Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag

We're a little early with this tag - I think the actual mid-year point isn't for a little while. But we're both a little busy with exams and later preparing to go to London in July so we thought we'd do a little not-quite-mid-year tag now! (Edit: This tag was originally created by ReadLikeWildFire and Ely Jayne)

1. Best Book You've Read So Far in 2017

Ann:  Oh now this is a hard question to start with, because I hate picking favourites but I think that I am going to say Perfect by Cecelia Ahern because I was looking forward to it so much and it was incredible!

Clare: Oh you fiendish tag making me choose. I'm gonna go for The Smoke Hunter by Jacquelyn Benson because I just have this uncontrollable urge to go on about this book endlessly. I love it. A lot. 

2. Best Sequel You've Read So Far in 2017

Ann: I think that this question is a bit easier as I have not read many sequels this year yet but the best sequel I have read this year is Promises I Made because it was a good ending and I really enjoyed it.

Clare: I have, embarrassingly, read hardly any sequels this year. All my good intentions for nothing. I so meant to not start new series this year until I'd finished the ones I'm already reading. But nope. So the best one this year was Mafiosa by Catherine Doyle because it was just such a great conclusion to the series.

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

Ann: Currently Lord Of Shadows by Cassandra Clare but I hope to change that soon as Clare brought it for me recently! I am just trying to decide whether I should wait to read it until my half-term or read it now.

Clare: ACOWAR!! Don't even have to think about this one. I've been wanting A Court of Wings and Ruin for so, so long and now I'm waiting to read it until I've finished my semester but god it's hard.

4. Most Anticipated Release For Second Half of 2017

Ann: Umm I don't think I have an answer for this because I don't really know any of the new releases coming in the second half of this year. I prefer to read what Clare recommends!

Clare: Ooh so many to choose from. I think I have to go for Wonder Woman by Leigh Bardugo. I would say Odd & True by Cat Winters as well but I got an e-arc of that on Netgalley so I'm technically not having to wait for it? But those two are the most exciting releases for me!

5. Biggest Disappointment

Ann:  Deathcat Sally by P.S Brooke, this is not even a hard question to think about, I was excited when I first read the blurb but when I started reading it I was extremely disappointed by it.

Clare: Blood Rose Rebellion by Rosalyn Eves super let me down. I'm always excited when a fantasy novel seems to offer something new and this being set in Hungary was so exciting but it was just such a disappointment. I didn't write a review for this but I buddy read it with Vera @ Regal Critiques who did write a great review which you should definitely check out!

6. Biggest Surprise

Ann: Famous in Love, I had seen the trailers for this TV show and so decided to read the books but I wasn't expecting much because I didn't really like the look of the TV show but I was surprised by how amazing the books were, they were definitely better than the TV show.
Clare: Probably My Lady Jane. I was so nervous about this one and it had the potential to go so wrong but honestly it was hilarious and romantic and I cannot recommend it enough! It's the ending I wish Jane got.

7. Favourite New Author

Ann: Chris Russell, I read his book Songs About A Girl and I loved it! I am very excited to read the next book because the author managed to make me actually enjoy the love triangle which is weird because I normally hate love triangles.
Clare: Ann Aguirre. I just read her 2B trilogy and it was superb. Really, really good New Adult (and I don't say that a lot - it is not my favourite genre) so now I really want to check out her other books as well!

8. Newest Fictional Crush

Ann: I don't really think that I have read many books this year so far with any fictional characters I could have a crush on. Hopefully I will read a book with a good fictional crush in it soon.
Clare: Ari in The Alchemists of Loom was just so incredible. Complex and flawed and intelligent and badass and just... more please??

9. Newest Favourite Character

Ann: Audrey Rose Wadsworth from Stalking Jack the Ripper because I loved how different and amazing she was through out everything she went through!

Clare: Alosa from Daughter of the Pirate King was just SO badass and fun and I just loved her. She was a great character to be in the head of and I am very excited for the sequel!

10. Book That Made You Cry

Ann: I don't really cry when reading books, I think that I have only ever cried when reading one book and that hasn't been for a few years.

Clare: A List of Cages by Robin Roe broke my heart. It was a really tough read in places but god was it worth it.

11. Book That Made You Happy

Ann: I think that I am going to go with Unconventional by Maggie Harcourt, this book not only made me happy but it got me very excited about going to YALC in July!

Clare: Everything about Dating Sarah Cooper made me happy. I've been wanting to re-read it almost constantly since I finished it. 

12. Favourite Book to Movie Adaptation You've Seen So Far in 2017

Ann: I am going to have to go with Clare on this one, the only book to movie adaptation I have really seen this year has been Beauty and the Beast which I thought was incredible.

Clare: Does Beauty and the Beast count? Cause I don't think I've seen any others? Although I did re-watch A Long Way Down and remembered how much I adore that film (more than the book if I'm honest).

13. Favourite Review You've Written So Far in 2017

Ann: Umm I haven't really written many reviews this year but I think that my favourite of all my reviews was Remnants by Carolyn Arnold because not only did I love the book but I also think that it was one of the best reviews I have ever written.
Clare: Oh, god I'm so bad at praising my own reviews because reading them back just makes me cringe so hard every time. So here's the LAST review I wrote instead which is for Crimson and Bone by Marina Fiorato which is, by the way, really, really good!

14. Most Beautiful Book You've Bought So Far This Year

Ann: I haven't really brought any books this year but I think that the most beautiful book I have gotten this year so far is Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare because the cover is so detailed and beautiful.

Clare: GOT to be Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor. This book is just crazy beautiful! The blue sprayed pages, the drawings, the fact that it's SIGNED - I'm just constantly in awe of it. Other contenders though could have been Caraval (which we have two copies of cause its PRETTY) and Alchemists of Loom which I didn't actually buy myself but got from my brother for my birthday (thanks John) and spent the rest of my birthday cooing over.

15. What Books Do You NEED To Read By The End of The Year

Ann: I don't normally like to set myself a TBR but one book that I definitely want to read by the end of the year is Songs About Us by Chris Russell because I really want to know what is going to happen to the characters!

Clare: Gonna limit myself to 5 here because otherwise this is going to get out of hand. A Court of Wings and Ruin because OBVIOUSLY, Wonder Woman, A Gentlemans Guide to Vice and Virtue, Daughter of the Burning City and Odd & True. OH and There's Someone Inside Your House which sounds AMAZING!

We tag (no pressure - if you don't do tags or don't want to do this one!!);

Veronika & Ruzaika @ Regal Critiques

Greg @ Book Haven

Barb @ Booker T's Farm

Ashley @ What She's Read

Lauren @ Always Me

Esther @ Bite Into Books
And anyone else who wants to do this tag please go ahead and leave a link so we can check out your answers!!

You can also find us on Goodreads (Ann and Clare), Facebook and Instagram to keep up with what we are reading.

Mid Year Book Freak Out Tag 2015

This tag was created by ReadLikeWildFire and Ely Jayne and it is essentially a look back at what we've read so far this year and what we have yet to read!

1) Best Book You've Read So Far This Year
Ann: I have to say Girl Online by Zoe Sugg
Clare: The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh seriously blew me away. I can hardly wait for the next book!

2) Best Sequel You've Read So Far This Year
Ann: Mine would be Path Finders by Angie Sage, I just loved the Magyk series and love the sequel just as much.
Clare: I feel a little like I'm cheating since it's more of a companion series than an actual series but Crimson Bound by Rosamund Hodge was spectacular.

3) New Release You Haven't Read Yet But Want To
Ann: The Isle of the Lost by Melissa de la Cruz
Clare: An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir. Its been intimidating me, I am so excited but also so nervous for this book.

4) Most Anticipated Release For the Second Half of the Year
Ann: My most anticipated release is Girl Online 2 by Zoe Sugg
Clare: Mine is Carry On by Rainbow Rowell. I am so beyond excited for this book.

5) Biggest Disappointment
Ann: Suspicion by Alexandra Monir
Clare: The Gathering Storm by Robin Bridges. The covers are so pretty, its set in Russia and involves necromancy. But in reality she raises about two people from the dead in all three books and nothing much ever seems to happen. Very disappointing.

6) Biggest Surprise
Ann: The Program by Suzanne Young
Clare: The Accident Season by Moira Fowley-Doyle. I pre-ordered this almost entirely based off the cover but I wasn't expecting more than a fun, light read and then it came out of nowhere and impressed me so, so much.

7) Favourite New Author (Debut/New to You)
Ann: My favourite new author is John Green because those of his books I have read I have LOVED.
Clare: I'm cheating again and choosing two - Mila Gray who is not necessarily a debut author since she has written previous books under Sarah Alderson but she is definitely new to me, her book Come Back to Me was so wonderful. And also Alice Oseman who wrote Solitaire and is a debut author. Solitaire is incredible and I highly recommend it.

8) Newest Fictional Crush
Ann: My new fictional crush is James from The Program by Suzanne Young because he was so protective of those he cared about just like me.
Clare: More cheating. Wow. Both leads from Tainted Angel by Anne Cleeland: Vida Swanson and  Lucien Carstairs, I have a lot of love for the leads from the companion/sequel as well but these two were so tough but mysterious but vulnerable. Huge crushes all round.

9) Newest Favourite Character
Ann: My newest favourite character is Sloane from The Program by Suzanne Young because she fights back and refuses to go along with the program.
Clare: Mine has to be Sophia from Rook by Sharon Cameron. Whilst I loved Rene as well, it was Sophia who was my favourite. She was so kickass and caring and self sacrificing and just so interesting to read about.

10) Book That Made You Cry
Ann: I mainly read happy books and I never really cry whilst reading so I don't have anything for this.
Clare: I...cry at everything. But All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven had me full on gross sobbing. So I guess I choose that one.

11) Book That Made You Happy
Ann: Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson
Clare: Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli, I literally just read this last week and I was smiling non stop for ages after the last page.

12) Favourite Book to Film Adaptation this Year
Ann: I haven't seen any adaptations this year although I do hope to see Paper Towns soon.
Clare: This is a tough one because all the ones I know will be my favourites (Mockingjay, Paper Towns etc.) I haven't seen yet but I really loved Love Rosie which was based off Where Rainbows End by Cecelia Ahern - which was the first of her books I ever read.

13) Favourite Post This Year
Ann: My review of Girl Online which you can find here.
Clare: I've seen some blogs put this as 'post' and some specifically as 'review' so my favourite general post to do was the Bookish Identity Tag (here) because me and Ann picked answers for each other and that was just really fun, but my favourite review was Daughter of Deep Silence/I Am Her Revenge (here) because it was so interesting comparing them.

14) Most Beautiful Book You've Bought (Or Received) This Year
Ann: Clare got me a colouring book (she's obsessed) and the drawings are beautiful.
Clare: Mine has to be Made You Up by Francesca Zappia. I'll put a picture below to show you how gorgeous and I can promise its even better in real life. It's next on my reading list and I am so excited for it.

Made You Up front

Made You Up back

15) What Books Do You Need to Read by the End of the Year
Ann: I pick all my reading books out of my TBR jar so I never know what I'm going to be reading next! But I will definitely be reading the Girl Online sequel!
Clare: I definitely need to focus on finishing series, for example the Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer and catching up on the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas. Other than that I'll see where I go.


So that's our Mid Year Book Freak Out - let us know if you've read any of these books and what you thought of them and tell us what your answers to any of these questions would be! Hope you're having a wonderful summer.