Mid-Year Book Freakout Tag

Well, folks, it's that time of year again. And by that I don't mean that it's Christmas time (yes it's you I'm side-eyeing right now, Christmas-In-July-Radio-Stations), I mean it's midyear. And that means we've gotten a sneak peek at what literary genius 2016 has to throw at us. Now it's time to reflect. I recently saw this tag done by Jessica at Paper Utopia and really wanted to do it! I've been searching for a tag of this sort, since it's halfway through the year and I've already read so many incredible books. This tag was created by Chami at Read Like Wildfire and Ely at Ely Jayne (both of whom are two lovely booktubers you should check out)! Let's just jump straight into it!

The Best Book You've Read So Far In 2016

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas is without a doubt the best book of 2016 so far, in my humble opinion. Maas seems to top herself with each of her successive publications and this is making me nervous for the upcoming Empire of Storms because A Court of Mist and Fury was so good that I have no clue how she could top that (but I have no doubt that she inevitably will). ACOMAF blew my mind and tore into my heart, leaving my soul in so many pieces you'd think I was Lord Voldemort! I just--I can't even...Just read the book already!!!

The Best Sequel You've Read So Far

If I hadn't already given A Court of Mist and Fury the Best Book of the Year (So Far) Award, it would win this award, but since I did give it that award, I'm going to give this one to The Rose and the Dagger by Renee Ahdieh, which was also fan-freakin-tastic! Ahdieh's gorgeous writing blew me away once again and her incredible storytelling ability sucked me in.

A New Release You Haven't Read Yet (But You Want To)

Goodness, there's so many! But I'm going to go with a debut instead of a sequel and say The Crown's Game by Evelyn Skye. I've heard mixed things about this one that lean more toward the good side, but still. From what I know of this book, it sounds like a cross between The Night Circus and Shadow and Bone and that sounds like something I definitely want to read!

Most Anticipated Release For Second Half Of 2016

Oh god, I can't just pick one! So instead, I'm going to tell you my top 5! These are the releases I just have to have or I will literally die (okay, so that may be a slight exaggeration, but you get my point...)

1. Strange The Dreamer by Laini Taylor

2. Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

3. Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas

4. Replica by Lauren Oliver

5. Furthermore by Tahereh Mafi

Biggest Disappointment

I was so, so, soooooo looking forward to Truthwitch by Susan Dennard...Aaaaaand it unfortunately fell short of my colossal expectations. I think the problem was that Truthwitch was massively hyped up for the 7 months prior to its release date. And not many books could hold up to that sort of expectation. So, yeah. I was burned by the hype :(

Biggest Surprise

I was so shocked that I actually loved Nowhere But Here by Katie McGarry! First off, it's contemporary, and while I don't hate contemporary, it's not my favorite genre either. And second off, this book/series centers around bikers. That sounded like a recipe for cheesiness to me. Yet...it was great! It quickly became one of my favorite contemporary books and I can't wait to read the sequel!

Favorite New Author

Alwyn Hamilton is one of the most promising 2016 debut YA authors I've read this year. Her world building and characterization were both stellar in Rebel of the Sands and she told an interesting first story.

Newest Fictional Crush

Rhysand from A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas. Need I say more?

Newest Favorite Character

Amani from Rebel of the Sands is definitely one of my new favorites. She's tough, independent, and, perhaps most importantly, she's flawed. She's one of the only heroines I've ever read about who makes whoppers of mistakes. But she learns from them and grows as a person in a realistic way. That's part of why I like her so much.

A Book That Made You Cry

Now this was almost a hard one because I am cold and heartless and have never cried because of a book UNTIL...The Anomaly. Or at least, that's what I've started calling it because this year, it finally happened. One book rose above others to become The Book That Made Me Shed A Single Tear (and I mean that quite literally it made me shed a single tear--just one!). And that book was...The Rose and the Dagger by Renee Ahdieh. Now, the ending of this book made me shed a single tear--I won't say why because *spoilers* but the ending of the chapter before the epilogue left me so shocked and sad that a single tear slipped from my eye. I know. I'm shocked too. Maybe it was just before my time of the month. I dunno. But I'm hoping this whole crying over books thing isn't the new norm...

A Book That Made You Happy

The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan was just a really great fun, fluffy, cutesy read that left me feeling happy!

Most Beautiful Book You've Bought So Far This Year

The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi has an absolutely stunning cover! I mean, just feast your eyes upon that color palette of red-orange, raspberry pink, midnight blue, and gold! Perfection!

Favorite Adaptation So Far This Year

I...hmmm...I actually haven't seen any book-to-movie/TV adaptations this year aside from The 100, which is my all time favorite show ever but which is also an incredibly loose adaptation of Kass Morgan's The 100. So I guess it wins by default? I will say that I have read The 100 and the TV show is 100x better, in my opinion.

What Books Do You Need To Read Before The End Of This Year?

Of the books on my TBR that I actually own? That would have to be A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab. I have never read a Schwab book before, but I hear this one is incredible. And you know what makes it even more tragic that I haven't gotten to this gem? The fact that I own not one, but two copies of it--a digital audiobook copy and a signed physical copy!

Favorite Post You've Written So Far This Year

Hmmm...That's hard. Probably any one of my posts for my bookish Travel Guide series. I love compiling and collaging photos and people seem to really enjoy having a visualization of their favorite imaginary places.

Favorite Book Community Member Of The First Half Of 2016

This undoubtedly has to go to Nori of ReadWriteLove28! Nori, who has come to be known as "blogger mom," is such a wonderful member of the book blogging community and I love her to death! She is always willing to help and offer advice and she coordinates massive community events which especially help new bloggers get introduced to and integrated into the community. She's helped me enormously this year and I look up to her so much! Thank you Nori for being an astoundingly outstanding role model, friend, and community member!