I’m not sure how we’ve ended up here already, but it’s time for the Mid-Year Book Freak Out tag for 2020. I haven’t been tagged by anyone to do this, but I just love the concept and adore watching and reading booktubers and bloggers responses to these questions.
Much like half the population, reading has been … problematic for me this year. I’m way behind on my book count and I’m having major issues concentrating. That said I’ve read some gems this year. So without further ado, let’s get into the tag!
1. Best book you’ve read so far in 2020?
2. Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2020?
I haven’t read as many sequels as I thought so far this year, and those that I have read are all ice-hockey related. With that in mind, I have two books that instantly stand out for this question. I absolutely adored both of these books and still think about them months after reading them.
Avery Flynn is a new-to-me author who I heard about thanks to the (now cancelled due to covid19) 2020 SAE line up. I really liked the first book, but I ADORED this book. The characters, plot, romance and just everything about this book were just perfection and I’m so looking forward to the next Avery Flynn book coming out!
Sawyer Bennett’s Arizona Vengeance’s series is one of my favourite ice-hockey series, so I thought I knew what I was into with this book, but this one blew my expectations out of the park. It was so good!
3. New Releases you haven’t read yet, but you want to.
There are so many … so I’m just going to list the covers.
I am most desperate to read Felix Ever After, but its so hard to get hold of a copy in Australia. I’ve ordered the hardback, but there’s no date on when they think it will arrive yet.
4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year?
How long have you got? 2020 is shaping up to be an amazing book release year with so many books still coming!
5. Biggest disappointment?
I’ve had a mostly good book year with the books I’ve picked up …but I had such high hopes for these books, and they just fell short of achieving them. A lot of them are shorter books, and maybe it’s the format … novellas might not be my thing it seems. I like a good chunky monkey of a book it appears.
6. Biggest Surprise?
Wendy James talked this memoir up to me towards the end of 2019 and let me just say that it didn’t disappoint. Susan Francis’ writing was so effortless and I fell in love instantly. Her story is captivating and I was so caught up in everything that it was such a surprise to find myself at the end of the book so quickly!
I first heard about this book from Jessie at Bowties and Books once again, but this book kept appearing across social media, blogs and youtube and I just had to give it ago. I originally thought Akwaeke Emezi’s writing might be a bit too high brow for me, but I absolutely adored this gem of a book and want to read more of their stuff ASAP (I’m just a bit cautious of the book snake on their other book ….).
Girl, Woman, Other is such a hard book to explain, but it was epic. I almost didn’t pick this one up, but I really wanted to read both Man Brooker Prize winners (plot twist, although I’ve now read The Handmaid’s Tale, I still haven’t read The Testament yet). It took me a while to get used to Evaristo’s writing, but once I warmed up, I couldn’t put this down. It was enlightening … and just amazing.
This book had me on the edge of my seat. I didn’t know where it was going, did not see most of the twists coming and it was just so creepy at times. I listened to the audio of this, and probably should have read the physical book at times, but it was so good!
7. Favourite new author (debut or new-to-you).
There were so many authors I instantly listed here, but I’m going to stick to the rules here and list one … Avery Flynn. I’ve read two of her books this year, with the aim to read the third ASAP.
8.Newest fictional crush.
Jonah Collins from The Best Thing by Mariana Zapata. His accent, personality, actions, and … looks… Jonah Collins has it all.
Also Theodore/Theo from The Guy On The Right… swoon.
9. Newest favourite character.
Emma Phoenix from Bossy Bastard. I loved this character so much!
10. Books that made you cry.
11. Books that make you happy.
Romance makes me happy… so half of the books I read this year qualify, but I’m going with Heartstopper Vol. 3 by Alice Oseman because I haven’t mentioned this book yet and it needs more recognition.
12. Most beautiful book you’ve brought so far this year?
Ebook: Teofila’s Guide to Saving The Sun by Cynthia A. Rodriguez & Reborn Yesterday by Tessa Bailey
Audiobook: All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson
Paperback: Get A Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert
Hardback: Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender & Smash It! by Francina Simon
13. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?
