Welcome to another TTT! This week’s topic was submitted by Caitlin @ Caitlin Althea through the TTT top suggestions form, and is about the books on my to-read list that I’m avoiding reading for one reason or another. Perhaps I’m intimidated by the page length or the hype surrounding the book. Maybe it’s a book I know I should read, but am not really excited about. Or maybe it’s a book I’ve hyped up so much in my own head that I’m scared of disappointing myself. lol. Whatever the case may be, I know we can all think of a book or two that’s book on our to-read list forever and it might just stay there indefinitely. I’m excited to see which books those are for you!

1. The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough
My mom loved this book, and it’s a classic that I’ve heard about so much over the years. I watched the miniseries based on the book and enjoyed it (and the music), but this thing is huge and I’m really worried it’s not going to have enough going on to keep me interested.

2. The Botticelli Secret by Marina Fiorato
I feel like I got this from Costco eons ago because I love Italy and the back of the book says this is super exciting and suspenseful, but I never pick it up! I’ve gone through my books multiple times over the last few years, and I always get to this one and think I’m for sure going to get rid of it and then I read the back of the book and I’m excited about it all over again. It’s a cycle I can’t break, so maybe I should just bite the bullet. I don’t know what I’m waiting for.

3. Into Thin Air by Cindy Miles
This is another book I keep coming across on my shelves that I consider getting rid of until I read the back. It sounds like so much fun and like something I’d really enjoy, but I guess I worry it’ll be too cheesy or hokey because of the cover.

4. Beauty by Robin McKinley
I know I haven’t read this one because of the hype. People love this book, and I love Beauty and the Beast retellings so this should be a no-brainer. But what if I don’t like it? It’s happened to me before.

5. Juliet by Anne Fortier
This thing is HUGE. But it sounds so good! I love historical mysteries and Italy and I’ve heard great things. But it’s a really big book.

6. The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig
This is another hyped book I bought LONG ago because it was recommended to me. I LOVE spy books and historical fiction. And it mentions the Scarlet Pimpernel, which I love. So I should love this. Maybe I’m just never in the right mood?

7. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
I really, really want to read this! I love the BBC adaptation, and I’ve read multiple retellings. I love the story, so I should read the original. I even have the pretty Barnes & Noble leatherbound, so I have no reason not to read it. I think I’m scared it’ll be hard to get through and then I’ll be a fraud for loving everything about this book but the book. lol.

8. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
I’ve never read this series before (only the first book), and you’d have to be living under a rock to not know the spoilers for the series so now I’m scared to continue. I don’t want to get attached to anyone!

9. My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century by Rachel Harris
Ah, the oldest unreviewed book on my Netgalley account (sheesh I’ve been reviewing forever). It sounds adorable, I’m just never in the mood. No idea why.

10. The Duke and I by Julia Quinn
Everyone loves this and what if I don’t? And what if I do!? It’s a big series to commit to!

Talk me into (or out of) reading these please!!

This week’s TTT topic is books I enjoyed that are outside of my comfort zone. These books could be genres I’m not typically interested in, subject matter I’m not usually drawn to, etc. I don’t push myself much since I insist that reading be a fun and pleasurable experience for me, and not a growing or learning experience (at least not all the time) so I only have five picks this week.

1. 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
I went in to this thinking it’s bookish and it could be fun, but I didn’t have very high hopes. It’s a memoir and I’m super selective of which ones I read, so I wasn’t entirely sure it’d be a win for me. But it ended up being very fun! I’m actually reading the sequel right now, and it’s delightful. Helene is very funny.

2. Three Mages and a Margarita by Annette Marie
This is adult urban fantasy, which I seriously never read. It wads an Audible Daily Deal one day, and my friend sent it to me because he thought I might like it. Guys, I’ve binged the entire series since. And it’s weird because there’s no romance! That’s another thing that makes it a very non-Jana book. The audio is fun, and I like the fantasy elements and the banter between characters. I’m looking forward to the release of the next book in October. It must be noted that I hate the book cover so much.

3. The Dark Unwinding by Sharon Cameron
I read this only because I heard the audio was really good. There’s pretty much no romance and I’m not usually a steampunk fan, but the audio was amazing and I ended up loving this book!

4. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
This one was out of my comfort zone because I hate crying. lol. As such, I tend to avoid WWII fiction. It’s also narrated by Death, which worried me. But it’s such a beautiful story.

5. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
I’m not a fantasy for fantasy’s sake kind of person. I don’t love magic on its own. Either one of these story elements require romance, and there’s none in this. lol. I’m also not so much a middle grade fan right now, but I knew I had to give Harry Potter a shot. I really loved it! Now I just have to read the rest of the series.

Which books have you really enjoyed that were outside your comfort zone?

This week’s topic was submitted by Annemieke @ A Dance with Books, and I think it’s a pretty fun one! I’m talking about ten books that I’ve read and loved so much that I want a physical copy for my bookshelf. These books were either read as digital review copies, or were borrowed from the library or friends/family. And it’s actually a really hard list for me to write because I’ve already gone and bought SO many that I loved so there’s not many left! I’m eager to see which books you loved enough to donate valuable bookshelf space to!

Dating By the Book by Mary Ann Marlowe
The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
I Temporarily Do by Ellie Cahill
The Gem Thief by Sian Ann Bessey
The Girl He Used to Know by Tracey Garvis-Graves
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
Till Death by Jennifer Armentrout
Say Yes to the Marquess by Tessa Dare
Illusions of Fate by Kiersten White
Captivate by Vanessa Garden

Which books did you love enough to want to own a coy for your bookshelves?

Hi guys! I’m back! Remember how I was sick the last two weeks and didn’t post my lists? Well, I finally went to the doctor last Thursday and my flu had turned into bronchitis, a throat infection, a sinus infection, and an ear infection. So I’m glad I went to the doctor and found out what was wrong so that I could get better. And I’m feeling way better! I’m so relieved. I legit thought I’d be sick forever.

Ok, so this week’s topic is on my favorite tropes in books! What’s a trope? Well, it’s basically a commonly used story element that is easily recognized because it’s so common. If you’re still not sure, here are some examples of tropes. I’m excited to see some of the tropes you enjoy reading!

1. The Fauxmance

Probably my favorite trope is the fauxmance. I love it when characters have fake relationships to get themselves ahead, and then those relationships become real! Maybe a girl hires a boyfriend to go home with her for Christmas. Maybe it’s a publicity stunt. Maybe a man can only claim his inheritance if he’s married, so he talks a woman into fake marrying him. I’m here for ALL of it.

2. Friends to Lovers

I love best friends turned lovers. These could be childhood best friends that grow up and fall in love, college roommates that start out as friends and turn into more, etc. They’re so sweet, and usually have some more depth to them because the characters have a history and a solid foundation. I also enjoy watching them stress over whether or not a relationship will ruin their friendship if/when they break up.

3. Survival Situations

I love it when characters are stranded in the wilderness. Maybe they get lost while hiking, there’s a plane crash, a boat sinks, etc. If you throw in a murder… like maybe a group of people gets stranded in the mountains during a huge storm and someone kills someone and OH NO. OH YES!!

4. Snowed In

I love it when two characters (hopefully romantic interests) get snowed in at a hotel or a cabin or even on the side of the road in their car and then have to trek to safety. I also love the common storyline that goes a little something like this: a group of people are staying in an isolated hotel when a blizzard comes. There’s no power, there’s no way out, and there’s a murderer in their midst. Isolation due to weather is SO much fun!

5. Small Town Romance

I love the cute, quaint little towns where everyone knows each other but they actually like each other and aren’t gossiping and causing each other problems. These kinds of towns have 4th of July BBQs and Christmas tree lightings with hot chocolate and fall festivals. And there’s commonly a friends to lovers romance, so two tropes for the price of one!

6. International Travel

I love cruises, plane trips, train trips, international destinations… All of it. I love traveling through my books.

7. Spy/Espionage Thrillers

So exciting!

8. Heists

Gem thieves, art thieves… all of it. It’s so much fun.

9. Bookish Themes

I love it when the heroine is an author or a voracious reader or a bookshop owner. I love books set in bookshops and libraries. I love bookish references and identifying with characters who love books as much as I do.

10. Plain Jane Gets the Successful Hottie

I love reading about realistic heroines, like me, who get the super sexy and successful guy like it’s no big deal. Modern society has made us feel like the pretty (but not gorgeous/sexy), average-sized (but not thin and jiggle-free) women can’t get a super sexy man. Like, so many romance novels feature women who are thin, tight, blonde heroines with perfect skin, flowing hair, perfect clothes, perfect jobs, etc. I love seeing normal, real-sounding women (who are allowed to eat food and wear sweatpants) get the dreamboats we know we’re so capable of getting. It’s empowering!

Do we have any picks in common?
Do you have any books to recommend that have one/some of my favorite tropes?
What are your favorites?