I have a confession: I really hate book tags. I’ve never done one before on my blog, and I cringe whenever bloggers I follow post them, because I just don’t care. I’ve always thought of them as “lazy” posts to do when you can’t think of anything else to post. Now that I’m doing one myself, I know that this isn’t true at all. So apologies to all my blogging friends out there who love to do book tags! I know my opinion is an unpopular one, and I’ve also learned that they actually take some time to write, so that whole “lazy” thing has just gone out the window:-P
That being said, when I started to see so many bloggers participating in this tag, and when I realized I was actually enjoying reading those posts, I decided to try it myself. This tag has been around for years, and although I found some links to the original creators, neither link worked so I’m not linking those up here. To my knowledge, I have not actually been tagged by anyone (although as a self-hosted blogger I do not get pingback notifications, so who knows?), and if you did tag me and I didn’t know about it, I’m sorry.
This is probably the first and only time you’ll see me do a book tag, so enjoy!
Best Books You’ve Read So Far This Year:
Instead of picking one book, I decided to showcase three of my five star reads so far this year. It’s hard to choose just one!
Best Sequels You’ve Read So Far This Year:
Um, it’s hard to choose just one (again)! I loved all three of these sequels, and luckily these series are not finished yet:-D (Although I’m not sure about Anne Bishop’s series since I haven’t seen confirmation of the next book yet.)
New Releases You Haven’t Read But Want To:
For this prompt, I’m listing books that have already been released, but I just haven’t had time to read them yet. These three are probably the books I’m most excited to get to, even though the release date has already passed. Wish me luck!
Most Anticipated Releases for the Second Half of 2019
I’m beyond excited for all three of these!
Biggest Disappointments:
The Dysasters is probably the worst book I’ve ever read, and while Unraveling and Five Midnights weren’t bad books, I was disappointed that I didn’t enjoy them more.
Biggest Surprises:
I had to list The Princess and the Fangirl twice (see below), since it’s YA contemporary and never in a million years did I think I’d enjoy reading one! Deception Cove was such a wonderful surprise, a mystery that was way better than I expected, and Magic for Liars had some mixed reviews and I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about it. But I ended up really loving it!
Favorite New Author:
I read Anne Bishop for the first time this year, a wonderful discovery! And I’m also ecstatic that I discovered both Dan Stout and Jessie Mihalik!
Newest Fictional Crush:
Um, I don’t really have fictional crushes. Is that bad? It’s exhausting enough being married, I can’t imagine crushing on someone else anyway:-D
Newest Favorite Characters:
It’s hard to tell what my favorite book of the year is, right?;-) I adore both Griz and John Dark from this book.
Books That Made You Cry:
I was trying not to repeat books, but honestly A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World could have fit in many of these prompts. Including this one! So many tears. And Middlegame and The Gutter Prayer both had some heart-wrenching moments.
Books That Made You Happy:
All three of these put a smile on my face, for one reason or another.
Best Book To Film Adaptation:
Um nope. I don’t watch much TV/movies so I got nothing for this one;-)
Favorite Post You’ve Done This Year:
Going back through my old posts, it’s clear that I need to branch out a little! Just about all my posts these days are reviews or memes. But I guess my favorite post so far this year is actually a review, and it’s my favorite book of the year so far: A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World.
Most Beautiful Book You’ve Bought This Year:
Without a doubt, this limited edition from Goldsboro Books of Daisy Jones and the Six. It’s so beautiful! (Now I just need to read it)
What Books Do You Need to Read By the End of the Year:
I feel like this is a repetitive question. See above, books I need to read in the second half of the year;-)
Yay! I, for one, loved your participation in this particular book tag:)). I’m shocking at taking part, though have thoroughly enjoyed the ones I have done, so I particularly relished this one and only event on your blog, Tammy:)
Thanks Sarah, I did have fun! I think it’s just a matter of it being the right tag for me:-)
I’m so glad you did this tag! I feel like maybe there are a few reviews in there I missed so I’ll have to see if I can find that one. I’m curious about the Anne Bishop books particularly. I’m also super excited for Wanderers (just a couple more days!) and “marriage is exhausting enough” made me laugh.
I should have linked my reviews but I was so lazy today;-) The Anne Bishop books are so good, especially if you like paranormal mystery with a touch of romance. I can’t wait for the next book in the series!
I enjoyed reading this and glad you decided to do it. I don’t do a lot of them but at times, I see one that seems like a good fit. This one seemed so appropriate. So I REALLY need to read A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World. I think I will do it in August for Dog Days of Summer. Your edition of Daisy Jones really is lovely. I can honestly say you saved me from reading The Dysasters as I was curious about it before reading your review..
Hopefully you’ll be ready in August to read A Boy and His Dog. And I’m glad I could save some people from reading that book. Holy Moly!
I can’t wait to read Recursion soon!
I looking forward to seeing whatever Dan Stout will be doing next. 😉
Me too!! I want to know more about the next book in the series, like what’s the name and why isn’t it on Goodreads yet??
Exactly!!
I normally do not read book tags, but I love your posts, so I was curious and loved it! I was shocked you haven’t read Anne Bishop – I would have recommended her Others series to you; it’s the kind of thing I think you’d love. Her writing is superb. Thank you for your outstanding reviews and posts.
The Others has been on my TBR for years, I just never got around to them for some reason. Now I want to go back and read the rest of the series:-) Thanks so much for your kind words, Michelle!
Boy and his Dog.
Yes! It’s the best:-)
Some cool books on there. I see that Daisy Jones and the Six everywhere and it’s been a lot of peoples favorites but I don’t get it…lol. Just not my genre but I hope you like it! That is probably the prettiest cover I have seen for that book!
The whole book is so pretty, with purple edges, I just can’t stop looking at it:-)
Wait, so, I’m not clear, did you like A Boy and His Dog? 😛 Glad you seem to have some amazing books so far! Gideon the Ninth does look like it’s gonna be great.
Kristen @ Metaphors and Moonlight recently posted…Update: Life and Books (June 2019)
It has been a really good six months, book wise:-) And yeah, obviously I HATE A Boy and His Dog;-)
I don’t really do book tags but I sure need to take down some of these ideas for my end of the year roundup lists! There have been a lot of great books so far this year, but I don’t think I’ve given out as many 5 stars than I typically would have, maybe I’ve gotten pickier! And wow, that edition of Daisy Jones and the Six is so awesome (both in the look and the concept!)
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I do love this tag, it hits on all the things about reading that are fun to think about.
I picked A Boy and His Dog for one of my favourite reads so far this year too. Such a great book.
I’ve never read any Blake Crouch but was thinking about trying the Pines books after watching the first tv series ages ago.
I keep hearing Wayward Pines is a really good read, so I’m going to try it at some point:-)
Every now and again a good tag comes along – I’m quite picky, but when the mood takes me it’s even more fun than a good Top Ten Tuesday 🙂 Glad you enjoyed dipping your toe into tag waters! …and yes, okay, I’ll pick up A Boy and His Dog 😉
Yes, this was so much fun! I may just have to try another tag sometime. If I can find one like this…
I haven’t done any tags for a while but I used to quite enjoy them. I’ve been seeing this one around and I do like it because it’s a nice easy recap for the past six months. I loved so many of your answers too and can completely understand A Boy and His Dog featuring more than once.
Lynn 😀
This was really fun to do, there were only two questions I couldn’t answer:-)
I’m kind of hit or miss when it comes to book tags but I do always enjoying the Mid Year Freak Out one. Like you mentioned, it’s fun to reflect on the first half of the year and look ahead to the second half.
Suzanne @ The Bookish Libra recently posted…Review: THE LAST COLLECTION by Jeanne Mackin
This is a perfect tag for bloggers who don’t like tags, lol.
That Daisy Jones & the Six cover is so cool. I love it.
Not like book tags?! 😮 *blasphemy for my ears!! (well, eyes)* Lol!
I love them, but I understand why many folks don’t. Some have some really good questions though, like this one. It works well for the time of year.
Ha ha, I know I’m in the minority. And there are some cool tags out there. This one is really fun, though.
I really like doing this one every year because it helps us look at things midway through. A bit of a standstill haha. I think we need that sometimes.
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Exactly, it’s easy to get caught up in your normal routine, and this tag make me think about the books I’ve read in new ways:-)
Ouch! I’ve done a couple of book tags recently (I’m happy to admit this was down to not having managed to read what I’d intended in time) and I’ve quite enjoyed them. I like that they prompt me to think about things from a different angle.
“Um, I don’t really have fictional crushes. Is that bad? It’s exhausting enough being married” – Totally agree! And laughed aloud when I read this! 😀 😀
I think I’m mostly intimidated by tags, they seem like a lot of work in some ways. But you’re right, you do have to consider things from a different perspective, which is fun:-)
I’m glad you liked The Princess and the Fangirl! It maybe a contemporary but I feel like Fantasy lovers will love it too haha 😀
Brittany recently posted…The Mid Year Freak Out Book Tag (2019)
Yes, I think in general fantasy lovers would love anything to do with cons and cosplay, so it’s a no brainer, at least for me:-)
Wow, Recursion made your top 3, I’m definitely going to have to pick that one up now! I also loved A Boy and His Dog, as you know. The funny thing is I haven’t heard much about it outside my circle of bloggers! I need more people to read this!
I don’t really like tags that much either, although I appreciate being tagged in them I very rarely do them — this one is one of my favorites though, so I am glad you did it! I also need to read Magnificent Nine, I am so bummed I haven’t prioritized that one yet. I hope you love Storm of Locusts as much as I did, and I need to get off my bum and read my copy of A Boy and His Dog.
That special edition of Daisy Jones is GORGEOUS!
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