Before starting my bookstagram account, I had no clue what a TBR (or “to be read”) list even was. Now, I can’t go without one!
I realize that for some people, their TBR is based on the books they currently own and want to read. However, because I don’t purchase books until I’ve already read them (and I’m certain I’ll read them again), my list is a culmination of series I’ve had an interest in reading, books that have been recommended to me, and new releases.
This is definitely a loose TBR because I know my reading goal for the year is set to 120 and I’m sure I’ll end up reading plenty of other titles outside of these. However, I wanted to at least give myself a few specific book goals! I did the same last year and it was so awesome to look back at the end of December and see that I really had read every book on my original list.
The Awesome Titles Filling My “To Be Read” List in 2021
You can find synopses for these books – along with my reviews as I read them – on my Goodreads. I’ve also provided links for you to purchase or preorder them below.
The Dating Playbook (The Boyfriend Project #2) – Farrah Rochon: I absolutely loved The Boyfriend Project, so I’m looking forward to this sequel that comes out on August 17th.
Shadow and Bone (The Shadow and Bone Trilogy) – Leigh Bardugo: I’m doing a buddy-read of this trilogy with one of my booksta besties.
Happily Ever Afters – Elise Bryant
Life’s Too Short (The Friend Zone #3) – Abby Jimenez: I adored Abby’s other two books and I can’t wait to dive into this one that comes out on April 6th.
People We Meet on Vacation – Emily Henry: Beach Read was one of my favorite audiobooks of last year. This one that comes out on May 11th sounds great!
Children of Blood and Bone (Legacy of Orïsha) – Tomi Adeyemi: I’m so looking forward to reading the two books that have already come out.
Second First Impressions – Sally Thorne: Sally’s books can be hit-or-miss for me, but this one that comes out on April 13th sounds like it has great potential.
The Road Trip – Beth O’Leary: I can’t get enough of Beth’s novels. I’m really looking forward to this one that releases on June 1st.
Poisoned – Jennifer Donnelly: Stepsister crushed my heart and I’m sure this will do the exact same.
You Have a Match – Emma Lord: Tweet Cute was too cute! I think this will be as well.
From Blood and Ash (Blood and Ash) – Jennifer L. Armentrout: I’ve only heard excellent things about these books so I’m hopeful they won’t disappoint.
The City of Brass (The Daevabad Trilogy) – S.A. Chakraborty: This is another trilogy that has come highly recommended.
An Ember in the Ashes (An Ember in the Ashes) – Sabaa Tahir: I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to get to these books. I’m excited!
These Violent Delights (These Violent Delights #1) – Chloe Gong
The Gilded Ones (Deathless #1) – Namina Forna: This comes out on February 18th.
Crazy Stupid Bromance (Bromance Book Club #3) – Lyssa Kay Adams: This series has been so much fun. It’s fluffy and light and enjoyable.
Ready Player Two (Ready Player One #2) – Ernest Cline: Ready Player One was one of my favorite audiobooks of last year. I can’t wait to find out what happens next.
Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares (Dash & Lily) – Rachel Cohn, David Levithan: After falling in love with the Netflix series, I’m thrilled to see how the books compete.
Legendborn (Legendborn #1) – Tracy Deonn
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue – V.E. Schwab: Possibly the most hyped book of last year? I’m counting the days til I get to read it.
Lore – Alexandra Bracken
Bone Crier’s Dawn (Bone Grace #2) – Kathryn Purdie: Excited to see what happens next in this series and the book releases on March 30th.
Clap When You Land – Elizabeth Acevedo
A Psalm of Storms and Silence (A Song of Wraiths and Ruin #2) – Roseanne A. Brown: I loved the first one’s audiobook so much I even interviewed one of the narrators! This one comes out on August 31st.
All the Tides of Fate (All the Stars and Teeth #2) – Adalyn Grace: This is a highly-anticipated sequel for me and it comes out on February 2nd.
The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle) – Maggie Stiefvater: I’ve loved The Wolves of Mercy Falls for years so I have high hopes for this particular hyped series.
A Curse So Dark and Lonely (Cursebreakers) – Brigid Kemmerer
Malibu Rising – Taylor Jenkins Reid: After listening both Daisy Jones & The Six and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, I’m very interested in Taylor’s newest novel.
All This Time – Mikki Daughtry, Rachael Lippincott: While it might not exactly be a Five Feet Apart sequel, I’m still intrigued!
City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments) – Cassandra Clare: I thoroughly enjoyed The Infernal Devices last year and I can’t wait to see what I think of TMI.
related posts
The Best Books I Read in 2020 // My Favorite Audiobooks from 2020
Which books are at the top of your TBR this year?
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Lindsey says
Goodness you have some incredible books on your list here!! I love the idea of having set ones that you want to get to – I should do that, I’ve had ones that just keep getting put back that I’ve been meaning to read for ages. Good luck getting to them all.
Stephanie Whitman says
It really helps me know what I want to read throughout the year, so I can never have a moment of doubt. Plus, it lets me order from my library far enough in advance to get the books I want, or to research the audiobook to see if I like the narrator enough to listen to it instead. I definitely appreciate set TBRs!
Caitlin says
I actually can’t wait to see if you read them all by year’s end and what you thought of each book! I love your dedication to reading.
Stephanie Whitman says
I read the initial 30 I had on my list last year by the end of the year (minus one “DNF” that just freaked me out because I had no clue it was horror haha). I think I can do it again this year!
Loïne says
We have so many books in common in our TBRs! I would love to read The Gilded Ones, These Violent Delights and A Psalm of Storms and silence!
I hope you’ll have the time to read all of the books on this huge tbr!
Love your content as always! 🥰
Stephanie Whitman says
Oooh I’d love to buddy-read with you at some point!! It’s always fun to share the same interests in books!
Ashley@AttemptsAtDomestication says
I’m SO excited for Psalms of Storms and Silence! The first was my favorite book that I read last year. I’m also planning to read the new ACOTAR when it comes out next month. I need to check out From Blood and Ash. I keep seeing it everywhere.
Stephanie Whitman says
ME TOO! ME TOO! I absolutely loved the first book and even got to interview the narrator from the audiobook (which was the method I chose for reading it). It was so much fun 🙂 ACOSF looks really interesting (even if I’m not a huge fan of Nesta haha) and I’m looking forward to finally checking out From Blood and Ash. Everyone has been hyping it up!
I'm All Booked Up says
City of Bones is one of our favorite books of all time. We recently enjoyed You Have a Match. Happy reading! 🙂
Stephanie Whitman says
I’m looking forward to reading the full Mortal Instruments series (hopefully). I really enjoyed The Infernal Devices, so I felt it was time to read the others!
rebecca says
okay i definitely didnt know what TBR meant until now! but definitely saving this for later when i need something to read!
xx rebecca // thecrystalpress.com
Stephanie Whitman says
Oh my gosh, now I feel bad for saying it so often in my other bookish posts haha! I think I gave a definition in one of the first ones last year and then forgot to after that. Now you know 😉
Lee says
Soo many good ones on this list, I need to pin it and come back to it so I can try to read a few off it as well!
Stephanie Whitman says
I hope I can always provide some inspiration for what to read 😉
Claudia says
Oooo what a cool TBR list!
I don’t make one because I’m a mood reader, but I’m thinking I may have to read ACOTAR at some point (hype). And I do have a few YA on my shelf waiting to be tackled… I should probably read these prior to buying more LOL
Stephanie Whitman says
I used to be a mood reader for SURE, but last year, after actually planning a list for the year and then deciding to plan monthly lists, I felt so accomplished. I’m a list-maker by nature, so being able to check off the books I read each month was so satisfying haha! Good luck with ACOTAR 😉 I have SO many feelings on that series. I should probably write a post about it eventually.
Merry Sari says
Awwww! I really want to read Life’s too short and many of these are great books! Thank you for always sharing, Steph x
Stephanie Whitman says
I’m already making progress on this list, just in the first month of the year, which really makes me happy! I can’t wait to see how it goes for the rest of 2021. Best luck with your own reading!
Bex says
This looks like a great tbr! I don’t have one myself as I never stick to it 😂 But The Mortal Instruments series is so good!
Stephanie Whitman says
Haha! I know a lot of people don’t prefer them, but it helps me to stay organized and I don’t get really upset if I change a few books throughout the months). However, for a full year, this is such a short list that I know it’ll be fun to complete it!
kileen says
you always have such good book recommendations! I need to check out Life’s Too Short!
kileen
cute & little
Stephanie Whitman says
I hope you get a chance to check out more than just that one 😉
Margot says
All theses book sound very interesting.
I always read your articles and had more to my lists.
xx
Margot
https://troughthepasturesofthesky.com
Stephanie Whitman says
I’m glad that I can inspire you to add more books to your reading list!
Lizzie says
These sound like amazing books to put on your list! I feel Like I’ve read City off Bones before but it’s been a while. Need to check out the others!
Lizzie
http://www.lizzieinlace.com
Stephanie Whitman says
The Mortal Instruments have been such a hugely popular series for years (and were even turned into a movie and a TV show) but I’ve never read them all. I read the first one back in high school and it gave me heebie-jeebies so I quite it. But NOW I love The Infernal Devices (still part of the Shadowhunter world) so I wanted to go back and read the “original” series hah!
Greta says
I loved Dash & Lily on Netflix! I need to add it to my reading list this year.
Stephanie Whitman says
Oh my gosh, then you’ll love the books. I just finished the first one and it was so cute! The show was a great adaptation!
Sarah Lindner says
Looks like an impressive list! Think a TBR list makes it easier to pickup a new read when you’re in need of a new one! xoxo, Sarah
Stephanie Whitman says
Totally! I mostly plan out a list like this so I have something to follow throughout the year and I don’t get too sidetracked with new releases or just meandering through old favorites.
Jennifer Prince says
Wow! That is quite a list, and there are a lot of fabulous ones coming out this year. I never know what I’m reading next and usually just pick up books at yard sales and thrift stores. I do know a few authors that are tried and true, though – like Beth O’Leary. Such a great one!
Stephanie Whitman says
Haha and here I am feeling like this is my shortlist! If I read a few of these in addition to all the other books I want to pick up each month, it’ll be a breeze to finish it with my goal of 120 for the year!
Deborah says
Ooh, it looks like we have quite a few books in common like “Clap When You Land” and “Road Trip”! Can’t wait to hear your reviews on all of these!
Stephanie Whitman says
I had every intention of reading Clap When You Land last year because I ADORED The Poet X and really enjoyed With the Fire on High, but I never got to it. Definitely making a point of it this year! 🙂
Tea says
Ooowh… I didn’t know there is a second Ready Player… book! I have a huge list, but I’m also focusing on my 2021 challenge where I read a book in each language that I know.
Stephanie Whitman says
YES! It came out last year but I was counting down the days to the release. I listened to the first one on audiobook with my husband and it’s probably he only fictional book he’s ever liked so I plan to listen to the second one with him too (if I can ever get him to sit down long enough to do so haha)
Lydia says
I’ve never made a TBR list, but usually just put a library hold on anything that catches my interest as it comes along – I don’t buy books I haven’t read either, unless it’s fill a bag at the book fair!
Chic on the Cheap
Stephanie Whitman says
I used to be the same way. That’s a “mood reader” but my list-making has helped me get through so many more books, so I’m grateful for it now!
Jenny in Neverland says
Clap When You Land and The Gilded Ones are on my TBR too! Such an amazing list of books here, hope you enjoy the ones you get around to reading. I just finished reading The Flatshare and tbh, I wasn’t crazy about it which is a shame because everyone seems to adore that authors books. I might give another one a try anyway! x
Stephanie Whitman says
I’m so sorry to hear you didn’t care for The Flatshare. That’s one of my all-time favorite romcoms! What was it that you didn’t like about it? I’m so curious now!