The TBR That Haunts You
Finally pick up (or let go of) the cozy book that’s been lingering on your TBR
Reminder: The Cozy Magical Book Club is meeting Tuesday April 15 at 5:30pm Pacific, to discuss Something Close to Magic by Emma Mills. The Zoom link will be sent out an hour before we meet. All subscribers to SleuthHeroAlien are welcome!
Hi Cozy Reader,
If you missed it, I kicked off the 2025 Cozy Reading Challenge this January! It’s all about bringing more joy and inspiration into your reading life with 12 themed prompts.
The 11th prompt is “A Cozy from Your TBR.” Read a cozy mystery, cozy fantasy, or charming sci-fi that’s been languishing on your to-be-read list for far too long.
Today’s post is a little love letter to the book that’s been quietly hanging around your TBR, nudging you, maybe even irritating you just a little, because it’s been there so long. This is your chance to finally pick it up and see what happens.
First, if you don’t know, TBR stands for “To-Be-Read.” These are the books we hope to read someday, and we all manage our TBRs a little differently.
For me, I have a StoryGraph “To Read” list filled with books that have sparked my interest. These are recommendations from friends or book podcasters—no pressure, just a collection of things I might like to read someday. I scroll through it sometimes when I’m in between books, looking for the next right read.
Then there’s my big pile of physical books. These tend to be books I think I should be reading. Some I genuinely want to read. Others... not so much. But they’re there, staring at me.
My e-reader? Same deal. I’ve have books downloaded from KoboPlus or borrowed from the library. Many of them are ones I want to read, or at least wanted to read when I downloaded them. They’ve been waiting patiently (or not so patiently) ever since.
And finally, I have the TBR list that lives in my heart. These are books I’ve heard about but don’t keep track of anywhere. Instead, they just keep resurfacing in my mind. They tap me on the shoulder every now and then, whispering, “Hey, remember me?”
So yeah—your TBR is probably a beautiful mess of books you want to read, feel like you should read, and ones you just can’t stop thinking about.
And what happens is that sometimes, a book will hang out on your list for way too long. It keeps nudging you until finally you snap—okay, fine, I’ll read you! And that’s when one of two things happens:
You love it and you keep reading.
Or you don’t love it—and you give yourself full permission to let it go and delete it from your list.
Either way, you’ve cleared some space. And that feels good.
So for this Cozy Reading Challenge prompt, scroll through your list—mental or otherwise—and find the cozy mystery, cozy fantasy, or charming sci-fi that’s been hanging around too long. Pick the one that’s starting to feel pushy. You know the one. The book that keeps tapping you on the shoulder like an impatient ghost in a haunted library.
Give it a try. If you’re into it, wonderful—keep going! If not, release it from your TBR. And then maybe try another book for the challenge.
As for me, I’m reading Something Close to Magic by Emma Mills. It’s actually our Cozy Magical Book Club pick this month! I first heard about it on a bookish podcast ages ago. I added it to my running list of potential book club picks. However, I wasn’t sure if it was really cozy, so other books kept jumping ahead of it.
But then I heard about it again on another podcast recently and got a much better feel for the tone—it sounded just right. I finally added it to the club list, and now I’m about 25% in.
I’m loving it. It has fun fairy tale vibes, a ragtag crew of young characters on an adventure, and best of all—no angst. Just delight. It’s funny, lighthearted, and exactly what I needed.
And honestly? It feels so good to finally be reading it and to stop feeling haunted by it every time I scroll my list.
So that’s your invitation, cozy reader. Think through the books that have been quietly poking at you from your TBR pile. Try one. Set it free. Maybe fall in love with it. Whatever happens, you’ll be one step closer to a TBR that actually brings you joy.
Happy reading,
—Emma
Hi there! I’m Emma Veritas, your cozy reading enthusiast. I delight in escaping to small towns filled with endearing characters—and a touch of mystery, dragons, or aliens! When I'm not sharing bookish musings here, you’ll find me crafting fictional tales in my notebooks, spending quality time with my adorable pet bunny, or savoring a steaming cup of hot chocolate.
You might also enjoy my other newsletter, Soul Weavers' Reading Society, where I write essays for unconventional seekers and magic-makers who want to read healing, empowering, and witchy reads. Read the most recent post: Nature Memoirs to Soothe Your Soul