Mid Year Freak Out Tag 2021
I can't believe it's time to do this tag again! It feels like not that long ago since I did this tag last year. This year hasn't been the best reading month for me due to being extremely busy, but as of writing this, I have read 49 books.
This tag was created by Chami and Ely who both have channels on Youtube.
1. Best book you’ve read so far in 2020
If you get my newsletter you already know 4 of my favorite books, but I am going to highlight another one. That one is Trauma Junkie: Memoirs of an Emergency Flight Nurse. Fun fact about me, I love medical stuff. This year I started watching helicopter ER shows on Youtube and on Amazon Prime and have been loving them. After watching all I could find, I started looking up books about Helicopter ERs. Hence, I found this book and oh my goodness! It was just as good as the shows. This book is super fast paced with numerous medical cases that span the gambit of medical accidents and conditions. It also talks about life as a helicopter ER nurse which I found equally interesting. If you enjoy medical shows or learning about medical things in general I highly recommend.
2. Best sequel you've read so far in 2020
So... I've only read 3 sequels, so my answer is somewhat defaulted to these two books since I didn't like the third sequel I read. Those two sequels are The Prisoner of Azkaban and The Captive Kingdom. I enjoyed the third Harry Potter book and I will continue to read the series. I'm not super invested in the books, but I do enjoy the books when I read them. Captive Kingdom is the fourth book in the Ascendence series. This series is seriously under-hyped and I love it! I highly recommend to literally anyone, whether you are a fantasy reader or not. I really want to reread it sometime in the future. It's just so good.
3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to
Umm... SO MANY, but I will limit it to three books: The Last Goodbye by Fiona Lucas, Hostage by Claire Mackintosh, and Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto. These were all released recently and I want to read them all soon!!!!
4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year
Well, my two most anticipated releases of the year have already been released so... I'll have to go with another book. I think the book I am most looking forward to is Stephanie Garber's new book Once Upon a Broken Heart. She wrote on of my all time favorite series (Caraval) and hasn't released a new one since that series and I've been desperate for a new book from her. I honestly barely know anything about this book, but I don't need to know it to be excited!
5. Biggest disappointment
The Other Side of the Sky by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner as well as The Push by Ashley Audrain were both very disappointing. I rated both 3 stars. The Other Side of the Sky sounded like a really cool genre blending novel with fantasy, sci-fi and some romance but what it turned out to be was boring. The Push sounded like my perfect book, but ended up being slow and anticlimactic. I felt like I was waiting the entire novel for something shocking or a twist or a reveal and to my dismay it never came. But I will say, that last line was wow....
6. Biggest surprise
I would have to say Snapdragon by Kat Leyh. This book I added to the list of my favorites of the year on my newsletter. I think what makes this book such a surprise is that I picked it up on a complete whim at the library. It was just on display and the illustrations intrigued me when I picked it up. I then read the book in one sitting and then went on to reread it that same weekend because I loved it so much.
7. Favorite new author (debut or new to you)
I would have to say Nadia Hashimi who wrote Stars like Sparks. I absolutely loved this historical fiction for many reasons, but most notable, I love how this book perfectly blends history and fiction. It has just enough historical research that it feels like a historical fiction, but the way the book is written is so much like a fictional book that you get completely sucked into the story. Overall, I absolutely love this book.
8. Newest fictional crush
I haven't really read too many romance novels this year that I would note anyone particular. Maybe later this year!
9. Newest favorite character
I really liked all the characters in the Debbie Macomber books I've read this year. They just have so much depth and are so realistic. I would love to meet any of them in real life and just sit down for a drink with them in a cute coffee shop. I would say, especially the characters in The Inn of Rose Harbor. I loved the main character of this one and already plan on continuing the series. I have a review of this book on the blog which you can check out here!
10. Book that made you cry
I still have yet to cry from a book, but I will say that A Walk Along the Beach is super touching. There are definitely tear jerking moments in this one. This one follows two sisters one of whom has cancer which has just come back before she was going to embark on a huge climbing trip.
11. Book that made you happy
Funny enough, I was going to talk about Sunkissed by Kasie West when I noticed that last year for this same question I wrote Kasie West books as my answer. But, her books are just such happy books that bring me so much joy. This one takes place at a summer camp/resort setting and I absolutly loved that setting. It was a perfect read to start my summer.
12. Most beautiful book you've bought so far this year (or received)
I saw this book on Instagram and instantly wanted to buy it. I absolutely LOVE the cover. That book is The Magical Imperfect by Chris Baron. This is a middle grade novel written in verse about an unlikely friendship. I love the whole whimsical vibe and the art style in general.
13. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?
The list is literally never ending. I don't want to feel an obligation to read something by the end of the year, but it would be nice to read Last Summer at the Golden Hotel, The Last Goodbye, and of couse my BOTM. Some of my BOTM I need to read that would be good summer picks include The Wife Upstairs, Arsenic and Adobo, and People We Meet on Vacation. (If you want to sign up for BOTM and get one of these or any of their other picks for $5 I have a referral code! Click here!)
This tag is really fun to do each year and I hope you enjoyed reading my responses! If you have a favorite read from the year so far, I would love to know below in the comments!