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book tag

The Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag (2023)

Friday, June 16, 2023

 I've been doing this tag every year since I first found it. Check out last year’s post. It's always a blast to be able to go through all the books I've read so far in the year and discuss my favorites. As of today, I've read a total of 106 books! I’m just as shocked as you are. The amount of books I am reading has considerably slowed down since last year, but I am still reading tons of books. I may make it to a total of 200 books by the end of the year again, but I would be happy with any number as long as the majority of the books I'm reading are good! Let's chat about all the books I've read so far this year:

The best book you've read so far in 2023:


Swordheart by T. Kingfisher: I have never read anything by Kingfisher before Swordheart and now I can't wait to read more from them! It was a semi-low stakes fantasy that provided me with much-needed laughs. You know when you read a book and it was the exact book you needed to read in that moment in time--that was this book for me. An absolute favorite!

Your favorite sequel(s) of the year:


A Dangerous Collaboration by Deanna Raybourn: This is the fourth book in the Veronica Speedwell series, which follows Veronica and her partner, Stoker, as they uncover various mysteries. If you had told me a few years ago that one of my favorite series would be a historical murder mystery series, I wouldn't have believed you. However, this series has such a warm heart, coupled with a romance that has tons of witty banter and slow burn. This fourth installment has a huge turning point for Speedwell and Stoker's relationship and I loved it so much!

Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert: While I was able to relate to almost every one of the Brown sisters, there was something about Eve that I felt closest to. It was a lovely conclusion to the whole series.

A Strange Hymn by Laura Thalassa: This one is the sequel to Rhapsodic in the Bargainer series. I thought the first book was good, but it wasn't until the sequel that I started to fall for the characters as it got into the thick of the plot. The story is getting really intriguing and I can't wait to read the next book!

A new release that you haven't read but really want to:


Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
Happy Place by Emily Henry
Silver in the Bone by Alexandra Bracken

Most anticipated release(s) for the next half of the year:


The Fragile Threads of Power by V.E. Schwab (9/26)
Raiders of the Lost Heart by Jo Segura (12/5)
The Scarlet Veil by Shelby Mahurin (9/26)

Your biggest disappointment:


Hide by Kiersten White: I suppose it shouldn't have come to such a shock that I didn't like this one because White's work has always been hit or miss for me. I adored her Paranormalcy series, but couldn't get into her And I Darken books. The Camelot Rising series, which I am in the middle of reading, is really well done and I have enjoyed her Buffy retelling books too. So I have liked more of her work than disliked so I was expecting with a backdrop of an abandoned theme park where characters play hide and seek, it sounded like the ingredients to something magnificent. It wasn't for me and went in unexpected directions that I just didn't like.

Biggest surprise of the year:


Wolf Gone Wild by Juliette Cross: I read this one recently and absolutely loved it. It was such a surprise, however, because I always thought I didn't like books with werewolves. Well, now, I have a whole subgenre to explore because I discovered that werewolf books can be amazing!

Favorite new-to-you author:


Ashley Schumacher - The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway: I have never read anything by Schumacher before this book. This book was superb, stemming from a budding friendship with an exploration of grief. I adored every second of this book. Plus, their writing style was just magical! I can't wait to read all of their backlist!

The most beautiful book you bought/received this year:


Our Crooked Hearts by Melissa Albert
Lakesedge by Lyndall Clipstone

Books you need to read before the end of the year:


The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson
Gods & Monsters by Shelby Mahurin
Accidentally Engaged by Farah Heron

I tag all of you. Let's talk about our favorites of the year so far!

book tag

The Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag (2022)

Tuesday, June 14, 2022

I've been doing this tag every year—except last year, unfortunately—since I first found it. Check out 2020’s post. It's always a blast to be able to go through all the books I've read so far in the year and discuss my favorites. As of today, I've read a total of 123 books! I’m just as shocked as you are. I graduated college last December and dove head first into reading tons of books. I’ve considerably slowed down since the first few months of the year, but I am thinking of trying to finish 200 books by the end of the year. I’ve never read that many in a year, so wish me luck! Let's chat about all the books I've read so far this year:

The best book you've read so far in 2022:


House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas: I finally read this book in time for its sequel’s release. Though, I haven’t picked up the sequel yet. This was absolutely fantastic! I liked the urban fantasy world with its large cast of characters. I was obsessed with the romance. It was everything!

Your favorite sequel(s) of the year:


A Vow So Bold and Deadly by Brigid Kemmerer: What a great conclusion to the Cursebreakers series! The whole series had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Since I gave every book before this one in the series five stars, I had a feeling that I was going to love this one and I did!

A Touch of Ruin by Scarlett St. Clair: I saw A Touch of Darkness somewhere on TikTok and since I adore Greek mythology retellings, I thought I’d give this Hades and Persephone retelling a try. And I adored both of these books. It’s an ongoing series so I am waiting until the series is completed to continue, but it is such an addictive book!

Into the Hollow by Karina Halle: Last year, I discovered the Experiment in Terror series and have been reading my way through these books. It follows paranormal investigators as they hunt supernatural creatures and fall in love. While I’ve rated all of the books highly, this installment serves as a turning point for the characters, where readers get the most character development. I adored it!

A new release that you haven't read but really want to:


Kiss & Tell by Adib Khorram: After Khorram’s fantastic debut, Darius the Great is Not Okay, I will read anything he writes. This one follows a boy band star, Hunter, as he navigates life on tour.

See You Yesterday by Rachel Lynn Solomon: The author that brought you the 5-star reads of Today Tonight Tomorrow and We Can’t Keep Meeting Like This comes a time loop romance. I am completely sold; can’t wait for this one!

Forging Silver into Stars by Brigid Kemmerer: Kemmerer is back with a new series set in the Cursebreakers world. Do you know what that means? Some of my favorite characters will be making an appearance! This is going to be such a fantastic book!

Most anticipated release(s) for the second half of the year:


Just Like Magic by Sarah Hogle (10/4): After adoring Hogle’s first few books, I have a feeling that she is quickly becoming an auto-buy author for me. This one will most definitely cement her place as one. Just Like Magic is a holiday-themed contemporary romance.

The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (8/30): I have so many questions after reading the previous book in the series, The Hawthorne Legacy. This also is the third and final book in the Inheritance Games and I can’t wait to see what happens next with the Hawthorne gang.

Frightmares by Eva V. Gibson (7/5): I discovered this one recently and it was sounds like it will be perfect for the autumn months. Everything changes when Dave, an employee at a struggling haunted house, finds an actual dead body hidden in plain sight. Why isn’t anyone talking about this one?

Your biggest disappointment:


Honor Lost by Rachel Caine and Ann Aguirre: I finished the book and my first thoughts were, “What just happened?” I’m in the minority here as all the reviews I’ve read have really loved the third book in The Honors trilogy. I was so excited to read this one after loving the first two books, but I may have hyped it too high, because the book fell flat for me.

Biggest surprise of the year:


All of Us Villains by Amanda Foody and Christine Lynn Herman: I was counting down the days until I could borrow this from the library. After all, it was marketed as The Hunger Games with magic, which sounds magnificent. However, it was a surprise that I didn’t like it as much as I was hoping to. It just wasn’t for me.

Radiance by Grace Draven: It has been a while since I read an indie-published book, but I am so glad that I gave this one a try. I completely loved this one and now want to read all the books Draven has ever written!

Favorite new-to-you or favorite author:


Alexis Hall – Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake: I have never read anything by Alexis Hall, but I’ve seen some of their work around. After reading Rosaline Palmer, I need to read more from them. It was such a fantastic story with superb writing. I can’t wait to start working on Hall’s backlist!

A book that made you cry:


A book that made you happy:


My Fine Fellow by Jennieke Cohen | All Fired Up by Dylan Newton

Favorite book-to-movie adaptation:


Heartstopper vol. 1-4 by Alice Oseman

The most beautiful book you bought/received this year:


A Universe of Wishes by various | Reborn Yesterday by Tessa Bailey | The Righteous by Renee Ahdieh

What are some books that you need to read by the end of the year:


Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas | From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout | The Roommate by Rosie Danan

I tag all of you. Let's chat about our favorites of the year so far!

book tag

TBR Alphabet Book Tag

Friday, April 15, 2022

It's been a while since I did a book tag. While browsing the web, I came across this one and it looked so fun! This book tag is meant to showcase some of those books I have on my TBR by organizing them from A to Z. I know quite a few readers who also participate in the A to Z annual book challenge so if I ever want to join, I would just have to look back on this post and see which books I want to read would fit for that challenge. 


If you like this book tag, consider yourself tagged. It was super fun to find books that I own that fit with each letter of the alphabet and with no authors overlapping. Articles like "A" and "The" can be excluded if you want. I found this tag over at Read by Tiffany. Here's the tag:


A - All Fired Up by Dylan Newton: I'm planning on reading this one next. I received it from the publisher and it just looks like such a cute romance. It releases in May.

B - Beautiful Wild by Anna Godbersen: I haven't heard anyone mention this one. This is Godbersen's newest release. It's a historical romance, which is Godbersen's specialty so I know it's going to be great.

C - Conceal, Don't Feel by Jen Calonita: I have been lowkey collecting Disney's Twisted Tales series that ask specific "what if" questions that change the entire original tale. I am excited to read one and see if I like them.


D - Dividing Eden by Joelle Charbonneau: I purchased this on a whim at a used book store. It's a quite short fantasy book.

E - Ever Cursed by Corey Ann Haydu: I must admit this book was most definitely a cover buy for me. I mean, look at how gorgeous that cover is. Stunning!

F - Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes: My brother recently moved and he gave me all his bookshelves (books included!). While our tastes don't align that often (he's a huge science fiction reader), I noticed that he had this whole series on his shelves. I've heard some good things about these books so I'm excited to see if I like them.


G - Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert: Yes, I finally caved and bought myself a copy. It seems everyone has read this series and here I am, I haven't read anything by Hibbert before. I just purchased the rest of the books in the series so I can binge-read the whole series at once. It's going to be lots of fun!

H - Harbinger by Sara Wilson Etienne: This book is on my "22 Books to Read in 2022." Surprisingly, I've read a huge chunk of that list already. This one is mainly on there because it is one of the oldest books I have on my shelf and I rarely have any interest in reading it until I'm reminded of the premise. Hopefully, I'll get to this one soon.

I - If I'm Being Honest by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka: I have only read one book by Wibberley and Siegemund-Broka, but I loved their writing so much that I bought some of their backlist, including this one.


J - Jane by April Lindner: Previously, I read a retelling of Wuthering Heights by Lindner and absolutely loved it. This book is a retelling of Jane Eyre, but I have never read Jane Eyre so I'm still debating if I should read the classic first before reading the retelling. Decisions, decisions.

K - King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo: I am slowly making my way through the Grishaverse. Having read the Six of Crows duology first, I am working backwards and have just finished Siege and Storm. Next up is Ruin and Rising and then I'll read King of Scars. Plus, I'm really looking forward to watching the Netflix show when I finish the original trilogy.

L - Linked by Imogen Howson: I don't think I've ever heard anyone talk about this one. It is an older title and, I suppose, it wasn't very popular. I have no clue what the book is even about but I have this one and its sequel on my TBR shelf.


M - Maybe This Time by Kasie West: This book would be perfect to read this time of year, sunny and warm in the spring. I don't know much about it except that it was written by Kasie West and she's an auto-buy author for me.

N - Not Like the Movies by Kerry Winfrey: I tried to avoid sequels for this activity, but I found that I only have this book on my TBR shelf that starts with N. It sounds like a super cute rom-com book!

O - One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston: When this book was first announced, it was being marketed for fans of Kate and Leopold. Kate and Leopold is probably one of the most underrated films ever. I love that movie so I know I must read this book. It's actually on my radar to read this month.


P - Phantom Heart by Kelly Creagh: Back in high school, I adored Creagh's Nevermore series, where Edgar Allen Poe's work came to life. She hasn't written a book since last year so I immediately got a copy when this came out. I can't wait to dive in!

Q - Queen of Air and Darkness by Cassandra Clare: I know, I know. I am so behind in reading Clare's books. I haven't even started The Dark Artifices series yet. And somehow, I've managed to remain unspoiled about all the newer series. Maybe this year will be the year that I catch up on all the Clare books.

R - Realm Breaker by Victoria Aveyard: I loved the Red Queen series so I can't wait to finally pick up Aveyard's new series. The sequel to this is releasing soon.


S - Save the Date by Morgan Matson: I love reading Matson's books but with all my friends getting married now I feel like this book is just going to stress me out. It follows a wedding where everything that could go wrong does go wrong. Yikes. 

T - Teeth in the Mist by Dawn Kurtagich: I've adored Kurtagich's previous work, which border on the supernatural and horror. The synapsis of this one is intentionally vague and all I know about it is that readers follow up to three generations and time periods of characters.

U - Unclaimed Baggage by Jen Doll: I received this one years ago at a book conference and I was so excited to pick it up. I've put this on numerous TBRs but still haven't read it. It's a contemporary book about a group of teens that work at a shop that sells unclaimed goods from the airport. The concept sounds really cool.


V - Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson: I haven't read anything by Rogerson since An Enchantment of Ravens. My main qualm about that book was that it was too short. This one totals 400 pages so I doubt I'll think this one is too short.

W - Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson: I've had this on my shelf for forever and I don't know too much about the series. It's about the Gold Rush era I think. 

X - XOXO by Axie Oh: I'm obsessed with the cover of this book. Since I studied abroad and lived in South Korea, I can't wait to dive into this contemporary romance set there.

Y and Z - It looks like I have no books on my TBR that start with Y and Z. So, I have 24 letters of the alphabet on my TBR. That's pretty cool!

Which book do you think I should prioritize? 

book tag

Netflix Book Tag

Friday, March 11, 2022

Netflix and books are the perfect combination. In celebration of the second season of Bridgerton, I’ve seen a marketing package from Netflix making its rounds. Netflix has made its own book club, based on their upcoming film or show adaptations. I think that is so awesome! 


While Netflix may have just realized Netflix and books connect rather nicely, the creator of this tag, A Darker Shade of Whitney, knew it way before then. Here's the book tag:

Recently Watched: the last book you finished reading


I just finished The Nobleman's Guide to Scandal and Shipwrecks by Mackenzi Lee! While we certainly didn't need any more in this series, it was a great surprise and turned out to be an even greater book. The anxiety representation was really well done in this. Plus, it's always lovely to check in on my favorite characters: Monty and Percy. In addition to that book, I also recently finished Escaping from Houdini by Kerri Maniscalco and These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong.

Top Picks: a book/books that have been recommended to you based on books you have previously read


My friend has convinced me to pick up the brick of a book that is The Shadow of What Was Lost by James Islington because I adored The Wren Hunt and The Wickerlight by Mary Watson. All of the books involve Augurs and some ancient magic. I haven't read the book yet but I'm so excited to that I will definitely be getting around to it this year.

Recently Added: the last book you bought


A month or two ago, Amazon decided to send me the UK edition of Talia Hibbert's Get a Life, Chloe Brown. The edition is a strange size, short in both width and height than normal US paperbacks. In an attempt to have the series match, I've decided to order the UK editions of the rest of The Brown Sisters series. Plus, having just devoured Karina Halle's book, Dead Sky Morning, I just purchased the next book, The Lying Season, on my Kindle.

Popular on Netflix: books everyone knows about


Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo and Serpent and Dove by Shelby Mahurin are both books which I've read. Though I must admit that I prefer the Six of Crows duology over Shadow and Bone. I haven't seen the show yet though, nor have I finished the Shadow and Bone trilogy (I’ve only read the first book so far). Serpent and Dove surprised me in the best way possible because I tend to not like stories about witches and I adored this one. So much so, I completed the sequel, Blood and Honey, last month.


The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang and Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro which I both do not have any interest in reading. For The Poppy War, have you seen the list of trigger warnings for it? I don’t think I'd be able to handle it. Plus, high fantasy isn't really something I gravitate toward. For Klara and the Sun, I rarely pick up literary fiction and when I do, it usually doesn't involve AI characters. This one sounds like it could be good but it's probably not for me. However, Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go is on my to-read pile and I may even get to it this year.

Comedies: a funny book


I just finished Twice Shy by Sarah Hogle a few weeks ago and some scenes were so funny. I remember laughing out loud. 

Dramas: a character who is a drama queen/king

Literally all I can think of is Monty from The Gentlemen’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee since I just finished The Nobleman's Guide to Scandal and Shipwrecks. I'll throw in Carden and Locke from The Cruel Prince by Holly Black. They're both divas-both quite rude as well- in that book so it definitely fits.

Animated: a book with a cartoon on the cover


I recently put Finlay Donavon is Killing It by Elle Cosimano on my radar and I can’t to get a copy. A lot of people seem to be hyping this one up and I’m excited to find out what the buzz is all about.

Watch It Again: a book/book series you wish to reread


I rarely reread books so the book series has to be extremely special to me for me to reread it. The first series that came to mind was the A Curse So Dark and Lonely books by Brigid Kemmerer. I just finished the finale a few months ago and I’ve been itching to reread the first again to highlight and tab the series.

Documentaries: a nonfiction book you'd recommend to everyone


Another thing I rarely do is read non-fiction. Since college, however, I pick up everything by Daniel H. Pink. I just love his soothing writing. His book, When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing, was fantastic. I’m hoping for some good things from his latest release, The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Makes Us Move Forward. Another nonfiction I quite enjoyed was Call Us What We Carry by Amanda Gorman, which is a lovely poetry collection that made me want to highlight every single line.

Action and Adventure: an action-packed book


If you’re looking for an action-packed murder mystery that’s both fun and hilarious, then definitely pick up Pride and Premeditation by Tirzah Price. Other action packed books that I recommend are Gilded by Marissa Meyer and Within These Wicked Walled by Lauren Blackwood.

New Releases: a book that just came out or will be coming out that you can't wait to read


There are so many books coming out that I want to read right away. The likelihood of my reading them right away is quite slim, but I can dream. After the masterpiece of Darius the Great is Not Okay, I will read anything by Abid Khorram, including his upcoming release (3/22) Kiss and Tell. I haven’t seen anyone mention this book that just came out, but it sounds like the perfect introvert romance that I’ve been waiting for: Meet Me in the Margins by Melissa Ferguson. And while I haven’t read F. T. Lukens' last release, his newest book is fast approaching, So This is Ever After, and it’s marketed as Carry On by Rainbow Rowell meets Arthurian legend. I just know I’ll love all these books!

Have you read some of these books? If you’d like to do this tag, consider yourself tagged! I’m looking forward to checking out all the books you mention.

book tag

I Should Have Read That Book | Book Tag

Friday, February 11, 2022

Literally, every time I look over at my bookshelves, I think about all the books on those shelves that I should have read by now. There are some that are several years old and I still haven’t picked them up. Plus, a lot of those books certainly do not get enough love, because I haven’t read them yet so I thought this would be the perfect solution. While this book tag may not help me read all these books, it will help these books get some spotlight at least. 


I actually did this book tag two years ago and thought I’d revisit it, because there will always be books that I should have read. I’ll be sure to switch up my answers—though, looking back, I’ve read a lot of the books that I previously answered from last time. The I Should Have Read That Book Tag was created by Beth at Books Nest. I would love to know your answers to this tag as well, so consider yourself tagged! Here’s the tag:

A book that a certain friend is always telling you to read


A certain friend, you know who you are 😊, is always telling me to read The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons. It’s an epic historical romance, which is far out of my comfort zone, especially when the series spans three books during wartime. One day, I shall get to these, and they may even surprise me.

A book that's been on your TBR forever and you still haven't picked it up


Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare: I'm quite behind in the Shadowhunter world and somehow, I've remained unspoiled on what happens in the newer series like The Dark Artifices and The Last Hours. I'm looking forward to catching up in Clare's world soon.

The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon: When I grabbed a copy of this from my local thrift shop, I didn't expect it to come with such a long series. It's already seven books and counting! It's a daunting series to start, but I want to know what all the hype is about so I should definitely read it one day.

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers: This is certainly some old-school YA fantasy. In the past few years, the publisher has revamped the covers so you know it's a bit old if they're already getting new covers. I hope to read this book soon, maybe this year!

A book series you've started, but haven't gotten round to finishing yet


Montague Siblings series by Mackenzi Lee: I didn't realize there was a third, long-lost sibling until the third and final book came out in the series recently. While I thought I finished this lovely series a while ago, the third book seemed to come out of nowhere and now I must see what Monty and the gang are up to in this new installment.

The Honors series by Rachel Caine and Ann Aguirre: I only have one more book to go and then I am done. It's strange that I adore this series as much as I do, because I do not like science fiction books at all. Yet, there is something about this space adventure tale that I love so much!

Sweet Black Waves series by Kristina Perez: The sequel left on such a cliffhanger that I can't wait to read the conclusion to this series this year.

A classic you've always liked the sound of, but never actually read


Les Misérables by Victor Hugo | Dune by Frank Herbert | Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

A popular book that it seems everyone but you has read


King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo | A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas | The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

A book that inspired a film/TV adaptation that you really love, but you just haven't read it yet


Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

A book you see all over Instagram but haven't picked up yet


Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco | The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood | Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer

Which book should I pick up next?