Mid Year Book Freak Out Tag

These days, I’ve been seeing everyone do this tag, and I really wanted to do it myself, so I was very happy when Amy @ A Fangirl’s Opinion tagged me! Even before I started blogging I always loved reading or watching people’s mid year—or end of year—reading recaps, so I’m pumped to write my own post about this!

I initially set my Goodreads goal to 50 books, but thanks to my comic reading spree back in February I accomplished that rather fast. So as of right now my goal is set to 80 books, which I hope to complete. That is usually the amount of books I read per year, so it is attainable for me personally unless I get into a huge reading slump.

Now let’s jump into the questions!

---

Best Book You Have Read So Far in 2021?

You all must be tired of hearing me talk about this book but… A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson.

It is such a fantastic book and I simply will not stop talking about it until everyone has read it. It was my most highly anticipated book of the year, and it obviously delivered.

Best Sequel You Have Read in 2021?

If we don’t count rereads—I reread some of my all-time favourites—then it’s Chain of Iron by Cassandra Clare.

What can I say, I’m just a sucker for her books and I simply cannot get enough of them.

New Release You Haven’t Read Yet, But Want To?

I briefly touched on it on my new releases book tag, but I’d say Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins-Reids is the one I want to read the most as of right now.

I’m very curious to see what I’ll think of this book considering that The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is one of my all-time favourites but I didn’t really love Daisy Jones and The Six.

Most Anticipated Release For Second Half of 2020?

Definitely How We Fall Apart by Katie Zhao.

I’m not sure how I first came across this book—it might have been on twitter—but as soon as I heard about it I knew I must read it as soon as it comes out. It sounds like something that will be right up my alley.

Also, I don’t usually like people on covers, but there’s something about this one that makes me even more intrigued.

Biggest Disappointment?

Sadly, it was America by Gabby Rivera.

Here’s the thing, I adore the Young Avengers, and America Chavez is one of my favourites, so I was extremely excited to read her first solo comic. But boy oh boy was it bad… I don’t like being negative usually, but this comic truly stripped America’s character of everything that I love about her. It read like a caricature, and a bad one at that. So yeah, I was super disappointed. Hopefully her new solo series by Kalinda Vázquez makes up for it.

Biggest Surprise?

Lizzie Siddal: The Tragedy of a Pre-Raphaelite Supermodel by Lucinda Hawksley.

I think I’ve mentioned this before, but I’m really interested in the Pre-Raphaelites, and this year I’ve decided to expand my knowledge of this group. For that reason I decided to pick up this book. I was expecting to like it well enough, but I was actually hooked, which was a nice surprise.

Favourite New Author?

Not a new author, but new to me. It’s once again, S.T. Gibson. I can’t wait to read more from her.

Newest Fictional Crush?

Jane Su from One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston.

I don’t think I need to explain myself very much but… Tatted-up sexy and sweet lesbian with impeccable music taste. Yep.

Newest Favourite Character? 

Johnny Watts aka Fuse from Hawkeye and West Coast Avengers, both by Kelly Thompson.

He’s a rather new character in the Marvel universe but he’s super compelling. Honestly, he’s just a sweetheart with a heart of gold, and I’m always on board with that.

Book That Made You Cry?

There were probably others that I don’t recall, but Heartstopper Vol. 4 by Alice Oseman was for sure one of them.

I don’t think the tears were from sadness though, it was more just pure emotion because I love these characters so much and I’m completely invested in their story by now.

Book That Made You Happy?

It’s none other than Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: these books are simply a shot of instant serotonin. I kinda feel like rereading them already because they really do put me in a great mood.

Favourite Book To Movie Adaption You Saw This Year? 

Not a film, but it has to be Shadow and Bone because I don’t think I’ve watched any other.

I’m actually the worst at watching films. I don’t know when it happened but I no longer have the ability to sit through an entire film—or if I do it’s a very rare occasion.

Favourite Post You Have Written This Year?

Well, I think it definitely has to be Bisexual Representation in Books since that’s one of the reasons why I started this blog. I also really enjoyed writing my discussion post about On Reading Classics because it was a topic that I had really wanted to touch on. Finally my 10 Unrerrated Queer Books post was fun to make because I got to shout out some lesser known books.

Most Beautiful Book You Have Bought So Far This Year?

Hands down J.W. Waterhouse by Peter Trippi.

Another Pre-Raphaelite book. Waterhouse is my favourite painter and I’d been wanting this book for years. I finally found a second-hand copy for a good price this year and I’m super happy with this purchase because it’s absolutely stunning. I’ve been reading it for a while—I’m taking it slow—and it’s great.

What Books Do You Need To Read By The End Of The Year?

There are many I’d like to get to but I really want to read Mister Impossible by Maggie Stiefvater before the end of the year.

The only reason I’ve not read this yet is because I don’t remember anything from Call Down the Hawk. I read that during a time when I was really busy and it seems that none of it stuck in my brain, so I’m going to have to reread it before I get to Mister Impossible.

---

I feel like almost everyone has already done this tag, so I’ve tried to make sure the people I’m tagging haven’t—sorry if I failed to see you had!

I’m tagging:

Zoë @ Reading by the Moonlight

Stephanie @ My Book Throne

Morgan @ Morgan is Reading Again

Bella @ Rainstorm Reads

And if you want to do it, feel free to say I tagged you!