MID YEAR BOOK FREAKOUT TAG
# Mid-Year Book Freakout Tag: Books Reviewed in 2019
Hello and welcome back to my channel! Today, I’m thrilled to be doing the mid-year book freakout tag. If you’re familiar with booktube, you might know that this is a popular challenge where participants discuss their favorite and least favorite books from the year so far. While I’ve been on booktube for some time, I unfortunately joined just a month too late to participate in the original trend. However, I’m excited to share my thoughts on the books I’ve loved—and those I haven’t—so far in 2019.
Let’s dive into the questions!
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## **Question 1: Best Book You’ve Read So Far in 2019**
This tag is all about celebrating the books you’ve loved, and since I love multiple genres, I’ll be highlighting my top picks across different categories. Starting with fantasy, my absolute favorite book this year has been *Fury Born* by Claire Legrand. If you’re someone who loves intricate world-building and complex characters, this one is for you. The story follows two queens in two different timelines, each with their own struggles and earth magic. The relationships between the characters, especially the love interest and villain dynamics, are absolutely captivating. I think this book has been criminally underrated due to some initial misunderstandings about its content when it was released. Despite that, I’ve been passionate about this series for months now—it’s just that good.
In the contemporary category, my standout read has been *Autobiography* by Christina Lauren. This book tackles heavy themes like religion and sexuality while exploring first-love in a highly religious setting. It balances darker moments with hope and warmth, making it feel both realistic and uplifting. I particularly appreciated how the depiction of first love felt so true to my own experiences growing up. If you’re looking for a contemporary read that’s as thought-provoking as it is heartwarming, this one is a must-read.
For romance, *Written with Regret* by Alia Martinez was an absolute wild ride. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it to everyone because it’s pretty dark and twisted, but boy, did it hit the mark for me. The story is part dark romance and part psychological thriller, filled with mistaken identities and murder mysteries. While the genre can sometimes be predictable, this one kept me hooked from start to finish. The characters were fun and engaging, and I loved how their individual personalities shone through. Plus, there’s a four-year-old kid in the book—something that’s been making me question my love for romances involving dads with children, but that’s another story!
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## **Question 2: Best Sequel You’ve Read in 2019**
Coming in at number two for best sequel is *Killswitch* by Penelope Douglas. This was an unexpected gem—especially since I had to defend it to people who weren’t sure about the series. As the third book in a dark romance series, it’s the kind of story that takes readers on a wild ride filled with revenge, redemption, and plenty of drama. The main character, Damon, is someone you’re meant to hate for the first two books, but by the end, he becomes this sweet cinnamon roll that I just wanted to cuddle up with. If you’re into dark romances with a twist of sweetness, this one is definitely worth checking out.
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## **Question 3: A New Release You Haven’t Read Yet But Want to Read**
When it comes to new releases I’m excited about, the list is endless—especially when it comes to romance. I’ve been dying to get my hands on *The Fix Her Up* and *The Bride Test*, both of which have been getting a lot of buzz. Unfortunately, I won’t go into detail here since you can easily look them up on Goodreads or other platforms. The recurring theme for me this year has been a desire to read more smutty, no-holds-barred adult contemporary romances. While my reviews and recommendations might not always reflect that, trust me when I say these are the books I’m craving.
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## **Question 4: Most Anticipated Release for the Second Half of the Year**
Hands down, my most anticipated release is *The Beautiful* by Renee Ahdieh. If you’ve followed my channel before, you know how much I adore Renee’s work—starting with *The Wrath and the Dawn*, which remains a contentious but deeply loved read for me. This new book is set in 1800s New Orleans and features vampires. As someone who loves both historical fiction and vampires (and whose family has deep roots in New Orleans), I’m beyond excited to dive into this dark, vampire-filled world. It’s giving me major *Interview with the Vampire* vibes, and I can’t wait to sink my teeth into it.
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## **Question 5: Biggest Disappointment of the Year**
Unfortunately, no book list is complete without a few duds—and this year, one book really stood out as a major letdown. *Pretty Reckless* by L.J. Shen, a spin-off in her STARS series, was something I’ve been waiting years to read. The story follows the child of characters from the main series, but unfortunately, it just didn’t work for me. It felt like a stereotypical new adult romance without the same spark and angst that made the original books so great. While I’m still excited about the rest of the series, this one left me feeling disappointed.
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## **Question 6: Biggest Surprise**
One book that completely blindsided me in terms of how much I loved it was *Stage Dreams* by Melanie Gilman. This is a historical Wild West graphic novel with a female-female romance and a trans main character. It’s an own-voices story that knocked my socks off with its warm, inviting tone and lack of transphobia. What made this one extra special was that it was free to download—I didn’t even have to request it on NetGalley. If you’re looking for a refreshing, feel-good read, this one is a game-changer.
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## **Question 7: Favorite New Author (Debut or New to You)**
When it comes to discovering new authors, one name that’s been on my lips all year is Casey McQuiston. Her book *Red White & Rhombus* wasn’t my favorite of the year or even my favorite male-male romance, but I genuinely enjoyed it. It’s a fun rom-com with excellent writing and characters that feel authentically new adult. What I love most about Casey is her unabashed enthusiasm for the genre—something we all need more of in booktube.
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## **Question 8: Newest Fictional Crush**
If you’re looking for my current fictional crush, look no further than Magnus Lucas de Moura from *The Fallen Kingdom series* by Morgan Rhodes. This damaged bad-boy with a scar to match is the kind of character that’s impossible not to fall for. The audiobooks, narrated in a way that feels almost like Littlefinger from *Game of Thrones*, are absolutely addicting. It’s a multi-POV fantasy with earth magic, sex, and intrigue—everything I love about the genre.
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## **Question 9: Newest Favorite Character**
For my favorite character of the year, it has to be Jack from *Jack of Hearts* by L-C Rosen. This book is highly underrated in my opinion, but Jack’s unapologetic sexuality and humor made him a standout. It’s rare to find a sex-positive story that doesn’t feel gratuitous, and this one nails it. The humor, rawness, and relatability make Jack one of the most memorable characters I’ve read in 2019.
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## **Question 10: A Book That Made You Cry**
When it comes to books that made me cry (or at least teary-eyed during my commute), *Far from the Tree* by Robin Vennum definitely fits the bill. It’s a story about adoption and found families, something that resonates deeply with me emotionally. The narrative is heartfelt and pulls no punches, but in the best way possible.
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## **Question 11: A Book That Made You Happy**
For pure joy, I turned to *Stay Sweet* by Siobhan Vivian. This contemporary romance was like revisiting the sugary-sweet books I used to devour as a teenager—think Sarah Dessen or other summer reads from my middle school days. The original plot and nostalgic feel were just what I needed to bring back memories of lazy afternoons by the pool.
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## **Question 12: Most Beautiful Book You’ve Bought This Year**
When it comes to physical copies, I’m in a much different place than I was when I first started my channel. My goal now is to own only the books I truly love and check out the rest from the library. While I used to buy impulsively, I’m now curating my collection more thoughtfully—and that’s been incredibly fulfilling.
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## **Question 13: Books You Want to Read by the End of the Year**
Finally, here are a few books I’m dying to read before the year ends:
- *Cryer Sorrow* (a female-female fantasy with sci-fi elements)
- *Serpent & Dum* (another highly buzzed-about fantasy)
- *Gideon the Ninth* (if you haven’t heard of it already, trust me—it’s everywhere for a reason!)
- *The Wallflower Wager*, the latest in Anna Tennial’s series.
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And there you have it! My mid-year book freakout tag for 2019. I hope this list gives you some ideas for your own reading pile—and feel free to share your favorites (and frustrations) in the comments below! Until next time, happy reading!