As every year, I am a bit late in posting this book tag. University has been keeping me quite busy since the second term started a while back. However, better late than never, right? I am excited to look back on the books I have read these past few months.
HOW MANY BOOKS HAVE YOU READ SO FAR?
Since the start of 2020, I decided to make my Goodreads goal small so that I do not put unnecessary pressure on myself. So far, it has worked wonders, but since I have read more books than last year, I am thinking of making my goal 50 books next year. This year, I have read 37 books so far, whereas I only read 40 in total in 2021.
BEST BOOK YOU’VE READ SO FAR IN 2022?
Apart from Atomic Habits by James Clear (non-fiction), Gallant by V.E. Schwab. I saw a few mixed reviews about it a while back, and I completely understand why some won’t like it as much. Not a lot happens in the book; even though there is some action, it’s not super action-packed. It’s a typical “relaxing” read that’s perfect for autumn. The book did not completely keep me on my toes, but I loved the story, world, protagonist and writing so much. Also, it reminded me of Coraline, which I really loved. Apart from Gallant, I also loved Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi, and of course, Book Lovers by Emily Henry.
BEST SEQUEL YOU’VE READ SO FAR THIS YEAR?
Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi. It is the second book in the Shatter Me series, and I really enjoyed this one. I have an awful memory, but I remember enjoying this one more than the first book as a lot more happened in the story.
NEW RELEASE YOU HAVEN’T READ YET BUT WANT TO?
Oh, there are so many. However, I think the first one I need to get to is House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas.
MOST ANTICIPATED RELEASE FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR?
The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, The Dragon’s Promise by Elizabeth Lim, Nothing More to Tell by Karen M. McManus and Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood are only a few I can think of. All of these release next month, and I am counting down the days until I can read them! Also, Foul Lady Fortune by Chloe Gong coming in September!
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT SO FAR?
Flock by Kate Stewart. I did not know what to expect from this book/series as I knew nothing about it before starting it. However, I had high expectations as I saw this series everywhere BookTok. In the end, I wish I did not waste my time with these books. The second and third books weren’t that bad, but I just had no interest in the characters and story by the end, and honestly, I still cannot understand what all the hype is about.
BIGGEST SURPRISE SO FAR?
Verity by Colleen Hoover. I saw such bad reviews for this over the years that I honestly thought I was going to completely hate it. I was really surprised that I ended up liking the book. It was not nearly as bad as I thought it would be, but it also was not perfect. I only had a problem with certain scenes and the ending. Overall, it was much better than I expected and a great thriller.
UNDERRATED GEM YOU’VE DISCOVERED RECENTLY?
So far this year, I haven’t really discovered an underrated and really special story. Even though I have read a few great books, nothing has really made me feel that special spark that a truly great book does. I only felt a glimmer of that spark with Gallant and Book Lovers, I think (not that I think those two aren’t amazing books). This year has just been a bit of a strange reading year for me.
BOOKS YOU’VE REREAD THIS YEAR SO FAR?
None at the moment. But I will reread Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga, A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, and Welcome to Our Hillbrow by Phaswane Mpe in the next few months. These three are my prescribed reads for one of my modules for university, and I would like to refresh my memory before exams start later this year.
FAVOURITE BOOK TO FILM ADAPTION?
I don’t think I have read one yet this year. Except if you count It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover, even if the film isn’t out yet.
FAVOURITE NEW AUTHOR (DEBUT OR NEW TO YOU)?
Oh no, I don’t really have one. All the books that I liked are from authors I have already read books of. The new-to-me authors whose books I have read weren’t that great. The best out of all of them is Colleen Hoover, although she’s not a complete favourite.
NEWEST FICTIONAL CRUSH?
Honestly, it’s a competition between the two. From a fantasy world, Aaron Warner (from the Shatter Me series), for sure. On the other hand, from a contemporary world, definitely Charlie Lastra (from Book Lovers).
NEWEST FAVOURITE CHARACTER?
Nora Stephens (from the Book Lovers) as I could identify with her on so many levels, and I honestly think I want to be her someday. Also, sweet and brave Olivia Prior (from Gallant).
NEWEST CHARACTER YOU DISLIKE?
Oh, there are quite a few, but there are two I can think of at the moment. Number one on the list is Ryle Kincaid (from It Ends with Us) and then Adam (from the Shatter Me series).
BOOK THAT MADE YOU CRY?
Book Lovers by Emily Henry and Gallant by V.E. Schwab. I actually cried from the former, but the latter made me emotional.
BOOK THAT MADE YOU HAPPY?
There are quite a few books; however, I think number one on the list is Book Lovers, again. Other books that also made me happy include Luna and the Lie and All Rhodes Lead Here by Mariana Zapata, Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi, The Fine Print by Lauren Asher and Stuck with You by Ali Hazelwood.
MOST BEAUTIFUL BOOK YOU’VE BOUGHT SO FAR THIS YEAR?
The hardcovers of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue and Gallant by V.E. Schwab and Violet Bent Backwards Over the Grass by Lana Del Rey. Also, the paperbacks of Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi, Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov, The Importance of Being Earnest and Other Plays by Oscar Wilde, The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake and Pachinko by Min Jin Lee.
FAVOURITE REVIEW WRITTEN SO FAR THIS YEAR?
University has kept me really busy this year, so, I haven’t made posting reviews on my blog a priority. However, I did try to make up for that by posting mini reviews on Goodreads for every book I read, and that has served a good enough job of summing up my thoughts on each book. I am hoping to write a few reviews by the end of the year, though. If I have to choose one of my Goodreads reviews, I would say the one I wrote on Book Lovers by Emily Henry, which you can find here.
FAVOURITE POSTS YOU’VE DONE SO FAR THIS YEAR?
BOOKS YOU NEED TO READ BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR?
As always, there are so, so, so many. I think first on the list is the Summer trilogy by Jenny Han and the Truly Devious series by Maureen Johnson. But in the end, I am still trying to catch up on the 22 books I told myself to read in 2022. I haven’t made them a priority, but I still want to get to at least a few of them before the end of the year. You can find that blog post here.
My reading has been all over the place this year. I have read more books than last year, which I am really happy about. However, I am sort of stuck in a slump where no genre except romance seems to interest me. I am not a huge romance reader as I always prefer a good fantasy and mystery/thriller book to other genres. Hopefully, I will get out of this slump soon as the romance books I came across this year also were not great, unfortunately :(
I will do my best to remember the End of the Year Book Tag because I completely forgot last year.
Did you take part in the Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag this year? If so, please leave a link to your post in the comments, as I would love to read them!
Keep reading and never stop telling stories.
White Rose Stories 