Down the TBR-hole #24

Posted on September 20, 2026 by Yrsha

It is time for another round of Down the TBR-hole, where I go through the books in my To Be Read shelf on Goodreads and try to decide if I still want to read them (should they stay) or not (should they go?).

It’s funny because I usually take screenshots of my Goodread’s shelf a bunch at a time so that they align nicely and I get my 12 books at a time. This time around when I was going to take these images, they were off by three books so in preparation of this post, I had to read three things to get the image right. It also came with the bonus that the number of books on the shelf decreased a little since the last post, win-win I’d say!

How to Catch a Queen – Alyssa Cole
A couple (5!) years ago, I read A Princess in Theory by Alyssa Cole, I really liked it. And I’ve been meaning to read more from her ever since.
Verdict: Stays

A Proper Charade – Esther Hatch
This does sound like a fun read. I’ll keep it.
Verdict: Stays

Vattenfolkets land – Eric Lejonhufvud
This was recommended to me by a friend, I have every intention of reading it! Added it to my to-borrow shelf.
Verdict: Stays

The Princess Trials – Cordelia K. Castel
This book sounds a bit like a The Selection meets The Hunger Games. I’m intrigues but it’s not available anywhere, except as an expensive audiobook. I need to think about if I think it’s worth it.
Verdict: Stays

A Duke by Default – Alyssa Cole
This is the next book in the series Reluctant Royals, where the first is the previously mentioned A Princess in Theory. I want to read this as well!
Verdict: Stays

The Gilded Ones – Namina Forna
I own this book, it was gifted to me from a sibling.
Verdict: Stays

Accidentally Engaged – Farah Heron
A fake engangement and sour dough baking, sounds like something for me! It looks like it’s a bit hard to get ahold of though…
Verdict: Stays

Aofie’s Quest – Angela J Ford
I might have added this book mostly because of the bow on the cover. I’m a little torn. Is she just living with centaurs at the beginning of the book or is she one as well? This is also a book that seems very hard to get ahold of. Wait, it looks like it might have changed name to Princess of Blood and Blade and I could actually get ahold of this one. I guess I’ll figure this one out.
Verdict: Stays

Pride and Premeditation – Tirzah Price
I have a soft spot for retellings of Pride and Prejudice, I want to give this one a shot but it feels like it could be quite far from the original? I added it to my audiobook service shelf.
Verdict: Stays

Warrior of the Wild – Tricia Levenseller
This sounds fun! Saved to my audiobook service shelf.
Verdict: Stays

Isn’t it Bromantic? – Lyssa Kay Adams
Do I have to read these in order? I think this one sounds fun, if I don’t have to read them in order I’m insterested!
Verdict: Stays

The First Human Rider – Ramy Vance, Michael Anderle
I think I’ve read something by Anderle before and I wasn’t super impressed. If this had been on my audiobook service, I think I would have given it a shot because we’re talking about dragons. But it isn’t so I’m going to remove it. There’re so many other books by Anderle there so I can try something else and see if I like the writing better.
Verdict: Goes

How did it go this time?
Books in the TBR shelf at start: 240
Number of staying books: 11
Number of leaving books: 1
Total amount of leaving books: 64
Number of reserved books at the library: –
Number of books put in to-borrow-shelf: 1
Number of books added to audiobook-account: 2
Current amount of books in my TBR shelf: 258

I was thinking that we’ve arrived at a place where all of the remaining books are going to be keepers but we’re apparently not there just yet!

Of these books, I’m most eager to read the Alyssa Cole ones at the moment. Maybe I’ll have to do something about that.

Are there any of these you recommend I pick up?

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Ellie, Engineer: The Next Level

Posted on September 19, 2026 by Yrsha

When I was going to write my next Down the TBR-hole post, I needed to clear of three things from my TBR to get the “correct” screenshot. It all made sense in my head, don’t worry about it. I found that a couple of them were a bit shorter reads, this one was one of the things. This is book number two in a series about a girl who likes to invent and build things.

Ellie Engineer: The Next Level – Jackson Pearce
Original publication year: 2018
Series: Ellie, Engineer #2
First book in the series: Ellie, Engineer

Elevator pitch: After a test run of an invention goes wrong, Ellie needs to help an elderly neighbour out as a punishment (and learning experience?).

I really like these books about Ellie. She is very creative and imaginative and likes to build stuff. In this book we touch on the subjects of for example using other’s things without asking, assuming things about gender and age, and thinking from someone else’s perspective.

Pearce writes in a clever way where the serious and funny meet. It is easy to think from both Ellie’s and Ellie’s parents’ perspective. This is a series that I think works well to read together with a child and have good discussions around.

I rated this book 4 out of 5 starts – I really liked it!

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Rök och speglar

Posted on September 17, 2026 by Yrsha

När jag var yngre slukade jag serien Petrinideckarna av Mårten Sandén så när jag såg att han skulle släppa en vuxendeckare blev jag väldigt nyfiken!

Rök och speglar – Mårten Sandén
Originalpubliceringsår: 2025
Nästa bok i serien: Minuteman

Hisspitch: Författarna Moa och Leo är på fel plats vid fel tidpunkt och måste lista ut vem som satt dit dom för att inte bli ditsatta för mord.

Detta är Mårtens första vuxen-bok. Jag känner igen hans skrivsätt, det påminner mig om det jag har läst förut men med lite mer “vuxna” grejer och mörkare historia adderat. Jag kände inte riktigt att jag klickade med med den här vuxna sidan i början.

Speciellt andra halvan av boken får mig att tänka på Petrinideckarna. Det är något med dynamiken mellan Leo, Moa och Katja som får mig att tänka på dynamiken mellan Peter, Petra och Lucy. Kanske projicerar jag men de känns lite som en förlängning av Petrinideckarna (med andra bakgrundshistorier) och det gör att jag på ett nostalgiskt sätt tycker om dom lite mer. I andra halvan får boken också lite mer fart, vilket jag uppskattar.

Jag ville tycka om den lite mer än jag gjorde men jag vill läsa mer så jag kommer plocka upp nästa bok.

Jag gav boken 3 av 5 stjärnor – jag tyckte om den!

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The Compund

Posted on September 15, 2026 by Yrsha

I set my eyes on The Compund after my book circle friend S added it to her TBR on pagebound. It was the Goodreads choice award winner last year in the category Readers’ Favorite Science Fiction. It is promoted as Love Island meets The Hunger Games and I knew nothing more going in.

The Compound – Aisling Rawle
Original publication year: 2025

Elevator pitch: A girl compete in a reality show where they do tasks in exchange for things.

I think it was good to know as little as I did going in. Not knowing in which direction the story was going to go was quite intriguing. The contenders of the show is prohibited from talking to each other about their personal life and therefore we don’t get to know a lot about the world outside the compound except for glimpses here and there. Not knowing their history suited me fine, because I usually find that a little boring.

I haven’t seen Love Island but based on the comments on Pagebound, there are many similarities and you can see where the inspiration came from. Does it make me a little curious of the show? Yes, but I don’t think it’ll be nearly as exciting as this one so I think I’ll pass.

I liked that we actually got a competition. I’ve read far too many books where we are promised a competition but it’s really just a front for a love story and the competition just slips away after a few chapters and we hardly get any competing done. I liked that this really was a competition.

This is a very materialistic world and I think we are ment to think about how far a person is willing to go in exchange for nice things. How is it in the real world? In which way are we heading? The author was successful in making the reader think. The first part of the story was addicting, very easy to continue to see where we were headed.

I liked the first half the best, the second half became a little boring. It lowered my rating a bit, I had my hopes up for something bigger or weirder to happen. I had also hoped that the science fiction tag it had on Goodreads would have been more prominent.

I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars – I liked it and will recommend it.

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Down the TBR-hole #23

Posted on September 13, 2026 by Yrsha

It is time for another round of Down the TBR-hole, where I go through the books in my To Be Read shelf on Goodreads and try to decide if I still want to read them (should they stay) or not (should they go?).

The Tea Master and the Detective – Aliette de Bodard
I don’t remember why this happened to land on my TBR but I like a good detective story and it’s available on my audiobook service as an ebook so I’ll give it a try!
Verdict: Stays

Brun flicka drömmer (Brown Girl Deaming) – Jacqueline Woodson
This book was recommended to me by my book circle friend J. I was also convinced that I had added it to my audiobook service shelf but it seems like they’ve since removed the ebook and only have the audio left. I think this is a book I want to read with my eyes so I’m adding it to my to-borrow shelf.
Verdict: Stays

Flame in the Mist – Renée Ahdieh
I don’t remember adding this to my TBR either but I’m intrigued by the plot. I’m adding it to my to-borrow shelf.
Verdict: Stays

Rent a Boyfriend – Gloria Chao
A cute fake dating story? Yes please!
Verdict: Stays

Moder Jord, Fader Himmel (Mother Earth, Father Sky) – Sue Harrison
Another story I’m not completely sure how I came to add to my TBR. One of my Goodread’s friends has read it so perhaps I added it to me shelf after she marked it as read? It is available at my audiobook service so I guess I’ll give it a chance.
Verdict: Stays

The Magic Misfits – Neil Patrick Harris
This is a middle grade book and quite a quick read (I think). The library has it so I’ll add it to my to-borrow shelf.
Verdict: Stays

Serpent & Dove – Shelby Mahurin
I believe I gifted this to mum and have since borrowed it, it’s laying at home waiting for me to read it.
Verdict: Stays

Fable – Adrienne Young
Is this about … pirates?! It’s a keeper, adding it to my audiobook service account.
Verdict: Stays

Green Rider – Kristen Britain
I like the sound of this book but I’m not sure how I’m going to read it. Do I like the sound of it enough to buy it? It’s not available to me otherwise. Maybe not but I think I’ll keep it here for a while and ponder over it.
Verdict: Stays

Regency Buck – Georgette Heyer
I did read the first book in the Alastair-Audley Tetralogy and I really enjoyed it. I don’t think I need to read these in order so I might be able to jump to this one next.
Verdict: Stays

Crazy rich i Asien (Crazy Rich Asians) – Kevin Kwan
I just read this book, so I guess it’ll be one of those neither go or stay books. I liked it and will probably read the next book in the series as well.
Verdict: –

Love Your Life – Sophie Kinsella
I’m always interested in reading a Sophie Kinsella, it’s a keeper. Adding it to my audiobook service shelf.
Verdict: Stays

How did it go this time?
Books in the TBR shelf at start: 240
Number of staying books: 11
Number of leaving books: –
Total amount of leaving books: 63
Number of reserved books at the library: –
Number of books put in to-borrow-shelf: 3
Number of books added to audiobook-account: 4
Current amount of books in my TBR shelf: 262

It looks like this was more of an “where can I get ahold of this book” session more than anything. No books were leaving this time. The book already read isn’t really doing much difference to the current number on my TBR shelf, it has increased a few books on the shelf since the last post (last post number: 256), I guess I can’t just stop finding new interesting books to read! And I guess I need to keep making these more regularly (as I keep saying, haha).

Have you read any of these books? Any of them I should prioritise?

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Konferensen

Posted on September 11, 2026 by Yrsha

Vår senaste bokcirkelbok med universitetsgänget blev Konferensen. Jag tror att detta är vår första skräckbok, om inte Billy Summers räknas in där med.

Konferensen – Mats Strandberg
Originalpubliceringsår: 2021

Hisspitch: Ett gäng människor samlas för att diskutera det ny köpcentret som ska byggas och inviga byggstarten. De har inte varit där länge när folk börjar försvinna.

Det känns som att jag inte har supermycket att säga efter att ha avslutat denna.

Jag klickar inte riktigt med skrivsättet av boken. Jag har inte läst så mycket skräck förut så jag vet inte riktigt vad jag har att vänta av en bok i den genren men jag känner mig lite otillfredsställd när den är slut, lite som var det allt?

Boken var lite långsam. I prologen får vi en inblick i vad som kommer komma och sen är det väldigt mycket uppbyggnad och introduktioner och bakgrundshistorier, allt tyckte jag var lite tråkigt.

Beskrivningarna framåt slutet var ganska äckliga, kanske det jag faktiskt hade förväntat mig från innan, och det är tur att jag inte är bra på att se saker framför mig för då hade det kanske varit olidligt att läsa boken?

Skräck har aldrig tilltalat mig och jag kan inte säga att jag blev såld på genren efter den här boken. Jag var medveten när jag började läsa boken att det inte var min typ av bok men man kan ju alltid hoppas på att bli överraskad! Det var helt enkelt inte en bra match för mig.

Jag gav boken 1,5 stjärnor av 5 möjliga – den var ok.

Vad tyckte bokcrikeln i helhet? Medelbetyg: 2,88. De andra uppskattade karaktärsuppbyggnaden och bakgrundshistorierna och jag drog ner snittet rejält. Vi hade bra diskussioner av denna bok!

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Weekly update #96 – some book stats

Posted on September 9, 2026 by Yrsha

Once in a while when I’m bored I go to my little list of books read over the year and ponder what is different from last year and what statistics I could pull from it.

Last year when I was doing my Tetris blanket (still not done, it’s been on a pause for about a year) I tried to get some variety in my reading based on original publication year. I think I did quite well and managed to get in a bunch of books before year 2000.

When books were published, read in 2025

This year, I’ve had no such ambition and it shows quite clear. What surprises me a bit is that I’ve read so many recent books. In my mind, I usually read mostly book before 2020. I think I’ve been caught up in the newer releases and been interested in reading what my friends are reading. And I’ve been reading a lot! Fun!

When books were published, read in 2026

I’ve also tried to see where the authors come from, to see the origin of the book and not surprisingly, I read most books from the USA. I think this is usually the case, maybe we see a challenge coming where I try to read more books from other countries, who knows.

I bought two cookbooks the other day and I tried making some gluten free muffins last weekend. I was a happily surprised by the outcome and I look forward to trying more recipes from this book. It was blueberry cardamom muffins with white beans! I tried the muffins on some colleagues and they couldn’t taste the beans so I call that a success!

I just finished reading Yesteryear and I’m trying to collect my thoughts to write something about it. Not really my type of book but I appreciated what the author did?

What are you currently reading?

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Stranger Things Have Happened

Posted on September 7, 2026 by Yrsha

I’ve read a bunch of Kasie West’s young adult novels and I was delighted to discover that she had released adult books as well! Stranger things Have Happened is her second adult book, featuring fake dating. I was planning on reading her first book We Met Like This but the library doesn’t have this one for some reason.

Stranger Things Have Happened – Kasie West
Original publication year: 2026

Elevator pitch: A woman agrees to fake date a man as a bet to see if the therapist can detect that they are strangers.

I loved it! Kasie West’s books sometimes sounds a little silly but once you start reading, you’re hooked and can’t put them down.

Her characters are kind and real, it’s easy to put yourself in the shoes of the main character and to root for them.

In this novel, Sutton is back home taking care of her mom who has been in a car accident. There can be a whole conversation about the USA putting her in this situation of needing to take care of a close family member in this way because it costs too much to get help, but I don’t think we’ll go there.

It’s been a while since I read a romance from only one point of view (not on the guy’s side), it was refreshing and it makes me think of for example Sophie Kinsella’s books. I think I often prefer it this way.

I feel like a common theme in Kasie West’s books is the health of the parents. They are visible and around with mental illness and in the books the children often realise that it’s not something they can or should fix themselves. In this book Sutton’s mum is not only dealing with physical injury and we also get to see the same kind of growth as in the young adult stories. I appreciate Kasie West’s way of approaching these subject, it doesn’t feel too heavy to read but it is present and there is a message to be told.

Kasie West is climbing to be one of my favourite authors and I can’t wait to read more from her.

I gave this book 4,5 out of 5 stars – I loved it!

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August 2026

Posted on September 5, 2026 by Yrsha

I read 12 books in August. And here are some stats:

English: 4
Swedish: 8

Audiobook service: 9
Library: 1
Owned: 2

Physical: 3
Audio: 2
Ebook: –
Audio + ebook: 7
Physical + ebook: –

Average rating: 3,21

Top rated books this month (listed in reading order):
Roskoden / The Rose Code – Kate Quinn (4,5 stars)
Mermaid in Manhattan – Jessica Gadziala (4 stars)
Stranger Things Have Happened – Kasie West (4,5 stars)

There was a good mix of genres this month; romance, historical fiction, horror, science fiction, literary fiction and detective novels. I’ve also started to track the countries the author comes from and it was interesting to see a big variety here as well: USA, Ireland, Australia, Sweden and Norway.

What di you read in August?

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En andra allians

Posted on September 3, 2026 by Yrsha

Efter att ha läst Det första chiffret kunde jag inte låta bli att hoppa på nästa bok direkt.

En andra allians – Denise Rydberg
Originalpubliceringsår: 2020
Serie: Kontrahenterna #2
Nästa bok i serien: Er tredje man

Jag blev lite blindsided av vändningen på vissa saker. Cliffhangern avklarades snabbt och vi får ett tidshopp i berättelsen. Där var det en person som helt bytt karaktär och vi gick vidare, det var lite som att skådisen inte ville vara med i denna säsong och de skrev ur honom i serien. Fast i bokform. Det fanns kanske ledtrådar till hur personen var i första boken men jag blev förvånad av hur snabbt det gick.

Signe får mycket uppmärksamhet i denna bok, hennes medicinska åkommor får ett stort fokus. Vi lyfter ett problem som säkerligen inte var något man pratade om mycket på den tiden.

Det är fortfarande något som känns lite konstigt med de här böckerna. Kanske är det helt enkelt så att det är en nutida författare som beskriver en historisk berättelse och det blir lite förenklat. Är det fel saker som hamnar i fokus, att vardagen känns lite stapplig?

Det känns som att the insatserna är lite högre i denna bok och saker går ganska snabbt framåt. När jag väl läser så är den svår att lägga ifrån sig, kanske mer än föregående del i serien. Jag ser fram emot att läsa nästa del i serien också för att se hur det går för karaktärerna.

Jag gav boken 3,5 stjärnor av 5 möjliga – jag tyckte om den.

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