November 2022 Goodreads TBR Shelf Clean-Up

Howdy, y’all! It’s time for my November 2022 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 be adding books. In October 2022, I had 617 books. Today, I have 614. That is a bit of a drop. Yay me! Will my November 2022 Goodreads TBR shelf clean-up help that number drop some more?

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.
• Ask Siri, or 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 it and 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: 614

Starting Number: 251; it looks like I’m going through the books I added in July 2021

Shelf Sorted: Date Added

Let’s get this November 2022 Goodreads TBR Shelf Clean-Up underway!

The Book Smugglers (Pages & Co #4) by Anna James

Fourth in the modern-classic and bestselling bookwandering series for ages eight to twelve that celebrates all that is best in life: books, adventure, friendship – and cake.

Milo lives on board the Sesquipedalian, or “Quip,” – a magical train that uses the power of imagination to travel through both Story and the real world. The train is owned by Milo’s uncle, Horatio, and Milo has witnessed many of his uncle’s dodgy dealings as a book smuggler trading in rare books.

When Horatio takes on a dangerous new job, he needs the help of Tilly Pages. And Tilly owes Horatio a favor. But when poisoned copies of The Wizard of Oz are sent to Horatio and Tilly’s grandfather, sending them both into deep sleep, Milo and Tilly find themselves racing against time to save them – and to figure out what is going on.

Their journey takes them to the Emerald City with Dorothy, rocketing on the unruly Quip, and eventually to Venice in Italy in pursuit of the mysterious Alchemist. The very essence of imagination, the story itself, may be in danger.

My Thoughts

This is the fourth book in a series of five that I want to finish reading. I have four books to go, and as such, I should make them a priority in the near future!

KEEP

The Fangirl’s Guide to the Universe by Sam Maggs

From notable geek girl Sam Maggs, The Fangirl’s Guide to the Universe is the ultimate handbook for teens living the nerdy life.

Fandom, pop culture, feminism, cosplay, cons, books, memes, podcasts, vlogs, OTPs, RPGs, MMOs, and more—there’s never been a better time to be a fangirl or a better guide to navigating the wide universe of fandoms. This handbook is packed with tips, playthroughs, and cheat codes, including:

· How to make nerdy friends
· How to rock cosplay
· How to write fanfic with feels
· How to defeat internet trolls
· How to attend your first con

And more! Featuring wisdom from Sam and insightful interviews with fangirl faves like Danielle Paige, Rainbow Rowell, and Preeti Chhibber, The Fangirl’s Guide to the Universe highlights the joys of fandom community and offers a fun, feminist take on the often male-dominated world of geekdom. This refreshed edition updates The Fangirl’s Guide to the Galaxy, including new interviews.

My Thoughts

I don’t remember if I added this book for my daughter or me. I doubt she would read it because it’s not a spooky book, which seems to be the only thing she wants to read at the moment.

DELETE

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready, to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now?

Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband has left her, and her professional life is going nowhere. Regardless of why Evelyn has selected her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career.

Summoned to Evelyn’s luxurious apartment, Monique listens in fascination as the actress tells her story. From making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the ‘80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way, Evelyn unspools a tale of ruthless ambition, unexpected friendship, and great forbidden love. Monique begins to feel a very real connection to the legendary star, but as Evelyn’s story nears its conclusion, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique’s own in tragic and irreversible ways.

My Thoughts

Truthfully, I have never read a Taylor Jenkins Reid book! I have two on my TBR, and I’m not sure which one I’ll read first. Part of me wants to read this to see what the hype is about, but I am scared because I have been burned by the hype train in the past.

KEEP

The Saturday Night Supper Club by Carla Laureano

Denver chef Rachel Bishop has accomplished everything she’s dreamed of and some things she never dared hope for, like winning a James Beard award and heading up her fine-dining restaurant. But when a targeted smear campaign causes her to be pushed out of the business by her partners, she vows to do whatever it takes to get her life back … even if that means joining forces with the man who inadvertently set the disaster in motion.

Essayist Alex Kanin never imagined his pointed editorial would go viral. Ironically, his attempt to highlight the pitfalls of online criticism has the opposite effect: it revives his own flagging career by destroying that of a perfect stranger. Plagued by guilt-fueled writer’s block, Alex vows to do whatever he can to repair the damage. He just doesn’t expect his interest in the beautiful chef to turn personal.

Alex agrees to help rebuild Rachel’s tarnished image by offering his connections and his home to host an exclusive pop-up dinner party targeted to Denver’s most influential citizens: the Saturday Night Supper Club. As they work together to make the project a success, Rachel begins to realize Alex is not the unfeeling opportunist she once thought he was and that perhaps there’s life–and love–outside the pressure-cooker of her chosen career. But can she give up her lifelong goals without losing her identity as well? 

My Thoughts

It’s a food related-book; how could I not want to read it? What is holding me back, then? Not being able to find a copy! I shall keep up the search!

KEEP

Bait and Witch by Angela M. Sanders

Josie Way loved working among the Library of Congress’s leather-scented stacks—until she uncovered corruption and made herself a target. As Wilfred, Oregon’s new librarian, Josie can stay undercover until the case goes to court. But life in this little town isn’t as subdued as she expected. The library, housed in a Victorian mansion, is slated to be bulldozed. Still digesting the news that her safe haven is about to become scrap lumber, Josie discovers a body in the woods.

Almost as shocking, Josie learns that she’s descended from a long line of witches—and her powers have suddenly sprung to life. With help from a spoiled alley cat who just may be her familiar, Josie’s thumbing through a catalog of suspects, hoping she can conjure a way to save her library—and her life.

My Thoughts

This is the first book in a cozy mystery series, what better place to start a series, right? Plus, it’s about a librarian who is also a witch. I think it would be such fun to read!

KEEP

Wrap Up

And that is my November 2022 Goodreads TBR Shelf Clean-Up. It doesn’t look like I cleaned my shelf up too much! Out of the five books, I’m keeping four. What did anyone expect? I love reading; how can I easily cut a book off my TBR?

But this was fun. I may do it now and then to help keep my shelf realistic. Last year, 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.