Why yes, I am doing the tag you’re already sick of seeing… It’s the Mid-Year Book Freakout tag! It was really lovely, actually, to look back over what I’ve read so far this year. Lockdown has been great for one thing, and it’s how many books I’ve read!
Here’s the highlights…
1. Best book you’ve read so far in 2020
This is easy - Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell. It was an absolute masterpiece (and I don’t say that lightly) - from characters to description to language to the way grief and loss was explored… this book was just incredible. I will be recommending this for a very, very long time.
2. Best sequel you've read so far in 2020
I’ve read basically zero sequels this year aside from one, but I think even if I had read other sequels, this would win anyway, and that is Venom by Bex Hogan. A story powering fowards at breakneck speed, I barely had time to catch my breath from one moment of shock to the next! And that ENDING! Next year feels very far away…
If you want to get started on this series - which you really should! Support UKYA fantasy! - the first book is VIPER.
I’m also currently reading Crooked Kingdom for the first time, and if I’d finished it before writing this, I’m sure it would have made an appearance. SO MANY FEELINGS.
3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to
There are so many, oh my goodness. I think, based on my TBR, the new releases I’m most looking forward to are Paper & Hearts Society: Read With Pride, You Should See Me In A Crown (mine has shipped, and I’m so excited to read it!), The Henna Wars…
(I honestly don’t know which of the books on my TBR are new or not any more. Send help.)
4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year
There are two: Loveless by Alice Oseman *bangs ace rep drum* and, of course, The Invisible Life Of Addie LaRue by VE Schwab. Honestly, I ordered the signed special edition of Addie that Forbidden Planet are doing so quickly - I am so hyped.
5. Biggest disappointment
I think for me, while I’ve DNF’d books this year, the biggest disappointment for me was Of Curses and Kisses by Sandhya Menon. I wanted to love this - I adored When Dimple Met Rishi - but this felt to me like a story that was desperately shoe-horning the Beauty and the Beast tale in, when the story would work better without it. That said, I do love a cute romance and I’ll still read more Sandhya Menon in future!
6. Biggest surprise
To be honest, it’s probably Hamnet again. It was the first ‘adult’ book I’d read in forever, and while I was expecting it to be good, I wasn’t expecting to be so blown away by it.
Another strong contender is Six of Crows, which I’ve just finished reading for the first time. I tried it ages ago but didn’t get in to it after a chapter or two and put it down. Past Me made some poor choices, because OH MY GOODNESS this book was brilliant. I’ll do a full blog post about this duology once I’ve finished the sequel, Crooked Kingdom.
7. Favourite new author. (Debut or new to you)
Okay so this year I FINALLY started reading Laini Taylor. I’ve read DOSAB, and am excited to read the sequel! I know I am so VERY behind on this trend, but I’m excited to work my way through the existing catalogue of Laini Taylor books - they’re so brilliantly written!
8. Newest fictional crush.
There are several contendors but the character who swept me off my feet the most was Lazare in Enchantee by Gita Trelease. Soft, headstrong boy with a good heart. SIGN ME UP.
9. Newest favourite character.
All of the Dregs? All of the Dregs.
10. Book that made you cry.
I really don’t cry at books, so I decided the best alternative was a book that made me cry with laughter. And that was My So-Called Bollywood Life by Nisha Sharma. I legit laughed out loud so many times. One 1995 Pride and Prejudice joke about ten pages in and I was SOLD. Do yourselves a favour and read this book!
11. Book that made you happy.
The absolute hands-down winner of this is Nimona. I had to keep stopping because I was full-on CACKLING with laughter! It is 100% sass and trolling the hero/villain tropes and I love it SO MUCH. A glorious graphic novel that I will now be squealing about to anyone within hearing range of me.
The two other ‘honourable mentions’ go to Date Me, Bryson Keller and Running With Lions. Both queer mlm narratives, both debuts, and both incredibly sweet and heartwarming. They left me smiling like an idiot when I finished them!
12. Most beautiful book you've bought so far this year (or received)
Oooh, the choices! I think for me, A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes, and The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave are definitely the two most beautiful books I’ve bought this year. Also, Hamnet is gorgeous - that gold foil!
13. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?
Oh my god. So many. I counted all the books I owned but hadn’t read at the start of lockdown, and… I stopped when I got to 50. And I have bought a LOT of books since then. Eeeek. So… all of those?!
14. Favourite Book Community Member
I can’t be made to choose! But a shoutout to all my bookish lovelies on twitter, the #SixForSunday crowd, and anyone who I’ve chatted books with. You are all a delight!
Overall:
Books Read: 49 total. (4 were picture books and two were audio)
Books DNF’d: 2 - Talon and All The Invisible Things
Re-reads: 2 - Carry On and The Boy At The Back Of The Class
