The Mid-Year Book Freakout Tag 2019

Hi, I'm Abby, and I can't believe that 2019 is almost halfway over.

Last year, around this time, I posted this tag with books that I read in the first half of 2018, and it helped me narrow down the books I'd read.  I could do a "best books of the year so far" but that would just be overwhelming because out of the 40 books I've read this year, not a single one has gotten under 4 stars.



so. yeah.

Anyway, let's jump on in.

1) The best book you've read so far this year.
Wait no I said I didn't want to do this.
ack I don't know it's probably one of these ones.

2) The best sequel you've read so far this year.

I think I'm going to give this one to Sand Castle Dreams (though The Integer is also a contender).  It was such a perfect follow-up to the first book, and left me eagerly anticipating book 3.

3) A new release that you haven't read yet but want to.

Say it with me - RO.MA.NOV.
Tbh, I'm shocked I haven't read this yet.  How have I not read this yet?

4) The most disappointing book you've read this year.

Don't get me wrong!!  I still really liked this book!  But it was a little disappointing, especially coming off of reading "East".  It felt a bit like a repeat of the first book? I guess?  I don't know it was just a bit of a let down.

5) The most surprising book of the year so far.

I had no idea that I would love this book as much as I did.  It was so cute, Odo and Eleanor were the purest friends, and anything with talking swords tends to be a win in my book. I really enjoyed it a lot.

6) A new author you've discovered this year.

I finally read a Stiefvater!  After years of hearing great things about her books!  And, kind of unsurprisingly, I really enjoyed it!  Was it my favorite book ever? No.  But I will definitely be picking up more of her works in the future.

7) Your newest fictional crush.

Have I mentioned Sheedy recently?  No?  Well, here he is again then.  Ethan Sheedy.  My true love. xD

8) Your newest favorite character.

I love Reynie Muldoon so much, guys.  He's just so //me//.  I also love the other kids of the Society, but Reynie was definitely my favorite.

9) A book that made you cry.

Yeah, I cried while listening to a fluffy contemporary.  It's about a girl grieving her mother.  That stuff just gets me, okay?  (Seriously though, the ending had me tearing up so much. Oh my goodness.)

10) A book that made you happy.

Happy? Yes. Squeal-y because of cute ship things? Yes. STRESSED?? YES!  But oh my word this book was so excellent.  I read the first three books of this series in succession and I'm so glad I did.  Also, Cress is my faaave girl of the series so far, I love her so much.

11) Your favorite book-to-movie adaptation you 've seen this year.

I watched the PBS adaptation of "Little Women" at the beginning of this year and it was excellent.  I still haven't read the book (lol), but I've seen several adaptations and I really enjoyed this one! The aesthetic is on point.

12) Your favorite review you've written this year.
I feel like my "Souls Astray" review was the most coherently written review of mine this year and I feel like I need to work on that. xD

13) The prettiest book you bought this year.
Okay be ready to be proud of me.  I HAVEN'T BOUGHT ANY BOOKS THIS YEAR.

Seriously! I haven't bought anything! I've picked up a few free e-books, but other than that, everything I've read has either been from the library or my own TBR.  I'm so happy with that. I'd kind of like to keep it up for the rest of the year... but we'll see, haha!

14) The books you want to read for the rest of the year.
Oh... so many. My main goal is to keep up my TBR jar experiment, which has been working pretty well so far! But really, just go back a post, and it's basically... every book on that list. Lol.


And there we have it!  What are some of your favorite books of the year so far?  Are you freaking out because the year is half over like I am?

~ Abby