I’ve shared my dream library before and honestly, it’s nothing TOO crazy. It’s actually an achievable goal… as long as I someday have a house to put it in. Right now we have a one bedroom apartment. It’s nice and spacious, but Chris and I both have hobbies that take up a lot of space – Lego collecting/building and books. I have two small bookshelves, a medium sized one, and some cubbies in an entertainment unit. I recently purged a lot of books to make more room but I’m already maxed out. I want to buy my some of my favorite books to have as a physical collection, but I just don’t have the space to do it right now. I’m really picky about book buying and acquiring in general, so I don’t have a LOT of books laying around. I’ve preordered some, bought random ones on a whim, and bought favorites after already reading… but there are plenty of my favorite books on my Kindle that deserve a physical space on my shelves. I saved money with the Kindle copy, got it out from the library, or borrowed an audiobook, so now I want to have them for my Instagram! It’s not fun to take a picture of your Kindle screen… So, without further ado – here are some of the books I read, loved, and will buy eventually!
I was too lazy to compile pictures with every book in the following series, so I just used the first book’s cover to signify the entire series. I also have some standalones I haven’t bought yet that I really need. I JUST NEED MORE SPACE. I need wall-to-wall bookshelves to fill with our books and Lego… otherwise these have to wait 🙁
Jessica Darling series by Megan McCafferty
How I read it: Borrowed from the library • Why:This series wasn’t a slam dunk for me like many of my blogging peers, but I did enjoy it enough to want the copies! They were such quick reads that I really could see myself revisiting this series again at some point. I just need Marcus + Jessica again.
The Lunar Chronicles series by Marissa Meyer
How I read it: Own them all on Kindle or borrowed the audio from Scribd • Why: This series has become one of my favorites of all time, but I was picky about owning them all in the same format. I bought Cinder on sale as an ebook one day so I ended up going the same route with the rest of the series. Now I need them!
Dissonance duo by Erica O’Rourke
How I read it: Borrowed from the library • Why: This was a dumb decision on my part, although I guess it was a good idea in hindsight. I knew I was going to love this series but ended up checking out book one from the library. The hardcover has a different design than the second book, and they redesigned the paperback for the first book to match the second. I’ll grab both in paperback when the time comes!
The Raven Cycle series by Maggie Stiefvater
How I read it: Own the Kindle copy and/or borrowed the audiobook from Hoopla and/or own the Audible audiobook for Whispersync • Why: Ugh I am a broken shell of a person without this series in my life again. I bought the first book as a Kindle copy when it was on sale, then listened to the second and third books on Hoopla as audiobooks. I also own the final book as a preordered ebook and bought the audiobook to sync between them. So, I need them all to be in the same format – nice paperbacks – when I’m able to.
The Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo
How I read it: Borrowed from the library • Why: I read these with Kaitlin for Book Buddies and wasn’t sure how I’d like them. I generally enjoyed the first two books but was really pleased with the series as a whole once it wrapped up. I didn’t know that I’d be such a fan of this one and I definitely want to add them to my collection.
Gallagher Girls series by Ally Carter
How I read it: Own some and reread most via audio • Why: I read the majority of this series when I was younger but then lost touch with it. I did a Nostalgia Project writeup about it as I finished it off; I really enjoyed the audiobooks too! I want to go back and collect all of the paperback copies of this series. I own the first one and the final two, but need to collect the few books in the middle still 🙂
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
How I read it: Borrowed from the library and the audio on Scribd • Why: This book was so adorable. I loved the audiobook so much. I also read the physical copy from the library in tandem with the audio, which is something I usually enjoy! I definitely want a copy of this Oreo-filled book for my collection.
Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
How I read it: Own on Kindle • Why: First of all, I need to reread this very soon. Second, it’s one of my all-time favorite books so I just NEED the physical copy! I’m always tempted to pick it up when I see it in the store because I just want it… but I have to remind myself of the shelf space issue. This book means a lot to me because it’s what got me into blogging and introduced me to the idea of book blogs.
All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill
How I read it: Own the Audible audiobook • Why: I listened to this as an audiobook because it was an Audible daily deal back in 2014. I absolutely loved it and need to reread it in a physical form! This is an underrated book I constantly recommend to people and would love to have it to take photos of.
The Anatomical Shape of a Heart by Jenn Bennett
How I read it: Borrowed it from Around the World ARC Tours • Why: Because I borrowed the ARC, I don’t have any kind of physical copy of this book. I’m not gonna lie, I mostly want it because of the cover! The inside of the book is fantastic too – don’t get me wrong – but I just need this for Valentines/heart-themed pics 😉
The Disaster Artist by Greg Sestero
How I read it: Own the Kindle copy and audiobook from Audible • Why: The Room is a favorite cult classic of mine. I absolutely loved listening to Greg Sestero’s narration (and spot-on impressions) on the audiobook! I want to have this in all possible forms because I just loved it so much. I need to reference it 24/7, okay??
Dreamology by Lucy Keating
How I read it: Borrowed it from Around the World ARC Tours • Why: This was one of my favorite books this year and I realllllly need this cover in my life. I also borrowed this ARC so I am in desperate need of the real hardcover. 
YES! I have a list of books that I’m someday 100% going to buy when I get my own home with a library room too. As a student it’s such a pain to buy physical books and then move around. Plus, all the places I’ve lived have been really cramped. I usually buy all my books in e-book format too.
The Lunar Chronicles & The Grisha Trilogy are on my list too. I would also add all of Sarah Fine’s books to my collection. And then I’ll probably need a whole other room just for my romance novels! A girl can dream no? 🙂
Yes, exactly. I absolutely need more space to buy ALL THE BOOKS. I think we all do 😉
Yessss get those TLC and Grisha books 😀 😀
I don’t have a list like this but I do have books that I’ve read and don’t own that are on my wishlist! I feel like people don’t want to buy me books that I’ve already read (like for gifts and stuff) but sometimes I want those more than books I haven’t read! I know I NEED them in my library 😉
I know I need them!!
I always feel that way too – people love gifting books on your TBR instead!
I can totally relate to this! 😀 I’ve never been a person to buy 10 books a month, but I still run out of space, which is why right now I read mostly from e-books, and I definitely want to buy the physical copies of my favorites. The Grisha (along with Six of Crows( and The Raven Cycle series are also on my list, along with some other books. I keep telling myself “one day… one day..” but idk when will that happens XD
Same here!! I just need the space so I can justify it 😉
I think if I had unlimited space I would buy EVERY BOOK. But, I just buy whatever I find I want. and… husband makes space LOL
hahaha excellent plan!
I have a book room! When we were house hunting 3 years ago, I knew I had to have a space to put all my books. We ended up having our house built and I got to keep the loft upstairs and turned it into my book room. I’m pretty sure I have about 800 physical books on my shelves right now and no more space for books on my bookcases. I already have books stacked on top of other books. I used to be obsessed with buying books but since I don’t have much space anymore I’ve stopped. (I’m more of an ebook/audiobook kind of reader now). I do have the lunar chronicle series on my shelves as those are a must. Good luck on getting your own library!
I think I’ve seen pictures of your room – so jealous! I would love a space like that. It’s really important for my boyfriend and I to have a lot of “storage” space for our hobbies. Books and Lego take up a lot of room haha
Gah, reading this list just gave me so many reminders of all the books I need to read. (Especially Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda and The Raven Boys)
I just spent three days of my food budget on books though, so I’ll have to wait a little while D: D:
Haha YES READ THOSE! The library is your friend 😉
I have limited space too! I really, relaly want to have a library when I become rich!
Kim @ Divergent Gryffindor: BLOG || VLOG
Haha yesss I love it – WHEN I become rich 😉
I wish I had more room for books. i do have a house but still not enough to dedicate a lot of room to my books. Maybe in my next one 🙂 I never really thought of my must have books to keep in my library though. I will have to think about it though. I love your choices especially the Lunar Chronicles and Simon and Dreamology.
Thank you! I always think of books I really want to own and can’t justify the space quite yet. Hopefully I remember this list when I do actually have a house and library.
Oh I love your list!! I’ve become pickier with buying books lately but the first couple years after I got some expendable income I could spend on books, I bought a lot. And I’m definitely out of space too, even with two bookshelves. A library room would be so nice! Definitely approve of TLC and TRC hardcovers, and Simon and All Our Yesterdays too! It’s so stunning in person.
Yes, same here! When I first got back into reading and started working at my job, I spent SO much money each week on books. I’ve started running out of space and regret some of my buying haha. I’m super careful now about what I buy!
[…] Lauren @ Bookmark Lit shares books that she will buy when she has a house with a library […]
I totally feel your pain. I have so many books still stored at my parent’s house because there is just limited space when you are in an apartment. I always feel a bit of a sense of guilt buying a book I have already read, but I find that now I’m more picky about book buying and more prone to buying finished copies of library books or arcs that I enjoyed, vs. buying books on a whim (only to be super disappointed when I don’t like it, but no one really wants to give away a hardcover that they only read once, right??) I too need to buy the Grisha Trilogy, as I borrowed it from the library like you did since I wasn’t sure how I’d like Bardugo’s debut. You should definitely invest in the Lunar Chronicles hard copies because they are SO pretty in person! I’d also like to buy all of Sarah Dessen’s books with the new covers (I think I read them all at one point years ago from the library). A girl can dream!
Yes – exactly! Why waste the shelf space on books you didn’t like once you finally read? The library is the best for making sure that doesn’t happen haha. I own a mix of Sarah Dessen’s books – some covers are really old and some are new haha. I have some older books (like the Gossip Girl series and others from high school) still at my mom’s house too.
Ugh I totally understand you! This is kind of the reason why I don’t buy books that are second or third in a series when I read the first one from the library. If I haven’t started the collection, then I don’t want to have an incomplete series. But then the same is true for the opposite. If I have the first book of the series, then I need to get the rest of them somehow. BUT MONEY.
For me, I’ve been wanting to buy physical copies of the Abhorsen series by Garth Nix. I’ve been wanting to do this, oh….since two years ago. But it just never happened hahaha. Oh you definitely should get physical copies of The Raven Cycle. I’m currently missing Blue Lily Lily Blue. I also have The Raven King as a hardcover, and the other two are in paperback hahah. One day they will be consistent. (It’s never really bothered me that the formats are different, well it hasn’t yet).
Yess, same! I hate having incomplete series. I just can’t do it.
The Raven Cycle covers are so beautiful, I totally missed out because I read ebooks AND listened to the audio – I never even got to see the covers while reading hhaha.
Yesss to owning All Our Yesterdays! It’s one of my favorite hardcovers I own, and I still think fondly of it as one of the best science fiction time travel stories I’ve ever read. And I think I need to pick up the Gallagher Girls series – I actually quite like the new covers! And The Raven Cycle series is just beautiful 😉
I’m generally picky about what books I buy these days, but I’ve still somehow managed to acquire a ton O_O I think growing my library is always going to be a consistent thing for me, and I guess I’ll just have to keep acquiring (or making) shelf space for myself!
Absolutely! I want to reread it instead of listening to the audio again too.
I am super picky just because of lack of space! Once I have a library for real I’ll go crazy lolol