Hi all! It’s that time of year again: I’m gonna (calmly) freak out about all the brilliant books I’ve been reading. Because no matter what a rollercoaster this year has been (so far) one thing that’s been consistently awesome is *the books*. Thanks to much to the *sensational* Sophie Li for tagging me to do this last year!
BEST BOOK YOU’VE READ YET IN 2020
Where the Crawdads Sing– this book sings to my soul. It was simply spectacular.
BEST SEQUEL YOU’VE READ SO FAR IN 2020
A Heart So Fierce and Broken– which is kind of a weird pick, because I didn’t love the beginning or ending of this trilogy. HOWEVER this middle book was FIERCE! It made the whole series worth it for me!
NEW RELEASE YOU HAVEN’T READ YET BUT WANT TO
Rule of Wolves, The Ivies, Tales from the Hinterland– I have copies of all of these and hope to get to them soon! 😊
MOST ANTICIPATED RELEASE FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR
I love all of these authors, so I’m bouncing off the walls waiting for these!!
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT
Quiet at the End of the World– ach this got off to such a good start… and then it went out with a whimper. I really philosophically disagree with the messaging behind this story and hated the ending.
BIGGEST SURPRISE
Wolf Hall– I know, I know- saying Hilary Mantel is excellent is hardly a revelation. But for various reasons- including the fact I didn’t used to read much historical fiction- I didn’t think it would be for me. HOW WRONG I WAS! I’m currently making my way through the audiobook versions of this series and keep being blown away by its brilliance!
FAVOURITE NEW AUTHOR
Hilary Mantel– I know I’m going to read so much more by this author.
NEWEST FICTIONAL CRUSH
Grey from A Heart So Fierce and Broken– yes, I know I’m repeating books a bit here, but I haven’t read very many romances yet and this is basically my reason for liking that series- so now you know 😉
NEWEST FAVOURITE CHARACTER
Echo North– she’s so different to a lot of other YA main characters (one could even say she’s “not like other girls” 😉). I loved how she felt both unique and inspired by traditional fairy tale characters. And I loved how the plot was very much dictated by her personality.
BOOK THAT MADE YOU CRY
Code Name Verity– ye gods this book is so emotional.
BOOK THAT MADE YOU HAPPY
Pumpkinheads, Road Trip and the Tea Dragon Society!
(Happily) I can’t pick just one for this question- there were so many that made my heart squeeze!
FAVOURITE BOOK TO FILM ADAPTATION
Shadow and Bone– it’s got to be- I couldn’t have asked for a better adaptation!
MOST BEAUTIFUL BOOK YOU’VE BOUGHT THIS YEAR
Once and Future Witches- this is weird cos I mentioned my plans to buy it last year, though I only went and bought it this year. It’s the most beautiful addition to my shelf.
WHAT BOOKS DO YOU NEED TO READ BY THE END OF THE YEAR
I’m just embarrassing myself at this point, cos it’s the same books every year and I even made it my goal to read them this year… and I still haven’t done it (*insert the usual excuses about mood reading/lots to do/being a fickle bookish fiend etc).
And that’s all for now! As this is an annual tradition, I’m not tagging anyone specific- just feel free to do it if you like! What I wanna know is what’s your favourite book so far this year? And what are you most looking forward to? Let me know in the comments!
Pumpkin Heads was darling! I love Rainbow Rowell but I haven’t clicked with her Simon Snow series. I keep hoping she will write a sequel to Eleanor & Park.
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Have you read Fangirl? It’s great!
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I have! Plus, Cath & Levi make a cameo appearance in Rowell’s book Landline 😉
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I haven’t read that one! Omg!
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It was!! oh that’s fair! Rainbow Rowell is great! 😀
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The Heart Principle!!! I cannot wait!
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Ah yes I’ve just reserved a copy with the library!! 😀
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Holy smokes, I didn’t even think about the year being half over. Sigh…..
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Yeah I know, it crept up on me too!
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Crawdads 😍 I still keep thinking about that book x
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Me too!!
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Loved reading your answers!
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Thank you! ❤
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I need to read The Tea Dragon Society. Everyone has such nice things to say about it, and I love books that make me happy. I am standing in line with you eagerly awaiting the new Helen Hoang book. It’s been a long wait.
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Ah it’s so lovely- I’m really glad I bought a copy! 😀 Yes!!
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I really want to read Where the Crawdads Sing, I’m expecting something great. I might do this tag, it seems fun 😀
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great tag! and i hope you read rule of wolves soon, it’s so good!
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Ah I’m glad to hear it! Thank you!
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Hilary Mantel is so good! I read the whole trilogy twice last year once The Mirror and the Light came out.
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Yeah I’m loving it so much!!
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I loved Pumpkinheads. I think my favorite book would either have to be The Kite Runner by Khalid Hosseini or Lisey’s Story by Stephen King.
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It was so good!! 😀 Ahh Khalid Hosseini is brilliant!!
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I’ve only read the one book by him but I definitely want to read more.
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Oh thousand splendid suns was my favourite of his- highly recommend it!!
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I own that one so I need to try to get to it soon!!
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I’m looking forward to start Six of Crows duology once I finish ruin and rising by this weekend. I’m also waiting for Six Crimson Crane by Elizabeth Lim and Untethered by KayLynn Flanders, I’m relying on publisher’s email with NetGalley widget in beginning of July.
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oh six of crows is so so good!! Hope you like it!! Oh cool! Curious about six crimson crane!
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I was on the fence about reading Rule of Wolves, but Krysta convinced me I should, so I need to get around to that eventually too.
I also loved the Shadow & Bone adaptation (who didn’t, really?), and I recently read Pumpkinheads, which was super fun even though it’s not autumn, which is when I originally wanted to read it.
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Oh yes I remember your review of king of scars.
Ahh I know!! It was so good!! It was!! I also wanted to read it in autumn, but there was a six month wait for it at the library and beggars can’t be choosers 😉 (also didn’t want to keep the next person waiting 😉 )
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I was reading Echo North because you gave it such a glowing review, but to me it was some kind of disappointment. Its main protagonist keeps get mistreated, cheated and tricked by some kind of a werewolf but she keeps going back to him to ask for more. And in the end she delivered him from his ugly spell, he decided he always loved her but couldn’t help it that he was such a bad boy. She forgives him, and then they live happily forever. What kind of character arc is that? Love conquers all? A modern girl would have given him the boot before the story was halfway!
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Shame you felt that way. Obvs I stand by my review- but you’re entitled to your opinion. I didn’t really see her character arc the same way- I saw it as someone who had to overcome a great deal of suffering and who, it turned out, actually sacrificed her looks to save someone else’s life (which was heroic to me).
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I saw that life-saving thing as a compassionate child that was doing something stupid. There goes a saying that “no good deed goes unpunished”. For my part they can use this book to explain teenagers what the Stockholm Syndrome is about.
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Fun list! (Mine will be going up later this week, too. I love having annual traditions like this that I can look back on.)
And yes! Tea Dragon Society! I’m really looking forward to reading the third (and final, sigh) book in the series soon, too. I don’t have my copy of it yet, though, so I have to wait.
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Thank you!
Ah it was so lovely- can’t wait to read more!! Definitely worth waiting for 😉
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I’ve enjoyed the first two Tea Dragon books, they’re just so good.
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I have an arc of Survive the Night, looking forward to reading it 😀
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I’ve just read it- really enjoyed it!!
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Great! It’s not published until Dec so it’s at the bottom of my NetGalley pile at the moment but I look forward to it 😀
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Yeah I get it! I don’t have much of a stack, so I just went for it, cos I needed a sager fix! 😉 (Only problem is now I have to wait even longer got another one!)
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i’ve had Rule of Wolves at home for months now and I can’t seem to read it. I think I don’t want to say goodbye to the Grishaverse for an extended period of time just yet.
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Ah yes me too!!
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Wolf Hall has been on my TBR for a long time. I’ve heard conflicting things: one person will say I should read it ASAP, and anther will say it’s overrated. I do really want to get to it at some point and decide for myself!
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Oh yes it is somewhat divisive- but I’d definitely recommend giving it a go and seeing for yourself!!
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Ten Thousand Doors is truly stunning. I don’t think I’m ever going to get over that cover! ROW ended up being a very satisfying sequel, so much so that I raced through the second half of it. I’ve done a lot of rereading this year, as well as been disappointed by a lot, so it’s actually kind of slim picking for favorite book so far, but I think it’d have to go to The Kingdoms by Natasha Pulley, I think. It kept me up until 1AM reading, and it made me shout a whole lot, plus ugly cry, so feels fitting!
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Ah me too!!! Oh I’m glad to hear that!! Oh wow- that sounds like an impactful read!!
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Code Name Verity made me cry too, unfortunately I was on a bus at the time, so lots of kind strangers kept asking me if I was okay!
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hahaha! Oh no!!! That can easily happen with a book like that though!!
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I always love mid-year freak out tags! They introduce me to so many books I want to read (and expand my TBR exponentially). This tag looks like so much fun 🙂
-Megan Bookstacks & Golden Moms
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It was fun! 🙂 haha!
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SAB really spoiled us!!! The adaptation is so good; I can’t get over it. I’m super close to reading ROW, probably going to finish King of Scars sometime tomorrow. I’d really like to read Where the Crawdads Sing sometime this year, considering there’s an adaptation coming out that looks really promising :’)
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It really did!! Oh exciting!! Oh it was wonderful- didn’t know about the adaptation- now I’m *very* excited!!
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I just finished the Shadow & Bone show on Netflix. I liked it, but I’m so much more interested in the heist group’s story than Alina’s.
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Oh yeah that makes sense- they;re better characters and I still preferred their story (even if I did think they improved on Alina’s story)
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A thoughtful selection, and inspiring. Thanks for sharing!
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Thank you for reading!!
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My pleasure! ♥️
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