2020 has been… interesting, to say the least. I think to sum it up, 2020 is the YA book no one asked for, and everyone gives it 2 stars because of how unrealistic it is. If I could return 2020 to the store, I would. But to be honest, I don’t think they would accept it because of how screwed up it is.
Anyway, I’m done bagging on 2020. Now it’s time to talk about something we all love, books. It is halfway into the year, and I am not halfway through my Goodreads challenge but are we really surprised. Go through any of my Mid Year Freak Out Tags, like this one or this one, you will see that I have yet to be on track. BUT, I am going much better than I have been!
See, I am currently only 3 books behind schedule. And at the rate I have been reading these past couple months, I will make that up in no time. I just can’t let going back to work stop my reading, which is a high possibility. I have the horrible habit of focusing on only one thing at a time.
So yes, it is finally the mid-year mark of this unique year, and Liv from Curlyhairbibliophile, has tagged me in the Mid Year Freak Out Tag, where us readers freak out about all the books we have read and have yet to read this year.
Best Book Read in 2020
If we are talking simply about the craft of writing, this is one of the most beautiful books I have ever read. I am a sucker for slow, ooey gooey prose, and I got all of this and more from The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern. I had already fallen in love with Morgenstern’s writing when I read The Night Circus, so it was no question that when this book come about I needed it. It was worth it, please read this book!
Best Sequel You’ve Read so far 2020
Yeah I know what you’re saying, “Jackie, we get it, you like this series.” I know, I talk about The Hunger Games way more than necessary. But this is the only book I can use because I have read no other sequel. I haven’t even finished this yet, but I have read it so many times I don’t think that matters.
New Release You Haven’t Read Yet, But Want To
Ever since I read, and loved, The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, I have been searching for that same thrill I got from reading about a spooky yet mystical carnival. So, I was thrilled at the announcement of this new series surrounding the circus. Also, the cover is just, so pretty, and you know how important pretty covers are to me.
Most Anticipated Release for the Second Half of 2020
These two books have two things going for them. They both have stunning covers and the stories within them sound incredible and gripping. I can’t wait to get my hands on copies of both of these books and escape into their pages. I think we all could use a little of that right now.
Biggest Dissapointment
This was actually a hard one to answer because I have had a pretty good reading year. A lot of 4 and 5 star reads. My lowest rating this year was for The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo, which I gave 2 stars to, but I really wasn’t expecting much from that book.
However, when I started House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig, I was expecting to absolutely love it. I love everything and anything spooky, and I saw so many people rave about it on Twitter. Overall, I gave the book 3 stars. It was not a bad book, I liked a lot about it like the interesting plot and setting. However, I was not the biggest fan of the characterization, which felt underdeveloped. So, House of Salt and Sorrows was not the worst book I read so far in 2020, but it didn’t meet the expectations I had for it.
Biggest Surprise
If you follow my blog, you’ll know that I’m not much of a contemporary reader, except that has been changing recently because of audiobooks. Anyway, I always go into contemporary reads with caution, and Loveboat, Taipei was no different. But one chapter into the story I find out the main character is a dancer and I was hooked. I will read any and all books about dancers, no matter how little that has to do with the plot. The Goodreads page for the book gave no indication of this fact, so I was absolutely thrilled! You can check out my full review of this book here.
Favorite New Author
You guys have been screaming about Elizabeth Acevedo for years, I was just too stubborn to listen. I hate poetry and thought I would hate this, but boy was I wrong. I listened to the audiobook of The Poet X last month ad was instantly pulled into the story and the characters. Through such few words, Acevedo was able to create something beautiful. I will definitely be reading Clap When You Land once I get my hands on a copy.
Newest Fictional Crush
Ever, the main character from Loveboat, Taipei, may have hated Rick for most of the book, but I always loved him. I love a studious person who cares for others when they aren’t looking. Seriously, everything we learn about him makes me love him even more, and I love the relationship that develops between Rick and Ever.
Newest Favorite Character
If I had to pick a character that is my alter ego, I would pick Zachery Ezra Rawlins. He reads, writes, and loves school. It is me in a character. The Starless Sea has to be one of the wildest adventures I have ever read, and I thoroughly enjoyed following Zachery Ezra Rawlins on this journey.
Book that Made you Cry
If I’m being honest, I haven’t actually cried at a book, like ever. So if you have any recommendations that will absolutely rip my heart out, let me know. So far, I have been pretty heartless when it comes to books. But, We Are Okay by Nina LaCour, brought me pretty close to tears. There isn’t actually a lot in this book, but something about it connected with me in so many ways, and the end had me feeling all sorts of things. No tears, but definitely lots of feelings.
Book that Made you Happy
Here we are, with another contemporary that completely surprised me. By the looks of this post, you’d think contemporary was my favorite genre. The book put a huge smile on my face. Sometimes, it is just nice to have happiness in books, despite how much I am looking for books that make me cry. This is one that will brighten your day and your mood.
Most Beautiful Book You Bought So Far this Year
In a surprising twist of fate, I have actually not bought a lot of books this year, the reasoning being, I usually buy my books from second-hand shops, and they have been closed for so long. It has honestly been a good thing since I didn’t have a job for a while. Anyway, I received this book in the May OwlCrate box, and I instantly loved the cover. The image shown above is the original cover, which in all honesty I like better than the exclusive cover. But the other cover is nice as well.
What Books Do You Need to read by the End of the Year
Oh there are so many books I need to read before the end of the year. Remember that post I did at the beginning of the year, naming the 20 books I wanted to read in 2020. Well, I have only read 2 of those books, which means I have 18 more to go, one of them being Priory of the Orange Tree… Wish me luck.
I swear, my brain is still in February, so the fact that I am posting this right now is beyond me. However, I am happy with the reading I have done this year, and I am hoping for that to continue through the next 6 months.
If you want to do this tag, feel free! I would love to see everyone’s responses.
No matter how your year has been, I am hoping that the end of 2020 brings you somehting you can be joyful about!
