Surprise! 2019 is halfway over! And who’s hyperventilating? Not me. Nope, I’m fine. Is it hot in here?
This time of year, bookdragons all over the world are just realizing that the year is halfway over and somehow our TBRs have fifty more books than we started 2019 with. Not sure how that happened. Probably just a rounding error or something.
It’s been so hard to keep up with who’s done this tag and who hasn’t, so I’m not specifically tagging anyone, but if this catches your eye, consider yourself tagged!
✦ BEST BOOK OF 2019 SO FAR ✦
This was such a hard choice to make, but ultimately, I had to go with Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff. I gobbled up this entire series and loved it so much. AIDAN is perfection. Terrifying perfection, but nevertheless. I loved the format of this series, the uniqueness of it, and how immersive the books ended up being.
✦ BEST SEQUEL OF 2019 SO FAR ✦
The third installment of the Rebel of the Sands series, Hero at the Fall, had a little bit of everything: romance, action, sacrifice, laughter, tears, djinn, magic, and one of the most lovely and poignant endings of a series that, y’all, I can’t even be mad. Even though I’m sad it’s over.
✦ NEW RELEASES I HAVEN’T READ YET, BUT WANT TO ✦
Since reading Illuminae, I definitely want more of these authors, so Aurora Rising is for sure on my list of books to check out. I so desperately want to read Wicked Saints, but I have to wait for my copy. I’ve also owned Cait’s The Boy Who Steals Houses for a while now, but as I know it’s going to destroy my feels, I’m waiting to get my hands on Warlock Holmes: The Sign of Nine so that I have something lighter to follow it up with.
✦ MOST ANTICIPATED RELEASES OF THE SECOND HALF OF 2019 ✦
Seeing The Toll on here should surprise no one, since I’ve only been ranting about how much I need it since I read Thunderhead last year. I’m also really looking forward to marathoning The Nevernight Chronicles once Darkdawn has been released, because now I have to read all of Jay Kristoff’s work. Duh.
✦ BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENTS ✦
Both of these boil down to a disconnect somewhere between expectations and delivery. Ultimately, they weren’t quite what I thought and ended up being genres I’m not a huge fan of. Romanov was heavy on historical fiction and light on fantasy/action. I was expecting something more like Brandes’ Fawkes, but I’m not a huge fan of straight-up historical fiction. Similarly, I expected a bunch of piratey adventures and badass females from The Unbinding of Mary Reade, and mostly, it was romance, and I wasn’t even a fan of the pairing.
✦ BIGGEST SURPRISE ✦
I had so many people recommending Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow, so I figured I’d enjoy it. I just didn’t count on how much I’d enjoy it. But man, this book! It’s funny and whimsical and just so brilliant on almost every account. I was immediately enamored with it.
✦ FAVORITE NEW-TO-ME OR DEBUT AUTHOR ✦
This was another surprise. I didn’t think I’d enjoy this nearly as much as I did. But superheroes! Sarcasm! Random sh*t flying through the air! I just had so much fun with The Girl Who Could Move Sh*t with Her Mind that I’m eagerly awaiting the sequel and will for sure keep an eye out for other books from Jackson Ford.
✦ FAVORITE CRUSH ✦
This was a hard one because wow, I fangirl a lot over characters. Ultimately, I’m going to have to go with Okame from the Shadow of the Fox series. What can I say? I have a fondness for ronin whose sarcasm is as sharp as their arrows. Plus, he knows how to have a good time!
✦ FAVORITE CHARACTER ✦
I’m going to have to go with Warlock Holmes from the Warlock Holmes series. He’s absolutely intolerable and a nightmare to put up with, I imagine, and yet I can’t go without him. What can I say? He makes me laugh hysterically, and I can’t get enough of his wacky antics. Always keeps you guessing about what he’ll do next.
✦ BOOK THAT MADE ME CRY ✦
The History of Soul 2065 is really a collection of short stories that all tie together, which means it took on a lot of different tones and a lot of different stories. Sometimes I laughed, sure, but man, this book caught me in the feels so many times. It tackles grief (as a lover, a parent, a child) and just so many really poignant issues that hit close to home in the best ways. Sometimes they were happy-ish tears, okay?
✦ BOOK THAT MADE ME HAPPY ✦
I confess: I completely and utterly fell in love with Ari and Dante. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe made me happy on so many levels, even though a lot of it was a lot of emotional struggle and turmoil. But I think that’s why it made me so happy, because everyone had a journey in the book, including the parents. See? We old people aren’t hopelessly set in our ways, after all!
✦ BOOK TO MOVIE ADAPTATION ✦
If you haven’t seen Good Omens yet, do yourself a favor and go watch it. SO. MUCH. YES. The actors all did such a wonderful job, and I’m pretty sure it’s impossible not to like Aziraphale and Crowley. And if you have seen it already, go follow Incorrect Good Omens on Twitter, because it’s hilarious and you’ll be glad you did.
✦ FAVORITE BLOG POST OF MINE ✦
I like all my blog posts, and therefore, you should go read them all. *cough* Oh, just the one, then? Well, all right. I actually had quite a bit of fun recently spilling a bit of tea during Top Ten Tuesday with some Unpopular Bookish Opinions. Spoiler alert: turns out, a lot of us have unpopular opinions in common, so I guess they’re sort of popular?
✦ FAVORITE REVIEW I’VE WRITTEN
THIS YEAR ✦
I had a heck of a lot of fun writing the review for The Color of Bee Larkham’s Murder. Partly because I really enjoyed the book (and I think it’s one of the more unique ones that I’ve read). But I also got to spend a lot of time watching videos about synesthesia, and it was fascinating.
✦ BOOKS I NEED TO READ BY THE END OF THE YEAR ✦
ALL OF THEM. No, seriously, there are so many books I still want to read. I feel like I’ve fallen way behind. The books above are the ones I definitely need to get to, mostly because of recommendations from others. Because I am no match for peer pressure when it comes to good books.
I love seeing Illuminae as your favorite book so far, such a great series! I don’t usually do book tags but this one sounds like fun, I might join in😁
You definitely should! I try not to do too many tags, either (mostly because I’m boring and yell about the same books already), but this one is everywhere, and it was actually a lot of fun. 🙂
It seems like a lot of people are anticipating Aurora Rising, which makes sense since Illuminae was so good. I hope you get to read Mistborn—it’s the one series I can reread without getting bored! Also, I want to read The Lies of Locke Lamora too, but I can never seem to get past the first few chapters. Maybe you’ll enjoy it more 🙂.
Part of it is because of the authors and the other part is I’ve just heard so many positive reviews about Aurora Rising already. :3
Thanks! Hubby has been trying to get me to read Mistborn for almost our entire marriage at this point, so for our 10th anniversary, I’m fiiiinally going to read it. xD
I’m not the only person on earth who hasn’t read AR yet? Phew!
You’re not! We’re living here under this rock together. 😉
You really did take a vacation in my head? 🤦♀️
It’s comfy here. Not bad weather, either. Certainly better than where I normally live, which is alternating between flash flooding and thunderstorms and being two inches away from the surface of the sun. I’m not seeing the downside of vacationing in your head yet. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Apparently you haven’t checked out my week in review??? Lol
I haven’t checked out much of anything today. I’m behind and slowly working my way through things, but we just got a foster kitten, so that’s monopolizing my time. xD
Awwww… how sweet!!!! Don’t lose her in the storm!
I loved reading all your answers–so many of my favorites are on this list and of course, THE TOLL 😂 I also realize that I might’ve accidentally missed a question (fave blog post)…Oops! Sorry to hear that Romanov was disappointing for you, I’m still interested to read that one but it’s not on my shelves yet! I also want to read all those new releases you listed; think I might actually pick up Aurora Rising next! Great list 😀
Ha, it was so hard, with so many different versions of it out there and people taking what they want and leaving out what they don’t want. I looked at several, and it felt like they were all a little different. xD
I hope you like it! Honestly, it was just a genre mismatch, I think. It seems like people who are into historical fiction really liked it, and I’m glad. 🙂 Awww lucky you! I’ll look forward to seeing what you think of it. 😀
Oh, haha I didn’t even know that there were different versions or maybe my mind just glossed it over 😂 Already looking forward to doing a post like this for the end of the year! Time is flying so quickly, my gosh. And ooh, yay, I do love historical fiction! I think after watching Anastasia as a kid and really enoying it, I loved the “mystery” of the Romanovs. I still think it’s one of the most underrated animations 🤪 Hope you’re having a good week so far!
I don’t think there are different versions, I just mean people picking which questions they wanted to answer, so sometimes there were questions missing, etc. xD
The toll is definitely my most anticipated book. That ending in thunderhead was soooo good.
Yeees. A little too good. In a horrible sort of way. xD
True true. Very horrible. I screamed out loud when I started to realise how it would end. Evil Neal Schusterman that writes such freaking brilliant endings.
I saw where it was going waaaay before the characters did. I tried to warn them. They didn’t listen. They never do. xD I feel like I sort of know how poor Thunderhead feels lol.
I enjoyed reading your answers! I can recommend Wicked Saints and I’m picking up The Boy Who Steals Houses myself soon… It’s already waiting for me next to my reading chair. 😉
I’m so glad to hear both of those. <3 I still can't wait to get my hands on Wicked Saints. :3 Even more so now.