Mid Year Freak Out Tag 2020

It is nearing mid-summer, which means it's time for the mid year freak out tag! This tag shows the ups and downs of my reading so far. I have read 63 books so far this year, but I will be highlighting only a few in this tag.

This tag was created by Chami and Ely who both have channels on Youtube.

1. Best book you’ve read so far in 2020

I have read many great books so far but the one that exceeds them all is Home Before Dark by Riley Sager. This book was absolutely everything I wanted. It was scary. It had a book element in the story, which in my opinion is one of the best things that could be in a book. It was overall absolutely amazing. 5/5 stars, one of my new all time favorites!

2. Best sequel you've read so far in 2020

I am not a huge series reader, but when I get into one, it is hard for me to wait between books. Supernova by Marissa Meyer, the finale to the renegades trilogy, was released last November, but I wasn't able to read it until closer to the New Year. I waited an entire year for this book and that was one of the hardest waits I have ever had to endure. The second book Archenemies left on a big cliffhanger and introduced many new subplots that I was dying to know how Meyer would wrap up. But she does and it's great!

3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to.

Grady Hendrix's new book just got released this year called The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires. This book sounds just up my alley. It has a book club element and vampires, which both appeal to me. I have also heard some pretty good things about it and I want to know what's up.

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

Although my most anticipated book was already released (Home Before Dark), I do still have some anticipated books. Two books I am anticipating for the second half of the year include Ruth Ware's new book One By One. I loved Ruth Ware's newest book The Turn of the Key so much and so I am very excited for the new book. I am also very excited for Samantha Downing's new book He Started It. I haven't read her previous book (My Lovely Wife) but I do plan to do so soon.

5. Biggest disappointment.

As a big fan of Katrina Leno's books (at least the two I have read), I was very excited to read her latest release You Must Not Miss. This book was not what I was expecting. In comparison to Summer of Salt and Everything All at Once, this was really bad. The main issue I had with this book was the main character. Magpie was just so selfish and self centered and an overall really annoying character to read about. For me, I have to care about the character in some way in order to be really invested in the story and for this book, I really didn't care about Magpie. In addition, the ending was so weird, abrupt, rushed and just strange that it left me very unsatisfied.

6. Biggest surprise.

In the midst of the pandemic, I decided to read Dry by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman. This book was so intense and provoked so many emotions while I was reading it. I felt so invested in the characters and in each decision they made. While I was reading I was so thirsty, which I know is a common feeling when reading this book. In general, so intense and realistic. Reading it during the pandemic really helped bring to life what was happening in the book since the characters are dealing with a severe drought which brings up a similar fears as Covid-19 does.

7. Favorite new author (debut or new to you).

A new favorite author so far is R.S. Grey. She writes romantic comedies. They are so easy to get into, fast reads that are really satisfying to read. Even though she has a very extensive back list, each of the books are quite different and don't really follow any formulaic plot, which can be the case sometimes. Though all of her books are rom coms, they do vary in type of romance, such as friends to lovers, enemies to lovers, and others. They also vary in setting and characters. She has done medical and sports romances, as well as a variety of others with characters of varying professions and status. My favorite of hers so far is Doctor Dearest.

8. Newest fictional crush.

Graham from All Your Perfects is just so sweet and funny, I really enjoyed reading about his character. In the epilogue, he was so great with Quinn and just a great character in general.

9. Newest favorite character.

Thus far in the year, I have not encountered a new favorite character, which is somewhat surprising given we are more than halfway through the year. But I reread two of my favorite books and I love the characters in these. The two books are Stalking Jack the Ripper and The Lumberjanes. Both of these books have a great cast of characters that I have enjoyed reading about since the first read through.

10. Book that made you cry.

To be honest, I have never cried while reading a book. Therefore I don't really have an answer for this question. I will say though, All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover is really powerful and real. I cannot relate to the characters like some people can, but still felt all the emotions and struggles.

11. Book that made you happy.

Lots of books so far have made me happy for a variety of reasons. Supernova, the final book in the Renegades series by Marissa Meyers, made me happy because I was so excited to be back in the world after a year of waiting for its release and because I was so excited to see how the series concluded. In addition to Supernova, books by Kasie West make me happy, especially her newer books that all have interesting premises. Three of my favorites include Maybe This Time, Fame Fate and the First Kiss, and Listen to Your Heart. Though these aren't perfect stories, they are really fun, light reads that are a real pleasure to read.

12. Most beautiful book you've bought so far this year (or received)

This would have to be a three way tie between The Wicker King by K. Ancrum, The Kingdom by Jess Rothenberg, and The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov. I think all these covers are really pretty and also accurately show what the books are about (at least for the first two books since those are the two I have read.) In addition, The Master and Margarita has deckled edges which makes it that much fancier.

13. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?

SO MANY!!! But some books high on the priority are The Southern Book Club Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix, the new releases I mentioned earlier (One by One and He Started It), the Illuminae series, which you will hear me talk about again soon, and finally Lobizona by Romina Garber. I have heard very good things about this last book and I am excited for its release in early August.

Those are all my answers for this year's mid year freak out tag. Hopefully you got a better sense of my reading taste. Be sure to check out other people's responses on Youtube!