Dear Time, Please Slow Down // Mid Year Book Freak Out Tag

So….. I was supposed to spend today blogging, but I was listening to Hamilton and I ended up playing Satisfied on repeat for an hour (my dog definitely loved me singing: “I’m the oldest and the wittiest and the gossip in New York City is insidious and Alexander is penniless that doesn’t mean I want him any less” repeatedly). I was getting way too emotional over Alexander and Angelica to the point where I was kinda incoherent. I can’t even look at a comma without wanting to lie on the floor.

Anyway.

I was tagged to do this by the amazing Casey @ Adoptabookaus.  Make sure to check out her post and blog because she’s wonderful ♥

This tag was created by Chami @ ReadLikeWildFire and Ely @ Ely Jayne. It’s where we look back at (and freak out over) the books we’ve read during the past six months.

Best Book You’ve Read So Far In 2016

I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned this before, but did you guys know that Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff is one of my favourite books?

No, but seriously this was actually a really hard choice. My first year REALLY reading properly again and I’ve been so lucky to have loved so many of the books I’ve read. Of course I had to go with this though because…… yeah, it was everything. I’ve never read a book before that was so unique and beautiful. Despite not using a typical narrative there was still character development and you were able to connect to everyone.

Runner Ups:

 

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Best Sequel You’ve Read So Far In 2016

I’m taking this to mean the 2nd book in a series so that is hands down The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater. I enjoyed The Raven Boys, but it wasn’t until I read this book that I REALLY fell in love with the series. I loved everything about this book especially Ronan Lynch. I feel like all the characters and friendships really developed in this book and it’s what hooked me and I binged read the next 2 books in the series.

 

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 New Release You Haven’t Read Yet, But Want To

I’ve been waiting FIVE YEARS for Em Bailey to write a new book and now I have one that is about CULTS and I still haven’t read it? WHY? What is wrong with me?  My Sister Rosa almost feels like it’s written for me and I haven’t read that either.I have no idea why. By the time I get to it the US edition will probably have been released lmao. Both of these books were supposed to be automatic reads for me, but here we are in July and I still haven’t read EITHER of them.

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Most Anticipated Release for the Second Half of the Year

Obviously.

Knowing people have already read this book is KILLING ME. If it wasn’t for Illuminae this blog probably wouldn’t exist and I probably wouldn’t be reading anything other than comics and graphic novels. I can not wait for this book. I will 5000% start crying when it’s finally in my hands.

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 Biggest Disappointment

I really wasn’t a fan of A Court of Thorns and Roses. I didn’t like how the abusive elements of this book were romanticised and I didn’t like that we are supposed to want Feyre to be with one of those people who abused her. I don’t know. If you love this book then this isn’t meant to be an attack or anything. It’s just not for me and I’m really hesitant to read the sequel, but I’ll try to get to it eventually.

I gave The Star-Touched Queen 4 stars because I loved the writing and the diverse mythology, but I was disappointed in the sense that I expected and wanted this book to be SO MUCH MORE. I was really hoping it would defy a lot of tropes. I was promised empowerment, but all I got was instalove. I wanted Maya’s decisions to be for herself but like the majority of them were just for her love interest.

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Biggest Surprise

I was really intrigued by this book, but I was not expecting to absolutely fall in love with it. I presumed it was going to be your usual kind of Fantasy, but it was full of Magical Realism and South American mythology and folklore. I loved this book in the sense that it went full circle. I know a lot of people may not like the vagueness of the open ending, but I loved it. The MC was told stories by older Spanish women growing up and now this story is going to become a legend of its own. I love it so much. The writing was beautiful and the Puerto Rican setting felt like its own character.

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Favourite New Author (Debut or New To You)

• Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
• Samantha Mabry
• V.E. Schwab
• Noelle Stevenson

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Newest Fictional Crush

Um…….. Sorry to be really boring here, but no one? Like I have a few characters that I’m like WHAT A BABE, but that’s as far as it goes.

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Newest Favourite Character

BLUE AND HER STUPID RAVEN BOYS

HANDS DOWN

THE END

NO ONE WILL EVER COMPARE

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 Book That Made You Cry

Honestly, it’s probably easier for me to list what books DIDN’T make me cry. I’d have to chose The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater and In The Afterlight by Alexandra Bracken because they were both the final book in some of my favourites series. I was the definition of an Emotional Mess™ throughout them. I cried because I was happy and sad and because both endings were perfect. I’m still crying, tbh.

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Book That Made You Happy

I love the world of Percy Jackson more than I can express in words. It’s just a series that I can escape into and forget about everything. I love all the books that Rick’s written and I know a lot of people are getting tired, but I’m the complete opposite. I’ll never get sick of this world or these characters. The Hidden Oracle was even better than I ever imagined. It felt like the original series and it was so great seeing things from the POV of a God. Apollo was hilarious. There were so many great and important themes covered too.

Runner Ups:

 

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Favorite Book to Film Adaptation

…….I’m not a movie watcher and as a result I haven’t watched ANY book to film adaptations this year. The closest one would have been Civil War, but that was SO different to the comic that I feel like you couldn’t even call it an adaptation. I’m thankful for that though because I was not a fan of the Civil War comic, haha.

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Favorite Post You Have Done This Year

My review for A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. As I said above I wasn’t a fan so I was quite nervous posting a sort of negative review because of the hype (some other reviewers had received hate for similar reviews) and because I didn’t accidentally want to offend anyone. Everyone was really great about it though and I’m really proud of myself for being able to post it since I am generally an extremely anxious person who will usually avoid almost anything that could possibly cause confrontations.

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Most Beautiful Book You’ve Bought This Year

This stunning piece of art.

 

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What Book Do You Need to Read by the End of the Year

ALL OF THEM?

There are so many books that I really need to read it’s crazy. Being away from reading I feel like I’m so behind so it’s not just new releases that I have to keep up with it’s also a huge backlist that I want to get through.

Probably everything that’s on my Make Me Read It Readathon Poll which closes in a few days so you should totally go vote!!!! #thatpromotho 😎

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Tagging

Of course, like always if you’ve already done this or don’t want to do this then it’s all chill!! Don’t feel like you have to.

Beth @ Reading Every Night • Esther @ Chapter Adventures • Lindsey @ A Piece of Paradis • Jaed @ The Bibliophile Blogs • Madeline @ The SFF Bookshelf • Britt @ Geronimo Reads • Hannah @ Mortal Reader • Ngoc @ Happy Comes First

And anyone else who wants to do it!!

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I’d love to hear your thoughts on any of the books I mentioned. What’s been your best and/or worst read of 2016 so far?

Hope you’re all having a fantastic day xx