Does this sound familiar? Your TBR list now has over a hundred titles. You don't know where you started, you feel guilty about the books that have been sitting untouched on your shelf for months, and every time BookTok launches a new must-read, you add another one. Meanwhile, you're actually reading less than ever because the choice has become too overwhelming to be enjoyable.
Welcome to the paradox of the modern book lover.
A TBR — to-be-read list — started out as something fun. A personal wish list of books you were excited about. But somewhere along the way, it became an administrative obligation, a source of reading stress instead of reading pleasure.
Time for a reset.
Why your TBR is getting in your way
BookTok has made a huge contribution to modern TBR culture. Every day, new recommendations appear, new must-reads, new series that you "really can't miss." The algorithm always has a new book ready for you, and FOMO is real: if everyone is talking about the same book, you want to read it too—even if you already have thirty books lying around that you'd rather read.
The result? A TBR that feels like a never-ending to-do list. And a reading list that causes stress is counterproductive. Reading is relaxation. Not an achievement.
The real problem with an overly large TBR
A TBR of three hundred books has one major practical problem: decision fatigue. The more options you have, the harder it is to make a decision. Psychologists call this the paradox of choice: more choice does not lead to more satisfaction, but to more doubt, more procrastination, and ultimately less action.
Readers with a manageable TBR demonstrably read more than readers with an endless list. Not because they have more discipline, but because they simply start sooner.
How to create an honest TBR that you will actually finish
Step 1: Do a hard reset
Start with a blank slate. Not literally—you don't have to delete your Goodreads list—but psychologically. Your current TBR is not your TBR for next year. Books that made it onto your list a year ago may no longer align with who you are as a reader now. And that's perfectly fine.
Ask yourself: if this book landed in my hands right now, would I start it immediately? If the answer is no, it can be removed from the list.
Step 2: Limit your active TBR to 10 books
This sounds small. It is small. That's the point.
Choose 10 books that you genuinely want to read right now—not books you feel you "should" read due to BookTok hype, not books that have been on your shelf for a year because you feel guilty. Books that you are genuinely looking forward to, at this very moment.
Put the rest on a wish list. Not a TBR, but a wish list. The difference: a wish list doesn't create pressure. It's an archive of possibilities, not deadlines.
Step 3: Organize by mood, not by order
Reading by mood works better than reading in order. Within your active TBR, create small categories:
- One cozy read for quiet evenings
- One romantasy for weekends
- One lighter romance for on-the-go or in the garden
- One emotional book for when you're ready for it
- One wildcard, a book you don't know what to expect from
This way, you always have a book that matches your mood, instead of forcing yourself to read something because "it's been on the list for so long."
Step 4: Let your TBR breathe
A good TBR is a living document. Add, remove, shift. A book that seemed exciting three months ago but less so now can be removed. Without guilt.
New BookTok recommendations now go on the wish list, not automatically on the active TBR. This way, you maintain control over what you read instead of being dictated by the algorithm.
Step 5: Keep track of what you read—and how you experienced it
Many readers forget within a few months what they have read, how they felt about it, and why it resonated with them. That's a shame, because precisely that information helps you better understand what you need as a reader.
Our Book Review Notebook is designed for this purpose: for each book, you note your star rating, favorite quotes, tropes, characters, and personal notes. Not for statistics, but for yourself. After a year of flipping through your own notes, you'll see exactly which genres move you the most and which books ultimately disappointed you.
Do you want to simply keep track of how many books you read and when? Our Reading Log Book Tracker is available in Summer and Fantasy designs and gives you a clear overview of your reading year without overwhelming input requirements.
The power of a surprise book
Sometimes the best TBR decision is no decision at all. If you're struggling with decision fatigue, consciously hand over the choice.
Our Blind Date Book does exactly that: you choose the genre and language, we choose the book. No covers to judge, no descriptions to ponder, no BookTok hype to consider. Just a book waiting for you.
Many readers discover their new favorite book through a Blind Date Book—precisely because they had no expectations.
What a good TBR gives you
A realistic TBR of ten books you genuinely want to read gives you:
- Less decision fatigue and more reading pleasure
- Starting a new book faster
- More satisfaction when you finish books
- A more accurate picture of your reading preferences
- More room for spontaneous discoveries
Frequently asked questions about TBR lists
How many books should be on a TBR list?
There's no official maximum, but an active TBR of five to ten books works best for most readers. Anything else you want to read, you keep on a separate wish list without pressure.
How do I get rid of my TBR guilt?
By accepting that a TBR is not an obligation but a wish list. Books you wanted to read a year ago but no longer do can simply be removed. Tastes change, and that's okay.
How do I keep track of my TBR without stress?
Use a simple tool, or pen and paper. Our Reading Log Book Tracker gives you a clear way to keep track of your reading year without it becoming an administrative burden.
What do I do if I never know what I want to read?
Try a Blind Date Book: choose your genre, and let the surprise do the work. It takes away the decision-making and brings back the spontaneity to your reading that a long TBR list often removes.
Is it normal to buy books I never read?
Very normal, and you're certainly not alone. BookTok culture has turned book-buying into almost a sport. A more conscious TBR helps you buy books you genuinely want to read, instead of books that are trending.
What is the difference between a TBR and a wish list?
A TBR is your active reading list: books you intend to read in the near future. A wish list is an archive of books you want to read someday, without time pressure or obligation. By separating these two, much of the TBR stress disappears.
Read more, with less pressure
A smaller, more honest TBR is not a surrender. It's the smartest choice you can make as a reader. You read more, enjoy more, and discover more—precisely because you give yourself the space to read what suits you, not what you think you should read.
Keep track of your reading year in our Book Review Notebook or Reading Log, let yourself be surprised by a Blind Date Book, and complete your reading moment with a charming glass can for the accompanying drink.
Happy reading! 📚