Where has 2020 gone?? How is it July and why did we decide to skip June this year? Anyway whatever stuff is happening (and there is a lot of stuff happening) at least we can all have a comforting Mid Year Freak Out Tag about books.
I was tagged in this a while ago, so long ago I have actually managed to loose the notification on who tagged me. But thank you mysterious blogger of the past, my disorganised self does appreciate it. I nabbed the questions from Paper Fury’s blog, no idea if they’re the same ones I was originally tagged in but these things tend to change with each new blogger anyway.
You can find my 2018 Mid Year Freak Out Tag here, I seem to have missed 2019 oops. I’m tagging: Secret Library of Books, Becky’s Book Blog, JJBook Blog, HTKing and anyone who just fancies doing the tag!
Best book you’ve read so far in 2020
Cinder
This was a hard choice because I loved Slay, One of Us is Next and The Foundling so much but overall I went with Cinder. I was absolutely enchanted by this cyborg mechanic in the future desperate to escape while discovering she might be Earth’s only hope. I read it in days it was so good.
Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2020
Children of Virtue and Vengeance
So I’ve seen a lot of mixed reviews about this one but honestly I loved it. I really enjoyed the setting and thought it added a lot of new complexities to Amari and Zelie’s characters, my only issue really was I felt the pacing felt a bit off.
New release you haven’t read yet, but want to
A Heart so Fierce and Broken
Where do I begin? This is a long list of books but overall I’ve gone with A Heart so Fierce and Broken because I did really enjoy A Curse so Dark and Lonely and am very disappointed I still haven’t managed to see Wren, Harper and Grey in the sequel. Also I have completely forgotten the twist at the end of the first one now?? So it’s not looking good.
Most anticipated release for the second half of the year
The Cousins
After loving One of Us is Lying, One of Us is Next and Two Can Keep a Secret I am completely excited for McManus’s next book, bring on the murder mystery.
Biggest disappointment
Priory of the Orange Tree
That orange cover with the pretty blue glittery dragon and the swirling blue title. Urg it’s amazing, I snap so pictures of this beauty for my insta, it was 100% a cover buy. And about dragons. How did I not love this book? How can a book about dragon riders and dragon slayers and dragon plagues and other mythical animals be so boring? And slow?
Biggest surprise
The Sun is Also A Star
Building on the yucky love at first sight trope, a whole romance set in a day, and just being contemporary at all I did not expect to love this novel. But I definitely did. I did find Daniel a bit pushy at times with the whole love thing but I loved Natasha (I was definitely the brainy science kid who wanted to be a data scientist) and found that nearly 400 pages crammed in a couple hours actually worked??
Favourite new author (debut or new to you)
Beth O’Leary
Gosh I love her books. The Flatshare and The Switch were both so heart warming and honestly I feel they perfectly represent what it’s like to be a young professional in the UK right now? Tiffy and Leena felt so real to me with their tiny London flats, crazy jobs and realistic and heart warming friendships.
Newest fictional ship
Ali and Nahri
This question was originally my newest fictional crush but I don’t really have any fictional crushes. My brain is just far to sensible to entertain the notion. So, instead, I’m picking a new ship which is Ali and Nahri from City of Brass. Nahri is technically meant to be with Dara in this book but as I said many times in my review this relationship has SO MANY PROBLEMS and I 100% ship Nahri with anyone else, particularly the kind but slightly hopeless prince, although I equally feel she’d be great single.
Newest favorite character
Kiera from Slay
I absolutely loved Kiera, the black computer scientist who built a famous VR video game in her free time. She was also the first female computer scientist in a book that I’ve read who actually knows her stuff and is 100% a programmer, so yes I’m a fan!
Book that made you cry
The Mercies
The Mercies didn’t make me cry but I honestly haven’t cried at a book since I was a very little kid (I’ve grown into a weathered stone of unmoving) but The Mercies was super tragic. What was more tragic was reading the original true story on Wikipedia because it was no where near as happy as Millwood Hargrave portrays it.
Book that made you happy
The Foundling
The ending to this was so sweet. I loved reading about old London and seeing a Victorian co-parent relationship form between the two mothers. I loved the characters, especially Bess, Kezia and Lyle.
Most beautiful book you’ve bought so far this year (or received)
The Starless Sea
This book is so pretty. I have received messages from people just telling me how pretty this book is on my Instagram feed. And yes it features on a ridiculous number of my instagram posts, with that golden bee and pretty blue swirls.
What books do you need to read by the end of the year?
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
New VE Schwab new VE Schwab. Eeek. I loved the Shades of Magic series and Vicious and Vengeful are up there for my all time favourite reads (because Sydney and Mitch and the best side kicks ever). I’m so ready for an immortal invisible girl.
Favourite book community member
Jo of the Tagged Book Lovers Blog
This wasn’t even a hard one. Friends since 14 over a love of Percy Jackson and now, a decade later, still friends and still sharing a love of Greek myths and fantasy. And also she has the best book recs.
Books, Life and Other Oddities 