mARCh Madness: An ARC-less Reading Challenge

Hi all!

For March, I’ve decided that I won’t be requesting any ARCs or reading any ARCs … for the entire month.

This isn’t a decision I’ve come to lightly, because I have read so many incredible ARCs over the year and a half that I’ve been blogging, but at the same time, my backlist TBR of books is just getting bigger and bigger and bigger. There are books that were published back in August and September (a la Tower of Dawn) that I bought on publication day that I STILL haven’t read. And that’s because of the stress that comes with reading and reviewing ARCs.

I know it’s my fault – hello, I’m the one who keeps requesting them – and I’m super lucky to have been approved for them, but it’s hard to keep up and I feel like all of the books I’ve been meaning to read keep getting pushed aside. It’s always like ‘Just one more ARC and then I can read this book,’ but then I get approved for another three ARCs and before I know it, months have passed and I haven’t read that first book.

I’ll give you an example: out of the 24 books I read in January (I know, it’s a lot), 11 were ARCs. That may not seem like that much to you, but out of the remaining 13 books I read,  2 were poetry collections, 3 were novellas, 1 was a comic book, 1 was a webcomic, 2 were short stories, and the remaining 4 were backlist books. I read 4 backlist books while the reminder of books I read were quick books, like novellas and comics – the only kind of books I had time for because I was so stressed about ARCs.

I know I’m complaining so much for something that is clearly my fault, which is why I’ve set myself this challenge: for the month of March, I will only read backlist books, NO ARCs.

(Also, knowing my luck, Netgalley will release my most anticipated book of the year in March.)

Rules for mARCh Madness

Pick out any numbers of books that you think you can read in one month.

Make sure it’s not an ARC – it can be a new release, classic, whatever, so long as it’s a book that’s already published.

Read the books in March.

That’s it.

My March TBR

To be read in any order.

If anyone is keen on doing this with me, please let me know! I’m posting this super early in case anyone does want to do it with me, so they can get their ARCs down before March.

Now the real challenge is not reading any of these books before March begins. If I do, because I have terrible willpower, um, I don’t know what happens. I have to pick another book in it’s place?? Yeah.

WISH ME LUCK!!!

What do you think about the challenge I’ve set for myself? Do you think it’s a good idea? If so, consider joining me!!