2023 Mid-Year Book Freakout Tag of Sorts (+ Mid-Year Overview)

Has it been an egregious stretch of time since I last posted anything on this blog? Absolutely. Am I going to move along as if that isn’t the case? Perhaps.

Following my completion of a 50-book reading goal in 2022, I was fairly certain that I would not be able to keep up at that pace in the new year — and I was correct. Though I loved all the time spent reading and reviewing so many stories last year, it hasn’t been something I’ve been able to fit as easily in my present life. The main thing that has kept me out of a total reading slump, though, is the wondrous world of middle-grade fiction. That being said, there are a few adult and YA stories in the mix, too, and I’d love to share said titles.

I’m going to keep the wrap-up/overview section of this post snappy as it’s been so long since I’ve read some of these books, that a drawn-out mini-review for each would be grueling for both of us. But first: THE MID-YEAR BOOK FREAKOUT TAG.

1. Best Book You’ve Read So Far in 2023

The highest rating I’ve given out this year is 4.5, and I’ve given that to three books:

• The Ersatz Elevator (A Series of Unfortunate Events, #6) by Lemony Snicket [REREAD]
• The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson & the Olympians, #1) by Rick Riordan
• The Titan’s Curse (Percy Jackson & the Olympians, #3) by Rick Riordan

Clearly, the middle-grade reader in me has grappled her way wholly to the surface. A realization I had while reading The Titan’s Curse is that I’ve been trying to recapture the magic of ravenously consuming books late into the night as a kid, and it turns out all I had to do was read children’s books again.

2. Best Sequel You’ve Read So Far in 2023

Nearly half of the books I’ve read thus far have been sequels. Technically, The Ersatz Elevator and The Titan’s Curse are my highest rated, so I will go with those two.

3. New Release(s) You Haven’t Read Yet, But Want To

I’ve not been majorly clued into the new releases this year, to be honest with you. Two that caught my eye, however, are:

• Brutes by Dizz Tate
• Hell Bent (Alex Stern, #2) by Leigh Bardugo

Please allow me to be transparent when I say that I have yet to finish Hell Bent‘s predecessor, Ninth House — and to be perfectly frank, I’m having a hard time keeping my attention on it. If and/or when I pick that one up is definitely still yet to be seen.

4. Most Anticipated Release(s) for the Second Half of the Year

This one is easier for me to answer, as I’ve been going crazy entering Goodreads giveaways of late, and am a teensy bit more familiar with the newest ones yet to come out. For this, I’d have to say:

• Their Vicious Games by Joelle Wellington
• Together We Rot by Skyla Arndt
• Rouge by Mona Awad
• The Chalice of the Gods (Percy Jackson & the Olympians, #6) by Rick Riordan

For a little while there, I felt like I couldn’t read young adult and middle grade so much as I’m supposedly aging out of it. I’ve realized, though, that the whole point of reading is either a) for enrichment or b) for enjoyment, and I can settle for option B and have that be perfectly acceptable.

5. Biggest Disappointment

I’m glad and a little surprised to say that so far this year, nothing I’ve read has really been a miss. The lowest thing I’ve rated was three stars (which I consider a good rating), and that was:

• What Matters Most is How Well You Walk Through the Fire by Charles Bukowski

This posthumously released poetry collection was my introduction to the surly and crude yet occasionally touching Bukowski. As collections tend to go, there were pieces I enjoyed more than others. Overall, I found his language and subject matter a bit distasteful the majority of the time, though I appreciate it for what it is and have a few poems from it that I particularly enjoy (my favorites being “hunger” and “the crunch (2)”).

6. Biggest Surprise

This pick is easy, as most of the other books I’ve picked up this year I was fairly confident in the fact that I’d enjoy them. Reading this one, though, was more out of obligation as the Netflix adaption covering the text was encroaching, and I’d feel wrong to disregard the source material.

• Ruin and Rising (Shadow and Bone, #3) by Leigh Bardugo

While I moderately enjoyed the titular first installment, Shadow and Bone, I had quite a loathsome experience with Siege and Storm. Because of that, I didn’t bother picking up the final book in the trilogy for a whole year. When I did read it, though, it took me by surprise how much I enjoyed it.

7. Favorite New Author (Debut or New to You)

This may be abundantly clear as this person’s work is quite present in the list so far, but I’d definitely have to go with Rick Riordan. Obviously, not a debut but I had yet to pick up any of his books until this year. I’m glad that I finally have because my inner child is constantly begging to be fed — and I obviously have to prepare for the Percy Jackson show coming out next year.

8. Newest Fictional Crush

I can’t say that this one is abundantly relevant to me with all the middle-grade I’ve been consuming lately, but I did reread The Raven Boys featuring an Adam Parrish that entirely enamored seventeen-year-old me.

9. Newest Favorite Character

Of the books this year that are neither collections/memoirs nor rereads, the main characters that stand out are Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase of the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series and Karen of Daisy Jones & the Six (who I feel was unfortunately misconstrued in the television adaption).

10. Book(s) That Made You Cry

It’s been many a year since I’ve been moved to tears by a book, and I’m not sure I can say any of my reading choices this year have come too close. I guess the closest one might be

• Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

though even that’s quite a stretch.

I really appreciated the character dynamics in this book and loved the nostalgia of the classic video gaming experience. That being said, there are some sadder facets to this novel, and though I was never moved to tears, you can consider my heartstrings pulled.

11. Book(s) That Made You Happy

I’ve already listed most of the ones that would fall into this category, so I’ll go for:

• Juno: The Shooting Script by Diablo Cody

This was my first time reading a screenplay, and I have to say that it was a quick read and an altogether pleasant experience. I’ve only seen the film once before, but quite enjoyed it when I did. Reading this was like getting to experience the movie in fast motion in my head which I consider most ideal.

12. Most Beautiful Book You’ve Bought So Far This Year (Or Received)

My favorite books to buy are old, battered paperbacks from thrift stores, but this year I bought a couple books brand new. One of these would be:

• The Demon in the Wood (Grishaverse, #0) by Leigh Bardugo

This graphic novel was such a treat, especially since I only read graphic novels/comics on occasion (meaning The Umbrella Academy comics by Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba, and Electric Century by Mikey Way and Shaun Simon). The art style, coloring, and story itself are all stunning, making this an easy pick for the most beautiful book I’ve bought this year.

13. What Books Do You Need to Read by the End of the Year?

Some books that I’d really like to read before this year ends are mostly from series I’ve started and need to finish. This includes (but is not limited to):

• The Last Olympian (Percy Jackson & the Olympians, #5) by Rick Riordan
• Mister Impossible (Dreamer Trilogy, #2) by Maggie Stiefvater
• Greywaren (Dreamer Trilogy, #3) by Maggie Stiefvater
• King of Scars (King of Scars, #1) by Leigh Bardugo
• anything by Donna Tartt as I have all three of her novels and have read none of them…

The only ones I’m particularly confident in the idea of me actually reading are The Last Olympian and Mister Impossible. I think there’s a strong probability that I’ll pick up one of the three Donna Tartt books this fall and probably spend a month or two getting through it.

And that will wrap up the tag section of this post! To finish it off, this is the list of all the books I’ve read in the first half of the year and the ratings I gave them.

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3 Star Reads

• What Matters Most is How Well You Walk Through the Fire by Charles Bukowski

3.5 Star Reads

• The Vile Village (A Series of Unfortunate Events, #7) by Lemony Snicket [REREAD]
• The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
• A Prayer for the Crown-Shy (Monk & Robot, #2) by Becky Chambers
• According to Their Kinds by Abigail Anklam
• Talking as Fast as I Can by Lauren Graham

4 Star Reads

• Demon in the Wood (Grishaverse, #0) by Leigh Bardugo
• Juno: The Shooting Script by Diablo Cody
• The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle, #1) by Maggie Stiefvater [REREAD]
• Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
• The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson & the Olympians, #2)

4.5 Star Reads

• The Ersatz Elevator (A Series of Unfortunate Events, #6) by Lemony Snicket [REREAD]
• The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson & the Olympians, #1) by Rick Riordan
• The Titan’s Curse (Percy Jackson & the Olympians, #3) by Rick Riordan

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Books Completed: 16
Average Rating: 3.91 stars (quite high for me!)
Most Read Genre: Fantasy
Top Intended Audience: Adult

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If you’ve made it this far, you’re a real trooper and I appreciate your time spent here! I hope your reading year has gone well thus far.

Have you read any of the books mentioned here? Did you enjoy them? Why, or why not? What are some of the favorites you’ve read during the first half of this year? Any personal answers for the questions presented in this tag? (Consider yourself tagged!) I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!