I have seen a ton of Booktube channels doing the Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag, and it made me want to give it a go!

I realize we are a bit past “mid-year” by now, but I was kind of on an unofficial hiatus when “mid-year” hit, so I am doing it now! This seemed like such a fun way to talk about the books I have read so far this year, especially since there were a few months where I didn’t post anything here.

Here are some of my favorite Booktubers doing this tag: Emma and Hailey.

And here are the original creators of the tag: Chami and Ely.

Let’s get into it!

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1: Best book you’ve read so far in 2020?

The best book I’ve read so far this year has to be Code Name Helene by Ariel Lawhon. I could wax poetic about this book forever. It was beautifully written, and kept me on the edge of my seat. Also, it boggles my mind that more people don’t know about Nancy Wake!! She is my role model. If you want to know my full thoughts about it, go and check out my review. But seriously, read this book! It is fantastic!

 

2: Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2020?

Ooh, I’ve read a few good sequels this year, but I think the best one so far would have to be The King of Crows by Libba Bray! It is the 4th and final book in The Diviners series. It was such a well written and satisfying conclusion to an amazing series. I recommend this series to people all of the time, and I tell them, “You are so lucky, you can read them all at once! We all had to wait years to finish this story!!”

 

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

Oh, there are so many!! I’m woefully behind on my new releases!! Here is a short list (which really doesn’t even include all of them, but we would be here all day):

The Night Country by Melissa Albert

Ember Queen by Laura Sebastian

Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo

My Calamity Jane by The Lady Janies

House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas

Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer (don’t judge me 😉 )

 

4: Most anticipated release for the second half of the year?

I have a few that I am super excited about! I really want to get my hands on The Lost Book of the White by Cassandra Clare, Fable by Adrienne Young (which I actually have the ARC for right now 😉 ), and Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco.

 

5: Biggest disappointment?

My biggest disappointment has to be Children of Virtue and Vengeance by Tomi Adeyemi. I absolutely adored Children of Blood and Bone (as is evident in my review for it), and I was so excited for the second book in this series. I even went to a signing for it (before Covid, obvs), and then I was just so let down by it. The characters did not make choices that made sense, and I was just left wanting so much more. I don’t even know if I will finish the series, which is terribly disappointing when it has such potential.

 

6: Biggest surprise?

My biggest surprise so far this year I think has to be My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell. I had heard great things about this book, but the subject matter is super dark and a little hard (emotionally) to read at times. It was so beautifully written, and it was so important. This is such a taboo subject, and it needs to be talked about. Victim blaming is never okay, and this book paints that picture in such a heartbreaking way. Being such a hard book, imagine my surprise when it became my favorite book of April!

 

7: Favorite new author (debut or new to you)?

So, it will probably shock some to learn that, until this year I had never read anything by Sarah J. Maas. I have now read all of the A Court of Thorns and Roses series, and I am now a believer!! Wow, I have never read a 700 page book faster!! You can actually read my love letter to this series right here! Now, I cannot wait to dive into her other books.

 

8: Newest fictional crush?

The answer to the last question should make the answer to this one a dead giveaway! I LOVE Rhys from the A Court of Thorns and Roses series. He is dreamy, and I lurve him. 😍

9: Newest favorite character?

Ooh, this is a toss up between two characters. I just can’t choose between them.  Jo from The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee was so spunky and fun. I loved her so much! And Emoni from With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo was such a strong and beautiful character. She was so inspiring to me. Unfortunately for me, they are both from stand-alone books, so I won’t be getting any more adventures from either of them 😦

 

10: Book that made you cry?

I’m sure there are other books that made me cry, but the only one that I marked on my ‘Books to Make You Weep’ shelf on Goodreads was A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas. So good! I won’t say anything else here (because spoilers).

 

11: Book that made you happy?

Upon looking back through the books from the first part of the year, the one that I immediately said, “Oh yes!” to was Tweet Cute by Emma Lord. It was just such a sweet, sugary little rom-com, and it made me smile the whole way through. If you want to hear more of my thoughts on it, you can read my review here.

 

12: Most beautiful book you’ve bought so far this year (or received)?

There are a couple of books I have gotten this year that are gorgeous: Havenfall by Sara Holland and Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare.

 

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

Wow, so many! Pretty much any of the books from questions 3 and 4, for sure. Let’s just leave it at that for the sake of being concise haha

 

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I tag you!! If you haven’t done this tag yet (because you are super behind the times like me haha), then I encourage you to do this tag. It was a lot of fun to look back over my reading year so far!

What are some of your stand-out reads so far this year? Have you read any of the books I talked about here? What are your thoughts? Let’s chat in the comments! 

 

Love and happy reading,