August 2023 Goodreads TBR Shelf Clean-Up

Howdy, y’all! It’s time for my August 2023 Goodreads TBR Shelf Clean-Up. I wonder if this will help me reduce the number of books on my TBR. Who am I kidding? I’m a reader; of course, I will forever add books. In July 2023, I had 623 books. Today, I have 604. That is quite a decrease. Will my August 2023 Goodreads TBR shelf clean-up help that number drop any lower?

I saw this Goodreads TBR Clean-Up post at Megan’s Book Stacks and knew I had to try it, and Megan found it over at MegaBunnyReads.

Click the titles to go to the Goodreads page for the book, and the image will take you to Amazon.

How It Works:

• Go to your Goodreads want-to-read shelf.
• Use a random number generator to pick a number between 1 and however many books are on the list.
• Go to that book and look at the four after it for a total of 5.
• Read the synopses of the books.
• Decide: keep it, or should it go?
• Discuss here.

Books To Be Read: 604

Starting Number: 400, it looks like I’m going through the books I added in early 2022

Shelf Sorted: Date Added

Let’s get this August 2023 Goodreads TBR Shelf Clean-Up underway!

Klaus by Grant Morrison and Dan Mora

Klaus is “Santa Claus: Year One.” Award-winning author Grant Morrison (All-Star Superman, The Multiversity) and Russ Manning Most Promising Newcomer Award-winning artist Dan Mora (Hexed) revamp, reinvent, and re-imagine a classic superhero for the 21st century, drawing on Santa’s roots in Viking lore and Siberian shamanism. Collects the complete, seven-issue limited series in an oversized hardcover. “It’s the beautiful art and the unusual blend of grim medieval setting and whimsical fairy tale elements that truly distinguish this tale.” 

My Thoughts

A graphic novel that shares a story about Santa? Why would I not want to read it?

KEEP

Kissing Lessons by Stefanie London

Audrey Miller doesn’t believe in happily-ever-after, so she is definitely living in the wrong town. But she’s never getting out of Kissing Creek because playing pseudo-mom for her younger siblings doesn’t leave time for much else. She’ll do anything to make sure they don’t end up stuck like she is, working as a barista in a college town, serving Pink Passion mochas with Chocolate Smooch donuts.

Then Ronan Walsh, a new young professor and walking cliché, right down to the elbow patches on his blazer, steps in for a coffee and into her life. She knows his type—intelligent and charming, yet sweet as a cinnamon roll, the sort of man she’s inevitably attracted to but is always out of her league. So why does someone like him have any interest in a worker bee with no future?

Her bland-as-oatmeal existence has nothing to offer, but Ronan’s temporary teaching position is only a stepping stone on his way to somewhere else. He isn’t here to put down roots; Audrey’s roots are firmly planted—neither of them is looking for love. And maybe that’s just perfect.

But in a small town called Kissing Creek, sometimes love can be impossible to avoid…

My Thoughts

This romance sounds like it could be a fun read. It’s not a formula that is often used. So why not give it a try?

KEEP

Christmas at the Vinyl Cafe by Stuart McLean

Christmas has always been a special time at the Vinyl Cafe. For two decades, Stuart McLean traveled across the country every December with The Vinyl Cafe Christmas tour, bringing the gift of laughter and light during the darkest days of the year. The hilarious world of Dave and Morley was even more real–more vibrant–during the holidays. For many, the Vinyl Cafe Christmas stories became beloved family traditions. From mishaps with the Turlingtons and the tale of a young Dave’s first-holiday disaster to the surprising “Christmas Ferret” and the touching sign-off in “The Christmas Card,” these wonderful new stories will delight for years to come.    

My Thoughts

I currently own this book. Other than that, I have not been disappointed by the Vinyl Cafe stories I’ve read. Vinyl Cafe stories are such fun, and each book is a collection of short stories.

KEEP

Let Loose the Dogs by Maureen Jennings

In Let Loose the Dogs, Murdoch’s life and work overlap tragically. His sister, who long ago fled to a convent to escape their abusive father, is on her deathbed. Meanwhile, Harry Murdoch, the father whom Murdoch long ago shut out of his life, has been charged with murder and calls on his estranged son to prove his innocence. But, knowing his father, what is Murdoch to believe?

My Thoughts

This is the fourth book in the Detective Murdoch series. This series has been adapted for television and is in its 16th season. I have enjoyed watching the show and want to try the books.

KEEP

Salt and Sugar by Rebecca Carvalho

Trust neither thin-bottomed frying pans nor Molinas.

Lari Ramires has always known this to be true. In Olinda, Brazil, her family’s bakery, Salt, has been at war with the Molinas’ bakery across the street, Sugar, for generations. But Lari’s world turns upside down when her beloved grandmother passes away. On top of that, a big supermarket chain has moved to town, forcing many of the small businesses to close.

Determined to protect her home, Lari does the unthinkable—she works together with Pedro Molina to save both of their bakeries. Lari realizes she might not know Pedro as well as she thought—and she maybe even likes what she learns—but the question remains: Can a Ramires and a Molina truly trust one another?

My Thoughts

A food-related YA romance? It sounds like it could be so good. I’ve enjoyed reading adult-centered food-related romances, so why not YA?

KEEP

Wrap Up

And that is my August 2023 Goodreads TBR Shelf Clean-Up. It doesn’t look like I cleaned my shelf up much! Out of the five books, I’m keeping all of them.

This was fun. I may do it now and then to help keep my shelf realistic. In the past, I just added books without really thinking about it. Will I stop doing that? Of course not! What kind of animal do you think I am?

What do you think? Have you tried doing something like this to see if you can get your TBR under control?

Looking for some more ideas to read? Check out my monthly reading wrap-ups.