I saw this tag by Kate at Opinionated Book Lover last week. I don't normally take a look at the books I've read mid-year (outside of the statistics), but this looks like a fun way to do so!
Best Book You've Read So Far in 2017
I've had a lot of five-star reads this year, but the one that's stuck with me the most is The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson.
Best Sequel You've Read So Far in 2017
I've started a lot of series this year. Continued, not so much. I adore the Penderwick series, and I finally let myself read the last book (although there are rumors of a fifth!). The Penderwicks in Spring by Jeanne Birdsall is amazing.
New Release You Haven’t Read Yet But Want To
I love travel narratives, and I just discovered Tsh's podcast, so At Home in the World by Tsh Oxenreider is a must read for me.
Most Anticipated Release For The Second Half Of The Year
Okay, technically Goodreads tells me this book was released on June 27, but I don't follow new releases that closely to know what all is out there, so I'm going to count it. I loved 100 Cupboards, so I'm definitely on board for a sequel - The Door Before by N.D. Wilson.
Biggest Disappointment
New Zealand is on my list of places I want to travel someday, so I was really looking forward to reading Slipping Into Paradise by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson. But something about his writing voice just rubbed me the wrong way, and it was not the enjoyable reading experience I thought it would be.
Biggest Surprise
I was hugely surprised by how dark The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo actually is. I don't know how Disney ever made a kids' movie out of it. I'm glad I read it, but it was not exactly what I was expecting.
Favorite New Author
My book club read The Wright Brothers by David McCullough. It wasn't my first read by him, but it was the one where I decided I would do my best to read everything else he's written!
Newest Fictional Crush
I'm rereading Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next series this year, and I'm enjoying revisiting Thursday's relationship with Landen. Landen seems like he makes a really fun husband (if you can just work out that whole blinking out of existence randomly thing).
Newest Favorite Character
Frank is such an incredible character. There were things about the rest of the book that drove me crazy, but I could have kept reading about Frank forever in Be Frank With Me by Julia Claiborne Johnson.
Book That Made You Cry
Okay, I have to repeat here (should have looked ahead at the categories). The Penderwicks in Spring by Jeanne Birdsall literally had me sobbing. I rarely cry at books, but this one did it!
Book That Made You Happy
I just finished First Impressions by Charlie Lovett yesterday morning. This book was just so delightfully bookish that I couldn't help but smile while reading it.
Favorite Book To Movie Adaptation You Saw This Year
Um, I have a one-year-old. I haven't watched a movie in a very long time. Sorry, but I can't answer this one!
Favorite Review/Post You’ve Done This Year
Reviews really seem to have fallen by the wayside this year, but here are two posts that I enjoyed writing and discussing in the comments: How Do You Read a Series? and Cover Confusion.
Most Beautiful Book You’ve Bought So Far This Year
I'm not sure if "beautiful" is the right word, but I love love love the cover of Around the World in 50 Years by Albert Podell.
Books You NEED To Read By The End Of 2017
This could be a very long list. But I desperately want to read The Shadow Sister by Lucinda Riley. I was planning to get it during my last library trip, but it was already checked out. I was so disappointed! Next time, for sure!
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