#mid year book freak out tag

[mommy-mystic]

Cannot believe my 3 cover buys this spring turned out to be my favorite reads of the year so far lol!

[sophielovesbooks]

I was tagged by @dauen for the mid-year book freakout tag, and I was genuinely so excited because I had been meaning to do it, but then I wondered if anybody even cared. So yes, thank you so much! <3 And let's gooo ~

1. Best book you’ve read so far this year

Birnam Wood. Hands down. Everybody go read Birnam Wood.

2. Best sequel you’ve read so far this year

This question made me realise I don't read a lot of sequels. The ONLY one I've read so far this year is Hell Bent (the sequel to "Ninth House"). And it was kind of fun. But I didn't love it.

3. New release you haven’t read yet

Hm... I suppose I don't keep up with new releases like I used to. Though Carrie Soto Is Back comes to mind, if that counts as a new release. And Sea of Tranquility from last year. (I accidentally just mispelled that as "Transquility" lol)

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

Okay, so this is super niche and a bit weird, but it might be The Otherworld by Abbie Emmons. I've never actually read anything by her and I'm not sure if it'll be good, but I know her from YouTube and I'm curious. Has anybody else on here read any of her books?

5. Biggest disappointment

Probably The Midnight Library. I had seen so many people raving about this book online, but I HATED it. Genuinely the most amateurish writing I have come across in years. And so, so preachy. Not trying to be mean here. But yeah, it wasn't for me.

Oh, and Kill All Your Darlings by David Bell was also bad, sadly.

6. Biggest surprise

Hm. Birnam Wood was the biggest surprise regarding how much I loved it. And also regarding the ending. And Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney had one of the coolest plot twists I came across this year.

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

100% ELEANOR CATTON WHO WROTE BIRNAM WOOD IT WAS SO GOOD OMG!

Also Victoria Gosling? I am currently reading Before The Ruins by her and it's quite good as well. Beautiful writing. Kind of entrancing. I feel like fans of The Secret History would be into it?

8. Newest fictional crush/newest favourite character

Hmm, I don't really get fictional crushes. But if I did, I would have to say Mira or Tony from, you guessed it, Birnam Wood. (Oh, and maybe David from Before the Ruins. Also quite cute.)

9. Book that made you cry

Hehe. What do you think. You have one guess. Oh, you said Birnam Wood? Correct. Why have I only read one great book this year so far lmao

10. Book that made you happy

Ummm... All of this is forcing me to face the fact that my reading year so far has NOT been that good. I reread If We Were Villains and that made me happy. For non-fiction I read Undrowned and that made me happy at times. But other passages were really sad and emotional.

11. Favourite Adaptation

Heartstopper! And I'm really excited for Red, White & Royal Blue! <3

12. Prettiest Cover

Though disappointing overall, Kill All Your Darlings did have a lovely cover:

13. A book you need to read before the end of the year

Gosh, so many! From a quick glance at my shelves: The Rehearsal, The Initial Insult, Outliers, Shadow of the Lions, Weapons of Math Destruction... and so many more. That I know I won't get to. So some are on my 2024 TBR.

Tagging @hrimceald @books-and-cookies @b1uetrees @jay-avian @yoongsea @r-osehips @minyardcva if you want to. Curious to hear about your reading years so far :)

[themelodyofspring]

Mid year book freakout

Tagged by @booksandrandomfandoms and @bibliophilecats ✨

1. Best book you’ve read so far this year

Tress of The Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson

Wolfsong by TJ Klune

The Six Deaths of the Saint by Alix E. Harrow

Undercover by Tamsyn Muir

Unmasking Autism by Dr. Devon Price

2. Best sequel you’ve read so far this year

The Creeping Shadow by Jonathan Stroud

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

Hell Bent, The Golden Enclaves (Do these still count as new releases?)

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

Uhhhhh 🫥 what's releasing?!? Ravensong by TJ Klune (which was released 82457 years ago but I'm finally able to buy it thanks to the new Tor release).

5. Biggest disappointment

Tomorrow, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

6. Biggest surprise

The Six Deaths of the Saint by Alix E. Harrow!! Everyone read this short story!!!!!! It will blow your mind (and other senses).

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

Jonathan Stroud! Thanks to the Netflix show (that was cancelled 😭) I started reading the series and they're so good.

8. Newest fictional crush

Oh God I donno umm LOCKWOOD! (I like sad blorbos who need therapy)

9. Newest favorite character

George Karim/Cubbins from Lockwood and Co.

Tress from Tress of The Emerald Sea

Gordo from Wolfsong 🥺

10. Book that made you cry

Every happy book makes me cry. Next question!

11. Book that made you happy

The Creeping Shadow by Jonathan Stroud (because Hollow Boy broke my heart and this one mended it)

Tash Hearts Tolstoy by Kathryn Ormsbee

12. Favourite adaptation

Lockwood and Co. on Netflix 🥲

13. Prettiest Cover

This one 👀

14. A book you need to read before the end of the year

The Empty Grave by Jonathan Stroud (I finally found the last paperback and my whole set is mismatched now but who cares anymore!!)

Tagging: @appleinducedsleep , @stefito0o 😘 do it!

[aliteraryprincess]

Mid-Year Book Freak Out 2023

I was tagged by @bookcub and @the-forest-library. Thank you!

1. Best book you’ve read so far this year

Little Thieves by Margaret Owen! It's a retelling of "The Goose Girl" and it was absolutely amazing!

2. Best sequel you’ve read so far this year

The Stolen Heir by Holly Black. It was a great follow-up to The Folk of the Air trilogy, and I can't wait for the next book!

3. New release you haven’t read yet

Painted Devils by Margaret Owen, which is the sequel to Little Thieves. It's on my birthday list with multiple stars next to it so my mom knows I really, REALLY want it.

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

I don't have one. Or at least, I can't think of any.

5. Biggest disappointment

So Happy For You by Celia Laskey. Not because it was bad (which it was--I knew that going into it though) but because the author spent the whole book showing that friendships don't have to (and sometimes shouldn't) last forever only to renege on it at the very end and have the narrator forgive the absolute psycho friend who tried to MURDER HER!

6. Biggest surprise

Mortal Follies by Alexis Hall. I'm generally not super into romance, but I requested from NetGalley on a whim because the cover was pretty and it sounded fun. I ended up giving it 5 stars! I loved the narrative voice and the world Hall created.

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

Katie Lumsden, who is Books and Things over on YouTube. Her debut novel, The Secrets of Hartwood Hall, came out in February and I loved it.

8. Newest fictional crush/newest favorite character

I'd say it's a tie between Vanja from Little Thieves and Cigarette from Under Two Flags by Ouida. Both are absolutely awesome.

9. Book that made you cry

There hasn't been one so far. I think I'm kind of unconsciously avoiding anything that would make me cry.

10. Book that made you happy

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett. It was my first read of the year and was just the perfect book for me. I couldn't stop smiling while reading it.

11. Favorite Adaptation

In a completely unshocking turn of events, Little Thieves. 😆 (I'm counting fairy tale retellings as adaptations here; if we're talking film adaptations, I don't think I've watched any yet. Or if I did they were bad and I've stricken them from my memory.)

12. Prettiest Cover

The UK edition of The Secrets of Hartwood Hall. I waited an extra month to read the book because I needed that edition. It has gorgeous end papers!

13. A book you need to read before the end of the year

Way too many haha. For the sake of brevity, I'll limit myself to three that are for school. Princess Napraxine by Ouida, Aurora Floyd by Mary Elizabeth Braddon, and The Athelings by Margaret Oliphant.

I'm not sure who has done this already, but I'll tag @dauen, @lettersfromthelighthouse, and @appleinducedsleep (no pressure)!

[cleopatras-library]

📚🗓 Mid-Year Freakout Tag 2023 🗓📚

jumping on the hype train because it’s fun

How many books have you read so far?

69 including comics & graphic novels (nice)

What genres have you read?

Mostly fantasy and sci fi, but also a bit of historical fiction.

Best book you’ve read so far in 2023?

The Tyrant Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson! The first two books in the series were dubious, but things really came together for me in this one and I'm so excited for the conclusion. Also Baru is the character ever.

Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2023?

Nona the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir; it really recontextualizes the first two books and is therefore the best at being a sequel.

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

Titanium Noir by Nick Harkaway (saw it at a festival), Translation State by Ann Leckie (I really liked her other books), and also New Suns 2 (I read New Suns last year and it had some really good stories!)

Most anticipated release for the second half of the year

Alecto the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir! After reading Nona I need to know.

Biggest disappointment

It's a tie between The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson (boring and somehow shallow-feeling worldbuilding, and managed not to get me very invested in the characters even with over 1000 pages?), Dune by Frank Herbert (all the worst parts of 60s sci fi), La passeuse de mots by Jennifer and Alric Twice (all the worst parts of 2000s YA fantasy), or Der Dunkle Schwarm by Marie Grasshoff (somehow uninteresting despite what could be a very compelling world). I can't choose between any of these because none of them really got under my skin, they were just meh in ways I wasn't expecting them to be.

Biggest surprise

The Well by Jake Wyatt; I convinced myself it was going to be mediocre despite the awesome cover, but it's actually my favourite graphic novel of the year so far! The art is gorgeous and the story is a fun spin on traditional quest narratives.

Book that made you cry

Small Game Hunting at the Local Coward Gun Club by Megan Gail Coles. This book reminded me why I don't read sad literary fiction, even though it was really good (highly recommend if you can tolerate it!)

Book that made you happy

A Pho Love Story by Loan Le; I really appreciated how the characters learned to live with their immigrant parents and also the romance was really sweet!

Most beautiful book cover of a book you’ve read so far this year

Either Even Though I Knew The End by C.L. Polk (I am a sucker for vintage anything) or Squire by Sara Alfageeh and Nadia Shammas (I am also a sucker for clouds)

How are you doing with your year’s goal?

Don’t have one!

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

De Profundis, The Secret History, Lord of the Flies, The Origins of Political Order, and After the Victorians (I think I've given up on reading War and Peace, at least for the moment). Oh, and Alecto, when it comes out. (There are, as always, Too Many Books)

(and since they haven't done it yet I tag @maddiesbookshelves and @yourneighborhoodbibliophile (but only if they feel like it))

[belle-keys]

Mid-Year Book Freakout Tag, even though it’s July

Number of books read so far in 2023: 40.

Favorite book so far: The Laughter by Sonora Jha and Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë.

Best sequel so far: Chain of Thorns by Cassandra Clare.

Recent 2023 release you want to read but haven’t as yet: Immortal Longings by Chloe Gong and Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia.

Most anticipated release for the second half of 2022: A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid.

Biggest disappointment so far: Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston, because the writing was fun and fast-paced but there’s way too much “God Bless America” in there for me to positively vibe with the book.

Biggest surprise so far: The Foxglove King by Hannah F. Whitten because I don’t typically like fantasy-romance booktokish books but this had me in a chokehold.

Favorite new author (debut, or new to you): Mario Vargas Llosa and Octavio Paz.

Newest fictional crush: Bastian from The Foxglove King, because I feel ways about him that are concerning to feminism.

Newest favorite character: Jane from Jane Eyre, as I haven’t felt such deep sympathy and respect for a literary character like that in ages.

Book that made you cry: Not proper tears, but the last 200 pages of Chain of Thorns had me on the cusp.

Book that made you happy: Much Ado About Nada by Uzma Jalaluddin because the book feels like a warm hug and is my current comfort novel.

Most beautiful book you acquired so far: Got the Fairyloot edition of The Aventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by Shanon Chakraborty and it’s absolutely stunning, like it had me gagged. I was kinda scared to touch it.

Books you need to read before 2023 is up: A Study in Drowning, The Book that Wouldn’t Burn, Sword Catcher, Big Swiss, Penance, Heir to the Darkness, Our Wives Under the Sea

I’m tagging anyone that sees this and wants to do it! My Goodreads and Instagram are in my bio for anyone who’s interested in being buddies on there and is new to this blog!

[smalltownfae]

Mid-Year Book Freakout 2023

I was tagged by @logarithmicpanda​ Thank you :D I love tags.

1. Best book you’ve read so far this year

Shadows Return by Lynn Flewelling. If series don’t count then As Meat Loves Salt by Maria McCann. Both really messed up books haha what a year. I also read the complete Maus this year, which also deserves a mention.

2. Best sequel you’ve read so far this year

Shadows Return is the fourth book in the Nightrunner series so... that.

3. New release you haven’t read yet

In the Lives of Puppets by T.J. Klune and The Whispering Muse by Laura Purcell.

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

The Water Outlaws by S.L. Huang sounds so good and I want to love it so bad! I hope it’s good. Please, I need it to be good.

Then: Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo; The Fragile Threads of Power by V.E. Schwab; Mammoths at the Gates by Nghi Vo and Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree.

5. Biggest disappointment

The White Road by Lynn Flewelling, 5th Nightrunner book, and it pains me to say this. Live footage of me at this book:

6. Biggest surprise

The Nightrunner series in general (?) I mean I am reading them all this year for a reason haha (currently on the last book in the series but I still have the prequel trilogy to read after). I cannot believe I tried Luck in the Shadows some years ago and gave up on it. To be fair, I didn’t get far into it and the start is meandering and has a lot of info dumps. Got into it when I finished chapter 8 and the second book was really great and emotional. It gave me that bi representation I wanted without it being the sole focus of the fantasy story. That was just all I’ve been asking for. Fantasy with casual queerness that doesn’t take over the plot.

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

I guess Lynn Flewelling, but I wouldn’t call her a favourite author. For starters I only read one book series by her yet. Still, the authors I put on my favourites usually have a more beautiful writing style. Not sure if I will put her in my favourites when I finish it all, but I guess she is the best I read this year because Nightrunner has been bringing me so much joy (and anger at times too).

8. Newest fictional crush/newest favorite character

Favourite character: Alec í Amasa. But also Seregil, Thero and Ilar. All from the Nightrunner series, of course. It almost looks like I have only been reading these books haha and that isn’t entirely wrong... it’s like 40% of what I read so far was Nightrunner books.

9. Book that made you cry

Don’t hate me, but... Stalking Darkness, 2nd book in the Nightrunner series. It was just nice to see a bi awakening on page done so well or at least done in a sort of relatable way to me and then there is the suicidal thoughts and the second half of the book was quite impactful.

As Meat Loves Salt also made me tear up at the end but it was tears of anger so... not sure if it counts.

10. Book that made you happy

Just assume I’m gonna say Nightrunner books again. If we take those away and put them in the corner then Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree. It is a really cozy and sweet book, but also fun.

Tagging: @whatevsbla​ @monpetitrenard​ @xserpx​ @beeblackburn​ (only if you want to do it)

[readingrobin]

Mid-Year Book Freakout 2023

I was tagged by @the-forest-library. Thanks for the tag. Gives me a chance to do a bit of reflecting.

1. Best book you’ve read so far this year

The Scapegracers. It's so weird that I felt like I read this book so long ago but it was just in March. Angry queer witch vibes continue to have a big hold on me and I really need to get around reading The Scratch Daughters.

2. Best sequel you’ve read so far this year

Seeing as I've only read two sequels this year so far and one was the most disappointing continuation I think I've ever read, I think Bloodmarked is a clear winner. It's odd to see how contentious this book was among the fans, since I enjoyed it just fine. But hey that's just me.

3. New release you haven’t read yet

Probably Mysteries of Thorn Manor by Margaret Rogerson. I really want to go back to the world within Sorcery of Thorns and I'm glad that it's just a novella so I don't have to worry about too much of a time commitment. I want to see the good meow meow demon boy Silas again.

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

Oooo, The Spirit Bares its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White. I absolutely loved Hell Followed With Us, especially how raw it is. I'm so excited to see how Andrew pulls off a ghost story when he has such a great way of writing uncomfortable and disturbing material.

5. Biggest disappointment

Ugh, absolutely West by Edith Pattou, the sequel to East. I don't want to be mean, but I don't think this book really needed to exist. After 15 years, a sequel to a fairy tale retelling that retreads the plot of the original has a difficult time of being interesting or engaging to the people that really fell in love with the original. If you want to see me get into specifics, it's in my review on Storygraph.

6. Biggest surprise

I think just the fact that one of the books I read, Strange Grace by Tessa Gratton, had a polyamorous triad that really felt organic and believable. I genuinely think these three people all love each other, which is rare enough in YA between just two people. I'm always behind choosing throuples over dumb love triangles.

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

Angela Carter for sure. Also, T. Kingfisher.

8. Newest fictional crush/newest favorite character

Valec from Bloodmarked is easily at the top of that list. Sissix from The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet was real cool as well.

9. Book that made you cry

Haven't really been reading too emotional of stories, so I don't think I have an answer right now. There've been emotions sure, but nothing really sobworthy. Firekeeper's Daughter got me close though.

10. Book that made you happy

Spider-Punk: Battle of the Banned mainly because it's feeding into my current Spider Punk obsession and the art is so lively and amazing.

11. Favorite Adaptation

Angela Carter's The Bloody Chamber is absolutely fundamental for anyone that loves fairy tale retellings. They feel so dangerous, sensual, but also mature and exploratory. Sometimes it feels like the retellings are somehow the stories' coming of age tales.

12. Prettiest Cover

The Kingdom of Back by Maire Lu, hands down.

13. A book you need to read before the end of the year

Still slowly, but surely chugging along through Les Miserables. Hugo goes on tangents like you wouldn't believe, not just about the Parisian sewer system

Not going to be tagging anyone this round, just do it if you feel like it!

[light-macadamia]

Mid Year Book Tag [2023]

Starting off with the stats to reel you in: I’ve read 25 books (against 58 acquired, for shame), of which 60% were in audio format. Literary fiction made every other genre eat it (incredibly odd for me), and the majority (30%) did not feature a prominent romantic plot/subplot. Usually it’s a cockfight between wlw and straight, if I am honest.

Best book you’ve read so far in 2023: If We Were Villains

It’s tragic, it’s twisted, it’s messy, and it kept a tight hold on me for two days nonstop. Since then I have picked up the Secret History and Bunny, to compare and measure against the dark academia vibe, and found them all to be vastly different books!

Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2023: A Prayer for the Crown Shy 

Becky Chambers needs to make a chain email with all the little adventures of this duo. Although they can be too mellow for my tastes, it is an irresistible serving of the cosy every now and again. 

New release you haven’t read yet, but want to: In The Lives of Puppets

Most anticipated release for the rest of the year: Alecto! Alecto! Alecto!

Biggest disappointment: The Hacienda

It had all the markings of being a favourite – gothic horror in the backdrop of Mexico. But the gothic lacked novelty, the horror lacked in general, and the romance was so boring. Together it did very little to wash away the peeve I had over a topic introduced seemingly for nothing but ~vibes~,  which is the abuse suffered by maids and servants at the hand of masters.

Biggest surprise: Drive your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead

As well as Frankenstein: both are amazing, incredibly immersive and full of reclusive reflection. Frankenstein impressed me so much I ended up giving a talk to unsuspecting high schoolers just to rope them into discourse about it.

Favourite new author: Madeline Miller

Newest favourite character: Edmund “Bunny” Corcoran

Bunny from The Secret History is SUCH a pissbaby, my face lit up every time he came up in a scene. Whatever mix of nasal infection and posh accent Donna Tartt gave him in the audiobook, is now a voice filter that lives in my head rent free. Comes in very handy when I have to read sour emails.

Book that made you cry: ???

I am clearly saving them for something big, cause nothing comes to mind.

Book that made you happy: ???

I am equally stingy with my glee, it seems, cause nothing comes to mind either.

The most beautiful book you’ve bought so far this year: Our Hideous Progeny

I do not have it in physical copy but damn what an eye candy to have on bookshelves (or storygraph).

Favourite book to movie adaptation you’ve seen this year: Nimona

Bestie and I read the graphic novel years ago, so we reprised by watching it together and crocheting.

[mommy-mystic]

✨️ Mid Year Reading Wrap-Up ✨️

I cannot believe it, I'm a reader 🤩 this year I truly discovered (maybe for the first time) how much I enjoy reading. The past several years I was so engrossed in nonfiction, psychology, parenting books, children's lit, academic reading, and classics that I ignored all other genres. However, finally, I started enjoying good, old fashioned stories again. Much to my surprise, I've been loving the fantasy genre! (Rom-com makes me cringe but it's easy/entertaining to read too!)

Here's the books I've read this year so far (that i can remember) 📚

Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul: a Celtic Guide to Listening to Our Souls & Saving the World by John Phillip Newell 🌿

The Witch's Feast: a Kitchen Grimoire by Melissa Madara 🔮

The Thorns Remain by JJA Hardwood 🧚‍♀️

Cackle by Rachel Harrison 🔮

Bringing up Bébé: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting by Pamela Druckerman 👨‍👩‍👧‍👧 🇫🇷

The Entire Twilight Saga (again) by Stephanie Meyer 😔💀🌧

Plant Parenting: Easy Ways to Make More Houseplants, Vegetables, and Flowers by Leslie F. Halleck 🪴

From Bad to Cursed by Lana Harper 🔮

The Bone Orchard by Sara A. Mueller 🦴🧠👻

Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman 🔮

The Power of Bad: How the Negativity Effect Rules Us & How We Can Rule It by John F Tierney and Roy F. Baumeister 📖🎓

Small Town, Big Magic by Hazel Beck 🔮

Beach Read by Emily Henry 📚⛱️

The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondō 🧹

Messy Minimalism : Realistic Strategies for the Rest of Us by Rachelle Crawford 🧹

Scottish Witchcraft : A Complete Guide to Authentic Folklore, Spells, and Magickal Tools by Barbara Meiklejohn-Free 🔮

📚📚📚📚📚📚

I think The Bone Orchard, Cackle, The Thorns Remain, & Beach Read take the cake on my favorite reads of the year so far. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I forgot I even read at ALL until making this list and opening a Goodreads account. I even had to check my list of library rentals to remember it all! Quick note: I'm obsessed with the Army library on base as well as the one by our house & the state digital library I access with the Libby app.

📚 Currently, I'm reading another parenting book, another fantasy, and my FIRST Silvia Moreno-Garcia!

🎃 I swear one day I'll make a list of all my fav Children's and storybooks we have in our house, especially the creepy Halloween/spooky ones!

[maddiesbookshelves]

📚🗓 Mid-Year Freakout Tag 2022 🗓📚

jumping on the hype train because it's fun

How many books have you read so far?

15 if I don't count the ATLA comic

What genres have you read?

Fantasy, historical mysteries, contemporary, sometimes with fantastical elements.

Best book you've read so far in 2022?

It's probably a tie between The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab, and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid.

Best sequel you've read so far in 2022?

The only sequel I've read so far is Realm of Ash by Tasha Suri, and i read both books in the series back to back.

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

A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin. It's staring at me from my bookshelf just as much as I'm staring at it.

Most anticipated release for the second half of the year

The Golden Enclaves by Naomi Novik 👁️👄👁️

Biggest disappointment

I... read some questionable books (thank you again, Mia, for making it 3 books and not just 2). I can't really say I was disappointed by them because I wasn't expecting anything, but I'll still say Crave and Crush by Tracy Wolff because those are bestsellers goddammit. I'm disappointed in the publishing industry.

Biggest surprise

June Hur, I wasn't expecting to like her books this much. She made it very easy for people who don't know a thing about Korea to feel like they aren't excluded and missing a joke.

Book that made you cry

Addie LaRue had me this close to sobbing but I held myself back because I had to go out later, but the same can't be said for Evelyn Hugo. I cried quite a bit with that one.

Book that made you happy

I honestly don't know? Reading in general makes me happy. I can tell you which books made me unhappy, though. If I really have to pick one, I'd say... Empire of Sand and the sequel, Realm of Ash, by Tasha Suri because it made me learn things about a culture I had no idea even existed.

Most beautiful book cover of a book you've read so far this year

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh, it's so beautiful, omg.

How are you doing with your year's goal?

I'm late 🥲 But I've been very busy recently, what with my internship and life in general. I'm hoping to read more and maybe catch up with my goal this summer!

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

I don't have these kind of limitations but if I had to pick one I guess I'd say A Magic Steeped in Poison because if I like it I want to be able to buy the hardcover for the second book since it comes out in August.

[bliphany]

MID-YEAR BOOK FREAK OUT TAG 2022

Thought it might be interesting to do it this year.

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

“A Psalm for the Wild-Built” by Becky Chambers (First-time read)

“The Ocean at the End of the Lane” by Neil Gaiman (re-read)

2. Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2022?

“The Other Wind” by Ursula K. Le Guin

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

“Sea of Tranquility” by Emily St. John Mandel

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of 2022?

“A Prayer for the Crown-Shy” by Becky Chambers

“Husband Material” by Alexis Hall

5. Biggest disappointment?

“The Girls I've Been” by Tess Sharpe

“The Midnight Lie” by Marie Rutkoski

I wanted to love these two so much but I just couldn’t... :(

Both had such great settings/concepts. I love stories where characters confronted their identities. I love stories where the setting itself was political intriguing. Unfortunately, how these two stories were told were just not my cup of tea.

6. Biggest surprise?

“This Is How You Lose The Time War” by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone

Made me realized that I do love letters/correspondence as a storytelling format. I just have to find ones that speak to me. Also I got unexpected invested in everything about this story.

“Boyfriend Material” by Alexis Hall

Made me realized that I can love romance books other than fanfiction lol. Also maybe I can enjoy contemporary fiction. Again, I just have to get a hang of my own preferences and tastes so I know where to look.

7. New favorite author?

Becky Chambers (I’m planning to read most of her backlist.)

8. Newest fictional crush?

No.

But I got quite invested in Red’s and Blue’s relationship in “This Is How You Lose The Time War.” I had a crush on that ship.

9. Newest favorite character?

I quite like Sibling Dex and Mosscap in “A Psalm for the Wild-Built.” Would be nice to have tea with them some time. 

10. Book that made you cry?

“The Ocean at the End of the Lane” by Neil Gaiman (Ugly crying)

“A Psalm for the Wild-Built” by Becky Chambers (the ending was just!)

“Firelight” by Ursula K. Le Guin

“This Is How You Lose The Time War” by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone (some passages just touched me in a tearing up level)

Personally, I read stories to make myself cry. Yeah that’s my only reading goal.

11. Book that made you happy?

“A Psalm for the Wild-Built” by Becky Chambers

“Boyfriend Material” by Alexis Hall

“The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse” by Charlie Mackesy

12. Most beautiful book you bought this year?

“The Kingdom of Copper” by S. A. Chakraborty

“The Mercies” by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

I also loved the cover of “The Midnight Lie” A LOT

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

Uh… so many? I’m in shame. I’ll just list 3 here.

“The Mercies” by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

“The Henna Artist” by Alka Joshi

“The Darkness Outside Us” by Eliot Schrefer

[aspiringpolymath]

Mid Year Reading Check In

I compiled this at the end of June, so it's not up to the minute accurate, but a good indication of how my reading year has gone so far. I tweaked the questions a bit to suit my reading style. If anyone sees this and wants to answer them PLEASE tag me so I can see what you are reading!

Mid Year Book Check In Questions:

Did you set a reading challenge; if so, how’s it going? (AKA How many books have you read?)

Best book(s) you’ve read so far?

Best sequel or book in a series you've read so far?

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

Most anticipated release for the second half of the year?

Biggest disappointment?

Biggest surprise?

Favorite new author? (Debut or new to you)

Newest favorite character (for whatever reason)?

Book that made you cry or saddest book you’ve read?

Book that made you happy?

Favorite review you've written this year? (Can be glowing or a takedown)

Favorite cover for a book you've read this year?

What books are your priority to read by the end of the year?

Answers:

According to GR, I’ve read 239 books (tho I prefer ‘title’ since some are pretty short. I read a mix of novels, novellas, shorts and manga/comics.) My GR goal is 365, so I’m ahead of schedule!

Bests

Manga - Restart After . . . duology by Cocomi

Graphic novel - Mamo by Sass Milledge (ff ya)

Non LGBTQ+ romance book - The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna (still casually queer)

Short book - Bisclavret by K.L. Noone

Standalone mm romance book (there are not a lot of these, lol) - We Could Be So Good by Cat Sebastian (I didn’t want it to be over, so I really took my time.)

3. Three way tie between The Missing Page by Cat Sebastian, Malibu by Emmy Sanders, and Out of the Wild Night by Marina Vivancos. Oh, and Muscle Cub by Slade James!

4. Loads, but I still haven’t read The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen by KJ Charles and I really need to get on that.

5. I’m looking forward to the next volume of Our Not-So-Lonely Planet Travel Guide by Mone Sorai. Oh, and Gentle Chaos by Tyler Gaga (ghosthoney on IG and TikTok)

6. I was most recently disappointed by How To Say I Do by Tal Bauer - not hugely, just wasn’t what I was hoping for.

7. I was really pleasantly surprised by Show Me How to Trust by Ray Celar. I didn’t have high hopes after book 2, but this one really took the time it needed to with the characters. Not a perfect book, but really lovely.

8. I’ve read a couple of short things by her in the past, but this year Crystal Lacy has become a new go-to author.

9. Sal from The Demon’s Mate by Delaney Rain, and maybe Collin from Off-Ice Behavior by Hannah Henry.

10. Some I’ve already mentioned made me cry, but I Felt a Funeral, in My Brain by Will Walton made me cry no fewer than five times. It’s a weird prose poem YA book about grief and generational addiction, I thought it was so well done. A book that made me cry mostly happy tears was Keep Me by HJ Welch.

11. The audiobook of Heartbreak Boys by Simon James Green made me legitimately lol.

12. Well, the one that has gotten the most likes on GR is my 1 star of The Right Wrong Number by Katie Warren, but I did like my pithy review for So These Rude Grumpy Arrogant Jerks Fall In Love and It’s Gross by TJ Land. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5353619286

13. The Roger Crenshaw books by Taylor Titmouse have amazing covers, and illustrations inside, too.

Also, Haunt, Heart, Havoc by Freydís Moon has a super striking cover.

14. I’d like to get back to In Memoriam by Alice Winn. I started it, but there were holds and I knew it was going to get very sad. Oh, and this probably should have been listed above, but I also want to get to Something Wild and Wonderful by Anita Kelly soon.

[kitausu]

I've been watching way too many Mid-Year Freakout booktube videos and I want to participate! So here we go:

Best book you've read so far

All the Living and the Dead by Hayley Campbell

And...

Best sequel you've read so far

New release you haven't read yet

The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer

Most anticipated upcoming release

Honestly, it's the latest The Game book by Cara Dee that comes out at the end of October. I'm going to swoon.

Also A Power Unbound by Freya Marske

And...

Biggest disappointment

I love a hockey romance...but I need the hockey to be present. And also the romance. This was just 80% smut, 15% romance, and a GENEROUS 5% hockey. I know it's well beloved...just not by me 😅

Biggest surprise

Since I wasn't a huge fan of the Green Bone saga I wasn't sure how I would feel about this novella, but I absolutely LOVED it.

Favorite new author (to me)

Cara Dee!! I can't get enough of her work. It's insane. I'm obsessed.

Newest Fictional Crush

River and Reese Tenley 🥰😍😘

Newest Favorite Fictional Character

Tau Solarin from Evan Winter's The Burning series 🥰🥰🥰

Book that made you cry

People either loved or hated this, but I'm a cptsd girlie so it gut punched me and I SOBBED multiple times.

Book that made you happy

Most beautiful book you bought

Tbr for the end of the year

The Haar by David Sodergren

Dark Heir by CS Pacat

Witch King by Martha Wells

Den of Thieves by Charlie Adhara

Daughter of Mystery by Heather Rose Jones

[alowkeybookworm]

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𝗠𝗶𝗱 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗧𝗮𝗴 📚

~ 𝘉𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳: 𝘈 𝘋𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘩𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘔𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤 - I’m going to start by cheating and choose instead my best read of the year. I can’t choose a favourite book, but I can say (re)reading this was my best reading experience of the year.

~ 𝘉𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘭 𝘴𝘰 𝘧𝘢𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳: 𝘍𝘪𝘯𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘋𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘢𝘯 𝘑𝘶𝘮𝘱𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘶𝘯 - I absolutely love these books!

~ 𝘕𝘦𝘸 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯’𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘺𝘦𝘵 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘯 𝘏𝘦𝘪𝘳 - I made a break after The Cruel Prince trilogy, but really want to get back to this world

~ 𝘔𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘧 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳: 𝘈 𝘊𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘛𝘳𝘶𝘦 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 - I am so excited for this one that I’m actually going to reread not only the first 2, but also the Caraval books before its release

~ 𝘉𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵: 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘴 - do in need to say anything?

~ 𝘉𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦: 𝘍𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘈𝘭𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘵 - absolutely in love with this manga series

~ 𝘍𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘸 (𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦) 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳: 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬 - come on, no one is surprised at this answer after my spam of The Cruel Prince

~ 𝘕𝘦𝘸 𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘩: 𝘸𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦

~ 𝘕𝘦𝘸 𝘧𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳: 𝘌𝘥𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘌𝘭𝘳𝘪𝘤 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘍𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘈𝘭𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘵

~ 𝘈 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘺 & 𝘢 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘰𝘺, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘰𝘭𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘰𝘹 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘦 - this is precious and everyone should read it

~ 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘐’𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳: 𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘵 - the illustrations! Need I say more?

~ 𝘈 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘔𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 - don’t be fooled, this is one of many

~ 𝘍𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴: 𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵

[lizziestudieshistory]

Mid Year Book Freak Out 2023

Thanks for tagging me @dauen! I was worried I wouldn't have enough answers this year as I've been more eclectic than usual with my reading, but I do 😅 And apologies for the frequent mention of le Guin, 2023 is the year of Ursula K. le Guin for me!

1. Best book you've read so far...

The Red and the Black by Stendhal

I was surprised when I was swept away by the second half of this book, it not only made me love the second volume but gave me a new appreciation of what Stendhal did in the first volume. I'm still thinking about The Red and the Black months later and it's a strong contender for my favourite book of the year.

However, there were two book I could have mentioned that were new reads for me, but I've gone with this as the other is...

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

The Tombs of Atuan by Ursula K. Le Guin

This did something to my brain, as much as I'm thinking about The Red and the Black, I'm obsessed with The Tombs of Atuan. The atmosphere, le Guin's writing, and Tenar came together to create an almost perfect (for me) story.

3. New release...

Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson

By default... I've only read Tress so far - I didn't even particularly enjoy Tress 😬

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

Errm none? I've got no idea what's going on with new releases because I'm trying to clear my blacklist and physical tbr.

5.a. Biggest disappointment...

The Leviathan by Rosie Andrews or Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

I've separated biggest disappointment and most hated this year because they really do belong in different categories (see 5.b). Both of these would've been great for someone else... I shouldn't have read The Leviathan as a specialist in 17th century, it ended up annoying me with it's blend of history and story. Howl's Moving Castle just isn't my cup of tea, it was a bit too whimsical and it rubbed me up the wrong way.

5.b. Most hated...

Witches: James I and the English Witch-Hunts by Tracy Borman

I've made no secret of how this one pissed me off with it's bad faith portrayal of James I and the witch-hunts in England. I was left seething when reading it, so it deserved it's own spot in a created category.

6. Biggest surprise...

The Poetry of Christina Rossetti

I'm typically not a poetry girl, and when I have read it I've tended to prefer epic and narrative poetry. So when I picked up a collection of Rossetti's poetry I expected to find it tedious... However, I loved exploring her poetry! I now how copies of my favourites in my commonplace book and she's inspired me to try more poetry in the future.

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

Ursula K. Le Guin

Without a doubt she is a new favourite. I've read so many essays and short stories, watched pretty much every speech she gave that I can, and, of course, been in awe as I've read through the first half of Earthsea.

8. Newest fictional crush/favourite character...

Ged from the Earthsea Cycle

I've spent far too long trying to think of a non-le Guin new favourite character... But it's definitely Ged.

9. A book that made you cry...

None!

10. A book that made you happy...

Emma by Jane Austen

Emma always makes me happy and it's the happiest I've been so far this year.

11. Favourite adaptation...

I haven't watched anything new 😅 I rewatched House of the Dragon which was better the second time around, and Emma 2020 is always a favourite - but I don't think they count.

12. Prettiest cover...

Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott

I haven't really bought that many pretty books as I've mainly shopped second hand this year... So, it's probably this vintage copy of Ivanhoe, but we have room for improvement!

13. A book/books you need before the end of the year...

Oh I have a stack, but some off the top of my head:

A Brightness Long Ago by Guy Gavriel Kay

Fugitive Prince by Janny Wurts

The Charterhouse of Parma by Stendhal (technically I started this, but I got distracted by other French novels... Oops)

Lady Audley's Secret by Mary Elizabeth Bradden

Silas Marner by George Eliot

Tagging: @oneanxiousstudybuddy and @dooareyastudy (I think you haven't been tagged yet but could have missed it, sorry if you have 😅)