Top Ten Tuesday is a listicle created by That Artsy Reader Girl. It was created from a love of lists, books and creating bookish friends. Each Tuesday she assigns a new topic for others to join in with. Here is where you can learn more information about Top Ten Tuesday. Ad/Affiliate – Some of these books have affiliate links, you can read my disclaimer here.
I haven’t taken part in a Top Ten Tuesday since February, but I wanted to take part in this one as I am trying to read more unread books from my physical TBR list. I wasn’t quite sure how to title this blog post because I wanted it to be clear that it was unread books that I own in paper copy, rather than eBooks.
I’ve decided to split this into fiction and non-fiction categories as I tend to get through fiction books quickly. Though I probably have more unread non-fiction books. Most of the fiction books on my shelves are books that I have read and loved! I’m also going to not include any books I have bought in 2024 so far, as I want to get through older books.
(Cover photo by ROMAN ODINTSOV)
Fiction unread books from my physical TBR list
1. Persuasion by Jane Austen
I have finally finished Pride and Prejudice, and the next book I want to read is Persuasion. I bought this book last year when I was in Bath for my birthday. In my typical style, I have read 1 chapter and not got any further!
Storygraph synopsis:
Eight years ago Anne Elliot bowed to pressure from her family and made the decision not to marry the man she loved, Captain Wentworth. Now circumstances have conspired to bring him back into her social circle and Anne finds her old feelings for him reignited. However, when they meet again Wentworth behaves as if they are strangers and seems more interested in her friend Louisa. In this, her final novel, Jane Austen tells the story of a love that endures the tests of time and society with humour, insight and tenderness.
Bookshop* | Blackwells* | World of Books
2. What Would Jane Austen Do? by Linda Corbett
Carrying on with the Jane Austen theme, up next is this romance book I bought from Oxfam. I only recently bought this, I think last November in Bath. It sounds similar to something Emily Henry would write, and I love her books.
Storygraph synopsis:
When Maddy Shaw is told her Dear Jane column has been cancelled she has no choice but to look outside of London’s rental market. That is until she’s left an idyllic country home by the black sheep of the family, long-not-so-lost Cousin Nigel.
But of course, there’s a stipulation… and not only is Maddy made chair of the committee for the annual village literary festival, she also has to put up with bestselling crime author –and romance sceptic – Cameron Massey as her new neighbour.
When Maddy challenges Cameron to write romantic fiction, which he claims is so easy to do, sparks fly both on and off the page…
Bookshop* | Blackwells* | World of Books
3. The Wedding Girl by Sophie Kinsella, writing as Madeleine Wickham
I picked up this book from the charity shop sometime within the last year and thought it sounded good. I had no idea that Sophie Kinsella used to write under Madeleine Wickham and that it is her real name!
Storygraph synopsis:
At the age of eighteen, in that first golden Oxford summer, Milly was up for anything. Rupert and his American lover Allan were all part of her new, exciting life, and when Rupert suggested to her that she and Allan should get married, just so that Allan could stay in the country, Milly didn’t hesitate, and to make it seem real she dressed up in cheap wedding finery and posed on the steps of the registry office for photographs.
Ten years later, Milly is a very different person. Engaged to Simon – who is wealthy, serious, and believes her to be perfect – she is facing the biggest and most elaborate wedding imaginable. Her mother has it planned to the finest detail, from the massive marquee to the sculpted ice swans filled with oysters. Her dreadful secret is locked away so securely she has almost persuaded herself that it doesn’t exist – until, with only four days to go, her past catches up with her.
Suddenly, her carefully constructed world is about to crash in ruins around her. How can she tell Simon she’s already married? How can she tell her mother? But as the crisis develops, more secrets are revealed than Milly could possibly have realised…
Bookshop* | Blackwells* | World of Books
4. Summer Wedding by Sarah Morgan
Another wedding-themed book. I was reading about it on Storygraph, and then it popped up on World Of Books when I was doing an order. I loved Summer Seekers which is also by Sarah Morgan. You can read my mini-review of it in the ‘My 10 favourite books of 2023‘ post.
Storygraph synopsis:
A family wedding
Catherine Swift is a bestselling romance author, but her personal story hasn’t been quite so successful; three failed marriages have left her relationship with her daughters strained. Engaged once again, Catherine is counting on this wedding, at her villa in Corfu, to finally bring the family together.
A summer of secrets
Adeline can’t believe her mother is getting married for a fourth time, or that she’s expected to attend. It brings back the pain of her mother’s infidelity and the baby who was the result. Not that she blames her half-sister Cassie, but then she’s never tried to know her, either. Cassie, on the other hand, is thrilled by her mother’s news – she’s always admired Catherine’s resilience, and is excited to meet the mystery groom. Cassie also has a secret of her own, and a summer in Corfu will give her the time she needs to process everything.
A chance to start over again
As the guests arrive on the island, and the big day approaches, Catherine begins to reveal secrets from her past, and suddenly both Cassie and Adeline realise that they don’t know their mother at all . . .
Bookshop* | Blackwells* | World of Books
5. You Deserve Eachother by Sarah Hogle
I bought this book about a year ago after it had been on my wishlist for ages! I know that I will love this book when I read it, but just haven’t made the time yet. Sound familiar?
Storygraph synopsis:
Naomi Westfield has the perfect fiancé: Nicholas Rose holds doors open for her, remembers her restaurant orders, and comes from the kind of upstanding society family any bride would love to be a part of. They never fight. They’re preparing for their lavish wedding that’s three months away. And she is miserably and utterly sick of him.
Naomi wants out, but there’s a catch: whoever ends the engagement will have to foot the nonrefundable wedding bill. When Naomi discovers that Nicholas, too, has been feigning contentment, the two of them go head-to-head in a battle of pranks, sabotage, and all-out emotional warfare.
But with the countdown looming to the wedding that may or may not come to pass, Naomi finds her resolve slipping. Because now that they have nothing to lose, they’re finally being themselves–and having fun with the last person they expect: each other.
Non-fiction unread books from my physical TBR
There are so many fabulous nature books out there that I want to read! Every time I go to a bookstore, I find new books that I want to read. Particularly studying ecology, I just want to read all the books and soak in the knowledge! So it can be hard to pick which ones I really want to read. Hopefully, this list will help me.
6. The Brief Life of Flowers by Fiona Stafford
I bought this book back in 2021 as a treat after my exams and assignments were handed in. It wasn’t quite the book I imagined so didn’t end up reading it. Last year I started reading it again, and I find it much more interesting than I used to. I would love to have a proper go at reading and finishing it!
Storygraph synopsis:
The beauty of flowers is well known, inspiring creative minds from Botticelli to Beatrix Potter. But they’ve also played a key part in forming the past, and may shape our future.
Roses and thistles have served as symbols of monarchs, dynasties and nations. We wear poppies to remember the First World War, but it was the elderflower that treated its wounded soldiers. A rose might mend a broken heart, and sunflowers may just save our planet.
At once enchanting and intriguing, The Brief Life of Flowers reveals how even the most ordinary of flowers have extraordinary stories to tell.
Bookshop* | Blackwells* | World of Books
7. Adventures of a Young Naturalist by David Attenborough
I have read about 1/3 of this book so far, and really enjoy it. I had to stop reading as I kept getting weird animal dreams, but I want to carry on as it is such an inspiring read. A must-read for everyone!
Storygraph synopsis:
In 1954, David Attenborough, a young television presenter, was offered the opportunity of a lifetime – to travel the world finding rare and elusive animals for the London Zoo’s collection, and to film the expedition for the BBC for a new show called Zoo Quest.
This is the story of those voyages. Staying with local tribes while trekking in search of giant anteaters in Guyana, Komodo dragons in Indonesia, and armadillos in Paraguay, he and the rest of the team contended with cannibal fish, aggressive tree porcupines, and escape-artist wild pigs, as well as treacherous terrain and unpredictable weather, to record the incredible beauty and biodiversity of these regions.
Written with his trademark wit and charm, Adventures of a Young Naturalist is not just the story of a remarkable adventure, but of the man who made us fall in love with the natural world and taught us the importance of
protecting it – and who is still doing so today.
Bookshop* | Blackwells* | World of Books
8. Still Water: The Deep Life of the Pond by John Lewis-Stempel
Since my dad built a pond in the garden we have attracted so much wildlife. I have become more interested in pond life, so when I came across this book in the charity shop it went straight into my basket!
Storygraph synopsis:
The Pond. Nothing in the countryside is more humble or more valuable. It’s the moorhen’s reedy home, the frog’s ancient breeding place, and the kill zone of the beautiful dragonfly. More than a hundred rare and threatened fauna and flora depend on it.
Written in gorgeous prose, Still Water tells the seasonal story of the wild animals and plants that live in and around the pond, from the mayfly larvae in the mud to the patrolling bats in the night sky above. It reflects an era before the water was polluted with chemicals and the land built on for housing, a time when ponds shone everywhere like eyes in the land, sustaining life for all, from fish to carthorse.
Still Water is a loving biography of the pond and an alarm call on behalf of this precious but overlooked habitat. Above all, John Lewis-Stempel takes us on a remarkable journey – deep, deep down into the nature of still water.
9. Rainbow Dust by Peter Marren
I found this book in the charity shop last year but haven’t managed to read it yet. I now have quite a few butterfly books I want to read! I’m currently reading The Butterfly Isles by Patrick Barkham, and recently bought In Pursuit of Butterflies by the brilliant Matthew Oates.
Storygraph synopsis:
A uniquely personal look about butterflies and about the people who love them — which, surely, is most of us.
Much more than just another field guide or a natural history of butterflies. Rainbow Dust explores the ways in which butterflies delight and inspire us all, naturalists and non-naturalists alike. In this uniquely eloquent and deeply personal book, naturalist Peter Marren explores the special place that butterflies hold in our hearts, in our cultural lives and in our imagination and recalls his own lifetime’s obsession with these ephemeral creatures.
Rainbow Dust is a celebration of butterflies; one shot through with a sense of wonder but also of sorrow at what we are losing.
10. The Nature Lover’s Bucket List by Richard Madden
The tenth of the unread books on my physical TBR is The Nature Lover’s Bucket List. I received this for my birthday last year, and it is a good book to dip in and out of. I have enjoyed reading it so far as I love a bucket list, and I obviously love nature!
Storygraph synopsis:
This book shows you 60 of Britain’s unmissable, world-class wonders of nature and tells you where you can find them. From starling murmurations in Somerset to otters in Shetland, from glowworms in Dorset to golden eagles in the Cairngorms. Along the way, you’ll also discover natural wonders that are right under your nose in your garden or even in the centre of a town – like hearing the dawn chorus and glimpsing a charm of goldfinches. A sequel to the very successful Great British Bucket List.
Bookshop* | Blackwells* | World of Books
If you are on StoryGraph, I would love to be friends! My user is carolinesreads.
What unread books are on your physical TBR?
Caroline ♡
themoonphoenix says
Love the non fiction theme, all sounds wonderful
Caroline says
Thank you 🙂
Carol @ ReadingLadies says
You have a great list here! Happy reading! ~ Carol @ ReadingLadies
Caroline says
Thank you
Jodie | That Happy Reader says
You have some great books here Caroline. Sophie Kinsella and Sarah Morgan are both auto-read authors for me. I wish Sophie (Madeline Wickham) a complete remission of her recent cancer announcement. 🙏
Caroline says
Thank you. Yes, me too ❤️
Michelle (Boomer Eco Crusader) says
I have a little pile of TBR books that I’ve picked up at the “Little Free Library” around the corner from my house. Every time I walk past, I have a look and usually end up bringing something home. But now two of the books I put on hold at the library are ready to be picked up so the pile will sit a little while longer.
Caroline says
I wish there was a Little Free Library near me! It’s such a nice initiative.
Rosie Beech says
Great list, thank you for sharing. What Would Jane Austin do is also my on list!
Rosie
Caroline says
Thanks Rosie x
Erin @ Cracker Crumb Life says
I am in love with all of your non-fiction picks! I love John Lewis-Stemple and that is one I haven’t read yet. I am a big fan of nature non-fiction and I need to write all of these down ASAP. Have a great week!
Caroline says
Thank you!
Her Digital Coffee says
Great selection of books! I haven’t bought a physical book in almost a year. It’s definitely tempting to pick them up while traveling or at local thrift shops though. Happy reading!
Caroline says
Thank you x
Fransic verso says
You have interesting books to read, love how you organized the list of these book. People reading book would find good new recommndations from your list.
Caroline says
Thank you 🙂
Emily Jane says
I want to read so many of those books on your list! I enjoyed Persuasion and Summer Wedding.
On another note I love Bath. I have only been there a couple of times but I would love to go back. It’s a few hours drive from where I live so 🤞🏻
Have a great week!
Caroline says
Glad to hear! Bath is the best 😍. Thank you, hope you have a lovely week too x
Emily Jane says
It is. I love the buildings and the unique shops. It has everything!
Thank you 😊 x
Lucy @ Lucy Knows Things says
I’ve read and loved all of Sophie Kinsella’s books, but have only read some of the ones written as Wickhman. The Wedding Girl is one I’d like to read.
Caroline says
I love her books too!
Karalee says
That’s great you’re reading more physical books on your TBR! I have quite a few fiction books on my shelves that I need to get around to reading.
I’m intrigued by What Would Jane Austen Do? and it does sound similiar to Emily Henry!
Caroline says
Thanks x