The Mid-Year Book Freakout Tag | 2021

 
This is my 6th year doing this tag and it's a fun one. I like pausing mid-year to take a look back at what I've read in the last six months. Which books have been real stand-outs, which authors have knocked my socks off, and what books I'm looking forward to in the coming months. So let me pull up my GoodReads shelves for reference and we'll get started.

1. BEST BOOK YOU'VE READ SO FAR IN 2021


My first five-star read of the year came pretty early this year. I read The Things We Leave Unfinished in February and it slayed me. With two timelines, and two connected stories, Yarros delivered a stellar story of love, trust, family, and sacrifice.

2. BEST SEQUEL YOU'VE READ SO FAR IN 2021


I was so excited to get another installment in the Cake series and revisit the amazing McAllister family. Next In Line was the sixth entry in the series and Quinn's story did not disappoint.

3. A NEW RELEASE YOU HAVEN'T READ YET BUT WANT TO


This question might as well be called Reader Hall of Shame. Because let's be real - those new releases keep cranking out every single Tuesday and maybe some of you speedy readers can keep up but I can't! I was beyond excited for Grace and Glory, the final installment in Armentrout's Harbinger trilogy, but it's been out for a month and I still haven't jumped in. Too many books and too little time... it's the story of my life.

4. MOST ANTICIPATED RELEASE FOR THE SECOND HALF OF 2021


There are a lot (obviously) but I'll go with Heard it in a Love Song, the upcoming release from Tracey Garvis Graves, coming in November.

5. BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT


Without a doubt, the biggest disappointment was Until the Last Breath. It has an average rating of 4.06 on GoodReads so apparently it's just a me thing. The main character was incredibly unlikable and I was actually peeved that she got a happy ending. Believe me, it was not deserved. I'm getting ragey just thinking about it so let's move on.

6. BIGGEST SURPRISE


Down Too Deep by J. Daniels hit hard. And I was not expecting it. This story sucked me in from the start and I was invested in a way that had me concerned for my emotional well-being (I mean, these are fictional characters). Seriously loved this emotional story.

7. FAVORITE DEBUT OR NEW-TO-ME AUTHOR

  

Hello, Carian Cole! I picked up Torn on a whim when browsing Hoopla for a new audiobook. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the story. And when I read the second book in the companion duet? Floored. Tied went darker than I anticipated but Cole's way with creating such complex characters really impressed me. I now want to gobble up everything she's written.

8. NEWEST FICTIONAL CRUSH


Is there a sweeter cinnamon roll than Ren Bergman from Always Only You? I think not. 

9. NEWEST FAVORITE CHARACTER


So many, and it's impossible to put one above another, but I'll go with Emma McAllister from Fiercely Emma. The more I learned of her back story, the more I was moved by her resiliency. 

10. A BOOK THAT MADE YOU CRY

  

Have you met me? I cry in half the books I read. ;) But these three come to mind. The Things We Leave Unfinished was powerful and moving. Down Too Deep captured all my emotions. And Tied was a big surprise that went to some dark places but was also full of hope.

11. A BOOK THAT MADE YOU HAPPY


Playing the Palace was a nonstop ride of snarky, laugh out loud humor. It didn't take itself too seriously, and it was a campy, frothy good time. I smiled through every page.

12. FAVORITE BOOK-TO-MOVIE ADAPTATION


Ummm... *crickets.* I haven't even been to the theater this year, much less seen a book to movie adaptation. And I'm not a TV watcher (don't have Netflix or any other service). So I'm going to stick with my same answer as last year (and the year before that) and say Love, Simon, because I continue to re-watch it periodically and love it every single time. :) 

13. FAVORITE POST YOU'VE DONE THIS YEAR

Gah! This is always such a tough question. But after browsing six months of posts *yawn* I do remember being happy with my review of The Things We Leave Unfinished and my discussion post about The Curse of the Three Star Review.

14. MOST BEAUTIFUL BOOK YOU'VE BOUGHT THIS YEAR



I have some serious cover-love for all three of these: The Awakening, Make It Sweet, and Before I Saw You.

15. BOOKS YOU WANT TO READ BY THE END OF THE YEAR

  
  

Can I just say All The Books and leave it at that? No? Okay then, here's a teeny tiny sampling of the ones I really, reallllly want to read sooner rather than later.

What's the best book you've read so far in 2021?
What was your biggest surprise or disappointment?

32 comments

  1. Oh, Ren! Although he seemed a little too perfect, I can't resist him, either!

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    1. It was impossible not to fall for the goodness that was Soren! :)

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  2. The Yarros book sounds excellent! I've never heard of that author, but now I think I need to read her books. I'm glad you enjoyed this one so much.

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    1. She's an amazing storyteller - but prepare to have your emotions trampled. :)

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  3. That Rebecca Yarros book is one of my favorites from this year so far, too. So good! I didn't love Next in Line as much as you did, but it could have been my mood. I hope the rest of 2021 goes just as well!

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    1. That Yarros book hit me hard. She was doing signed copies through her local bookstore so I ordered one for me and one for my mom. When my mom read the book she kept texting me "this better not end badly!" LOL

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  4. Ren really was phenomenal. Definitely towards the top of my book-boyfriend list. I am curious about J Daniels now. I have not read any Daniels' books, but I have them on my list at Hoopla. Maybe one of these days.

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    1. Yes! Total book boyfriend material. :) I am so ready to read more from J. Daniels. I was floored by how much I loved Down Too Deep. Especially since it was just a random pick.

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  5. I'm curious about Always Only You - I hadn't heard of it.

    I did this tag last but I've read so few few books this year and barely remember even those that I'm not sure I could pull this together lol I will check my shelves and see if it sparks anything.

    Karen @For What It's Worth

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    1. Always Only You is part of the Bergman Brothers series but they can easily be read as standalones. I thought the first one was okay but I really loved this one.

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  6. Love, Simon is so good! I’ve re-watched it a few times too. I hope you read lots of great books in the second half of the year.

    Aj @ Read All The Things!

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    1. That's one of the rare ones that I never get tired of. It's just as charming the 10th time as it was the first time. :)

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  7. This is always such a fun tag. I think my favorite book of the year so far is either People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry or The Forest of the Vanishing Stars by Kristin Harmel. Love, Simon is so good. I also really like Love, Victor on Hulu.

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    1. Even though I'm not a TV watcher, there's a tiny part of me that wishes I could see Love, Victor. :) Not enough to make me pay for a streaming service or actually watch anything, though. LOL

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  8. I understand the reader shame! I've yet to read Grace and Glory either even through I want to!

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    1. I swear I could kick myself because it was one of my most highly anticipated books of the year. Sheesh!

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  9. Wow I haven't read any of these, that's a shock.

    Do you have hulu? Love, Victor is really good!

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    1. Nope, no Hulu, no Netflix... none of it. I rarely ever turn on the TV so they would be wasted on me. But I admit I am super curious about Love, Victor!

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  10. I've never done this tag, but I do really enjoy reading them!! I've had some good 5-star reads so far this year. The one I keep mentioning is Chase Darkness With Me by Billy Jensen. There are SO many books I hope to read by the end of the year.

    Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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    1. Same here, Lauren! Now if someone would just pay me to stay home and read. :)

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  11. Loved Down Too Deep and Always Only You, too! I think the best books I've read so far are The Summer Seekers by Sarah Morgan, Blood Heir by Ilona Andrews, and Wild Sign by Patricia Briggs.

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    1. I really need to up my UF game! There are so many that I want to try!

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  12. I think my favourite read this year, so far, has been Lancelot.

    You've listen a few I want to read... The Yarros book and Always Only You topping the list. :)

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    1. The Yarros book was amazing. Such a beautiful/emotional story. She's definitely a go-to when I want a story with plenty of substance.

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  13. Well Tanya I should do that tag too if only to remind me of all the great books I have read this year!

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  14. I haven't read anything by Rebecca Yarros yet, but I have heard great things so I should try her books soon! Love, Simon was indeed such a great adaptation.

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    1. Simon is one of those movies that I never get tired of. :)

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  15. The Things We Leave Unfinished sounds WONDERFUL! I just went and read your review and wow, talk about compelling! I am clearly going to need this in my life. I also get stabby when rude people get HEAs. Like, I try to be a good person, where's mine? But noooo this awful person gets one hahah. The best book I read so far this year was Firekeeper's Daughter, but I have read a really great bunch of books this year tbh.

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    1. Yeah, seeing the MC (who I considered to be a pretty crappy person) get an HEA left me annoyed. I mean, I already couldn't stand her, and then an HEA. Uh, NO. LOL Awesome that you've had so many great reads this year!

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  16. First of all, I am stealing this and doing my own post :)

    Second of all, I just love everything you said about these books. And I'm with you, I cry over the majority of books I read. If I don't cry, I'm most likely not impressed haha

    And your biggest disappointment made me laugh! I kinda want to read it just to see if I agree with you or not :)

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    1. I hope you'll do the tag, Cheryl! It's my favorite one to do each year.
      Right? I'm like, if a book doesn't move me to tears, something is wrong. LOL

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