This tag was co-created by Ely @ Earl Grey Books and Chami @ Read Like Wildfire.
I think I have been doing this tag almost as long as I have been blogging. It is a lot of fun to do and it is a nice way to recap what I have been reading for the first six months of the year. It has been a pretty good year so far. I had a hard time picking just one book for some of the categories. But that is ok with me, I just love to talk about the good books and the more the better.
How much have I read this year so far?
I am pretty happy with that number. I don’t do the Goodreads or Storygraph Challenges, as they for some reason stressed me out when they said I was behind on my goal. But in my head I always strive to read about 200 books a year. Being at a 100 at the half way mark is perfect.
I have a hard time picking my favorites, so some of these categories will have more than one book, but that is ok, as I love to spread the joys of a good book.
Best books
So so many good books this year. These are only three that I have read in the last few months that I really enjoyed. Seek the Traitor’s Son was such a good start to what I hope will be a great series. This Story Might Save Your Life was a fun thriller mystery that involved a podcast. Moss’d in Space was kooky but fun to read. Looking forward to the sequel.
Best Sequel
These were all excellent sequels in series that I highly recommend you check out. Beneath a Broken Sky is the fourth book in this excellent police procedural series. Three Hitmen and a Baby was a fun third book in the Assassin’s Anonymous series. Platform Decay is also a nice addition to the Murderbot Diaries.
New Release I haven’t read yet
Piper At the Gates of Dusk is a book that sort of snuck up on me. I had no idea the author was planning another book in the Chaos Walking world, but I am excited to read it soon I hope.
The Someday Garden is another book that I don’t know why I haven’t read it yet. I loved this author’s word and I’m sure this one will be a good one as well.
The Fatal Unpleasantness at Netherfield just came out last week, so hopefully I will be reading it soon. In fact I think a copy will be waiting for me at the library when I get back hame next week.
Most anticipated release for the second half of the year
This was a hard one to just stick to three choices. But It finally came down to these three which are all the next books in their series. Adversary to the Villain is book 4 in the hilarious Assistant to the Villain series. The Velvet Knife is the long awaited, at least by me, next book in the Truly Devious series. Death Writ Large is the second book in this wonderful mystery series. I loved the first one and am really looking forward to reading this one.
Biggest disappointment
I always hate this category, as it is always hard to say I was disappointed by a book, but this year it was pretty easy. The Ending Writes Itself wasn’t a bad book, it just wasn’t as good of a mystery as I thought it could be. I know many people loved it, but I just didn’t.
Biggest surprise
I Chose Didn’t You Used to Be Queenie B? because of a challenge prompt and a review that I saw of it. Also it is set in my hometown of New Haven, CT. It is not a book that I would typically read, so I was really surprised how much I enjoyed it. Highly recommend if you are looking for a story about cooking and friendships.
Favorite new author (debut or new to you)
I think both Killer Vibes and Your Behavior Will Be Monitored are debut books. They were both excellent and ones I highly recommend. Last Night Was Killer is the first I have read by this author and I really enjoyed it.
Books that made you happy
All three of these books made me laugh out loud so many times. I am so happy when books can do that. One Knight Stand wasn’t quite as funny as the first book, but it still made me smile and laugh all the way through. What can I say, but Finlay Donovan always makes me smile and this newest addition to the story did just that. Startup Hell was so much fun and I just loved the characters in it.
Goals for the rest of the year.
My only goal for the rest of the year is to get back into writing reviews. You may have noticed that I really haven’t been writing reviews except for ARCs lately. I have just been so busy the last couple of months that I just didn’t have the time or energy to write reviews. The rest of the summer will probably be just as busy with house moving. But I really hope once that is settled to get back to writing those reviews.
Confessions of a Serial Reader 