I do these tags really irregularly, but I took the time to put something up last year and had a lot of fun with it. So, this is my attempt at bringing the Mid Year Book Freak Out Tag back on a more regular basis. As in yearly. Hopefully.

*By clicking on the covers, you’ll be re-directed to the Goodreads pages of the books!*

BEST BOOK YOU’VE READ YET IN 2021

I’ve only given 5 stars to ONE (fiction) book this year, so I feel like that has to be the one I mention for this prompt? I’m talking about Soulswift, a breathtaking and soul-crushing standalone fantasy novel here. I’m honestly still shocked that not more people have discovered this book yet.

BEST SEQUEL YOU’VE READ SO FAR IN 2021

The only books that were part of a series that I read this year were the Grishaverse books. I don’t feel super happy giving King of Scars this spot on the post, because I wasn’t actually as happy with it as I would have liked to be, but it’s the only one that makes sense. I should read more series again maybe …

NEW RELEASE YOU HAVEN’T READ YET BUT WANT TO

For the Wolf by Hannah F. Whitten is 100% up there! The book just sounds like it would be right up my alley and I’m really excited to dive into it once I can get my hands on a copy!

The first daughter is for the Throne.
The second daughter is for the Wolf.

MOST ANTICIPATED RELEASE FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR

I don’t know when this happened or why it really even happened, but I found myself drawn to more horror-esque books these past years. It’s such a weird change for me, because I literally hate being terrified, but apparently I don’t hate being just a little freaked out? I don’t know, but I’m super hyped to read The Taking of Jake Livingston.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

I was so very sad to not have connected with My Year Abroad. I felt like there should have been enough basis from my real life experiences to make this book an outstanding read for me, but somehow, I just wasn’t the right reader for it. I saw a lot of people enjoy the style of writing, while I found it a bit dragging and difficult to get through.

BIGGEST SURPRISE

Honestly, before I started reading Any Human Heart, I really didn’t believe I was going to like it. I had read (or at least attempted to read) another book by the same author and I was incredibly bored. With this one though, despite me not really liking the main character, I felt it had so much emotion. In the end, I really enjoyed the journey we had together.

FAVOURITE NEW AUTHOR

You all know how much I adore Morgan Matson and how I will devour anything she writes? Well, I found an author with a similar style of writing, who evokes the same feelings in me. Through The Summer of Broken Rules, K.L. Walther managed to capture my heart and I would love to read future books by the author. This one transported me right to a summery vacation destination, so I’m here for more.

NEWEST FICTIONAL CRUSH

To further elaborate the previous answer, I really, really enjoyed The Summer of Broken Rules because it introduced me to Wit. He’s such a lovely love interest and I don’t know how else to put it. I like caring, at times dorky guys with a healthy dose of humor and he provides all that!

NEWEST FAVOURITE CHARACTER

Hmmm … that’s a tough one. I met some great characters throughout the year so far, but I think I might have to give this one to Nina Riva from Malibu Rising. I don’t know how to explain it, but I found a lot of myself in her, which made me feel uncomfortable at times. But I also loved it?

BOOK THAT MADE YOU CRY

Ugh, I hate repeating answers so much, but Malibu Rising it is again. That book lost me a little bit in parts of the second half, but I felt a really big emotional connection to it and it definitely had me well up a couple times. Something about the setting and the family theme just got to me more than I expected.

BOOK THAT MADE YOU HAPPY

While Hana Khan Carries On definitely has some more serious elements to it that weren’t always easy to handle, Hana’s passion for her podcast and a career in the world of radio had be so excited and happy to keep reading this book. The fact that she also has a “You’ve Got Mail”-style romance was just the cherry on top.

FAVOURITE BOOK TO SCREEN ADAPTATION

Okay, this just HAS to be Shadow and Bone! Despite some flaws, the casting of this show was impeccable and gave us so much fun and heartwarming new content for the Grishaverse. I mean, that show made me utterly fall in love with Mal and while I liked him in the books (contrary to most of the fandom, I think), I ADORED the boy on the show. Cannot wait for season 2!

FAVOURITE POST YOU HAVE DONE THIS YEAR

This is also super easy to answer for me, which is rare to be honest. I’m not trying to say that I’m not usually proud of my own content, but I was especially happy to publish my “Are Tom Hiddleston and I compatible (readers)?” post a few weeks back. It is now developing into a full blown series, where I read the favorite books of celebs and see if we would be a match or not. I think it’s such a fun feature that combines my love for reading with my admiration of all things TV and film. I hope you enjoy reading it just a fraction of how much I loved creating this post/future series.

MOST BEAUTIFUL BOOK YOU’VE BOUGHT THIS YEAR

Last year, I mentioned a poetry collection for this special prompt and I’m going to stick with that again this year. I think Where Hope Comes From is such a gorgeous book inside and out! It was written during the times of Covid, so I understand if not everyone is up for that emotional exploration, but I think it was really beautiful.

WHAT BOOKS DO YOU NEED TO READ BY THE END OF THE YEAR

SO. VERY. MANY. But just because I’m a terrible person and haven’t read the books I mentioned in 2020 yet. I’m going to put those exact same ones here again.

If We Were Villains and Dark Age. are still on my shelf and I have no excuse as to why I haven’t picked them up. Literally none. (Other than the fact that the size of Dark Age scares me.)

I TAG THEE

I tag whoever wants to do this as well! If that’s you, then I tag YOU!!!

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What did you think of my answers for the prompts of the tag? How is your reading year going so far? Let’s talk!!