Confessions of a Literary Addict

Every time I realize we’re halfway done with the year already, I have to take a moment to reel. With everything happening, time is both flying by and feeling like it’s stopped moving altogether. It’s the weirdest feeling.

But, yeah, we’re halfway done with 2020, guys. Yikes. I had big plans for this year, and they all kind of went up in flames. Buuuut, I don’t want to dwell on that right now, so…

Let’s do the tag! As of writing this, I’ve read 83 books. That seems like a decent pool to choose from, but watch me struggle anyway.

1. Best book you’ve read so far in 2020

I’m gonna go with The Weight of the Stars by K. Ancrum. This book took me on such a roller coaster, it was so good. And that ending. Just. ugh.

Good book. Good book.

2. Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2020

I’m trying not to choose rereads, otherwise Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins would be on here (my favorite of the trilogy). Instead, I’m going to go with Come Tumbling Down by Seanan McGuire. Not my favorite in the overall series, but I love this series so much, and this was a good addition.

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

The King of Crows by Libba Bray. I’ve heard mixed things about this, which scares me a little, but I loved the first book so much that I’m still really excited to read the rest of the series.

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

Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron. Y’all know me. I’m a SUCKER for retellings, and a Cinderella retelling where it’s 200 years in the future and there are consequences for the tale good ol’ Cindy wove for herself? Hell yeah.

(Also: it’s queer. Sign me the FUCK up.)

5. Biggest disappointment

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. Speaking of retellings… this ain’t it. Maas is a fantastic writer, don’t get me wrong, but I hate her main characters. Hell, I hate most of her characters, but I really hate the main ones. I’m about halfway through the third book (because momma didn’t raise a quitter, but she did raise a masochist), and I think I hate Feyre even more than I did when I started, and I didn’t think that was possible. I had really high expectations for this because retelling and huuuuge hype, but it just… is so not for me.

6. Biggest surprise

I’m gonna go with My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, & Jodi Meadows for this one. I wasn’t majorly surprised by any of the books I read, but I was more surprised about this one than I was any of the others. The whole magical animal aspect made me kind of wary of the story, but I ended up really loving the way the authors write their story, to the point where the magical animal part was just exciting.

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

Dhonielle Clayton! Dude, The Belles? *chef’s kiss* I love her writing style so much, I’m just waiting (impatiently) to get my grubby little hands on both that third book that might just be whispered about and her other book, Tiny Pretty Things. Gimme!

8. Newest fictional crush child

I changed this one because I really don’t do crushes (cough aro cough), but, fictional characters I would die for? Now those come by the dozens. It was very had picking just one. I couldn’t find any pictures of her, but I would die immediately for Ryann Bird (and, honestly, literally everyone in this book). I’m pretty sure that’s Alex on the front there, but, again. NO ART. D:

9. Newest favorite character

Skipping this one, because it’s basically the same as the last one since I changed it!

10. Book that made you cry

… Can I put The Weight of the Stars again? Because that’s the only one that got me REAL CLOSE.

11. Book that made you happy

… LISTEN I JUST REALLY LIKED THE WEIGHT OF THE STARS, OKAY? IT’S A GOOD DAMN BOOK.

But I can also go with…

The Hunt by Alainna MacPherson, because the main character is D/deaf and it was so nice to read a character that doesn’t shy away from her deafness even slightly.

12. Most beautiful book you’ve bought or received this year

I’ll go with All the Stars and Teeth by Adalyn Grace, in the OwlCrate edition. Due to the pandemic and quarantine, I actually haven’t been buying books, like… at all. I’ve bought maybe ten in total (which is PEANUTS to me, when we’re six months into the year already), with all the others being OwlCrate books. So this was a very narrow pool to choose from. Honestly, though, the OwlCrate books do tend to be really pretty, sooo.

13. Books you need to read by the end of the year

Yeeeah I’ll just direct you to my 20 books to read in 2020 list, because that’s easier. Cool? Cool.

I’m also going to link Reagan from PeruseProject’s video here, too, because she both 1) reminded me that it’s that time of the year for the tag, and 2) has some excellent BLM petition links in her description, and I think they’re worth checking out.

Thanks for reading!