Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag

The original tag was created by ReadLikeWildfire and Earl Grey Books!

I have been seeing this tag across multiple blogs over the past week and it seemed like such a nice way to wrap up half of the reading year. Obviously, no one has tagged me but when I saw the beautiful post by Melanie @ Mel to the Any, I just had to do it. Please go ahead and checkout her blog for amazing reviews.

I’m going to try and not repeat the same books for these below questions, but let’s see if I succeed in the attempt.

💨 1. Best book you’ve read so far in 2018:

I have loved a lot of books this year and I’m just too happy that 2018 has turned out to be such a nice reading year despite a reading slump in Feb/March. But my favorite has to be The Nowhere Girls. It’s thought provoking, relevant, realistic and definitely leaves a mark on you long after you put it down.

💨 2. Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2018:

Scoring Chances is a wonderful series set in the world of ECHL hockey and each story deals with a different couple. But my favorite is definitely book # 3 because it features my favorite characters – the broody Russian Misha who doesn’t believe he deserves love or happiness and Max who is a sweetheart and just wants to be with Misha.

💨 3. New release you haven’t read yet, but want to:

I finished Cloaked in Shadow just a couple of days before the release of Found in Night and fell in love with Zac and Hadrian. The ending left me sad but hopeful and I can’t wait to read more of their story.

💨 4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year:

I’m totally trash for The Remnant Chronicles and nothing can make me more happier than diving into that world again and hope to get a little glimpse of my favorite characters. As usual, I tried many avenues and failed to get the ARC, so I just have to wait it out till Aug 7th.

💨 5. Biggest disappointment:

I had such high hopes for this book and though it wasn’t really bad, it just didn’t live up to the hype nor it’s beginning. You can checkout my review of Furyborn here.

💨 6. Biggest surprise:

I approached this book just like it’s predecessor and didn’t expect anything more than an emotional m/m romance but the depth of the writing and the turmoil it created just broke me. I don’t think I’ve wept for any book this year more than The Return. It’s definitely not something everyone will like but I just got swept away in it’s magic.

💨 7. Favorite new author (debut or new to you):

 

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I discovered Sarina just this year and I’m just so thankful for that. I probably have read all books written by her till now and she’s become one of my top favorites. She’s awesome at making me care for the characters and I can’t wait to see her tackle the YA genre now.

💨 8. Newest fictional crush:

I have managed to finish 130 books this year, so this should be a tough choice to make because most of my reviews are always about how much I love the characters. But my crush is probably Jason from Change of Hart – the super talented football player with a heart of gold.

💨 9. Newest favorite character:

Again, this might seem like a tough choice but I didn’t even have to think. It’s Ryan Wesley from Him. I can’t actually describe why I love him so much, but I just do. His immense love for Jaime warms my heart every time I reread the book and you can bet on it that I have lost count of the number of rereads by now.

💨 10. Book that made you cry:

I’m a crier, so half the books on my read shelf have made me cry. But this is one of the recent books that made me weep because I couldn’t handle the separations between Theo and Caleb despite knowing that they loved each other so much.

💨 11. Book that made you happy:

 

Another obvious choice. My So-Called Bollywood Life. I haven’t laughed this much while reading a book in a long long time. And it made me very very happy because it represented a part of me that I have never read about before in a book and have even been mocked for in real life. You can checkout my gushing review here.

A very recent one that has made me feel very warm and happy is Heartstopper. It’s so sweet and fluffy, Nick and Charlie are the cutest characters ever and I promise you, this webcomic will make you feel like your face will split open due to over smiling. I can’t gush about this enough.

💨 12. Most beautiful book you’ve bought so far this year (or received):

This is THE most beautiful book I bought this year. Look at that cover… it’s stunning and the writing is just as beautiful. You can find my spoilery gushing review here.

💨 13. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?:

There is a never ending TBR that I have to get to, but I think this book has waited long enough on my shelf. Hopefully, I’ll read it soon.

💨 14. Favorite book community member:

This is tougher than even selecting my favorite books or characters because this year has opened an avenue for me to interact with so many wonderful people who share my love of books but if I have to choose one, it would definitely be Jess @ Reading With Jessica because she is a most amazing blogger, a lover of romance novels, always ready with recommendations and definitely the best at getting together a group of book lovers and motivating to read along and discuss our favorite books. Don’t forget to checkout her blog for some wonderful posts and more information about her book club.

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So, what do you all think of my answers? Are any of your favorites on my list too? Consider yourself tagged if you are interested in doing this one and link back to me, so that I can gush on all your favorite books along with you!!!!!