#Midyear Freakout

[mikerickson]

Mid-Year Book Freak Out 2023

Best book you've read so far: Annihilation - Jeff Vandermeer I’d seen the movie back when it came out in 2018 and expected more or less the same story beats, but the book really did it’s own thing. Extremely atmospheric, lonely, and strange in a way I’d never read before, but it absolutely worked for me.

Best sequel of 2023 so far: Authority - Jeff Vandermeer I told myself I’d read at least one trilogy this year (I typically stay away from series), and I went with the Southern Reach Trilogy. This book was such a narrative whiplash from Annihilation that at parts it didn’t even feel like it was the same author.

New release you haven't read yet, but want to: Vampires of El Norte - Isabel Cañas I really enjoyed her first novel, The Hacienda, and this one seems vaguely similar, which is exactly what I’d be looking for anyway.

Most anticipated release of the second half of 2023: I’m not super in-tune with book releases, and I still have a massive backlog to work through anyway.

Biggest disappointment of 2023: The Croning - Laird Barron I really enjoyed a short story collection by this same author and a lot of other reviewers I typically trust recommended this one, but this one-off novel was so bad that I was actually confused as to what I missed after finishing it.

Biggest surprise: The Holdout - Graham Moore A courtroom thriller is pretty far from my normal fare, and I don’t remember why I originally bought this book, but it had some good twists and turns that had me saying, “holy shit” out loud.

Favorite new author (debut or new to you): Christopher Bollen Pretty much every paragraph of A Beautiful Crime was edited and stylized in a way that felt like it was tailored to me specifically. There’s nothing about neither the prose nor the dialogue I would change.

Newest fictional crush: The burly oil rig worker in Jeff Vandermeer’s Acceptance that was secretly banging the town’s lighthouse keeper.

Newest favorite character: Listen, I know it’s coming up a lot on this list, but The Biologist from Annihilation was a fascinating protagonist to follow because she was simply too autistic to notice how terrifying her surroundings were.

Book that made you cry: Lone Stars - Justin Deabler A multi-generational drama that missed the mark for me personally, but the way society/the other characters treated the central matriarch made me really feel for her.

Book that made you happy: The Mysterious Affair at Styles - Agatha Christie I picked this up immediately after watching Glass Onion, and it was exactly what I was looking for.

Favorite book to movie adaptation of 2023 you've seen: N/A

Favorite post/review you've written this year: I went in on Peter Straub’s Ghost Story

Most beautiful book you bought or received this year: Like aesthetically? I really liked the cover of Even Though I Knew the End by C. L. Polk

Books you need to read by the end of this year: I told myself I’d finally get around to reading The Terror by Dan Simmons, but I haven’t bought a copy yet.

[libertyreads]

Mid-Year Book Freakout Tag--

1. What is the best book you’ve read so far this year? Both Greymist Fair by Francesca Zappia and The Foxglove King by Hannah F. Whitten are tied for my highest rated books read this year. They’re new releases for this year that definitely need more readers. 2. What is the best sequel you’ve read so far this year? The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren made it to the top of the list for sequels this year. Technically it’s a companion series so you don’t have to read book one, but it IS a series. 3. What is a new release you haven’t read yet but want to? I’m usually really good about reading new releases as my preorders come in. But the one I’m putting for this answer is one that I hadn’t heard of before it came out. The Only Survivors by Megan Miranda. Definitely one I’m going to try to get from the library. 4. What is your most anticipated release for the second half of the year? The Brothers Hawthorne by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. I don’t even have to look at my preorders to know this is my number one. 5. What is your biggest disappointment of the year so far? Low, Volume 1: Delirium of Hope. This was a comic that I was SO excited to read but was so overly sexualized. 6. What is your biggest surprise of the year so far? I have really enjoyed reading all of the Fence comics. I thought there was a chance I would enjoy them, but I didn’t realize I would get so invested. 7. What is your new favorite author? The only new to me author that really stood out to me was Hannah F. Whitten who wrote The Foxglove King which I really enjoyed earlier this year. 8. What is your newest fictional crush? I don’t believe in fictional crushes now that I’m a grown woman who reads a lot of books across multiple different age ranges. But I’ll say my favorite male love interest at this point would be Connor Prince from The True Love Experiment. 9. What is your newest favorite character? Elias from The Curse of Broken Shadows by Laura Winter. He’s a big guy with an even bigger heart. This book was such a surprise for me. I’m so hopeful that book two comes out next year. 10. What is a book that made you cry? I don’t think I’ve read anything that made me cry this year. I’m sure it’ll happen at some point. I’ve never gone a full year without crying at something I’ve read. 11. What is a book that made you happy? I had such a fun time reading all of the Fence comics in June. I really didn’t think it would be for me but it’s so cute and sweet and reminds me so much of Check, Please. I absolutely HAVE TO get the novels read at some point this year. 12. What is your favorite book to movie adaptation you’ve seen so far this year? I think the only book to movie adaptation I’ve seen so far this year is the second season of Shadow and Bone.  13. What is the most beautiful book you’ve bought this year? I bought a beautiful edition of The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood which I don’t think I’ll get around to reading this year, but hopefully next year. It’s a beautiful green leather cover that I loved. 14. What books do you really need to read by the end of the year? I’d love to read all the books that were on my TBR on the last day of 2022. Anything I bought during 2023 would be a nice bonus. The overall goal is still to get my physical TBR down to 10 books.

[justmybookthots]

2024 MID-YEAR BOOK FREAKOUT TAG

Best book you’ve read so far in 2024?

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn, probably. It was this or Prisoner's Throne but I can't deny Legendborn is a better and more unique novel overall. I still remember being super gobsmacked when I was done with it. That said, I haven't been enjoying Bloodmarked very much, which is really disappointing. 

Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2024?

The Prisoner's Throne by Holly Black. Was it as good as The Stolen Heir? Not really. But in no shape or form was it bad. I still enjoyed it thoroughly because I love Oak and Wren –- and also we got to see Cardan and Jude again!  

New release you haven’t read yet but want to?

There's a lot but one in particular is The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley. I loved the fuck out of The Guest List and I did enjoy The Paris Apartment by her last year (or was it 2022??), so I'm really hyped about The Midnight Feast. I have heard it's getting mixed reviews, though, but by specific booktubers with established book tastes that differ from mine so…

Most anticipated release for the second half of the year?

Even though the author has disappointed me with her other book release earlier this year, I am most looking forward to A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang. It's weird because it's supposed to be a tragedy (which I don't like reading) and a love triangle (which I'm meh about), but it's her first fantasy and the premise sounds really delicious so I definitely want to give it a shot. Comes out during my birthday month too! 

Biggest disappointment?

Speaking of Ann Liang, my biggest disappointment is definitely I Hope This Doesn't Find You. I've already reviewed it so I won't say anymore, other than the fact that I was so crushed because it had such good reviews and also because This Time It's Real is one of my favourite books of all time. I hope I won't get crushed again with her next release…

Biggest surprise?

Dead Silence by S. A. Barnes. Even now I'm flabbergasted by how much I loved it. It was the first sci-fi horror I'd ever read and I ended up getting super invested in the main cast which was unexpected. For me, thrillers and horror books are less about characters you want to root for and more about the plot/shock value, which is why I couldn't believe how much I loved the heroine and her space crew. It's a gnarly situation for me as a reader considering their fates… 

Favourite new author (debut or new to you)?

S. A. Barnes or Riley Sager. I went on a Sager binge starting from December last year to February of 2024 and I really loved his books. There's still two of his books I haven't read though, including the one that just came out this year.

Newest fictional crush?

Oak Greenbriar?? But can he be considered new when I already loved him last year? But if not him, then there's no one else, probably. I don't give my heart out easily, and honestly I haven't had the best reading year this year… even though I've read 44 books. It's kinda depressing, lol. 

[mr-saavik]

June 2024 Reads

Hello, I am back!!! June was the first full month of summer break, so I got more back into reading for fun, although my summer camp job started near the end, which makes having time for reading more difficult. Also, I am a whopping 83% through my 2024 goal of 30 books AKA 25/30, which is cool!!!

Fiction

August Blue by Deborah Levy (audiobook)

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson (audiobook)

A Single Man by Christopher Isherwood (owned book)

Nonfiction

A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf (library book)

Bluets by Maggie Nelson (audiobook)

Currently Reading

The Return of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle (audiobook)

Moby Dick by Herman Melville (owned book)

Noor by Nnedi Okorafor (audiobook)

Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion (library book)

Up Next

The Valley of Fear by Arthur Conan Doyle (audiobook)

Gender Trouble by Judith Butler (audiobook)

The White Album by Joan Didion (library book)

Before We Were Trans by Kit Heyam (library book)

[zealoussy]

2023 Midyear Freakout Book Tag

It is time to look back to all of the books I've read for the past 6 months (!!!). I just want to do this for myself but anyone who wants to join, consider yourself tagged!

Best book you've read so far in 2023. This is a difficult one because I have never been not indecisive all my life. But. I think I will settle with No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai. I love how Dazai slowly working through Oba Yozo's mental deterioration. Obviously he's not likeable, but you'll be able to empathize with him from following the turbulence that is his mind. This book is the best way to show people the "ugly" side of mental illness. People need to realize that mental illness isn't only about the most instragammable things you can do, but it is also being the worst version of yourself. Other than that, how the narrative makes its way to connect to the title is cleverly done. It feels so seamless.

Best sequel you've read so far in 2023. I'm not a series reader, tbh. So I will go with The Sandman Vol. 5: A Game of You by Neil Gaiman. Although not my favorite of the series, I did enjoy reading that. In this volume, we meet Barbie! Turns out she's a princess some lifetime ago?? It's really interesting and surprisingly poignant.

Favourite re-read. Easy question, it's White Nights by Fyodor Dostoevsky. How is it still heartbreaking, even though I know what comes next in the story? That's Dostoevsky's specialty, I think. Making stories that's so painful no matter how much you reread it, it still gives you pain.

Genre you've been loving/reading the most. I've been having a lot of fun reading graphic novels this year so far! Reading graphic novels is the most magical form of experiencing work of literature. For fantasy especially, it feels like I forget I ever existed on Earth when reading them. Most of them are fast-paced and medium-paced so I'd recommend anyone to pick any title up if you want to read when waiting something, or not in the mood to digest books slowly.

New release you haven't read yet, but want to. Monstrilio by Gerardo Sámano Córdova. It just came out last month so I still have a lot of time to read it. The summary sounds intriguing and I've seen a few of my book-ish friends wanting to read it too. Hopefully I can read that before the year ends!

Most anticipated release for the second half of the year. I don't have one, honestly. I'm not the type of person that follows news release that much, so yeah that's my answer.

Biggest disappointment. The Stranger - Albert Camus. I was so excited for this book. I have been saving that title since last year. Thank god I didn't buy the physical copy. Like, I get the book. But its' SO boring. I don't enjoy it.

Biggest surprise. Everyone in this Room Will Someday Be Dead by Emily Austin. Oh, this is an interesting one. Because I started this book last year impulsively, but then it was kinda rotting in my piles of CRs. But one day I decided, you know what, let's finished this book. And I was surprised that I like it. I even teared up a little at the end. I never thought it will be a profound book that shines light to what religious trauma can do to a person. The story is told in ironic and darkly humorous way, which is very funny if you're mentally ill. Yet it's also crushing, how the main character describe her despair. Such a marvelous read.

Favorite new author (debut/new to you). Oliver Jeffers. He's an author, illustrator for picture book fiction. Last year I read The Heart and The Bottle, which absolutely broke me to pieces, and this week I read What We'll Build and it makes me want to cry a river. So I'll definitely check out his other books.

Newest Favorite Character. Oh, God. I have two answer to this but I think I'll pick Jean-Baptiste Grenouille from Das Parfum for this one. Reason? Because he's a sopping wet little meow meow.

Book that made you cry. Uhh I don't know how it happened, but it's The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger got me sobbing???? The last part of the book, yeah. Just. I don't know. I'm just so fond of Holden Caulfield, I want to give him a hug, the best hug, making him soup if he's sick, staying all night if he want to talk, like I want to protect him at all cost.

Books that made you happy. My Beijing: Four Stories of Everyday Wonders by Nie Jun. It's free time travel to my childhood and free therapy. I need that child-like wonders and excitement dose if I want to survive this year.

Most beautiful book you've bought so far this year. Most of my reads are digital, but I'll mention Mamo by Sas Milledge as one of the most beautiful book I've read this year so far. The art style is so breathtaking. It added the whimsical story line even more alive.

What books do you need to read by the end of the year? So much books, so little time. I'll be happy with myself if I can manage to read any of Toni Morrison's books. I've been wanting to read her books but I'm just kinda intimidated lol.

[yellowjckets]

midyear book freakout tag !!

the real freakout is the fact i’m soooooo behind. final year breakup combo really meant i did not do anything for months

i was tagged by @colemckenzies thanks for PUBLICLY SHAMING ME! (jk)

number of books read so far in 2024:

i’ve written down 25 but i think it might be more cause i have a tendency to forget (i also read all but 2 of these in like two weeks at the start of the year. so it’s been a while!)

best book read so far in 2024:

i’ve read sooo many 5 star books this year cause i have impeccable taste. but im gonna say our wives under the sea (julia armfield), how to set a fire and why (jesse ball), mrs s (k patrick). but there’s also looooads that could fall into this. also it’s been months since i read any of them oops

best sequel:

i haven’t read any series! i don’t really gravitate towards series.

new release you haven’t read yet but want to:

PRIVATE RITES i’m coming for you on payday girlie …..

most anticipated release for the second half of the year:

it was private rites but that came out like earlier this month/last month oops. looking forward to anything dead ink publish though (not to doxx myself but like . i know these ppl i show them pictures of my cat)

biggest surprise:

i read two terrible books that i thought were going to have interesting concepts bc i got MISLED . and they were my worst books of the year .

favourite new (debut or to you) author:

ooooh k patrick or dizz tate probably if we’re talking debut <3

newest fictional crush:

i’m a 24 year old grown adult. that being said if i was in the mrs s situation i would have done the same thing.

book that made you cry:

i’ve not been crying lately :( i might have cried at our wives? not sure though.

most beautiful book you’ve bought/received this year:

my cat is sat on me so i don’t want to check my bookshelf so i’m trying to visualise it in my mind but i would say the folio books i found in a secondhand store!! i have a collection of folio ones in their cases and everything <3 also the british library collection on like weird stuff & magic is also gorge!

book that made you happy:

genuinely dont think i’ve read a happy book this year.

what books do you need to read by the end of the year?:

so many i am literally SO far behind. i have a giant bookshelf full of them and an even longer list …..

i’m tagging ummm @sitpwgs and i cannot think of anyone else bc im typing on my phone <3 but if u want to do it go for it

[explocreatrice]

Midyear freakout 2024

Et oui ! Je suis moi aussi tombée dans le piège du bilan de mi-année. Que voulez-vous, on ne se refait pas et ça me permet de vous parler de livres que je n’ai pas chroniqué. J’ai cru comprendre qu’il y avait pas mal de questions à la liste, mais certaines ne m’intéressant pas particulièrement, j’ai pris le parti de les zapper et de piocher parmi les autres participations. Le meilleur livre lu…

[aliteratepenguin]

midyear book freakout tag '24

Best book you’ve read so far in 2024. I’m terrible at picking favorites, but if I must: His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik. Fun reading experience; I flew through this so fast and had a great time with it! The following books in the series haven’t quite lived up to the same level for me, but the first was fantastic.

Best sequel you've read so far in 2024. You Should Be So Lucky by Cat Sebastian, sequel to We Could Be So Good. A rare case where I think I actually like the sequel better than the first, although both are excellent! I haven't read a lot of historical romances/fiction set in the late '50s/early '60s, and it's an interesting time for queer characters especially. And I love a good baseball story, especially in the summertime.

New release you haven't read yet, but want to. Two big ones: The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden (loved her Winternight trilogy) and The Woods All Black by Lee Mandelo (really enjoyed both of his other books, Summer Sons and Feed Them Silence, so Mandelo is an author I’m eager to read anything else from).

Most anticipated release for the second half of the year. Probably The Dead Cat Tail Assassins by P Djèlí Clark — his Master of Djinn books are some of my favorites, and Ring Shout was also a standout the year I read it, and I'm not usually a horror reader. Been looking forward to his next adult book.

Biggest disappointment. "Disappointment" might be harsh, but I'm going with A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall. I really enjoy Hall’s writing, and I was so excited for a trans character in a Regency setting, but this had plot/pacing issues that made the book drag on a bit. Maybe his writing style doesn't work for me in a historical setting; I always seem to enjoy his contemporary books more.

Biggest surprise. Funny Story by Emily Henry. I generally find Henry’s books to be just okay, but I really disliked Happy Place last year, so I wasn’t sure how I’d do with her newest release. Surprised that it’s one of my favorites of hers. My updated Emily Henry book ranking: Book Lovers/Funny Story > PWMOV > Beach Read >>> Happy Place

Favorite new author. (Debut or new to you) T. Kingfisher! Read Thornhedge and really enjoyed it. Definitely planning to read more of her books.

Newest fictional crush. I don’t really do real crushes, let alone fictional ones. But I really loved Eddie (and Mark!) from You Should Be So Lucky.

Newest favorite character. Temeraire from His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik. Love that Jacobin dragon. Honorable mention to Mack from The Automatic Detective.

Book that made you cry. I finished my reread of the Murderbot Diaries (and finally read System Collapse!), and I got super emotional about MB. As someone who is aroace and agender, it's really important to me to read about a character who doesn't have any interest in things like romance, sex, or gender, but still has a place to be where it's accepted and valued for what it is, and has friends, and isn't considered less than because of its utter disinterest in those things.

Book that made you happy. The Automatic Detective by A Lee Martinez! Had a super fun time with this one. Noir detective story where a robot cab driver goes looking for his missing neighbors after the cops don’t do anything to help. There's a lot of different wacky elements thrown together in this story, and I loved how the author committed to the bit.

Favorite book to film adaptation you saw this year. Haven’t read any books that were adapted.

Most beautiful book you've bought so far this year (or received). I’m on a self-imposed book-buying ban this year, and surprisingly I’m sticking with it, so I haven’t bought any books! I did have one book gifted to me, so by virtue of no competition: Reaper Man by Terry Pratchett.

What books do you need to read by the end of the year? SO MANY! I'm a mood reader, so any reading plans I make inevitably fall apart. My priority is the unread books I already own (hence the book-buying ban). I do need to reread The House in the Cerulean Sea before its sequel (Somewhere Beyond the Sea, which I’m incredibly ambivalent about) comes out in September.

[allieestudies]

i've read 64 books so far this year, let's talk about them | midyear book freakout tag

let's freak out, friends. here's my mid year book freakout tag! my favourite bookish tag ever!! below is the blog post! i also filmed it over on my youtube channel. #bookblogger #books #bookish

Hi friends! I think by now you know how much I love the mid year book freakout tag. I try and do it every year since I’ve been blogging and it’s always a fun experience to sit and reflect on the past 6ish months of the reading year. If you are interested, I have already done this tag as a video on my booktube channel so check that out if you want to see my face and a little bit more of a chatty…

[dezithinks]

Namjooning Readathon 2023: Day 17

Midyear Book Freakout 2023! For those who don’t know, the Midyear Freakout is a book tag that has been around for a while. I am still determining who created this book tag, BUT I love watching these videos. Tag Questions: Best book you have read so far this year Best sequel you’ve read this year New release you haven’t read yet but want to Most anticipated release for the second half of the…

[v171]

Mid Year Book Freak Out, 2022

1. Best book you’ve read so far in 2022

The Galaxy, and the Ground Within, Becky Chambers

Fair warning, you're about to see a lot of Becky on this list. I read all of the Wayfarers books this year so far.

2. Best sequel you've read so far in 2022

Echopraxia, Peter Watts

Surprisingly, one of the Wayfarers books is not the best sequel I read this year. While this book itself wasn't a new favorite, I love the continuation of the story from Blindsight.

3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to.

Lapvona, Ottessa Moshfegh

Just picked this up yesterday. Very nervous to read it, but also intrigued.

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year.

A Prayer for the Crown-Shy, Becky Chambers

Love this series and so excited for it to come out soon.

5. Biggest disappointment.

Under the Whispering Door, TJ Klune

This was way too similar to House in the Cerulean Sea for me. This was on my last year's Midyear Freakout post for my most anticipated release... bummer.

6. Biggest surprise.

Summer Sons, Lee Mandelo

I wasn't sure what to expect of this book when it was kind of picked on a whim for a book club read. But I found it to be shockingly relatable to some of my own college experiences, layered on top of an intriguing story.

7. Favorite new author. (Debut or new to you)

None? I don't think I have discovered any new great authors so far.

8. Newest fictional crush.

I don't get fictional crushes..........................

But if I did.

Mike from Murmuration, by TJ Klune

9. Newest favorite character.

Valerie from Echopraxia, by Peter Watts

I find the vampires to be so fascinating in these books as predators that are so highly advanced beyond humans that we are unable to comprehend them.

10. Book that made you cry.

Record of a Spaceborn Few, Becky Chambers

I don't generally cry from books, but this one got me misty.

11. Book that made you happy.

A Closed and Common Orbit, Becky Chambers

I mean obviously. All of her books make me happy.

12. Most beautiful book you've bought so far this year (or received).

The Convalescent, Jessica Anthony

This is a book I read a long time ago and really loved. I recently bought a newer version of the old beat up copy I have. It may not look super pretty, but I find the dust jacket art to be beautiful, and the design of the dust jacket only covering about 4/5ths of the book is interesting. Also the cover has a patterned texture on it, and the moth is gorgeous.

13. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?

UGH. This is supposed to be my year of series, but I'm failing at that. It's a pipe dream, but I'd love to finish Rhythm of War, by Brandon Sanderson, the second two books of the Green Bone Saga, by Fonda Lee, and the second two books of the Poppy War series, by R.F. Kuang.

[reecethegeek]

MIDYEAR FREAKOUT BOOK TAG

Best book read in 2022 - I can't pick one. My favs are It Ends With Us, The 7 Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, If This Gets Out, and They Both Die At The End 

Best sequel in 2022 - tbh the bar isn't high because I haven't read many sequels but my fav from this year is probs Jah by Alexandria House 

New release you havent started but want to? - There's a bunch but first that comes to mind is I kissed Shara wheeler

Most anticipated book for the second half of the year? - It starts with us by Colleen Hoover! That's the only new book release I care about this year tbh

Biggest disappointment of 2022 - On the fence by kasie west and the summer I turned pretty 

Biggest surprise - Twilight . I've dnfed this book before so I didn't expect to enjoy it 

Fav new author - I don't have a new favorite author from this year yet so N/A

Newest fictional crush - ATLAS CORRIGAN!! THAT'S MY MAN 

Newest favorite character - Evelyn Hugo. There's a bunch more ofc but she's my absolute fav

Book that made you cry? - All your perfects, They Both Die at the End, Ugly Love, It ends with us, and probably a few more but that's all I remember

Made you happy? - None?? All the books I read made me stressed or sad tbh 

Most beautiful book I've bought/received? - It Ends With Us and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

What books do you need before the end of the year? - Well I don't really make tbrs since I'm the biggest book whore and I can't commit to one. It's just vibes but I will say that I am READY to read It Starts With Us by Colleen Hoover. Nobody better bother me on Oct 18th cuz I'm BUSY

[libertyreads]

Mid-Year Book Freakout Tag--

1. Best book you’ve read so far in 2022-- I’ve had zero 5 star reads so far this year, but I had a few 4.5 star reads. I reread House of Earth and Blood which I originally rated 4.5 stars. I also read one book this year that I’ve given that rating to which is Kodi by Jared Cullum.

2. Best sequel you've read so far in 2022-- Nemesis Games by James S.A. Corey.  A lot of the focus in this book is Naomi and her past which I found compelling. Not to mention we get to see all of the characters exploring different aspects of this world and their own issues, but they all come back together in the end.

3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to-- Something Wilder by Christina Lauren. I didn’t love the sound of this one when I saw it was coming out this year so I didn’t preorder it, but after hearing some people discuss the book it seems more up my alley than I expected. Also, This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi. I preordered this one and even took it with me when I was on vacation in Switzerland. But I never got around to diving into it.

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year-- I was hemming and hawing over this question for the longest time, but down in my soul I know my real answer: The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. I love her writing and I love this series. I’m also excited for the new Maureen Johnson coming out at the end of the year which is why this was a hard question for me.

5. Biggest disappointment-- Lore Olympus by Rachel Smyth. It’s not my lowest rated book of the year so far, but it did let me down in a big way. This one had so much hype surrounding it that I didn’t pick it up for a long time, but eventually I gave in. I’m willing to continue this one on WebToon, but otherwise it’s not really worth my time.

6. Biggest surprise-- The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. Not to say that this will be a favorite book, but I’m truly surprised I enjoyed this one as much as I did. First of all, it’s 1,200 pages. Insane. I’ve never read a book that long. AND it’s a classic? Who the fuck do I think I am?? But it’s a story of revenge that, after wasting a ton of time locked up in a prison, really captured my attention. And there’s a change in perspective that I didn’t expect but really loved. In the beginning of the novel, the reader knows more about Edmond Dantes’ situation than he does. The reader knows why this is happening and who put the wheels in motion to get him imprisoned for something he never did. But then after he escapes the perspective shifts and Dantes knows more than the reader does. Plus the characters are fully realized in a way I wasn’t expecting. It’s just so good. And...yes I will stop talking about it now.

7. Favorite new author (debut or new to you)-- I was trying to find a different answer in my spreadsheets, but looking over all the new to me authors from this year so far the only one that stood out was the writing duo James S.A. Corey. The Expanse series has taken over my reading life this year and I love it.

8. Newest fictional crush-- I’m going to avoid using this question since a) I read mostly YA and I’m almost 33 years old so...gross and b) I’m married. But we can use this one as favorite love interest instead. Skyler from Places We’ve Never Been by Kasie West. He’s adorable with Norah and so forgiving of her past mistakes.

9. Newest favorite character-- To change things up I’m going to go with Kodi from Kodi by Jared Cullum. It’s a Children’s graphic novel about a girl who meets and befriends a bear in the Alaskan wilderness. The bear is ADORABLE and at one point, while trying to find his girl again, gets on a boat while wearing an adorable sailor’s outfit. Tell me that’s not cute. Just try to tell me that’s not cute.

10. Book that made you cry-- Staying with Kodi, I’ll say Kodi by Jared Cullum. It’s the only book I’ve read this year so far that actually made me cry.

11. Book that made you happy-- The Last Laugh by Mindy McGinnis. I didn’t give this one the highest rating, but I had such a fun time reading this duology. And I felt like this one wrapped everything up so well.

12. Most beautiful book you've bought (or received) so far this year-- I purchased the collector’s edition of Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey while I was in Switzerland with my husband and his dad. After only having read two of the books and one of the novellas. Thank god I’m still enjoying the rest of the series.

13. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?-- I have a stack of books I need to reread before a new book in the series comes out. But outside of that I plan on reading some new releases when they come out and a couple of books on my 40 Books Before 40 list. Some highlights of these lists include: All of Us Villains by Amanda Foody and Christine Lynn Herman, The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, and Terrier by Tamora Pierce.

[figgitus]

Midyear Book Freakout Tag 2019

1. Best book you’ve read so far in 2019. 

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

The characters in this book really came alive for me and I felt emotionally invested in all them to the point where I cried for them several times. Books don’t make me cry.

The Unwomanly Face of War by Svetlana Alexievich

A tough, non-fiction, read about the silence and voices of women who have fought in the Second World War. It’s been months and I still feel this in my gut, heart and mind - you don’t come out of this book unchanged. 

2. Best sequel you've read so far in 2019.

Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire

3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to. 

So many!  Here are three:

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

I Hope You Get This Message by Farah Naz Rishi

The Ungrateful Refugee by Dina Nayeri

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year. 

Call Down the Hawk by Maggie Stiefvater

I re-read the Raven Cycle this year and I am so into these characters, alone and as a group, that I can hardly believe it. I’m having a Harry Potter kind of moment that I thought would never come again. I’m both excited and scared about the upcoming Dreamer trilogy. I have faith. I think.

5. Biggest disappointment. 

Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

I was pumped and ready to read another Taylor Jenkins Reid book after The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, but this book did little for me. Reid’s writing continues to make the characters come alive, but I honestly fail to understand the hype about this one.

Half Bad by Sally Green

Every summer I try to read at least one book or series recommended to me by my students. The premise of the book sounded interesting, but the execution leaves much to be desired, and so far the series has been a snooze.

6. Biggest surprise. 

The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa

This book had so much humor and heart. 

Lie With Me by Philippe Beson

I picked this up on a whim and read it in one sitting. It was beautiful and broke my heart. 

7. Favourite new author. (Debut or new to you) 

Alice Oseman, Taylor Jenkins Reid, Blake Crouch

8. Newest fictional crush. 

No new fictional crushes so far, but my love for Adam Parrish has been rekindled.

9. Newest favourite character. 

No new favourites, but I liked Frances Janvier from Radio Silence by Alice Oseman

10. Book that made you cry. 

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

11. Book that made you happy. 

El Deafo by Cece Bell

12. Most beautiful book you've bought so far this year (or received) 

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

13. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?

All of them.

[mr-saavik]

Midyear Book Freakout Tag 2024

Haven't done this in a few years and no one asked for it but here we go

1) Best book:

Lots of contenders for this, but I think it has to be A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf. Fantastic writing on a great subject

2) Best sequel:

I haven't really read any traditional sequels where a story continues on from another, but any of the Sherlock Holmes books/short story collections works for this. Maybe The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes or The Hound of the Baskvilles as favorites? Idk

3) New releases you want to read

Henry Henry by Allen Bratton, but idk when I'll get to it because I'd need to get an interlibrary loan

4) Most anticipated release

I'm lowkey bad at keeping up with whats coming out BUT I am excited to read Failure to Comply by @librarycards

5) Biggest Disappointment

Probably Disability Visibility edited by Alice Wong because I had heard it was great and a good introduction to writings on disability, but ended up being a very mixed collection of writings and a lot of it just felt meh

6) Biggest Surprise

Perhaps Zong! by M. NourbeSe Philip? Not surprise in the sense that once I knew what it was I thought I wouldn't like it, but surprise in the sense I had never heard of it until I was assigned to read it in a class about literature of the Middle Passage

7) Favorite new author

Virginia Woolf. I've read Orlando before but I don't really remember it; reading A Room of One's Own made me realize I love her writing style

8) Newest fictional crush

Closest answer I can give to this is Sherlock Holmes because I do love that bitch but idk if "crush" is the right word for it or if he counts as new if I was familiar with his character from the Granada tv series

9) Newest favorite character

To not repeat saying Sherlock Holmes, I'm going to say Merricat Blackwood from We Have Always Lived in the Castle even though I've read that before, so again, it doesn't really count as new

10) A book that made you cry

None despite historically being a known crier

11) A book that made you happy

Uhhhhh I guess one of the Sherlock Holmes ones? I tend to read sad shit and reviewing what I've read so far this year there isn't really "happy" material besides that

12) Most beautiful book you've bought or received

Big fan of these two

13) What books do you need to read by the end of the year?

Well. Finish what I'm currently reading (Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion, Noor by Nnedi Okorafor, Moby Dick by Herman Melville, The Return of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle), also read Before We Were Trans by Kit Heyam because I have it out from the library, same with The White Album by Joan Didion because it is also in the massive book of nonfiction work from Didion I have out from the library, and I think Sara @colors-changing-hue & I are going to attempt to finish all of the Sherlock Holmes books by the end of the year but we've been slow on that recently so we'll see if that happens (to complete the series we'd nees to finish The Return of Sherlock Holmes and then read The Valley of Fear, His Last Bow, and The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes). Besides all of that for fun, once classes start back up I will be reading a lot of Shakespeare for my class on his early plays, some medieval romances for a class on that genre, and probably some books about Hitchcock because I'm taking a class on his films and the professor teaching it usually assigns a few whole books to read besides articles & stuff

[zealoussy]

Book Tag Post Masterlist

2023 Midyear Freakout Book Tag

Bookish 50 Questions Askbait