We’re officially over halfway through the year and so it is time for me to join a book blogging tradition – The Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag!
It’s my first time doing it, as I am new to the book blogging world, but it entails answering 15 questions about the books you’ve read so far this year.
It was super fun to do, so I hope you enjoy reading!
Inspired by the Mid-Year Book Freak Out post from one of my favourite book bloggers, Drizzle and Hurricane Books.
1. Best book that you’ve read so far in 2019
How is it possible to answer this question? I’ve recently put together my Top Six of 2019 so far, and I still don’t know if I can choose between them.
Right now, I would have to say Normal People by Sally Rooney. It just completely blew me away.
2. Favourite sequel so far in 2019
I’ve read a few sequels this year and so this was hard to pick as well.
Firstly, The Wicked King by Holly Black was a fantastic sequel to The Cruel Prince – continuing the story while adding so much more to the narrative.
Secondly, as much as I liked To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han, it was the sequel PS. I Still Love You that I adored the most.
3. A new release that you haven’t read yet, but are looking forward to
There are SO MANY. Seriously, it feels like there’s a new must-read book released every day. And that’s not counting all the books that are already mounting high on my TBR.
Honestly, guys, it’s becoming a problem.
At the moment, high on my TBR is City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert and The Bride Test by Helen Hoang.
4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year
Would I be a book blogger if I didn’t say ‘Queen of Nothing’ by Holly Black?
November can’t come soon enough.
5. The biggest disappointment so far
Please don’t hate me. But for me, it’s The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon. The hype got to me. And the size defeated me.
I got about 100 pages in and I had to DNF it. Perhaps one day I can pick it up again, but at the moment it just isn’t for me.
6. The biggest surprise so far
The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle was a big surprise. I’m not much of a fan of mystery or crime books, and yet I was completely enthralled by this book.
I think this is because it is more than the standard Agatha-Christie-style plot it seems to be at first glance.
7. Favourite new author (debut, or new to you)
This one was a no-brainer. This is the year I discovered Sally Rooney… and then promptly read everything she has ever written!
8. New favourite fictional crush
I’m not really one for fictional ‘crushes’, or at least I haven’t been for many years now! But, I suppose part of the appeal of the After series was Harden’s character.
He is the definition of problematic, but the British-bad-boy-charisma just oozed off the page.
9. New favourite character
The Flatshare seems to have resonated with many of its readers, and I think a big part of that is because of Tiffy Moore. She is far from a typical leading lady of a rom-com.
Tiffy is relatable, funny, and flawed. Just like all good characters should be. You can’t help but fall in love with her by the last page.
10. A book that made you cry
A most recent book that made me cry was An American Marriage.
The justice system in the US is just so brutal, and Tayari Jones manages to portray every painful consequence.
11. A book that made you happy
In trying to answer this question I realised I don’t really read that many ‘happy’ books!
But perhaps the one with the most uplifting ending, that I enjoyed the most, was Every Colour of You by Amelia Mandeville.
12. Your favourite book to movie/ TV show that you’ve seen so far?
I think the only book I’ve read, that also has a movie adaptation I’ve seen, this year has been The Hate U Give.
It doesn’t quite pack the punch the novel does, but it does a pretty good job.
13. Your favourite post that you’ve written so far this year?
I started this blog in February, so this is basically asking me to choose my favourite post I’ve written so far! I think I’ve grown a lot already, and I’m proud of how far I’ve come, while recognising I’m still a long way from where I want to be.
One of the most difficult posts to share, but the most rewarding, was writing about my first smear test experience. It was the first in my ‘Real Talk’ series, and I have lots more to come!
Two of my recent bookish posts I liked writing was ‘The 15 LGBT Books You Should Read Next‘ and ‘10 Books For Writers To Be A Better Writer‘.
14. The most beautiful book that you have bought?
I loved the cover of The Binding, but alas it was a library book, so I don’t think it counts.
Instead, I think perhaps Normal People was a really striking cover or one of the vintage books I’ve picked up over the past few months, of which there are many!
15. The 6 books that you want to read by the end of the year?
I still have 8 books left on my ‘Most Anticipated Summer Reads‘ list!
More have since been added to my TBR, such as Machines Like Me by Ian McEwan and City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert.
I got so much inspiration from the book community for this post! Some of my favourites were The Literary Phoenix and Paper Procrastinators.
I wasn’t sure exactly which questions to answer as there were some differences in all the posts I read, but hopefully I at least got the main ones!
Please do join in with the tag if you haven’t already and share your own Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag posts below! I’d love to read them!
That’s awesome that you’ve already found so many amazing books that it’s hard to choose one! Mmm sometimes you know a character is problematic but you can’t help but love them anyway lol.
@Kristen absolutely lol, sometimes you just can’t help yourself! Yeah it’s been an awesome first half of 2019, thanks! Off to check out your blog – love the design!