Mid-Year Book Freak-Out Tag (2024)

In 2016, Ely and Chami introduced this tag on Booktube. Since then, it has become popular among my favorite Booktube channels and book blogs. Intrigued by its fun nature and the opportunity to share statistics, predictions, and TBR (To Be Read) piles, I decided to give this tag a try. It's an enjoyable way to conclude the first half of the reading year and engage with fellow book lovers.

This is my second year posting the tag. Here’s a link to what I posted during my first Mid-Year Book Freak-out Tag.

It’s the sixth month of 2024, and I think I’ve had a good reading year. I have completed 21 books by the end of May, which, according to my Goodreads challenge, is right on schedule. Yay! I managed that. At this rate, I hope to complete my challenge by the end of the year. Fingers crossed.

How much have you been reading?

So far, I’ve read 21 books, amounting to 6,082 pages, completing 40% of my self-set challenge. The shortest book I’ve read this year is The Six Deaths of the Saint by Alix Harrow, at 30 pages, which was also my most recent read.

What have you been reading?

I plan to read four books in June. Here are the titles:

• Eleven Ways to Love – Essays by various authors
• Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
• Goat Days by Benyamin
• The Legends of Khasak by O.V. Vijayan

Best book you’ve read so far

I can't choose just one book from this selection because each stands out as one of the best in its respective genre.

• One by One by Ruth Ware was my favorite in the mystery/thriller genre.
• In historical fiction, I loved The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah.
• In translated books, my favorite has to be Almond by Sohn Won-Pyung.

Best sequel you’ve read so far

I've read the first books in the series this year, like The Illuminae Files by Jay Kristoff and The Singing Hills Cycle by Nghi Vo, and liked them both. But in terms of sequels, I read The Six Deaths of the Saint, which is book three in the Into the Shadow series by Amazon Originals.

New release you haven’t read yet but want to

Leigh Bardugo’s Familiar is something I want to read before the end of the year. I have yet to read Ninth House and Hell Bent too, but I hope to read them soon as they are available in my library.

Most anticipated release for the second half of the year

Out There Screaming by Jordan Peele and Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix.

A book that’s out of your comfort zone

Award-winning books have never been my go-to, but The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead might deserve a second chance after I DNFed it in 2023.

Biggest Disappointment

Illuminae by Jay Kristoff. Kristoff is widely acclaimed as a renowned science fiction writer, and this was my first encounter with his work. I held great anticipation as I delved into the book. However, the storyline proved to be incredibly peculiar, and the characters were rather unsympathetic, leaving me disappointed.

Biggest surprise

Red is the Fastest Color by Dave Carty. I got this lovely paperback copy from the author. I had no clue about this author or his book, but I was in for a pleasant surprise. It turned out to be one of my most liked books of the year so far.

New favourite author

Kristin Hannah and Madhuri Vijay.

I try not to repeat authors because there are so many stories from different people waiting to be heard. But this year, I loved reading Kristin Hannah again. Her stories are fascinating, as are her characters. Madhuri Vijay's The Far Field was a unique book set in Kashmir about a daughter trying to find her mother’s friend.

Newest fictional crush

I am not someone who falls for fictional characters. Period.

Newest favorite character

Debjani from Those Pricey Thakur Girls. Sweet.

Books that made you cry

I'm not one to shed tears when reading books. However, these particular books contain incredibly powerful and emotionally charged scenes that truly tug at your heartstrings:

• The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
• Red is the Fastest Color by Dave Carty

Books that made you happy

• Happy Place by Emily Henry
• The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley
• The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson

Favourite book to movie adaptation you’ve seen this year?

I watched the Hindi adaptation of The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino and loved it. It also featured my favorite actress, Kareena Kapoor.

Favourite post you’ve written this year

Most beautiful book you bought this year

I haven’t bought many books this year so far, so this is a reminder that I should buy more. However, the hardback of Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri is quite beautiful.

Underrated gems you’ve read recently

• Almond by Sohn Won-Pyung

Books to read by the end of the year

I've compiled a list of the top 10 books that I'm eager to read before the year ends. I can't contain my excitement about diving into these ten titles, and maybe even more if time allows. There isn't a specific reason behind my selection; it's simply because these books are sitting on my shelves, and they either align with the reading challenges I'm participating in or have captivated me with their intriguing premises.

1. The Legends of Khasak by O.V.Vijayan
2. Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
3. The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
4. Yes Please by Amy Poehler
5. Goat Days by Benyamin
6. Funny Story by Emily Henry
7. Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
8. Seven Days in June by Tia Williams
9. The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell
10. Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfield

So, without further ado, let's embark on this literary adventure together and explore the pages that await us in these fantastic reads!