A mid year reading check-in
My answers to 15 bookish questions…
I was catching up with my YouTube feed this week and saw booktuber Sara do this mid-year book tag and I thought… that looks fun, I’ll share my answers too!
I’m currently reading my 73rd book of the year and so far it’s been a pretty good year for reading with quite a few new forever favourites added to my list.
Let’s dig into these Qs…
1: The best book I’ve read so far this year
Okay this isn’t the best written book I’ve read this year BUT it’s the book that I have probably enjoyed the most (because I’ve read it 5 times now I loved it that much) and it’s Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros (and honestly we can include Iron Flame + Onyx Storm in this too).
This world of dragons and dragon riders and Xaden and Violet just hooked my brain and it’s become my happy place to go back to go back and re-read.
2: Best sequel so far this year
It has to be a tie between Iron Flame + Onyx Storm and the 4 sequels in the Magnolia Parks universe.
3: New releases that I haven’t read yet but really want to.
These are the recent releases currently on my TBR
Gifted & Talented by Olivie Blake
That Time Everything Was On Fire by Kerry Downes
It’s A Love Story by Annabel Monaghan
Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry
Births, Deaths, & Marriages by Laura Barnett
The Next Chapter by Camille Kellogg
Ordinary Love by Marie Rutkoski
4: Most anticipated releases of second half of the year.
Wreck by Catherine Newman because her previous books are some of my favourite ever.
Soul Searching by Lyla Sage because I adored the rebel blue ranch series.
Shield Of Sparrows by Devney Perry because I’ve heard lots of rave reviews about this one.
Daddy Issues by Kate Goldbeck because You, Again was so good.
And Time Of Your Life by Jessa Hastings because… well, it’s Jessa Hastings.
5: Biggest surprise books this year - better than expected and disappointing.
Better than expected was falling in love with the worlds of Fourth Wing and the Magnolia Parks universe.
Disappointing was Wild Side by Elsie Silver as I just didn’t love it as much as I have her previous book.
6: Favourite new to me or debut author
Liz Tomforde, Rebecca Yarros, and Jessa Hastings - new to me authors whose books I have ADORED this year.
7: New fictional crush
I mean… fellow Fourth Wing lovers know I’m going to say Xaden.
And team Julian for any Magnolia Parks readers.
8: Books that made me cry
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I adored this book.
Magnolia Parks: Into The Dark by Jessa Hastings because it wrapped up Magnolia and BJ’s story beautifully.
I cried reading the end of Rewind It Back by Liz Tomforde as I loved this series so much.
Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez also made me cry!
9: Books that made me happy
Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez, First Time Caller by B.K Borison, One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune, all 5 Windy City books by Liz Tomforde.
10: The most beautiful book cover
The Conditions Of Will by Jessa Hastings and One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune.
11: Book I want to read by the end of the year
Tomorrow And Tomorrow And Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. It’s been on my bookshelf for over a year now and I’ve heard so many good things.
12: How many 5 stars this year
13: Books I want to re-read this year
I’m currently re-reading all 5 books in the Magnolia Parks universe by listening to them on audiobook this time.
I also want to re-read Sandwich by Catherine Newman before the sequel Wreck comes out this autumn.
14: A book I enjoyed with mixed reviews
This Is A Love Story by Jessica Soffer - this doesn’t have a super high rating on Goodreads but I really enjoyed it.
15: 5 star prediction for the rest of the year
I would be really surprised if Wreck by Catherine Newman wasn’t a 5 star for me.
I also yap a little about some recent books I’ve loved in my most recent messy middle vlog that you can catch up with this way 👇🏻
Come and share your answers to any of these bookish Qs in the comments with me 📚
Until next time,
Jen
Ooh I just got Atmosphere from the library today!!
You are in for a treat with Tomorrow x3 when you read it later this year. It's my favorite book in recent history!