Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly blog meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.
This week’s challenge was to list 10 backlist books we want to read, but I thought my twist on the topic would be focusing specifically on overdue ARCs I have!
These are all eARCs (except one). They’re not the earliest-released titles I have (as some review copies get sent months or years after their release), but they are the titles that have been in my possession the longest! NONE OF THESE ARE BEING REMOVED FROM MY TBR — I’m just lazy. ?
1. Berserker — Emmy Laybourne
released: October 2017
why haven’t I read it yet? The plot sounded cool, but I’ve heard mostly really “meh” reviews, so I keep skipping past it.
2. The Glass Spare — Lauren DeStefano
released: October 2017
why haven’t I read it yet? I honestly just lost all interest in the plot shortly before it released.
3. Alone — Cyn Balog
released: November 2017
why haven’t I read it yet? YA thrillers are super hit and miss for me, but I thought this was horror when I first requested it (very early in my ARC requesting days!).
4. Bad Call — Stephen Wallenfels
released: December 2017
why haven’t I read it yet? This is, funny enough, another YA thriller I thought was horror when I requested it. (As you can imagine, I quickly learned to check Goodreads listings before sending random requests on Netgalley.)
5. A Dash of Trouble — Anna Meriano
released: January 2018
why haven’t I read it yet? It still sounds adorable, I just have to be in the right mood for MG fantasy.
6. A Conspiracy of Stars — Olivia A. Cole
released: January 2018
why haven’t I read it yet? I got super burnt out on sci-fi at the start of this year and hardly touched it for months (but I’m getting back in the mood for it right now, so I’ll probably read this soon!).
7. The Queen’s Rising — Rebecca Ross
released: February 2018
why haven’t I read it yet? I was in a fantasy rut right before this came out, and it was getting such mixed reviews I didn’t prioritize it. Funny, though, now I constantly see AMAZING reviews for it, and the sequel is about to release, so, uh… consider my interest re-piqued!
8. Beyond a Darkened Shore — Jessica Leake
released: April 2018
why haven’t I read it yet? I HAVE NO IDEA. I’m still so interested in this but I never found the time for it before it released and now I don’t know why I haven’t gotten to it yet!
9. Ash Princess — Laura Sebastian
released: April 2018
why haven’t I read it yet? I read the first 30% or so before it came out and hit a really bad rut and put it down. Now, I just keep forgetting to pick it back up!
10. Anger is a Gift — Mark Oshiro
released: May 2018
why haven’t I read it yet? me upon eARC approval: *SCREAMING*
me for the next 2 months: “I’m gonna save it for RIGHT before it releases so I don’t have to wait forever to review it!”
me a week before release date: *terrible mental health, refusing to touch anything sad*
… aaaaand I don’t know what’s happened since then.
If you review ARCs, do you have any overdue ones? If so, how overdue is your oldest ARC?
Greg
November 6, 2018Oh yeah Berserker! I remember when that came out- the premise sorta had me, but then yeah same- I saw some so-so reviews and just kinda let it go. I hope it’s good!
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
November 7, 2018Thank you, I hope so, too! It’s funny how we have those books that sound so good at one point, but then later, it’s like, eh… lol!
ChrissiReads
November 6, 2018I don’t know why it said I wasn’t following you when I have for a while, so please don’t be surprised if you get a notification saying i’m following you! 😀 Your list has made me want to read quite a few of these!
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
November 7, 2018Haha it’s totally okay, WordPress has been doing that to me with a LOT of blogs lately – in both directions! Thank you 😀
Bellafairytales
November 6, 2018I got so many arcs to read. Got my October arcs together and did not put a dent in it. Been reading library books, plus reading a series for signing event. My tbr is out after I went to two book conventions..
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
November 7, 2018Oh noooo, haha, I bet! That’s awesome, though, at least you won’t run out of things to read! 😀
Harker @ The Hermit Librarian
November 6, 2018I think mine is The Leavers. There are some that I got right when they were posted, but then reviews started coming out that were problematic, so those slip further down the list. :/
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
November 7, 2018Those always tend to slide down the list pretty quickly for me, too. I usually won’t write a book off 100% without seeing excerpts or something, buuuut it definitely lessens my enthusiasm!
anovelglimpse
November 6, 2018Yikes! Overdue ARCs. They sure takeover, don’t they? Good luck!
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
November 7, 2018They really do, lol! Thank you 🙂
Niamh @ nuggets of niamh
November 6, 2018Reading and reviewing ARCs can be stressful sometimes! I don’t read many but when I do receive one, it usually languishes on my shelves for months before I’m in the mood to pick it up! I really want to read Anger is a Gift but it sounds so heartbreaking, I’m scared.
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
November 7, 2018It really can be! Anger is a Gift does sound so good but so sad! I haven’t quite worked up the courage for it yet, I guess. 🙁
Marie
November 6, 2018Best of luck for all of these overdue ARCs! I’ve heard amazing things about Anger Is A Gift, I hope you’ll enjoy it 🙂
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
November 7, 2018Thank you, Marie! 😀 Good luck if you have any overdue ones, too!
Kat @ Novels & Waffles
November 6, 2018A Dash of Trouble by Anna Meriano has the cutest cover and sounds so adorable! But yeah, I can understand what you mean because MG books are such a mood for me. Thanks for another wonderful post 🙂
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
November 7, 2018Isn’t it so cute?! I’m glad I’m not the only one who has to be in the mood for them though, haha! I feel like people look at me funny sometimes when I say that I love MG but can’t always read it. 🙂 Thank you so much! ♥
Kat @ Novels & Waffles
November 8, 2018Totally. It’s like eating something really sweet. I love it when I’m in the mood, but sometimes it’s too much? Does that make sense at all?
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
November 8, 2018It absolutely does, haha!
Roachie's Reviews
November 6, 2018I have to say this does make me feel a bit better about my own overdue ARC list! 🙂
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
November 7, 2018Haha oh, if THIS made you feel better, you should see the whole overdue list ??
Sofia @ BookishWanderess
November 6, 2018I have so many overdue arcs and I have basically stopped requesting new ones because I feel like I end up losing interest in the books that I get arcs for (I don’t know why maybe it has to do with being a mood reader) and then I feel bad for not reading them. Some of my overdue arcs are Furyborn, Girl Made of Stars and Lessons in Falling.
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
November 7, 2018Aww, I don’t blame you for stopping if they’ve stopped being enjoyable for you. 🙁 I’m sorry to hear it, though! Girl Made of Stars was sooooo good, but really heavy.
Sofia @ BookishWanderess
November 8, 2018I have heard amazing things about Girl Made of Stars, but when I got the arc I was having a really hard time with my anxiety, so I couldn’t bring myself to read it and since then I have been avoiding really heavy books. But I hope to get to it soon!
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
November 8, 2018Oh, that is totally understandable, I can’t blame you at all! It’s such an emotionally exhausting read so please take care of yourself when you do pick it up! <3
Sofia @ BookishWanderess
November 8, 2018I will! Thank you ?
Rosie Overstreet
November 6, 2018I have “The Queen’s Rising” on my list of books to read! I hope you read it and like it. When I first started book blogging, I got suuuuper far behind in my ARCs. I’m definitely a mood reader, so it didn’t quite work out for me. I’ve resigned to just reading books when they are published lol.
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
November 7, 2018I hope you enjoy it, too, thank you! Haha that is super understandable. I’d say I’m about 50/50 – half TBR reader and half mood reader.
Kyra
November 6, 2018I have so many overdue arcs too! >.<
I currently have Beyond a Darkened Shore, The Glass Spare and The Queen's Rising out from the library. They sound really good!
My TTT post!
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
November 7, 2018I’m glad it’s not just me! I hope you enjoy all three of those. I decided to pick up Beyond a Darkened Shore this coming weekend so I’m looking forward to it! 😀
Kayla @ Books and Blends
November 6, 2018So we are buddy reading Ash Princess. I have the ARC on my shelf and it needs to be read!
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
November 7, 2018Deal!
Tammy
November 6, 2018My list would be much longer! I’m the worst at taking on too many books?
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
November 8, 2018Oh don’t worry, this is only the ten that I feel the most guilty about. ? Sadly, I have a LOT more than this that are overdue. I feel bad, but it happens, and I’m trying to stop beating myself up over it.
TeaPartyPrincess
November 6, 2018Oh gosh, I need to read Beyond A Darkened Shore too!
Cora | http://www.teapartyprincess.co.uk
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
November 8, 2018I’m going to read it this coming weekend with another blogger as a buddy read if you want to join in! 🙂
Aymee (@asphaltcowgrrl)
November 6, 2018Beyond a Darkened Shore looks so good! But I hear ya. I have six books on my Netgalley shelf right now and I’ve read one and 3/4 of them. And I don’t even understand why I haven’t read them all. *sigh* Good luck getting through these!
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday. Thank you!
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
November 8, 2018It really does look so good! I’m sorry you haven’t caught up yet either, but I have faith in you that you will soon! 😀 Thank you, good luck to you too!
Ainslee, Jest and Hearts
November 6, 2018I’ve read The Glass Spare, The Queens Rising and Beyond A Darkened Shore and I really enjoyed all three. However, I HIGHLY recommend Beyond A Darkened Shore, it was absolutely amazing and is now one of my all time favourite books. Its based on Celtic and Norse mythology and set in ancient Ireland, so good!
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
November 8, 2018Oooooh, good! That has me so excited now. I’m actually buddy reading Beyond a Darkened Shore this weekend so now I’m feeling way more optimistic about it. 😀
Avery @ RedRocketPanda
November 6, 2018A Dash of Trouble looks SO CUTE
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
November 8, 2018Doesn’t it?! I honestly can’t believe I haven’t read it yet because it has the cutest cover and synopsis.
MetalPhantasmReads
November 6, 2018I need to read Conspiracy of Stars and Beyond a Darkened Shore as well. I tried 100 pages of Ash Princess but didn’t enjoy it and put it down for good. I’m curious of your thoughts on all of these 🙂
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
November 8, 2018I don’t blame you on Ash Princess! I want to give it one more shot, but I’m not going to restart it when I pick it back up, I’m just gonna pick it up where I left off and if it doesn’t catch me within a couple of chapters, I’m officially DNFing it.
MetalPhantasmReads
November 8, 2018Ah good idea 🙂 personally the abuse stuff didn’t stick with me like it should have and stuff…
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
November 9, 2018How so – like it bothered you, or you couldn’t connect? If you don’t mind me asking! 🙂 I’m just curious because I heard a lot of early reviewers say they hated the abuse and thought it was too dark for YA, but from what I had read of it so far, it didn’t strike me as super intense and I was wondering if it got much worse or if it was one of those “reading adult horror for the last 15 years has broken my brain” things ???
MetalPhantasmReads
November 12, 2018I couldn’t connect to it honestly. It didn’t feel real and just forced. Sorry if I didn’t clarify lol 🙂 I think the book overall just felt juvenile to me
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
November 12, 2018Ooooh, that makes sense! No, you’re totally fine, I was just curious 🙂
MetalPhantasmReads
November 12, 2018It’s all good! 🙂
Nerd Narration
November 6, 2018I think the moment you’re introduced to Netgalley is the moment you become “overdue/behind on ARCs” lol. It’s just a plight we all deal with once we enter this beautiful bookish blogging world. lol I think my oldest is an October of ’17 so trust me, there’s guilt to share lol!
If I had any of these titles I’d offer to buddy read, but unfortunately I don’t! Glad my list gave us our next like 20 ?
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
November 8, 2018Bahahaha very true!! I joined Netgalley in… March of ’17, I think? And up until very recently, I had some from my very first batch of requests ever. 😛 At least I’m not alone, so thank you for that, lmao! And yeah, thankfully we are set on BR ideas for a while! ??
Jolien @ The Fictional Reader
November 6, 2018What a great spin on the topic! I have some ARCs I should’ve read already as well. I have to admit that I haven’t read any of these though, so I’d be interested in your thoughts on them when/if you do get around to reading them 😀
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
November 8, 2018Thank you! 😀 I think one of my 2019 reading goals is actually going to be catching up on all of these by the end of winter or even spring, so hopefully I’ll have reviews for all of them coming fairly soon!
Amanda Holmes
November 6, 2018A Dash of Trouble looks darling! It looks like you have some amazing books on your list.
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
November 8, 2018It really does! Thank you, I think so! 😀
Flavia
November 6, 2018I hope you’ll get to these soon! I haven’t read any of them, but a bunch are on my TBR too 🙂
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
November 8, 2018Thank you! Oooh, let me know if you ever want to buddy read any of them! I’m starting Beyond a Darkened Shore this weekend but don’t have any plans for the rest of them yet. 🙂
Stephanie
November 6, 2018HA! What a great idea! NetGalley ARC list is a tad out of control. I’ve stopped myself from requesting anything else until I’ve read what I have! I haven’t ready any of these ones specifically but they all look really good!
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
November 8, 2018Thank you! Haha that’s awesome, good luck on your self-restraint!! I always say I’ll stop requesting things but I am sooo bad about requesting more!
Stephanie
November 8, 2018It’s so hard when they have so many amazing books up for grabs!!
Alicia @ A Kernel of Nonsense
November 6, 2018I really want to read Anger Is a Gift, but I just haven’t been in the right mindset to pick it up. It’s like with Adam Silvera books, I need to be completely prepared. I really enjoyed A Dash of Trouble, but am not always in the mood for an MG book, so I completely understand. Good luck with all these!
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
November 8, 2018Exactly! Sometimes you just have to really pump yourself up to deal with that tragic of a story. 🙁 And you’re the first person I’ve spoken to who read A Dash of Trouble, so the fact that you liked it makes me feel way more enthusiastic about reading it! Thank you, love! ♥
Kaleena @ Reader Voracious
November 6, 2018I loved Anger is a Gift so much, Destiny! I hope you pick it up soon, but know it will rip your heart out.
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
November 8, 2018Ooooh, good to know! I’m so glad you loved it. I have really high hopes for it!
Kyla @ Kyla's Library
November 6, 2018I really want to read The Glass Spare, I’ve loved a lot of Lauren DeStefano’s previous books so I know I’ll enjoy the writing of The Glass Spare!
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
November 8, 2018I hope you get to read it soon! I haven’t read anything by her yet but I’ve heard very good things!
sammers65
November 6, 2018The amount of books on here is a mood that I can super relate too. lol. Good luck Destiny!
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
November 8, 2018Thank you, and good luck to you too! 😀
emmareadstoomuch
November 6, 2018omg probably sooo overdue. i’ve stopped making myself read arcs because it makes me slump 100% of the time but that uh…has repercussions
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
November 8, 2018Aww yeah, it’s such a hard balance to find!! I can’t really blame you, I pretty much advocate doing anything necessary (short of murder I guess? maybe) to avoid slumps.
Bree @1girl2manybooks
November 6, 2018I have not read any of these….I keep seeing Ash Princess around though!
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
November 8, 2018I hear mostly really good things about it, but for some reason I had such a hard time getting into it when I started it before! I’m hoping it’ll go better next time I try reading it, though!
Mogsy @ BiblioSanctum
November 6, 2018Oh my goodness, if I did this list I couldn’t possibly narrow it down to ten. You have so much good stuff on here though, I hope you enjoy Ash Princess, that’s one I’ve actually been eyeing!
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
November 8, 2018Haha if it’s any consolation, this was after narrowing it down big time to ten—my full list is… painfully worse than this. ? Thank you!
Use Your Words
November 6, 2018I also have Anger is a gift and like I don’t understand why I’ve not gotten to it yet???? I just stopped reading eArcs for months and never got back to them…. Oops!
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
November 8, 2018I hope you’re able to get back to it soon! 😀
Verushka, an editor (@SydneyEditor1)
November 6, 2018Oh my goodness, so many new titles here! I think I am going to enjoy this backlist TTT just for the new authors I’m going to learn about!
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
November 8, 2018I’m happy to help you make your TBR bigger! 😀
Becky (coffeecocktailsandbooks)
November 8, 2018I hope you reconsider The Glass Spare! It’s a fun twist on the myth of Midas and the sequel is coming out soon!
I can’t wait to see your thoughts on some of these when you get to them!
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
November 9, 2018Oh, no worries Becky, I’m not removing it! It’s just really low on my list but I’m going to count this as a vote to move it up my TBR 😀 I’m glad you enjoyed it, I feel like I never hear anyone talk about it! That makes me more excited to read it. I somehow didn’t realize it was inspired by the Midas myth but I’ve always loved that story!
Kathy @ Books & Munches
November 9, 2018Ooooh I’m so using this to boast because I FREAKING CAN.
The eARC on my TBR that’s oldest when it comes to release date is.. Magical Mystery Paws by Mandy Morton BUT – here’s the twist – I only requested it in October, HA. And I’m currently reading it. DOUBLE HA.
Then, the next one – again, when it comes to release date – is The Queen’s Wing by Jessica Thorne which is being released on November 21. TRIPLE HA.
I’m so on top of my ARC’s – I’m awesome. ?
[I only have like.. five eARC’s on my NetGalley right now so yeah..]
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
November 9, 2018?? Yes, this is a very appropriate place for you to gloat. Seriously though, I am super proud of you, and I have GOT to get on your level with ARCs.
Kathy @ Books & Munches
November 11, 2018Hahaha, being international helps me tons though. Just saying. ?
Annemieke
November 9, 2018I’ve been somewhat interested in The Glass Spare as I followed the author on social media for a while but I hear so little about it.
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
November 9, 2018Yeah, I almost never hear anyone talking about it! I feel like it fell super under the radar.
Aislynn d'Merricksson
November 10, 2018Alone was pretty good.
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
November 11, 2018Oh good! I never hear anyone talk about it and I always seem to forget I have it!
Brooke Lorren
November 10, 2018The only ARC that I haven’t read that has already been released is The Darkest Star, and I received that as a prize in a contest that a friend held last week (I didn’t get it from the publisher). I’m actually pretty good with reading my ARCs on time.
Out of the ones that you have outstanding, I’d like to read Ash Princess someday.
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
November 11, 2018Whoa, you are on top of things!! That’s a awesome! I need to get on that level. ? enjoy The Darkest Star!
Meredith @ Pandora's Books
January 7, 2019A friend keeps bugging me to read Ash Princess. She said it was AMAZING and great for fans of Throne of Glass. Soooo… I need to get on that, haha
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
January 9, 2019I ended up setting it aside but I do want to try it again some time! Sadly I think I’m just a bit burnt out on the whole royalty YA fantasy theme right now! 🙁