Lately, I’ve been thinking about my upcoming reads for 2018, as well as the books I want to get to before the end of this year. So really this was the perfect time to compile my first round of 5 Star TBR Pile Predictions.
This is a challenge created by Booktuber MercysBookishMusings, where you select five books from your TBR pile that you expect to rate as 5 star reads.
Here are mine:
- Mariana by Monica Dickens– I think I’ll love this cozy bildungsroman set in England between the wars. Besides, how could I go wrong with one of Persephone Books most popular novels?!
- Fingersmith by Sarah Waters– I gave 5 stars to both The Paying Guests and The Little Stranger, and I don’t expect this twisty Victorian caper to disappoint. I’m also aware that this is many people’s favorite Sarah Waters novel.
- Possession by A. S. Byatt– A dual timeline literary mystery and romance featuring Victorian poets sounds like just my cup of tea.
- Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain– I fully expect to be blown away by Vera Brittain’s heartbreakingly beautiful prose.
- The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt– Donna Tartt’s writing plus a stolen painting plus a coming-of-age story is the perfect equation for a 5 star read as far as I’m concerned. I’ve been saving this one precisely because I think I’m going to love it so much.
Most of these titles are also on my 2018 TBR Pile Challenge, so I should be getting to them sooner rather than later. I can’t wait to see whether or not my predictions are correct…
Were any of these books 5 star reads for you?
Feel free to share your own 5 star TBR Pile Predictions below
Dwell in Possibility 
I’d say Fingersmith was a 5 star read, definitely. Don’t read reviews before you read the book. You don’t want to be spoiled!
I give Possession and The Goldfinch 4 stars. Both are beautifully written. Possession loses a star for being kind of dense and occasionally difficult to read. For the first 1/3 of The Goldfinch I thought it was going to be a 5 star read but I felt like it meandered a bit in the 2nd portion. It did improve again in the last 1/3 but it felt a bit like a cake where the center hasn’t fully cooked.
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I’ve been avoiding reviews/spoilers for years, so I should read Fingersmith before my luck runs out! I’ve heard those same issues with Possession and The Goldfinch from other people as well. There’s definitely a chance they won’t quite be 5 star reads for me either, but we shall see.
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I’m interested to know what you think of them!
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*gulps* I’ve only read one of them and was hugely disappointed in it, but I’m not telling you which till you’ve read them! But I was in a minority – most people loved it so I hope you do too. Fun tag – I must have a look at my own TBR… 😀
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My curiosity is piqued! I know a lot of people who loved The Secret History were disappointed in The Goldfinch, so if I had to guess I would say it was that one (but don’t tell me). It is a fun tag, and I’d love to see your predictions too!
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Hello! I’ve just discovered your list and am interested as there are 3 books here that I really love, but 1 that is very close to my heart. I’m not going to say which it is but I’m looking forward to seeing what you think!
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Thanks Jane! I’m looking forward to seeing if my predictions are spot on or not too. Now I’m extra curious…
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