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I am Lover of romance, who indulges in the romantic adventures of literature

My name is Renee, and I am the host of this site. I am a 34 year old woman, on the prowl for her mate, searching out the best of books, exploring the wilds of the imagination and delving into the heart of a beautiful love story.

 

Tea and Biscuits Book Discussions -Choosing Books To Read

by | Mar 20, 2017 | Tea and Biscuits Discussions | 15 comments

The process to choosing a new book to read can be one of the most challenging processes for a book reader. From what I have seen, each reader and even blogger has their own way and process of choosing books to read. This process can be very simple or very complicated depending on the readers tastes or even mood. For some its just a simple matter of just picking up a book that mildly interests them in some way either the genre or sub genre….or a certain trope or dealing with certain political or independent aspects. As for dealing with romance novels, which is what I mostly read (other than religious literature), I do have a certain process but its not very complicated. I try to keep reading as simple as possible. I don’t feel the need to make it this long complicated process of choosing one book to read.

 

Now like most readers I am sure, there are plenty of unread books on my bookshelf. Both physical books and books needing to be read on my kindle. But its not a huge number, especially when in comparison to my Goodreads Wishlist Shelf. So these books are always on my mind, especially since I am not one to buy a ton of those “freebies” or cheap deals on Amazon. I am very picky when it comes to buy books or even those freebies on my kindle. For me, it has nothing to do with memory space, its more about quality reads. I believe the amount of books on my kindle unread are about 20-30 books. Normally once I buy a book I read it pretty quickly. However there are are some books that have slipped through the cracks. Now as for my physical shelf, I have lately gotten hooked on “Half Priced Books” and man the big one they have in Dallas that just has great selection especially when it comes to historical romance. So I probably have about 40-50 books needing to be read on my shelf. Then we also have plenty of books from Edelweiss and Netgalley (which is my greatest downfall and temptation) and as well as library books. I have such respect for libraries and all that they offer. And even the Dallas library here isn’t as good of selection as the one I had in Utah, its not bad either.Β  So how does one choose from all of these options for their next great read. It certainly can be a trial that is for sure. However for myself, I have a simple process. Now most of the time it really depends on my mood. There are certain genres that lately I really have to be in the mood for. But not all the time. I do try to make an effort to balance out my reading. For example, if I just read tons of ARC’s in a row, I will get trapped in a book slump which is the worst ever. So I always try not to overwhelm myself with them. I know some people can read them as much as possible and not struggle at all. And even though it can be hard saying no to so many books, I have learned especially on Netgalley, to only request books I would end up buying myself.

 

So I normally have three options for reading 1. An ARC read 2. Library Read 3. TBR book sitting on my shelf whether its physical or digital. But then you have to put in what I am in the mood for and it can become a bit dicey. Sometimes I am in the mood for Contemporary romance for days or weeks. Or sometimes I just am itching for some sexy Lords and Highlanders and Pirates. I love every sub genre in romance so it can be challenging at times. But I always try to rotate my reads from ARC to my Library/TBR reads. For example last night I was deciding what to read. I had just finished a wonderful historical romance which review I will be posting later today. So I had a bit of a slight book hangover. So none of my ARC’s appealed to me much. And none of my library picks interested me either. So I was feeling pretty down last night because I wanted to read a book but had no idea what to read. (So very frustrating right?) So I was just browsing my kindle library, and I came upon a book I thought I had read since I purchased it a while ago, but I noticed on Goodreads that I hadn’t read it. Although it was odd because on GR it says it has been read, but not date set or rating or review and if you know me at all I review every book I read. Or I try to anyway. But since this is a more recent release from the past year or two, I knew I hadn’t picked it up, probably just a glitch on Goodreads. Anyway, so I picked it up and started reading. So choosing a book to read can be a struggle some days and other days it’s not. I do miss the days, where I would just load up on library books and have a tower of books, and just read them in order of where I placed them. (and yes it was a tower about 20 for three weeks). Back then a few years ago, I could read anything and not have to be in the “mood” for it. However, since reading ARC’s, I have to read a book I am in the mood for. Choosing a book to read now is a lot more complex than it used to be. Before e readers or even Goodreads came to life. And yes I was reading romance long before then. I remember the days when choosing a book to read was as simple as a visit to the library or the local bookstore. I have enjoyed seeing how much the book industry has grown over the years and even though at times trying to find a book to read can be a bit frustrating at times….it can also be a fun adventure as well!!

Question For My Readers

What is your process for choosing a book to read? Is it simple or a long and complex formula?

 

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15 Comments

  1. Geybie's Book Blog

    I usually choose based on my mood. It often depends on what I’ve just read. If I’ve just read a dark romance, I usually want something sweeter next. Or if I’ve just read a tearjerker, then I want something lighter the next day. However, I do find myself read the same theme for weeks. So, it really depends mostly on my mood. πŸ˜€
    Awesome post, by the way! I love this. Thanks for sharing. πŸ˜€

    Reply
    • Lover Of Romance

      Thanks for stopping by for the discussion this week hun. I do agree with dark romances….it really depends on how dark, but many times I need something more cheerful and happy feel to it. Glad to know someone else always tends to read similar themes.

      Reply
  2. Melanie Simmons

    I usually choose books based on my mood. But then I read mostly UF,PNR,Sci-Fi and Fantasy, so there isn’t a huge amount of difference between those genres, though I do have books that are more romance, others that are darker, some that are really funny. I do take into account for ARCs. I’m really picky about what ARCs I choose, so I don’t get burnt out often, but it does happen. I also get a ton of books from the library too. Like you, I don’t have a huge number of purchased books that I haven’t read. I’ve probably got maybe 40-50. I’m like you that I generally don’t purchase until I’m ready to read something (unless I already know I want to read it and I see it on sale). Great topic.

    Melanie @ Hot Listens & Rabid Reads

    Reply
  3. Grace @ Rebel Mommy Book Blog

    Eh I am a mess when I pick a book to read. I also have ARCs, bookshelf (physical and kindle) and library to choose from. ARCs tend to win out but if not I guess I am a mood reader. Sometimes though I don’t know what I am in the mood for lol!! Great discussion!

    Reply
  4. LilyElement

    Gotta love HPB! It’s so bad on your TBR shelf though hahaha

    Reply
  5. Carole's Random Life

    I seem to always be reading ARCs since I can’t seem to get ahead. Most of the time, I am just trying to get things read before the publication date. If I get an ARC that I am really excited about I will bump it to the front of the line. I have so many unread books that I just don’t seem to be able to get to lately.

    Reply
  6. Stephanie @Once Upon a Chapter

    I don’t really have a process. I have a list of books I’d like to get through but I’m very flexible. I am a total mood reader. I also can’t read too many books in the same sub-genre in a row. That’s probably the only stipulation I have for choosing a book is that it can’t be the same sub-genre as the previous book.

    I totally agree picking a book is much harder now. It went from RT magazine, to their boards, to blogging, to book conventions and it has exponentially gotten harder with each new discovery for me. Plus my wish list has exploded so it is probably longer than my life expectancy. πŸ™

    I suppose that’s a better problem to have than nothing to read at all! Lol.

    Reply
  7. Cyn @ Bookmunchies

    I have a ridiculous amount of TBR books on my shelf due to good deals lol hmm I usually mix between ARCs that need to be read and books I’m really feeling. And I usually go back and forth between YA and (adult) romance!
    Great discussion!

    Reply
  8. Sophia Rose

    Over the past year, I’ve made a huge effort to whittle down my review and my TBR piles and not add new ones to the mix (unfortunately Freebies are still jumping on my pile at alarming rates). I try to stagger it between my pile and the review stack. It’s been gradually reducing and that gives me more incentive to keep at it. Mood plays a significant role and I have to just go for a whim read of whatever catches my eye which is more like the book choosing me, I guess. πŸ˜‰

    Reply
  9. Lexxie

    I own way more unread books than you do, Renee, and it becomes harder and harder to decide what to read. I don’t really struggle with it, but I tend to read ARCs before I read books I’ve bought, but I don’t stop buying books… It’s like I can’t help myself.
    I didn’t have as many books before I found Goodreads, but I read lots of romance before then, too, and I used amazon to fill up my library πŸ™‚
    Mood is important when I pick up a book these days, if I want a sweet romance, or some suspense thrown in – I know what to pick.
    Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews

    Reply
  10. Quinn's Book Nook

    I’m a total mood reader. I simply cannot read a book if I’m not in the mood for that type of book. And it isn’t always based one genre. It usually has to do with the tone of the book, and maybe the trope as well. And whatever the conflict is. Sometimes I really struggle with deciding what to read next, because I can’t find a book that is just right for the mood I’m in.

    However, when I first got into the romance genre when I was in college, I would, like you, check out 20 books from the library, have the stacks of books right by my bed, finish one book, roll over, grab another at random, and read that one. I miss that. I wish I could get back in that place. I think a lot of it had to do with the fact that I was discovering the genre, so everything was so new to me.

    Reply
  11. Wickedly Delicious

    Good discussion post. I do not do ARC anymore due to not being able to commit with my crazy life. So mine is pretty easy. I am 100% mood reader. I have cut back on buying freebies and sales too. Like you it has to be something I am really I interested in. I look in my kindle and I seem to have tons of freebies and sales . Check them out and really have no idea what I interested me to get them. I am sure at the time it was a good review or blurb that got my attention.

    Reply
  12. Karen

    I have my Kindle reads under control now and they are my *fun* reads so I bounce from arc’s to them to make sure reading stays fun.

    I rarely request arc’s anymore but I have such a backlog of review books I got from various cons and that’s mostly what I’m tackling now. I pick 2-3 per month, mixed with 1-2 new arc’s that I’ve accepted for review and a few fun reads and that seems to be working right now.

    I’m SUCH a mood reader so some times it’s hard for me to stay on track.

    Karen @For What It’s Worth

    Reply
  13. Michele H

    Where I’m a reviewer not a blogger, I have books ‘assigned’ to me. But I’m spoiled in that I get to read some pretty fantastic ARCs by big name authors and fantastic debut authors as well. (Thanks Sara at HJ!) As for independent reads–which I’m trying to incorporate more this year into my reading schedule–I’m a mood reader who scopes out the book blurbs. I’m always drawn to paranormals, fantasy, and Regency romances but I try to alternate them and add in contemporary and erotica so I don’t get burned out.

    Reply
  14. Zeee @ I Heart Romance & YA

    I’m a mood reader so any algorythm doesn’t work for me at all! LOL I try my best to conform but it takes a lot of work. I’m pretty lucky that I read paranormals for Halloween and stuck to it!

    I’m currently reading Christmas themed romances for the HoHoHo Read-a-Thon and I’m having a hard time with concentrating.. LOL

    Reply

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