firewhiskeyreader

I love this tag so much and I’m really excited to be doing it finally. Technically, the mid-point of the year is July 2 so I’m right on time, but I always want to do this early because it’s one of my favorite posts. So, without any further ado, let’s hop to it!

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1. What’s your favorite book of 2020 so far?

Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert is so far my favorite book of the year! I do have other close contenders and we’ll see how things ultimately shake out, but I adored Take a Hint so much. It’s this perfectly funny and sweet and romantic book that was just fantastic in every conceivable way. I loved it. You’ll see it a lot in this tag, I’m afraid.

2. Best Sequel You’ve Read So Far

I’ve not really read non-romance sequels this year, so I’m going to go with Alpha Night by Nalini Singh because I thought it was a fantastic installment in the Psy-Changeling series, which is one of my favorite series of all time.

3. New Release You Haven’t Gotten to Yet, but Want To

I have three I feel strongly about right now in particular. Queen Move by Kennedy Ryan, The Lord I Left by Scarlett Peckham, and Finding Joy by Adriana Herrera.

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4. Most Anticipated Release for the Rest of the Year

I have entire lists for this, but I think we all know that if it comes down to just one book, that book is Emerald Blaze by Ilona Andrews! I cannot wait!!!!!!!!

5. Biggest Disappointment

I think, probably, Starbreaker by Amanda Bouchet was my biggest disappointment. It was fine, but I just didn’t love it the way I wanted to.

6. Biggest Surprise

I have two answers for this: Beach Read by Emily Henry and Open Book by Jessica Simpson. Beach Read was not even on my radar at the beginning of the year and it’s been one of my favorites of the year so far! I feel like I’m normally super aware of upcoming romance releases, but I genuinely didn’t know much of anything about this until Chelsea from chelsea dolling reads made a video where she raved about it. And Open Book by Jessica Simpson I went into almost completely unaware of anything besides who Jessica Simpson is and I was blown away. (By a memoir, which still seems so weird.)

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7. Favorite New Author or Debut

I’ve read 35 new to me authors this year, but from only six of those authors more than once already. I will say there are several I’m excited to read more from in the future. Like if Emily Henry writes more adult romance, I’m so here for it! And Mikki Kendall’s Hood Feminism was spectacular so I’ll pick up more books from her in the future I think. I really liked Juno Rushdan’s Final Hours series. But if I’m being 100% honest, I think the author I’m most ready to binge right now is Cat Sebastian who I finally read this year. So we’ll go with her for now!

8. Newest Fictional Crush

Hands down, Zafir from Take a Hint, Dani Brown! Have I ever loved a hero so much in my life?? No. Also, my precious darling, Ethan, from Alpha Night.

9. Newest Favorite Character

Oh, now, this is difficult. I’ve read so many fantastic characters this year! I think I’m going with Poppy Wick from Olivia Dade’s short story, “Unraveled” in the He’s Come Undone anthology. I love Poppy. I think she’s so cool and such a great teacher. Other characters I’ve loved include Tess from 40-Love, Selenka from Alpha Night, Dani from Take a Hint, Dani Brown… I could keep going. But I’ll stop.

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10. Book that Made You Cry

Open Book by Jessica Simpson made me cry so many times. It was absurd. I loved this book so much.

11. Book that Made You Happy

Beach Read by Emily Henry, 40-Love by Olivia Dade, and Take a Hint, Dani Brown are probably the books that have made me the happiest this year.

12. Most Beautiful Book You’ve Bought

Y’all. I have bought so many books this year that I have no idea how to answer that. Personally, I’m exceptionally fond of my physical copy of 40-Love because of all the little details. I love the color scheme of Girl Gone Viral by Alisha Rai and am quite attached to it.

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

Um. Y’all. My TBR is going to fall over and kill me one day so this list is endless. But by the end of the year, I need to have read The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson, which I’m in the middle of, and Stamped from the Beginning by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi so I’m better versed in American history. For fun, I need to read the book I’ve been waiting for for SO LONG, The Heir Affair by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan and it would be really nice if I also read those 2020 releases I already have that I haven’t gotten to yet. I have an abundance of riches on my kindle and I just really need some dedicated brain space to let me tackle them in a timely fashion.

What was your favorite book of the year? Have you already done this tag? Let me know!

xx