There’s something about a good book tag and reading challenges that scratches an itch in my brain. They’re fun, simple, and a great excuse to talk books!
And in true Becca fashion, I was inspired by Kennysbooknook on Pinterest! Some of these were surprisingly easy, others had me questioning myself a little bit.
Anway… enjoy 😀
lust
saved for the cover
I will say all three of these books are currently on my TBR, and I only added them because of the cover.
I mean… look at them.
The Secret World of Briar Rose, specifically, gives me major The Princess Bride and Tangled vibes. It looks whimsical, magical, and like the kind of story I’d happily get lost in for a weekend. Everything about the artwork screams fairytale, and every time I see the cover, I am tempted to put it in my cart.
The other two covers don’t have quite the same aesthetic, but they’re just as gorgeous. Blood Bound has such rice colors and dramatic artwork that it immediately caught my attention, while A Barista’s Guide to Love & Larceny is exactly the kind of cozy, colorful cover I can’t resist. Sometimes a beautiful cover is all it takes for me to add a book to my TBR, and I regret nothing!
envy
books i want to live in
Legends & Lattes will forever have a special place in my heart when it comes to cozy fantasy. Travis Baldree created a world that feels warm, welcoming, and lived in. I’d happily spend my mornings sipping coffee in Viv’s cafe, surrounded by cinnamon rolls, books, and found family.
Anne of Green Gables… I mean… what can you even say? Avonlea feels like stepping into a painting. Rolling hills, wildflowers, kind neighbors, and Anne’s endless imagination? Sign me up.
Then there’s Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. I know, J.K. Rowling is awful, and I don’t support her.
That said, the world itself played a huge role in my childhood. I think a lot of readers dreamed about getting their Hogwarts letter, wandering Diagon Alley, or riding the Hogwarts Express. The nostalgia is impossible to ignore, even if my feelings toward the author have completly changed.
sloth
books on my tbr for the longest
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling officially been on my TBR for far too long. I actually received it as a high school graduation gift… which was seven years ago now.
The title alone is so funny and relatable that I’ve never wanted to unhaul it. Every time I reorganize my shelves, I think, “This is the year.” And yet, somehow, it remains unread.
The Help is… controversial for a lot of reasons, and I completely understand why. Even so, it’s been sitting on my shelf since 2016, and I’ve always been curious to finally read it for myself.
Then there’s The Virgin Suicides. It’s one of those modern classics that constantly gets recommended, referenced, and praised. Somehow, despite owning it for years, I’ve just never reached for it.
wrath
books i didn’t really like
Spiral is probably one of my least favorite books I attempted in 2025.
I absolutely loved Collide, so I went into this one with high expectations which seemed to have bitten me in the butt. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t working for me. I ended up DNFing it, and it now proudly lives in my DNF Graveyard.
Such Lovely Skin was one of those books where I kept thinking, “I really should DNF this.” Instead, I pushed through because I wanted to hit my reading goal.
Reader… I should’ve trusted my gut.
So… The Dead Husband Cookbook…
Looking back, I’m surprised at the rating I originally gave. After letting it sit for a year, I’ve realized I didn’t enjoy it nearly as much as I thought I did. If I were rating it today, it’d probably land somewhere around 3 stars instead of 4.
I think I was just being too nice.
greed
books i’m tempted to gatekeep
Shhh… I know I keep talking about Cruelty Free, but I genuinely don’t think enough people have read it.
It’s one of those books I desperately want people to discover, but at the same time, I love feeling like I found a hidden gem before everyone else.
Haven’t Killed in Years completely surprised me. I was mesmerized while reading it, and I still catch myself thinking about it a year or so later. Those are the books that are the hardest to recommend, honestly, because part of me wants everyone to experience them while another part of me wants to keep them all to myself.
The Book of Blood & Roses was another unexpected favorite. I’m not a huge romantasy or supernatural reader. Truthfully, I only picked it up because I was offered an ARC and thought, “Sure! Why not?” I wasn’t expecting to love it as much as I did.
gluttony
books i want to reread again and again and again
I haven’t read To Kill a Mockingbird since high school, but it’s one of those books that’s never really left me. The themes still stick with me years later, and I know I’d get something completely different out of it if I reread it as an adult.
I read Holes for the first time not too long ago (and even wrote a review on it!), and it has stayed on my mind since. It’s funny, clever, surprisingly emotional, and genuinely one of the best middle-grade books ever written.
And then there is If I Stay. Ugh! Can you hear my heartbreaking just talking about it? It’s hopeful, heartbreaking, and one of those stories that reminds me exactly why I love reading in the first place.
pride
a challenging book i’ve read
Greenlights challenged me in ways I wasn’t expecting. Maybe it’s the Southern drawl or his laid-back way of looking at life. Whatever it is, I found myself laughing and reflecting on the stories he told and how the lessons he learned could be applied to my own life.
The Handmaid’s Tale is an obvious choice. It’s emotionally exhausting, uncomfortable, and often infuriating. It’s why it is so powerful. It’s one of those books I didn’t find joy in reading, but I’m glad I experienced it.
Annie Bot has refused to leave my brain since I read it. Long after I finished it, I kept thinking about autonomy, identity, and just how close its version of future feels to coming to fruition. It’s the kind of story that quietly follows you around after you’ve closed the book.
lets chat!
If you were doing the Seven Deadly Sins book tag, which category would be the easiest for you to fill? Which book(s) would you choose?
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