Mid Year Book Freakout Tag

Hi all!

So it’s June. Lmao, ok. Since when?

Let’s not get into how scary it is that half the year has already blown by, and let’s get into the mid year book freakout tag!

This is a tag where you can scream about your favourite books of the year so far, and be shamed for not reading other books you meant to.

1. The Best Book of the Year So Far:

I’m sure you’re not surprised at all. This was by far my most favourite book of the year, and I actually read it in January. So my favourite book of the year was read in the first month of the year. Wow.

I have plans to reread this book soon so I can make sure I love it as much as I did months ago!

2. The Best Sequel of the Year So Far:

I actually haven’t read many sequels this year. I’ve read a lot of the first books in a series but haven’t gotten around to the sequels … except for a few series and How To Be a Movie Star was by far my favourite! I listened to the audiobook of this book and cried a lot — not because it was particularly sad, but because it was so inspiring. It really is a love letter to the queer community and how much we’ve overcome. It’s also funny as hell and I really want to reread this book soon!

3. A New Release You Haven’t Read Yet But Want To:

King of Scars came out back in January and I STILL HAVEN’T READ IT! I don’t know what’s wrong with me — Nikolai is my favourite character in the Grisha series. Maybe I’m worried that I have too high expectations for the book?

Tell Me How You Really Feel only came out earlier this month, but I’ve been trying — and failing — to get an arc of it since the beginning of the year, so for me it feels like it’s been ages! I’m very desperate to read this book, it looks amazing.

4. Most Anticipated Release for the Second Half of the Year:

I can’t choose just one book for my most anticipated release, because I have three! Heartsong and Brothersong are the last two books in the Green Creek series and I’m so desperate for these books! This is one of my favourite series ever, and I’m especially looking forward to Brothersong, which is Carter’s story, my favourite character.

The Infinite Noise is  the first in a three-book YA series from Lauren Shippen, the creator of The Bright Sessions podcast, which is my favourite podcast ever. The first book follows my favourite characters, Caleb and Adam, and I’m desperate to get my hands on a copy!

5. Your Biggest Disappointment of the Year So Far:

Oh I’m still so upset I didn’t enjoy this book. But the plot! What plot? Literally, what happened? I know they’ve taken the “long way” to where they need to go, but it took forever for them to get there and while we’re waiting, they visit friends, have parties, get high, and talk. That’s it. That’s all they do for like 85% of the novel. And I did not like any of the characters, which, in a character-driven story, isn’t great.

6. Your Biggest Surprise of the Year So Far:

I was so surprised by how much I loved this book! I expected to enjoy it, but I didn’t expect to love it so much. Darius the Great is Not Okay is very much a soft, character-driven novel that really grips you. I read it in like one sitting because I couldn’t put it down!

7. Your New Favourite Author:

I started reading N.K. Jemisin’s The Broken Earth series and I’m enjoying them so freaking much! I can definitely see them becoming one of my favourite series ever. I love Jemisin’s writing style as well, and really look forward to reading more of her books.

8. Your Newest Favourite Character:

I can’t choose just one character, I had to choose two: both Alex and Henry from Red, White & Royal Blue. Both of these characters are so adorable and I have a real soft spot for Henry. Henry is sweet and kind and just wants to be happy. Alex is funny and chaotic as hell. I love them both!

Art credit

9. Your Newest Fictional Crush:

Definitely Ead from The Priory of the Orange Tree! Ead is such a badass in the novel. She is a trained warrior and starts the novel off as protecting the Queen, but you eventually find out she’s there to stop an ancient prophecy from coming true. I adore her.

10. A Book That Has Made You Cry:

I don’t think I’ve cried so much in a book before I read Flowers for Algernon. It’s a book about a young man with low IQ who is given an operation to increase his IQ, but the operation ends up making him a genius. I originally thought this book would be quite ableist but it’s not: the main character, Charlie, constantly reaffirms how wrong people are to treat him and disabled people like him so cruelly.

11. A Book That Has Made You Happy:

Check Please is probably one of the cutest graphic novels I’ve ever read (including Heartstopper). It’s so funny and lovely, and Bitty is probably one of the sweetest characters I’ve ever come across. All he wants is to bake pies all day and then he happens to fall for the captain of his hockey team. This book made me so happy!

12. The Most Beautiful Book of the Year So Far:

I can’t just choose one beautiful cover, because these are my favourites.

I know Girls of Paper and Fire came out last year but I read it this year so I’m counting it. Also does anyone else get chills from the cover of Tell me How You Really Feel? Because I do. Seeing two queer women (and of colour) look so obviously into each other makes me so happy. And I Wish You All the Best looks like a painting that belongs in a museum, I swear.

13. Some Books You Need to Read Before 2019 Ends:

These are just a few, there’s still plenty more!

14. Tag Two of Your Favourite Community Members:

• Steffy @ Little Booky Nook
• Silvia @ Silvia Reads Books
• Rae @ Bookmark Chronicles
• Ash @ Wild Heart Reads
• And anyone else who wants to do this tag!

Hope you have fun, but don’t feel obliged to do this tag if you’ve already done it / don’t want to!

What’s your best book of 2019? What books are you looking forward to reading for the second half of the year? Let me know!