The Mess That Is My Favorites Shelf

Me and my favorites shelf have always had a weird relationship. I used to blame it on the fact that I was a book hipster and I thought I was super cool and didn’t need a lot of favorite books. Well, I’m not that cool, and it was totally idiotic of me to think that. However, over time, I became to realize my Goodreads favorite shelf has kind of become a section of how my tastes have changed over the years…and still how ridiculously picky I am.

Out of 851 books that Goodreads has told me that I have read, I have a measly 32 favorites. That’s right. 3.76% of the books that I have read have become favorites. Now, some of the books that aren’t favorites, have been favorites before and somehow managed to get kicked off. Now I bet you’re like, omigosh, Mandy, seriously, how do you even choose your favorites because you sound like you’re just a mess. And it’s a good question. There are two ways a book can get on the elusive Book Princess favorites shelf right out of the gate:

The Book That Knocked My Fluffy Socks, My Crown, and More Off Me:

This book straight from the beginning had me in awe. I loved every single thing about it, and it was just sooooo good. I knew I would never find anything better than it…until the next book I picked up, but who’s counting? But it was just so good. A few examples you may ask? Gemina, Daughter of the Pirate King, and Geekerella. I knew from the beginning I would love them until the end of my book days.

The Book That Haunts My Book Dreams and Won’t Stop:

That’s right – I’m sure many of you have had that book that haunts you every once in a while. It pops back up in your mind when you least expect it, and it just sits there awkwardly, waiting for you to pay attention to it. These books I’ve given five stars in the past, and while they had some slight issues with them at the time that kept me from loving them, my brain has now been plagued by them until I have heard its pleas and finally added to this slippery shelf. Examples include: The Telling, A Court of Mist and Fury, and You Were Here.

Oh, weird Favorite Shelf Mandy, what causes a book to get kicked off?

Well, that is a fantastic question. Whenever I add a book to the shelf, I tend to kick a few off. Maybe my subconscious book hipster is still coming back out to play, but I think it mostly is because I see how my tastes have changed or how reading other books has changed me. Once I see the glory of how one author handles a YA mystery, maybe I won’t be as enthralled with another’s. Or I just have grown out of the book hangover or buzz I was feeling for it, and the really bad one: I really can’t remember what it was about. If I can’t remember and the joyous feeling of reading it, then it’s out until possibly the next reread. For the longest time, Cinder was out of the favorites loop because I couldn’t remember it.

So, yes, me and my favorites shelf have a totally messed up relationship. I don’t know why, but my book brain just gets a little funky with it. So, what book quirks do you have? What makes a book a favorite for you? Do you have a weird favorite system like me? Let’s discuss in the comments below!

Also, if you would like to check out the mess that is my Goodreads life, you can be my friend on there (because I always forget to find all you lovely bloggers on there. XD) Click here if you so wish – if this post didn’t scare you away.

Update: I added one more book to the shelf. Are we excited yet??