Today I’m doing the Mid-Year Book Freakout Tag for 2022. This tag was created by my best friend Ely from Earl Grey Books. Check out her video and don’t forget to tag original creators in book tags that you do. 

This tag is a way to step back and look at your reading year so far. I don’t do this tag too much, because I am just very forgetful, but it’s time that I get back into it. So let’s go right ahead. 

Firstly I’ve read at the time of this post 137 books out of my 150 Goodreads goal for the year. I honestly don’t know how I’ve read so much. The past 2 years have been filled with lockdowns, so I didn’t think that it was going to happen. But here we are. 

Most of the books I’ve read this year are indie, with most of them being self-published and romance books. This doesn’t surprise me at all. But I have also started reading a few more traditionally published romance books in the past few months as well. Now into the tag. 

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

One of my favourite books I’ve read this year has to be Delilah Green Doesn’t Care (Bright Falls #1) by Ashley Herring Blake. I wasn’t expecting to like this as much as I did. The romance in this one was just fantastic. Seriously, I couldn’t stop smiling, the whole time I was reading. It’s this step-sister’s best friend romance and it was so damn good. You can check out my review for it now as well.  

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

I think the sequel I’ve read so far this year has to be Electric Idol (Dark Olympus #2) by Katee Robert. I think you should all know by now how much I love Katee Robert’s books. And this one was just fantastic. You can check out my full review, but the romance was fantastic, the characters were brilliant and she has set up so much in this one that I can’t wait for the rest of the series. 

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

So I am pushing this one a little and picking The Atlas Six (The Atlas #1) by Olivie Blake. But it was released with a traditional publisher this year. So I am going with it. I have heard nothing but good things about this one, and that just makes me super excited. I don’t read a lot of solely fantasy books, but this sounds right up my alley. 

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year

Another author you know that I love is Chloe Liese, and her first book through a traditional publisher is coming out this year and you know that I cannot wait to read it. Two Wrongs Make a Right by Chloe Liese. This reimagining of Much Ado About Nothing sounds absolutely fantastic and I cannot wait. 

5. Biggest disappointment

This is a book that I read when I was reading the highest-rated books on my tbr. The Words by Ashley Jade. This was just not for me. The romance felt very toxic, the characters weren’t anything special. I wanted to like this one, but it was just not for me. 

6. Biggest surprise

Ohh. I have had some good surprises this year, but I think I have to pick Unhinged (Necessary Evils #1) by Onley James. I had an idea that I was going to like this one, but I didn’t think I was going to love this as much as I did. It’s a darker romacne that is for sure, so please be aware of the trigger warnings before you hope in. But I’ve already read the second book and plan to keep on reading the series. 

7. Favourite new author. (Debut or new to you)

I’ve read so many new authors this year and I could so many of them. But I have really enjoyed reading books from Thora Woods. I read the first two books in her Pack Saint Clair series and really did enjoy them a lot. I am excited about more. 

8. Newest fictional crush.

So many!! But Rush from The Longing of Lone Wolves (Fae Guardians #1) by Lana Pecherczyk is high on the list. Rush is a ‘I don’t like you, but you make me have feelings’ type of guy and I love it. He doesn’t want to admit he has these feelings but he clearly does and it’s fantastic. 

9. Newest favourite character.

This one was a hard one to pick but Hook from A Worthy Opponent (Wicked Villains #3) by Katee Robert. He is charming, dangerous and looks after Tink with everything he has. I was intrigued by him when he appeared in the other books, but he really stood out in this one. 

10. Book that made you cry.

I don’t think it would come to a surprise that is was a Rebecca Yarros book that made me cry. But Reason to Believe (Legacy #1) got me super emotional. I have cried in nearly every Yarros book that I have read and this one just got me. It’s one of those books that just hit you in the gut from emotions both good and bad. 

11. Book that made you happy.

I smiled so much in this book. Ahh. Everything for You (Bergman Brothers #5) by Chloe Liese is the lastest book the lastest book in the series and it was simply so damn good. I think this is become one of my favourite series of all time. Ollie and Gavin were just brilliant together. And I loved seeing them together. 

12. Most beautiful book you’ve bought so far this year (or received)

I have gotten so many beautiful books this year. But I absolutely adore my illuncarte editions of The Winners Trilogy by Marie Rutkoski. They are just so gorgeous. And I’m so glad I now have them in my collection. 

13. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?

Moonstruck (Necessary Evils #3) by Onley James | Rock Addiction (Rock Kiss #1) by Nalini Singh. | A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall | The Never King (Vicious Lost Boys #1) by Nikki St. Crowe 

14. Favourite Book Community Member

I mean it will be no surprise that I am talking about Ely from Earl Grey Books. But she is my best friend, so I can’t really not talk about her. I don’t know what I would do without her, I honestly don’t know when the last time was that I hadn’t spoken to her at least once a day. But not only is she an amazing best friend. I love knowing her views on books. 

And there we go. That is it for the mid-year book freakout tag. If you do this tag, let me know because I would love to check it out. Have you read any of the books I mentioned in my post? What did you think of them? Let’s chat?