The Mid-Year Freakout Tag is an annual tradition in the "BookTube" world where people make videos to do a mid-year summary of what they've read so far. Basically, ending with everyone freaking out realizing that the year is half over and no one has read all of the books they intended to so far.
Oddly enough, I never did this tag when I made YouTube videos. But, when I saw it floating around lately and I needed a blog post for this week... I thought it would be fun to give it a go!
Original Creators:
Chami from ReadLikeWIldfire: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03gz6...
Ely from Earl Grey Books: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_Wh0...
Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash
QUESTIONS:
1. Best book you’ve read so far this year?
UGH. You had to start with the hardest question? Really? I've read so many good ones! How do I pick?????
I'll instead, share my favorites from each month. Because I can't pick only one and YOU CAN'T MAKE ME.
January- Illuminae by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kauffman (YA Science-Fiction)
February- An Extraordinary Union by Alyssa Cole (Historical Romance)
March- Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi (YA Fantasy)
April- A Night to Surrender by Tessa Dare (Historical Romance)
May- The Queen's Rising by Rebecca Ross (YA Fantasy)
June- Song of Blood and Stone by L. Penelope (Fantasy/Romance)
July - the month isn't over so you'll have to wait and see!
2. Best sequel you've read so far this year?
That's another tough one! But, I do have to say I'm still thinking about and loving Tessa Ever After by Brighton Walsh which is the second book in her Reluctant Hearts series. It's my favorite out of all four and I'm IN LOVE with Jason!
3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to?
Way to make me feel guilty cause... there's so many!
Right now, I'm really wanting to dig into Dread Nation by Justina Ireland. It was a Kindle Daily Deal recently so I have it sitting on my iPad waiting for me. I also have Chloe Neill's most recent novella, Slaying It on my iPad, as well as Charlie N Holmberg's newest book, Veins of Gold.
So many books - so little time.
4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year?
Well... considering I'm reading one Throne of Glass book per month leading up to the release of the final book, Kingdom of Ash, at the end of October... it's safe to say that's my most highly anticipated book this year.
But some others I'm excited for...
- Wild Hunger by Chloe Neill (Urban Fantasy)
- What if it's Us? by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera (YA Contemporary)
- Lethal White by Robert Galbraith (JK Rowling) (Mystery)
- Catwoman: Soul Stealer by Sarah J Maas (YA Fantasy/SciFi),
- Jack of Hearts and Other Parts by Lev AC Rosen (YA Contemporary)
- Vengeful by VE Schwab (Sci-Fi)
- A Duke by Default by Alyssa Cole (Contemporary Romance)
- The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee (YA Historical/Fantasy)
5. Biggest disappointment?
People are probably going to hate me for this one... but The Cruel Prince by Holly Black (YA Fantasy). I was super curious about this book, and SO MANY people were gushing and raving about it. But... I don't know! It didn't grab me. I read maybe the first 50 pages or so and I didn't care about the characters or plot. So, I didn't finish it.
6. Biggest surprise?
I definitely have to say the The Queen's Rising was the biggest surprise! A friend of mine read it and messaged me saying I HAD to read it too. I'd seen it around and had a feeling I'd enjoy it. But I loved it SO MUCH MORE than I ever anticipated! I need the next one immediately. But sadly... I have to wait until March of 2019.
Also, isn't that cover gorgeous?
7. Favorite new author (debut or new to you)?
This is another tough one. I've read a lot of debut fantasy authors the last couple of months, and they are all KILLING IT. I've not just been enjoying their books, but LOVING them. The Poppy War by RF Kuang, Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse, Song of Blood and Stone by L. Penelope, Children of Blood and Stone by Tomi Adeymei, and of course The Queen's Rising by Rebecca Ross. I want to read all of the books these authors write!
But I also am reading my first Morgan Matson book (YA contemporary) and it is completely delightful and I understand why everyone loves her so much! I've discovered Tessa Dare who writes historical romance and can't wait to keep going with her books. Then Alyssa Cole who's written both historical and contemporary romance has also become a favorite!
8. Newest fictional crush?
Ooooooo well there's so many to pick from...
I really loved James from Fortune's Flower by Anetha Lawson. He was like a 19th century Indiana Jones! What's not to love?
I'm still crushing on Jason from Tessa Ever After by Brighton Walsh. How can I not with a guy who'll dress up for tea parties for his love interests daughter? Swoon.
Then, I just finished The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal and Elma's husband is THE BEST. I would totally marry a man like him. They are the ultimate #relationshipgoals.
9. Newest favorite character?
I guess I need to accept the fact that ALL of these questions are hard... It's just that I've read 57 books so far this year. So... that's a lot of characters to pick from. That being said:
I really loved Grimm from Dreamer's Pool by Juliet Mariller. He's slightly terrifying while also being a big teddy bear and I want to give him a hug and tell him everything is going to be okay.
Rin from The Poppy War by RF Kuang was strong and stubborn and I loved her.
Xandra from God Save the Queen by Kate Locke is a total bad ass and I love her dedication to her family.
The vampire Constantine from Sunshine by Robin McKinley I'm completely fascinated by and I wish there was a sequel.
I'm currently reading Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson and I am LOVING Emily and Frank. They're both adorable!
10. Book that made you cry?
Okay, this question was hard because once I thought about it, there weren't many books from this year which have been sad or made me super emotional so far. (Other than some re-reads, but I want to talk about new books I've read.)
The ending of Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse (Urban Fantasy) kind of gutted me!
While A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J Maas (New Adult Fantasy) was not her best, there were moments that totally broke my heart!
Then, Illuminae by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman (YA Sci-Fi) definitely had some tear jerker moments!
11. Book that made you happy?
So many!
New Heights by Quinn Anderson (Contemporary Romance) had me grinning from ear to ear from page one!
A Night to Surrender by Tessa Dare (Historical Romance) was literally laugh out loud funny!
The Plastic Magician by Charlie N Holmberg (New Adult Fantasy) made me SUPER happy because her Paper Magician trilogy is one of my favorites and I loved going back to that world and seeing guest appearances from those characters!
12. Favorite book-to-film adaptation you saw this year?
LOVE, SIMON WHICH WAS BASED ON SIMON VS THE HOMO SAPIENS AGENDA BY BECKY ALBERTALLI! OBVIOUSLY.
Granted... it's the only adaptation I've seen this year. But it was still very well done and will always be number one in my eyes.
13. Favorite video you have done so far in this year?
Considering I haven't made any videos and only written blogs this year.... I'm really proud of my Flash Fiction series. I haven't been keeping up with it as much as I'd like, but what I have done I think is really good.
14. Most beautiful book you've bought so far this year (or received)?
The Children of Blood and Bone cover is fantastic!
Shadowsong is just lovely.
I LOVE the new cover for Vicious.
15. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?
Too many... You don't even want to know how many books I have sitting unread on my Kindle app! But here's my top priority books:
- Dumplin' by Julie Murphy (YA Contemporary)
- Ghost Rebellion by Pip Ballentine and Tee Morris (Steampunk)
- The Autumn Throne by Elizabeth Chadwick (Historical)
- An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir (YA Fantasy)
- The Burning World by Issac Marion (Zombies)
Anyone else have reading goals they've made this year? Are you accomplishing them? What have been some of your favorite books so far? What are you excited to read in the last half of the year?
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