We’ve seen it all over the bookish blogs and booktube for years. It is time, once again, for the Mid Year Freak Out Tag! This is something that I’ve done the past few years, like many of you, and I always enjoy it. So, here is to 2020. What a crap year it has been but hopefully the second half treats us all a little bit kinder.

BEST BOOK YOU’VE READ SO FAR IN 2020

We Hunt the Flame (Sands of Arawiya #1) by Hafsah Faizal – I read this book in April while we were all up to our face masks in COVID isolation. It brought me out of a terrible reading slump and gave me something to feel good about during a terrible time.

BEST SEQUEL YOU’VE READ SO FAR IN 2020

A Heart so Fierce and Broken (Cursebreakers #2) by Brigid Kemmerer – So often when reading a series I find that the second book just isn’t as good as the first one. However, while I loved A Curse so Dark and Lonely, a Heart so Fierce and Broken blew me away. This book was an amazing sequel that surpassed its predecessor.

NEW RELEASE YOU HAVEN’T READ YET BUT WANT TO

A Song of Wraiths a Ruin (A Song of Wraiths and Ruin #1) by Roseanne A Brown – I purchased this book shortly after its release and am very much looking forward to reading it. It has been sitting on my shelves simply because I’m not in the mood for full on fantasy right now and know if I try to pick it up I won’t be able to get into it.

MOST ANTICIPATED RELEASE FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab – I. Need. This. Book. Not only do I love Schwab’s writing but the plot sounds so fresh and interesting. This is easily my most anticipated book of the year and I cannot wait to read it.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

The Betrothed (The Betrothed #1) Kiera Cass – What even was this garbage. Romanticized mental abuse, romanticized cheating, shallow characters, no real plot, and did I mention the romanticized abuse? No. Just no.

BIGGEST SURPRISE

Bone Criers Moon (Bone Grace #1) by Kathryn Purdie – This book came to me in an OwlCrate box this year and until I opened the box I had never even heard of it or the author. So, I slipped in onto my OwlCrate shelf and figured I’d get to it eventually, maybe. But as these things go, something about it kept pulling at me so I gave in and read it and could not put it down! This book really sucked me and had me looking for more book by Purdie to read.

FAVOURITE NEW AUTHOR

Hafsah Faizal – I mentioned above that when I read We Hunt the Flame I was completely grossed. Faizal’s writing style really spoke to me and drew me into the story. I can’t wait to read more by her in the future.

NEWEST FICTIONAL CRUSH

I never know what to say for questions like this. I get engrossed in stories, in the characters, but can’t say that I feel anything for them other than fascination for the most part.

NEWEST FAVOURITE CHARACTER

Oh hello. I loved this book and Hawke got to me good and proper. From his first scene you knew that something was up with him, that he was going to be important. From about the midway point you got a good feeling for who he was developing towards but it was just a joy to go on that journey with him.

BOOK THAT MADE YOU CRY

None? None. I like to laugh, I like a good jump scare, and I love violent scenes but crying over a book is not my jam.

BOOK THAT MADE YOU HAPPY

This year I did a second read through of The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman and it is absolutely wonderful. The characters are vibrant and distinct, the plot had good pacing, and just the overall story was just an utter joy. I’m going to reread the rest of the series as well as soon as the hardcopies I ordered arrive at my door.

FAVOURITE BOOK TO FILM ADAPTATION

Hah! Are you kidding me? I can’t even remember the last movie I watched no less if it was a book to film adaptation.

FAVOURITE POST YOU HAVE DONE THIS YEAR

It has to be Life and Other Musings. In that post I talked not so much about books but about myself and my own life. That isn’t something that I do often and it felt good to let out some of the thoughts clouding my head.

MOST BEAUTIFUL BOOK YOU’VE BOUGHT THIS YEAR

A Song of Wraiths and Ruin (A Song of Wraiths and Ruin #1) by Roseanne A. Brown – This book cover is absolutely beautiful. I pull it off my shelf from time to time just to look at it. Outside of the cover model and outfit being stunning, even the background and lettering are wonderfully done. Lovely addition to any bookshelf.

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

Rosewater (The Wormwood Trilogy #1) by Tade Thompson – I ran across this title in early June and even though it seems to have won several awards and is highly rated I haven’t seen it around before. That seems like a damn shame. Sounds like a wonderful book and I’m going to be getting my hands on it sometimes soon.