Hi friends! Can you believe half of the year has gone by? I can’t.
Like every year, we’re trying to recap what we read and loved in those first six months with a fun post! All of these questions below are taken from the Mid Year Book Freakout Tag.
I hope you’ll find some new books to add to your TBRs and please, let us know your favorites of the year so far in comments!
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1. Best book you’ve read so far in 2021
Nyx: Parachutes. This book is freaking incredible! An unforgettable modern immigrant story about love, trauma, family, corruption, and the power of speaking up. It was heartbreaking and powerful. I loved the flawed characters and damn it just left me speechless.
Marie: I have nothing to add, Nyx stole my answer. I started this and could not stop reading it, this was so good, important and just, read it.
2. Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2021
Nyx: Haven’t read a lot of sequels but yeah Heartstopper for the win! The story is cute but also deals with important topics. Plus the characters are so adorable! It left a smile on my face, a precious read!
Marie: This is the only sequel I read this year and… well, it’s Heartstopper, so… feels.
☂️ Read Next: 18 YA Books Like Heartstopper To Read Next (ft. Soft Romances, Great Characters & More!)
3. New release you haven’t read yet, but want to
Nyx: Love those authors and all of their books so I’m really looking forward to With and Without You! It sounds swoony and it deals with long-distance relationships, what’s not to like?! I need this now!
Marie: Amelia Diane Coombs is now one of my favorite YA contemporary writers. I was eagerly anticipating this one and, now that it’s finally released, I can’t wait to read it! It follows a MC living with OCD, going on a road trip to see her favorite true crime podcast’s live show with her best friend and forever crush. Sounds like EVERYTHING.
4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year
Nyx: Carrie Soto is Back by the queen Taylor Jenkins Reid. I’m in love with her and I can’t freaking wait to read this one! It’s about a legendary athlete who attempts a comeback when the world considers her past her prime. I bet it’s riveting, emotional and unforgettable!
Marie: This is one of my most anticipated reads of the YEAR it sounds so good. It’s about Alice, in an elite boarding school, suddenly turning invisible and using that trick to discover some scandalous secrets. It sounds exciting and fun and unique and I’m ALL here for it.
We also have a full blog post with some of our most anticipated reads for the second part of 2022!
5. Biggest disappointment
Nyx: How We Fall Apart. I don’t know if it’s because I watched One Of Us is Lying on Netflix right before (which is really similar) but I didn’t fall in love with this story. I thought the characters lacked a bit of depth. Still entertaining though!
Marie: I loved We Were Liars, back when it first released and obviously, had lots of expectations. They weren’t quite met. This gave me a little too much messed-up drama (like, really) and, yeah.
6. Biggest surprise
Nyx: They’ll Never Catch Us. I didn’t expect to like this one so much but damn it was brillant! I loved the complicated sister dynamics, the fierce characters, the suspense, I was hooked from the very first page! Definitely recommend!
Marie: I’m still thinking about this book months later because it was really, really good. Intense, tough to read at times as well, but brilliant.
7. Favorite new author (debut or new to you)
Nyx: I didn’t read a lot of new authors… oops. I guess I’ll go with Kim Liggett. I’ve read The Grace Year and I loved her sharp prose. Her writing style is hauntingly beautiful and left me completely mesmerized!
Marie: I know I’m going to be reading more books by K.L. Walther soon! I loved The Summer of Broken Rules, this story gave me all the summer rom-com feels and I loved it!
8. Newest fictional crush
Nyx: Dominic from The Ex Talk. I really enjoyed his character, annoying at first glance and then discovering him more and actually caring for him. Absolutely loved the romance, their banter and chemistry were A++!
Marie: Rachel Lynn Solomon writes the best love interests, apparently (and the loveliest romances!). I really loved Russell, such a kind, thoughtful, a little bit awkward character and the relationship was so lovely to follow!
9. Newest favorite character
Nyx: Quinn from Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry. She’s relatable and flawed. She is always trying to do her best and make everyone happy, I couldn’t help but root for her. Plus, she’s a list-maker!!
Marie: I enjoyed the cast of characters in The Road Trip SO much, I had to pick this book here. I loved Addie, strong, determined yet heartbroken. She carried the story and I rooted for her from page one!
10. Book that made you cry
Nyx: Some Mistakes Were Made. I didn’t cry per see but damn SO MANY EMOTIONS. This book really captures the pain and passion of first love in a visceral way. I wanted so badly for them to be okay. If you’re into the childhood friends trope and love a lot of pining, this one is for you!
Marie: Confession time. I did not read ONE book that made me cry this year. I know, what’s up with that?!! I’m taking the book that’s closest to making me cry and it’s this one, as well. It was packed with EMOTIONS.
11. Book that made you happy
Nyx: Like a Love Song. I had a huge grin the whole time I was reading this. It was everything I expected it to be and everything I needed: fluffy, light, and adorable. The perfect feel-good book!
Marie: I think that Kelsey Rodkey writes feel-good books. I picked her debut for this question last here and now… here I am. A Disaster in Three Acts was so much fun to read and the characters’ relationships (childhood friends, strangers, enemies, lovers?!) was so much fun to follow.
12. Most beautiful book you’ve bought so far this year (or received)
Nyx: Beautiful Wild. I adore this cover! The picture, the dress, the writing, I love everything about it!
Marie: I won Dark and Deepest Red in a giveaway earlier this year and it’s one of the prettiest books on my physical TBR right now. I can’t wait to read it!
13.What books do you need to read by the end of the year?
Nyx:
- Nothing But The Truth : It’s about a celebrity publicist who is making her money by pretending, fake smiling, creating illusions and fictional portraits for people she’s working for, and for her birthday she makes a wish that results with losing her capability of lying. It sounds inspirational and really fun!
- Wait For Me : I was obsessed with Sara Shepard’s Pretty Little Liars series and I’m really curious about this one! Hearing voices? Sounds creepy and gripping!
- Lucie Yi Is Not A Romantic : This one’s been on my TRB for a while now and I can’t understand how I haven’t read it yet! It’s about an ambitious career woman who signs up for a co-parenting website only to find a match she never expected. That sounds so original and funny, I can’t wait to get my hands on it!
Marie:
- See You Yesterday: I adore Rachel Lynn Solomon’s books, so obviously her latest release is HIGH in my to-read list. This has a stuck-in-a-timeloop plot and it’s set in college and honestly I need it. Like, now.
- Creep: So this book sounds really… strange, but I adored the author’s All of This Is True and am SO intrigued by this story. It’s about the perfect couple and the girl strangely drawn to them… it sounds compelling!
- The Rumor Game: That one, I feel like I’m going to LOVE that one. It’s set in an elite school, a place where rumors ruin lives and it sounds so so good!
For more book recommendations, you might also be interested in:
- 10 Most Anticipated YA Books For The Second Half of 2022
- 10 YA Books Like The Summer I Turned Pretty To Read Next
- Best Books of 2021 So Far (You Need These Books in Your Life!)
📌 Pin Best Books We Read in 2022 (For Now) on Pinterest!
What are some of your favorite books of the year so far? Any books you’re anticipating for this second half of the year? Let us know everything in comments!
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I have an ARC of IF YOU COULD SEE THE SUN, and I really enjoyed it too! It felt pretty unique in the YA landscape.
Ohh so lucky, so happy you enjoyed it! I can’t WAIT to read it!
Like a Love Song is lovely read, it also made me happy. I’m reading more adult romance this year and I’m really enjoying the genre.
Yees, such a cute story!
Yaaaay! 😊
Thank you so much for stopping by 😘
Loved reading your answers 💕 I’m also looking forward to read Exactly Where You Need to Be and Carrie Soto is Back 😊 I loved Weather Girl as well and I really need to read The Ex Talk someday 🥰
Thank you so much! I just ordered Exactly Where You Need To Be. It’s going to be a little while before it gets here, but I’m excited!
Ahh you need to read The Ex Talk as soon as you can, it’s so good! 🥰
oh wow, both of you loving parachutes so much definitely has made it shoot up my tbr! i’m also so excited for if you could see the sun—so far the reviews look great and like you said, it just sounds so unique! and i’m still so happy that you loved the girls i’ve been so much, i remember i was really surprised by how excellent it was too <3 i hope your 2022 reading continues to be amazing!!
Ahh yay! I hope you will love Parachutes as much as we did. And If You Could See the Sun sounds INCREDIBLE, I’m so impatient to read it!
I hope that the rest of your reading year will be lovely, May! <3
Okay, you’ve convinced me. I just added Parachutes to my Hoopla audiobooks Favorites list, and I’ll be sure to listen to it very soon!
Ahhhh yay! I hope you will love it, Nicole!
Ooh, Parachutes sounds fantastic and just what I would enjoy – it’s now on my list! Heartstopper is an absolute favourite of mine and a true comfort, I can’t even express how much I love it! Shame about Family Of Liars, I only recently read We Were Liars (I know I’m very behind!) and I think I’ll probably still read Family Of Liars, but it’ll be interesting to see if my thoughts differ to yours! Great post as usual!
Zoë
(zbestbooks.blogspot.com)
Oh yay! I really hope you’ll love Parachutes, it’s such a fantastic read, I loved it.
I hope you’ll feel different about Family of Liars, I was a bit disappointed by it, but maybe you will love it!
Thank you so much for your sweet comment! <3