I do too but for whatever reason my brain is like no not for you to actually make 😅 which i'm fixing next year cause I love having that feeling of a good marathon read 💖
My "out" is reading so much. I'm genuinely embarrassed by the number of books I've read in 2024. I'm sure some people would consider it an achievement but for me it's a sign of depression and withdrawal. For 2025, I'm working on finding an amount of reading that reflects my love of it without hiding from life inside smutty novels. I love your thinking on a lot of these. I absolutely agree on giving up on Goodreads, avoiding getting sucked into the disingenuous hot takes, embracing marathon reading, and not giving authors so many chances. But I don't think I'll copy your goal of reading outside the romance genre. I'm in a place in life where I want to focus on orcs and alphas and instalust and bonkers plots. Maybe I'll consider branching out in 2026. 😂
That’s fair. I just don’t even care what # I hit these days 😅 usually it’s a lot from various formats but I also get needing to stop hiding with your books. Leaning into romance near exclusively in 2024 was my big coping mechanism for me. It’s valid to not want to explore a ton beyond that 💖💖💖
for me, out = Goodreads, Audible & Amazon (also, yes, finishing series' is imperative next year - even if I have to start from the beginning to recap & binge my way through)
I’m totally working to wean down my Amazon stuff. Since some indies are exclusively there I can’t fully cut them out. We got this finishing series! It’s going feel so nice to mark them as done 👏🏻💖💖💖
OMG! Yes about the Goodreads Choice Awards! I’ve already been upset for them getting rid of picture books in the past… and then middle grade and graphic novels… and the write in category. Even if they weren’t going to move on necessarily, it gave me new books to look into sometimes. I dislike that it is purely a popularity contest. If the book had the most readers, even if the rating is worse than others, it was still going to win. And I hate that the same author can win multiple years in a row (AND with the same series).
Yes the way it’s not even a good discovery source now is disappointing. I’m so ready to just not care anymore 😂 like I’ll discuss how it reflects things etc but I’m not going to put an ounce of value on it anymore 💖💖💖
The not engaging with judgmental nonsense is the realesttt, we gotta guard our energy levels and mental health when people are deliberately being obtuse. Also, yes pls to reading whatever you want💖 Marathoning a series because it just hits has been the way I can finish/get caught up on series. If I leave a next book instead of picking it up immediately, it can take years for me otherwise😅 For 2025, I really want to be more mindful with what I buy. I've been doing better in 2024, but there are still quite some instances where I will get something only to realise afterwards that I don't really want to read it... Same for DNF'ing, I have to be stricter with it😂 But I'm hoping the small progresses this year will help to move forward next year! We're going to make it work✨
Yes the year gap between a series book is never fun! I really am hoping to lean into all a lot more next year to stop the gaps. I feel that 2024 I did improve a lot on what I buy but I really gotta focus in harder in 2025 for it. You totally got this 💖💖💖
Since I have no audience to speak of, we don't have a bunch in common, but I do have one thing to leave behind: challenges I didn't create myself. Bingo boards, competitions where you rack up points... even diversity challenges, sadly... get a burst of energy in December and January, and then die before the middle of February. It's too discouraging, so I'm done. There are plenty of other ways to connect with my online friends, and diversify my reading including simply being mindful, so letting these go is no big deal. As for free "fill up your Kindle" books: I cleared mine out not too long ago, except for maybe half a dozen whose first few paragraphs made them seem really cool. It was weirdly refreshing, almost like going through my library holds list and unchecking a bunch of things. That's an option if they're weighing on your conscience. ❤
I think that is great to know if challenges just don't work for you. I find myself really into specific kinds of challenges vs the boarder ones. I find being mindful leads me to reading more broadly anyways vs a challenge. So hopefully that helps a lot for you. I love that. I'm going to be doing some try a chapters with what I have I think even if it's just not filmed to start clearing out some of them. 💖💖💖
I would love watching vlogs or reading wrapups where you marathon read a series! That's more relatable to how I read, and I would value the review of the series as a whole - which were your favorite and not favorite, which stood out and which seemed like fillers, etc. Agreed on limiting the SYKD items. When I'm scrolling through my library, I get so overwhelmed and end up just putting my device down and doing something else because I get stuck in decision paralysis. I think my goal will be to remove anything that isn't standing out to me. The VAST majority of them are on KU anyway so if I change my mind and want to read it, I can always grab it there.
It really is such a natural part of reading. I really am excited to lean back into it. I need to better pay attention to what ones are on KU too. I feel like I end up getting them anyways and I could have saved space 💖💖💖
I've been so good about prioritizing RWYO but those kindle double/triple point days still get me and I find myself looking for books to download so I definitely want to be better about that. The way I get around Stuff Your Kindle days is that if the books look interesting I will add them to a Come Back Later/On My Radar wishlist. It gives me the satisfaction of clicking the button but not adding them to my library. Chances are when I do look at those lists I end up removing them anyway because I don't really want to read them after all.
Yeah the point days usually get me too 🙈 I so need to just implement a wishlist of stuff I had interest in from the freebie days! That’s honestly the best way to manage it 💖💖💖
What I've started doing on stuff your Kindle days is if it's in KU, I put it on a wish list if it looks like something I'd really like. If I've read it in KU and think I might like to reread it (likely a series that's ongoing), I'll get it. If it looks REALLY good and it's not in KU, I might get it, depending on the subgenre, i.e., if it's an historical romance but I haven't been reading historical romance I'm not getting it (unless I love that author😂).
@HappyforNow and this way the author still gets paid for the pages. I've noticed that I see the same book on the free list more than once, so there's usually still an opportunity to get it again later.
Goodreads Choice Awards: This year I quickly reached the point of saying no thank you to even videos about it. Seeing the initial lists if mildly interesting, but it's all downhill from there. Book I heard about and immediately thought of you: "Too Many Beds: A Trope-Subversive Gay Romance Anthology". It's only going to be in publication 6 months and is on KU. It sounds like so much fun. I hope you can fit it in!
Yess it's totally popularity/who is the most "accepted" in a genre kind of thing most the time and it's just reflective of the readers in those communities usually 💖💖💖
Same as you on no more Stuff Your Kindle, read what I own more, and purchasing books that I don’t end up reading quickly, even the $1.99 ones. For me I want to try out journaling fiction books that are fantastic or non-fic books that are informative and relevant to my health issues.I’m hoping to buy a mini printer, like Shae has, to print out my covers for the journal. I wouldn’t mind slowing down and savouring my reading, but sometimes I need to pull out one of my best coping mechanisms- continuous reading. And, I’d like to go to one in-person book event at my library system. We get great authors at our main branch downtown, so I want to dip a toe ❤
It's soo hard to resist free and 1.99 books hopefully we can hold strong with it. Yess I have one of those printers i use it for my planner they ar fantastic. I am also hoping to journal more/document my reading some with things that stand out. Oo yes go to an in person event that will be so fun 💖💖💖
I love all of these! I’ve been terrible at reading what I own. This last month I’ve been better at starting to read my netgalley arcs. For stuff your kindle day I need to start limiting what I get from stuff your kindle. I think instead of telling myself not to get something, I’ll read a sample to see if it even captures my attention.
Oo the sample idea!! I love that I’m also taking a wishlist idea from a comment too. I think between those options I’ll be able to curate it better 💖💖💖
Yes, you and I are on the same page. No more drama fueling and no more Goodreads anything/I'm just kind of over that review aggregator. See I think a binge read sounds interesting. I think you just have to call it something like "Ransacking X's Backlist" or "I Read Every X Book So You Don't have to" and I love that it gives you a chance to compare an author's larger themes and series improvements over time. Plus I agree as a reader sometimes that full immersion is soooo fun
It’s really fun seeing how many of us are over the same things 😅 Yes I’m gonna note these for potential titles. I’m excited to try more of that in 2025 again. I agree the immersion is so fun into a world and just fully being in a world for a while 💖💖💖
I am leaving my current reading journal behind. I still want to track my reading but I am going do that in a planner format instead. I also am going to try and leave reading a book in a day or two days behind. I really want to try reading just a little bit each day versus reading for a whole day and then not reading for a couple days. So I do have a goal to read everyday next year but just a little each day. I am curious to see if I end up reading more or less than I have been reading. I also want to see if it helps with that feeling of overload because I just consumed a whole story quickly. It's an experiment. I will be reading what I own as well next year. Focusing on my physical books but I also have a growing E-book collection I want to make a dent in. My other big goal is to read 5 books published before 2000s. Just to shake up my reading some.
I feel like we are swapping. I'm working on having a digital reading journal again. I missed it but it's also going to be very simple. I read nearly everyday and sometimes just for a little while so I think that will be a really fascinating to see how it plays out for you. I find just knowing i want to read even 10 minutes every day I end up reading more vs constantly consuming books in a sitting. I love the before 2000s goal too that is such an interesting way to really shake up your reading. 💖💖💖
@HappyforNow The trick is going to be forcing myself to put shit down. I noticed not wanting to update my journal meant not picking anything up. Helped me be slumpy. So I want to see if this way fixes that. I plan to keep my reading spreadsheet going because I do like seeing those numbers.
I definitely need to leave behind the stuff your kindle days. I’ve had kindle for over a decade now and my unread books on there are over 1000… mostly because of free books I may never read. It’s a mess trying to figure out what I have.
Sameee my old freebies are still lingering. I've done some clean out of them but I need to continue working through it. Even the old titles I bought I've relegated to a folder and am like you can live there since I paid for you and be marked as "read" 💖💖💖
I would *love* for the book reviewers I trust to branch out in different genres! I have been DNFing everything lately because it feels like I'm reading the same story on repeat just with different packaging. 😢 Probably my fault because I have favorite sub-genres haha.
It happens though. When I get into too much a same sub genre rut I will find myself not picking up books. I think this is part of why I'm not always marathoning stuff. I feel like adding more genres to the mix also helps keep that whole thing away more 💖💖💖
my only goal this year is to not start books on a whim. like GET ON REELS you have 15 currently reading books to choose from pleaseee, ideal is max 3 books at a time. goodluck on your goals !!
I mean it’s just a day with a bunch of indie authors who put books up for free you can browse on their site. But also like be super picky if you look into the next one 💖💖💖
I like scrolling the stuff your kindle list but I rarely grab anything unless it was already on my radar because otherwise I’m not great at reading them
I know for me, I find it really satisfying when someone reads an entire series in one video! like checking off boxes on a to do list satisfying haha
I do too but for whatever reason my brain is like no not for you to actually make 😅 which i'm fixing next year cause I love having that feeling of a good marathon read 💖
My "out" is reading so much. I'm genuinely embarrassed by the number of books I've read in 2024. I'm sure some people would consider it an achievement but for me it's a sign of depression and withdrawal. For 2025, I'm working on finding an amount of reading that reflects my love of it without hiding from life inside smutty novels.
I love your thinking on a lot of these. I absolutely agree on giving up on Goodreads, avoiding getting sucked into the disingenuous hot takes, embracing marathon reading, and not giving authors so many chances. But I don't think I'll copy your goal of reading outside the romance genre. I'm in a place in life where I want to focus on orcs and alphas and instalust and bonkers plots. Maybe I'll consider branching out in 2026. 😂
That’s fair. I just don’t even care what # I hit these days 😅 usually it’s a lot from various formats but I also get needing to stop hiding with your books.
Leaning into romance near exclusively in 2024 was my big coping mechanism for me. It’s valid to not want to explore a ton beyond that 💖💖💖
for me, out = Goodreads, Audible & Amazon
(also, yes, finishing series' is imperative next year - even if I have to start from the beginning to recap & binge my way through)
I’m totally working to wean down my Amazon stuff. Since some indies are exclusively there I can’t fully cut them out.
We got this finishing series! It’s going feel so nice to mark them as done 👏🏻💖💖💖
OMG! Yes about the Goodreads Choice Awards! I’ve already been upset for them getting rid of picture books in the past… and then middle grade and graphic novels… and the write in category. Even if they weren’t going to move on necessarily, it gave me new books to look into sometimes.
I dislike that it is purely a popularity contest. If the book had the most readers, even if the rating is worse than others, it was still going to win.
And I hate that the same author can win multiple years in a row (AND with the same series).
Yes the way it’s not even a good discovery source now is disappointing. I’m so ready to just not care anymore 😂 like I’ll discuss how it reflects things etc but I’m not going to put an ounce of value on it anymore 💖💖💖
The not engaging with judgmental nonsense is the realesttt, we gotta guard our energy levels and mental health when people are deliberately being obtuse. Also, yes pls to reading whatever you want💖 Marathoning a series because it just hits has been the way I can finish/get caught up on series. If I leave a next book instead of picking it up immediately, it can take years for me otherwise😅 For 2025, I really want to be more mindful with what I buy. I've been doing better in 2024, but there are still quite some instances where I will get something only to realise afterwards that I don't really want to read it... Same for DNF'ing, I have to be stricter with it😂 But I'm hoping the small progresses this year will help to move forward next year! We're going to make it work✨
Yes the year gap between a series book is never fun! I really am hoping to lean into all a lot more next year to stop the gaps.
I feel that 2024 I did improve a lot on what I buy but I really gotta focus in harder in 2025 for it. You totally got this 💖💖💖
Since I have no audience to speak of, we don't have a bunch in common, but I do have one thing to leave behind: challenges I didn't create myself. Bingo boards, competitions where you rack up points... even diversity challenges, sadly... get a burst of energy in December and January, and then die before the middle of February. It's too discouraging, so I'm done. There are plenty of other ways to connect with my online friends, and diversify my reading including simply being mindful, so letting these go is no big deal.
As for free "fill up your Kindle" books: I cleared mine out not too long ago, except for maybe half a dozen whose first few paragraphs made them seem really cool. It was weirdly refreshing, almost like going through my library holds list and unchecking a bunch of things. That's an option if they're weighing on your conscience. ❤
I think that is great to know if challenges just don't work for you. I find myself really into specific kinds of challenges vs the boarder ones. I find being mindful leads me to reading more broadly anyways vs a challenge. So hopefully that helps a lot for you.
I love that. I'm going to be doing some try a chapters with what I have I think even if it's just not filmed to start clearing out some of them. 💖💖💖
I would love watching vlogs or reading wrapups where you marathon read a series! That's more relatable to how I read, and I would value the review of the series as a whole - which were your favorite and not favorite, which stood out and which seemed like fillers, etc.
Agreed on limiting the SYKD items. When I'm scrolling through my library, I get so overwhelmed and end up just putting my device down and doing something else because I get stuck in decision paralysis. I think my goal will be to remove anything that isn't standing out to me. The VAST majority of them are on KU anyway so if I change my mind and want to read it, I can always grab it there.
It really is such a natural part of reading. I really am excited to lean back into it.
I need to better pay attention to what ones are on KU too. I feel like I end up getting them anyways and I could have saved space 💖💖💖
Agree on the GoodReads Choice Awards. Same sentiments and all. I'm all for it!!
It's just not reflective and it's time to not give it as much attention 💖💖💖
I've been so good about prioritizing RWYO but those kindle double/triple point days still get me and I find myself looking for books to download so I definitely want to be better about that. The way I get around Stuff Your Kindle days is that if the books look interesting I will add them to a Come Back Later/On My Radar wishlist. It gives me the satisfaction of clicking the button but not adding them to my library. Chances are when I do look at those lists I end up removing them anyway because I don't really want to read them after all.
Yeah the point days usually get me too 🙈 I so need to just implement a wishlist of stuff I had interest in from the freebie days! That’s honestly the best way to manage it 💖💖💖
What I've started doing on stuff your Kindle days is if it's in KU, I put it on a wish list if it looks like something I'd really like. If I've read it in KU and think I might like to reread it (likely a series that's ongoing), I'll get it. If it looks REALLY good and it's not in KU, I might get it, depending on the subgenre, i.e., if it's an historical romance but I haven't been reading historical romance I'm not getting it (unless I love that author😂).
That is such a good way to handle it! I definitely need to better implement wishlists for the ones that are normally on KU 💖💖💖
@HappyforNow and this way the author still gets paid for the pages. I've noticed that I see the same book on the free list more than once, so there's usually still an opportunity to get it again later.
Oof! Izzy you are talking directly to me with the hiatus on the stuff your kindle days. My kindle is overflowing with unread books. It’s shameful.
It's just so overwhelming. I need to read them I'm not doing any good sitting on a bajillion unread indies 💖💖💖
Goodreads Choice Awards: This year I quickly reached the point of saying no thank you to even videos about it. Seeing the initial lists if mildly interesting, but it's all downhill from there.
Book I heard about and immediately thought of you: "Too Many Beds: A Trope-Subversive Gay Romance Anthology". It's only going to be in publication 6 months and is on KU. It sounds like so much fun. I hope you can fit it in!
Yes that first list is usually interesting but then I’m left disappointed as stuff is eliminated.
Oo I’ll be adding it to my wishlist to get 💖💖💖
i strongly dislike the GoodReads choice awards...it's a popularity contest and puts me back in high school.
Yess it's totally popularity/who is the most "accepted" in a genre kind of thing most the time and it's just reflective of the readers in those communities usually 💖💖💖
Same as you on no more Stuff Your Kindle, read what I own more, and purchasing books that I don’t end up reading quickly, even the $1.99 ones.
For me I want to try out journaling fiction books that are fantastic or non-fic books that are informative and relevant to my health issues.I’m hoping to buy a mini printer, like Shae has, to print out my covers for the journal. I wouldn’t mind slowing down and savouring my reading, but sometimes I need to pull out one of my best coping mechanisms- continuous reading. And, I’d like to go to one in-person book event at my library system. We get great authors at our main branch downtown, so I want to dip a toe ❤
It's soo hard to resist free and 1.99 books hopefully we can hold strong with it.
Yess I have one of those printers i use it for my planner they ar fantastic. I am also hoping to journal more/document my reading some with things that stand out. Oo yes go to an in person event that will be so fun 💖💖💖
Any hot take bait I just swipe. I am also reading from my shelf and will be using my series tracker heavily
I am trying to practice it more 🙈 sometimes I’m like maybe your not trying to pay rent then I’m left disappointed 💖💖
I love all of these! I’ve been terrible at reading what I own. This last month I’ve been better at starting to read my netgalley arcs.
For stuff your kindle day I need to start limiting what I get from stuff your kindle. I think instead of telling myself not to get something, I’ll read a sample to see if it even captures my attention.
Oo the sample idea!! I love that I’m also taking a wishlist idea from a comment too. I think between those options I’ll be able to curate it better 💖💖💖
Yes, you and I are on the same page. No more drama fueling and no more Goodreads anything/I'm just kind of over that review aggregator. See I think a binge read sounds interesting. I think you just have to call it something like "Ransacking X's Backlist" or "I Read Every X Book So You Don't have to" and I love that it gives you a chance to compare an author's larger themes and series improvements over time. Plus I agree as a reader sometimes that full immersion is soooo fun
It’s really fun seeing how many of us are over the same things 😅
Yes I’m gonna note these for potential titles. I’m excited to try more of that in 2025 again. I agree the immersion is so fun into a world and just fully being in a world for a while 💖💖💖
I am leaving my current reading journal behind. I still want to track my reading but I am going do that in a planner format instead. I also am going to try and leave reading a book in a day or two days behind. I really want to try reading just a little bit each day versus reading for a whole day and then not reading for a couple days. So I do have a goal to read everyday next year but just a little each day. I am curious to see if I end up reading more or less than I have been reading. I also want to see if it helps with that feeling of overload because I just consumed a whole story quickly. It's an experiment. I will be reading what I own as well next year. Focusing on my physical books but I also have a growing E-book collection I want to make a dent in. My other big goal is to read 5 books published before 2000s. Just to shake up my reading some.
I feel like we are swapping. I'm working on having a digital reading journal again. I missed it but it's also going to be very simple.
I read nearly everyday and sometimes just for a little while so I think that will be a really fascinating to see how it plays out for you. I find just knowing i want to read even 10 minutes every day I end up reading more vs constantly consuming books in a sitting.
I love the before 2000s goal too that is such an interesting way to really shake up your reading. 💖💖💖
@HappyforNow The trick is going to be forcing myself to put shit down. I noticed not wanting to update my journal meant not picking anything up. Helped me be slumpy. So I want to see if this way fixes that. I plan to keep my reading spreadsheet going because I do like seeing those numbers.
I definitely need to leave behind the stuff your kindle days. I’ve had kindle for over a decade now and my unread books on there are over 1000… mostly because of free books I may never read. It’s a mess trying to figure out what I have.
Sameee my old freebies are still lingering. I've done some clean out of them but I need to continue working through it. Even the old titles I bought I've relegated to a folder and am like you can live there since I paid for you and be marked as "read" 💖💖💖
I would *love* for the book reviewers I trust to branch out in different genres! I have been DNFing everything lately because it feels like I'm reading the same story on repeat just with different packaging. 😢 Probably my fault because I have favorite sub-genres haha.
It happens though. When I get into too much a same sub genre rut I will find myself not picking up books. I think this is part of why I'm not always marathoning stuff. I feel like adding more genres to the mix also helps keep that whole thing away more 💖💖💖
my only goal this year is to not start books on a whim. like GET ON REELS you have 15 currently reading books to choose from pleaseee, ideal is max 3 books at a time. goodluck on your goals !!
Oh yeah that’s very very real. I am working to not be starting so much and not finishing. DNF more maybe to keep that list shorter 💖💖💖
I’m not 100 percent sure how stuff your kindle day works but if I did I think it would be a problem for me
I mean it’s just a day with a bunch of indie authors who put books up for free you can browse on their site. But also like be super picky if you look into the next one 💖💖💖
I didn't do any stuff your kindle days in 2024 and it felt so freeing lol
That makes sense. I did very few so I think reducing even more I’m going to be feeling it even more 💖💖💖
I like scrolling the stuff your kindle list but I rarely grab anything unless it was already on my radar because otherwise I’m not great at reading them
Yes same I have found a handful of authors to try and love but so often they just sit there unread forever 💖💖💖
I want to make a video on all the ideas I had but canceled
I think it’s soo fun to think about why a video didn’t work etc… it’s always interesting what videos get bumped 💖💖💖
So fun
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PSY CHANGELING!!!!!!!!!!!!
It’s on the list 💀💖💖💖
Omg I was going to do a hot take and I was going to make fun of it lol 😂 please don’t judge me
Oh no do that!! It’s fun to make fun of them and even sometimes dissect them but you can tell when people constantly do it for attention 💖💖💖
2025 should be the year or ignoring/blocking/muting trolls and rage bait
Absolutely the energy I plan to bring to the new year
I need to stop with the Stuff Your Kindle Books too. I have so many unread.
Same I’m going do some try a chapter to clear more of them cause it’s out of control 💖💖💖
I need to read down all my shelves. No stuff your kindle days and no netgalley requests this year.
OO no netgalley that is a hard one but you got this 💖💖💖
🙅♀️🚫🙅♀️ great list.
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I didn't even touched the goodreads awards this year! 😂 Didn't voted, didn't care. Did not watch all the videos around them. Bye! I'm sick of 'em
I love this for you 💖💖💖
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