Hello, bookworms!
I can't believe half of this year has already gone by, to be honest. What do you mean today is July 1st and six months of 2023 are already behind us? I want to cry, but alas.
At least, it's finally time to bring back my favourite tag to do every year, the Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag, which was originally created by Ely and Chami on BookTube. I am pretty sure you can't find the original video anymore, but if you decide to do this, please remember to credit the creators. But without any further ado, let's get this tag started!
Best book you've read so far this year?
This year, it's going to be difficult to find an answer. I have read a few five stars books, but most of them were sequels or series spin-offs, which 1) I usually don't count 2) There's a question devoted specifically to this after this one. According to Storygraph, I've only given five stars to three standalones/firsts in a series, so I am going to pick one of them. The award of "Best 2023 Book so Far" goes to… Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli.
Best sequel you've read so far this year?
As I said, here is the question about sequels. Since I don't think I can pick one, I am going to list them all for you, in chronological order from earliest to latest read: A Restless Truth by Freya Marske, Camp Creepy by Kiersten White, The Sun and the Star by Mark Oshiro and Rick Riordan, Menacing Manor by Kiersten White and Aru Shah and the Song of Death by Roshani Chokshi. If I had to pick just one, I think I'd pick The Sun and the Star, because it is about my all time favourite character, but I can't be objective with it, so yeah…
New release you haven't read yet, but want to?
There are a lot of them, but I am going to choose "just" five. Two are on my 23 Most Anticipated Releases of 2023 list, and I plan on reading them this month. I am talking about The Dos and Donuts of Love by Adiba Jaigirdar and Manslaughter Park by Tirzah Price. The other three are still much anticipated releases of mine, which I still have to get to: Fake Dates and Mooncakes by Sher Lee, They Hate Each Other by Amanda Woody and She Is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran. Hopefully I'll read them all soon, crossing my fingers.
Most anticipated release for the second half of the year?
I have a few: Heartstopper, volume 5 by Alice Oseman, The Chalice of the Gods by Rick Riordan (I still can't believe this is happening), One of Us Is Next by Karen M. McManus, The Sunbearer Trials #2 by Aiden Thomas (if it does come out this year), Gorgeous Gruesome Faces by Linda Cheng and The Brothers Hawthorne by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. There are so many more, but I am picking these that are on my 23 Releases list.
Biggest disappointment?
Ladies and gents, this is the moment I've been waiting for. I'm joking, but this is always the question I have the most answers for. However, since I don't want to be negative today, I am going to pick just one book, to which I gave 3.5 stars. It wasn't bad, but I was expecting to give it 5 stars, so you can see how it was a disappointment for me. I am talking about Yellowface by R.F. Kuang, one of the first books I've read in 2023. I had a physical ARC for it, and I was so sure it was going to be my favourite book of the year. Unfortunately, it wasn't the case, but I am sure it will be on a lot of Favourites list at the end of 2023. Just not mine.
Biggest surprise?
Once again, I am going to pick a book to which I gave "only" three stars, Suburban Hell by Maureen Kilmer. It was surprising, because I thought I was going to hate, or at least strongly dislike it, and I was regretting having ever requested an e-ARC for it. Against all odds, I ended up having a lot of fun reading this camp, over the top comedy horror and I have been looking for similar books ever since, so if you have any recs, please hit me up.
New favourite author?
The title must go to Adiba Jaigirdar. I've read all her three backlist titles this year (The Henna Wars, Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating and A Million to One), in anticipation of The Dos and Donuts of Love. I really liked them all, and I have not given her a single rating below 3.5, which is a huge win. Racquel Marie also deserves a special mention, because I have given both her books (Ophelia After All and You Don't Have a Shot) 4 stars. If her next release is also good, she is going to become a legit favourite as well!
Newest fictional crush?
Every year, there's this question. And every year I must say that I don't get crushes on fictional characters, so I have no idea who to pick. Sometimes I try and give an answer, but this year I think I'll just skip to the next question, because I literally have no idea.
Newest favourite character?
I have three! The first is Imogen from Imogen, Obviously. I loved her as a main character, and as I always say, Becky Albertalli is really able to write characters that feel real. I believe Imogen and I would be really good friends in real life, if we met. The second and third fave are both from Aru Shah and the Song of Death. Since both Aru and Mini are already favourites of mine, I am not going to say them, but Brynne and Aiden were such nice additions to this cast, I have fallen in love with them. I can't wait to read book 3, at this point.
Book that made you cry?
There can only be one answer to this question and it is, without a doubt, The Sun and the Star by Mark Oshiro and Rick Riordan. I cried from the moment I opened the ebook, to the very end and then a bit afterwards. I still get all teary whenever I think about it. Is it an objective reaction? No. Do I care? Also no. Reading from Nico's POV was everything to me, and I will never thank Mark and Rick enough for having given me this book.
Book that made you happy?
Since I am becoming very repetitive and I am picking the same books and authors over and over again, I am going to pick a book I haven't mentioned yet. The award of book that made La Petite Pritt happy in 2023 goes to… Delilah Green Doesn't Care by Ashley Herring Blake. It's one of my favourite contemporary romances of all times, and I cannot wait to finally read Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail. I have already downloaded the ebook on my Kindle, I swear I will get to that one eventually, and you'll hear all about it.
Favourite book to movie adaptation you've seen so far this year?
I have watched a few, but I honestly did not like any of them. I am going to say Corpo Libero, an Italian TV show adapted from a book. I haven't read the book, so I don't really know whether they did a good job, but it was enjoyable and it is about artistic gymnastics, so it's automatically a win for me, since I am such a fan of the sport.
Favourite review you've written so far this year?
I don't have one, but I have a favourite article! I had a lot of fun writing the "Books That Should Be Adapted into Movies or TV Shows". I am actually thinking about turning it into a "series", because I have a lot more books that I want to see on the big or small screen.
Most beautiful book you've bought this year?
I still haven't gotten it in the mail, but the Rainbowcrate edition of The Sun and the Star with the cover illustrated by Alessia Trunfio, my favourite artist, really takes the cake. My copy is still stuck in customs for some reason, but hopefully I will get it really soon!
What books do you really need to read by the end of this year?
A lot of them. My main priority is to read all my most anticipated releases and read most of the books I buy this year. I am going to symbolically pick five titles just to say something: The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman, Bruised and Kings, Queens and In-Betweens by Tanya Boteju, Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes (and the other two books in the series) by Roshani Chokshi and The Ballad of Perilous Graves by Alex Jennings.
And there you have it, my 2023 Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag! I will talk to you soon with a lot of new reviews.
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