Popular Books I Removed from My TBR List (and Why)
- chloebookvibes
- May 11
- 3 min read
Updated: May 19
these books all have over 15k reviews, average ratings of 3.5 stars or higher, and many have gone viral. they’re largely young adult or just not relatable to me anymore—and that’s okay. reading tastes change, and so do seasons of life. here’s a look at what i’ve gently removed from my list (for now).
Click the titles for a full description
this one still fascinates me. the concept is emotional and philosophical—trading one day of life for one thing disappearing from the world? it sounds beautiful. but the synopsis reminds me of the midnight library, which i dnf’d. i’m not confident the execution would work for me.
cath’s love for simon snow and fan fiction mirrors my younger self—but at 24, i’ve moved past this stage. while it would’ve resonated deeply with me back then, i’m no longer in that headspace.
the hype made me curious, but i've been spoiled on several key plot points and the story feels overloaded. maybe one day, but not now.
475 pages of a predictable workplace romance? i know it’s a favorite for many, but i just don’t feel drawn to it.
i'm not in the mood for historical mysteries. it's giving sherlock holmes meets YA, and right now, i'm reaching for more adult fantasy and contemporary stories.
fae politics, court intrigue, revenge—it checks a lot of boxes. but i’m not in the mood for a series or YA fantasy at the moment.
i probably would’ve loved this when i was younger, but high school romance isn’t something i enjoy anymore.
this has such a fun premise, and i bet high school me would’ve devoured it. now, i’d rather spend my time on reads i’m more confident i’ll love. i may check out the show, though!
update: i watched the show and it was amazing. i did have concerns about the age gap between pip and ravi. otherwise i loved their dynamic and how it unfolded on screen
i adore the idea of this story, and it likely would’ve been impactful to me a few years ago. maybe i just missed the right moment to read it.
i still find this one so intriguing—dark romance, a scheming heroine—but again, YA isn’t calling to me. i might circle back to this later.
i’ve never connected with romeo and juliet, and even though this reimagining sounds gorgeous, i don’t think i can get past the source material.
rich people drama, puzzles, and secrets sounded fun when i added it. now, it just doesn’t spark curiosity. maybe later.
this one seemed promising, but i’m not craving mystery or thrillers right now. if that changes, it might return.
it sounds like gossip girl with higher stakes. fun, but not where my head is at. i’m not up for high school drama at the moment.
fae courts, love triangles, and family loyalty? love the idea, but not the execution. love triangles rarely work for me, and YA fantasy isn’t on my radar.
removing books from your tbr isn’t a failure or a judgment—it’s just curating your shelves to reflect who you are right now. maybe some of these will make their way back to me. but for now, they’re off the list.
what’s a book you’ve removed from your tbr and why?
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