Mid-Year Freak Out Book Tag 2022

Let’s talk books!

I’ve been reading up a storm recently, and when I saw a few of my favorite online book personalities do the Mid-Year Freak Out Book Tag, I knew I wanted to join in on the fun!

And I know what you’re probably saying: “A book tag?”

Yeah, tbh, I’m not 100% confident in this definition, but as I understand them, a “book tag” is a way to talk about books with different prompts. People come up with the prompts, typically around a specific topic (like Sci-Fi or Romance) or time (like summer or mid-year), and then people online who talk about books (like on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, podcasts, blogs, etc.) answer the questions based on their reading.

I found out about this one from Noelle on YouTube, but if you simply search “Mid-Year Freak Out Tag,” you’ll find loads of lists from different people! And the fun of it is that if you find some creators with similar book tastes as you, these tags are an awesome way to get reading recommendations.

To be honest, I started writing this post a few weeks ago, and I’ve read a few books since then. But I’m writing this as if I was in the past, so I think I was at 27 books read this year at that point. The prompts from the tag are the headings throughout this post, and you’ll find links to purchase the book at Bookshop and Amazon and to add it to your Goodreads account below.

SO. Without any further ado… here’s my Mid-Year Freak Out Book Tag!

best book you’ve read so far in 2022

Easy. I LOVED The Roughest Draft.

It’s a story about a pair of co-authors who refuse to work together again after a mysterious falling out. Throughout the book, you get clues about what might have happened between the two in the past, and you learn about their history from both authors’ perspectives.

The way the characters were more comfortable communicating through writing than speaking to one another was just… incredibly relatable, and I ate up the whole dang thing. So good. Definitely one I’ll want to reread in the future!

best sequel you’ve read so far in 2022

Yep. I read the A Court of Thorns and Roses series. And actually, I liked this one-off side-character book the best out of the whole series!

If you’re unfamiliar with this series, it’s a fantasy romance. Not my typical genre of choice, but I’m glad I picked up this one at the recommendation of my co-worker, Leslie.

A Court of Silver Flames focuses on Nesta, the bold and brash sister of Feyre, the High Lady of the Night Court and the main character of the rest of the series.

Nesta’s character arc in this novel was one of my favorites in any piece of fiction, and I loved getting to know the multiple sides of her throughout this story!

new release you haven’t read yet, but want to

I’ve become a big big fan of the writing duo of Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings (aka Christina Lauren!), and I’m excited to get my hands on this one soon!

And by soon, I mean in like 14 weeks when it’s available from my library.

From the few reviews I’ve seen, it seems like this one is a bit different from their usual rom-comy reads, so in 14 week, I feel like I’m going to be a very happy camper.

Some of my other faves from Christina Lauren are:

• Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating
• Love and Other Words
• The Unhoneymooners

most anticipated release for the second half of the year

I have two! Really looking forward to Taylor Jenkins Reid’s new novel, Carrie Soto is Back, even though her most recent release, Malibu Rising, wasn’t my favorite of hers. Regardless, I will always always always look forward to something new from her since The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones & The Six are two of my favorite books of all-time!

And it’s been quite a few years since I read any of Blake Crouch’s novels (Dark Matter and Recursion), but I remember liking them both! His books are more mystery/science fiction/thriller books, and I just eat them up! I’m super excited for this new adventure!

biggest surprise favorite new author (debut or new to you)

The one that stands out is Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman. I read an advanced copy through NetGalley, so I didn’t really know what to expect. Turns out I LOVED it.

It reminded me a bit of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo in the way it showed different sides to Hollywood stories, and I completely and totally ate up the whole thing. Definitely stayed up way too late finishing this one!

book that made you cry

Eh. I actually don’t think any of my 2022 reads made me cry.

I probably got closest with The No-Show by Beth O’Leary. It was probably one of the most surprised I’ve ever been reading a book.

The story was nothing like I thought it was going to be like, and I almost recommend picking it up without reading the synopsis (so long as you like romances!). I had forgotten what the synopsis said when my library finally had this book available, so I read it with no expectations.

I loved it. Seriously such a creative story, and one that shocked me multiple times throughout!

book that made you happy

Honestly, all of them have made me happy in one way or another.

I’ve gotten pretty good at not finishing books that I’m just not meshing with. And me not finishing a book says nothing about the quality of the book –– sometimes you need to be at the right place in your life to read a book. And sometimes it just isn’t for you.

And that’s okay! There are loads of other books that will do it for you, and it’s okay to say “thanks but no thanks” to a book you’re just not jiving with.

*gets off soap box* Lol.

most beautiful book you’ve bought so far this year (or received)

I don’t really buy books anymore! I read everything through the library and only purchase the books I know I’m going to reread in the future.

I did get some books for Christmas last year, so I think that counts, right? I have physical copies of my then-four favorite books:

• Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
• Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
• The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
• The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Clune

what books do you need to read by the end of the year?

Oh I have so many on my list. I’m especially excited about these two.

I found Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow at Barnes & Noble the other day, and I was instantly excited to read it after I read these few sentences in the synopsis:

Spanning thirty years, from Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Venice Beach, California, and lands in between and far beyond, Gabrielle Zevin’s Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is a dazzling and intricately imagined novel that examines the multifarious nature of identity, disability, failure, the redemptive possibilities in play, and above all, our need to connect: to be loved and to love. Yes, it is a love story, but it is not one you have read before.

Doesn’t that sound like such a fun read?! Can’t wait.

I’m also extremely excited about It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover. I talked about how much I loved It Ends with Us in my “Favorite Books of 2021” post from last year, and I’m just super jazzed a sequel is due this year!

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And that’s a wrap! Have you read any absolute winners this year? Any you’re anticipating for the second half of the year? Let’s chat in the comments. I love talking about books!