Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag! 2019
Hi friends!
It's almost the end of June, which means 2019 is more than halfway over! I can't believe how quickly this year is flying by, and I have been reading A LOT this year. I set a goal of reading 35 books this year, and I'm already at 26! I didn't quite get to 52 books last year, so I thought I would lower my goal on GoodReads from my usual 52 this year. Being in law school, I don't have as much time to read as I would like, but I still wanted to challenge myself.
I saw this tag on YouTube, and although I don't know exactly who started it, I know it's been popular for a few years now. It may be hard to even pin down exactly who started it at this point because it's so darn popular. If I can't find the original creator, I'll edit down in the bottom of this post. I thought that the questions were really fun, so I wanted to give it a stab and also reflect on all of the books I've read so far this year.
So, here it is: The Mid-Year Freak Out Tag Book Tag for 2019!
1. Best Book You've Read so Far in 2019?
This was a tough one! I would say my favorite book so far this year has been The Cerulean by Amy Ewing. The Cerulean is about a wonderful alien girl named Sera who lives in a city in the sky tethered to another planet. When her city is ready to move to another planet to tether to a new land, one of her kind has to be chosen as a sacrifice to break the tether. This is definitely a fantasy/drama/adventure, and I absolutely loved every minute of it! The world-building was fantastic, the characters were lovable, and the story kept me hooked from the first page to the last. I'm really not sure how I'm going to wait until next summer to read the sequel!
2. Best Sequel You've Read so Far this Year?
Speaking of sequels, the best sequel I've read so far this year would have to be The White Rose of the Lone City series, also coincidentally by Amy Ewing. Totally different series, but still so great! This was the sequel to Ewing's novel "The Jewel," which was so much fun to read. The story follows Violet, who has been trained since childhood to be a surrogate to rich families in the nicer parts of town. Upon being chosen by an elite family to carry their child, she finds that her training did not prepare her for everything in this new life.
This sequel was just as compelling as the first novel, and just picked right up where the first book left off. It gave me all of the adventure that was building up in the first novel, and it was really fun to keep up with some of my favorite characters and see the story evolve.
*Side Note - I loved the third book and all of the novellas associated with this series too!
3. New Release You Haven't Read Yet but Want to?
Oh this was an easy one - Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte! I got this book for my birthday back in May, but it was published in February of this year. It's been sitting on my bookshelf, and I keep meaning to get to it! The funny thing is that now that I have become obsessed with e-books, I don't always carry a paperback book! I still love actual hard novels that I can hold in my hand, don't get me wrong, but it's so much easier to read on my phone on the go with my library app. I just need to remember to pick this one up asap.
Four Dead Queens was HEAVILY advertised by Penguin Teen on their Instagram page, which is where I originally heard about the novel. The book is about a young girl who is apparently a skilled assassin and may be responsible for the deaths of four queens. The information they give you is actually pretty vague, but I got caught up in the hype and am still excited to give this book a shot.
4. Most Anticipated Release for the Rest of 2019?
EASY - The Toll by Neal Shusterman (Book 3 of the Arc of a Scythe series). I LOVE the Scythe series, and I have been looking forward to this release since the first book came out two years ago. I'll probably re-read the series in August or so, so I can be refreshed for the book release on September 3. If you like good books, read this series.
5. Biggest Disappointment?
My biggest disappointment was Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott. I know, I know, people will probably say that this would not have been a surprise to them that I didn't love this book. However, I really did have high hopes! They made a movie based upon it, for goodness sakes! I didn't love the characters, and I felt like the book was a little too simple. I know that it's a teen novel, but I feel like YA can be so deep and interesting that I was disappointed by the way the way that this novel played out.
6. Biggest Surprise?
Definitely "Gather The Daughters" by Jennie Melamed. This is an adult novel, and I've been trying to get into reading more adult novels because characters in YA novels seem like they're getting younger and younger lol. This was a very deep read, and the world was so depressing and fascinating. If you're in the mood for a book that will make you think and allow you to take a trip into the adult fic world, you may want to give this a try.
7. Favorite New Author?
I really liked the Ash Princess series by Laura Sebastian - granted, only the first two novels are out with the next one expected next February. I was engrossed in the story, and actually find myself sometimes wanting to go back to that world.
8. Newest Fictional Crush?
Definitely Akinli in the novel The Siren by Kiera Cass. He was SO sweet, kind, interested, and didn't play games with Kahlen, the main character in the novel. While the relationship in the novel wasn't the deepest or most explored aspect of the story, I really did like his character.
9. Newest Favorite Character?
FIRE!! Fire in the novel Fire by Kristin Cashore, lol. She was SO amazing. In some ways, she really reminded me of myself. Kristin Cashore has an uncanny ability to make me fall in love with her characters. The plot was captivating, the world enchanting, and the realm that Cashore was able to build in my mind was astonishing. I was devastated when the story ended, because I wish that I could go back and see what Fire was doing later. I still have to read the third book in the Graceling series, and I cannot wait! If you're looking for a fantasy novel that knocks your socks off, look no further.
10. Book That Made You Cry?
See Number 9 - LOL. I loved Fire so much that I actually cried when the book ended. The story was so beautiful and deep and intense and intoxicating. Really, go read this series!
11. Book That Made You Happy?
I really liked Every Breath by Nicholas Sparks. I've only read one other book by him which was The Longest Ride, and I really liked that too. It was fun to read, easy to get into, and very moving. When I'm in the mood for a romance, Mr. Sparks is the way to go.
12. Favorite Book to Movie Adaptation You've Seen this Year?
I haven't seen any actually, although I do still plan to watch Five Feet Apart, even though I didn't love the book.
13. Favorite Review You've Written this Year?
Can I say Fire again?? lol.
14. Most Beautiful Cover You've Seen this Year?
The Cerulean by Amy Ewing! Just go look at it- it's amazing!! So beautiful, alluring, and fantastic.
15. What Books do you NEED to Read by the End of this Year?
Let me consult the 257 books on my TBR list....
It's almost the end of June, which means 2019 is more than halfway over! I can't believe how quickly this year is flying by, and I have been reading A LOT this year. I set a goal of reading 35 books this year, and I'm already at 26! I didn't quite get to 52 books last year, so I thought I would lower my goal on GoodReads from my usual 52 this year. Being in law school, I don't have as much time to read as I would like, but I still wanted to challenge myself.
I saw this tag on YouTube, and although I don't know exactly who started it, I know it's been popular for a few years now. It may be hard to even pin down exactly who started it at this point because it's so darn popular. If I can't find the original creator, I'll edit down in the bottom of this post. I thought that the questions were really fun, so I wanted to give it a stab and also reflect on all of the books I've read so far this year.
So, here it is: The Mid-Year Freak Out Tag Book Tag for 2019!
1. Best Book You've Read so Far in 2019?
This was a tough one! I would say my favorite book so far this year has been The Cerulean by Amy Ewing. The Cerulean is about a wonderful alien girl named Sera who lives in a city in the sky tethered to another planet. When her city is ready to move to another planet to tether to a new land, one of her kind has to be chosen as a sacrifice to break the tether. This is definitely a fantasy/drama/adventure, and I absolutely loved every minute of it! The world-building was fantastic, the characters were lovable, and the story kept me hooked from the first page to the last. I'm really not sure how I'm going to wait until next summer to read the sequel!
2. Best Sequel You've Read so Far this Year?
Speaking of sequels, the best sequel I've read so far this year would have to be The White Rose of the Lone City series, also coincidentally by Amy Ewing. Totally different series, but still so great! This was the sequel to Ewing's novel "The Jewel," which was so much fun to read. The story follows Violet, who has been trained since childhood to be a surrogate to rich families in the nicer parts of town. Upon being chosen by an elite family to carry their child, she finds that her training did not prepare her for everything in this new life.
This sequel was just as compelling as the first novel, and just picked right up where the first book left off. It gave me all of the adventure that was building up in the first novel, and it was really fun to keep up with some of my favorite characters and see the story evolve.
*Side Note - I loved the third book and all of the novellas associated with this series too!
3. New Release You Haven't Read Yet but Want to?
Oh this was an easy one - Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte! I got this book for my birthday back in May, but it was published in February of this year. It's been sitting on my bookshelf, and I keep meaning to get to it! The funny thing is that now that I have become obsessed with e-books, I don't always carry a paperback book! I still love actual hard novels that I can hold in my hand, don't get me wrong, but it's so much easier to read on my phone on the go with my library app. I just need to remember to pick this one up asap.
Four Dead Queens was HEAVILY advertised by Penguin Teen on their Instagram page, which is where I originally heard about the novel. The book is about a young girl who is apparently a skilled assassin and may be responsible for the deaths of four queens. The information they give you is actually pretty vague, but I got caught up in the hype and am still excited to give this book a shot.
4. Most Anticipated Release for the Rest of 2019?
EASY - The Toll by Neal Shusterman (Book 3 of the Arc of a Scythe series). I LOVE the Scythe series, and I have been looking forward to this release since the first book came out two years ago. I'll probably re-read the series in August or so, so I can be refreshed for the book release on September 3. If you like good books, read this series.
5. Biggest Disappointment?
My biggest disappointment was Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott. I know, I know, people will probably say that this would not have been a surprise to them that I didn't love this book. However, I really did have high hopes! They made a movie based upon it, for goodness sakes! I didn't love the characters, and I felt like the book was a little too simple. I know that it's a teen novel, but I feel like YA can be so deep and interesting that I was disappointed by the way the way that this novel played out.
6. Biggest Surprise?
Definitely "Gather The Daughters" by Jennie Melamed. This is an adult novel, and I've been trying to get into reading more adult novels because characters in YA novels seem like they're getting younger and younger lol. This was a very deep read, and the world was so depressing and fascinating. If you're in the mood for a book that will make you think and allow you to take a trip into the adult fic world, you may want to give this a try.
7. Favorite New Author?
I really liked the Ash Princess series by Laura Sebastian - granted, only the first two novels are out with the next one expected next February. I was engrossed in the story, and actually find myself sometimes wanting to go back to that world.
8. Newest Fictional Crush?
Definitely Akinli in the novel The Siren by Kiera Cass. He was SO sweet, kind, interested, and didn't play games with Kahlen, the main character in the novel. While the relationship in the novel wasn't the deepest or most explored aspect of the story, I really did like his character.
9. Newest Favorite Character?
FIRE!! Fire in the novel Fire by Kristin Cashore, lol. She was SO amazing. In some ways, she really reminded me of myself. Kristin Cashore has an uncanny ability to make me fall in love with her characters. The plot was captivating, the world enchanting, and the realm that Cashore was able to build in my mind was astonishing. I was devastated when the story ended, because I wish that I could go back and see what Fire was doing later. I still have to read the third book in the Graceling series, and I cannot wait! If you're looking for a fantasy novel that knocks your socks off, look no further.
10. Book That Made You Cry?
See Number 9 - LOL. I loved Fire so much that I actually cried when the book ended. The story was so beautiful and deep and intense and intoxicating. Really, go read this series!
11. Book That Made You Happy?
I really liked Every Breath by Nicholas Sparks. I've only read one other book by him which was The Longest Ride, and I really liked that too. It was fun to read, easy to get into, and very moving. When I'm in the mood for a romance, Mr. Sparks is the way to go.
12. Favorite Book to Movie Adaptation You've Seen this Year?
I haven't seen any actually, although I do still plan to watch Five Feet Apart, even though I didn't love the book.
13. Favorite Review You've Written this Year?
Can I say Fire again?? lol.
14. Most Beautiful Cover You've Seen this Year?
The Cerulean by Amy Ewing! Just go look at it- it's amazing!! So beautiful, alluring, and fantastic.
15. What Books do you NEED to Read by the End of this Year?
Let me consult the 257 books on my TBR list....
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