It’s July! What? How did that happen? I honestly cannot believe that we’re in the middle of 2018 already BUT I am not complaining at all. I’m excited for November because we will be visiting my family in the Philippines. Yey! Anyway, I’m here for the Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag. I have a great reading months so far so I’m not really freaking out. My goal this year is to read 10 books and I have read 40 books already. I’m all for „quality over quantity“ this year! Anyway, here is my Mid Year Book Freak Out last year if you are interested on reading it.

Let’s start!

Best book you’ve read so far in 2018.

I have read quite a lot of great books this year but there’s only one book (so far) that I’ve rated 5 stars and that was The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. This is the story of two sisters and their survival during the German occupation (WWII) in France. This was my very first book by Hannah and I really loved her writing style. So beautiful! It’s so painful to read but also addicting at the same time. I cried so much especially towards the end. This book reminds me why I love redaing historical fiction novels.

Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2018.

I started a few series this year but I didn’t really love them as much as their first books except one and that was Winter by Karl Ove Knausgaard. This is the second volume in his autobiographical quartet based on the seasons. Winter consists of essays and letters dedicated to her unborn daughter. Some of the essays are a little peculiar but they fit perfectly in the collection. The writing is superb.

New release you haven’t read yet, but want to.

I really want to read The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan and All Out: The No-Longer-Secret Stories of Queer Teens Throughout the Ages by Sandra Mitchell. I already have a copy of All Out and I’m planning on reading it one story at a time.

Most anticipated release for the second half of the year.

I have tons but I am very excited for Wildcard by Marie Lu. I read Warcross last year and I really enjoyed it. Also, I can’t wait to read City of Ghost by V.E. Schwab. She’s one of my all-time favorite authors. It’s a little weird that I am also anticipating the release of Vengeful which is the sequel to Vicious eventhough I haven’t read it yet.

Biggest disappointment.

I also have quite a lot of disappointed reads this year and one of them is Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli. This was one of my most anticipated books this year so I was really sad that I ended up not liking it so much. You can read my full review here. Same goes with A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah Maas and The Sun and her Flowers by Rupi Kaur.

Biggest surprise.

This would be Shirley Jackson’s Dark Tales, and The Missing Girl. I read The Haunting of Hill House few years ago and ended up giving it a 2.5-rating. I’m really glad that I gave her books another try. Probably THoHH wasn’t the perfect book for Jackson beginners. I definitely recommend Dark Tales as an introduction to her books.

Favorite new author. (Debut or new to you)

Definitely Elizabeth Acevedo. After reading her debut novel, The Poet X, I searched for her other works and found out that she has a lot of videos performing her poetries. Here are some of my favorites : TEDx Talks, and Hair. Her words are very powerful and inspiring.

Newest fictional crush.

Elias Veturius from Sabaa Tahir’s An Ember in the Ashes series. Aside from his grey eyes, golden brown skin and high cheekbones, he is very brave and has a good heart.

Newest favorite character.

Elio from Call Me By Your Name by Andre Aciman. He is so passionate and has a beautiful soul. Also, Helene Aquilla from An Ember in the Ashes series. She’s so badass and loyal.

Book that made you cry.

Apart from The Nightingale, The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate made me cry. This book has talking animals and is written on Ivan’s perspective. Ivan, a silverback gorilla, is living in a video arcade mall together with Stella the elephant and Bob the dog. I really love all of them including I listened to the audiobook edition and it’s such a very touching and inspiring story. Also, it’s based on a true story.

Book that made you happy.

I was so happy when I read Batman Nightwalker by Marie Lu because one of Bruce Wayne’s best friends is a Filipina. This really means a lot to me. Also, I laughed a lot while reading The Pisces by Melissa Broder (my full review here), and the Saga (Volume 1 to 4) by Brian Vaughan and Fiona Staples. They both have insane and interesting characters.

Favorite book to film adaptation that you’ve seen this year.

I think I haven’t watched any book to film adaptations yet but I will be watching Love, Simon this week and I am very excited.

Most beautiful book you’ve bought so far this year (or received)

I’m assuming beautiful means gorgeous cover. If that’s the case, then there are so many! Books with beautiful covers are my weakness. I recently got The Mermaid by Christina Henry and the new edition of The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa (that will be out in October) from Berkley Publication. Both have amazing covers.

What books do you need to read by the end of the year?

There’s a lot! V.E. Schwab’s This Savage Song and Our Dark Duets, Jenny Han’s Always and Forever Lara Jean, and Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows series.

Feel free to comment your Mid Year Book Freak Out link below so I can check on it.

Always,