Mid-Year Freakout: Book Tag

Whoops, initially I forgot to put an intro here… I guess what I would have said is that I can’t believe how quickly this year has gone by. I moved to Florida at the end of September last year, and I keep thinking we’ve only lived here a few months when actually we’ve almost lived here a full year. Crazy. So much has happened and yet it still feels like 2017 has just begun.

Without any further ado, here’s my Mid-Year Freakout tag! (I tried to only use a book once by the way, even though a lot were contenders for multiple categories!) Enjoy, and link me to yours if you want!

1. Best book you’ve read so far in 2017?

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

My Rating: 5/5 stars

Well of course I have to go with Strange the Dreamer! Laini Taylor is without a doubt one of my favorite authors, and I highly recommend her newest release to any book lover! The worlds she creates and the words she uses to build them never cease to amaze me. The characters are also top-notch and so easy to love. 😌💙💛💙

2. Your favorite sequel this year?

Our Dark Duet by Victoria Schwab

My Rating: 4.5/5 stars

I’m happy to say that the few sequels I have read this year have all been amazing, but that also makes this question a bit hard to answer. 😅 I have to go with Our Dark Duet on this one, because, wow, what a way to close a series! I don’t think I ever won’t cry in anything Victoria writes. 😂😭😂😭

3. A new release you haven’t read, but really want to?

Because You Love to Hate Me by Ameriie +

I don’t know why I haven’t purchased my own copy or at least requested a copy from my library yet, because this seems like my type of book! 13 short stories about villains? 😱 And more than a handful written by my favorite authors? 😱 Sign me up! 😈

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year?

An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson

I am excited for so, so, so many books, but An Enchantment of Ravens is the one I think I’ll enjoy most. I mean, the description sounds amazing, and I’ve seen nothing but positive reviews so far! Plus, okay it doesn’t hurt that Charlie Bowater designed this beautiful cover. 😄🙌🏼

5. Your Biggest Disappointment?

A Darkly Beating Heart by Lindsay Smith

My Rating: 2/5 stars

I’ve had a few disappointing reads so far this year–The 100, Our Chemical Hearts, and Spindle Fire, to name a few–but ADBH really takes the cake. It actually wasn’t as bad as The 100, as I had already expected it would be a letdown, but I had high hopes for ADBH. Ultimately, it just wasn’t what I had wanted, and both the characters and plot needed to be fleshed out much more. It was definitely my biggest disappointment of the year so far. 😞

6. Your biggest surprise?

Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

My Rating: 5/5 stars

I was going to save Gemina for favorite sequel, but, more importantly, it was my biggest surprise. I didn’t think it would be possible for me to love this sequel after enjoying Illuminae so much, but Amie and Jay sure proved me wrong. I started it late one night only, intending to read only a few chapters, and instead I stayed up until 4 AM to finish! 😅

7. Favorite new to you or debut author?

The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner

My Rating: 5/5 stars

I’m so grateful to my friend Katie (@bkstrblogger on Twitter) for having recommended Jeff Zentner’s works to me, as he has quickly become a favorite contemporary author of mine. Like my other favorite, Melina Marchetta, he always creates wonderfully realistic, flawed yet lovable characters that set them apart from the norm in the genre, and on top of that his writing is just so, so lyrical and enjoyable. 😩👌🏼

8. Your new fictional crush?

Flame in the Mist by Renée Ahdieh

My Rating: 4.5/5 stars

I would say Lazlo Strange from Strange the Dreamer, but I’ve already chosen Strange as my favorite 2017 read. I would also choose August Flynn from the Monsters of Verity duology, but I’m excluding him since he’s technically not a new crush or much of a love interest. After Lazlo, I have to go with Ōkami from Flame in the Mist. I just love how he encourages Mariko to go after what she wants in spite of the societal norms that are holding her back. *swoons* ☺️💓

9. New favorite character?

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

My Rating: 5/5 stars

Can I just cheat here and say both Inej Ghafa and Kaz Brekker since they’re from the same book? I mean, seriously. I would list the entire cast if I could, but specifically I really loved Inej, because she’s Inej, and Kaz, because I live for characters with complicated backstories and flawed personalities. ☠️🖤

10. A book that made you cry?

A Conjuring of Light by V. E. Schwab

My Rating: 5/5 stars

Of course this book made me cry! I was so incredibly sad to say goodbye to these characters and these vibrant worlds. (Ha, see what I did there?) Hopefully this is just the first of many stories that Victoria has left to tell. 😫🙏🏼

11. A book that made you happy?

I Believe in a Thing Called Love by Maurene Goo

My Rating: 4.5/5 stars

This book was pure fun! I hardly ever enjoy contemporary romance, but this one had me smiling the entire time! 😊 The romance was cute, but what really won me over were all of the on-point K-drama references as well as the relationship between Desi and her father. 🤣👌🏼

12. Your favorite book-to-movie adaption?

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

My Rating: 5/5 stars

Okay, well this isn’t a movie quite yet, but I haven’t seen any book-to-movie adaptations yet this year. I did however recently finish this powerful debut and cannot wait to see it brought to life. 😎🎥

13. Favorite book post so far?

I haven’t had the chance to do one in quite a while, but I really love doing my unpopular opinion posts, as I love finding others who share my opinion or help me see their side of things. ☺️👍🏼

14. Most beautiful book you have purchased or received this year?

Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones

My Rating: 4.25/5 stars

A lot of the previous books could have been chosen again for this category, so excluding them, I have to choose Wintersong. Truly gorgeous inside and out! JJ’s writing is. Phenomenal. 😍🙌🏼

15. What are some books that you need to read by the end of the year?

   

   

My TBR shelf on Goodreads has almost 500 books on it, so of course these are only a few of the books I hope to finish before the year is out. These are the ones I realistically hope to get to! 🙏🏼

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Thank you so much for tagging me, Courtney!! I had so much fun doing this, even if it was hard to choose! (Haha, but I guess it just goes to show you how great my year has gone, book-wise. ☺️)

I now tag @abbeyroadreviews and anyone else who hasn’t already been tagged but would like to join in! 😄

– Taylor