(M)id-Year Book Freak Out Tag [The 2017 Girlxoxo Edition]

The “mid-year book freakout” tag has been going around the interwebs for a few years now, and we decided to join in the fun.

1. Best Book You’ve Read So Far

Tanya: The Underground Railroad, Colson Whitehead. This book left me completely emotionally drained. Slavery is not an easy thing to read about and the way Whitehead write, I felt like I was seeing it all firsthand. This is not an easy read, but it’s worth recommending to everyone you know.

Kim: The Chemist, Stephanie Meyer.

2. Best Sequel You’ve Read So Far

Tanya: The Thirst (Harry Hole #11), Jo Nesbo. This is one of my favorite detective series, and 11 books in – Nesbo’s still got it!

Kim: The only sequel I’ve read this year turned out to be the biggest disappointment for me. Scroll down to see what it was.

3. New Release You Haven’t Read Yet, But Want To

Tanya: Buffalo Soldier, Maurice Broaddus (released April 2017) – because it’s set in Jamaica (where I’m from) and it sounds awesome.

Kim: A Conjouring of Light (Shades of Magic #3), V.E. Schwab. I really enjoyed the first two books in the Shades of Magic series. Book 3 was released in February but I haven’t gotten to it yet.

4. Most Anticipated Release For Second Half of 2017

Tanya: Sleeping Beauties. Stephen King and Owen King – it comes out in September.

Kim: Meddling Kids, Edgar Cantero – I loved Supernatural Enhancements and this one looks to be even more awesome! It comes out in July.

5. Biggest Disappointment

Tanya: The book I disliked the most so far this year was Deathless, Catherynne Valente. I hadn’t read anything by Valente before but I’ve heard very good things about her books. Unfortunately, this one just didn’t do it for me..

Kim: The Trespasser, Tana French. It pains me to say this because I love Tana French’s Dublin Murder Squad series. I was mostly just bored during this and the ending was no big surprise.

6. Biggest Surprise

Tanya: The Little Paris Bookshop, Nina George. This was a bookclub selection, and since I don’t particularly like contemporary novels I didn’t have high hopes. But wow – this book took my breath away – slowly. The audiobook is a MUST to get a real feel for the characters.

Kim: The Long Way to A Small, Angry Planet, Becky Chambers. This book was not what I was expecting at all and I mean that in a really good way. I really enjoyed this one even though the plot was pretty low key. I typically go for more action in my books.

7. Most Beautiful Book Cover So Far This Year

Tanya: Iron Cast, Destiny Soria.
Kim: Crooked Kingdom, Leigh Bardugo.

8. Best Audiobook Narration

Tanya: The Little Paris Bookshop

Kim: Salt to the Sea, Ruta Sepetys

9. Shortest Book

Tanya: The novella, The Ballad of Black Tom, Victor LaValle – 149 pages packed with an exciting, intricate story.

Kim: Armada, Ernest Cline – 349 pages – a good book but I didn’t enjoy it as much as Ready Player One.

10. Biggest Book

Tanya: Fellside, M.R. Carey – 496 pages – loved every page!

Kim: Leviathan Wakes, James S.A. Corey – 561 pages and now one of my favorite sci-fi books.

So tell us – have you read any of the books we mentioned? Did you like or dislike? What’s your favorite read of the year so far?

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