The Mid-Year Book Freakout Tag 2020

Hi, I'm Abby, and I really can't believe that 2020 is halfway over.

I've posted this same tag for the past two years, and I love doing it, so when I was tagged by two friends over on bookstagram to do it, I figured it was about time I properly wrote up this blog post.  So far this year, I've managed to read 58 books, and gave most of them 4 stars or above, which is awesome.

Anyway, let's jump on in. (Click on any of the covers to see their Goodreads page and learn more about the book!)

1) The best book you've read so far this year.

As usual, this question is too hard.  Here are some of them.

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

Last year, Sand Castle Dreams was the sequel I picked, and this year, it's Barefoot Memories.  I love this trilogy so much, and even more so now with the news that we're getting another book!!

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

I've thoroughly enjoyed every book by Savanna Roberts that I've read so far, but I still haven't managed to pick up Thief!  But I do have an Amazon giftcard that's sitting around waiting to be used, so... it may be in my not-too-distant future, haha!

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

Okay, don't @ me if this is your favorite book.  That's valid, you can do what you want.  But in that vein, I... didn't like this.  But I didn't really expect to, so... I dunno, Wonderland is just too weird for my taste.  (also Alice is a little jerk?  why is she so rude to everyone?  anyway I'm moving on I don't want to think about it anymore xD)

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

 

That has to be Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell.  Hands down.  I didn't expect to like this, much less love it as much as I did.  But yeah, I adored it.

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

Tara Grace Ericson is a new-to-me author that I absolutely love!  I've only read Hoping for Hawthorne, but an ARC of Poppy's Proposal just showed up in my email and I'm hyped!! Clean, cute romance is some of my favorite stuff to read right now, and Tara's is wonderful.

7) Your newest fictional crush.

I've loved all of Susan L. Tuttle's leading men, but Tobias from Met Her Match miiiight be my favorite.  His faith, his steadiness, his patience with Pem, I just love him so much, okay.

8) Your newest favorite character.

I'm doubling this and saying that both Mo and Dale are my favorites.  I adore these kids so much, their friendship is everything.  I haven't had a chance yet to pick up the other books in this series, but I can't wait to.

9) A book that made you cry.

Like, full-on, snotty sobbing.  In the car.  While my mom was driving.  So I was trying not to cry too hard.  But Tae Keller has succeeded twice now with making me cry at the end of her books, and I fully anticipate that out of any future books she writes, lol.

10) A book that made you happy.

Both of Sarah Grace's books are a rollercoaster of emotions, but Never Say Goodbye made me so ridiculously happy for so much of it.  Just Tyler's interactions with Murrae alone had me grinning my face off.

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

Technically this was a taping of a live stage show adaptation, but you know what I'm gonna count it.  Daddy Long Legs the musical has filled me with so much joy this year, and even more now that I've read the book.  It's so pure and happy, and the score is gorgeous.

12) Your favorite review you've written this year.

I've only written 2 reviews here on the blog so far this year (yiiikes, Abby), but I'm pretty proud of both of them, so here they are:
- never say goodbye -
- barefoot memories -

13) The prettiest book you've bought this year so far.

Technically, this isn't here yet when I'm typing this.  But it should be here in the next couple of days, and I'm SO excited.  I think this is the only physical book I've bought this year, and it's also one of my favorite reads of the year!  I know it's going to be gorgeous!

14) The books you want to read for the rest of the year.

There are quite a few books that I can't wait to read that are coming out the rest of this year, but here are some of my most anticipated:

- staff of nightfall -

- poison's dance -

- one bad apple -

And there we have it! What are some of your favorite books of the year so far?

- Abby