I like to think of myself as a collector and appreciator of books. I’ve enjoyed reading for as long as I can remember, but life sometimes prevents me from reading as much as I want. You think that stops me from buying new books, though? Of course not.
I think I became obsessed with having a shelf full of books after seeing some adorable bookstagram feeds. It would be a dream to have an entire little cozy library stacked with books so I’d always have something to read. And if my photography skills were better, I’d totally have a cute photoshoot with all my books and different props. Kinda like what I attempted a few years ago.
I now have an actual bookshelf, and it’s full of books that belong to me and my boyfriend. I still have yet to read most of them, but seeing how full my bookshelf is makes me happier than I can explain. My boyfriend always yells at me for buying new books when my TBR pile is forever growing, but I know I’ll get to them!
Here’s a peek at what’s currently on my bookshelf. Sidenote: I’m probably gonna need another one if I keep buying more books.
To be Read
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
Birds of California by Katie Cotugno
How to Marry Keanu Reeves in 90 Days by K.M. Jackson
Love in Color by Bolu Babalola
Everything After by Jill Santopolo
The Dating Plan by Sara Desai
Beloved by Toni Morrison
Out of My Heart by Sharon Draper
Oh Sh*t, I’m 25! by Annie Claude Ouellet
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
After You by Jojo Moyes
The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes by Xio Axelrod
More Than Words by Jill Santopolo
A Lowcountry Bride by Preslaysla Williams
Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry by Joya Goffney
Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon
Becoming by Michelle Obama
The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris
The Life I’m In by Sharon Flake
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson
Blackout by Various Authors (Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon)
Slay by Brittney Morris
Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney
Imposter Syndrome by Kathy Wang
The Sweetest Remedy by Jane Igharo
Home Body by Rupi Kaur
Books I’ve Read
Ties That Tether by Jane Igharo (peep my review on it)
The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman
You Are a Badass by Jill Sincero
Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon
Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur (peep my review on it)
The Sun and Her Flowers by Rupi Kaur
The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo (peep my review on it)
The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon (peep my review on it)
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
How to be a Bawse by Lilly Singh
I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika Sanchez
A butt-ton of Sharon Draper books, including:
- Panic
- Blended
- Sassy: Little Sister is NOT My Name
- Stella by Starlight
- The Battle of Jericho
- November Blues
- Just Another Hero
- Tears of a Tiger
- Forged by Fire
- Darkness Before Dawn
- Romiette and Julio
A couple Toni Morrison books. Including
- The Bluest Eye
- Sula
- Tar Baby
- Jazz
- Song of Solomon
Books I Didn’t/Couldn’t Finish
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
Frankly in Love by David Yoon
The Vanishing Half by Britt Bennett
God Help the Child by Toni Morrison
The rest of what’s on my bookshelf is a bunch of random stuff like cat books, quote books, and psychology books. My boyfriend is currently in grad school for mental health counseling, so those psych and nonfiction reads are his cup of tea.
There’s literally no more space on our shelf for other books, so my Pinterest board will have to do. Y’know, until I get more space.
Currently, I have two books pre-ordered and should be getting them later this summer. Wash Day Diaries is a graphic novel that’s a “love letter to the beauty and endurance of Black women, their friendships, and their hair.” Fake It Till You Bake It is a contemporary romance novel about how a cupcake-baking football player and reality star pretend to be a couple to save his bakery. I will try to exercise self-control and not get any more books until I tackle my TBR pile. Gotta prove the boyfriend wrong!
Next on my reading list is The Sweetest Remedy. Haven’t started yet because I’m also in two different book clubs at my job, and it’s a little hard to keep track of so many stories. The one I’m reading with my content team is A Swim in the Pond in the Rain by George Saunders, which is a great choice for writers. The one I’m reading with the rest of my coworkers is The Black Unicorn by Audre Lorde.
Thanks so much for reading!
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Yours Truly, Tasha B. 