Sunday, June 19, 2022

Recent Updates | 2022 Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag

Hi everyone! I'm going to do something a bit different today. I haven't been around this year for a whole host of reasons, but long covid and too many commitments have been at the top of that list. Things are improving in both of those areas, and I'd love to get back to updating this space. I've decided to do the Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag because I think it's a great way to catch up on my bookish year so far, and also I just really like this tag so I'm happy to have it motivate me today!

1. Best book you’ve read so far in 2022?

Bad Witch Burning by Jessica LewisBad Witch Burning by Jessica Lewis - This book had such an emotional impact on me. It was fantastic.
 

2. Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2022?

The Collectors (Fright Watch #2) by Lorien Lawrence

The Collectors (Fright Watch #2) by Lorien Lawrence - Fright Watch is such a fun series. It's kids who are like the neighborhood watch combating evil neighbors.

3. New release you haven’t read yet, but want to?

My goal as I try to get some of my personal time back is to be able to read new releases as I get them. I'm trying to catch up right now so I can get to that point. The book I probably want to read most from my 2022 purchases is The Hunger of the Gods by John Gwynne, but I will need to read The Shadow of the Gods first!

The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne The Hunger of the Gods by John Gwynne

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of 2022?

This was a tough one because there are several books I'm super excited about this year, but I'm going to have to say the upcoming fantasy book from Stephen King is probably at the top of the list.

Fairy Tale by Stephen King

Fairy Tale by Stephen King

5. Biggest disappointment?

Mine by Delilah S. Dawson

I'm going to have to go with Mine by Delilah S. Dawson. It just didn't have the heart of a middle grade horror so it was a miss for me. It's highly rated on Goodreads so it's probably not a bad book, but it wasn't what makes me tick when I pick up a middle grade so I was disappointed.

6. Biggest surprise?

White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson

I'm struggling with how to phrase this because I don't want to sound like I'm bashing YA. You guys know I read a lot of YA, but it's my least favorite age level because I'm often not interested in the themes of this age range. However - I've read so many great YA horror books lately including White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson. I highly recommend it.

7. New favorite author?

Hands down - Catriona Ward. I read The Last House on Needless Street last year, and while it wasn't my favorite book of the year, it was definitely my favorite reading experience of the year. I'm in the middle of reading Sundial by Catriona Ward right now, and it has solidified her as a new favorite must read author.

Sundial by Catriona Ward

8. Newest fictional crush?

I don't think I read the right type of books for this question. Lots of horror and thrillers I really shouldn't be crushing on so I'm happy to report no one.

9. Newest favorite character?

As I was scrolling through my books, Ophie popped out as the most memorable character in the list. I hope we get more books with Ophie in the future.

Ophie's Ghosts by Justina Ireland

Ophie's Ghosts by Justina Ireland

10. Book that made you cry?

Girl in the Walls by Katy Michelle Quinn

Girl in the Walls by Katy Michelle Quinn - This is a heartbreaking and wonderful tale of self-discovery.

11. Book that made you happy?

Never Say You Can't Survive by Charlie Jane Anders

I'm currently reading Never Say You Can't Survive: How to Get Through Hard Times by Making Up Stories by Charlie Jane Anders, and it is making me really happy. There's a lot about creating whatever it is you need to create in that moment for your own wellbeing.

12. Favorite book to movie adaptation you’ve seen so far this year?

Doctor Sleep

I finally watched Doctor Sleep recently, and it was so good. I'm looking forward to watching Where the Crawdads Sing very soon, too.

13. Favorite review you’ve written this year?

Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls by Kaela Rivera

Probably my review of Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls by Kaela Rivera

14. Most beautiful book you bought this year?

I'm having trouble finding any pictures online but my family got me a gorgeous anniversary edition of The Princess Bride for Mother's Day this year. It's beautiful.

15. What books do you really need to read by the end of this year?

I already mentioned my goal of getting to the point where I can read books as they are released. These are the my top 3 2022 I've already purchased but have not yet read (not including Hunger of the Gods that I mentioned earlier).

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree

The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James

The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd

Thank you so much for letting me somewhat catch up today. If you want to do this tag as well, consider yourself tagged!



This post is being shared as part of Book Date, Unleashing Readers, and Teach Mentor Texts It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Caffeinated Book Reviewer's The Sunday Post.

35 comments:

  1. I haven't read White Smoke, but Jackson seems to dazzle me in books that are outside my norm. She's a great author (and I have been struggling with YA lately too)

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    1. This was my first book by Jackson! She has a new one coming out soon that I will definitely grab.

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  2. I want to see Doctor Sleep. That looks really good. All of your books look great. I hope you enjoy your upcoming reads. Have a great week!

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  3. Well I haven't read any of these except Book of Cold Cases. I hope you enjoy them.

    Anne - Books of My Heart This is my Sunday Post

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  4. I'm glad you're starting to feel better from long COVID. I hope you continue to heal.

    The husband and I haven't seen Doctor Sleep yet. I'd like to watch it at some point. We just need to actually take the time to do it.

    I'm looking forward to reading The Cartographers too. Hopefully, we both like it. :)

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    1. It took us a while to finally watch Doctor Sleep. I'm glad we did.

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  5. This is a fun tag! Sundial looks like a trip. And the Anders book sounds like a good one too.

    That sounds like a wonderful edition of Princess bride.

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  6. I still need to read Ophie's Ghosts & among so many others, I bookmarked The Girl in The Wall. I enjoyed your tags!

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  7. I’m glad to hear that your LC is improving, I hope you continue to recover.
    I enjoyed Legends & Lattes, I hope you do too

    Wishing you a great reading week

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  8. I'm glad to see you posting again! I'll be doing this tag in a few weeks, it's one of my favorites😁 Catriona Ward is a must read author for me too, and I'm also excited for Fairy Tale.

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    1. Thank you, Tammy! Yay, I can't wait to see your tag. I really enjoy it, too.

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  9. Interesting assortment of books. I hope you do get a chance to read some of your new ones. Come see my week here. Happy reading!

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    1. Me, too. I really hope I can start focusing on new books as I buy them. Thanks!

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  10. I'm so sorry you've been grappling with long COVID, Jen, but I'm glad to hear that's been improving! This is a really fun tag, and I'm definitely intrigued by Ophie's Ghosts and Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls. I'm also glad you've discovered new authors you enjoy, like Catriona Ward! Thanks so much for the wonderful post!

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  11. I really enjoyed Ophie's Ghosts and will definitely read a sequel. Justina Ireland has a new book coming in September, Dust in the Rust, that sounds fascinating. This Mid-Year Book Freak Out looks like a fun way to reflect on our reading lives. Thanks for all these books. I've added Girl in the Walls and Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls to my list.

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    1. Oh, perfect! I'm going to check out Dust in the Rust right now! Thanks!

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  12. Fun post! (And lots of new-to-me books to now go and look up.) Glad you're back, and hopefully feeling better. :D

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  13. MINE has done so well in my library, much better than Ophie's Ghosts, which I liked (because... Pittsburgh!). Maybe you just picked it up on a day where it didn't make you happy. THere are lots of books that everyone else likes that make me say "meh", so I appreciate your honesy!

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    1. Mine just wasn't for me. It was gross, and I didn't care for the characters or the relationships. I don't doubt this book would work for others, though.

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  14. I'm so sorry about long covid but hope you are starting to make some progress to feeling better. Loved your answer to fictional crush! I mostly read mysteries and that's not really the genre for fictional crushes either! I have The Book of Cold Cases on my TBR and am really looking forward to it. Have a wonderful week!

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  15. These are thought provoking questions. Sorry to hear that you are struggling with long covid...

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  16. Great Q&A, not sure I'd have answers for many. Hope we both enjoy The Cartographers.

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  17. I'm glad you found a few good books to read. Glad to see you around again.

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  18. I'm so sorry to hear about the lingering issues with Covid. :( This is always one of my favorite yearly tags/posts. The covers for those John Gwynne books are stunning. I keep seeing so many raves for Legends & Lattes. Definitely not my usual kind of read but I might give it a try.

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    1. Thanks, Tanya. I love those John Gwynne covers, too. Very epic. :)

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