There really is no rhyme or reason to a book lover’s TBR (To Be Read) list. Having a book on one’s TBR can mean a multitude of things, like whether it’s your next read or something you might be interested in purchasing when you get the chance. It’s usually not even an organized list, but more like a mish-mash of a bunch of books that one wants to read eventually.
Even if you do have some sort of prioritization on your list, there’s no guarantee that will stick. If you’re a mood reader like me, I’ll read whatever book piques my interest instead of trying to follow an order. And don’t forget about trips to the bookstore that will most positively throw off your system. It’s not uncommon to forgo the books you’re supposed to read next and automatically dive into the ones you just bought.
If you’re on BookTok, the community of readers who share book recommendations and book-related content on TikTok, there will constantly be books thrown into the mix.
These 5 books are just a few that have made me put a pause on my regularly scheduled TBR because they kept on popping up on my For You Page:
The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas
I’ll be honest, The Spanish Love Deception wasn’t high on my TBR until I went to Barnes & Noble the other day and bought it because they didn’t have The Cheat Sheet in stock. It’s an enemies-to-lovers meets fake dating novel and was one of the most popular books last year, but BookTok is fairly divided about this book. I’ve seen creators say it was one of their favorites and others say that it is highly overrated and doesn’t deserve the hype. Of course, I will have to read it myself to find out where I stand in this debate.
Summary: “Catalina Martín desperately needs a date for her sister’s wedding. Especially since her little white lie about her American boyfriend has spiraled out of control … Enter Aaron Blackford–her tall, handsome, condescending colleague–who surprisingly offers to step in.” Though she absolutely detests him and would much rather find anyone else, Catalina is running out of time and decides to accept his offer. (Elena Armas)
The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams
I didn’t need much convincing once I found out that The Cheat Sheet is basically the trifecta of romance tropes: sports romance, childhood friends-to-lovers, and fake dating. This book is one of the newer additions to my TBR, but probably the one I’m most excited to read.
Summary: Ex-ballerina Bree Camden is “helplessly in love with her longtime best friend and extremely hot NFL legend, Nathan Donelson. The only problem is that she can’t admit her true feelings, because he clearly sees her as a best friend with no romantic potential.” When Bree drunkenly admits her secret to the tabloids, Nathan’s publicist suggests that they pretend to be a couple to take advantage of the publicity. (Sarah Adams)
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
Shatter Me has reemerged from the early 2010’s dystopian era vault as a go-to BookTok recommendation. Just like with The Spanish Love Deception, this book has jumped up quite a few spots because I now own a physical copy and because there has been a recent influx of Shatter Me content on my FYP. It has also been somewhere in the depths of my TBR since middle school when I first started to get into leisure reading, so it’s about time that I read it.
Summary: “Juliette hasn’t touched anyone in exactly 264 days. The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder… The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now, so many are dead that the survivors are whispering war. Juliette has to make a choice: be a weapon, or be a warrior.” (Tahereh Mafi)
From Lukov With Love by Mariana Zapata
I first decided to add From Lukov With Love to my TBR because I heard that the main character is half-Filipina. Of course, I was so excited to finally read a book with a representation of the Filipino community, but I stopped about 70 pages in because there was still no mention of anything Filipino-related. I researched online, and one review said that her mixed ethnicity is only mentioned once in passing. I still want to read the book myself so I can formulate my own opinion on how the story contributes to Filipina representation, but finishing it is not a top priority.
Summary: Figure skater Jasmine Santos has spent the last few years struggling to succeed in the big leagues. “She knows her window to compete in figure skating is coming to a close. But when the offer of a lifetime comes in from an arrogant idiot she’s spent the last decade dreaming about pushing in the way of a moving bus, Jasmine might have to reconsider everything. Including Ivan Lukov.” (Mariana Zapata)
The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
I decided to buy The Inheritance Games last week while at Moe’s Books in southside trying to hunt down used copies of The Hunger Games. However, this series was already fairly high up on my list for a non-romance book as I normally try to stick to standalone romances because they are less committed than a series. There have also been so many creators on my FYP talking about which brother is their favorite, so I had to see for myself.
Summary: “Avery Grambs has a plan for a better future: survive high school, win a scholarship, and get out. But her fortunes change in an instant when billionaire Tobias Hawthorne dies and leaves Avery virtually his entire fortune.” However, she must earn the inheritance by moving into the puzzle-filled Hawthorne House rigged with games and challenges at every corner. “Unfortunately for Avery, The Hawthorne House is also occupied by the … four Hawthorne grandsons: dangerous, magnetic, brilliant boys.” (Jennifer Lynn Barnes)