The Mid-Year Freak Out Tag

Hey everyone!!

I got nominated by the lovely Marie and Nyx @ Drizzle and Hurricane Books to do this tag and I am really excited to reflect on the year’s reading so far. Especially as it has been my most successful reading year EVER. Thank you so, so much for the nomination and you should absolutely check out their great post and Marie’s blog, it had so much wonderful content.

I think this tag is very well named because it is the mid-year and I am freaking out!!

BEST BOOK YOU’VE READ SO FAR IN 2019

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

I know you might be fed up of hearing about this book but it was one of my favourite of the year so far. I think I loved how this book talked about fame in particular as it is a topic I am interested in. And I think the topics were handled really well. Plus the characters are so interesting and I absolutely love their stories— they’re not your typical likeable characters though. They are morally grey and complex but I think that is why I loved them– they are so real. You can read my full ramble here.

BEST SEQUEL YOU’RE READ SO FAR IN 2019

The Raven King By Nora Sakavic

I really loved this series– it has got a messy side to it with some rough edges but I still fell hand-over-heels in love with it. And I think the books get stronger as the series goes on. I think I loved this so much as you got to see more about this found family and how the characters interact with each other and certain situations. I was very invested in this story and I can safely say I couldn’t put this down. I think the plot of this series developed more in this book than in the first as well. Please look for trigger warnings though (ask me if you want them)–  and you can see my review for the first book here.

NEW RELEASE YOU HAVEN’T READ YET, BUT WANT TO

Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

Ok, have you heard about this book?? It has been all over the book community lately and every time I see it I am so excited to pick it up myself. I am determined to read this soon!!

It involves, from what I’ve heard, hate-to-love (YES), hilarious moments (YES), politics (which I didn’t think I would be interested in but I am intrigued now), supportive families (YES) and it is New Adult (YES– okay you get the point).

MOST ANTICIPATED RELEASE FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR

Call Down The Hawk by Maggie Stiefvater.

The Spin-off to The Raven Cycle series is one of my favourite series and it focuses on the Lynch Brothers. Ronan was one of my favourite characters and I think his dynamic with his brothers was really interesting so I am excited to see more from all of them. I love Adam too, I hope we get some chapters from his perspective (I haven’t read the first chapters that are available, so I decided I’d wait).

I know it is going to be different from The Raven Cycle but I am still very excited.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

Stars Above by Marissa Meyer

I loved the lunar chronicles so I was excited to read the short stories from the world but the stories didn’t really seem necessary or overly interesting. They were easy to read and had some nice moments with characters that you already knew but if you didn’t know and love the characters beforehand it would have been hard work. I expected more from it so I was disappointed. Full mini-review on goodreads.

BIGGEST SURPRISE

I Am The Messenger by Markus Zusak

Now I wouldn’t say it was a big surprise– I loved The Book Thief by Markus Zusak and I was optimistic about this book. But I loved it even more than I expected. It was such a beautiful story about an ordinary life and the value of little things. Plus it has Zusak’s gorgeous writing. You can read my full review here.

FAVOURITE AUTHOR (DEBUT OR NEW TO YOU)

R. F. Kuang, author of The Poppy War

R. F. Kuang released her fantasy debut last year and I finally got to read The Poppy War this year. I thought it was an epic debut novel. She has brilliant writing and was able to cover the topic of war so well. You could tell she was knowledgeable on the subject through her writing. She also made some complex, morally-grey characters and a plot to get wrapped up in. You can read my full review here and please check the trigger warnings before reading it is a very hard-hitting book.

NEWEST FICTIONAL CRUSH

Hideo Tanaka from Warcross by Marie Lu.

This was actually quite hard to answer most of my fictional crushes are probably from TV. But I did really like Hideo from Warcross– the more you read, the more you find out about him from Emika’s perspective. But I think the details you find out about him are great– when he is with his family, the effortless charm in front of the camera and his interaction with Emika– I just found him a very lovable character. Guess what– you can read my full review here.

NEWEST FAVOURITE CHARACTER

Locke Lamora from The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

Locke Lamora was a great main character, believe me, you want to know about him. He was a very clever and scheming main character— whose character was enhanced by the plot and what happens to him (and boy does a lot happen to him). Plus he is morally grey but still very lovable— he walks that line very well. Full review on goodreads.

BOOK THAT MADE YOU CRY

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid (yes again, I’m sorry)

This has been the only book to make me cry this year so clearly it needed to be in this spot but as you learn about Evelyn’s life there are definitely some emotional moments that break your heart. It was written so well so it really grabbed you by the heart.

BOOK THAT MADE YOU HAPPY

Heroine Complex by Sarah Kuhn

The book was a purely joyful read for me and I read it extremely fast which was a good sign. It was a fun, delightful read that featured superheroines, demon cupcakes, a karaoke battle, fun romance and light humour. It was so easy to read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. You can check out my full review here. (I’m sorry I’ve got a lot of links to full reviews in this post– I hadn’t realised I had written so many reviews!!)

MOST BEAUTIFUL BOOK YOU’VE BOUGHT SO FAR THIS YEAR (OR RECEIVED)

We Hunt The Flame by Hafsah Faizel

I mean look at it!! And it is even more beautiful in person. I love the rich blue and the gold letters, *whispers it is so beautiful*!! Plus it has a lovely illustration on the cover. It was designed by all these amazing people Simon Prades (illustrator), Elizabeth H Clark (design), Erin Fitzsimmons and Ray Shappell (lettering).

WHAT BOOKS DO YOU NEED TO READ BY THE END OF THE YEAR?

All of them.

I want to prioritise a few from My Contemporary Mission aka TBR such as Darius The Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram and Emergency Contact by Mary H.K. Choi. I really want to read Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson.

FAVOURITE BOOK COMMUNITY MEMBER

Ahh.. I can’t pick a favourite. I love too many. You are all so supportive and lovely!!

 

 

I am not going to tag anyone but if you want to do it, please do. It was really fun to complete so I do recommend it.

Click here to get the questions if you want to do this tag

BEST BOOK YOU’VE READ SO FAR IN 2019
BEST SEQUEL YOU’RE READ SO FAR IN 2019
NEW RELEASE YOU HAVEN’T READ YET, BUT WANT TO
MOST ANTICIPATED RELEASE FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT
BIGGEST SURPRISE
FAVOURITE AUTHOR (DEBUT OR NEW TO YOU)
NEWEST FICTIONAL CRUSH
NEWEST FAVOURITE CHARACTER
BOOK THAT MADE YOU CRY
BOOK THAT MADE YOU HAPPY
MOST BEAUTIFUL BOOK YOU’VE BOUGHT SO FAR THIS YEAR (OR RECEIVED)
WHAT BOOKS DO YOU NEED TO READ BY THE END OF THE YEAR?
FAVOURITE BOOK COMMUNITY MEMBER

Thank you again to Marie and Nyx for nominating me. And I will speak to you all soon!!

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