The End of the Year Book Tag 2024

[@josmith5992]

You know I get a a kick out of your giant TBR’s but also completely understand not doing them! I’m planning on a loosey goosey, read what I want year too with no commitments except, of course, buddy reads but am cutting down on those too… probably 😉. Never apologize for not posting, life happens! 🪩🪆🦠🔮🧯🚧🥌🍤🦦

[@GemofBooks]

You?! Cutting down on buddy reads?! I think someone is fibbing Jo!! 😂😂😂 I’ll probably end up bringing back TBR’s next year when I get decision paralysis because I have too many books I want to read 😂😂😂

[@ChattieTheMadChatter]

Looking forward to seeing all the books everyone choose for 40 books before 40. I imagine it will be a great mixture! Lol Gemma "no pressure on myself" Also Gemma ratteling off several exciting projects on booktube 😂💜📚

[@GemofBooks]

I know, I literally can’t help myself 😂😂

[@isabellemenez5704]

Same, I dropped the TBR lists, mood reading is so much more satisfying

[@GemofBooks]

Yes!! Bring on the mood reading!!

[@jenniferlovesbooks]

Not having a tbr can be very freeing! Looking forward to seeing what everyone else picked for your 40 before 40 😊

[@GemofBooks]

It’s a fantastic list!! I can’t wait to dig into it 🤩

[@Ali-AvidReader]

I love the idea of 40 books before you’re 40, I’ll look forward to seeing what you read.

[@GemofBooks]

Thanks matey - it is filmed! Just need to find some time to edit it 🤩

[@benreadsgood]

Hum sounds right up my street! And love your reflections/plans. I’m feeling much the same way. This is also a good reminder that I need to do this tag 👀

[@GemofBooks]

You do need to do this tag! Happy to pass on some Hum FOMO 😂

[@ariannefowler455]

Simplifying is a good thing. I don't plan on reading any prize lists next year. I"m going to focus on my own reading projects with the caveat that I can change my mind at any time. 😉

[@GemofBooks]

Good for you Arianne! I know that I don’t have the discipline to ignore the prize lists, but I wish I could so that I could reduce the TBR a bit 😂

[@spreadbookjoy]

You need to finish The Broken Earth books mate! Woo - I’m all about the flexible tbrs 🙌 I mean all the prize lists are tbr enough for anyone right? 😂 I can’t wait to hear about the Booktube prize reading - I will never say I told you so if it goes pear shaped. I’ll just make sympathetic noises while smiling! 😂🧖🏻‍♂️

[@GemofBooks]

I really do need to finish Broken Earth 😂🙈 I can’t believe it’s take me so long to pick up the third book!! Exactly - flexible TBR + all the book prizes is the way to go 😜

[@BookishAdventuresInWellbeing]

I feel exactly the same about TBRs. The completionist in me feels like a failure if I don’t read everything and they make me a bit claustrophobic. Looking forward to all you’ve got planned in the new year. 🛒

[@GemofBooks]

Yes! Down with TBR’s!! For a little while at least 😆

[@Shellyish]

Now I really really want to read Soldier Sailor. ❤

[@GemofBooks]

You haven’t read it yet?! Shelly!!! It’s 100% a you book - rectify immediately!! 😱😱😱

[@teacupthestoryteller]

I feel like there´s some "booktube changing season" now, so many new things people are starting to do or changing or not doing anymore... so interesting to realise and watch it 😂 Haven´t read your "shockers" yet but feel highly motivated after this 👀 Good luck with the job! 💪

[@GemofBooks]

I think it comes in waves, once we are in the new year I’ll probably change my mind on everything again 😂😂 You definitely need to read those books!!

[@bjminton2698]

No TBR works for me. I just enjoy a visit with you talking about books! 🙂 I am 5th in line for the new Osman (started 70th) from the library and hope to read The Hunter by French sometime soon. I enjoyed Searcher but did not care for her Dublin Murder Squad at all. So, time will tell about that one. Recently, I got to the front of the queue for The Will Of the Many and am about 30% through. I'm enjoying it and think you'd like it! I look forward to your 40!!

[@GemofBooks]

You are so lovely 🥰 That is quite a queue for the Osman!! I have The Will of the Many on my kindle, and seem to be seeing it everywhere recently, I think that’s a sign…. 🤩

[@YourTrueShelf]

🍍 Course I left you a pineapple!! I am 100% with you on scrapping the tbrs and the commitments!! I said I was going to do that this year, but yeh... 🙄 I still want to do tbr spin next year as I love that one. Scrap the rest!! Obviously not scrapping the plods, I love those, if I get invited back again 😊 🤞🏻 Look forward to seeing your 40 before 40 list!

[@GemofBooks]

Not the pineapple 🍍🙈 I may well try the spin again year. I did very badly this year, but I’m blaming that on the TBRs 😂

[@toweringtbr]

I just finished The Stone Sky and absolutely loved it. I plan on adding her entire backlist to my TBR.

[@GemofBooks]

Amazing!! So excited to see how the trilogy ends 🤩

[@ChattieTheMadChatter]

10:24 - i read none of the books but love your lives and following thebplod is such a comforting part of booktube 💜📚

[@GemofBooks]

We love it when you bob along for a live - always lovely to chat to you 🧡

[@ChattieTheMadChatter]

@GemofBooks 😘🫂💜📚

[@tillysshelf]

I admire the long tbrs but they would never work for me so I can completely understand dropping them - it sounds like you have a lot of commitments for 2025 already! Exciting plans.

[@GemofBooks]

Effectively my TBR had just turned into every prize list 😂😂

[@PageTurnersWithKatja]

Hum sounds really good, and I've not come across it before. I enjoyed reading the shortlist for the nero book awards last year, loved it. Won't this year - time factor - but will definitely check out your lives for it. I'm looking forward to your 40 b4 40

[@GemofBooks]

I remember you reading the Nero last year now that you say that! I’m definitely not committing to reading the shortlist for that, but will see how sucked in I get when it’s released 😜😂

[@ChattieTheMadChatter]

11:33 - you are chaos 😂 excellent 🍿

[@GemofBooks]

😂😜😆

[@suzannedavies7996]

I look forward to your 40 before 40 video. I’m turning 60 at the beginning of next year and think I’ll read 60 books to celebrate. I’ll have to stay off booktube so that I’m not distracted by shiny new releases. 😂

[@Nina_DP]

When I turned 70, I challenged myself to read 70 books before the year was up. It was a lot of fun and I made it with time to spare, despite being a very slow reader. I cultivated a taste for short fiction! 😉

[@GemofBooks]

The shiny new releases are a problem 😂😂

[@GemofBooks]

What was your favourite from your 70??

[@Nina_DP]

@@GemofBooks Tough call, because I read some great stuff. If I have to only pick one, I'll go with Claire Keegan's Foster.

[@GemofBooks]

@@Nina_DP I’m not Keegan’s biggest fan, but I did like that one 😊

[@ameliabarlowbooks]

*TBRs when you feel like it* is honestly the way forward, we have these massive piles (shelves?) of unread books and it’s great to lean into the possibilities! although, personally, I’m committing to more TBRs in 2025 so I don’t just spend all my time lying down (re)watching The Wire again 😂❤

[@GemofBooks]

😂😂 I love watching TBR’s, so I am excited for that. I now have FOMO for The Wire, so perhaps we will just swap 😂😂

[@GregHarness]

Back in 1980, there was an American tv miniseries of "Shogun" starring Richard Chamberlain. I read the book after watching the tv, and I think It was a DNF for me. I was probably too young and perhaps I should give Clavell another go.

[@GemofBooks]

Definitely give it another go! So so good 🤩

[@awebofstories]

I can't wait to see your 40 before 40 list!

[@GemofBooks]

It’s such a great list!! I have filmed it now, but it make take me a hot minute to edit it 🙈😂

[@AbiofPellinor]

40 books before 40 sounds fantastic! I kept meaning to do a 30 before 30 but I feel like I'm cutting it a bit fine now lol

[@GemofBooks]

😂😂 I’m giving myself plenty of run up, because I know how distracted I get 🙈

[@AbiofPellinor]

@@GemofBooks what a vibe 🤣

[@ChattieTheMadChatter]

9:20 - hearimg you talk about reading prize longlists and tbr's is giving me early syage anxiety panic attacks! Sounds very sensible. Love a tbr but be pressure free. During my akward June July months i did TBR but specified it was for try a chapter so i picked 4 books for fun in a variety of ways then onky chose 1 to read. June it was a fun projectbi filmed - July i didn't even film. I do fibd mood reading hard as i am so lucky to have so much choice 😂 Loving all the sci-fi vibes. Need to try Jemison at some point. I enjoyed watching Sho-gun with my husband. Considered the book, but mig historical epics aren't my thing, so it has stayed in the library. Glad it's a Gemma fave 💜📚

[@GemofBooks]

The thought of not following the prize lists gives me FOMO fuelled anxiety 😂😂 The try a chapter seems like a good middle ground - I may have a go at that if I’m suffering from decision paralysis 😂 NK Jemison defo seems like a Chattie author!!

[@ChattieTheMadChatter]

@GemofBooks 😆😆😆 the chat would suffer from your lack of strong opinions - and that's just food based 😉 decision paralysis, exactly! Oooh fingers crossed she is a Cjattie author or I will get sad! 💜📚

[@GemofBooks]

@ChattieTheMadChatter 😂😂 well really - pineapple on pizza! People need to know that isn’t ok! 🍍🤢

[@rebecca.reader]

Fab video. I'm struggling to find a wierd emoji, but..🐽 Hum sounds great!! Adding to my tbr. I think I'm the only person in the world who really didn't like The Broken Earth trilogy. I love Sci fi and fantasy but this just really didn't work for me. However....I really hope you enjoy the third installment as much as you have the previous two.

[@GemofBooks]

Who doesn’t love a pigs snout emoji?! 🐽😂 I think you may well be the one my person who hasn’t enjoyed broken Earth 😂 Hopefully Hum is as good as it sounds and we agree on that one 😜

[@jillybeanh67]

🧟‍♀️🧛‍♀️👻🎃

[@GemofBooks]

🎃👻😈😜

[@anges_book_chatter]

🤣🤣 I can't be trusted with a list of books.#NeroPrizeFomo

[@GemofBooks]

😂😈😜

[@SavidgeReads]

🪢 no idea what this emoji is so leaving it. Hahaha.

[@GemofBooks]

Indeed - very odd!! Maybe we are too old to understand this emoji 😂

[@toniweller6008]

👙

[@GemofBooks]

🙊😂

[@Shellyish]

😶‍🌫️ my weird emoji.

[@GemofBooks]

😂😂

[@joy_ofbooks]

👺

[@GemofBooks]

Brilliant 😂

[@CharlieBrookReads]

*This is my horrified face 😱😱😱You both know what you have done!!! Pleased you are being less hard on yourself (*mostly) 🤡

[@GemofBooks]

😂😂😂 I mean you knew I would t be able to resist two years in a row, right?! 😜

[@ChattieTheMadChatter]

Weird emoji - 🎏

[@GemofBooks]

Is that a fish flag?! Very weird - top marks 😂😂

[@novellenovels]

You nutcase re booktube prize 😂😂😂😂 Enjoy no tbrs, anything to make life easier is so good 🫥

[@GemofBooks]

Thanks matey 😂😜

[@ameliareads589]

I'm trying to reduce my bookish commitments every single year and then I always get carried away. 🤪 🗜

[@GemofBooks]

Me and you both mate 😂😂 Also - is that a wood clamp emoji?! Brilliant 😂🗜️

[@onourpath]

Annie Bot is so unique and creative -- I loved it so much! I can't wait to see what she writes next. I haven't read Hum yet, but I am a huge fan of her book Need. It is so unsettling, creepy, and addictive, so I'm definitely looking forward to Hum. And I agree completely about Soldier Sailor -- I mean, what can you say about this book??? It's just unbelievable. How to even describe this thing? It got 5⭐️ from me. 💚 🧻 (this is the weirdest emoji I can come up with -- which, when I think about it, actually says a lot about my life!) Lol

[@GemofBooks]

Yay for the Annie Bot love, now I’m even more excited for it!! I heard Need was a bit of a mind scramble of a book - so need to read that too! Soldier Sailor has my heart - just taking about it makes me want to reread it 😍