Ditch the Boring TBR—Here’s How to Build One That Feeds Your Soul

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New year, new books, and the same existential crisis: What the hell should I read next?

If your TBR list is already a chaotic black hole of impulse buys, dusty “I’ll get to it someday” titles, and books you swear you added (but don’t remember doing so), then welcome. You’re among friends.

But 2025 is the year we get intentional. The year our TBR lists are less “overwhelming mountain of guilt” and more “hand-curated selection of pure, bookish joy.” If you’re ready to craft a TBR that actually excites you—without the crushing weight of obligation—this guide is for you.

Let’s build the Ultimate TBR Strategy for 2025—one that matches your goals, moods, and undying need for book-induced emotional destruction.

Step 1: Define Your 2025 Reading Goals

Before you start blindly stacking books into your TBR pile, ask yourself:

What kind of reader do I want to be this year? Do you want to read more? Diversify genres? (We should all be diversifying genres!!!) Finally, tackle those chunky classics glaring at you from the shelf.
How many books feel realistic? While a 200-book goal sounds impressive, we’re not all possessed by the spirit of an immortal speed-reader. And we want this to be fun, right?!
What’s the vibe of my reading year? Are we leaning into dark academia? Unhinged thrillers? Soft and cozy romances? All of the above?

Your Ultimate TBR Strategy should match your energy—not some arbitrary “must-read” list. It should expand your horizons exciting you to read the next book on your list. Your TBR is already neverending spice it up a little.

Step 2: The Art of Crafting a Balanced TBR List

A well-rounded TBR is like a perfectly curated playlist—some books challenge you, some are pure serotonin, and some destroy you (in the best way). Here’s how to build one that keeps your reading life thriving:

1. The Five-Category Formula:

Rotate between these categories to keep things interesting:

A Comfort Read – Your literary safety blanket (Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree, anyone?)
A Challenge Read – That one book you say you’ll read every year and never do (Priory of the Orange Tree, I see you.)
A Wild Card – Something completely out of your comfort zone (sci-fi if you’re a romance reader, horror if you only read fantasy).
An Unputdownable Thriller – Because adrenaline is fun (The Silent Patient or The Couple Next Door, might I suggest!)
A “TBR Veteran” – That book that’s been sitting on your shelf for five years (The 5th Wave). Yeah, it’s time.

2. Build Around Your Moods:

Not all months feel the same. Winter calls for moody gothic fiction. Summer? Lighthearted rom-coms. January might have you craving dark academia, but by March, you might be in your villain era (hello, morally grey fantasy).

Create a seasonal TBR so your reading list flows with you.

3. Leave Room for the Unexpected:

Some books will seduce you mid-year. A new release will grab you by the throat. Your favorite author will drop a sequel out of nowhere.

Plan for about 70% of your TBR—leave the other 30% open for chaos. Because chaos will ensue!

Download our TBR Planner to make your life a little easier!

Step 3: How to Track Your Reading Progress (Without Losing Your Mind)

A well-structured Ultimate TBR Strategy means nothing if you can’t remember what you’re reading. Here’s how to keep it together:

1. Best Apps for Tracking:

StoryGraph – Tracks your reading moods (because, yes, that matters).
Goodreads – Classic but functional for goal tracking. Check out and follow me on my Goodreads!
Notion / Google Sheets – For aesthetic-obsessed book planners who love custom charts.

2. The Joy of Book Journaling:

Keep a reading journal for mini-reviews, favorite quotes, and emotional damage reports.
Track books by how they made you feel (Would recommend? Would sell my soul for? Would yeet into the abyss?).

3. Gamify Your Reading Goals:

Try bingo challenges (e.g., “Read a book with a morally grey protagonist” or “Finish a book in one sitting”).
Set monthly themes (March = mythology retellings, October = gothic horror).

Step 4: Books to Challenge & Inspire You in 2025

A TBR worth sticking to isn’t just books you want to read—it’s books that push you, break you, and rebuild you. Here are some recommendations:

A Book That Will Emotionally Wreck You:

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin (If you want to feel everything.)
If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio (The Secret History but make it even more devastating.)

A Fantasy That’ll Make You Believe in Magic Again:

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune (Found family and warm fuzzies galore.)
Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon (Dragons. Politics. Epic world-building.)

A Thriller You Won’t Shut Up About:

No Exit by Taylor Adams (Snowed-in, stranded, and full of twists that will break your brain.)
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides (Because psychological thrillers should hurt a little.)

A Romance That Feels Like a Warm Hug:

Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren (Childhood friends-to-lovers perfection.)
Before We Were Strangers by Renée Carlino (Second-chance romance with gut-punch emotions.)

A Classic You Swore You’d Read One Day:

Jane Eyre (Because gothic romance is forever.)
Crime and Punishment (For when you need to spiral existentially.)

Final Thoughts: Crafting a TBR That Feeds Your Soul

The Ultimate TBR Strategy isn’t just a checklist—it’s a love letter to your future self. A promise that, no matter what happens this year, you’ll have books that challenge, comfort, and consume you in the best way.

Now, tell me:
What’s the first book on your 2025 TBR?
Do you plan your TBR, or is it pure, mood-driven chaos?

Ditch the Boring TBR—Here’s How to Build One That Feeds Your Soul

Step 1: Define Your 2025 Reading Goals