mastering the Flames by S.J. Himes
Emerald Blaze by Ilona Andrews
Better Than People by Roan Parrish
Acsquidentally in Love by K.L. Hiers
Huntsman by Morgan Brice
Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
A Ferry of Bones & Gold by Hailey Turner (Been on Your TBR the Longest)
All Souls Near & Nigh (Spooky/Suspenseful Read)
A Crown of Iron & Silver by Hailey Turner
A Vigil in the Mourning by Hailey Turner
On the Wings of War by Hailey Turner
Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
The Sugared Game by KJ Charles (Unfinished Series)
What were your favorite books you read from your TBR last year?