BEAT THE BACKLIST CHALLENGE

Do you have books on your to-read list that already released? Do you struggle to get to those backlist books with all the new releases each year? Do you enjoy relaxed reading challenges you can do at your own pace? Then it’s time to beat your backlist!

Join in with Novelknight’s 2023 challenge!

I’m doing things differently for 2023, well different for me! I’m setting my goal at 20 but with the caveat that these must be on my actual tbr with a date before 31 December 2022 and not bought/borrowed before this date!

I’m a mood reader so picking books is hard as I don’t know if I’ll be in the mood to actually read them! I’ve written down my tbr……170 books!!!! It seems I have plenty to choose from!!!! I don’t want to bore you with the list or we’ll be here all day so it’s up to me to govern myself!!!!

THE RULES ARE SIMPLE:

• The book must be published in the previous year or earlier.

• You have to start and finish the book in 2023.

• And that’s it!

Any format, any genre. Re-reads count, you don’t have to own the book, and you can join at any time. 

There is no formal sign-up for Beat the Backlist this year. Whether you want to make a Goodreads shelf, declare your participation on social media, make a blog post, share an instagram story, or say nothing at all, you’re welcome to join in. The only request is if you do post about the challenge somewhere, please link back or tag one of my social accounts so others can find the challenge too! Share your updates with the tag #BeatTheBacklist!

HAPPY BLOGMAS!

Here we are with the end of the year fast approaching and a time to reflect on the best reads of the year!

We all love books here so wanted to spread the love and post about them!

I did a post halfway through the year which you can see here and these are the rest of the fabulous books I’ve loved this year (not necessarily released then, I read then!)

I’ve read so many great books this 2nd half of the year but these are the ones that really stood out to me:

Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
Hook, Line and Sinker by Tessa Bailey

What have been your best booksof this year?

November YA theme – THE WITCHING HOUR!

The moon is full, the sky is dark and the world is yours to completely rewrite. This box is dedicated to the witches that take magic into their own hands and use it to alter their destiny.

🖤 Kingdom of the Wicked Foiled mug – art by @avendellart
🖤 Book Review Notebook – designed by @chattynora with a cottage-core design
🖤 Letter Opener – inspired by Serpent and Dove with art from @jezhawk
🖤 Spellbook Pin – designed by @no0nedesigns

BOOK OF THE MONTH

The Ones We Burn by Rebecca Mix

Exclusive cover
Ombre sprayed edges
Reversible jacket by @carnemia
Endpaper art by @carnemia
Signed bookplate

Happy Blogmas!!

Here we are nearing the end of the year and the end of my challenges for 2022!

One of those challenges was Beat the Backlist! My sign up post is here.

I said I wanted to read 24 backlist books but by the end of September I had read 29 books.

But I carried on! And, at this point, I have read 38 backlist books!

Here are the last titles of the year I have read!

30) Sabriel by Garth Nix
31) Heartless by Marissa Meyer
32) Thorn by Intisar Khanani
33) City of Thorns by CN Crawford
34) Fire Falling by Elise Kova
35) The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
36) The Traitor Queen by Danielle Jensen
37) The Theft of Sunlight by Intisar Khanani
38) Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

Did you do this challenge this year? How did you get on?

The Audiobook Challenge is back for 2023 and I did so well last year that I’m joining in again!

As usual, it’s hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer and That’s What I’m Talking About and they say to choose your level and get those audiobooks ready! #2023AudiobookChallenge


I’m going for the My Precious level!!! It’s 30 plus audios and basically means I had my earbuds surgically implanted!!!! 🤣

Details
Runs January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2023. You can join at any time. The goal is to find a new love for audios or to outdo yourself by listening to more audios in 2023 than you did in 2022. Books must be in audio format (CD, MP3, etc.) and ANY genres count.

Achievement Levels

What level will you choose?

• Newbie (I’ll give it a try) 1-5

• Weekend Warrior (I’m getting the hang of this) 5-10

• Stenographer (can listen while multitasking) 10-15

• Socially Awkward (Don’t talk to me) 15-20

• Binge Listener (Why read when someone can do it for you) 20-30

• My Precious (I had my earbuds surgically implanted) 30+

• Marathoner (Look Ma No Hands) 50+

• Over-Achiever (Power Listener) 75+

• The 100 Club (Audiobook Addict) 100+

Link up on Caffeinated Reviewer’s post and join in the fun!

Happy Blogmas!

I thought it might be fun to look back at my tbr books that were added this year but I didn’t get a chance to read.

When I tell you the list bought tears to my eyes, I mean it!!!

So I have added only 6 here and thought I could revisit this list this time next year to see if I actually have read them!!

The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean
Shadowhunters Illustrated by Cassandra Clare
Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood
The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen
Kingdom of the Feared by Kerri Maniscalco
Defend the Dawn by Brigid Kemmerer

November theme – Some Kind of Monster

Some monsters can be easy to spot (dragons!) and others less so, hiding behind positions of power. This month’s theme is dedicated to all the monsters, and to those who defend the world against them.

Featured fandoms are Only A Monster, Priory of the Orange Tree, Winternight Trilogy, and A Deadly Education!

💛 Ascalon Sword Replica from Priory designed by @stacey.mcevoy.caunt
💛 Frozen Wilderness Scarf designed by @janninelecour inspired by Winternight
💛 Gateway to Freedom Tote designed by @noverantale inspired by A Deadly Education
💛 The Monster Inside Tea Tin inspired by Only a Monster designed by @lioninthetrees

💛 FEATURED BOOK 💛

The Luminaries by Susan Dennard

Redesigned cover
Foiled hardback
Digitally printed edges
Endpaper art by @ashmckenzieillustration
Signed
Exclusive bonus material

Happy Blogmas!

I think it’s always nice to look back and see that I’ve accomplished something in the year so thought I’d see if I finished any series in 2022!

I finished 15 series but I was really hoping for more….maybe next year!!

(Also let’s not talk about how many series that I haven’t finished and also new ones I’ve started this year *incoherent mumbles* )

So here we go……

1) Ruthless Boys of the Zodiac by Caroline Peckham
2) Ember of Night by Molly E Lee
3) Four Horseman by Laura Thalassa
4) Serpent and Dove by Shelby Mahurin
5) Stalking Jack The Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco
6) All for the Game Trilogy by Nora Sakavic
7) Wilderwood by Hannah Whitten
8) Regency Faerie Tales by Olivia Atwater
9) Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko
10) Gilded by Marissa Meyer

11) Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco
12) The Folk of the Air by Holly Black
13) Dauntless Path by Intisar Khanani
14) Bellinger Sisters by Tessa Bailey
15) The Extraordinaires by TJ Klune

How many series did you finish this year?

AFTERLIGHT – November 2022

I find myself really looking forward to this now bi-monthly box and this month was sooooo good! Perfect for the season!

This box included:

Mischief in the Snow Socks
Designed by @pinapali and has grumpy and sunshine snowmen!

Falling in Love Tree Ornament
Designed by @dalandan.ielle and is a perfect snowflake ornament! It’s on my tree already!!!

Make You Mine This Christmas by Lizzie Huxley-Jones

Exclusive hardback
Exclusive cover
Sprayed edges
Foiling on the hardcover
Digital signature
Author letter – art by @gibbs.arts