Mid Year Freak Out Tag

This tag is a tradition of mine, as I've done it every year since I started this blog.

I'm currently eight books ahead on my Goodreads challenge, which is set in 70 books, but I'm likely to raise that to 80 books if I manage to keep up the pace during summer. Just to give myself a bit of a challenge.

1. Best Book You've Read So Far in 2019

I've read some great books so far this year, but one series I just devoured. I flew through Renegades and continued Archenemies right after. Now I need the last book like no other.

2. Best Sequel You've Read so Far in 2019

Archenemies could easily count for this one, but I want to go with something else since I've read great sequels. Soulbound series is action packed and full of myths, and I just love it.

3. New Release You Haven't Read Yet but Want To

I got a proof copy of Boy Swallows Universe that I haven't read yet, but it's definitely high up on my TBR.

4. Most Anticipated Release For The Second Half of the Year

I got approved for The Demon World ARC yesterday and I couldn't be happier since I've been waiting for this ever since I finished with The Smoke Thieves.

5. Biggest Disappointment

I was so excited for Foreign to You and it ended up being one of the worst bury-your-gays books that I've read. Definitely not forgiving that.

6. Biggest Surprise

The Foxhole Court and especially The Raven King and The King's Men surprised me, because I didn't expect much. I ended up devouring book after book and become obsessed with the foxes. Neil Josten is a human scar museum who needs protection even though he can take care of himself.

7. Favorite New Author (Debut To You)

I've read a lot of new authors this year and I could have chosen others, but Caleb Roehrig dazzled me with his LGBT contemporary mysteries. There's secrets and murder, but also romance and yeah, I loved both of these books and can't wait for his next one.

8. Newest Fictional Crush

Logan Echolls probably doesn't count since I watched Veronica Mars TV show few years ago BUT I didn't read the books until this month so surely that counts?

9. Newest Favorite Character
Ilya Rozanov is arrogant and so full of himself but also charming and yep, Ilya gets this one.

10. Book That Made You Cry

Actually, nothing. I don't remember any book making me cry so far this year.

11. Book That Made You Happy

Finally, finally!, Taboo For You got a sequel so naturally Made For You made me super happy. It's also really uplifting book.

12. Favorite Book To Film Adaptation

Only adaptation I've both read the book and seen the film/TV show is You by Caroline Kepnes. I liked the book a lot better since they changed way too much in the show. Though actor choices were good.

13. Favorite Review You've Written This Year

I liked writing A Ferry of Bones & Gold by Hailey Turner.

14. Most Beautiful Book You've Bought This Year So Far

Alright, I'm being a bit cheeky here since all of these were proofs I got from work so technically it's the most beautiful books I've acquired this year.

15. What Book(s) Do You Need To Read by The End of The Year

My TBR is huge at the moment and there's so many I need to get as soon as possible, and here's a bunch of them.

 

2018 End of Year Reading Survey

Annual book year survey that's created and hosted by Jamie @ The Perpetual Page-Turner.

2018 Reading Stats

Number Of Books You Read: 85 (20,620 pages)

Number of Re-Reads: 3

Genre You Read The Most From: M/M romance

Best In Books

1. Best Books You Read In 2018?

  

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

Where the World Ends by Geraldine McCaughrean. I was so hyped up for this one, especially the setting in the remote island of Kilda, but the book ended up being just okay read for me.

3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?

Where Death Meets the Devil by L.J. Hayward. The synopsis drew me in, but oh boy I wasn't ready for the drive! Definitely my favourite series of 2018 as I've devoured each book and short stories, and loved all of them. I need more Jack and Ethan in my life!

4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?

I've been championing Kelley York and Rowan Altwood's Dark Is The Night series.

5. Best series you started in 2018? Best Sequel of 2018? Best Series Ender of 2018?

Best series I started: Death and the Devil by L.J. Hayward; Hands down best series I started this year.

Best sequel: Trick Roller by Cordelia Kingsbridge; Absolutely engaging.

Best series ender: Lock Nut by JL Merrow; I loved the whole series, but the ending was just so satisfying.

6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2018?

There was a few, but L.J. Hayward steals the title as I can't get enough of Jack and Ethan. Christina Henry deserves a mention, because Lost Boy is a masterpiece.

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?

I branched out a bit in 2018 and aimed to read more classics and crime fiction. However, I read one biography (I never read biographies/memoirs etc.) and I loved it, so it's The Unknown Kimi Räikkönen by Kari Hotakainen.

8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?

 

9. Book You Read In 2018 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2018?

11. Most memorable character of 2018?

This year, definitely Jamie from Lost Boy by Christina Henry. If you've read the book, this isn't a surprise. Young or old, Jamie's the most memorable.

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2018?

Fox 8 by George Saunders, because it's so beautiful story, inside and out.

13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2018?

A continuation from last year, Foxes Unearthed by Lucy Jones cleverly illustrated the complicated history between foxes and the British, and showed how vilified the foxes are throughout the history and literature, and for no good reason.

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2018 to finally read?

I'm proud that I finally read Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie as it's been a book I've been meaning to read.

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2018?

“And it made me love him a little less, and the memory of that smile hurt deep down in the place where I kept all my secrets and my sorrows.” Lost Boy by Christina Henry

 “People can be complicated. We can also be ridiculously simple.” Pisces Hooks Taurus by Anyta Sunday

 16. Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2018?

Shortest: Gemini Rules Capricorn by Anyta Sunday (22 pages)

Longest: The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks (650 pages)

17. Book That Shocked You The Most

Nothing really shocked me.

18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)

Jack & Ethan from Death & the Devil series by L.J Hayward. Jack's badass spy and Ethan's badass assassin. Shouldn't work together, but oh boy, this slow burner relationship is everything. It's all the feels, all the time.

Special mention to Achilles & Patroclus from The Song of Achilles, and Damen & Laurent from Captive Prince. Both were re-reads so that's why they're only a mention, but both are on top of my all time OTP list.

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year

I loved the friendship dynamic between Patch, Wren and Barver.

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2018 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

I've been a fan of Kelley York for years, but this series she co-authors with her wife is one of my favourites by her.

 

21. Best Book You Read In 2018 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2018?
I have a problem and fictional guys steal my heart way too easily, so for this I'm literally going for the latest fictional crush from one of the last books I read in 2018. Pax from Shrewd Angel is a rock star, but he's goofy, determined and so adorable.

23. Best 2018 debut you read?

Actually, now that I go through everything I read during the past year, I didn't read any 2018 debuts.

24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

Take me to the Neverland.

25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?

Anyta Sunday cracks me up every time with her humour and cute oblivious boys.

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2018?

Cruelty to animals, especially misunderstood predators, tears me up year after year.

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?

 

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?

I reread The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, and well, it still crushes my soul. I love it beyond everything else, but it kills me every time.

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2018?

Because it the perspective was unique and the illustrations stunning;

30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

Fault Lines by Doug Johnstone, as it was one of the biggest miss for me. Although, I only got mad before I reached the point where I didn't care anymore.

Blogging / Bookish Life

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2018?

A Book-Bound Girl run by Kyra.

2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2018?

Past year I've written quite few reviews that I liked; How Saeter Robbed the Underworld, Vicious & Devil in the Details.  

3. Best discussion/non-review post you had on your blog?

I liked doing the Aesthetically Pleasing Book Tag with all the photos.

4. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?

I attended talk & signing by Christina Henry and V.E. Schwab in Edinburgh and it was plenty of fun, and I loved meeting both of them!

5. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2018?

Must be one of the readathons I participated, they were a lot of fun this year.

6. Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year?

I feel like I read a lot of this year, especially since I started to make it my mission to read something every day, but I struggled with finding balance between blogging, university and social life, especially after the summer when I got a part-time job and added one more thing to juggle with.

7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?

By views: Book Blitz + Giveaway: Wings of Flesh and Bones by Cathrina Constantine

8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?

Top Ten Tuesday: Villains!

9. Best bookish discover (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?

I got a part-time job as a bookseller, and learning the inside things of bookselling and chats with customers have been great.

10. Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?

I participated only one reading challenge and that was the Goodreads Reading Challenge, which I surpassed! I read 85 books, when my goal was 70 (it was 60 originally, but I upped it around the midway of the year).

Looking Ahead

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2018 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2019?

For book I already started, but haven't finished:

For book I haven't started yet:

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2019 (non-debut)?

The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue by V.E. Schwab, which hopefully comes out next year! But basically, I just want a new book by Schwab.

3. 2019 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

Heh, I'm so behind on tracking what's new in 2019, so there isn't any debuts I'm anticipating currently.

4. A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2019?

I need the next Death and the Devil book, which hopefully will be published next year.

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2019?

I hope to read as much as this year (or even more!) and manage to juggle and balance all the aspects of my life, which hopefully includes more frequent blogging.

6. A 2019 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone?

I've read only a few 2019 releases, and sadly those books aren't something I'd like to recommend.