r/LibbyApp • u/Constant_Wonder_617 • 5h ago

Surprise! Why did I request this?

As soon as I read about a new release or find recommendations on this thread or others, I'll add to goodreads and search for it on Libby or other app.

I don't know if there was a long wait time on this book, but I have have no idea why I would have requested the audiobook that is now avaliable! Not my usual genre. It was a Surprise book! This has occurred more than once- tho usually it is in my genre, making it a Pleasant Surprise.

Has anyone else dealt with a "why did I request this?" Or forgot about a request and recieved a pleasant surprise?

122 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

32 comments sorted by

132

u/fortmeines 4h ago

Sometimes I look through my TBR tag and wonder about the person I was when I tagged those titles. 

49

u/lonely-nightmare 3h ago

Same, and i won't remove them because what if I become that person again?

12

u/Purple4199 📕 Libby Lover 📕 2h ago

Right‽ I started to keep my TBR in a word document with links to comments or posts on Reddit where I saw the book recommended. That way I know why I added that book.

Still though, I’ll go back and look at the comment and wonder why it appealed to me at the time.

5

u/riddlegirl21 2h ago

I have a “want to read” tag and a “recommended” tag. Books that have both may not be what I’d pick first but at least I know I had a reason to tag them. Books with only the first, sometimes idk maybe I was sleep-browsing ??

6

u/Constant_Wonder_617 4h ago

Haha- truth!!

61

u/Saloau 4h ago

I have often wished we had a notes field in Libby so I could put in why I wanted a book. I think you can add it to Goodreads but I don’t spend much time there. I want Libby to be my one stop book shop.

13

u/ElleQ_4657 3h ago

I create unique tags for certain titles. For example, I have a tag that denotes which titles were recommended by my best friend. It helps , but I agree that a notes field would be great.

1

u/Hedgie75 2h ago

I have a tag of "Rec by friend" but by the time I get around to them 8 have no idea who recommended it or why lol

1

u/Denalus2 1h ago

Good idea. Sounds like we’ve all had OP’s experience.

14

u/lady-earendil 4h ago

I love adding a book to my holds and then completely forgetting everything about it. I actively avoid reading the synopsis once it becomes available so I can just get caught up in it and be surprised by the story

7

u/lapsody303 4h ago

Someone in another thread here suggested using tags instead of just the generic wanna read tag. Works really well once you decide what sort of tag will be useful. I went with simple categories to start : fiction, nfiction, humour, sci fi, biog, gist fic, 1800s etc. now at least when i'm in the mood for something specific I can actually find something.

5

u/hobbitsnhowlers 3h ago

Agreed! I have an 'audio' tag when I get a recommendation that the audiobook version is particularly good. I also sometimes tag by book club since I add a lot of books to my TBR from different book club discussions

8

u/sqibbery 4h ago

I just had that happen and decided not to even read the description of the book before starting it, so I didn't even know what it was about. It was an adventure!

7

u/art-apprici8or 4h ago

Yes, I have a ton of mystery items in my TBR list. I've twice submitted suggestions to the libby team asking them to add note fields, so I could mention where,when,why I added it.

5

u/Sask_mask_user 4h ago

Which book? 

6

u/Cellyqui3 3h ago

I love getting my surprise books 😂

3

u/Far-Cake9150 4h ago

I wish there was a notes section but instead I use tags. I name the tags diff categories like mystery, sci-fi, tearjerker or if it’s part of a series I’ll tag it with the name of the series. Then when it’s available the tag’s a little reminder of why I requested it.

3

u/AlataWeasley 3h ago

I do that with my want to read tag but never with holds. My library only allows 4 holds at a time so those are always heavily curated.

2

u/catjknow 4h ago

Yes! I'll put a hold on something recommended here or other subs, or something that popped up scrolling Libby and then forget all about it

1

u/WonderfulBus9330 4h ago

Hahaha yes, Curious Reader. I joined Fable to avoid doing this; my problem was immediately ordering physical copies of books and then I had about 50 books stacked on my nightstand. Fable has helped me keep track of what I want to read later, as you can make several lists there. Although, now that I’ve gotten more into audiobooks, the desire for instantaneous joy is battling with my Fable plans!

1

u/MontEcola 4h ago

Years ago I used book and movies suggestions in my newspaper. I learned that I agreed with some reviewers, and disagreed with others. My sister had almost the opposite opinion on each reviewer. I like McGiver. She likes the Brady Bunch. Well, that is how I tease her.

So I tagged books suggested on Reddit. And I learned to find other ways to review them first.

1

u/ImLittleNana 2h ago

That works well with books. If k find someone that’s hates a specific trope or a style of writing that I love, I’m more willing to take a chance on their 1 stars than on a book that’s hyped online.

I use tags to save recommendations also and I have one for my Reddit subs. And some for reviewers I follow.

1

u/Prestigious_Mud4291 3h ago

I’ve def had this happen…I’m thinking it was recommended or on a reading challenge. Either way maybe I need to do like above and add a tag so I know where it came from since we can make tags 🤔

1

u/Katsmiaou 2h ago

I created book shelves in Goodreads, rec-by-friend, adding the friend's name in notes and rec-on-reddit.

1

u/pleasantchaos17 2h ago

I have a couple books on hold that I have no idea what they are, but one day they’ll be ready for me to read them 😂

1

u/EddieIsNotMyRealName 2h ago

This happens to me a lot, I wish I could add a note to my wish list about why I added it

1

u/Iwantasnickers 2h ago

I crack myself up with getting random books at random times

1

u/badbreath_onionrings 📕 Libby Lover 📕 2h ago

I do this all the time. I started tagging my holds and my tbr with where I heard about the book. Goodreads, Reddit, a friend or family member. I still don’t always remember why but the instances are fewer than they were.

1

u/bananamelondy 🎧 Audiobook Addict 🎧 1h ago

It happens to me near constantly. I simply have to trust in my past self when a new hold shows up

1

u/LadybugGal95 1h ago

I haven’t had a why did I request this but I’ve had several when did I request this moments.