Created back in 2016 by Ely and Chami over on Youtube, the mid-year book freakout tag has become a classic tag this time of year (well really in June but I’m staying on brand and doing things late), and since its been forever and a day since I’ve done a tag, let alone this one, so I thought it would be fun to break the streak! As of July 21, 2022 I have consumed 101 books (can we take a moment and let that sink in?! I think this is the most I’ve read by the halfway point of a year…ever) and out of those 101 books I’ve had some bops and some…well flops. Keep an eye out in the coming days for my 2022 Top Books Bracket Update, but for now grab your popcorn and some of your favorite snacks and lets freak out together!
1. Best book you’ve read so far in 2022?
This is so hard because its toss up between these two backlist novels! A Shadow In The Ember by Jennifer L. Armentrout and Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh both gave me some of the worst book hangovers in existence and I desperately needed the next installments in the series. Unfortunately, I had such a big hangover with ASITE, that I wasn’t able to finish TWOTQ (The War of Two Queens) because I kept thinking of Daddy Niktos; and I had other books I had to get done before I could even pick up the second book in the Psy-Changeling series. (Hopefully by the time this goes up, that predicament will have changed!)
2. Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2022?
I haven’t read many sequels this year yet, so by default I would go with Stuck With You By Ali Hazelwood! This was such a fun, fast, and quirky read that I quickly went and binged the next story in the trilogy. Hold your tomatoes but I think I love these mini novellas more than I did The Love Hypothesis 🙈
3. New release you haven’t read yet, but want to?
House of Sky and Breath is probably the top contender for this question (…and TWOTQ but I’m 20% into that, I just haven’t finished it). But before I can even think about reading this one I gotta read the first book first 😂. #stayingonbrand
4. Most anticipated release for the second half of 2022?
Gosh there are so many! But I think my most anticipated release would be Kingdom of the Feared by Kerri Maniscalco. I hoard and obsess over the all the little teasers and snippets Maniscalco releases and let’s just say I’m HERE for Wrath!
5. Biggest disappointment?
Biggest disappointment is Games We Play by Dana Isaly. I saw all this hype around it on TikTok for what seems like the entire year of 2021, but when I finally went ahead and read/listened to it…it wasn’t good? Like the spice wasn’t spicy (in my opinion) and it was just a lot of sex—random kinky sex that didn’t feel authentic/real. Maybe I didn’t click well with how it was written and/or the writing style, I don’t know. But like a week later everyone and their mom’s found out the author plagiarized amongst other things so I’m not that saddened by this predicament.
6. Biggest surprise?
Railed by the Easter Bunny by Dalia Davies. Who would of thought that I would enjoy this book THAT much. A time was had and I think my family said an extra prayer for me when they went to church that Easter Sunday…
7. New favorite author?
Nalini Singh! I’ve been collecting her books for the longest and just never waddled to actually reading them. But I finally popped my Nalini Singh cherry and sweet baby Jesus I want to hit myself for taking this long to actually read her stuff! It’s my newest obsession.
8. Newest fictional crush?
Probably our God of Death, Nyktos, from A Shadow in The Ember by Jennifer L. Armentrout. If you know, you know.
9. Newest favorite character?
Charlotte Holmes from A Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas. I love a good female Sherlock and Charlotte exceeded all my hopes and expectations. She was a delight and hoot to read, and I really need more of her.
10. Book that made you cry?
I haven’t cried from a book in so long. I don’t even remember the last book that did make me cry…
11. Book that made you happy?
Hands Down by Mariana Zapata—its a re-read for me, but MZ always puts me in the best moods and I swoon every time I read Zach and Bianca’s story.
12. Favorite book to movie adaptation you’ve seen so far this year?
I don’t think I’ve seen any book to screen adaptions so far this year… Which is completely shocking because you would think a person who blogs about books and tv/film would have watched something that had my two favorite mediums blended together. hmmmm I must rectify this!
13. Favorite post you’ve written this year?
I haven’t written much this year as I’m just getting back into the swing of blogging—but I think my favorite post of mine so far this year would have to be my Senden Daha Guzel episode recap. I’ve been talking about doing episode recaps for the longest time, and I’m pretty stoked to have actually gone through and done it! Fingers crossed I can keep the momentum going and do the other episodes (I need to play series catch up with the show haha)
14. Most beautiful book you bought this year?
This is so hard! I have so many books that I think are beautiful for different reasons! I think though, for overall beauty I would have to go with my special editions of the Wicked Villains series by Katee Robert. The clinch covers are the serotonin that my life needs, and I swoon every time I see them on my shelf.
15. What books do you really need to read by the end of this year?
The Way of the Kings by Brandon Sanderson. My Brother got it for me after explaining that it was his favorite book. This size alone intimidates me, but I promised him I would read it—so that is what I’m aiming to do! I also need to finish The War of Two Queens by Jennifer L. Armentrout, I’ve been holding off cause I don’t wanna be in the waiting pool again but I always am kind of in the waiting pool simply because I’m holding off? Its a whole dynamic.
What were your top 3 books this year?
101 books so far this year!?!? AN ICON!