This is my seventh year doing the Mid Year Freak Out Book Tag! The tag was created by Ely @ Earl Grey Books and Chami @ Read Like Wildfire.
I’m a little late, but I’ve finally got my post together, and I’m happy to say I’ve read lots of great books already this year. As in past years, I’m choosing three books for each prompt, so I can shine a light on as many as possible. *I’m also adding a new category called Biggest WTF Books So Far, since I seem to have read a lot of those!
# of Books Read So Far:
This is a screenshot of my Goodreads progress at the end of June, and I’m very happy with this number so far.
Best Books I’ve Read So Far This Year:
I’ve handed out only five 5-star ratings so far this year, and these are the three I loved the most.
My Ex, the Antichrist by Craig DiLouie is one of his best. Horror and punk rock come together in an unforgettable story, told in a journalistic format.
I was blown away by how much I loved The Afterlife Project by Tim Weed. This is a time travel/climate fiction sci-fi story that spans tens of thousands of years and yet feels intimate as well.
When the Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy is one of the best surprises of the year so far. Cassidy tackles themes of fatherhood and the power of imagination in this brutal and beautifully told story.
Best Sequels I’ve Read So Far This Year:
I didn’t realize how many sequels I’ve read already this year, and it was actually hard to choose just three (Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Souls didn’t quite make it).
The Medusa Protocol by Rob Hart was a wonderful follow-up to Assassins Anonymous. You should be reading this series if you love perfectly paced thrillers with humor and heart.
Go Luck Yourself by Sara Raasch is the second book in her Royals & Romance series, which follows the families who rule each holiday (Christmas, Easter, Saint Patrick’s Day, etc). I love the snarky banter and the sweet and sexy romantic couples.
Another Fine Mess by Lindey Ryan was better than the first book! The stories follow a family who owns a funeral home, but it’s a cover-up for what they really do: hunt monsters.
New Releases I Haven’t Read But Want To:
Three big releases (and I also mean “big” as in page county) that I just haven’t been able to get to, but I hope to this year! Bury My Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab, The Devils by Joe Abercrombie and The Incandescent by Emily Tesh.
Most Anticipated Releases for the Second Half of 2025:
These are probably my top three “must read” books coming out in the next few months: Play Nice by Rachel Harrison, The Dead Husband Cookbook by Danielle Valentine and The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre by Philip Fracassi.
Biggest Disappointments:
Three books I had high hopes for but just didn’t work:
D7 by Philip Fracassi (I didn’t even write a review for this one) was more of a short story than a novella, and it was a very silly one at that.
At the Bottom of the Garden by Camilla Bruce just didn’t live up to it’s intriguing idea, and I found some of the elements downright silly.
But Not Too Bold by Hache Pueyo. I loved Pueyo’s writing and ideas, but this one was just a little too bizarre for me.
Biggest Surprises:
Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry was way more fun than I expected!
Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito surprised me with its main character, a female serial killer who stole the show.
I can’t say I’m completely surprised by how good Future’s Edge was, because Gareth L. Powell is one of the most talented and solid writers I know.
Favorite New Author:
I finally read T.J. Klune this year, and I ended up loving The Bones Beneath My Skin.
I also read Arkady Martine for the first time and discovered her Rose/House, a sci-fi locked room mystery.
I loved A Spell For Change by Nicole Jarvis, a well-written, character focused story, and I will definitely be reading more of this author.
New Favorite Characters:
Jenny Greenteeth, the main character in Greenteeth by Molly O’Neill, is hands down one of my favorite characters of the year. You just need to read this book!
Once Was Willem by M.R. Carey was a wonderful story, and the main character Once-Was-Willem is a lovable monster who was brought back from the dead.
And I have to give a shout-out to an enduring couple, Emily and Wendell, who I have loved since the first book of the trilogy. Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales was the perfect wrap up to the series.
Books That Made Me Cry:
Stephen Graham Jones gets two spots in this category, which isn’t that surprising. The Buffalo Hunter Hunter is complex and heartbreaking at times, a masterful story by a talented author.
I also read Mapping the Interior, a short but powerful and emotional novella.
All the Water in the World by Eiren Caffall is a thrilling survival story set in a future where climate change has destroyed lives, not to mention the planet. I can’t wait to read Caffall’s next book!
Books That Made Me Happy:
Stephanie Burgis’s books always make me happy, and Wooing the Witch Queen was no exception!
I absolutely love Constance Fay’s Uncharted Hearts series, and Chaos is book #3 in this fun sci-fi romance series.
Tartufo by Kira Jane Buxton isn’t my usual type of read, but I love the author and I had to check it out. It’s an over-the-top, joyful story that takes place in Italy and revolves around the people in a small tourist town who discover the world’s largest truffle.
Biggest WTF Books of the Year So Far:
My new category, because I do enjoy a good WTF book! Starting off with We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer, a very different haunted house story.
The House on Utopia Way by Stefan Mohamed is another weird, mind-bending story with a mystery at its heart.
And maybe the weird book I’ve read so far this year, When We Were Real by Darryl Gregory, a road trip tale where the characters realize they are living in a simulation.
Favorite Post I’ve Done This Year:
As usual, some of my favorite posts are lists, and these are my favorite three so far:
Fourteen Books With Flowery Covers – But Make It Creepy
Most Beautiful Book I’ve Bought This Year:
I bought this special signed edition of The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones from Waterstones and yes, it cost a pretty penny to get it to the US. But it’s worth it! The sprayed edges are stunning, and the end papers are beautiful (and it’s signed).
Your edition of The Buffalo Hunter Hunter is soooo beautiful!! And I love your new category!!
Thanks Susy! I feel like WTF books don’t get enough love.
I like your addition of the WTF category, and We Used to Live Here definitely works for that. Such a strange book. I still think about the ending and what on earth was really going with it all.
Nice to see Emily and Wendell getting a mention too. I can’t wait to read that final book but I also don’t want to get to the end knowing there will be no more 😀
I think the author tied up Emily and Wendell’s stories very well. But yes, it’s bittersweet knowing that it the last book.
It looks like you’ve had a fantastic reading year so far. It’s wonderful seeing so many books getting highlighted as favourites of yours and I love that you had so many sequels to pick from. I quite want to try the Lindy Ryan series sometime. I hope you enjoy those want to read books whenever you get to them, I loved one, enjoyed another and also still need to read The Devils, I’ve seen mostly good things though.
If But Not Too Bold was too weird for you I don’t think it would work for me lol and I love the idea of the new category.
I’m glad you loved your first Klune book (I still need to try their work) and that copy of The Buffalo Hunter Hunter is stunning I’m not sure how I haven’t seen it before as I’m usually good at keeping an eye on Waterstones special editions. They do tend to get some lovely ones.
I hope the rest of the year continues to bring many more favourites your way.
Thank you Charlotte! I am very eager to read more Klune. They have a new book coming out next year and I’m keeping my eye on it:-)
Ooh I’ll have to look that one up, I had no idea they had another due that soon. I hope you enjoy it if you pick it up.
I would agree with you that Victorian Psycho was very surprising! Also love the new category you added.
I’m stalking Virginia Feito for her next book:-)
The sprayed edges of The Buffalo Hunter Hunter are so beautiful! Looks like they were definitely worth the cost. And out of these all I see several books I still want to read, especially Shield of Sparrows.
I couldn’t resist The Buffalo Hunter Hunter, I ordered it before I read the book. And luckily I loved the book, otherwise I would have been mad at myself, lol.
Your review of SHIELD OF SPARROWS is the reason I caved & bought it. Still haven’t read it yet, but I hope I like it because me & the stuff that comes out from that publisher don’t usually get along
I hope you like it too! I think the publisher is a little hit or miss for me. Shield of Sparrows really worked though.
Great post! There’s a book I want to read in every group except the WTF grouping. lol I have the Afterlife Project, Assassins Anonymous, The Incandescent, Shield of Sparrows, Future’s Edge, The Bones Beneath My Skin and All the Water in the World on my library holds. I’ve actually read all the Emily Wilde books and Wooing the Witch Queen.
Anne – Books of My Heart
Thanks Anne! Hopefully we’ll both get to some of these this year.
I really need to read my copy of the first Lindey Ryan book (Bless Your Heart, I think? I have it on my kindle). You’ve got loads here I want to try too, top of them would be The Dead Husband Cookbook and the new V.E. Schwab.
I love the Lindy Ryan series, I hope you get to start it soon:-)
It’s funny to see Philip Fracassi as author of both a most anticipated and biggest disappointment. Some authors can be all over the place for us, maybe because they try so many different things. Here’s hoping that most anticipated book is a great one!
That is very strange indeed. I think the short story just isn’t his format. His novels are all very good.
Shield of Sparrow surprised me so much too! And Jenny Greenteeth is an amazing character!
I love being surprised:-)
I love WTF books, good addition!
Thank you! I had no trouble at all finding three:-)
I just finished doing this same post, so you are not alone. So glad you enjoyed My Ex, the Antichrist. I think I might pick that one up come October. I like you WTF category. I’ve definitely had a few reads over the years. That special edition of Buffalo Hunter Hunter is gorg! Hope the second half of the year is full of great reads for you!
Thanks Alicia! I have high hopes for the rest of the year, there are some heavy hitters coming out, hopefully they live up to the hype:-)
I love the Biggest WTF Book category!!! I could think of a few that would fit well. I can’t believe you’ve only had three 5 star reads for the year. I feel like I’ve had more than usual, and I’m not sure if it’s just been a particularly good year or I’ve just been liberal with my ratings
I think I’ve been a little stingy with ratings this year. I keep thinking of last year’s top five books and I’m having trouble finding books that are just as good.
You read a lot, so that says a lot about Gareth L. Powell. Which one is your favorite by him?
And this confirms I really need to read The Afterlife Project
Honestly this one is one of my favorites. I also loved Descendant Machine.
Happy to see your version of this post!
I too would like to try Tesh’s Incandescent.
Lol, I like that WTF books category you added.
This year in particular I’ve read a bunch of WTF so I thought it needed a category:-)
I had intended to put together a post of my mid-year reading progress – but Life has got in the way, what with everything going on here at present! But I thoroughly enjoyed this one. You’ve had an amazing reading year so far:)).
Thanks Sarah! It has been a very good reading year so far:-)
Yikes, you just got me to check and looks like I’ve been super stingy on 5 stars so far this year. I think I might have more dnfs!
I have too, or maybe I just haven’t found enough books worthy of 5 stars!
I love this book tag and all your answers. Always good to see the Marcus Kliewer book making an appearance.
Lynn 😀
I’ve got to read Go Luck Yourself since I enjoyed the first book. I love that last book that was so pretty! Lots of fun books for you this year so far!
https://lisalovesliterature.bookblog.io/2025/07/22/e-galley-review-love-is-a-war-song-by-danica-nava/
I really need to read Wooing the Witch Queen! And I’m still curious about The Devils as well.