Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag

I got a little bored of doing my little Golden book awards and thought I’d switch things up this year by doing the Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag instead! I cannot believe that it’s already the middle of the year. My birthday is next week so despite the current horrible happenings in the world, there is something to look forward to.

This tag was originally created by Chami, who is super lovely by the way, and I wasn’t tagged by anybody that I know. Speaking of tags, in case you didn’t notice, my blog looks a little different! I finally found a similar theme that doesn’t have as many issues as my previous one, so I really hope that comments and pingbacks work perfectly so I never have to stress about those ever again.

And I think I will tag…Bree from Jasper & Spice and Jenna from Bookmark Your Thoughts to do this.

Let’s get onto the tag!

Best book you’ve read so far in 2020

This was so hard to choose but I really freaking loved House of Earth and Blood, and my recent read Get a Life, Chloe Brown was also really great. They both just entertained and make reading fun and interesting for me in different ways and I can’t wait to read more in their respective series next year and beyond.

Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2020

I’m pretty sure that most people read The Queen of Nothing last year when it came out but I read it earlier this year and wow, this trilogy ended so well. I was hooked the whole time! Meanwhile, another contemporary to this fantasy book, The Map from Here to There, just hit me in a completely different way. I thought it was even better than the first and it was such an emotional journey too.

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

I feel like I’ll be the last person in my close circle to read these new releases. I’ve heard so much about The Weight of The Stars from blogger friends and I’ve been seeing it even more online as more black authors are being promoted within the community. Never fear! I’m just impatiently waiting for both books to become available at my local library, hopefully, soon I’ll be able to read them cause I really want to!

Most anticipated release for the second half of the year

I have so many anticipated releases that I hope I’ll be able to buy later this year. I’m really hoping I’ll be in a better financial position to be able to buy highly anticipated books again! Of course, Take a Hint, Dani Brown, is anticipated since it’s kind of a sequel for Get a Life, Chloe Brown. Unravel the Dusk because I really enjoyed Spin the Dawn last year, and same for Blood & Honey, the sequel to Serpent & Dove. And, the continuation of my Shadowhunter binge, The Lost Book of White, the sequel to the Red Scrolls of Magic which I really enjoyed last month!

Biggest disappointment

We Hunt the Flame was a buddy read that I did with a blogger friend and I had such high expectations for it because everybody seemed to be raving about it but I really didn’t enjoy it that much. It was definitely disappointing, same as Infinity Son, which started out so well but kind of went into a big downturn towards the end. Meanwhile City of Heavenly Fire – I did enjoy, it was the end of The Mortal Instruments but – it really dragged on. That book could’ve lost about 100 pages for me, because the book’s pacing was so slow even though 90% of the book is supposed to be during a time of high action and immense stress for the characters. I guess I was disappointed because I was losing interest.

Biggest surprise

I recently read the Banned Book Club a couple of days ago, thanks to the publisher on NetGalley and I really enjoyed it. I learnt so much about Korean history in the 80s and it was so relevant to the current events of the world because people have been protesting for the last 2 years and more for a variety of reasons. I’d highly recommend it to everyone, especially if they’re interested in Korean culture – it was a great surprise for me. Meanwhile, Break You Glass Slippers is a poetry book I also got from NetGalley which I surprisingly really enjoyed. It had so many inspirational and uplifting poems that really resonated with me and the Cinderella theme was embedded so well. If I ever get the chance, I’ll be picking up a physical copy of this one.

Favourite new author (debut or new to you)

I’d definitely say Talia Hibbert because of Get a Life, Chloe Brown, and…Kevin Kwan, because I’m currently reading his new release Sex & Vanity and really enjoying it.

Newest fictional crush

I don’t have those, never really did, my SO is the only crush I need.

Newest favourite character

I’d have to say Helen Blackthorn! So far in The Mortal Instruments and The Red Scrolls of Magic, I’ve only seen her a few times but I already really love her character and hope to see her more in the next Shadowhunter books I read.

Book that made you cry

Both of the above for the above reasons. They were really freaking emotional and I did shed a few tears as I read. It’s kind of nice to cry while reading sometimes.

Book that made you happy

I’ve always been a fan of Malec and this book was just fun, so it definitely made me happy.

The most beautiful book you’ve bought so far this year (or received)

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo is just so stunning. I have the signed hardback and I treasure it so much. It was also an amazing read so I’d highly recommend it! It’s slow until maybe 50% into the book then things get even more interesting.

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

My main goal is to finish all the books in the Shadowhunter Chronicles this year, but a book I really want to get to as well is The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater (hence the feature photo for this post). It’s a beautiful book and many people on Twitter claim its their favourite by Maggie so I’m keen to read it.

Favourite book to movie adaptation you’ve seen this year?

PS I Still Love You is the only book to movie adaptation I think I’ve watched this year and I loved it; it was so much better than I expected and I think it was even better than the book! The changes they made felt so right for the story and it was plain cute.

And that’s the end of the Mid Year Book Freak Out Tag, have you done it? If so, what has been your favourite book so far and what are you looking forward to?

Until next time,