My Sister’s Bones by Nuala Ellwood

This is a psychology thriller featuring a war journalist that is haunted by her experiences. When she moves back home, she’s also haunted by what she suspects might be happening in her neighbor’s house. This sounds like it has potential… but reading the synopsis left me feeling rather ‘meh’. I think this one has to go.

Verdict: Remove

The Secrets She Keeps by Michael Robotham

We have another thriller here and this one definitely sounds like it could get my heart racing. Only problem? It involves two pregnant women. Miscarriage is one of my few triggers, so a thriller + pregnant women? Imma pass. Even if it never happens, the anxiety that it might would haunt me throughout the book. No thanks.

Verdict: Remove

Kon-Tiki by Thor Heyerdahl

I don’t read a lot of non-fiction, but some of my favorite books in the genre are travel non-fiction. I like to live vicariously through wealthier people who can afford to go to places I dream of visiting 😂 This book is less about a dream location, but it still sounds fascinating. It’s about this man and his crew’s journey sailing the Pacific on a balsa log raft. I’m definitely intrigued!

Verdict: Keep

In the Heart of the Sea by Nathaniel Philbrick

This is another non-fiction that focuses on the tragedy that befell the whaleship Essex in 1820. Though it seems like it could be an interesting tale, I don’t know if I want to read about a bunch of whalers slowly dying at sea. Though the poetic justice of their boat being destroyed by a whale is almost enough to make me pick it up. Still, I’m not really in the mindset for a huge heaping of human suffering soooo…

Verdict: Remove

Warcross by Marie Lu

I’ve only read one book by Marie Lu, but that book made me want to read all of her other books! So of course this book about a hacker and an international competition revolving around an online game is staying on my list. I haven’t heard much about this one, but it sounds right up my alley!

Verdict: Keep

A Million Junes by Emily Henry

This is one of the first books that I got from Book of the Month club. That was years ago and I still haven’t read it 😅 It certainly seems like something I might like: a contemporary with a hint of the fantastic. It also seems like it might be taking a page from Romeo & Juliet, so I’m extra intrigued.

Verdict: Keep

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

Oh, this is definitely staying on the list. I actually had it checked out from the library, but time got away from me and it had to go back before I could read it. Rest assured, I will be reading this classic one day! I know it’s going to probably be a heavier read as it deals with time travelling to the South during slavery… but I’m still so excited to read it!

Verdict: Keep

Red Rising by Pierce Brown

This is another definite “Keep”! I’ve been wanting to start this sci-fi series for quite awhile. Do I need to start another SFF series? Sure don’t! But do I really want to read this book about class warfare? Hell yes! I mean, I know it’s not strictly about class warfare, but that’s certainly the part that got my interest.

Verdict: Keep

Golden Hill by Francis Spufford

I definitely don’t remember adding this book, which is never a good sign. Having read the synopsis, it’s gonna be a hard pass. There’s nothing wrong with this historical fiction! I mean… as far as I know. It’s just that synopsis left me bored and I know that this book and I would not mesh. It’s not you. It’s me.

Verdict: Remove

The Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo

This is another easy “Keep”. It’s a book filled with folktales from the Grishaverse. Of course I want to read it! I loved the mythology and lore that Bardugo built throughout her Grisha and Grisha-adjacent novels. Reading a whole book focused on those stories sounds like a win-win to me! Now I just need to actually pick it up, lol.

Verdict: Keep