2016 Mid-Year Book Freak-Out Tag

Originally created by ReadLikeWildfire, I spotted this meme on Piera Forde’s booktube channel. I thought it sounded fun, so here goes nothing!

Questions:

1. Best book you’ve read so far in 2016.
   Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan. Yes, this book is over thirty years old and was written for second graders, but it is hands-down the best book I’ve read this year.
   
   
2. Best sequel you've read so far in 2016.
   Siege and Storm & Ruin and Rising, the sequels to Shadow and Bone in the Grisha trilogy. They are also the only sequels I’ve read this year.
   
   
3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to.
   All of them. I need to read all of them.
   
   
4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year.
   I have an entire Top Ten list dedicated to this question!
   
   
5. Biggest disappointment.
   Truthwitch by Susan Dennard. There was SO MUCH HYPE surrounding this book. I think it fell way short of the mark.
   
   
6. Biggest surprise.
   C.L. Wilson’s The Winter King. The cover is pretty but very cheesy, so I was expecting a run-of-the-mill romance novel (which I still love to read, btw), but this one is stellar as far as mass-market paperback romances go.
   
   
7. Favorite new author. (Debut or new to you)
   I don’t know if I have one yet. But Peadar Ó Guilín is definitely a contender. I’m obsessed with The Call.
   
   
8. Newest fictional crush.
   The ever-so-complicated and brooding Kaz Brekker from Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows. I was definitely crushing on him while reading this book, though I’m still undecided if I want to continue the series or not.
   
   
9. Newest favorite character.
   Arsinoe from Kendare Blake’s Three Dark Crowns. She is by far my favorite character in this book (and there are many [almost too many] heroines to choose from).
   
   
10. Book that made you cry.
    Almost a Full Moon by Hawksley Workman. It’s a children’s picture book, but it is so beautiful that it moved me to tears. The words are literally lyrics from a song, and the illustrations of a diverse community coming together really affected me.
    
    
11. Book that made you happy.
    The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater. I mean, overall this book was just OK for me, but the ending gave me everything I wanted, so I guess I was happy?
    
    
12. Most beautiful book you've bought so far this year (or received).
    Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon. Yes, the cover art is beautiful, and so is what’s inside.
    
    
13. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?
    I have so many ARCs from BEA that I need to read! Stealing Snow by Danielle Paige and Replica by Lauren Oliver are just a couple that come to mind.
    
    
14. Favorite Book Community Member (Blogger, Booktuber and Bookstagrammer)
    I don’t particularly like this question because I don’t want feelings to get hurt. And I absolutely don’t like popularity contests. Just know that I love interacting with everyone in the book community, whether it be here on my blog, on twitter, with publishing professionals, or other bloggers.

I had fun with this tag, especially because I’ve read so many books in the last 6 months that it helps to reflect on them in order to remember what I’ve read. If you choose to do this tag, leave your link in the comments so I can check it out!