Same to you! We got this :)

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Yvonne!

I've gotten some, and I'm so grateful! Who doesn't need more uplift in their lives? I definitely do.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Lydia!

That's impressive! Mine has never been anywhere near that high. I request way too many books, but they keep letting me, so is it REALLY my fault?? LOL

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Emily!

It's definitely difficult to organize your books when you don't have the room to do it properly. I have lots of bookshelf space, but I also have lots of books, so some decluttering/organizing is definitely in order. Good luck with the house. They're ridiculously expensive right now. Boo hoo.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Jessica

My go-to genres are mystery/thriller and historical fiction. The former is often bleak and dismal (no surprise) and the latter is not always as dark, but still often serious and heartbreaking. I need to alternate the darker reads with lighter, more hopeful ones just to keep myself on an even keel!

I'm so impressed with people who have high NG ratios. I review all the NG books I read, I just request way more than I actually read, hence the abysmal ratio...As long as I can still get most of the books I want from them, I don't worry about it too much.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Carol!

I have been consistently surpassing my 200-book goal, so it's doable for me, although some years it's easier than others. Reorganizing is therapeutic fun for me, too!

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Athena!

Clearly, you're smarter than the rest of us! NG is soooo addicting...

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Laurie!

Right? And, honestly, a good ratio doesn't seem to matter all that much. Not in my case at least. I don't get approved for ALL of the books I want, but I get approved for plenty, so I'm not going to stress too much about it.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Nicky!

It's an ongoing problem with me! I own thousands of books that are just sitting on my shelf unread and I still insist on buying more and borrowing a bunch from the library. I'll never get it all balanced out, I'm afraid.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Nicole!

Really? I have never had anyone contact me about NG books I've requested and not reviewed. That's why I'm so laissez-faire about it. The only consequence I've seen is that I don't always get approved for every book I want, which is totally fine. I get approved for plenty.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Stephen!

Right? I'm aiming for one a week and that really should not feel as daunting as it does. I do a quick review of every book I read on Goodreads, but I really do want to do more in-depth reviews of SOME of them on my blog. Thanks for the encouragement :)

Thanks for popping in, Rayna!

Even with a 5% ratio, I still get approved for MOST of the books I request on NG. I've been on NG for a long time, so I've posted a lot of reviews - I just request a lot more books than I actually read/review. I'm also on the "auto-approved" list for several publishers, so that helps, too.

I hear you on cozy mysteries. I'm also an Ellie Alexander fan, although I like some of her series more than others. I've never read Anthony Horowitz, although I have been meaning, too. I like the idea of "gentle" fiction - I find most of the historical mystery series I read to be of this sort. They're generally lighter and cleaner than contemporary ones.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Lisa!

I am interested in reading the Phryne Fisher series. I'm really enjoying historical cozy mysteries lately, so I probably need to move this one up in the queue. Thanks for the rec!

Thanks, as always, for coming by andc ommenting, Shelleyrae!

Ha ha. You heard correctly! NG is super addicting. It's tough not to just request every book on there.

I haven't heard of MRS. MOHR GOES MISSING. I'm going to check it out right now. Thanks for the rec!

Thanks for stopping in, Cat!

I enjoy a good cozy, too. Are you talking about the Korina Moss series? I've read the first one, but that's it.

Thanks for popping by, Shanna!

Ha ha. It's pathetic, isn't it? It has improved over last year's 4%, though...

Thanks for stopping in, Eva!

Oooh, I've never heard of the Tannie Maria series. It sounds great. I just added the first one to my TBR list on Goodreads. Thanks for the rec!

Thanks for popping by, Olivia!

I totally get that! I'm definitely in the mood for cozy, happy books this year. I at least want to alternate them with the bleaker ones.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Deb!

Same, but I can at least post reviews of the books I do read and maybe TRY to be a little more selective about what I request. We'll see how it goes.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Tammy!

Oh, those poor books! I hope you can meet that goal this year. You'll love coming home when you can see all your books living happily on shelves :)

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Keira!

What a kind thing to say! I do try to keep BBB a positive and happy place to hang out. I'm glad you feel that here :)

It's amazing how quickly bookshelves get unorganized, isn't it? My problem is that I've acquired too many books over the past couple of years and there's no room to put them on their proper shelves (mine are arranged by genre), so they just end up everywhere. I need to both cull my collection and reorganize it this year. It's getting VERY out of hand!

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Rebecca!

Well, I read fast, I don't have a job, I don't have small kids to take care of anymore, I rarely watch tv, and I only have a couple other hobbies besides reading, so 200 books is doable for me. I barely made it to 200 in 2025, though, so we'll see how I do in 2026.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Emma!

Daily posting is too much for me, and honestly, it's too much for me to keep up with on other people's blogs, too. A couple times a week is all (and sometimes more) than I can handle, and that's okay. I never want blogging to feel like a chore.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Louise!

Absolutely! If I accomplish none of these goals this year, it will be totally fine.

Audiobooks have helped me with walking in the past as well. I'm much more motivated to go if it means listening to a good book - and if it's REALLY good, I might just go the extra mile to keep listening!

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, my friend!

It's like as soon as I put a book on my shelf it's out of sight, out of mind...LOL

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Lauren!

I enjoy organizing my bookshelves, so this goal *should* be an easy one to accomplish. We'll see how it goes.

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Lisa!

Right? It's like as soon as I put a book on my shelf, it completely disappears from my memory. There are some really great-sounding books hiding in there. I need to dig them out, read them, and donate them. Good luck to both of us on this one!

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Ethan!

I've read the first Emma Lion book. I didn't LOVE it, but I enjoyed it. People tell me the series gets better as it goes, so I definitely need to continue with it. Thanks for the rec!

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Cindy!

Well, I'm at a place in my life where I can read all day if I really want to (and sometimes I do). Like I said above, I also read fast, don't have a job, don't have little kids anymore, don't watch tv, and don't have many other hobbies, so 200 is usually very doable for me.

Thanks for stopping by, Jackie!

I was huffing and puffing a lot on our last trip, which included A LOT of walking. I learned my lesson! Hopefully, I will be in a lot better shape by the time we go on our next adventure.

Romance is not a genre I read often, but I do really like Center's books. I need to read more of them. Thanks for the rec!

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Kathryn!

Ha ha. I actually sleep a lot, but as I've said, I'm at a place in my life where I can read (or sleep) all day if I want to. I read fast, I don't have a job, I don't have little kids to take care of anymore, I don't watch tv, and I don't have many other hobbies. I also listen to audiobooks while I drive, do housework, and exercise. My cheerleader daughter finds it embarrassing, but I also bring a book with me to all her games (there are at least two a week and I go to all of them). When the games get boring, I read, and only look up when she's doing a cheer :)

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Alex!

Same! That's my idea of fun :)

Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Bree!