Category Archives: Book Tag

2022 Reading Year in Review: Stats & Faves (very late!)

November 17, 2023 jaleenajo 1 Comment

I don’t even know how this happened, but I somehow completely forgot to do my 2022 wrap-up post. I can only promise myself that my 2023 post will be a lot more timely, and also a lot more in-depth; I just didn’t want to let the entire year go by without making this!

Stats

Total books read: 128

Total pages read: 40,372

Longest book: 805 pages (House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas)

Shortest book: 28 pages (Bloody Summer by Carmen Maria Machado)

Average book length: 315 pages

Most popular (on Goodreads): The Guest List by Lucy Foley, shelved 2,503,72 times

Least popular (on Goodreads): Check Your Work by Skye Kilaen, shelved 377 times

Average rating: 3.9 stars

Highest rated book on Goodreads: The Sum of Us by Heather McGhee, 4.64 average rating

Top 10 favorite books of 2022:

Love and Other Disasters by Anita Kelly (contemporary romance); My Monticello by Jocelyn Nicole Johnson (short story collection); Light From Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki (science fiction/fantasy); All’s Well by Mona Awad (fabulism)

Never Have I Ever by Isabel Yap (short story collection); Book Lovers by Emily Henry (contemporary romance); Woman, Eating by Claire Kohda (fantasy); How to Be Eaten by Maria Adelmann (fairytale retelling)

Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson (nonfiction); Oranges are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson (literary fiction)

Top 10 runner-up favorite books of 2022:

The Sum of Us by Heather McGhee (nonfiction); Whatever Happened to Interracial Love? by Kathleen Collins (short story collection); The Past is Red by Catherynne M. Valente (science fiction); The Mask of Mirrors by M. A. Carrick (fantasy)

Bloody Summer by Carmen Maria Machado (short story); Jade City by Fonda Lee (fantasy); Bliss Montage by Ling Ma (short story collection); Cackle by Rachel Harrison (horror)

The Golden Enclaves by Naomi Novik (fantasy); Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood (contemporary romance)

Longest books I read in 2022:

House of Sky and Breath (805 pages)

Mask of Mirrors (630 pages)

Jade City (560 pages)

Firekeeper’s Daughter (496 pages)

Caste (496 pages)

The Spanish Love Deception (482 pages)

Book Tag

Mid-Year Book Freak-Out Tag 2023

July 17, 2023 jaleenajo 1 Comment

It’s time for one of my favorite blog posts of the year–the Mid-Year Book Freak-Out tag, created by Earl Grey Books and Chami! I love this way of looking back on my reading over the first half of the year, because it helps me better analyze where I’m at and where I want to go with my reading over the coming months.

1. Best book you’ve read so far in 2023

I’m always so relieved when I start finding 5-star books in a new year; it’s easy to get paranoid about never finding any again. Luckily, I’ve discovered several new favorites so far this year: Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett (historical fantasy), Babel by R. F. Kuang (historical fantasy), Yellowface by R. F. Kuang (contemporary satire), and Ocean’s Echo by Everina Maxwell (science fiction).

And some runner-up faves:

Other new faves that I’d perhaps rank slightly below the top 4 are: A Strange and Stubborn Endurance by Foz Meadows (fantasy romance), Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke (nonfiction), I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai (mystery), and Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross (YA fantasy romance).

2. Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2023

We’ve been blessed this year with the continuation of Ilona Andrews’s Kate Daniels series, and Magic Tides even exceeded my high expectations with a 4.5 star rating. And I really enjoyed Chloe Liese’s If Only You, the sixth book in her Bergman Brothers series.

3. New release you haven’t read yet, but want to

To be fair, there are a million of these, but I’ve chosen 4 that I feel are doable for me in the near future.

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year

Again, SO MANY. I’m extremely excited for a new release from the author of my favorite book of all time (which is Bunny), Rouge by Mona Awad, and also new books from Chloe Liese’s contemporary romance Shakespeare retelling series, a cult-centric Rachel Harrison, and Elena Armas’s newest.

5. Biggest disappointment

I hated this book. I felt insulted by it. And it stung so much more because Emily Henry’s Book Lovers was one of my favorite books of 2022.

6. Biggest surprise

YA! The four YA books I’ve read so far this year have all been hits for me, with one (Divine Rivals) hitting 4.5 stars and another (Imogen, Obviously) reaching 4.25 stars. As you can tell by the fact that there are only 4 of them, I don’t pick up a ton of YA anymore, but the excellent ratio is making me want to.

7. Favorite new author (Debut or new to you)

Rachel Harrison dominated my reading this January, and every time I finish something of hers I want to read more. She writes smart, incisive, fascinating horror with complex female characters, and I’m obsessed. Technically she isn’t new, since I read Cackle at the end of last year, but this is the year I’m really getting entrenched in the Rachel Harrison universe.

8. Favorite fictional couples (technically, this prompt was favorite fictional crush, but I can’t think of any, so I figured I’d instead highlight some of my favorite contemporary romance reads)

I haven’t had a 5-star contemporary romance yet in 2023 (here’s hoping for at least one in the second half!) but I loved the couples in these strong 4-star reads.

9. Newest favorite character(s)

I enjoyed the sibling cast of characters that made up People Person; loved the contrast between straight-laced Surit and irreverent Tennal in Ocean’s Echo, and became immediately obsessed with curmudgeonly, brilliant Emily Wilde.

10. Book that made you cry

Babel by R. F. Kuang made me sob at the end.

11. Book that made you happy

Reading Imogen, Obviously was such as a sweet and relatable experience.

12. Most beautiful book you’ve bought so far this year (or received)

13. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?

I find new books for my TBR practically every day, but these 4 are possibly the highest on my list for the rest of this year. I really hope I can actually get to them, since my ability to stick to reading plans has been terrible in 2023.

Bonus question! Most-read authors of 2023 (so far):

Tied for first with 3 books each: Rachel Harrison and Chloe Liese!

Rachel Harrison

Chloe Liese

Tied for second with 2 books each: 4 different authors!

R. F. Kuang

C. L. Polk

Ilona Andrews

Raven Kennedy

Book Tag

Feb Reading Wrap-Up

March 1, 2023 jaleenajo Leave a comment

Going into Feb, I knew it would be a difficult reading month. On top of my job, I had to fit in 40 extra hours of continuing education and also study for a certification exam that’s still a few days away (I can’t wait for it to be over!). Because of all of this, my reading time took a significant hit. It also wasn’t a super successful month in terms of reading enjoyment, although it’s hard to say how much my overall mood could have played into this. I did still find some books I really enjoyed, however.

Stats

Total books read: 5

2023 releases: 2

#readmyowndamnbooks: 1

Out of Character by Jenna Miller (4 stars) – This is one of the best YA contemporary books I’ve read in recent memory. I found the characters to be so authentic and embodied; they felt genuinely like teens in a way that not all YA authors are able to portray. I loved the emphasis on friendships and the fact that the main character constantly struggles with genuine issues. I also found that the story never went in a predictable direction; there were several times that I worried we were headed into a cliche, but the author handled the plot so much more deftly and maturely than that. Highly recommend, even for readers like me who don’t often pick up YA.

The Dark Fantastic: Race and the Imagination from Harry Potter to The Hunger Games by Ebony Elizabeth Thomas (4 stars) – This was a nonfiction book that I was shocked I hadn’t heard of sooner, and that I’m also shocked isn’t talked about more among the book community. It’s definitely written in an academic style, which might dissuade some readers, but it involves very in-depth analysis of the handling of race and racism in several high profile media franchises like The Hunger Games and The Vampire Diaries through the lens of their most prominent Black female characters. Definitely recommend!

Radiant Sin by Katee Robert (3.5 stars) – This may have been my least favorite installment in the Dark Olympus series so far, but I still enjoyed the read. I’ll continue to pick up all of the loosely Greek mythology-inspired books in this series.

The Midnight Bargain by C.L. Polk (3.5 stars) – This historical fantasy was ultimately a bit of a disappointment for me. I was hoping to absolutely love it, but I found it far too long and repetitive, which overrode the great feminist themes and premise.

The Fine Print by Lauren Asher (3 stars) – I’ve been seeing this book, and this trilogy as a whole, on BookTok quite a bit and figured I’d give it a shot. The premise involves three brothers who are the grandchildren of the founder of a DisneyWorld-esque theme park and company, and who need to each perform a certain task in order to receive their inheritance. I liked the theme park setting and the female main character; parts of this are definitely very silly, and it was too long for what it was, but it was a fun read. I’ll probably read the next book at some point, which involves a marriage of convenience.

Book Tag

End of the Year Book Tag!

October 18, 2022 jaleenajo Leave a comment

There are only about 2 1/2 months left in 2022 (what) so it’s time for another round of the End of the Year book tag, which was created by Ariel Bissett. I like this tag, but it also stresses me out a bit, because while it feels too early to think about the year ending, I always love thinking about my reading plans.

1) Are there any books you started this year that you need to finish?

Sooner or Later Everything Falls Into the Sea

My list of paused reads has unfortunately only grown in 2022, although I’m wondering if it’s because several on there are books I should probably officially DNF but haven’t yet. I do, however, want to finish this short story collection that I started a few months ago and then put down.

2) Do you have an autumnal book to transition into the end of the year?

Nona the Ninth (The Locked Tomb, #3) Angelika Frankenstein Makes Her Match

Since it’s only halfway through October, I’m currently deep in fall reading mode. At this stage I’ve finished several fall reads from my list and have started a few more, but I really want to read two new releases from previously loved authors before the end of spooky season: Nona the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir (SFF) and Angelika Frankenstein Makes Her Match by Sally Thorne (historical SF romance).

3) Is there a new release you’re still waiting for?

Bloodmarked (Legendborn, #2) Tread of Angels The Atlas Paradox (The Atlas, #2) Paris Daillencourt Is About to Crumble (Winner Bakes All, #2)

There are actually a ton of new releases still to come out in the next month or so, but these 4 from past 5-star authors are at the top of my list: Bloodmarked by Tracey Deonn (YA fantasy), Tread of Angels by Rebecca Roanhorse (fantasy), The Atlas Paradox by Olivie Blake (dark academia fantasy), and Paris Daillencourt is About to Crumble by Alexis Hall (contemporary romance).

4) What are three books you want to read before the end of the year?

In the Shadow Garden Ship Wrecked (Spoiler Alert, #3) Never Ever Getting Back Together

I’m going to answer this question with three 2022 ARCs that I’d really like to finish before the end of the year: In the Shadow Garden by Liz Parker (fantasy), Ship Wrecked by Olivia Dade (contemporary romance), and Never Ever Getting Back Together by Sophie Gonzales (contemporary romance).

5) Is there a book you think could still shock you and become your favorite book of the year?

We Ride Upon Sticks

I would love if a book shocked me and became my favorite of the year. I don’t have a clear #1 read at this point (more like a top 5 or so) and I’m very open to finding one. I think that a few new releases have favorite potential, but I’m also convinced that once I finally read We Ride Upon Sticks by Quan Barry, I’m going to love it.

6) Have you already started making reading plans for next year?

A Sleight of Shadows (The Unseen World #2) The Fiancée Farce One for My Enemy Hell Bent (Alex Stern, #2)

Not necessarily reading plans, but I’ve definitely started compiling my anticipated releases of 2023. Four that I’m eagerly awaiting are A Sleight of Shadows by Kat Howard (fantasy); The Fiancee Farce by Alexandria Bellefleur (contemporary romance), One for My Enemy by Olivie Blake (fantasy romance), and Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo (dark academia fantasy).

Book Tag

End of the Year Book Tag

October 30, 2021 jaleenajo Leave a comment

I’m not going to lie, I’m freaking out a bit about the fact that there’s only 2 months left in 2021. Time moves very weirdly since Covid, and I’m having a hard time understanding where the year has gone and accepting that we’ll be starting a new one soon. As usual, I’m turning to books to help me with stress by doing the End of the Year book tag, which was created by Ariel Bissett. I’m also feeling indecisive about setting a November TBR, and I thought that this tag might help me better focus my reading for the next 2 months.

Are there any books you started this year that you need to finish?

A Court of Silver Flames (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #4) Just Last Night

I keep being surprised that I haven’t finished either of these highly anticipated 2021 releases yet–I started both of them earlier this year and haven’t picked them back up despite meaning to multiple times. ACOSF in particular was possibly my most anticipated new release of the entire year, but when I started it I was having a hard time with protagonist Nesta, who was one of my least favorite characters from previous books. I just need to get over that and pick it back up, since I really do love this world and this series in general. I think the issue with Just Last Night was that it’s a sadder book than I’d anticipated, and I wasn’t in the right headspace when I first picked it up.

Do you have an autumnal book to help transition into the end of the year?

Payback's a Witch (The Witches of Thistle Grove, #1) The Wolf and the Woodsman

Although I technically meant to read these in October, I’m thinking that Payback’s a Witch (contemporary paranormal romance) and The Wolf and the Woodsman (fantasy) will make good November reads.

Is there a new release you’re still waiting for?

A Marvellous Light (The Last Binding, #1) Comfort Me With Apples Murder Most Actual

There are only 3 2021 releases that I’m still awaiting: A Marvellous Light (historical fantasy romance), Comfort Me With Apples (suspense), and Murder Most Actual (mystery). Although, to be fair, with current supply chain issues it’s still possible that the release dates may change.

What are three books you want to read before the end of the year?

The Stone Gods All the Birds, Singing When the Moon Was Ours Out Front the Following Sea

I still have 3 of my Top 10 2021 reads left to get through before year end, and one ARC that comes out at the beginning of January that I think I’d regret not reading in December so that I can finish before its release date.

Is there a book you think could still shock you and become your favorite book of the year?

Light from Uncommon Stars All's Well

These two 2021 releases are both really calling to me, and I’d love to pick them up before the end of the year because I think I could really love them.

Have you already started making reading plans for 2022?

Bloodmarked (The Legendborn Cycle #2) Fevered Star (Between Earth and Sky, #2) House of Sky and Breath (Crescent City, #2) Husband Material (Boyfriend Material, #2)

I’ve been thinking about it! It all depends on what I manage to read in November (particularly if I’m doing NaNoWriMo, which I’m still undecided about) and December, but there are already a bunch of 2022 releases I’m really excited about. Working on a post featuring those as we speak!

Book Tag

Mid-Year Book Freak-Out Tag!

July 3, 2021 jaleenajo Leave a comment

Oh, and I always give multiple answers for each question, because I like to be able to feature as many of the books I’ve loved as possible; I try not to repeat books for multiple prompts for the same reason. I’ve also tried to provide links to the books I’ve loved, so that you can check them out if they sound interesting. Let’s get started!

1. Best book you’ve read so far in 2021

Tied for best book of the year (so far) are all of my 5-star reads for the first half of 2021: The Office of Historical Corrections by Danielle Evans (short story collection), Legendborn by Tracy Deonn (contemporary YA fantasy), Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse (fantasy), Tender by Sofia Samatar (SFF short story collection), Writers & Lovers by Lily King (fiction), and Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforth (horror).

2. Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2021

I know that romance series are more series in a looser sense of the word, but the truth remains that the only sequels I’ve loved so far this year have been in the romance genre. I really enjoyed Headliners by Lucy Parker, the 5th book in her contemporary romance London Celebrities series, and A Rogue of One’s Own by Evie Dunmore, the 2nd book in her League of Extraordinary Women historical romance series.

3. New release you haven’t read yet, but want to

I’m kind of shocked that I haven’t finished ACOSF (fantasy) or Eve Brown (contemporary romance) yet, tbh. To be fair, I have started both, I just somehow haven’t finished them? And the newest Becky Chambers (science fiction) and Emily Henry (contemporary romance) books are high priority for the next half of 2021.

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year

SO MANY. I had a lot of trouble narrowing it down at all for this question, so I ended up with a top 6: The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang (contemporary romance), Comfort Me with Apples by Catherynne M. Valente (unknown genre), Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki (science fiction), All’s Well by Mona Awad (fiction), Battle Royal by Lucy Parker (contemporary romance) and A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske (fantasy).

5. Biggest disappointment

Probably the least fun question to answer. I felt let down by the hype surrounding Fates & Furies by Lauren Groff; less enamored by Across the Green Grass Fields by Seanan McGuire than by any other book so far in the Wayward Children series; not a fan of the underdeveloped plot and characters of Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco; and frustrated by the poor decision-making of the characters of The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon.

6. Biggest surprise

I’ve been reading less and less YA in general, and YA fantasy in particular, over the years because I’ve been having a harder time finding favorites in the genre. That’s why even with the hype surrounding Legendborn I was blown away by how amazing it was! It honestly was so good that it’s managed to renew my faith in YA fantasy as a whole.

7. Favorite new author (Debut or new to you)

3 of my answers for this one are stellar debut novels: The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson (science fiction), Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwell (science fiction romance), and The Body Myth by Rheea Mukherjee (contemporary fiction), while one is from a new-to-me romance author, Fables & Other Lies by Claire Contreras (contemporary Gothic fantasy romance)

8. Favorite fictional couples (technically, this prompt was favorite fictional crush, but I can’t think of any, so I figured I’d instead highlight some of my favorite fictional couples of the year)

Kit and Percy from The Queer Principles of Kit Webb by Cat Sebastian (historical romance), Conrad and Alden from Conventionally Yours by Annabeth Albert (contemporary romance), August and Jane from One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston (contemporary romance) and Hades and Persephone from Neon Gods by Katee Robert (dark fantasy romance).

9. Newest favorite character

Ilona Andrews always gets me with character development. The Julie that we meet in Blood Heir is very different than the one that appeared as a young teen in the Kate Daniels series, but one that I’m absolutely loving as a badass protagonist in her own right. I also loved seeing past favorite characters from the series pop up in this book, which is the first book in Andrews’s newest follow-up series. And I also fell in love with the three heroines of Plain Bad Heroines, Audrey, Harper, and Merritt, who are all such fully realized characters who shine even more when they come in contact with each other on the page.

10. Book that made you cry

Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi was so emotional and personal; I’d highly recommend it.

11. Book that made you happy

Romance reads seem to fit best for this category. 3 contemporary romances that were just a joy to read for me were Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake by Alexis Hall, Second First Impressions by Sally Thorne, and The Princess Trap by Talia Hibbert.

12. Most beautiful book you’ve bought so far this year (or received)

These covers are all super gorgeous in different ways! (I went with books I haven’t already featured in past questions for this one.)

13. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?

So far, I’m exactly halfway done with my top 10 2021 TBR. So in the “need to read before the end of 2021” category, these 5 books are my priorities. (Although there are about a zillion others I really want to get to.)

Bonus question! Most-read authors of 2021 (so far): This is a stat I started tracking last year and I find it really fun. Interestingly, at the halfway point of 2021, I’ve only read multiple books from 2 authors. I’m very interested to see how much that changes in the second half of the year, particularly with several authors I’ve already read from putting out new releases.

Lucy Parker – 3

Carol Anderson – 2

If you’ve done this tag, please feel free to link to yours below! I love seeing everyone’s answers.

Book Tag, TBR

End of the Year Book Tag/December TBR!

November 24, 2020 jaleenajo 5 Comments

As 2020 winds down, I’ve been thinking a lot about the books I want to prioritize reading before the end of the year. Instead of a straightforward December TBR, I thought it would be more fun to combine it with the End of the Year book tag, which was created by Ariel Bissett.

Are there any books you started this year that you need to finish?/Do you have an autumnal book to help transition into the end of the year?

I’m currently about 60 pages into Melmoth by Sarah Perry, which has sort of fallish vibes and which I’ve put on pause for awhile since although I really like it I haven’t been quite in the right mood. But I’m going to make myself finish by the end of the year, since it’s on my Top 10 TBR for 2020 list.

Is there a new release you’re still waiting for?

There are definitely fewer new book releases toward the end of the year, but I’m really intrigued by Ruinsong by Julia Ember, described as a “dark and lush LGBTQ+ romantic fantasy,” which actually comes out tomorrow.

What are three books you want to read before the end of the year?

There are two romance books I really want to finish before the end of the year; I was lucky enough to have been sent copies of both from the publisher. Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur is a contemporary F/F romance set during the holidays, so I think it will make a great December read, and The Duke and I by Julia Quinn is a historical romance adapted into a Netflix series that comes out on December 25th, so I really want to have finished the book before I watch the show.

I’m also trying to get to another book from my top 10 2020 TBR list, A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki, which has been sitting on my TBR shelf for way too long.

Is there a book you think could still shock you and become your favorite book of the year?

Yes! I think that Radiance by Catherynne M. Valente is a definite contender for favorite read of 2020, considering that her novel Deathless was sort of tied for my favorite read of 2019. Last year, several of my favorite books of the year were ones I read in December, so I’m cautiously optimistic.

Have you already started making reading plans for 2021?

Yes! I started working on ideas for my top 10 2021 TBR awhile ago, because it’s a list that I always enjoy making. I’m looking to choose 10 books that are a variety of genres and encompass 2020 releases as well as some backlist titles, but of course everything depends on what I read over the next few weeks as 2020 winds down. I’ve also been putting together lists of highly anticipated 2021 new releases; one of those posts should be up within the next few weeks.

Book Tag, Reading Recaps

Mid-Year Book Freak-Out Tag!

June 29, 2020 jaleenajo 2 Comments

We’re halfway through the year (what) and that means it’s time for the Mid-Year Book Freak-Out tag, which was created several years ago by Ely and Chami.

I absolutely love doing this tag; I think it’s a great way to look back on what I’ve read over the past six months and consider where I need to focus my reading for the rest of the year. I usually give more than one answer for each question, because there are a LOT of books I want to talk about, and I try not to repeat the same books for different questions so that I can highlight more of them.

Let’s get started!

Best book you’ve read so far in 2020:

OK, this is almost unfair, because in 2020 I read my NEW FAVORITE BOOK OF ALL TIME, Bunny by Mona Awad. I also read several other stellar 5-star reads, which I also wanted to include here (interestingly, all are from past favorite authors, while Bunny was from a new-to-me author): Passage by Connie Willis, Kindred by Octavia Butler, Possession by A. S. Byatt, The Seas by Samantha Hunt, and The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead.

Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2020:

I loved next-in-series books Come Tumbling Down by Seanan McGuire (YA portal fantasy), Girl Gone Viral by Alisha Rai (contemporary romance), and Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert (contemporary romance).

New release you haven’t read yet, but want to:

SO MANY. I’m definitely behind on reading 2020 releases (not that you can ever really catch up!); four at the top of my list are Little Eyes by Samanta Schweblin (weird fiction), The Regrets by Amy Bonnaffons (paranormal), Writers & Lovers by Lily King (fiction), and The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett (historical fiction).

Most anticipated release for the second half of the year:

There are SO MANY fantastic-sounding books coming out in the second half of 2020. I’m particularly excited for Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir, Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse, Or What You Will by Jo Walton, and Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi.

Biggest disappointment

I…did not like Followers. It sounded like a sharp, relevant commentary on society’s over-dependency on social media, but fell flat for me, especially with regard to characterization. And The Last Book Party just was not what I expected, particularly in terms of writing strength.

Biggest surprise

My number one reading surprise for 2020 has been historical romance as a genre. I hadn’t been even remotely a historical romance reader until late 2019, when I read and really enjoyed Evie Dunmore’s Bringing Down the Duke. In 2020, I somehow found myself picking up much more historical romance, and enjoying nearly all of it (I’ve read 6 so far this year!). Tessa Dare has become a new favorite of mine, and I also loved Alyssa Cole’s Civil Rights-era romance novella Let it Shine ; I’m excited to pick up more from both of them in the near future.

My other reading surprise so far this year was An American Marriage by Tayari Jones. I tend to avoid literary fiction books centered around marriages, because the topic just doesn’t grab me (I’ve been avoiding Lauren Groff’s lauded Fates & Furies for that reason also), but this book was fantastic, and I was gripped the entire way through.

Favorite new author (debut or new to you)

I decided to go with favorite new debut authors for this question; I rated all of these books between 4 and 4.5 stars and would highly recommend them. Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams (contemporary fiction), The Other World, It Whispers by Stephanie Victoire (fabulism short story collection), and What Shines From It by Sara Rauch (contemporary short story collection).

Newest fictional crush

I don’t think I have a solid answer for this one! I did read a lot of romance during the first half of 2020, but none of the love interests really stand out.

Newest favorite character

OK, I’m going to have to repeat books for this category (this is the only one, I promise!). I LOVED the well-drawn and relatable protagonists of Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams, Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera, and Bunny by Mona Awad.

Book that made you cry

This was an easy one. I SOBBED throughout the last third of so of Passage by Connie Willis; it was devastating and beautifully done.

Book that made you happy

I really loved this first-in-series paranormal romance set in New Orleans; it was really everything I was looking for in the genre (Wolf Gone Wild by Juliette Cross).

Most beautiful book you’ve bought or received so far this year

I love abstract covers with interesting colors and designs; these are four that I’ve hauled this year that I think are absolutely gorgeous.

What books do you need to read before the end of the year?

SO MANY BOOKS. But four I really want to prioritize are Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi, Radiance by Catherynne M. Valente, Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi, and In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado.

If you’ve done this tag, please link down below, because I’d love to see it! If not, feel free to comment any favorite reads so far for 2020.

Book Tag, TBR

End of the Year Book Tag!

November 2, 2019 jaleenajo 1 Comment

I was already thinking about posting a combination TBR for November and December (particularly because I’m not sure how much reading I’ll be able to fit in during these two months, with a possible NaNoWriMo and Chrismakkuh shenanigans happening) when I discovered the End of the Year Book Tag, which was created by Ariel Bissett.

Basically, we’ve got a bunch of questions about what we’re planning on doing with the remainder of our reading year, which somehow is only about 2 more months. Now is definitely about the time when I start assessing what and how much I’ve read over the course of the year, and try to self-correct and pick up books I’ve been meaning to get to but haven’t yet. I always end up feeling like I haven’t found enough favorites, and waffle between putting pressure on myself to find new 5-star reads and trying to use the last few months of the year to pick up books I’m genuinely excited about and think I’ll love. And on that note, let’s get to the questions!

Are there any books you started this year that you need to finish?

The Grace Year by Kim Liggett. This was one of my most highly anticipated ARCs from BookExpo, and I started it last month but put it on indefinite pause when I realized that I was really not liking it. I’m determined, however, to persist and see if I can find out what all the hype is about, or whether it’ll end up being a miss for me.

Do you have an autumnal book to transition into the end of the year?

Sort of! I’ve always thought of Deathless by Catherynne M. Valente as a very autumnal book, or at least a fall/wintery one, and I started it the other night with the goal of finally, finally reading it (it’s been on my TBR shelf for literal years).

Is there a new release you’re still waiting for?

There are 4 new releases coming out this month that I’m really looking forward to: The Witches Are Coming by Lindy West (essay collection), The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black (YA fantasy, third book in trilogy), In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado (memoir), and Dead Astronauts by Jeff Vandermeer (science fiction).

What are three books you want to read before the end of the year?

My top three books to read by the end of the year are three of my most anticipated releases of 2019, and all happen to be fantasy: Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo, Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey, and Middlegame by Seanan McGuire.

Is there a book you think could still shock you and become your favourite book of the year?

This is such a hard question. I’d really love for any of my three most anticipated books to become a new favorite, but also in general, I’d really love to find a bunch of new 5-star books in the coming months. If I had to guess, I’d say Deathless by Catherynne M. Valente is a strong contender for a 5-star read, given my past track record with that author.

Have you already started making reading plans for 2020?

Heck yes! My 2020 shelf on Goodreads is currently at 33 books I’m looking forward to, and I’m planning on a post sometime in December focused on my most anticipated reads of next year. The covers above are a sneak peek at what I’ll be freaking out about in that post.

What are you looking to read before the end of the year? Let me know in the comments!

Book Tag, Reading Recaps

Mid-Year Book Freak-Out Tag!

July 6, 2019 jaleenajo 4 Comments

We’re halfway through 2019, which doesn’t feel real at all, but here we are, and it’s time for one of my favorite bookish tags: The Mid-Year Book Freak-Out tag! If you haven’t done it yet but want to, consider yourself tagged. The Mid-Year Book Freak-Out tag was created by Chami and Ely, and it’s a fun way to look back at the halfway point in your reading year and re-evaluate your goals for the latter half of 2019. I think the point of the tag is to just pick one book for each question, but I’m never able to narrow it down, so here we go:

1. Best book you’ve read so far in 2019:

The Mother of All Questions by Rebecca Solnit How Long 'til Black Future Month? by N.K. Jemisin The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

I’ve only read three 5-star books so far this year (which I’m honestly really not happy about, even though of course star ratings don’t tell you everything about your experience with a book), so I’d say that so far the three of those are tied for my favorite of the year: The Mother of All Questions by Rebecca Solnit (essay collection), How Long Til Black Future Month? by N.K. Jemisin (short story collection), and The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead (historical fiction with magical realism element).

2. Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2019:

In an Absent Dream by Seanan McGuire A Prince on Paper by Alyssa Cole

It’s a tie between two next-in-series books I really loved: In An Absent Dream by Seanan McGuire (portal fantasy) and A Prince on Paper by Alyssa Cole (contemporary romance).

3. New release you haven’t read yet, but want to:

Storm of Locusts (The Sixth World, #2) Middlegame Magic for Liars A Cathedral of Myth and Bone

Surprisingly, since I’ve been reading tons of new releases, I still have a whole bunch of 2019 books that have come out already that I haven’t had a chance to pick up. At the top of the list in terms of excitement are Storm of Locusts by Rebecca Roanhorse (post-apocalyptic fantasy), Middlegame by Seanan McGuire (fantasy, which gives me fall vibes so I’m waiting for September/October to start reading it), Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey (fantasy), and A Cathedral of Myth and Bone by Kat Howard (fantasy short story collection, which I actually bought way back in January).

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year.

The Testaments (The Handmaid's Tale, #2) Ninth House The Grace Year The Right Swipe (Modern Love, #1)

I’m working on a post now about my most anticipated releases for the second half of 2019, which should hopefully be up soon, and there are a LOT of them. At the top of my list are three books by authors I already love and one very hyped YA: The Testaments by Margaret Atwood (dystopian, sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale), Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo (contemporary fantasy), The Grace Year by Kim Liggett (dystopian, supposed to be a YA Handmaid’s Tale type of story), and The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai (contemporary romance). Honestly, there are a ton of books that I could answer for this question; I cheated by including 4 for this question and another 4 for #13.

5. Biggest disappointment.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid The Bride Test by Helen Hoang

This question isn’t about your least favorite book so far, but rather a book that you thought you’d love that didn’t live up to your expectations. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid has been seemingly continuously raved about since its release; more reviewers than I can count gave it 5 stars and included it among their favorites. I didn’t hate it or think that it wasn’t a good book, but I also was definitely not blown away by it. I enjoyed the story and the characters, but for me the writing was not impressive, and I was disappointed after all of the hype. And The Bride Test by Helen Hoang, although still a fun read, didn’t quite live up to Hoang’s first book, The Kiss Quotient, in my opinion.

6. Biggest surprise.

Aurora Rising (The Aurora Cycle, #1) Bad Blood by John Carreyrou Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi Barbara the Slut and Other People by Lauren Holmes

This is another question about expectations, which deals with books that you weren’t sure about but ended up enjoying much more than you expected to. I was very surprised by Aurora Rising by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman, which I picked up on a whim for a quick read but which turned out to be full of memorable characters and the start of a series I’ll definitely continue with; Bad Blood by John Carreyrou, which I was initially wary of since I’m not a big reader of any books about business or tech but ended up suspenseful and fascinating; Children of Blood and Bone, which I was afraid would get lost among so many other YA epic fantasy books but completely sucked me into its world; and Barbara the Slut and Other People, a very underrated short story collection I haven’t been hearing nearly enough about.

7. Favorite new author. (Debut or new to you)

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

I’m 100% going to be reading more from Casey McQuiston after reading and loving Red, White, & Royal Blue.

8. Newest fictional crush.

A Prince on Paper by Alyssa Cole

I really enjoyed the first two books in Alyssa Cole’s Reluctant Royals series, but I wasn’t a huge fan of the love interests until the third book, A Prince on Paper.

9. Newest favorite character.

Aurora Rising by Jay Kristoff Never-Contented Things by Sarah Porter

I really enjoyed the band of misfits introduced in Aurora Rising, who are described on Goodreads as as “a cocky diplomat with a black belt in sarcasm; a sociopath scientist with a fondness for shooting her bunkmates; a smart-ass techwiz with the galaxy’s biggest chip on his shoulder; an alien warrior with anger management issues; and a tomboy pilot who’s totally not into him, in case you were wondering.” I also loved all three complicated, dimensional main characters in Sarah Porter’s Never-Contented Things, which was more about their relationship dynamics, both healthy and unhealthy, than it was about its fantasy story.

10. Book that made you cry.

Honeybee by Trista Mateer

Honeybee by Trista Mateer is the type of book that makes me want to pick up more poetry. I read it in two sittings, and cried on a plane from the emotion of some of its poems.

11. Book that made you happy.

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

I can’t think of a more delightful book so far this year than Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston, a wonderful political rom-com featuring an adorable enemies-to-friends-to-lovers story. If you haven’t picked it up yet, it’s a fantastic read for summer.

12. Most beautiful book you’ve bought so far this year (or received)

Mouthful of Birds by Samanta Schweblin Girl Made of Stars by Ashley Herring Blake In an Absent Dream by Seanan McGuire

I apparently am very into detailed, multicolored covers right now, like Mouthful of Birds, Girl Made of Stars, and In an Absent Dream.

13. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?

After the Flood The Ten Thousand Doors of January Lost in the Spanish Quarter The Deep

My answers for this question also apply to #12 (most beautiful books) and #4 (most anticipated releases for the next half of the year). After the Flood by Kassandra Montag (post-apocalyptic fiction), The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow (historical portal fantasy), Lost in the Spanish Quarter by Heddi Goodrich (fiction), and The Deep by Rivers Solomon (fantasy).

Do you agree or disagree with any of my picks? Anything on your TBR? Let me know in the comments!

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Category Archives: Book Tag

2022 Reading Year in Review: Stats & Faves (very late!)

Mid-Year Book Freak-Out Tag 2023

Feb Reading Wrap-Up

End of the Year Book Tag!

End of the Year Book Tag

Mid-Year Book Freak-Out Tag!

End of the Year Book Tag/December TBR!

Mid-Year Book Freak-Out Tag!

End of the Year Book Tag!

Mid-Year Book Freak-Out Tag!

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