the mid-year freakout book tag;

It has been forever since I have been on my blog – writing and reading slumps are the absolute WORST – but I come back and find out I’ve been tagged to do The Mid-Year Freakout Book Tag by Jess @ JBelkBooks? OHEMGEE.

This? Will be fun.

I haven’t read a lot of books this year. A grand total of six so far. So I’m gonna cheat, a little, and bring in books I’ve read last year too? Okay? Okay.

Let’s get to it!

Best Book You’ve Read Yet in 2016

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff. Hands down. I still cannot get over it. At all. I don’t think I ever will.

Best Sequel You’ve Read So Far in 2016

Oh man. I have a hard time choosing between Their Fractured Light by Amie Kaufman & Megan Spooner, and Winter by Marissa Meyer. Both the ends of their respective series. Both so great. Can I go with both? I’m gonna go with both.

New Release That You Want To Read But Haven’t Yet

I AM CRYING BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY AND I CANNOT FIND THEM ANYWHERE NEAR ME. I’m probably going to wind up ordering them online. My top two, at the moment, are The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater, and The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi.

Most Anticipated Release For the Second Half of the Year

GEMINA BY AMIE KAUFMAN & JAY KRISTOFF. THAT IS PRETTY MUCH IT.

Biggest Disappointment

I didn’t finish my biggest disappointment of the year, I think. The books I did complete, I enjoyed. So I’ll have to go with Thief Of Lies by Brenda Drake, which I abandoned a few chapters in. The premise seemed promising, but something about the execution was just lacking to me. I might eventually try it again, though.

Biggest Surprise

It’s a toss up between The Chaos Of Stars by Kiersten White, which I just completed, and The Skylark Series by Meagan Spooner, which I read earlier this year. Shadowlark (and subsequently, Lark Ascending) kept me more captivated than I had honestly expected.

Favorite New Author

Um. Going by this year? I really enjoyed Jay Kristoff’s writing. It meshed well with Amie Kaufman’s. But also, Kiersten White. It was a breeze and a joy to read her novel so.

Newest Fictional Crush

Ry. Oh man. Ry. I really, really liked him. His whole thing with Isadora was so wonderful. Also Gideon, because smart and so many layers.

Newest Favorite Character

WHY ARE YOU MAKING ME CHOOSE NOPE I REFUSE I ABSOLUTELY REFUSE. I love them all. At least, there are none I can think of that I actively hate.

Book That Made You Cry + Book That Made You Happy

I don’t know about cry, but Illuminae definitely had me gaping, and fighting the urge to throw the book across the room because of all the emotions. Happy is simple. Happy is The Chaos Of Stars. There was just something about it.

Favorite Book to Film Adaptation

I don’t think I’ve seen many of these this year. But of all time, I’m going to have to go with Stardust by Neil Gaiman, actually. Or The Princess Bride by William Goldman. Granted, I’ve not read Stardust (yet), but I do adore the movie. (I’m going to admit that I’ve done recasts for these movies because I want them to adapt it again. Same script is fine, just with new animation and actors.)

Most Beautiful Book You Bought This Year

I honestly cannot remember what books I’ve bought this year. I don’t think I have bought any this year. I bought a few last year…

What Books Do You Need to Read By the End of the Year

Besides the three I mentioned above, I’m going to say End Of Days by Susan Ee, Ten Thousand Skies Above You by Claudia Gray, and Lost Stars by Claudia Gray. All of which I own, but haven’t read yet. Oops?

Oh hey, I managed to keep most of my answers to the (six) books I read this year. Go me!

I’m going to tag a few people here –
Rayna @ Reader Rayna
Mary @ Books And Cookies
Ali @ The Bandar Blog

If you’re interested in doing this, feel free to! Also feel free to link me to your posts. I would LOVE to read them.