Mid-Year Book Freakout Tag! Best book so far, book crush, fave new author, PRETTIEST book I bought 😍

Mid-Year Book Freakout Tag! I enjoyed talking about some of my favorite book crushes and reads so far in 2024, as well as disappointments and surprises. Hope you enjoy this video! :)
Tag creator(s):
‪@EarlGreyBooks‬ ‪@IsThatChami‬
Other creator mention(s):
Cadman Reads: / cadmanreads
Jess from Gym Was Cancelled: / tiaras.and.books
Story Darlings podcast: anchor.fm/storydarlings
Join my romantasy and romance-centric Amazon Book Club: www.amazon.com/amazonbookclub...
TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 Welcome & intro chatter
1:24 2024 Goodreads Reading Challenge
2:13 Best book so far in 2024
3:28 Best sequel so far in 2024
5:36 New release I haven't yet read
6:38 Most anticipated release for second half of 2024
7:33 Biggest disappointment
8:49 Biggest surprise
10:00 Favorite new author
11:13 Newest fictional crush
11:54 New favorite character
12:57 Book that made me cry
14:05 Book that made me happy
14:55 Most beautiful book purchased in 2024
15:47 Book I need to read by EOY
16:58 Mid-Year Book Freakout Tag wrap-up
17:37 Thanks for watching!
BOOKS MENTIONED:
Red Rising by Pierce Brown: a.co/d/0g4ijzj7
Lady of Light and Shadows by CL Wilson (Tairen Soul series): a.co/d/0jja2PqZ
The Book That Broke the World by Mark Lawrence: a.co/d/03lhy8pt
A Monsoon Rising by Thea Guanzon: a.co/d/06uwPwBA
Daisy Haites by Jessa Hastings: a.co/d/03HXxCQ0
The Idea of You by Robinne Lee: a.co/d/07b1tFLA
Ghosts by Dolly Alderton: a.co/d/09JUmTUe
I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue: a.co/d/04Qb7jjr
Funny Story by Emily Henry: a.co/d/0dVx4nh9
The Cruel Dark by Bea Northwick: www.northwickbooks.com/produc...
ABOUT ME:
Hi! I'm Sandra Bruxvoort: Japan-born American, Half-Filipina, Mom, Minimalist. Gamer, Book Reviewer, Fantasy Nerd. Here for the stories-that means books and adaptations of books. Oh, and I write things, too. New videos when anxiety compels me.
WHERE TO FIND ME:
Goodreads: / sgbrux
Instagram: / sandras.library
X: x.com/sgbrux
Website: storydarlings.com
TikTok: / sgbrux
Story Darlings podcast: ‪@storydarlings‬
#booktube #midyearbookfreakouttag #booktag #2024reading #books

[@SandrasLibrary]

Tell me about some of your favorite reads (and disappointments) so far this year!

[@LilyIslene]

Finally finished ACOTAR & Silver Flames was my absolute favorite!

[@Highlite17]

It sounds like you've been having a fun reading year so far! I like your approach in just trying to be more laid back with focus on enjoyment instead of stressing over what you HAVE to read. ⏳️ I'm so glad you've gotten into Red Rising now! While I didn't love the first book as much as you did, there was still so much I enjoyed from it that made me keep going. It's great you found so much to love from it already. I had a friend who felt similar to you. I am so envious of you experiencing Golden Son/Morning Star for the first time. Incredible books and were some of my favorites last year. GS made the characters finally click for me. And MS had me realizing just how much I cared for them. I still need to read the follow up novels! 2024 has been more quality over quantity for my reading year so far. While only reading 7 books so far, they do include both Shogun and The Pillars of the Earth. Two behemoths lol. But I ended up absolutely adoring them, and they are now two of my top 3 books of all time. I havent read anything too disappointing but I didn't end up enjoying Annihilation or the first Powder Mage book as much as I had expected to. But overall, it's been an enjoyable reading year so far. I'm struggling to figure out what to read next after Pillars though! I hope the 2nd half of the year is even better for you! Keep me in the loop on your thoughts on Red Rising please!

[@SandrasLibrary]

I'm definitely enjoying my time in Red Rising...hopefully it doesn't break me! lol. Can't wait to see what this character stuff is in GS that you're referring to! Shogun is also on my list, and I just know it will be heartbreaking! I have the ebooks and audiobooks ready to go, so maybe I will read those later this year. The series was incredible. I will definitely keep you posted on RR! 🔥

[@LilyIslene]

Favorite Book This Year So Far: A Court of Silver Flame Least Fave So Far: Love in the Time of Cholera (such a snooze fest)

[@SandrasLibrary]

LOL… I hate when that happens, but at least you got some extra shut eye? 🤣🤣🤣 SO glad you loved Silver Flames…it’s the best!

[@Arisutocrat]

The Cruel Dark special edition looks goregous! I read this Hamlet retelling called Smile and be a villain by Yves Donlon and really enjoyed it. It was an impulse purchase and I do not regret it, but I think I have to revisit the original play to fully appreciate it because I'm sure I missed a lot of references. I also read Five Broken Blades by Mai Corland and I need the sequel so bad. I guess one book that disappointed me that I had super high hopes for was Stoneblind by Natalie Haynes. I didn't hate it, but there is definitely less Medusa in the book than I expected.

[@SandrasLibrary]

!!! I’ve been so curious about Five Broken Blades and I think you’ve convinced me to pick that one up. I couldn’t tell if it was supposed to be a romantasy or just straight up fantasy, but I remember the synopsis sounding interesting. Had no idea it was planned to be a series! I really enjoyed Stoneblind but totally agree it was less about being from her POV and more about the circumstances involving her. That one had such an interesting storytelling style-I especially loved the chapter from the perspective of her snakes!

[@Arisutocrat]

@@SandrasLibrary In my opinion Five Broken Blades is a fantasy quest story with romances (there are multiple) sprinkled along the way. Some of the romance threads hit better than others and they are important to the characters, but I wouldn't say the romances are the main focus of the story, though YMMV. There were so many interesting perspectives in Stoneblind, especially those seemingly omniscient chapters from Gorgoneion. Euyrale and Stheno learning what fear is through their love for Medusa was awesome too. I almost wish Stoneblind wasn't a standalone because the way Haynes approaches these POVs is fascinating.