2020 has been quite the year (understatement much?).
Feeling like its both flying and crawling by, it’s scary and exciting to realize that more than half the year is over.
I mean, July?! Already?!
But in the book community, halfway through the year means only one thing: time to freak out!
One of the most popular bookish tags, the Midyear Freakout was originally created by Youtuber Chami, (although the original video is no longer up) and is a series of 15 questions that help us look back at the year so far, assess our progress in our reading goals, and look ahead at what’s left to achieve before 2021 (let’s not think about how close that is!!!).
Let’s do it!
Best Book You’ve Read so Far?
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone
My favorite book of the year so far is….A NONFICTION?
I know, I know. Who am I?! I’m just as surprised as you are.
But, after much thought, Maybe You Should Talk to Someone is just all around the best book. Incredibly well-written, engaging, and with many important themes about mental health, it’s the book that I both enjoyed and would recommend most (and already have an annoying amount to everyone on bookstagram).
Best Sequel?
Fence #7
Once upon a time I was that girl who read fantasy series almost exclusively. Now I’m lucky if I read a series at all.
To be fair, Fence is a series of stand-alone length…but I’m still counting it!
By far my favorite, Fence 7 blows the rest of the issues out of the water with how deep it dives into the characters (the strength of the series) and explores their (both platonic and romantic) relationships.
New Release you haven’t read but want to?
Home Before Dark
This book has been sitting on my shelf for the last two weeks and I eyeball it just about every day.
A horror-thriller with a synopsis that gives off major Haunting of Hill House vibes and is set in my home state of Vermont, this book had me hook-line-and-sinker.
Throw in the fact that it’s written by an author who comes highly recommend and who I’ve been meaning to read forever and I can’t wait to dive in.
Most anticipated release?
Survivor Song
THE book I can not shut up about.
Everyone and their brother has heard me talk about this book on Instagram and I did everything in my book blogger power to get my hands on an early copy.
Alas, it wasn’t meant to be and I had to wait the torturous full six months for July 7th, when the preorder I placed 2 months prior shipped into my hands. Never have I prepared so much for a book.
Following a pandemic (hello! yes, already), Survivor Song is the newest release of Paul Tremblay, who quickly became one of my favorite authors of all time last year. A master of horror and suspense, I will read anything this man writes. Plus, it sounds like everything my spooky-loving soul has been wanting!
Biggest Disappointment?
What Unbreakable Looks Like
One of my most aniticipated ARCs (advanced readers copy), I thought this book was going to be a new favorite.
Not a surprise to anyone, hard-hitting contemporary books featuring the darker the topics the better, are my favorite genre. And, following the story of a girl who has recently escaped from human trafficking and her recovery and re-introduction into normal teenage life, this sounded like exactly that.
Unfortunately, this book failed on all other levels and was dragged down by amateur writing paired with unrealistic characters and plot. From chapter one, I was wondering when I’d be finished.
Biggest Surprise?
Not Your Idol Vol. 1
On the opposite end of the spectrum of Unbreakable, I had very low hopes for Not Your Idol Vol. 1 as the first and only manga I’ve ever requested as an early copy.
Usually, I wouldn’t even consider picking up a manga I’d heard nothing about and I was wary of the heavy topics this one took on, uncertain if it would handle them well.
Well, jokes on me because this book was one of my favorites of the year so far! This story packs a powerful punch when it comes to plot and I could not stop reading in order to see where the psychological suspense took me. And then, when I was finished, I immediately looked up the release of vol. 2, which I will be eagerly awaiting until September. It can’t come soon enough.
Favorite New-to-you or Debut Author?
Jenny Han
Jenny Han may not write the type of books I often seek out, but she’s the only author I’ve read more than one full-length book from this year. Albeit all three were from the same series…but they were still ones I very much enjoyed.
I probably won’t be picking up more YA contemporary romance, full of fluff, until I’m in that very specific and rare-for-me mood again, but I know exactly where to look when I do.
I’ll also be keeping my eye on these debut authors, who, to date, have each written only one book but whose writing in that one book has certainly piqued my interest:
James Brandon (Ziggy, Stardust and Me) & Kate Elizabeth Russell (My Dark Vanessa).
Fictional Crush?
John Ambrose McLaren
Team John Forever. (Team Peter can fight me.)
Speaking of To All the Boys…
I guess it’s clear how invested I was in Jenny Han’s characters.
Not necessarily my personal taste of love interest, John Ambrose McLaren is literally the perfect man for Laura Jean and their sort-of romance (feat. a love triangle) is adorable.
And no, we’re not talking about movie McLaren (pictured right), although, sure he’s cute too. As much as other people love these movies, P.S. I Still Love You is…not that great, in my opinion.
Favorite character?
Anne Shirley
This one is a surprisingly difficult question considering I usually like books best that have detestable characters.
So…I’ve chosen a bit of a cop-out.
Don’t get me wrong, Anne is a great character. Feminist before it was cool, she’s unique and nerdy and 100% relatable to anyone like me who spent their childhood making up fantasy worlds and writing a lengthy series of fiction stories in their head. Her sense of imagination? Amazing. Her friendship with Diana? INCREDIBLE.
But a lot of what I felt for Anne was a big fat piece of nostalgia from having grown up with the movies. Thanks, Megan Follows, for providing my image of Anne for every page.
Not exactly a new character to me (or anyone), I admit, but hey, I only read the book this year, so it counts…right?
Book that made you cry?
Anne of Green Gables
Ok, YES I just admitted Anne of Green Gables is not a new story to me. And, admittedly I remembered a lot about what happens once I started reading.
But the ending, I did not.
I’m a cold-hearted reader, ok? I don’t cry for characters often, if at all. Dry-eyed through all of the Song of Ice and Fire series (feat. about 1,000 or so deaths), there’s not much that can get me misty-eyed.
Leave it to me to be fine with beloved characters dying, but end up getting weepy over (SPOILER ALERT) a character giving up her dreams to be totally devoted to a dear family member.
*bawls eyes out over Anne’s selflessness*
Book that made you happy?
Fence
Just so fluffy and fun and full of feel-good moments, I read Fence as a reprieve from heavier fiction and it completely delivered. Just plain lovely with nothing depressing or difficult to get you feeling down, Fence is all about pure friendships and…you guessed it, fencing.
Favorite adaption?
Love, Simon
If you weren’t aware, I’m a gigantic fan of Simon Vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda.
Just thinking about the mere possibility that the movie adaption would do that beautiful book dirty made me avoid it all cost.
But, after hearing it’s praises sung on social media (and with *ahem* plenty of time to watch way too many movies) I decided to finally watch Love, Simon.
And wow! I mean, obviously still not as good as the book (said every book lover about every movie ever) but the film sticks pretty dang closely to the original story and depicts the characters well. And, even more importantly, is able to present the overall cuteness and teenage high school experience that makes the book so enjoyable.
Other adaptions take note!
Favorite Review you’ve written?
Bubblegum ARC Review
For anyone who’s read the review, this answer probably comes as a surprise since I basically tore this book apart.
I requested an early copy of Bubblegum after seeing it well-received by other book reviews, but just did not get it. Even now, I see rave reviews of this behemoth, blubbering mess of a book and just think…what?!
However, my almost equally rambly review seemed to be at least somewhat helpful and became my most viewed review ever on Amazon.
You’re welcome everyone who (like me) thought this book was just a regular-schmegular sci-fi but came upon my review before spending their well-earned money on this boring piece of trash…I MEAN highly respectable work of experimental literary fiction.
Most beautiful book you’ve bought?
Ziggy, Stardust and Me
LOOK AT IT!
The inside flaps are marbled pink (front) and blue (back)!!
Can you believe someone gave this up to the Barnes and Noble bargain basement to be bought by me for seven dollars?!
(Finding the best book bargains isn’t a question on this list…but maybe it should be.)
6 Books to read by the end of the year?
(click to learn more!)
Goal Check-in
Ok, so the freakout is over.
But in my 2019 wrap-up I created some goals for 2020, including how many books I wanted to read and 20 specific titles that would be my top priority.
In theory, halfway through the year means I should be halfway through these goals…right?
Here’s how I’ve been doing:
(Click for reviews & more info!)
Goodreads Goal
%
Completed Goodreads Goal
Not bad! I still have plenty of books I want to read by the end of the year (and add more every day) and some goals to keep working on, but there’s still plenty of time before the end of 2020!
Thanks for reading along with me, and let me know how your 2020 reading has been so far, or if you have any specific goals for the second part of the year in the comments!
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