Half of the year gone, here is a little recap for all the amazing books I've come across:
Best Book Read so Far
Ever since I started reading in 2019, this year has to be the best one yet. I've come across many amazing books and series. Here are the top three:
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
The Folk of the Air trilogy by Holly Black
Heroes of the Olympus series by Rick Riordan
Best Sequel You've Read so Far
The Queen of Nothing was hands down the best sequel I've ever read. After that cliffhanger at the end of The Wicked King, The Queen of Nothing was all I could have asked for. It wrapped up the series perfectly, and left me teary eyed at that beautiful ending.
New Release you Haven’t Read Yet, but Want to
Daughter of the Moon Goddess has been gathering dust on my shelf since months (it is truly painful) and I cannot wait to pick it up after finishing The Heroes of the Olympus.
Most Anticipated Release for the Second Half of the Year
It Starts With Us by Colleen Hoover - sequel to It Ends With Us (my favourite CoHo book ever!) Pre-order now:
Biggest Disappointment
The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes - didn't exactly hate it, but it definitely did not meet the expectations I had from it due to all the hype surrounding it.
Biggest Surprise
Every Summer After by Carley Fortune was way more enjoyable than I had expected. I usually hate romances (my fault - for I don't have the patience to get through them). I'm definitely looking forward to pick up this trope - childhood friends to lovers - more often because enemies to lovers is just not it (unless in a fantasy book then it's awesome)
Favourite New Author (debut or new to you)
Jenna Evans Welch, the author of Love and Gelato has quickly become a new favourite. I flew threw the first book (which by the way is the perfect summer read) and can't wait to pick up the others!
Newest Fictional Crush
PERSEUS JACKSON hands down. I don't think I've ever loved a character as much as I love Percy. Other's I adore includes Cardan (duh), Nico Di Angelo and Leo Valdez (and basically all other characters from the Percy Jackson world). I may or may not have an unhealthy obsession with this world and the people in it.
Newest Favourite Character
Jude Duarte from The Folk of the Air. If there's one thing lacking in the young adult books, it's strong headed women. Usually the girls, despite being the ones with power, are shown as weak and their decisions are manipulated by the men surrounding them, like Alina Starkov from Shadow and Bone. Jude, however, is her own boss, and I love that for her!
Book That Made You Cry
I don't think I've shed tears for any book this year, but Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Kazuo Ishiguro and Things We Do Not Tell the People We Love by Huma Qureshi did have me at the verge of tears multiple times.
Book That Made You Happy
The Selection by Kiera Cass was such a fun book which I flew threw. It's not anything extraordinary, it's just full of drama and vibes, and sometimes that's all you need. Reading The Lost Hero and being back in Percy's world, and knowing that there's four more books for me to get through is honestly what got me through my exams..
The Most Beautiful Book You’ve Bought So Far This Year
Book of Night by Holly Black!
What Books Do You Need to Read by the End of The Year?
We Free the Stars by Hafsah Faizal
Circe by Madeline Miller
The Architect's Apprentice by Elif Shafak
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
These books have been sitting on my shelves for a long time, and I can actually feel them glaring at me angrily, hence why it is of utmost importance for me to pick these books up asap!
Favourite Book to Movie Adaptation You’ve Seen This Year?
Haven't seen any in particular, but the 2005 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice is an all time fave. Other honourable mentions include: Emma (2020) and Little Women (2019)
Anyway, that's all I have for you today!
Don't forget to subscribe :)