SUMMER SPRINT: The Mid-Year Check In Tag 2022

So technically, the half way point of the year was a month and a half ago. But since we’re more of a *vibes* blog, its all just semantics anyways! This is a popular tag that has been around for awhile so we are not sure who created it. If you know, please let us know!

It is typically called the “Mid-Year Book Freakout Tag” but a lot of people have shared that the word “freak” is ableist. Thus, we followed Anniek’s Library’s lead (here is their post) and went with a different title.

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Best Book You’ve Read So Far

Bree: My read of Loveless by Alice Oseman has definitely left the biggest impact on me this year.

Tree: Always an unfair question, but Ain’t Burned All the Bright by Jason Reynolds & Jason Griffin is the most unique book I’ve ever read and I want everyone to read it.

Best Sequel You’ve Read So Far

Bree: Hands down, Husband Material by Alexis Hall. I just love Luc & Oliver so much. Also had to be one of my most anticipated releases for 2022!!

Tree: I loved The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes even more than I thought I would. Cannot wait for The Final Gambit. 

New Release You Haven’t Read Yet But Want To

Bree: I recently won Hotel Magnifique by Emily J. Taylor in a giveaway, and I really need to get to it soon.

Tree: I really want to get to A Proposal They Can’t Refuse by Natalie Caña. And like twenty other books. The joys of being a mood reader.

Most Anticipated Release for the Second Half of the Year

Bree: I have way too many picks for this one but, A Hard Day for a Hangover by Darynda Jones! Check out our Second Half of 2022 Hyped Releases post for more books we’re keeping our eyes on!!

Tree: I cannot wait for Chloe Liese’s traditional pub debut of Two Wrongs Make a Right. I also got declined on all reviewer platforms so will have to wait for my preorder to arrive!

Biggest Disappointment

Bree: After so much anticipation, the It Girl by Ruth Ware just ended up not being for me.

Tree: Unfortunately Set On You by Amy Lea was not a great fit for me and I ended up DNFing it because I could not motivate myself to pick it up. I will read Lea’s next book, but her debut was not my favorite.

Biggest Surprise

Bree: A Merry Little Meet Cute by Julie Murphy & Sierra Simone absolutely blew me out of the water. See what else I had to say in my July Favorites post!

Tree: Maggie Moves On by Lucy Score was such a nice surprise. I had never read anything by her and after finishing this one I instantly read one of her other books and can’t wait to read more from her.

Favorite New Author (Debut or New to You)

Bree: I quite enjoyed my read of So This Is Ever After by FT Lukens! It was very much character-centric and had a lighter plot that I usually like, but I was here for it. I wasn’t bored and I was thoroughly entertained. Highly recommend!

Tree: I won a copy of In The Event of Love by Courtney Kae and adored this f/f romance! Plus I got to meet Courtney at another book event since she is local (ish) to me and she was so sweet. This one releases August 30th so get those preorders in! (You can get a signed copy & exclusive art if you preorder from The Ripped Bodice. Check it out here).

Newest Fictional Crush

Bree: IDK if it’s a crush really, but I just love all of Luc’s complete disaster person energy. I have never read a character with such chaotic-Alex-energy (see RWRB), who is not actually named Alex. Anyways, read Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall!

Tree: The Duke of Clayborn from Heartbreaker. Plus he is named after Kate Clayborn, one of my favorite authors. If anyone sees fan art, please send it my way. (Also how many times did I mention Heartbreaker during these Summer Sprint posts? It feels like it was a lot).

Newest Favorite Character

Bree: It has to be Jack & Bitty from Check, Please!: #Hockey by Ngozi Ukazu. Honestly the entire Haus should be be at the top of my favorite new characters list, but there’s just so many of them.

Tree: I loved Delilah Green from Delilah Green Doesn’t Care. I just love a grumpy character who is trying to avoid love and emotions!! Can’t wait to see her cameo in Astrid Parker Doesn’t Fail.

Book That Made You Cry

Bree: Check, Please! Book 2 by Ngozi had me bawling my eyes out the whole time, each and every read, but like happy bawling??

Tree: I cried a lot finishing Paris Daillencourt is About to Crumble. This one doesn’t release until October so you’ll have to hang on a bit before you can read it. But, oooof I felt so much for Paris and the people in his life.

Book That Made You Happy

Bree: The entire world that has been built in the Heartstopper graphic novels by Alice Oseman just makes my heart happy & buoyant. Read my review of volumes 1-3 here!

Tree: I was in a contemporary romance rut and then I picked up Beauty & the Baller by Isla Madden – Mills and just had such a fun time reading it. It’s not a perfect book, but it made me happy in the moment which is all I want from a book.

Most Beautiful Book You’ve Bought This Year

Bree: Lore Olympus: Volume Two by Rachel Smythe

Tree: I don’t like using the same book for two questions, but Ain’t Burned All the Bright for sure.

What Books Do You Need To Read By the End of the Year

Bree: By the end of the year I would like to have read ALL of the books, but since that isn’t really feasible, I will say… I’d like to read (and finish) Jennette McCurdy’s new memoir, I’m Glad My Mom Died. Which shouldn’t be hard, since I’ve already bought the audiobook from libro.fm.

Tree: Try a lot… So I’ll put my books for the next couple of months. The It Girl by Ruth Ware, The Rose Code by Kate Quinn, & The Make Up Test by Jenny L. Howe.

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Thanks for reading! We didn’t tag anyone, but feel free to tag us if you do it!

xoxo, Bree & Tree