Toppling My TBR in 2026

In 2021 when my husband and I moved from Central North Carolina to Central Arkansas, I donated hundreds of books. These were paperbacks and hardbacks I'd been collecting for YEARS! All gone because we were moving into a small house that wouldn't accommodate the two dozen boxes of books I had.

I made a promise to myself then that I wouldn't collect books anymore. I would buy them, read them, and sell or donate 95% of them. After all, I was still taking almost a dozen boxes of books with me.

Flash forward to 2025 when we purchased our first home and were packing our rental. Once more, I was looking at two dozen boxes of books. Instead of donating a ton of them, I decided I would (at some point) start reading them.

That point has come quickly, friends. With the rising costs of books, the decision as to when I would begin reading them has been made. With paperbacks ranging from $18 - $22, and hardbacks bumping up to $30, I have realized my days of book buying are over. Unless it's secondhand or from a bargain store like Dollar Tree or Ollie's, that is.

What better reason to start reading down my TBR!?

So, this year I'll be concentrating on my endless stacks and utilizing my library even more for those 2026 "must read" publications.

I'll be getting back to my reviews, but wanted to give fair warning that there will be some blasts from the past.

A friend reminded me the other day that many books never really die. They're always on someone's shelf just waiting to be discovered. I'm looking forward to see what can be discovered this year!

Happy reading!