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Hi everybody! We are officially in the second half of the year (when did that happen?) so it’s time again for the Mid Year Book Freakout Tag! This tag is created by ReadLikeWildfire and Ely Jayne
At this moment, I’ve read 32 books of my 2023 goal of 50. And there were some definite winners in there as well. So I’m pretty happy with the reading I’ve done so far this year.
That said, let’s just get started with this bookish freakout!
1. Best book you’ve read so far in 2023.
I jumped on the hype train and I have no regrets. Fourth Wing was an amazing read and I’m already so excited for the sequel.
2. Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2023.
I LOVE MY LITTLE HELL HEIST CREW SO MUCH! Hell Bent delivered everything I wanted and more.
3. New release you haven’t read yet, but want to.
I’ve loved every Ali Hazelwood book so far, I’m pretty sure I’ll love this one too.
4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year.
I’ve been wanting this book ever since I read the first book in the series and fell in love with Sloane and Lucian. I’m BEYOND excited to get to their story!
5. Biggest disappointment.
My first book of the year did not live up to the hype for me. The plot was all over the place and it all lasted way too long.
6. Biggest surprise.
I picked up Things We Never Got Over on a whim, because I’d seen book bloggers talk about it and wanted to give it a try so I dove in without knowing too much about it… AND SUBSEQUENTLY BECAME OBSESSED!
7. Favourite new author. (Debut or new to you)
I’ve never read any Carissa Broadbent before, but after falling in love with The Serpent and the Wings of Night, I want to check out her backlist for sure!
8. Newest fictional crush.
Do I have a bigger crush on Connor or on Fizzy? I’m not sure, but I am sure I crushed on the entirety of The True Love Experiment!
9. Newest favourite character.
Again, I’m not sure whether I love Diana or Dallas more, but the two of them together are a definite win.
10. Book that made you cry.
Happy Place was so relatable in its exploration of friendships and how they change as you get older and ugh, I cried so many tears, both happy and sad. (Mostly happy.)
11. Book that made you happy.
TJ Klune is the master of cozy fantasies and delicious humor. I laughed so much while reading In The Lives of Puppets, mostly with the antics of Nurse Ratched and Rambo.
12. Favourite book to film adaptation you saw this year.
Daisy Jones and the Six took over most of the first half of my year. I think a lot of people who read the book by Taylor Jenkins Reid have been (im)patiently awaiting the release of this TV adaptation and I was one of them. Ever since I read the book, I fell in love with this fictional 70’s rock band and wished I could listen to their songs for real. And now that wish came true! I ADORED this show. Though it’s been a few years since I read the book, I don’t remember everything 100% so I can’t say exactly how accurate the adaptation was exactly, but I feel like the overall vibes and storylines were SPOT ON. The characters from the book really came to life and I once again became so invested in their lives. I laughed, I cried, I sang along. I think this will be one of my favorite adaptations of the year and maybe ever.
13. Favourite review you’ve written this year.
Honestly, I’ve been doing pretty well with writing reviews on a more regular basis this year (so far) so they’re kind of all of my favorites?
Though special shout-out to my review for the last Guild Codex: Warped edition, because I haven’t raved about any Annette Marie book yet in this post and that is a shame because THEY ARE ALL SO GOOD and I always love being reunited with Kit!
14. Most beautiful book you’ve bought so far this year (or received)
I love the look of the Lovelight Farms books (both the old and the new covers, though I have a soft spot for the old ones)
15. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?
So many, but here are some upcoming releases I want to read and some previous 2023 releases I still hope to read this year as well.
I Tag You!
What are some of your favorites this year so far? And your most anticipated reads for the rest of the year?
Daisy Jones was such an amazing adaptation! The audiobook was awesome, and this really brought it to life even more!
Yes, the Daisy Jones audiobook was indeed already amazing and this adaptation really made it come to life even more – I LOVED the Aurora album so much!
I love all of your answers! I am just going to comment on one – your biggest disappointment. I tried to read that book. I didn’t even get more than 10% in. Your thoughts made me glad I DNF’d it when I did.
Yes, it’s not a read I would recommend and I don’t think I’ll read the next book in the series either.
My copy of Fourth Wing is currently waiting at the post office and I’m gonna pick it up tomorrow! 😀
I hope you’re loving Fourth Wing! 🙂
Wow I agree with Fourth Wing, Hell Bent, Happy Place, ITLOP…
Yay, glad we have so many favorites in common!
Great summary! Hard to believe the first half of 2023 is behind us already.
So true, the year is moving so quickly!
This is fabulous. Thanks for sharing all these! Really loved Hell Bent.
Hell Bent was so good, glad to hear you loved it too!
Fun tag! Daisy Jones is my favorite book to screen adaptation this year too. 🙂
Daisy Jones was just so amazing! 🙂
I need to stop putting off Fourth Wing and just dive in. I’m nervous because I’m just not a fantasy reader. I loved Diana and Dallas, too! The slow evolution of their relationship was so perfect.
I think you’d probably enjoy Fourth Wing even if you’re not a fantasy reader, because the worldbuilding is relatively low but the romance is definitely present 🙂 Hope you’ll love it!
The slow burn between Diana and Dallas was just amazing, one of the best ones I’ve read so far.