The Mid-Year Book Freak-Out Tag | 2018 edition

This is the third year in a row I’m doing this tag and two years ago my blog was a tiny baby blog and now it’s grown so much (I’m getting sentimental). I’m so grateful for how far I’ve come and I’m so grateful that you all support me and my content, thank you!

Now that I’ve gotten the cheesy stuff out of the way, let’s get into the tag. It’s almost halfway through 2018, so it’s the perfect time to look back at what I’ve read in the past six months. I’ve read about 60 books (I’m writing this in advance so I can’t go any more specific than that but check my goodreads if you want more details), and loved the large majority of them! I’ve discovered some new favourites and overall had a great time reading!

I was tagged by the lovely Ruby, go check out her blog here!

The best book you’ve read so far in 2017

I’ve had added only two books to my “favorites” shelf, but I always struggle with picking my favorites. I always love books a lot but never so much that it really sticks out from the other books I loved. Anyway, I’m going to go with… I CAN’T CHOOSE. I’m just gonna pick two because they were both personally really important to me and also really fun!

 

Your favourite sequel of the year

Obsidio!! Okay, it wasn’t perfect but I love that series with all my heart (seriously, it broke it so many times, I think it just tricked me into thinking I love it). The new characters were a bit meh but I liked them nonetheless and *screams “Kady” into empty space*. I just have so many feelings for this series, and Obsidio was a pretty darn good conclusion!

A new release that you haven’t read but really want to

Let’s Talk About Love has been on my TBR since I first heard about it and I just need to read it. I just need to get my act together and buy myself a copy of that pretty thing and read it. It has an ACE POC MC (I’m pretty sure she’s also biromantic)!!!

Most anticipated release for the second half of the year

So last year my most anticipated release for this question was All The Crooked Saints and I still haven’t read it oops. Let’s hope it’s different this time. I’m just gonna make a little list because I honestly have too many to just pick one!

First and foremost: The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee- If I die before I read this book, someone better go to my grave and read it to my dead body because there ain’t no way I’m missing out on this book. It has the epic wonderful aro-ace Felicity as main character and my babies Monty and Percy better be in there. ALSO: SCIENCE GIRL GANGS, HELL YES.

others: Vengeful by V.E. Schwab (I still haven’t read the first book but shhhh I will), Summer Bird Blue by Akemi Dawn Bowman, Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor.

 

Your biggest disappointment

I can’t really think of any one book that stood out, but perhaps The Opposite of Loneliness because I thought it was just very boring. I more often than not do not finish books I don’t enjoy so if I picked from those it’d be Stalking Jack the Ripper though I only read about a quarter of that. (rant review here)

Biggest surprise of the year

My biggest surprise was probably Far From The Tree by Robin Benway because I went in with no expectations whatsoever and ended up absolutely adoring it!

Favourite new to you or debut author

Ashley Herring Blake (new to me) and Laura Steven (debut)! I’ve read ARCs of both of their 2018 releases and now I definitely need to try and read everything they’ve written or will write!

 

Your new fictional crush

I don’t do crushes.

New favourite character

Felicity Montague from The Gentlemen’s Guide to Vice and Virtue!!! I just relate and look up to her so much!

A book that made you cry

I don’t remember if I read anything that made me really cry, only books that made me cry because I was laughing so hard (The Gentlemen’s Guide) or because they were hurtful…

A book that made you happy

I’m really trying not to mention The Gentlemen’s Guide to Vice and Virtue for every question so let’s go with something else. Not Your Sidekick by C.B. Lee and the sequel Not Your Villain both made me really happy! They’re just so sweet and uncomplicated without being boring at all!

 

Your favourite book to movie adaptation that you’ve seen this year

I saw Love, Simon a few weeks ago and loved it!! (except the ending)

Favourite book post you’ve done this year

The most popular post I’ve done in the past 6 months was this one which is about ARCs and alternatives to Netgalley, and as much as I enjoyed doing the series on ARCs with a focus on international reviewers, those are not my favourite posts! My favourite is definitely my post about Simon Spier and the rise of LGBT+ stories. I absolutely adored the response it got and I got to interact with a lot of lovely people and hear their stories and it was wonderful! I’ve been wanting to do more similar posts but I lack the inspiration.

The most beautiful book you’ve bought/received this year

I actually haven’t bought that many physical books (I read a lot of ebooks and audiobooks) lately but here are some of my highlights:

 

What are some books you need to read by the end of the year

My TBR is very plain right now, I’ve been ignoring it for a while and barely ever add books to it but I’d like to read Queens of Geek and Let’s Talk About Love (and all the before-mentioned books I’m anticipating of course).

 

Did you do this tag? What was your favourite read of 2018 so far? Do you agree with any of my choices? Do you have a favourite post you’ve written this year? Let me know! I’d love to read it (if I haven’t already)

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The Book Addiction Tag | How big of a book nerd am I?

Since I’m really tired (I woke up at 6am and I’m not a morning person) and didn’t prepare anything for today (yay for my procrastination skills), I decided to do a fun tag today! I actually haven’t seen this around but I googled and found it and I thought it would be nice to just chat a bit about how big of a book nerd I am haha. I don’t know who created the tag, and I wasn’t tagged so I guess we should just get started!

The Rising Author Tag | Let’s talk Camp NaNoWriMo and my latest writing project

As you might have noticed, Camp NaNoWriMo has started! If you don’t know what that is, it is basically a smaller version of NaNoWriMo in which you can set your own goals AND if you don’t know what that is: NaNoWriMo is a month long writing challenge in which people try to write a full novel (or at least 50k words of it) which takes place in November.

Anyway, I am taking part in Camp NaNoWriMo because… why not? I love writing and taking part has always inspired me to write much more than I normally would. Now, this month I must say, the dedication is not that strong, in fact, I haven’t written anything in over a week, so that’s going well oops.

May – whose blog posts I am very sad to have been neglecting this past month (I AM SO SORRY) but whose blog I absolutely adore – tagged me in the Rising Author Tag! Thank you May! And I thought that would be a perfect introduction to my Camp NaNoWriMo project! You might have heard of it before because I once talked about it months ago, but it has changed dramatically from then!

How I Choose My Books Tag | Let’s Take a Look at What’s on my Shelf

I saw this tag over at Sydney’s blog Fire and Rain Books and it looked like much fun! This tag is quite self-explanatory, the title says it all so let’s get into it! I just reorganized my bookshelves so it’s the perfect time to go on a little scavenger hunt!

I actually have two shelves, one with all my YA books and one with all my adult, middle grade, classics and non-fiction books and then I also have my ereader (which is actually a very old ipad but it still works). Anyway, I’m going to find some books on all of those shelves and my ereader and there are 8 questions so I’ll be doing 3 from my YA shelf, 3 from my other shelf and 2 from my ereader (because I have much fewer books on there).

1. Find a book on your shelves or e-reader with a blue cover. What made you want to pick up this book?

 

I picked up Never Always Sometimes by Adi Alsaid because it was on sale (that sounds bad haha). I read one of Adi Alsaid’s other books (Let’s Get Lost) and quite enjoyed it and then I saw this one was only a few euros in ebook format so I bought it. I quite liked it (that seems to be the lesson here: I quite like Adi Alsaid’s books haha).

2. Think of a book you didn’t expect to enjoy, but did. Why did you read it in the first place?

The Darkroom of Damocles by Willem Frederik Hermans is a book I needed to read for my Dutch literature class and I expected to hate it because it’s Dutch literature and I really don’t like Dutch literature. However, I liked it! I loved the mystery aspect and the unreliable narrator aspect a lot and I still find myself thinking about it every now and then, which is something that’s rare for me. Especially since it has been years since I read it.

 

3. Stand in front of your bookshelf with your eyes closed and pick a book at random. How did you discover this book?

 

I discovered Radio Silence by Alice Oseman through Eve’s blog, I think. I don’t quite remember. Anyway, I absolutely loved it! I got the book through this book service that send out books to bloggers for review and after writing my review I never heard from them again haha.

 

 

4. Pick a book that someone personally recommended to you. What did you think of it?

Warcross by Marie Lu has been recommended to me by pretty much everyone that read it so I think this counts. I actually have a lot of books that were recommended to me still unread on my ereader. For some reason I tend to pick those up not as soon as other books.

Anyway, I really enjoyed Warcross, it was so action-packed with twists and I liked the characters, so yeah, it was a success!

5. Pick a book that you discovered through booktube/book blogs

 

The fact that Victoria Schwab’s Shades of Magic series is now one of my favourite book series is entirely because of book blogs and bloggers (including Ilsa). I don’t think I would ever heard about it, let alone picked it up if it weren’t for the hype. I LOVE THIS SERIES.

 

 

 

6. Find a book with a one word title. What drew you to this book?

 

Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman – HAVE YOU SEEN THIS COVER?? It’s absolutely gorgeous! I won this copy (it’s an ARC) from a giveaway held by Akemi herself and I adored this book so much.

 

 

 

7. What book did you discover through a film/tv adaptation?

The only book I can think of that I discovered through an adaptation is The Hunger Games (and the rest of the trilogy). I saw the first movie before reading the book, I think. I’m not exactly sure anymore. It has been a long time! I do remember really well going to the movie with my friends from high school and really enjoying the movie!

 

 

 

8. Think of your all time favourite book(s). When did you read them and why did you pick them up in the first place?

My all time favourite book is Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer. I first read it for my English class. You needed to read a couple of books but you could decide for yourself which books you wanted to read so I went to my school library and found this book. And then I put it back because I thought it would be too difficult to read such a big book (it’s not really big, but I was really bad at English and preferred my books to be less than 200 pages if possible). But it intrigued me and I ended up reading it (and I’m rereading it for the 5th? 6th? time next week!)

What is one book on your shelf you picked up because of a recommendation? How did you discover your favourite book? Which book did you read that you thought you would hate but ended up loving?

The Ace of Shades Book Tag (hijacked by a Scarhand :P)

As you might know, I have been anticipating the release of Ace of Shades by Amanda Foody for a while (okay, for over half a year…) and I was so happy to have received an eARC but even more, I’m also in the Ace of Shades street team (go #Scars!). Ace of Shades has been compared to Six of Crows (I mean, now you have to read it, right?) and is about a girl, Enne, who is trying to find her mother in the City of Sin with gangs and criminals and I’ll just let you read the synopsis (below) because it’s amazing. This tag was created by some members of the Doves, which is another team in the AoS street team: Katy and Min. Thanks guys! (also thanks for letting me do this tag :))

New Years Resolutions Book Tag | What Will I Read in 2018?

My friend Jenn did this tag on her blog and tagged me, so thank you Jenn! I didn’t know what I wanted to post about today so this is perfect timing. I don’t know who created this tag, but if you do, let me know! Let’s talk about my 2018 reading plans (and yours :P)!

Looking back at 2017 | This Time Next Year Tag

This time last year, I made a list of goals and I just remembered I did that so now we’re going to look back at these goals and see if I actually accomplished them! I did the This Time Next Year Tag and I’ll look back at that! I will also make new goals for 2018.

The Bookish Naughty List Book Tag | In which I confess all my bookish sins

I think we’ve all done things we rather not admit we did. In this post, I’ll be confessing some of these things (but only the book-related ones :P).

This tag is created by my wonderful friend Jenn from Jenniely. Thank you, Jenn! I highly recommend everyone to check out her blog because she’s amazing and so dedicated to her blog! The only rule to this tag is to go through the list and tick all the one’s you’re guilty of and tag 10 people to do the same!

The End of The Year Book Tag | 2017 Edition

The end of the year is creeping up on me and I am not liking it *panics* I am not ready for 2017 to be over… Can it be 2017 for a few more months, please? In 2018 I’m going to graduate (hopefully) and leave all my friends behind and start my master’s degree in a different city and basically, my life’s gonna be thrown upside down and it’s scary!

Anyway, let’s stop panicking and instead talk about my plans for the rest of this year. This tag is originally created by Ariel Bisset on youtube, and I was tagged by the wonderful Theo from Reading & Rambling! Thank you, Theo ❤

Are there any books you started this year that you need to finish?

Hahaha *cries* Little Women by Louise May Alcott. I started this in August and I’m still stuck somewhere halfway. I don’t even know what happened, I just stopped reading and never felt like picking it up again.

Do you have an autumnal book to transition into the end of the year?

I don’t even know what an “autumnal book” is even supposed to be. A creepy Halloween book? I don’t read thrillers or horror books…

Is there a new release you’re still waiting for?

Yes! I’m still waiting on All The Crooked Saints by Maggie Stiefvater (my pre-order has shipped, yay!), All The Ways to Here by Emily O’Beirne (I have been promised an e-ARC :D) and Empress of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao!

What are three books you want to read before the end of the year?

I just NEED to get to Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff (I can’t believe I’ve had it for a month and haven’t read it yet), Our Dark Duet by V.E. Schwab (same here. Why haven’t I picked it up yet???) and The Long Way to A Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers (I’m afraid Amelie will get angry if I don’t read it :P).

Other books I really want to get to before 2018 is here: Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo and Invictus by Ryan Graudin.

Is there a book you think could still shock you and become your favourite book of the year?

Beside Our Dark Duet and The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet as mentioned above, I have high hopes for: What’s A Girl Gotta Do? by Holly Bourne and At The Edge of the Universe by Shaun David Hutchinson. I read two of Holly Bourne’s books and absolutely loved them, I adored the two first books in the Spinsters series and I LOVE LOTTIE so I don’t think anything can keep me from loving this book. I also have high hopes for At The Edge of the Universe because I loved We Are The Ants and Shaun David Hutchinson has such amazing stories!

Have you already started making reading plans for 2018?

No, first I have to survive 2017 & write my thesis, then I’ll see. I don’t even have planned what I’m going to read tomorrow, how could I plan so many months ahead? I do have some 2018 releases I’m anticipating, so maybe that counts?

A quick list:

• Ace of Shades by Amanda Foody – Magic, casino’s, mafia.. I want it.
• Summer Bird Blue by Akemi Dawn Bowman – UHM HELLO, it’s the brilliant author of Starfish. I NEED THIS BOOK ASAP. No pressure, Akemi.
• The Apocalypse of Elena Mendoza by Shaun David Hutchinson – Shaun David Hutchinson just comes up with the craziest most amazing ideas and I love it.
• Hate, Love & Other Filters by Samira Ahmed – About a teen girl battling islamophobia, I’m all up for this!
• A Girl Like That by Tanaz Bhathena – a) this cover is so pretty, b) it sounds absolutely amazing.
• Heart of Iron by Ashley Poston – Ashley Poston comes out with a sci-fi book and I’m already in love with it!

What books do you think could become your favourite of this year? Any 2017/2018 releases you’re anticipating?

The Book Mashup Tag (original) | In which my brain has made a weird but wonderful thing

Many books have this little blurb saying “for fans of A Court of Thorns and Roses and The Hunger Games” or something alike. I usually really like those kind of things but only if they’re accurate. And if they mention any of the cliché too-often-compared-to books, they might as well not do it at all.

However, they are really fun to play with, and that’s what I’m going to do today. This tag is created in the weird part of my sleep-deprived brain and works like this:

• Choose 10 or more book titles (you can also play with tv series, movies or basically anything that has a story and characters)
• Put them in a bowl/mug (or be lazy like me and just use a randomizer online)
• Take 2 of them and mash them up!
• You can take characters from one story and put them in the other, mix up the worlds, fuse the story-lines, anything is okay as long has it contains elements from both stories!
• Write a (small) paragraph with the premise of your new mashed-up story
• Go on until you’re out of titles!
• Have fun! Go crazy!

I’m going to play with a bunch of very well-known YA books because it’s fun and everybody knows them at least a little.

1. The Hunger Games X Six of Crows

 

The gangs of Ketterdam fight in an epic battle to the death to become the best of the city. All the gang leaders have to put forward their best and most cunning. Of course, the first of the Dregs to volunteer was Kaz Brekker, aka Dirty Hands. Not much later Katniss Everdeen of the Dime Lions, a smart bow-woman stood up to fill their spot, but only to save her sister Inej from having to participate. Inej is not pleased.

2. Illuminae X Red Queen

 

The Silvers and Reds lived in peace until the space ships attacked, only few were able to survive the mysterious attack. Among them, many Silver royals and a common Red girl pretending to be one of them. Throughout the flight, the Silvers take control, because only they can control the ship with their powers. The common Reds only realize before they do that the ship’s AI system is out of control and Kady, a programmer, and Ezra, a pilot, have to save the ship from disaster.

3. The Raven Boys X Radio Silence

 

Frances’ best friend, Blue, lives on the other side of the country, but seems worlds away. The only way they keep in touch is over through the internet. Frances, however, keeps hearing less and less of Blue and in order not to face her feelings for Blue (sorry not sorry) starts to obsess over the podcast Universe City. Little does she know, that Blue is making different friends, falls in love and is on the search for a Welsh king that may or may not even exist.

4. The Infernal Devices X Fangirl

 

Cath’s family of Shadowhunters had always been pushing her to train and become one herself. Cath, however, prefers to think up the most amazing adventures in the safety of her room. Only when a new girl arrives at the (dominantly male) institute, her life starts to shift. She’s dragged in the adventure to save the Shadowhunters, together with Tessa, from dangerous automatons and a creepy old man who should just shut up already.

5. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children X The Kiss of Deception

 

When Lia escapes her arranged marriage, she hopes to find a simple life on a small island on the English coast. She doesn’t know, however, that the boy she was meant to marry is trailing her every step and even worse, a traitorous spy who turns out to be a wight (#spoileralert :P). With monsters around every corner on her journey, she finds home in a strange orphanage with even stranger children stuck in a time-loop.

6. An Ember in the Ashes X Harry Potter

 

When an owl showed up at Elias’ doorstep with his letter to Blackcliff Academy, the most notorious school for battle and magic in the middle of the desert, he can’t believe his eyes. His loyalty always was in the muggle world, but for his family’s namesake, he goes anyway. But then, he is also entered in the tri-wizard tournament and has to win from the famous boy who lived in order to be able to return to his muggle life.

7. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe X The Maze Runner

 

When Ari arrives at the Maze, his life seems to have taken a turn for the worse. He can’t remember anything but when he looks into the eyes of Dante, another boy in the maze, his heart aches. He aches to see the stars, which they can’t see at the Maze. Thomas, another boy at the Maze seems to gather the group to try to escape but all Ari really wants is to escape the maze that is his own mind.

This went from a little crazy to psycho crazy, but this was honestly so much fun to do! I hope you loved reading it too! I am tagging: Eve, InsideMyLibraryMind, Jenn, May, Ilsa, Michelle, and uhhmm anyone who wants to do this! (I dare you!)

If you’re doing this tag, please link back to me and thank the person that tagged you! I’d love to see what you all come up with!