2020 Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag

Hello everyone! It’s finally time to do the Mid-Year Tag! This year has been weird and honestly I can’t believe that we’re already halfway there. I know I say this every year but this time everything has been truly insane! The only good thing about all this is the books I got to read because of the free time!

I have read 54 books till now and am 24 books ahead schedule which is the first time this has ever happened with me! I have also surpassed my last year’s books read which was 52! This year has been great reading wise since I read great books and discovered some new favourite authors too! I have tried to pick different books for all questions just so that I can cover up all the books I loved. I will linking the reviews of the books I have reviewed too!

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1. Best book you’ve read so far in 2020

Okay wow I know I’ve had a good year because it’s hard to choose! So my favourite books so far have been:

• The Silence of Bones by June Hur
• The Fever King and The Electric Heir by Victoria Lee
• Take A Hint, Dani Brown 

2. Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2020

This is hands-down The Empire of Gold by S.A.Chakraborty. This finale of the Daevabad series had me in tears and I was so in love with this bittersweet ending. If you haven’t read this series yet, do it soon because this is a book you should not miss out on!

3. New release you haven’t read yet, but want to

The Sound of Stars by Alechia Dow is a book I want to read so bad! My other blogger friends who have read it are all praises for this book. I have been excited about this book for the longest time and because of covid I couldn’t get a copy of the book! I have an audiobook now which I really hope to read soon now!

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year

There are quite a few releases I am looking forward to but I have two which I am super super excited to read! The Burning God by R.F.Kuang which is the finale in The Poppy War trilogy and These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong.

 5. Biggest disappointment

My biggest disappointment so far was My Summer of Love and Misfortune by Lindsay Wong. It was just so..bad. I went in expecting a cute contemporary since it was compared to Crazy Rich Asians but all I found was an obnoxious main character who I couldn’t stand and I had to DNF the book unfortunately.

6. Biggest surprise

My biggest surprise was Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia and the surprise element was just how much much I adored this book. I don’t usually read horror (read: never) but I wanted to read this one because I had loved Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. I loved this book and it truly gave me the creeps and I think if you read this genre, Mexican Gothic is an absolute must-read.

7. Favorite new author (debut or new to you)

The first author which comes to mind is Elizabeth Acevedo. I read The Poet Xearlier this year and LOVED IT SO MUCH! In June, I read Clap When You Land and again absolutely fell in love with Elizabeth’s words. I am going to read With The Fire on Highsoon but I know I am going to love it and I’m ready to read anything she publishes now.

8. Newest Fictional Crush 

I don’t think I get ficitonal crushes but yes I definitely loved Zafir from Take A Hint, Dani Brown and he is just so swoony and soft and amazing.

9. Newest favorite character

I loved Karina from A Song of Wraiths and Ruin so much. She was persistent, strong, vulnerable and a force to be reckoned with. I can’t wait to read how her story goes ahead.

10. Book that made you cry

A book which made me cry was Empire of Gold but since I have already mentioned that I will go with Circe by Madeline Miller. This book was just so gorgeous in it’s story and its character and I am so in love with how perfect this book.

11. Book that made you happy

The one book which made me really happy was Ghost Squad by Claribel Ortega. This middle grade novel was just so precious and fun and the audiobook experience was 10/10.

12. Most beautiful book you’ve bought so far this year (or received)

The most beautiful book I acquired this year was The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E Harrow which was sent to me by the publishers and I just can’t stop staring at the book because its so pretty!

13. What book(s) do you need to read by the end of the year?

I really want to read some backlist titles which are The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern, Shadow of the Fox series by Julie Kagawa and Aru Shah series by Roshani Chokshi. 

14. Favourite Post you wrote this year

I think my favourite posts this year have been all the amazing Woven In Books posts which have guest posts about amazing diverse books and interviews with diverse bloggers and authors. Also some of my recommendation posts have done really well. You can read those posts here:

• Woven In Books Posts
• 17 South Asian Queer Recs
• South Asian Books to Add to your TBR
• Recommendation list for Short Stories and Novellas

I am not tagging anyone in particular so if you want to do this tag, consider yourself tagged! 

Have you read any of these books?

How is your reading year been so far? Tell me about it!!