Mid Year Book Freak Out Tag 2019

I vaguely remember taking part in this either last year or the year before, and then I forgot all about it. I recently saw Emma’s mid year book freak out post over on A Cornish Geek and it reminded me about the tag and I decided to take part again (although it’s a little bit past the mid year point really).

Anyway, enough babble, onto the questions!

Best book you’ve read so far in 2019

I really enjoyed Lesley Kara’s The Rumour. It was one of those books that pulled me in and had me hooked right from the start.

Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2019

Pretties by Scott Westerfeld, the sequel to Uglies. The concept is fresh and different and the characters are interesting and pull you into the story. This book didn’t go the way I expected it to either, which is always a bonus.

New release you haven’t read yet, but want to

I’m not sure if it still counts as a new release as it was released late last year, but it would have to be A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult (and as it’s her most recent release I think I can count it). It’s in my TBR pile, but to be honest so are almost four hundred other books haha.

Most anticipated release for the second half of the year

The Institute by Stephen King. I already have it pre-ordered.

Biggest disappointment

The Fate of the Tearling by Erika Johansen. I read the first book, The Queen of the Tearling, ages ago and I finally got around to finishing the trilogy. The book as a whole wasn’t a disappointment, but I thought the ending was poor, and I felt a bit cheated after getting through three books of 500+ pages each.

Biggest surprise

You by Caroline Kepnes. I almost didn’t bother reading this as I watched the Netflix series first, but everyone was talking about it and so I decided to give it a go. The surprise was enjoying a novel written in second person. I didn’t think I’d get away with the writing style, but I really did, although I question whether I would have gotten away with it so easily if I hadn’t already watched the show and sort of read the book in Penn Badgley’s voice.

Favourite new author (debut or new to you)

I really enjoyed The Apple of My Eye by Claire Allan who was new to me.

Newest fictional crush

This year so far, I’ve mostly read teen books and twisted horror/thriller books so I don’t really have one. I think teen me would have been rather taken with Zane from the Uglies series.

Newest favourite character

Daryl from Twisted by Steve Cavanagh. I can’t go into too much detail because I don’t want to spoil the book for anyone who hasn’t read it, but Daryl is most certainly twisted.

Book that made you cry

I think I was about fifteen the last time a book made me cry. For the record, it was Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M Auel.

Book that made you happy

I don’t read many feel good books haha, but a well written gory horror story or a twisty thriller can still make me happy just because I enjoyed it so much. A book that grabs me and won’t let go makes me happy, so probably this year’s top three so far for that would be The Rumour, Twisted and Nerve.

Most beautiful book you’ve bought so far this year (or received)

I don’t know if it’s really what you’d call beautiful, but I have a thing for books with fore-edge painting (where the edges of the pages are coloured. My most recent one is The Crow Girl by Erik Axl Sund.

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

I haven’t set a target this year, so there’s no books in particular that I need to read by the end of the year, but I would really like to put a dent in my TBR pile. Wish me luck!

Favourite book community member

I don’t want to name just one person as I read a fair few book blogs. I love the Hooked on Books community on Facebook though. I always get the best book recommendations from the members there.

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