Read What You Own 2026

Finished and enjoyed The Rose Code by Kate Quinn - fictional about three women working for Bletchley Park.

Finally finished The Silk Roads - by Peter Frankopan. I seem to have bought more than I read in July.

Home from holiday now with another RWYO under my belt A Song for Summer Eva Ibbotson.

Enjoyed this. Review (well not really, but a few words!) on the 50 book thread.

Technically I didn’t own it but I borrowed it from kindle unlimited some time last year and it’s sat there taking up (virtual) space ever since so I’m counting it!

Finished Tilt, by Emma Pattee. Enjoyed it very much.

I’m not sure if this is the correct thread for me. I’ve struggled with the last couple of books I’ve read (bought for me) as I’m trying to read the backlog of books I own. I’m now choosing between The Midnight Library, The Taxidermists Daughter or Peaches for Monsieur Le Cure. Any recommendations? I want to read something engrossing that doesn’t feel hard work!

The Midnight Library isn’t hard work, should be a good read

Is Peaches… a Joanne Harris book?

Thank you for your recommendation.
Yes Peaches… is the third book in the Chocolat series. My fave book of all time is BlackBerry Wine by Joanne Harris, I find it wonderfully nostalgic.

I liked Chocolat when I read it a million years ago and more recently read another one that I didn’t realise was in the series, enjoyed that too. So Peaches also sounds good!

Finished The Talented Mr Ripley by Patricia Highsmith.

Also broke my RWYO rule by visiting the library in my nearest big town and picking up 4 books - though they are all on my wish list so not all bad news.

I've enjoyed all the Eve Ibbotson's I've read, both for adults and children.

I actually ran out of unread novels, so I've been borrowing them from friends.

Well done @ÚlldemoShúl . My target is to reduce my TBR pile by 64 each year . I started 2025 on 264, and 2026 on 198. Current TBR: 162. So a net reduction of 36.

I have read 71 books - 56 RWYO, 2 DNF and 15 non-RWYO. But I have bought or borrowed 35 books so that has as usual been my downfall! Going to try not to buy any new books for the rest of the year.

Two recent reads - Crazy Rich Asians which was light and fun but a bit unbelievable and Crampton Homnet by Barbara Pym which was very different.

I have been managing to read some of what is on my TBR, but am very slow these days due to health issues. Something that has, strangely, helped, is that with the help of a friend I have actually been selling the books I know I will not read again (on a well known second hand selling site). It was incredibly hard at first to let go of them, but seeing actual space appear on some of my shelves, not going from double stacked to single stacked but actual GAPS ON THE SHELVES, has proved so exciting (my house is crammed with too much stuff and I am trying to address it), that it has spurred me on with both projects: the reading (when possible) and the letting go. Of course it has not been an entire success, about 10% of funds raised have been spent on bundles of books from said selling site, meaning that for about every 10 books that have left another has arrived, but nonetheless, a great improvement and I am really quite proud of myself!

Wow @ÚlldemoShúl thats still very impressive.

I’ve been really unwell the last day or two and am afraid in my weakened state the kindle deals got to me, I picked up 5! And yet haven’t read a bloody page of anything all week. There’s no hope for me!

Oh well done @AllTheChaos

I am trying to prioritise reading and donating paper books as my shelves are also ridiculous and DH has given up “gently asking” if the books stacked on the mantelpiece are going to be read soon…

Thank you, @SheilaFentiman! ah yes, I too have books stacked everywhere, and have discovered far more duplicate copies than I realised I had, because the double stacking means I lose sight of things and forget I have a copy and so buy another. I am quite cross with myself about that one, as it’s a waste of money, so am hoping that getting down to all single stacked shelves eventually will help with that. I mean, really I need a house big enough for a library in order to solve that problem, but failing that a more orderly set of shelves will have to do!