The Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag 2023

 

It's that time of year again when I participate in the Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag! I always do the End of the Year survey styled one in December, but I like doing the shorter version of the tag in June too because I just like lists! Lol! I borrowed the above image from Jeanna @ The Bucketlist Book Blog. I can't remember where the post originated from back in the beginning, otherwise I would credit them too. But let's get to it!

THE BEST BOOK I'VE READ SO FAR IN 2023:

It was tough looking over what I've read so far, but I think In Nightfall really was one of the best I've read so far!

MY FAVORITE SEQUEL OF THE YEAR SO FAR:

I read an ARC of Erin A. Craig's House of Roots and Ruin, which releases at the end of the month and it was SO good! It has that same spooky and mysterious and magical atmosphere the first book had but in a different locale with different aspects. And omg, you will not be prepared for this book!

FAVORITE SERIES FINALES (I'm adding this one since I didn't see it on the post!):

I've read quite a few to date but I must say Cherish by Tracy Wolff remains my favorite finale I've read so far this year. But by the end of the year, you'll all know what my #1 will be! ;)

 

 

 

A NEW RELEASE I HAVEN'T READ BUT REALLY WANT TO:

Kelley Armstrong is one of my favorite authors, but omigosh, she needs to slow down because I can't keep up with her! Lol! She's had 3 releases so far this year and one more to come! I've an ARC of the next release so I'll definitely be reading that one soonish! Kim Harrison is another all time favorite of mine and I sadly didn't have time for an ARC this year when it was offered so I had to wait for my finished copy to arrive. Now it's just a matter of working it into the queue!

MOST ANTICIPATED RELEASES FOR THE NEXT HALF OF THE YEAR:

Ya'll know I'm a Garber girl at heart! A Curse for True Love has been my #1 most anticipated release for 2023 and that has not changed! I just now get to have it in tags like this! Lol! I'm also really looking forward to Shelby Mahurin's The Scarlet Veil, because VAMPIRES!

MY BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENTS...But Were Still Enjoyed:

By NO means I am saying that either of these were a bad read! They were not! They just were not what I was expecting! With The Dead Romantics I was hoping for some ghostly action and a romance that was never meant to be, and it just wasn't quite the ghostly action I had hoped for! With Holly Horror (review to come in August), I was hoping for a horror fest! The cover is creepy, it sounded creepy, and yet, it was only mildly creepy.

BIGGEST SURPRISE OF THE YEAR:

House of Roots and Ruin was a delightful surprise in how much I enjoyed it! With a bit of a slow start, it did quickly take off and had me hooked! It's ending is still one I can't get out of my head! I knew From the Grave by Kresely Cole was slated to release this year but since there was quite the delay in it due to the author's health issues, I guess a part of me was still worried it wouldn't come! That it did and that it was as epic as I had hoped was just the icing on the cake!

FAVORITE NEW TO ME AUTHOR:

The only new to me author that I read so far this year and can call a new favorite would be Hannah Whitten! I'm hoping to read her newest release soon, but you know how that goes!

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BOOKS I'VE BOUGHT THIS YEAR:

I've the Fairy Loot version of The Last Tale of the Flower Bride that is really pretty! I'm still a little hesitant about reading it since I didn't care for Chokshi's YA debut but this one seemed interesting enough so I kept the subscription that month! Then I have Tessonja Odette's A Throne of Shadows! It's really stunning and looks gorgeous in person, still need to read that too! Lastly, there's The Study of Poisons by Maria V. Snyder, which I did read and love! I LOVE that it looks like a book itself! I really want to get the hardcover since I heard it was a naked hardcover.

BOOKS I NEED TO READ BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR:

Somewhat randomly chosen as I scrolled through my Goodreads list as I am at Bread Co. (Panera to you non-St. Louisans) since our power is still out at the house with no signs of being restored & I'm not able to see my books directly. I really want to read Margie Fuston's Cruel Illusions, Rachel Vincent's Fat Cat, and The Lake House by Sarah Beth Durst! All are reads that sounds epically incredible and I am dying to read them! I wish I didn't need sleep!