I can not believe that is it this time of year already! The Mid-Year Freak Out Tag is the second tag that I ever posted on my blog. It was fun to look back on that post and see how I answered these questions a year ago.
BEST BOOK YOU’VE READ SO FAR IN 2018
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
I have mentioned Never Let Me Go many times since I read it earlier this year, and I will continue talking about it until the end of time! It is going to haunt me forever. I truly think that this book is a masterpiece and I would be surprised if I find I book I enjoy more than this one in the second half of the year.
BEST SEQUEL YOU’VE READ SO FAR IN 2018
Only Human by Sylvain Neuvel (The Themis Files #3)
Ironically, my answer for this question last year was Waking Gods, the second book in The Themis Files. I do not read a lot of series so I didn’t have a lot of chose from, but The Themis Files is one of my favourite series and I thought Only Human was a perfect conclusion. There is not as much action as there was in the first two books, but I was still satisfied with it! Honourable mention: Puddin’ by Julie Murphy.
NEW RELEASE YOU HAVEN’T READ YET BUT WANT TO
Every Note Played by Lisa Genova
I have read and enjoyed every book that Lisa Genova has written, and I was thrilled when I heard she was releasing a new book! I can not believe I have not read Every Note Played yet but hopefully I will get to it this summer.
MOST ANTICIPATED RELEASE FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR
The Next Person You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
I almost squealed when I heard that Mitch Albom wrote a sequel to The Five People You Meet in Heaven, which is one of my favourite and most reread books. It is the only book release that I have a countdown for on my phone! I will say that I am a little nervous that it will not live up to my expectations.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT
The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo
Ugh, this book! I adore Reese Witherspoon, so I trusted her recommendation, but The Light We Lost was a major disappointment! It quickly became one of my least favourite book ever. I have not read any of her book club picks since I read The Light We Lost!
BIGGEST SURPRISE
The Names They Gave Us by Emery Lord
I have heard good things about Emery Lord, so when I was ordering books on Book Outlet during the Black Friday sale I decided to add The Names They Gave Us to my cart. I picked it up on whim last month and it absolutely blew me away! Sitting here thinking about it reminds me just how much I enjoyed it. It is beautifully written, has memorable characters, and a moving plot.
FAVOURITE NEW AUTHOR
Madeline Miller
I had heard so many amazing things about The Song of Achilles but just never got around to picking it up! When Circe was released, everyone was raving about it and the cover is so gorgeous that I just had to read it, and I absolutely loved it. I knew as soon as I finished that I need to read The Song of Achilles ASAP, and it was just as amazing. I will now read anything that Madeline Miller writes! She is creative, and a brilliant writer.
NEWEST FICTIONAL CRUSH
Just like I said last year, I do not get fictional crushes these days! My one and only will always be Mr. Darcy!
NEWEST FAVOURITE CHARACTER
Simon from Simon vs. The Homo Sapien’s Agenda by Becky Albertalli
I have completely fallen in love with Simon. He is completely charming and relatable in so many ways. My best friend reminds me so much of Simon, that I was instantly attached to his character and he has a special place in my heart.
BOOK THAT MADE YOU CRY
Tin Man by Sarah Winman
Tin Man is a quiet and beautiful book. It is one of those books that just sneaks up on you and before you know it, there are tears in your eyes. I was so deeply moved by the story, and the characters. There is something so bittersweet about a love that almost was.
BOOK THAT MADE YOU HAPPY
I Have Lost My Way by Gayle Forman
I never thought that a Gayle Forman book would make me happy! Her books are usually tearjerkers! I Have Lost My Way definitely has some difficult moments, but the friendships that form in this book brought a smile to my face. I love these characters and their personalities. It was a surprisingly sweet story!
FAVOURITE BOOK TO FILM ADAPTATION
Love, Simon
Love, Simon was so great!! There were definitely some differences between the book and the movie, but I can see why they made those changes. Nick Robinson truly brought the character of Simon to life. I also loved that Jennifer Gardner and Josh Duhamel played his parents, and they were perfect. I found myself crying multiple times!
FAVOURITE POST YOU HAVE DONE THIS YEAR
I loved writing this post about the books that the characters from the TV show Friends would love! Friends is my favourite TV show and it was interesting to reflect on the show and realize how many book references there are in the show.
MOST BEAUTIFUL BOOK YOU’VE BOUGHT THIS YEAR
Circe by Madeline Miller
I know I already talked about Circe, but it is truly the prettiest book I bought this year! In person, the gold is shiny and so eye-catching! It is a cover that does the beautiful story justice!
WHAT BOOK DO YOU NEED TO READ BY THE END OF THE YEAR
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
I am actually currently reading Six of Crows! I have been wanting to read it for years and it is finally happening!!
I don’t know why, but I always want to call them the Themsis files … I don’t know where that extra s is coming from, but my brain has decided it is so haha I have Only Human on my shelf and am really looking forward to finally reading how it all ends. Series finales are always kind of bittersweet.
Stuff like that happens to me all of the time! My brain decides something is said a certain way and I just can’t shake it! I have a hard time finishing series because I hate to see them end and I am often unsatisfied with how it ends!
I get that predicament entirely! There is nothing more upsetting than an unsatisfying end to a series!
I have a feeling that I will also read anything that Madeline Miller writes. I’m nearly done with Circe and cannot wait to read The Song of Achilles next.
I have added Every Note Played to my TBR list as I loved Still Alice. 🙂 Hope you’ll get to read it soon.
Great list, I really enjoyed reading your answers. 🙂
Thank you! I am so excited to see what Madeline Miller writes next!
I am planning on reading Every Note Played next! I hope I love it as much as Still Alice.
I can’t believe Mitch Albom is writing another book! I’m just going to have to read it. He used to be one of my favorite authors when I was younger. I love your answers to these! 🙂
Thank you! I am always on the look out for Mitch Albom’s next book! One of my fee auto buy authors!
So many great recs here… this is so good!
Thank you!
Everyone needs to stop reminding me that the year is already half over!! HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE!!?!??
I didn’t know Mitch Albom wrote a sequel!!! SQUEEEEEEEE!!!! I need to get that… and I need to get it for my dad as well! (I’m with you though, I’m very worried it won’t compare..)
I can’t believe it either!! I will probably get my dad a copy of Mitch Albom’s new book as well! He is the one that introduced me him. I really hope it is amazing!
That’s so funny! My dad introduced me to him as well!! 💖💖
Hahaha they really are such dad books!
I love how this tag really makes you look back at your reading for the year and makes you realize which books you still need to read 😂 I’m doing this tag again too in a couple of weeks and I can’t wait to see what my answers will be 🤗
It was interesting to look back on all the books I have read so far this year! I can’t wait to see your answers!
It’s too bad you didn’t enjoy The Light we Lost. I didn’t even know Reese Witherspoon had a book club, I love her! Shame it appears that her book recommending skills aren’t as great as her acting ones!
I love her too! I am sure she recommends a lot of great books as well. One of the books was Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, which I adored. Hopefully I will start reading her picks again, but I will definitely read reviews first!
That sounds like a great plan! 🙂
I can’t believe we’re already half way through the year! Crazy! When I read, best sequel this year my first thought went to Puddin’. Even though I’m still not finished it, I kinda don’t want to be finished it haha, it’s just so good and can be so relatable.
The new Mitch Albom book is exciting! I read the five people you’ll meet in heaven and loved it. I’m curious what this new book will be about!
I know! It feels like yesterday I was doing this tag for the first time! Puddin’ is so relatable. I just loved it! Apparently The Next Person You Meet in Heaven follows the girls that he died saving in the first book. I am so looking forward to it!
Haha, time flies!
Ohhhh that should be interesting! 🙂
I haven’t heard of The Five People You Meet in Heaven until now so I looked it up and, honestly, the blurb makes it sound like it’s right up my alley. I adore books that explore the idea of afterlife!
I think you will love it! It is a quick but powerful read. So moving!
I was moved by Sarah Winman’s Tin Man and feel for all three characters at the end 😭. The writing was simple and poetic. I also liked Winman’s ‘When God Was a Rabbit’ which I think was her first novel.
That is the perfect way to describe Tin Man. I read When God Was a Rabbit years ago and loved it as well but remember so little about it. Time for a reread I think!
Kristin, you simply must read Six of Crows!!! It’s the best! Haha 😊
I am so in to it right now! So good!!!
Great post! I read the Sleeping Giants years ago way before the sequel was even being spoken about but I adored it. Now I remember just about nothing from it and haven’t read any of the other books because of that. I really need to get on that!
Ah it gets even better! The second book is fantastic!
Ah you’re reading Six of Crows… I’m currently rereading it too. hope you like it. 🙂 🙂
I am loving it! Trying to read it slowly because I don’t want it to end!
hehe.. I know the feeling. ❤️❤️
I can’t wait for Mitch Albom’s new book! Ahhh, dying to get my hands on it. OMG, I forgot all about Love, Simon when I did my mid-year freak out post. It was so great too. I think I need to go edit my post to include it HAHA. I need to read Six of Crows too!
I love finding other people who love Mitch Albom!! Love, Simon was amazing! I am almost done Six of Crows and I would say it lives up to the hype!
ahh amazing blogpost! i haven’t read a lot of these but i will get to them! ~ reet
Thank you! I hope you enjoy them!