The one tag that keeps coming back is the Mid Year Book Freak Out Tag. Candyce shared her answers earlier this month and I figured it was time I would do the same. So let’s dive in to it!

Best Book You’ve Read So Far

I actually think I’ve read the best books so far early in the year. Both Untethered Sky & The Dragon Republic were a couple of my January reads and both 5 star reads I adored. The might also both be on top of that list because I was surprised by how much I loved them.

Best Sequel You’ve Read So Far

Never a Hero is one of my most recent reads but also the first book that came to mind for this question. I loved this book so much and I can’t wait for the next book. Fence vol. 5 also deserved a mention, I was so scared we weren’t getting new volumes because I never heard about it anymore and all of a sudden there was vol 5. Luckily vol. 6 has already been announced.

New Release You Haven’t Read Yet, But Want To

Spice Road was a book I mentioned so often and somehow I still haven’t read it. I’m still excited about this release so I hope to read it this year. A release I hadn’t heard much about beforehand was Fourth Wing, but since the release it has been everywhere. So of course I want to try it for myself.

Most Anticipated Release for the Second Half of the Year

Is anyone surprised if I say my answer is The Brothers Hawthorne & The Fragile Threads of Power? Do I need to say anything else? Two of my favorite series by two of my favorite authors are getting more books so of course those are my most anticipated releases.

Biggest Disappointment

Arch-Conspirator by Veronica Roth seemed like a winner, an Antigone retelling and a Tor Books novella. Usually I love all Tor novella’s I pick up. But this one was a big letdown for me. It just didn’t work for me, the world building was lacking and I just didn’t enjoy it.

Biggest Surprise

The Serpent & the Wings of Night was such a great read. I never expected to like this as much as I did. It was a recommendation on TikTok that got me to pick it up and I flew through it. Now I have to read the next book soon!

Favorite New Author (Debut or New to You)

Fonda Lee & S.A. Chakraborty are both possible new favorite authors. I’ve read one book by both of them now and loved them. And I have more of their books on my shelves, which I hope to read soon. If I love those as much as I did the first ones, they might become actual favorite authors of mine.

Newest Fictional Crush

Nezha from The Poppy War series was already an interesting character in the first book, but he definitely wiggled his way into my heart in the Dragon Republic. I don’t want to say too much because I feel like I might spoil things, but oh my do I love him.

Newest Favorite Character

Basically the whole cast of Haikyu have become my new favorites haha. I adore this manga series so much, I’ve read the first 12 volumes and have 4 more volumes on the way. The characters are hilarious and I love getting to know all of them more and more.

Book That Made You Cry

My reread of the Throne of Glass series is making me cry so much haha. But also Never a Hero, The Dragon Republic & The Burning God have gotten me to shed some tears. And especially the Burning God made it difficult for me, as I was walking around New York listening to the audiobook trying not to cry in public haha.

Favorite Book to Film Adaptation You’ve Seen This Year

Daisy Jones & the Six! I loved the tv show and definitely want to watch it again. It was so well done and mostly got the vibe of the book right. I also loved the music and it made me reread the book twice this year haha.

Most Beautiful Book You’ve Bought or Received This Year

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi is definitely the most beautiful book I’ve gotten this year. Candyce and I gifted each other these for our birthdays <3.

What Book(s) Do You Need to Read by the End of the Year

Jade City & Five Dark Fates need to be read haha. I am ashamed of still not having finished Five Dark Fates yet. And since I think Fonda Lee might be a new favorite author, I should really read Jade city as it has been sitting on my shelves for a while now. I expect both of these to be 5 stars so hopefully I will read them this year.

And that was my Mid Year Book Freak Out Tag! I always love doing this one and it was fun looking back through my reading year. It has been a really great reading year, I’ve read a ton of great books and I can’t wait to see what the rest of the year holds.