Monday, 15 June 2020

The Mid Year Book Tag 2020

HOW ARE WE IN JUNE?! Given how dreadful the majority of this year has been so far, I'm quite glad it's going so fast and the sooner we enter a fresh year, the better but another part of me wants it to slow down. I don't want a whole year to be wasted even if it is necessary. Anyone else understand what I mean? I really do think Summer will be over before we know it though given the speed at which the weeks are going by at the moment! As we're already in June, it's officially time for the mid year book tag! I first took part in this in 2018 and as I enjoyed it so much I did the same last year, and as you can see I'm doing it again this year. As I've been reading more and more each year, this has felt like a nice way to document where I'm at with my reading challenge and go over my thoughts on some of the books. I don't know if anyone will be particularly interested but I love writing these up so why not carry on the tradition? Let's get started.
books laid next to one another, camera tilted diagonally

1. Best book you've read so far in 2020?

At the moment I'm really torn between Normal People by Sally Rooney and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I mentioned in my recent favourites that there seems to be one book every year that I bang on about for months and so far it seems Normal People is the one for 2020. I know it's a book that divides opinion and I can see why but I'm in the club of people who utterly adored it. When I finished The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo last week though I realised it's not going to be so easy picking my favourites come the end of the year. It blew me away.

2. Best sequel you've read so far in 2020?

I've not read many sequels so far this year but I think it has to be A Murder Of Magpies by Mark Edwards. The Magpies series is absolutely brilliant and it's what has made Mark become one of my favourite authors. Whilst I did prefer the first book, The Magpies, I thought this was a great follow up.

3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to?

Ooh there are so many! One that stands out to me which I think came out earlier this year is Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. I'm seeing that all over Instagram at the moment and I'm really intrigued.

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year?

Kind of cheesy but I can't wait for Midnight Sun by Stephanie Meyer to be released in August. I was a HUGE Twilight fan when I was a teenager so when she announced recently she had written Edward's point of view, I knew I was going to have to read it. I also can't wait to grab The Minute I Saw You by Paige Toon. It was due for release in May but due to Covid-19 it's been pushed back to August. I think the kindle version is available but I love that I have a little collection of Paige's books on my bookshelf so I'm going to wait it out and add to that.

5. Biggest disappointment?

Probably The Chain by Adrian McKinty. I had such high hopes for it and to be honest, I hated it. It had an amazing premise but I just didn't get along with it. I was also a little underwhelmed by The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley. Another book that seems to get rave reviews but I felt was a bit meh.

6. Biggest surprise?

Half A World Away by Mike Gayle. It broke me at times but also made me incredibly happy at other points. I'd read reviews of this beforehand and I had a feeling it was going to be good but I never expected it to go where it did. The story of siblings being separated and adopted by separate families then being reunited years later was always going to be heart-wrenching but Mike Gayle throws in a twist that meant I couldn't put it down. I also want to mention Everything I Never Told You by Celeste NG. I found it started a little slow but at one point it's like something switched. The more I think about it, the more I realise what a great book it was (in my opinion anyway).
Everything I Never Told You by Celeste NG on top of 4 other books

7. Favourite new author?

K.L. Slater. I've read two books of hers now, The Apartment which I rated 5 stars and Little Whispers which I rated 4 stars. I was really impressed with both of these and The Apartment especially had me gripped! I'm so excited to read more from her in the future.

8. New fictional crush?

It's got to be Connell from Normal People. I fell in love with his character whilst reading the book, despite his flaws and Paul Mescal's portrayal in the TV adaptation is just perfect. I'm someone who LOVES the Irish accent too so that probably helps.

9. Favourite new character?

Probably Laura from The Longest Holiday. I've got so many favourite books from Paige Toon but The Longest Holiday just made me really happy. It had everything you want in a romance and I loved getting to know Laura as the story went on. This is sort of a follow up to Chasing Daisy and though we don't get loads with Laura during that, I wasn't particularly her biggest fan, so it was nice to get a book just about her and where her life went after the first book.

10. A book that has made you cry?

The obvious one that jumps to mind is Half A World Away by Mike Gayle. Another is A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman. That had some really emotional moments throughout and I just wanted Ove to be back with his wife who he clearly adored.

11. A book that made you happy?

The Five Year Plan by Carla Burgess had moments throughout that made me beam. I loved the relationship between Orla and Aiden and the ending was perfect.

12. Favourite review you've written?

I really like the review of People Like Us by Louise Fein, a book I was kindly gifted earlier in the year. The book is set in 1930s Nazi Germany and was inspired by the authors family history and I just found it really powerful and thought-provoking so I hope that comes across in my review. I also really love my review of Queenie which I posted last week. With everything that's going on in the world at the moment, it's very topical and I hope I got across just how much I want to learn and do more to help.
People Like Us by Louise Fein held up in front of bookshelf

13. Most beautiful book you've bought?

Ooh I think the cover of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is stunning.

14. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?

I've got such a long list of books to get through! I really need to read Lost by Leona Deakin, the follow up to Gone which I reviewed last year. I also picked up The Innocent Wife by Amy Lloyd last week which I'm really keen to get started on.

And that wrap's up the 2020 mid year book tag! I can't wait to see come the end of the year how many books I've managed to read and which ones have come out on top. I already have a few in mind that I think will end up in my top 5 but there's still plenty of time left to go so it could all change.

Have you read any of these books? What's your favourite book of 2020 so far?

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16 comments

Riana Ang-Canning said...

This is so fun! I just finished drafting a post on the books I read for the first half of 2020 so glad I'm not alone in these types of posts :) Definitely recommend Where the Crawdads Sing. It's a good one!

jennyinneverland said...

Oh nooo! I'm currently reading The Chain so hate to see that as your biggest disappointment! I'm not too far in but I'm enjoying it at the moment. I like the short chapters - I find those much easier to read and get through. Hopefully I enjoy it more than you did!

Jenny
http://www.jennyinneverland.com

Tiffany Timms said...

Yay I'm glad you enjoyed it! I definitely need to pick that up, it's all I'm seeing people talk about at the moment xx

Tiffany Timms said...

Ah no I'm sorry! I really hope you enjoy it. I think I went into it with really high expectations so I found myself feeling a bit underwhelmed xx

Heather Nixon said...

I need to do this tag soon, I've read quite a lot this year so far x

Hannah said...

I'm just starting to get into reading, so this is super useful. I need to pick The Five Year Plan up, as I love a story that leaves you feeling happy xx

Hannah | https://luxuryblush.co.uk/

Tiffany Timms said...

Can't wait to read your answers! x

Tiffany Timms said...

I think you'd love it! I really enjoyed it xx

Kelly~Diane said...

I loved reading your answers. There is a few books I haven't read but that sound like my kind of thing so I'm going to add them to my TBR list.

www.thekellydianereport.co.uk

Sophie said...

I LOVED this tag, such great questions. I think I might do this as an end of year wrap up post. You've given me so many suggestions to check out here too x

Sophie
www.glowsteady.co.uk

Sarah Trademark said...

I want to start reading a book series, I think I might start Twilight! x

Tiffany Timms said...

Thank you!

Tiffany Timms said...

Ah yay you definitely should!

Tiffany Timms said...

I really want to start Twilight from the beginning!

Isabella Lucas said...

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Isabella Lucas said...

My ex-husband and I had always managed to stay friendly after our divorce in February 2017. But I always wanted to get back together with him, All it took was a visit to this spell casters website last December, because my dream was to start a new year with my husband, and live happily with him.. This spell caster requested a specific love spell for me and my husband, and I accepted it. And this powerful spell caster began to work his magic. And 48 hours after this spell caster worked for me, my husband called me back for us to be together again, and he was remorseful for all his wrong deeds. My spell is working because guess what: My “husband” is back and we are making preparations on how to go to court and withdraw our divorce papers ASAP. This is nothing short of a miracle. Thank you Dr Emu for your powerful spells. Words are not enough. here is his Email: emutemple@gmail.com or call/text him on his WhatsApp +2347012841542

He is also able to cast spell like 1: Lottery 2: Conceive 3: Breakup 4: Divorce 5: Cure for all kinds of diseases and viruses.

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