The End of the Year Book Tag – 2024 Edition

I didn’t do one of these last year even though I thought I did. 🤔. It’s a fun post and I get to look back on the year, so let’s take a look!

Are there any books you started this year that you need to finish?

Not in Love by. Ali Hazelwood – I don’t know what it was but the first chapter was okay and I put it aside to read some arcs and never picked this one back up.

Worst in Show by. Anna E. Collins – My borrowing time came to an end on this one but I do want to read it!

Haunted Ever After by. Jen DeLuca – same reason, borrowing time came to an end but I will pick this one off.

Do you have an autumnal book to transition into the end of the year?

No I don’t. I feel like Christmas comes upon us in a rush and Christmas books sometimes publish in October. This one was an arc published in mid-October and I was in a spooky season mood. It didn’t help me transition at all lol but it was such a cute holiday story!

Is there a new release that you’re still waiting for?

A Cruel Thirst by. Angela Montoya – this one comes out on 12/17 but I’m all about borrowing books these days so we’ll see when I get a chance to read it.

What are three books you want to read before the year ends?

Is there a book that you think could still shock you and become your favourite of the year?

The Grandest Game by. Jennifer Lynn Barnes – this was one of my most anticipated reads for 2024 and I’m waiting for it to be on Libby (online library). I might have to buy it lol.

Have you already started to make reading plans for 2025?

Onyx Storm by. Rebecca Yarros – so excited to read this one!
Rebel Witch (The Crimson Moth #2) by. Kristen Ciccarelli – I just re-read book one and oh I can’t wait to get my hands on this one.
Oathbound (The Legendborn Cycle #3) by. Tracy Deonn – I feel like I’ve been waiting on this one forever.

Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag – 2024

I’ve been seeing this tag all around the blogosphere so I have to do mine too!

BEST BOOK YOU’VE READ SO FAR IN 2024

I feel like this year I have gravitated to more contemporary reads and less fantasy? I read a lot of fantasy but I don’t know there was anything that really wowed me yet this year. But these three books are my top three so far: The Women by. Kristin Hannah, Not Another Love Song by. Julie Soto, and Funny Story by. Emily Henry.

BEST SEQUEL YOU’VE READ SO FAR IN 2023

I thought Ruthless Vows by. Rebecca Ross was a great conclusion to the duology!

NEW RELEASE YOU HAVEN’T READ YET, BUT WANT TO

This one, Poison in Their Hearts by. Laura Sebastian, just came out and I want to read it. I hope I get to read it sometime this year.

MOST ANTICIPATED RELEASE FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR

The Grandest Game by. Jennifer Lynn Barnes
The Songbird and the Heart of Stone by. Carissa Broadbent
Heir by. Sabaa Tahir

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

King of Sloth by. Ana Huang, one was my least favorite of the series and least favorite book of the year.

BIGGEST SURPRISE

The Last Bloodcarver by. Vanessa Le was such a surprise to me, actually it’s one of my top reads of 2024 also.

FAVORITE NEW AUTHOR (debut or new to you)

I really liked the world building in this one and that it’s an academy book. I’m excited to read book two.

NEWEST FICTIONAL CRUSH

I don’t think I’ve actually had a new fictional crush this year, which is so surprising! The one fictional guy though that had me in my feels a little is Miles from Funny Story by. Emily Henry. Usually I like the alpha guys buy Miles was the totally opposite of being an alpha and I loved him.

NEWEST FAVORITE CHARACTER

Nhika in The Last Bloodcarver because she’s a survivor.

Arthie and Jin from A Tempest of Tea because their friendship is everything.

Rune from Heartless Hunter because she’ll do anything to help the witches who are being hunted.

BOOK THAT MADE YOU CRY

I don’t think a book made me shed too much tears this year so far but I did tear up at the ending of the The Last Bloodcarver by. Vanessa Le.

BOOK THAT MADE YOU HAPPY

Dungeons and Drama by. Kristy Boyce made me feel happy!

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BOOK YOU’VE BOUGHT SO FAR THIS YEAR (or received)

I definitely broke my book banning to get this hardcover: Heaveneaker by. Sara Wolf

WHAT BOOKS DO YOU NEED TO READ BY THE END OF THE YEAR?

I have The Wren in the Holly Library by. K.A. Linde on my bookshelf so would love to read that by the end of this year. I have Heir by. Sabaa Tahir as an arc so I know I’ll be finishing that this year! And I can’t wait for The Songbird and the Heart of Stone by. Carissa Broadbent.

FAVORITE BOOK TO MOVIE ADAPTATION YOU’VE SEEN THIS YEAR

I haven’t seen any book to movie adapations this year – at least books that’s I’ve read but I did watch Dune 2! Haven’t read the book though but I’m a fan of the movies because they are so visually stunning.

Oh and I also watched The Idea of You and I know there is a book The Idea of You by. Robinne Lee but that’s also one I haven’t read.

It’s been a fairly slow reading year for me this year I think. But I’m totally okay with that because that just means my attention and energy had to be elsewhere. I’m 59/125 on my Goodreads reading challenge so I think I’m on a good pace!

How has your 2024 been so far?

Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag – 2023

We are in July so let’s take a look back at the first half of the year!

BEST BOOK YOU’VE READ SO FAR IN 2023

I love these 2023 releases! Fourth Wing is a very hyped book right now but if you like dragons, you may enjoy this one also. Divine Rivals made me cry and The Sweetest Betrayal was the perfect conclusion to an underrated series.

BEST SEQUEL YOU’VE READ SO FAR IN 2023

This is a great sequel and brings all the gothic, creepy vibes from House of Sea and Salt, but on another level! I love the story telling.

NEW RELEASE YOU HAVEN’T READ YET, BUT WANT TO

I’m waiting for a library copy to be available but I hope to read it before the summer ends because it’s Emily Henry and should be read in the summer right?

MOST ANTICIPATED RELEASE FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR

There are a few more…

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

This cover is gorgeous but this was a DNF for me. I kept trying to get into it but I just couldn’t.

BIGGEST SURPRISE

I read this as an arc but it will be coming out this month which is the later half of the year BUT…this surprised me because I thought it was going to be a DNF by chapter 2 and by the end I was shocked at the wild finish of this book. I can’t wait for book 2 but I do wish sometimes Chloe Gong books were easier to get into, don’t get me wrong, I love her books, but there can be a lot of info dumping. Once you get past that it’s usually a wild ride!

FAVORITE NEW AUTHOR (debut or new to you)

I just read this one and loved it!

NEWEST FICTIONAL CRUSH

I mean come on…Xaden.

NEWEST FAVORITE CHARACTER

Wren in Bonesmith because she’s a fighter and fights the dead..

Zilan from The Scarlet Alchemist because the love she has for her cousins and she can raise the dead.

Channi from Her Radiant Curse because the love she has for her sister.

BOOK THAT MADE YOU CRY

This one made me shed a tear or two – Rebecca Ross just knows how to pull on those heart strings.

BOOK THAT MADE YOU HAPPY

Even the covers make me happy because the colors are so bright but yes these definitely left me feeling happy inside.

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BOOK YOU’VE BOUGHT SO FAR THIS YEAR (or received)

I’m surprised there hasn’t been as many book covers this year that has wowed me. But I think this one is pretty.

WHAT BOOKS DO YOU NEED TO READ BY THE END OF THE YEAR?

I bought the ebook for From the Grave so I can finish that at anytime but want to read it this year if possible and complete the series. Painted Devils I have as a borrowed hardcover so I would like to finish that before the month is through. The Bone Shard Emperor because I’d love to finish the series.

FAVORITE BOOK TO MOVIE ADAPTATION YOU’VE SEEN THIS YEAR

I actually never read the book but I thought the Amazon Prime series was so good! I hope I can read the book this year!

And that’s what I got half-way into 2023! I think it’s funny how I’m already requesting arcs for first half of 2024 on NetGalley – like wait….the holidays aren’t here yet. 😅 It’s kind of exciting and nerve wracking thinking 2024 is just around the corner! Anyway, how was your first half of 2024?

2022 | A Year in Review

It’s that time again in the year, the end of the year where I look back and see how much I’ve read during the year. The only place I track my reading is on Goodreads so this is what Goodreads says I’ve read:

Ever since I’ve become a blogger I hit 150++ in books read for the year. Before that I think I barely hit 100 because I re-read my faves a lot and mostly, ONLY read popular hyped books. This hasn’t always been the case…I’ll say this was the case since Twilight and The Da Vinci Code came out. Before that I read every genre out there.

But now with the blog I’ve gravitated towards Young Adult and Adult Romance. I do miss re-reading my faves and branching off into new genres but lately I feel like I have no time.

Of course Sarah J Mass will always have the highest page count of the year lol. I did more reading with my daughter this year because she’s in Kinder and she has to read and log books so I did add a few books we read together.

Wow, Where the Crawdad’s Sing was shelved 3m++ times?! That’s crazy. My rating average stayed the same as last year and here I thought I was being less generous this year.

I was hoping to do some detailed review but honestly these last few weeks have been busy for me and with the kids on winter break and my husband calling from overseas constantly lol…I feel like I have no time to myself except when I go to bed. Sigh and I haven’t been able to finish a book because a few pages in and I knock out. So no detailed review this year, guess I’ll add that to my list goal for next year!

How was your reading year?

Reading Goals of 2022

I didn’t have big goals for 2022 but let’s take a look and see if I actually met them:

Read LESS. Read what I want to read and make sure I have enough time to finish it especially if they are arcs. I read about 13-15 books a month and it would be nice to get it down to 8-10 at least.

NO – I did not consistently meet this goal because I ended up reading 170+ this year. My goal was 52 but more like 100 max. 😆 The only months I met this goal was the last 2 months of 2022.

Keep my book buying ban still because I save money when I borrow it from the library and 2022 is about controlling my finances.

YES/NO – I was so good this year. I did buy books but they were severely discounted. So I did save money, but I still bought books. This goal is continuing on in 2023 because I have trips to plan!

Cut down on NetGalley requests.

YES – I stuck to this one I think because there was less catching up for me to do.

Have the guts to DNF more books that I’m struggling through.

YES – I did DNF more but not as much as I was thinking I would.

I think I did pretty good on my goals! I still want to cut down on the amount of books I read. Just so I can find that enjoyment of reading I used to have when I wasn’t a book blogger. I still love it but it does feel like work sometimes to finish arcs. Anyway, I’ll figure out a good balance someday – maybe 2023 will be that year!

Did you meet your reading goals?

2022 | A Year in Review

But now with the blog I’ve gravitated towards Young Adult and Adult Romance. I do miss re-reading my faves and branching off into new genres but lately I feel like I have no time.

Wow, Where the Crawdad’s Sing was shelved 3m++ times?! That’s crazy. My rating average stayed the same as last year and here I thought I was being less generous this year.

How was your reading year?

Looking Back on 2022: Series That I Started or Finished

I haven’t been the best lately and finishing a series – but that’s why I’ve found duologies really work well for me! This year there were some series I got to finish (YAY!) and some series that I started and hope to eventually…someday. Let’s take a look at the series I read this year:

Series That I Started or Finished in 2022

Here’s what I started:

Okay that’s a long list of series I just started! lol…this is why I end up not finishing some series. 😅

The ones I won’t be continuing are:

A Deadly Education by. Naomi Novik (maybe)
Forging Silver into Stars by. Brigid Kemmerer (maybe? I rather finish the Defy the Night series!)
The Witch Collector by. Charissa Weaks (maybe)
House of Beating Wings by. Olivia Wildenstein (definitely will not)

Here are the series that I finished:

I did pretty good in finishing some series this year and mostly because a bunch of these are duologies! I hope I can finish a bunch of series in 2023.

What series are you looking forward to finish or start in 2023?

Let me know in the comments!

Looking Back on 2022: Books with Twins

Twin tropes are very popular in books but I try to limit my time reading too many of them because to me they get repetitive and I don’t know what it is but I don’t like reading about two siblings that look exactly alike. Even if their personalities are different, I guess I just want diverse looks! I like the bond of twins, and when there is conflict it always makes a compelling story but I’d rather read about sisters that are different in looks, maybe to add a bit of diversity, than two people that look exactly alike. Here are the books I read in 2022 that had twins in the story:

Books with Twins

Do you like the twin trope? I think I like it best when the other twin is evil 😅. It makes the story more interesting.

Let me know in the comments!

My Favorite Book Covers of 2022

There were some really beautiful book covers in 2022!

My Favorite Book Covers of 2022

There are my favorite book covers from the books I managed to read in 2022:

And my favorite book covers from books I haven’t read but really want to:

What was your favorite book cover in 2022? Let me know in the comments!

The End of the Year Book Tag – 2022 Edition

Aloha friends! We have reached that time of the year, oh yes, the END of the year – and I still can’t believe it. I was tagged by the wonderful Dini @ DiniPandaReads and if you haven’t yet, please check out her awesome blog. Thanks for the tag, Dini – let’s get to it!

Are there any books you started this year that you need to finish?

I started Forestborn in the summer but wasn’t in the mood to finish and then didn’t have time to pick it up this fall. The Vanishing Deep was something I started before I went on vacation and hoping I can finish this month!

Do you have an autumnal book to transition into the end of the year?

I was going to say no, I don’t have a transition book but I just finished this book recently called Ledge and it definitely has all the winter vibes and not in a cozy way. More like cold, icy, winter, violent vibes lol…