Hello friends, can you believe we’re on the third year of the Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag? I certainly cannot! Although I am still working from home and have a lot of free time on my hands before and after working hours, I have found reading extremely strenuous this year. Reading slumps seem to hit me almost monthly, weekly even. I have lost count of the books I’ve started and read approx. 20 pages from before moving onto the next one. I am feeling very anxious about the world opening up again and I guess that’s been on my mind for quite some time. In addition, I am missing my family abroad very much and cannot wait to be able to fly out to them! So hopefully my lack of reading can be excused..?
At the beginning of 2021, I knew I would not want to rush through the books anyway, and I set myself a Goodreads target to read 52 books this year. I’ve somehow managed to read 27 books to date despite the lack of interest in reading. This means I am well on target to reach my goal before the end of 2021. So that’s something to celebrate, surely! 🙂
Best book I’ve read so far in 2021
Think this is one of my most recent reads – True Crime Story by Joseph Knox. I got access to the audio ARC via NetGalley and it was truly one of the most fascinating and engaging audio books I’ve listened to for a long time!
https://www.instagram.com/p/CQDdYIDraJa/
Best sequel I’ve read so far in 2021
I haven’t actually read that many sequels this year. Most of the books that I’ve managed to focus on are standalones. But to answer the question, it’s a toss between Checkmate and Double Cross by Malorie Blackman. Both of which I gave 5 stars. I just really enjoyed the whole of the series so much!
https://www.instagram.com/p/CMMXFCDAY5e/
New release I haven’t read yet but want to
You Love Me by Caroline Kepnes. Hey – Joe Goldberg is my guilty pleasure. Stop with the judgement! 😛
There are plenty of books I’ve been anticipating and haven’t even got around to getting a copy of yet. But those that I have I am really looking forward to reading Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas and Open Water by Azumah Nelson. I’ve made a start with Open Water, but I can tell although it’s a thin book, it’ll take me a while because the writing style is very, very unusual!
Most anticipated release for the second half of the year
I’m a little behind on checking out the new releases from July onwards. Definitely something that’s on my to-do-list in the next few weeks.
BUT I DO KNOW THAT EDDIE FLYNN #6 IS COMING OUT IN AUGUST AND I CANNOT WAIT! I was an instant fan of Steve Cavanagh and I will be reading every book he ever writes!
Biggest disappointment of the year so far
Think that’ll be that I’ve been unable to fly out to see my family. I miss them so much!
Biggest surprise of the year so far
Erm.. I climbed to the summit of Mount Snowdon! I’ve spent the majority of the past 12 months cooped up between the four walls of our home. The furthest I’ve walked is to the shops about 5 minutes from my house every once in a while. Just making it up there and down in one piece is a surprise in itself. I felt really anxious about leaving and travelling to Wales but in the end it was just what I needed! Really recommend. I’d do it again 🙂
New favourite author
Don’t think I have any new ones just yet?
Newest fictional crush
Eddie Flynn continues to be my #1 lol
Newest favourite character
This character brushed through the pages very briefly. In fact I don’t even remember her name, but she’s the mother of Mr Post (from The Guardians by John Grisham). A 73 year old independent woman, who lives off her land, plays poker, is in two book clubs and she just sounds like an absolute life goal.
Book that made me cry
Did I cry? I’m not sure, but I do recall getting rather emotional at the end of The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky.
Actually – HALF A WORLD AWAY by Mike Gayle had me SOBBING! Completely destroyed. Think I didn’t want to recall it lol
https://www.instagram.com/p/CK0wTY8gYwc/
Book that made me happy
According to the StoryGraph I mainly read fiction books that are mysterious, dark and tense. Cannot remember if any of the books made me feel happy, so I’m going to go with what StoryGraph is saying, ha! (Sucker for punishment..)
Favourite book to film adaption of 2021
Erm.. I guess that’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower. I haven’t really read any other books that have been adapted??
Favourite post I’ve done this year
LOL! I feel personally attacked. At the beginning of this year I promised to be more active on my blog.. but in reality I’ve been slacking. Really, really slacking!
Think my favourite posts are the Weekly Reading Updates that I did for a couple of months. I should really bring it back..
https://www.bookskatlikes.co.uk/category/weekly-reading-update/
Most beautiful book I’ve bought this year
I’ve been really good this year and actually bought very few books. I did however get a lovely book mail with the prettiest ARC edition of Katharine Parr, The Sixth Wife by Alison Weir. The gold foil detail is just so gorgeous!
https://www.instagram.com/p/CO2S_QRry4u/
What books do I need to read before the end of the year
I have 15 books on left to read on my 21 in 2021 challenge, so I will hopefully be prioritising them ..
And that’ll be all for this year!
What have you been reading? Have you got new favourites, or have some of your old favourites not been as great as you remembered?
Let me know in the comments below 🙂
