We’re almost halfway through the year already, so it’s time for another round of the Mid-Year Book Check-In. Let’s dive into my reading highlights of the year so far!
Best Book You’ve Read So Far
My favourite book of the year so far is one that gave me everything I could ever want in a historical romance: A Lady For a Duke by Alexis Hall. This was a very emotional, but very beautiful reading experience. There’s quite a lot of angst, but it balances out really well with Alexis Hall’s signature humour, and the fact that there’s no direct transphobia in this book (although indirectly it does exist in the society). There were so many beautiful quotes in this book, full of yearning, and I absolutely adored the romance.
Best Sequel You’ve Read So Far
Last year I read my first Chloe Liese book, The Mistletoe Motive, and this year I finally read her Bergman Brothers series, which I could not have loved more. My favourite book in the series was Ever After Always, book 3 in the series. The book especially hits when you’ve read the previous installments, because then you’ve already come to love Aiden and Freya. I loved that it wasn’t actually a second-chance romance – they never actually broke up, and they never actually mentioned divorce as an option. They just found themselves grown apart and wanted to work their way back to each other, because the love was still there. I think this was an absolutely beautiful story.
New Release You Haven’t Read Yet But Want To
One new release I’m dying to read is The Fae Keeper by H.E. Edgmon, the sequel to The Witch King. The Witch King was one of my favourite reads of 2021, so I have high hopes for the sequel.
Most Anticipated Release for the Second Half of the Year
For the second half of the year, there are a few trans books I’m VERY hyped for. The first one is Beating Heart Baby by Lio Min, which I’ve seen absolutely glowing reviews of and which sounds like it’s exactly the kind of book that could be an all-time favourite for me. The second one is The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas, because of course. I actually just got approved for an eARC of this, so I’m hoping to read it soon. The third one is Self-Made Boys by Anna-Marie McLemore, because they are one of my favourite authors, and I love the Remixed Classics series.
Biggest Disappointment
This is the easiest question to answer, because I’ve only had one 1 star read this year so far: The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood. I’m happy so many people are loving this book, but I am absolutely at a loss at what you’re all getting out of it, because I absolutely despised it. I thought it was SO bad.
Biggest Surprise
My biggest surprise of the year so far is also a very easily-answered question, because I was lowkey expecting this to be another 1 star read, but I was curious enough to give it a try, and then I ended up absolutely loving it. This book was Book of Night by Holly Black. I hated The Cruel Prince a lot, so I didn’t expect to enjoy any of her other books, but I was proven wrong, because I absolutely devoured this book and loved it so much!
Favourite New Author (Debut or New to You)
My favourite debut of the year has been If You Still Recognise Me by Cynthia So, which has blown me away and has become an immediate all-time favourite, so I’m going with them as my favourite new author – I can’t wait to see what they write next!
Newest Fictional Crush
I’m going to have to go with Feyi from You Made a Fool of Death With Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi because OOF, she was so hot. She’s described very vividly and she just sounds SO amazing.
Newest Favourite Character
This is SUCH a hard question to answer, but if I really have to choose, I’m going with Chepi from the Finding Home (web)comic by Hari Conner – he absolutely stole my heart.
Book That Made You Cry
The book that’s made me cry the most this year has been Mornings in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa. This book, that follows a Palestinian family, is an absolute must-read for anyone and everyone.
Book That Made You Happy
For this prompt, I absolutely cannot choose between my two favourite YA romcoms of the year so far: Flip the Script by Lyla Lee and Beauty and the Besharam by Lillie Vale. Please read both and thank me later – they’re perfect beach reads!
Favourite Book to Film Adaptation You Saw This Year
Of course I have to go with the Heartstopper TV show for this prompt. It’s easily my favourite adaptation I’ve ever watched and so far I have already seen it 4 times, with more to come, I’m sure. I’m so happy we’re getting at least two more seasons!
Most Beautiful Book You’ve Bought This Year
The most beautiful books I’ve gotten so far this year have to be the FairyLoot editions of the Diviners series by Libba Bray. They are absolutely gorgeous and fit the content of the books so well. Couldn’t be happier to have a matching set for these books!
What Books Do You Need To Read By the End of the Year
This year, I’m doing the PopSugar reading challenge again. I’ve completed quite a few prompts so far, but I should read these books to complete more challenges:
- Murder on the Orient Express – Agatha Christie
- Cloud Cuckoo Land – Anthony Doerr
- Knot My Type – Evie Mitchell
- There There – Tommy Orange
- Station Eleven – Emily St. John Mandel
- All Systems Red – Martha Wells
- The Best We Could Do – Thi Bhui
- MEM – Bethany C. Morrow
- Finna – Nino Cipri
- Strange Weather in Tokyo – Hiromi Kawakami
What’s your favourite book of the year so far?
Anniek's Library 
OMG I just couldn’t agree more on The Love Hypothesis. Ugh it was so bad.
I just read the second book in the Bergman Brothers series and unfortunately wasn’t a fan of it. It seemed like they didn’t have to fight that much for each other and I just found it to be a letdown after the emotional rollercoaster that was the first book. I understand that people are able to relate to the autism and chronical illness rep, but for me it wasn’t just what I was hopingfor to read. And that’s fine.
Myself, I really want to get to The Merciless Ones and The Blood Traitor ASAP.
Mornings in Jenin will be added to my TBR because this makes me really curious.
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