Mid-Year Book FREAK OUT Tag

Hello, hello, people! By the time you read this, I will be reading my Bible at the conference-site in Tennessee. Today's the last day. Wow. It's so weird to think about that.

*clears throat*

Anywho, I've seen this tag floating around in the blogging and BookTubing world, and so I thought I would give it shot! I know, I know, it's technically over half-way through the year . . . but still. 😜 Let's get into it!

(But first a smoll announcement: I will be doing a full recap of the YWW Conference 2023 in my newsletter! If you want to see that, you can subscribe here! <3 Hope to see you on my contact list! https://mailchi.mp/c1274944c2ea/deigan-marie)

1 | BEST BOOK YOU'RE READ SO FAR THIS YEAR

Hmm . . . this is a hard one. I've read 197 books so far this year, and there have been so. Many. Good. Ones!! But I'm probably going to have to say The Looking-Glass Illusion by Sara Ella. 😍🥺🥳🤩😱😭🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

I got the immense pleasure to read an e-ARC of this book . . . *screams* Aaaaahhh, it was amazing!!!! Y'all, please go preorder this book.

Please.

2 | BEST SEQUEL YOU'RE READ SO FAR THIS YEAR

*Ccughs and points up* Seriously, thoughhh. It was SOOO GOOD. It wrapped up everything SO well, and all the characters were just precious and Chess--CHESSSSS!!!

(Let's see how many times I can stick this book into a category. XD)

3 | NEW RELEASE YOU HAVEN'T READ YET, BUT WANT TO

Okay, I am honestly horrible at keeping track of new releases, so . . . I really can't say truthfully for the traditional books. There is one indie book that you may have seen around that I want to get to soon: Identity by Annabel Batie. It looks so good! *ticks off points* It has mermaids, it's an indie, it's written by a young author. *throws up hands* Sold!

4 | MOST ANTICIPATED RELEASE FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR

(This makes three . . .) The Looking-Glass Illusion. I seriously already have it preordered. And even though I've read it already . . . I STILL NEED IT ON MY SHELF!!

5 | BIGGEST DISSAPOINTMENT

*sobs* I'm so sad about this, but I had to DNF Held Captive by Grace Johnson. It was just . . . too romancey for my taste, and it just wasn't my cup of tea. I have heard around that Grace is planning on re-publishing a re-vamped version of it, so I'm keeping my eyes out for that!!

6 | BIGGEST SURPRISE

Lady Carliss and the Waters of Moorue by Chuck Black . . . this was both a surprise in it wasn't as entertaining/enjoyable as I hoped it would be, but it was also better that I thought, if that makes sense. XD

7 | FAVOURITE NEW AUTHOR (DEBUT OR NEW TO YOU)

Definitely Erynn Mangum. She's a new favourite, but Sara Ella still claims the position of all-time favourite. 😉

8 | NEWEST FICTIONAL CRUSH

*coughs* who came up with these questions?! 😆 I very rarely get book crushed easily now that I'm older, but . . . I do have to say I adored Kit in *cough* The Looking-Glass Illusion *cough* He was a great character, okay?! 🤣

9 | NEWEST FAVOURITE CHARACTER

*ponders* I re-fell in love with Chess and Alice (at this point do I even have to say a title? 🤭), but I also found out how much I loved Knave, and Kit was a doll.

I also really loved Paige Alder from Paige Torn. 🥰 She's amazing.

10 | BOOK THAT MADE YOU CRY

*mumbles* The Looking-Glass Illusion. That books RUINED me, y'all. I was sobbing SO. STINKING. HARDDD!! Like, whyyyy?!?!?!? 😭😭😭😭 But, awwwww . . . 🥰🥰🥰

11 | BOOK THAT MADE YOU HAPPY

Paige Torn by Erynn Mangum. This book just gave me all the vibes. I was laughing all the way through it, and it was just such a fun book.

12 | MOST BEAUTIFUL BOOK YOU'VE BOUGHT SO FAR THIS YEAR (OR RECIEVED)

I'm not even gonna say it . . . but y'all know . . . 👀

13 | WHAT BOOKS DO YOU NEED TO READ BY THE END OF THE YEAR?

*sighs* I suppose I should choose something other than what I've already said a million times. 😆 Definitely need to read the new Seize the World anthologies (Seize the Fight & Seize the Moment), and I would love to finish the Paige Alder series too. Fawkes is on my November TBR, and I also am planning on reading The Looking-Glass Illusion when I get it. (*gosp* I said it again!) I also have a copy of With Eyes of Blue by Erin Hylands that I want to get to. I also want to read a few classics this year (so far, I'm at three). Little Women needs to be read before Christmas, and Robin Hood is an absolute must. And then, of course, if I do a book haul . . . 👀 But that's all that I can think of right now!

Now for my tags . . .

Ava Coulter @ avacoulterauthor.com

Allyson Jamison @ allysonjamison.wordpress.com

Issabelle Perry @ intomywritingjourney.wordpress.com

M.L. Milligan @ mlmilligan.wixsite.com/blog

And anyone else who wants to!! (:

Well, that's it for today folks! I hope you have an absolutely lovely rest of your day!

What was your favourite question? What was your favourite answer? What are YOUR answers to the questions? HAVE YOU PRE-ORDERED THE LOOKING GLASS ILLUSION YET? I'd love to know! <3

Cheers!

P.S.: I'm really sorry if this sound like

I'm out of it . . . I woke up at 5:00 . . . 🥴 . . . don't judge. 😆