Scheduling my TBR list…
Earlier this week, I started shifting through review requests for July and August. Yes – that’s how far out I have to plan my schedule! When I go through review requests I do a few things. First, if it’s not in an established series any of the reviewers or I read, I try to determine who may enjoy the book most. Each reviewer has their own personal preferences. If it is in a series someone already reads, well they automatically get the new release to review. Next I look at the release date and my master schedule to find the best placement for the book review. I also consider any new releases during a month that may NOT be review books, but someone may still want to read (for example, Lover At Last by JR Ward). Easy – right?
It all works pretty well until/unless there are more books released in a month than any one person can handle. I am not a very fast reader, so I schedule myself one to two books a week, unless there is a novella tossed in the mix. I put both official review books and books I want to read (for which I will still review) on my schedule. I keep a master spreadsheet of upcoming books that I want to read. As I started scheduling reviews for this summer I noticed that there are A LOT of books coming out in July, August and September that I want to read. Here is what I mean:
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Anthology
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“Enthralled” (Anthology)
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Jul 2, 2013
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Stephanie
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Tyler
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Dire Desires
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Jul 2, 2013
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Samantha
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Kane
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Tempting A Devil
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Jul 8, 2013
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Darynda
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Jones
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Fifth Grave Past the Light
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Jul 9, 2013
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Ann
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Mayburn
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My Wicked Captive
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summer
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Leigh
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Evans
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The Thing About Weres
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Jul 30, 2013
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Gena
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Showalter
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The Darkest Craving
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Jul 30, 2013
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Ilona
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Andrews
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Magic Rises
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Jul 30, 2013
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Nancy
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Holzner
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Hellhound
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Jul 30, 2013
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Philippa
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Ballantine
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Harbinger
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Jul 30, 2013
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Carolyn
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Crane
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book #2
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summer
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Zoe
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Archer
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Skies of Gold
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August
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Meljean
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Brook
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Guardian Demon
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Aug 6, 2013
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Philippa
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Ballantine
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Kindred and Wings
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Aug 6, 2013
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Suzanne
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Johnson
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Elysian Fields
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Aug 13, 2013
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Sherrilyn
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Kenyon
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Styxx
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Aug 27, 2013
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Jennifer
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Estep
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Heart of Venom
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Aug 27, 2013
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Kait
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Ballenger
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Twilight Hunter
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Aug 27, 2013
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Meljean
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Brook
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Into the Light
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Aug 30, 2013
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Shiloh
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Walker
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The Protected
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Sep 3, 2013
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Stephanie
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Julian
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No Reservations
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Sep 3, 2013
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I had a mini-panic attack trying to schedule all of these books. I’ve had to prioritize some and remove others. I was talking to THE BOOK VIXEN and THE BOOK NYMPHO about this on twitter – and honestly, I don’t think I’m going to be able to take on new-to-me books for review during this summer. I guess it’s a good problem to have… right?
So… what about you… What books are you looking forward to reading this summer? What do you do when there are more books than time to read them? Do you purchase and hope “someday?”
Thanks for stopping to chat!
I’m right there with about being a slow reader. If it wasn’t for listening to audios are work I would only get 1 book read in a week.
I’m a fan of scheduling too. But I’m trying to wing it more this year since I’m trying to read mostly from my TBR pile. But I’ve accepted a few review request and I’ve requested a lot of books on Netgalley so I’m going to have to schedule those books.
I’ve decided not to take anymore review requests (probably for the rest of the year) and work on my backlist then just enjoy my TBR pile.
Here is a few of the books I’m looking forward to this summer:
Magic Rises – audio
Fifth Grave – audio
Elysian Fields
Hellhound
White Trash Zombie Apocalypse -audio
Heart of Venom – audio
I have a list, too. Fortunately, a lot have grown out of reviewing! I’m flexible…but unless I am captivated by a premise, I’m staying away from established series wherein (my compulsions/reading OCD) would cause me to read earlier books in a series. I do buy books & eventually get to them. LaL is in my misc TBR folder.
I’m another slow reader, about 1-2 books a week. I can’t really plan non-review books into my schedule. I almost feel as though I have to be caught up on my reading for review requests before I can read a book from my personal shelf.
I’m looking for to reading the next 3 Fool’s Gold books, True by Erin McCarthy, Freefall by Jill Sorenson, and Dare You To by Katie McGarry….just to name a few.
Glad to see I’m not the only “slow reader” out there!
At this point I write reviews for pretty much everything I read, so if there is a book I want to read, but it’s not a “requested review,” I will still schedule it. If I don’t, I’ll never read the book!
I don’t plan at all. Which is probably why I’m constantly behind. LOL! I do the same. I assign books based on which reviewer has read the series or who I think will like it best. I’ve pretty much given all review books to my reviewers unless it’s a book/series/author that I really love or want to read. My reviewers are reading the new releases while I’m trying to play catch up and actually read books from my TBR pile. All blog tour requests I handle since the emails are sent directly to me. I figure this keep the distribution of work pretty even.
I’ve found that the more I read books for fun, the less I’m stressed out reviewing. I’m slowly finding a balance so that reviewing and blogging can continue to be fun for me.
But I don’t think I’ll ever be fully organized. Like, I couldn’t even tell you what books come out in May, let alone July and August!