Books I Just HAD To Have…..& Still Haven’t Read

Top Ten Tuesday(70)

The other day I was looking at my bookshelves and noticing all of the books I’ve bought under the delusion that I could NOT wait and HAD to have them right away……and then still haven’t read them.

This makes me wonder sometimes if I’m actually nuts or not because why do I torture myself like this? Plus everyone always tells me “hey remember when you bought all those books and still haven’t read them? You don’t need more until you read those.” which they’re sort of right….

So I thought that it would be a great idea to share what a horrible reader/book hoarder I am with you all!

Basically this is me:

And then after not reading any of them:

I’ll be putting these in order of how long I’ve actually had these sitting around my house starting with the newest additions!

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When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

Of course with all of the hype that was surrounding this book before and after it’s May release date I had to get my hands on it! Most of the time I don’t give into the hype, or at least I like to think so, I just thought everything about this book sounded wonderful: diverse characters and culture, a cute cover, and non-stop glowing reviews!

Then obviously I couldn’t wait to get a copy and then it arrived and now it’s just sitting all lonely on my shelf because I’m a terrible person…….


Bad Romance by Heather Demetrios

I actually ordered this with “When Dimple Met Rishi” because once again I could not wait and just haaaad to have a copy right away! The cover is absolutely gorgeous and I’ve seen great reviews for it, plus I think it will be interesting to read about a dysfunctional relationship in a YA setting. I know that makes me sound weird but it’s nice to see unique books and books bringing attention to abuse like this (because it happens).


Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

If I was going to rate all of these books by which book I was literally dying to have “Strange the Dreamer” would be #1 because I seriously acted like I was going to die without this book in my life. I even went to the trouble of ordering a UK edition as well because I HAD TO HAVE THIS BOOK AND LAINI TAYLOR IS LIFE!

And guess where the book is sitting? On my shelf. Unread.


The Valiant by Lesley Livingston

I was super pumped for this book before it came out and then with all of the great reviews afterwards I was even more excited for it. Female gladiator! That’s all I want in my books so when I was in the bookstore and saw it I decided to splurge and buy it right then and there because I NEEDED IT. Now it’s been sitting on my shelf for a few months……


Empress of a Thousand Skies by Rhoda Belleza

I bought this book along with my spontanous purchase of “The Valiant” as well. You can see where this got me.


Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

When I saw this book come out at first I was like: Norse Mythology?! Told by Neil Gaiman?! I MUST HAVE THIS BOOK IMMEDIATELY! So I kind of started it and then slowly it worked its way back onto my shelf where it is still sitting waiting to be finished.


The Mistborn Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson

Everyone, everyone, everyone recommends reading this series and I saw the box set on sale on Book Outlet for about $12.00 so of course I was all “Hell yeah!” and bought it right away. Soooooooooo it’s all sitting on my shelf still unread where it will probably remain for a while.


Vassa in the Night by Sarah Porter

This was a spontaneous buy I got with birthday money last year and I decided to use that money for this book because once again…..I couldn’t resist. It’s even a shorter book and I STILL haven’t gotten to it!


Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

I asked for this one for my birthday last year because I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY wanted it and so then I actually received it for my birthday…….and haven’t read it yet.


The Winner’s Kiss by Marie Rutkoski

After reading the first book “The Winner’s Curse” I was blown away by how much I enjoyed it after how much I was expecting not to enjoy it. So then after devouring the sequel as well I NEEDED to read the last book that was just released last year! And guess who still hasn’t finished that trilogy even after buying the last book? Me.


The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi

This book was super, duper hyped last year and because of that plus the pretty cover and promise of unique mythology I was 100% sold. I saw it when I happened to visit a Barnes & Noble and instantly bought it and now it’s been sitting on my shelf for over a year still unread.


Dangerous Girls by Abigail Haas

This one hasn’t been a new release for a while but I found while reading a bunch of glowing reviews for it and having it recommended a ton. So I found it on Book Outlet and bought it straight away because I love twisted thrillers! I started reading it…..and then set it aside for some reason…..and it’s been sitting there waiting for me to return to it eventually.


The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan

This book is the one I’ve had the longest on this list because back many, many years ago when I was binge reading the Percy Jackson series and finished it and was DYING for more! So I found the Heroes of Olympus series and bought the first book straight away…….it has been sitting on my old Nook Color for ages and honestly it probably won’t get read because I want physical copies now….awkward.

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Have you read any of these books? What did you think of them?

Do you have any of these on your TBR as well?

Did you buy any of these right away and haven’t read them yet either?

Do you buy books and let them sit for a long time?

What are some books you HAD to have and haven’t read yet?

Let me know in the comments!

The Sassy

June TBR

Top Ten Tuesday(61)

Well I think it’s safe to say that I’m getting better about sticking to my TBRs but also I always seem to be a little too ambitious! I still have 2 books left over from May (The Hundredth Queen and In Real Life) I’m currently working to finish too, not to mention I’m getting further behind in my Goodreads reading challenge. However, I do have a couple ARCs that I’m going to read this month as well as some books I feel are more summery-y.

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The Disappearances by Emily Bain Murphy

The Disappearances

After Aila and Miles’ mother dies they return to live in her old hometown of Sterling where every seven years something disappears such as reflections, the scent of flowers, or even the ability to dream. The people of Sterling always suspected Aila’s mother, Juliet, and now Aila must bear the blame as she follows her mother’s clues to find out why the Disappearances really occur.

I actually received an ARC of this book and I’m very excited to get into it! It sounds like a very mysterious and magical story that might have some slower pacing but will probably still be interesting. Sometimes Magical Realism gets boring for me but I’m hoping this one will be good!


Lost Boy: The True Story of Captain Hook by Christina Henry

Lost Boy: The True Story of Captain Hook

This is, obviously, a retelling of Peter Pan from Captain Hook’s POV and also sort of an origin story for Hook too. It’s also a very dark, horror retelling about how Hook went from being Peter’s favorite Lost Boy to his greatest enemy.

First of all I am 100% down to read ANY Peter Pan retelling ESPECIALLY a dark, horror-y one, ESPECIALLY if it’s by Christina Henry. This book is basically everything I have ever wanted! I really loved Henry’s retelling of Alice in Wonderland so I’m expecting to love this one too. I will be receiving an ARC here sometime at the beginning of the month and I’m pumped!


Dangerous Girls by Abigail Haas

Dangerous Girls

A senior spring break trip to Aruba with friends, one ends up being murdered and the other is being accused for it. Anna must now try and find her friend’s real killer.

Your typical YA thriller but maybe with a great twist? Who knows, all I know is everybody seems to love this one! Plus it definitely has a very summer-y vibe going on which makes this the perfect time to finally read it!


Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde

Queens of Geek

Three friends attend SupaCon where they expect to have fun but don’t expect their lives to change forever. The tagline on the cover here pretty much says it all.

Everybody was ranting and raving about this book so I just had to grab a copy especially since it’s only 288 pages! I also feel like this being a more “geeky” book I’ll be able to relate a lot to the characters too!


Bonus Book! (If I’m actually ambitious and get to it!)

What We Saw by Aaron Hartzler

What We Saw

Kate remembers most of the things that happened at John Doone’s part: pictures with Stacey and Ben getting her home early and maybe becoming more than just a childhood friend….However, a picture appears the next day online of Stacey passed out at the party and presses charges against four classmates, Kate questions if she really had all the details that night especially where Ben was when the crime occurred.

It actually took me a long time to decide I could stomach this book, everyone really loves this one and I wanted to give it a try. The reason I wasn’t too sure about this one is because the central story revolves around a gang-rape and I honestly get really squirmy and squeamish with anything dealing with sexual abuse, but I think it will be a very worth while story regardless.

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Are any of these books on your TBR?

Have you read any of these, what did you think?

What are you planning on reading this month?

Let me know in the comments!

The Sassy