firewhiskeyreader

I really do love doing this tag. This started on YouTube with Chami and Ellie, but slowly over time, it’s really been modified time and time again by various creators. I’ve modified it some myself, but I’m really excited to talk about these questions!

Total Books Read: 134

Most Read Genre: Contemporary Romance

General Comments on Your Reading Year

I feel like my reading this year has been a little weird because my tastes are starting to very slowly expand. Or maybe return to what my reading used to be before I got so overwhelmed with life that I sank into romance novels and refused to come out. So they’re not really taking over numbers wise, contemporary romance is definitely still where my comfort zone is, but I’m slowly dipping my toes into other genres.

best book you’ve read so far this year

I always struggle to really come up with the one book that is the book for the year so I sat down and I went through all of my five stars from each month of the year and these are the six books that I feel like are the top of the top for me. I kind of like that there are two contemporary romance novels, one historical romance, and one fantasy romance, and then TWO whole books that are not romances. Am I weird for being proud of myself for reading beyond my comfort zone and finding books I really enjoyed? Maybe. But either way, these books are all fantastic and I love them so much.

best sequel you’ve read so far this year

I mean, honestly, I haven’t read many books that feel like sequels, though if we delved into romance stand alone sequels, I could fill this list to the brim. But instead, I have focused on these two books that are actually sequels.

new release you haven’t read yet but want to

Tbh, I have so many books I need to read, but here are five that were also on my various most anticipated lists.

most anticipated release for the second half of the year

I want to read all of these books immediately and it is a crime that I haven’t read the one that I actually have access to already.

biggest disappointment

For what it’s worth, these books for the most part are books that I still enjoyed. They’re just not books that lived up to what I had in my mind and because I had them built up, it was disappointing instead of me just being able to accept it for what it was. I think I have these in chronological order in the images, but I’m not going to talk about them that way. Big Boy and Tomorrow x3 are both books where the hype (localized and within my romancelandia friends in the case of Big Boy) had my expectations so high that the books just didn’t quite manage to live up to that. Then we have Jasper Vale, which I just knew I was going to love so much. Unfortunately, I didn’t. It wasn’t bad, it’s just… Jasper’s whole backstory sort of overshadowed the actual romance between him and Eloise and that was unfortunate. Finally, I just DNF’d Exalted, which I knew I would love because look at that cover!!! It was perfect for me. I picked it up on a whim in a new indie bookstore in Chapel Hill with my best friend and I knew it was for me. It was not. And now I am sad.

biggest surprise

I had heard good things about Jeannie Chin and I know that’s a Christina Lauren blurb on the cover, but I’ll be honest, I have a hard time expecting a book I’m really going to enjoy with a cover like that. But I wound up absolutely loving this book and I’m so thankful I impulse requested it on Netgalley and was granted access to the ARC. I’m including Never Ever Getting Back Together here because a new to me YA author? I mean, it’s already surprising I even picked it up, but not only did I pick it up, I loved it. This book is truly fantastic and I highly recommend. And I know I’ve already mentioned Lessons in Chemistry as a favorite book, but y’all. The fact that I loved this is truly shocking to me. I know it’s super popular but this is not a book I feel like really screams that I should like it. But I really did. It’s so easy to read and it pulled me in immediately. I loved it and would definitely recommend.

favorite new author (debut or new to you)

• Elsie Silver
• Natalie Caña
• Carissa Broadbent

I truly was attempting to not repeat answers in this post, but honestly, it’s impossible for this question! I also truly loved For the Love of April French by Penny Aimes and I will keep an eye out for a book from her, though I don’t think we’re likely to get another anytime soon.

newest fictional crush

I love that this spans from grumpy/stoic (Hotel of Secrets and Heartless) to absolutely could kill you (The Serpent & the Wings of Night and Fourth Wing) to absolutely cinnamon roll (Yours Truly).

newest favorite character

Hi, my name is Jenica and I love books about people just trying to figure out their messy lives. (Also, I love fantasy books that are messy and have excellent character work.)

10. book that made you cry

Single Dads Club had me sobbing, but I can’t even explain to you why. Before I Let Go and Float Plan also made me cry, but that makes sense.

11. book that made you happy

I love both of these so much. They just gave me so much joy.

12. most beautiful book you have acquired this year

I got the UK paperback of Daisy Jones & the Six which made me so happy and also the special edition I have of A False Start by Elsie Silver has me thrilled.

Closing Thoughts

I really can’t believe it is July already. This is alarming how quickly time is going. Please tell me your favorite books of the year!!

xx