Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag
I’ve seen this Mid-Year Book Freak Out post a lot lately, and I love the idea. So, even though I don’t usually do tag posts, I’m jumping in. The closest thing I’ve really ever done before that I remember is the end of the year recap post, and I forgot to do that for last year.
How many books have you read so far this year?
Oof. I normally use Goodreads to track this, but my GR shelves are a mess right now. I’ve been reading and squirrelling away reviews of backlist titles. Forgetting to update my Currently Reading shelf, which appears on the sidebar of my blog. I’ve also been meaning to go through my TBR and remove books that I don’t actually want to or intend to read anymore. Yeah, that hasn’t happened yet, either.
Anyway, looking over my 2022 Reading List and counting up the books that I’ve read (even if the review hasn’t posted yet) my best guess is 107 books read so far this year. Which is a lot for me. Yay!
Here are some of the highlights on my Mid-Year Book Freak Out…
Best book you’ve read so far this year?
Bone Spindle by Leslie Vedder
What you need to know: A gender-flipped retelling of sleeping beauty where the prince waits for a kiss to wake him, and two fierce, determined treasure hunters will stop at nothing to break his curse. Features a M/F romance and a F/F romance. I LOVED this book. I can’t wait for the sequel, and I will probably read/buy anything that Leslie Vedder writes.
Published January 11, 2022 | My Review
Best sequel you’ve read so far this year?
Elena the Brave (Old Rus #2) by Julie Mathison
What you need to know: A girl from 1942 America is transported to a magical Kiev (spelling from the book) of the past where she must help a prince save his legendary father. I love this series so far. The characters are great and the world building is a really cool blend of history and magic.
Published March 1, 2022 | My Review
Most-anticipated release for the second half of the year?
I’m the Girl by Courtney Summers
What you need to know: Two girls investigate the murder of a thirteen-year-old girl. Suspects are among wealthy, powerful people. Called a “spiritual successor” to SADIE, which I loved. Every book by Summers that I’ve read has been powerful and gripping. I’m really excited for this one.
Release Date: September 13, 2022 | My Review
Biggest disappointment?
Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller
What you need to know: I liked the tenacity of Alosa, the pirate captain and daughter of the pirate king. The lore of sirens and their descendants had a creepy rapey thing going that I didn’t feel like was ever really challenged as wrong. I also found myself wishing some of the pirate behavior was called out as wrong, too, at least in the narrative, even if the characters themselves didn’t converse about it. I really enjoyed other elements of the plot, and I liked the book enough to read the sequel. But I was disappointed by those elements.
Published February 27, 2018 | My Review
Biggest surprise?
The Plentiful Darkness by Heather Kassner
What you need to know: When another street kid steals her lunar mirror, Rooney chases him through a portal to a world where missing children have been banished to darkness. I loved the spooky storytelling and all the characters. There’s a lot of emotional layering, too. I’m not sure what I expected, but I wouldn’t have predicted that this would be one of my favorite books this year.
Published August 3, 2021 | My Review
Favorite new author (debut or new to you)?
Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves by Meg Long
What you need to know: An icy planet. A race run with sleds and wolves. A girl whose only chance for survival depends on the race. I couldn’t put it down. Fantastic characters. Intense, action-packed story. It’s been months since I read this story, and I’m still thinking about the characters and some of the key moments.
Published January 11, 2022 | My Review
Newest favorite character?
Luca from BAD THINGS HAPPEN HERE. I felt all of her emotions. Got completely swept away in her desperation and grief. Her confusion. She’s probably not the most easily likeable character, but I love even that about her.
Book that made you cry?
Full Flight by Ashley Schumacher
What you need to know: Romance between a saxophone player and mellophone player in the midst of a marching competition. Tragic story about “finding first love and what happens when it’s over too soon.” Um, yeah, I absolutely sobbed through the sad part of this one. I’m still not over it, and I love Ashley Schumacher’s books.
Published February 22, 2022 | My Review
Book that made you happy?
Anything But Fine by Tobias Madden
What you need to know: An injury ends Luca’s dreams of dancing professionally and means he must start over: New school. New friends. New crush on the (reportedly) straight star athlete. There’s a lot of grief in this book, and that part totally gutted me, especially as a former dancer myself. But all the parts about figuring out new relationships and love and healing were amazing and so perfect. I loved them.
Published March 29, 2022 | My Review
The most beautiful book you’ve bought so far this year?
This Rebel Heart by Katherine Locke
What you need to know: A magic river kept a girl’s family safe in WWII Hungary. Now she must decide whether to finally take her chance to escape to safety or fight for revolution. Oh. My. Gosh. The writing in this book left me aching. The magic. And the revolution. And the characters. I love it.
Release date: April 5, 2022 | My Review
What books do you need to read by the end of the year?
Well, lots of them! I missed a few from my winter and spring anticipated lists, so I definitely want to get to those before the year is out:
I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys
One for All by Lillie Lainoff
See You Yesterday by Rachel Lynn Solomon
Favorite book to movie adaptation you’ve seen this year?
I am terrible at keeping up with book to movie adaptations. If I haven’t read the book yet, I won’t watch it. On top of that, I’m not great at keeping up with movies, either. There are lots of book to movie or TV shows on my list, though. I’ve been thinking about doing a book vs. movie post when I do watch them to compare. A few on my list for those posts are:
Howl’s Moving Castle
Heartstopper
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Favorite post you’ve written so far this year?
Hmmm. I’m not really sure what my favorite post might be. Probably a list post. My most recent list post is a summer reading list of backlist titles I’m hoping to read. These have been on my reading list for too long, and what better time to read them than the summer?
What are your favorite books you’ve read this year?
What books have you read this year that you are NOT done talking about? Are you looking forward to reading anything specific in the second half of the year?
If you created a Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag post, link it in the comments so I can check it out and see what your favorites are!
Woo hoo! You did a tag! I am very, very bad about all sorts of challenges, and reading this point made me realize I am also very bad about favorites. Since I read so that I can recommend books to my students, my favorites tend to change depending on what student is standing in front of me! This post made me think that I should do a similar post, but I will probably just go read more books instead. I did start a spreadsheet this year which makes me happy.
Thank you! Haha. 😁 I know what you mean– it’s like the overlap in the Venn Diagram of favorites and book recommendations. Also, yay for spreadsheets! I have one that I use to track books I agreed to review and when they get posted, but I’ve been thinking I should add a star rating or something in there for my records as well.