#mid year freak out

[jeanasbooksnook]

2023 Mid-Year Freak Out Book Tag

2023 Mid-Year Freak Out Book Tag #books #booktag #bookchallenge #reading

I came across this tag on Warm Days Will Never Cease’s blog and thought I would do it myself. Best Book You’ve Read This Year? I haven’t been reading as much this year so there may be a lot of duplication happening here. The best book I’ve read this year so far is Rose Madder by Stephen King. A much older book but really good. Best Sequel You’ve Read? Hmm, I think Child of the Prophecy by…

[beckysbook5]

Mid Year Freak-Out Tag!

[nemesis-is-my-middle-name]

fuck you he's a cat now

[deadpoetsandlivinglegends]

The poets getting together 10 years later, getting high while watching this new cartoon that just came out called Scooby Doo

Meeks, overly engrossed in the show, only one who seems to actually be watching: you know, they explained every spooky occurrence that happened in this episode except that ham sandwich that just appeared at shaggys will, like what was up with that

Charlie, lying sideways across a recliner chair, staring at the ceiling, hasn’t been watching the show this entire time: oh my god where did he get the sandwich from, that’s so crazy, I wish I had a sandwich

Knox, looking over at Todd who is eating a sandwich he made like 20 minutes ago because he had the munchies and all the poets were there as he made it: ohmygod Todd where’d you get that sandwich

Todd, who had the sandwich in his mouth as he was listening to them all ramble, pulling it out and staring at it wide eyed: ohmygod I don’t know!

Pitts, in the background with a blanket thrown over him, not listening to them, walking through the room: ooo I’m a ghost! Here to embezzle your property and take your money *trips over Cameron who has just been staring at his hands wordlessly for the last 15 minutes and collapses right next to Meeks who doesn’t even notice because he’s still so engrossed in the tv he hasn’t heard a thing going on in the room for a while*

Knox, looking over to Todd again: [in reference to ‘the ghost’] ohmygod it’s Neil!

Todd: ohmygod! *shoves sandwich back into his mouth and gnaws on it*

Charlie, still staring at the ceiling: what if god was just a mirror and we were always worshipping ourselves

Meeks, still staring at the tv but now Pitts is lying in his lap and he is is stroking Pitts head as he watches, although one would argue he probably doesn’t even realize he is because he is so tunnel-visioned on the show: cmon is Hank really a bad guy, oil land doesn’t come by cheap man, I woulda done it too

[chubmle2]

my fvaorite letterboxd reviews of 28 years later

[stuffnonsenseandotherthings]

In my spare time, when I'm not watching dramas I'm either reading books or watching people talking about books on YouTube. One tradition I've always really enjoyed is their "Mid-Year Freak Out" tag, especially because I like the idea of getting a chance to reflect on the year so far as well as look to the year ahead.

This year I thought I'd combine my two passions and use (and in some cases alter) the prompts for my own use, i.e. so that I can talk about dramas rather than books.

The only rule: answer the questions (and go wild I guess).

And we start the list with the biggest risk! No The Trainee is nowhere near finished and, no I have no idea how it's going to finish (it's GMMTV it could drop the ball through the floor and into the earth's core for all I know) but, if it manages to keep going the way it's going, I'm going to absolutely love it. I've mentioned before that The Trainee reminds me a lot of Misaeng, what I haven't said is that Misaeng is my (tied) favourite drama of all time and if The Trainee can get anywhere close to making me feel like I did the first time I watched Misaeng (which it is so far) then it's on to a winning formula.

So far it's got everything I look for in a drama: a solid cast with excellent chemistry, a plot that focuses on the little battles of everyday life, and an excellent mix of fast friendship and slow burn romance with plenty of character development along the way. It also doesn't hurt that it's got the balance between slapstick-funny and emotional tension pretty much bang on either.

I can't get this drama or it's characters out of my head and I am deeply, deeply, invested in where things are going next so, as a nod to the hold it has on me and my hope that I've found a new all-time fave, The Trainee is my favourite drama so far so GMMTV DO NOT LET ME DOWN.

Thai BL opening themes can be very hit or miss for me (I won't lie, I have skipped many an opening sequence because I can't stand the song) but Wandee Goodday's "Fan With Benefit" caught my ear the first time I heard it and refused to leave me alone after that. I think I listened to it on repeat for at least 2 weeks and then at least once a day after that.

It's fun, it's flirty, it's got a chorus I like to dance to and it has now found itself on my "Songs to Cook Dinner To" playlist (I don't know if that says more about the song or how I cook dinner).

Now if only the drama lived up to its theme song...

Last Twilight would have been on this list had I not dropped it in December and, as a result, rendered it ineligible for a 2024 drama. I'm still absolutely fuming about how badly it let its audience down and how terribly it handled an extremely nuisanced topic to the point its final messaging was almost harmful.

I'm not going to get into this in too much detail because my frustrations have been voiced much more eloquently by people @lurkingshan and @twig-tea. I will say, however, that I loved the first 6(?) episodes of Wandee Goodday and I'm really sad about how much I didn't enjoy the rest of the drama.

There were a lot of things to like (and a lot of potential) right from the start: two couples with great chemistry, an ace character with actual depth and dimension, really sweet relationships (both familial and friendships), and the foundations for some interesting explorations of various interpersonal dynamics. Unfortunately none of these things really got followed through on and instead Wandee decided to go dark (with topics like mental health, sexual assault, loss and grief, parental neglect and abandonment to name a few) and do it badly. I don't mind if a show wants to explore difficult topics, in fact I really appreciate it, but what I won't tolerate is a drama introducing those topics as central plot points and then skimming over them in the most superficial way possible.

If you can't be bothered to put in the effort to properly research/explore difficult topics, do not include them in your drama.

I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS SHOW SINCE IT FIRST GOT ANNOUNCED. Which unfortunate because I was so excited for it I got stressed about it living up to my expectations (or not) and then couldn't watch it when it came out. It's annoying, it happens, I know how to fix it.

Anyway, I've given it some space, I've dealt with the other things that were making me stressed and I am now ready to devour it give it a go.

I have long been a fan of Ahn Pan Seok's works and I really appreciate his directorial style, the themes he chooses to tackle, and the way in which he explores his topics of choice. I will fully acknowledge his work is not for everyone; he favours slow (extremely slow) stories with characters and plots who are realistic to a frustrating (and sometimes infuriating) degree. You also need to have a pretty in depth understanding of Korean society and its problems, taboos and concerns to fully understand the underlying messages of his dramas and the structures/beliefs/views he's critiquing. That being said, for me that is the perfect recipe for a drama that's going to claw itself into my brain and stay there.

Secret Love Affair, One Spring Night, and Something in the Rain all had a lasting impact on me and, thanks to @lurkingshan's posts, I'm pretty sure Midnight Romance in Hagwon will join them.

It may come as a surprise after the last entry but I actually try quite hard to not get hyped about upcoming releases, mainly to avoid creating any expectations which can then be disappointed. I like to go in with as open a mind as possible.

As a result, there are a few upcoming releases I'm keeping an eye on but none I'd say I'm properly "anticipating" (á la Midnight Romance in Hagwon). The closest I can get is Monster Next Door which I am genuinely excited for and which I plan to watch from day 1.

I'm not completely sure why I'm looking forward to it so much, I think it's because I do love a good opposites attract, foes-to-hoes dynamic and Monster Next Door seems like it's going to offer that to me in spades alongside a serving of comedy and a sprinkling of heat. Bring the introvert-extrovert pairing and let me watch them be stupidly whipped for each other, it's all I need for now.

Technically all of the dramas on my Want to Watch list because I want to clear it but I'm aware that that's a bit of a reach.... If anyone can spot any dramas on here that you think I should prioritize (or dramas you think I should scrap), recommendations would be appreciated.

I also want to watch more Japanese BLs. The few I've got through, I've enjoyed and, for a lot of them, I've already read and loved the source manga so I know I'll enjoy the plot. Unfortunately I really struggle with the short episodes (30 minutes is not long enough for me to get invested) and that I have to commit to binging them and can't watch them while they're airing, which is a whole other issue. I'm thinking of focussing on Japanese GL for now as a hook (I'm not enjoying the current Thai GL line up and I'm running out of Korean GL I can find online) so I guess the dramas I "need" to watch are She Loves to Cook and She Loves to Eat and Ayaka is in Love with Hiroko.

* Biggest surprise

* Newest favourite actor/director/writer/producer

* Most beautiful drama

* Newest fictional crush

* Newest favourite character

* A drama that made you cry

* A drama that made you happy

And there you have it! Lightly tagging @lurkingshan @twig-tea and @italianpersonwithashippersheart but no pressure! Anyone else who wants to do this, feel free! Just tag me so I can gather more recs to make my To Watch list even longer.

[bibliophilicwitch]

Mid Year Book Freakout 2025

tagged by @logarithmicpanda 😊

Number of books you’ve read so far: 63 (I track rereads of my favorite "comfort" books separately as I have started rereading some of them multiple times a year, so that is at 25. And in May I went on a fanfiction binge and read several fics with word counts that would average around 1,000 pages, so that's a thing lol)

Best book you’ve read so far in 2025: I am always so indecisive when picking a favorite book from more than just a couple past of months, because the more recent reads are usually fresher in my feels. It isn't fair to the books read earlier lol. I think I would either say Rebecca Ross's Elements of Cadence duology as that has solidified Ross as an auto read from now on or Sorcery and Small Magics by Maiga Doocy as it really sucked me in and I am EAGERLY awaiting the next in the series.

Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2025: Either the finale of the Halfling Saga, Honored Vow by Melissa Blaire, which was a surprise read last year and a truly enjoyable romantasy (it felt like Throne of Glass, but better with better plotting and worldbuilding) or A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir, book three of the Ember in the Ashes quartet, having reread the first two to FINALLY finish reading the series, I am so incredibly invested in the characters and the events of each book that keep building so much. I am downright angry that my Libby hold for the audio of fourth book isn't available for about another month!

New release you haven’t read yet but want to: There are two that keep getting shuffled around for other reads: A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett and A Gentleman's Gentleman by TJ Alexander. Definitely a couple more, but they are not at the top of my TBR at this point in time.

Most anticipated release for the second half of the year: Turns out I hadn't looked into upcoming releases since late last year or early this year, so I had to see what had been announced that I had missed. And, holy crap, my TBR is SUFFERING now. I may have added to my releases list, but my most anticipated is still one I was already aware of, the finale to the Witchlands by Susan Dennard, Witchlight.

Biggest surprise favorite new author (debut or new to you): A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle Jensen - I'm not a fan of the heavily erotic angsty romance fantasy that is prevalent, as I find they feel like the plot is only relevant in creating specific angsty and sexy scenes. I picked up Fate Inked in Blood not realizing it was romantasy and then watched a reading vlog from a booktuber whose taste generally aligns with mine and she was REALLY disappointed. What she discussed about it really made me think I was going to be disappointed as well and I kept putting off picking it up. When I did finally read it, it was MUCH better than I had expected and I even bought the sequel already!

Newest fictional crush: I don't personally get crushes on characters instead I get heavily invested in the emotions of the characters for one another and join them for the ride. Right now Elias and Laia from An Ember in the Ashes is BREAKING me.

Book that made you cry: Hm, nothing stands out in my memory, but I think I likely cried at the end of Tasha Suri's Lotus Empire? And possibly at some point during the Winnowing Flame trilogy by Jen Williams.

Most beautiful book you’ve bought so far this year (or received): The new re-release of Swordheart by T Kingfisher. Heckin GORGEOUS "special" edition.

Book that made you happy: Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett 🩷

What books do you need to read by the end of the year? I'm a heavy mood reader, so I don't push myself to read specific things if I'm not super invested at any given time. That said, I have been trying to read new releases as I pick them up which currently includes Emberclaw by LR Lam and A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennet. There are some "outstanding" releases I would like to get to sooner rather than later including The Relentless Legion by JS Dewes and The Gods Below by Andrea Stewart. I've also been working my way through my physical shelves as there are a few series that I had been reading, but didn't complete because there was too much time between releases and I wanted to reread the series before finishing. Right now I am working on Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas, An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir, and Beneath the Keep by Erika Johansen, the prequel to the Queen of the Tearling trilogy. Oh, and I have been reading The Expanse by James SA Corey via Libby audiobooks - but everyone keeps reading slower than me so I keep getting stuck in lines for months at a time. 😤 There are other series on my shelves that I would like to read before the end of this year, but they aren't as high on my priority list so I will stop listing what I want to read by the end of the year lol.

I'm not going to tag anyone as I am pretty out of the loop these days, but please feel free to participate if you wish and tag me so I can see your responses!

[steevejr]

truly so baffling to me to hear people complain about their electronics like my coworker was complaining that her 2017 Mac was so slow its barely functional and it’s like what do you MEAN your 8 year old Mac is dead? mine is from 2013 and runs flawlessly?? what are you doing to your $1000 machine ??? filling it with peanut butter and TikTok viruses?????

[the-forest-library]

Mid-Year Book Freak Out

This is one of my favorite posts of the year - thanks for the tag @bookcub!

Number of books you’ve read so far: 233

Best book you’ve read so far in 2024: I feel like there hasn't been "the one" yet this year, but there are two non-fiction books that stand above the rest: Bite by Bite by Aimee Nezhukumatathil and Says Who? by Anne Curzan. They cover my favorite topics: foods and words.

Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2024: I really enjoyed the second Emily Wilde, but Chloe Liese really stuck the landing of the Bergman Brothers series. Only and Forever did not disappoint, and I'm sad that the series is over. This has been my comfort series over the last few years, and it has lots of disability and neurodiversity rep.

New release you haven’t read yet but want to: Funny Story by Emily Henry. I'm waiting for the audiobook from the library because Julia Whalen does an amazing job with Henry's books.

Most anticipated release for the second half of the year: I have several, and they are all coming out in the next two months, and they're all of my preorders for the year:

The Black Bird Oracle by Deborah Harkness (7/16)

Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell (7/30)

Last Seen Online by Lauren James (8/1)

The Pairing by Casey McQuiston (8/6) - Going to an in-person event for this!

My Salty Mary by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows (8/20)

Biggest surprise favorite new author (debut or new to you): Cara Bastone - Ready or Not really surprised me in the best ways, taking tropes I don't normally love and wowing me with how they played out.

Newest fictional crush: Maybe this worm from Mr. Postmouse's Rounds. I think he's adorable.

Book that made you cry: I was laughing so hard I was crying during the baby raccoon scene from Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez. It was hilarious in the audiobook.

Most beautiful book you’ve bought (or received) so far this year: I think it has to be The Black Bird Oracle. It's so pretty, and I can't wait for it to get here.

Book that made you happy: I really fell in love with Marianne Dubuc's illustrations in Mr. Postmouse’s Rounds and Mr. Postmouse Takes a Trip. I mean, just look at that cute worm above. The books are full of the most charming creatures and their adorable homes.

What books do you need to read by the end of the year? In addition to the most-anticipated releases above, I still need to get to the remaining books on my 24 in 2024 list:

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

A Willa Cather Book

The Grandest Game by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Tagging: I'm doing this a few weeks after it was going around, so I don't remember who has already done it. Consider yourself tagged if you'd like to do it and tag me so I can see your responses!

[skunkes]

i;ve never had much going on in my life so when something happens I rly cant process it/im barely learning how to do that like howww am i supposed to focus on comms when i have to think and worry nonstop about stuff thats gonna happen in mid july, late august and late september i cant live dis way

[aroaessidhe]

Mid-Year Book Freak Out

tagged by @thereadingchallengechallenge !!

Number of books you’ve read so far: 160 (incl current reads)

Best book you’ve read so far in 2024: The Saint of Bright Doors, Metal From Heaven (reread of The Spear Cuts Through Water & Scapegracers if rereads count)

Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2024: hm aside from whole series that I've read/reread from start to finish, maybe Those Beyond The Wall, and finishing the Hexarchate and Rook & Rose series!

New release you haven’t read yet but want to: Moth to a Flame by Finn Longman!!! also The Stardust Grail which I have on hold

Most anticipated release for the second half of the year: The Dead Cat Tail Assassins and Don’t Let The Forest In are the only 2 books left on my tbr post I made. There's probably more I just can't think of them rn

Biggest surprise favorite new author (debut or new to you): I'm not sure I've read multiple books from a new to me author this year (and I need multiple books to make a judgement on an author lol) I'll def check out more from Vajra Chandrasekera, though I've seen mixed reviews of his latest release

Newest fictional crush: sylvia and lorelai from adadt are pretty neat. and I'll second marney honeycutt

Book that made you cry: The Skin and Its Girl, The Many Deaths of Laila Starr

Most beautiful book you’ve bought so far this year (or received): Sheine Lende my most recent! Did I buy my copy of The Art Of Prophecy this year? that one too. shoutout to rovina cai and tran nguyen i love a good refined pencilly style

Book that made you happy: Dear Wendy. Dungeon Meshi. Someone You Can Build a Nest In. Confetti Realms.

What books do you need to read by the end of the year?: see the ones mentioned above, & these ones I want to reread. I have a few miscellaneous ebooks in my devices i should get to at some point lol

tagging: @libraryleopard @profiterole-reads @souldagger @beforeviolets @morhath if anyone wants!

[zafiro-anyejo]

very few 'parenting' things frustrate me more than parents who give their screaming kids an ipad, but I think "emotionally neglectful for 20 years and then wondering why their kid isn't thriving/adjusting to adulthood well, so they try to make up for it by being an overbearing helicopter parent" might take the cake.

[mommy-mystic]

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

[goldtoothmaster]

I think the difference between the way I like ten and the way I like five and twelve is fun honestly. Like ten was 'my doctor' the first episode I saw was silence in the library his episodes were the first ones I fell in love with. I like twelve and five because they're interesting characters who have interesting dynamics with their companions and also I like the relationship they have with their respective masters a lot. All of those things are true for ten also (and like. The rest of them. It's a good show.) but ALSO tens grungy ass tardis feels like home to me. That fuck ass orange filter and the sound track. It's not that he's my favorite character or it's my favorite era it's just that those three seasons of television fundamentally shaped me as a person. You know how it is.

[maddiesbookshelves]

📚🗓 Mid-Year Freakout Tag 2024 🗓📚

Thank you @cleopatras-library for the tag ☺️

How many books have you read so far?

10 novels, 2 graphic novels and uh, like 10 or more manga? I don't track all of them

What genres have you read?

Fantasy, historical, romance and mystery. Sometimes several of those in the same book

Best book you’ve read so far in 2024?

Probably The Briar Book Of The Dead, by A. G. Slatter if we're talking about novels only. But the graphic novel Rivages Lointains by Anaïs Flogny is just so good, I'm obsessed with it. If you can, please read it, it's French but it's been translated into English and Italian

Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2023?

The only ones I've read were either manga or the full Dr. Greta Helsing trilogy by Vivian Shaw, which I've read back to back. So either that (book 3, Grave Importance), or the manga Requiem Of The Rose King, by Aya Kanno, that I reread and finally finished after YEARS (yes the ending ended ME)

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

There are way too many, and I keep seeing more at work, I'm gonna die of frustration. Evocation by S. T. Gibson is eyeing me very strongly because of the internet. As is The Spare Man by Mary Robinette Kowal, from where it's sitting on my coworker's display (it only came out in February in France)

Most anticipated release for the second half of the year

I don't know honestly. The one book I was really waiting for this year was A Crane Among Wolves because I loved June Hur's previous books, and since I've read it now (it's very good btw), I'm not waiting for anything else

Update I learned something as I was writing this post: HEAVENLY TIRANT MIGHT STILL BE COMING OUT THIS YEAR???? DECEMBER 24????? MERRY FUCKING CHRISTMAS TO US???? HELLO?????? After Xiran told us the release date had been pushed back I thought for sure it would come out next year but apparently not so YEAH THAT'S MY MOST ANTICIPATED RELEASE OF THE YEAR, PERIOD

Biggest disappointment

It's a toss between How To Kill Your Family by Bella Mackie, and A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft, for reasons that are very different. If it wasn't for that ending, How To Kill Your Family wouldn't even be there but unfortunately. And A Far Wilder Magic just wasn't for me. I didn't expect it to be YA romantasy so I was sorely disappointed

Biggest surprise

Probably A Sign Of Affection by Suu Morishita? Don't get me wrong, I love shoujo (I know, I don't like romance novels but I love shoujo, it makes no sense, don't look at me) and I thought I would like it but I didn't expect to like it this much

Book that made you cry

I cry so often when I read/watch/listen to things that it all gets mixed up in my memories. I think I cried for Rivages Lointains, I definitely cried for Requiem Of The Rose King HAHA. I might have cried for Run Away With Me, Girl by Battan, I'm not sure. All of those are manga by the way, I don't remember if I cried reading a novel this year

Book that made you happy

The Bandit Queens made me happy because the ending was great (unlike How To Kill Your Family) which healed me a little

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

Aaaaaaa I don't know. The cover (and sprayed edges) for the French edition of A Far Wilder Magic are a big part of why I even bought it in the first place, but also A Crane Among Wolves...... And of course Aya Kanno's art is just so beautiful, all the covers for the Requiem Of The Rose King series are 👌

How are you doing with your year’s goal?

I had set a goal of 40 on goodreads/storygraph but I might have underestimated how work would impact my reading habits. But also, I'm not dead set on reaching that goal, I just want to read

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

I'd love to read more of the books I already own because it's becoming a problem. Other than that, there's no urgent need

That was fun so if anyone wants to join in, please feel free!

[a-ramblinrose]

Mid-Year Book Freak Out

@morhath tagged me in this delightful game!!!!

Number of books you’ve read so far: ???? I'm purposely not keeping track this year and finding it a big relief not having a number to think about. I really didn't realize how much pressure it was until the weight was gone.

Best book you’ve read so far in 2024: Not counting rereads or comics probably Hunger Pangs: True Love Bites by Joy Demorra or Jackalope Wives and Other Stories by T. Kingfisher. For poetry its Winter Hours by Mary Oliver

Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2024: Not a lot of progress in series so far for anything but comics so I'll repeat morhath's answer of What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher. If I count comics it would be a One Piece volume.

New release you haven’t read yet but want to: I'm Afraid You Have Dragons by Peter S. Beagle!!!

Most anticipated release for the second half of the year: Hmm I had to check dates for this but The Forbidden Book by by Sacha Lamb (October) or The Masquerades of Spring by Ben Aaronovitch (September)

Biggest surprise favorite new author (debut or new to you): At least for her comics Alice Oseman was a hell of a surprise. I have no clue if I'll like her novels but look forward to finding out.

Newest fictional crush: Captain Nathan J. Northland from Hunger Pangs maybe. I don't really crush on characters.

Book that made you cry: None that I remember. I get emotional occasionally but crying is rare.

Most beautiful book you’ve bought so far this year (or received): I've bought a lot of books and thus have many options but the first few that come to mind are: the anniversary edition of The Left Hand of Darkness, The Tempest of Tea with the B&N exclusive cover variant, The Tea Dragon Society and the clothbound The Count of Monte Cristo

Book that made you happy: The Tea Dragon Society, Heartstopper, A Psalm for the Wild-Built, Proper English and many more!

What books do you need to read by the end of the year?: Want is a better word than need since all my reading is for fun but: Babel, The Priory of the Orange Tree, The Duino Elegies, multiple sequels and a few rereads!!!!

I'll tag @godzilla-reads, @bookworm-of-camelot, @thequeerlibrarian, and anyone else who wants to play along!!

Happy Reading!!!!