2023 Mid Year Book Freak-Out Tag

Voyagers, it’s time! In today’s post, we’re doing the infamous 2023 Mid Year Book Freak-Out Tag. I did this in 2021 and 2022, so I had to do it in 2023 (if there’s one way to get me to do something, it’s by making it an annual thing where I lose all willpower to stop the streak).

I pulled in some extra questions this year, but typically I follow the format from Cait’s blog, Paperfury.

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How much have you read?

42 books. I decided to include fanfictions this year, and I’m so glad that I did. My friend made me a spreadsheet to track my reading, and it’s so nice having everything in one place (since fanfictions and short stories are rarely on Goodreads or Storygraph).

However, if we’re including DNFs, then the answer is 43.

What have you been reading?

I can’t say I’m surprised, but I’ve read so much manga this year. I didn’t have a ton of time in the first half of the year to invest in novel-length work. But manga? I could read one of those in one sittings. So, I went a little wild. Additionally, on my accurate spreadsheet charts, dystopian, fantasy, and science fiction are all pretty even as the second-most read genre. I’m sure that is absolutely SHOCKING.

As for star ratings, it’s been a good year (so far). I’m still kind of the girl who throws 4 and 5 stars at any book that made me cry, revert to my 16-year-old self, forget I was reading, or make me feel lots of things. So, most of what I read tends to be a 4-star book, as long as I really enjoyed it and it was above a “meh.” But, yeah, it’s been an amazing first half, so I’m excited to see what I chaos I pick up between now and the end of 2023.

*I made the graphics when I’d read about 34 books, so they aren’t really accurate anymore, but I simply don’t have it in me to completely redo them, so please ooh and ahh anyway in the comments!

Best book you’ve read so far in 2023

The Problem With Forever by Jennifer Armentrout. It was really hard to choose this and not City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. HOWEVER, this book literally made me turn into my teenage self again. I’m actually not kidding. My annotations in this book are utterly unhinged. Don’t believe me? Here are some of the highlights I posted on Goodreads when I was only 20% into the book:

• “Bro, stop talking, I’m begging you.”
• “It’s giving co-dependency, your honor.”
• “Ahhhhhhhhh.”
• “Giggling, kicking my feet, screaming, crying, throwing up.”
• “I. Am. Screaming.”

So, yeah, this book ripped up my heart, stomped on it, and then stitched it back together in 443 pages of pure YA angst + intrusive thoughts that the author had and served on a silver platter.

If you like YA that includes mental health, trauma bonding, guilt, and childhood-friends-to-lovers, I’d highly recommend this one.

Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2023

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare. I’ve read multiple sequels this year, and this one wins. Hands down, no hesitation whatsoever. I read the first two books of this series in like five days, and I quite honestly could not put them down. (I did, but it was agonizing.)

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

Into the Churn by Hayley Reese Chow and The Stolen Heir by Holly Black. These two have been on my TBR ever since I found out that they existed (or were going to exist). I simply haven’t gotten around to buying my own copy or checking them out from my local library yet. BUT REST ASSURED, I will be consuming every book that Holly Black releases within the Cruel Prince universe. (Also Hayley is a new author, and I’ve heard only WONDERFUL things about her debut, so I cannot wait to get my hands on this book.)

Most anticipated release for the second half of the year

Foul Heart Huntsman by Chloe Gong. If you are at all surprised by this, you are probably not the person I’m reading this entire book universe with. But, yeah, this is the final book in the Shanghai universe that Chloe has created, and I’m anxiously awaiting the release of the audiobook becuase it would be illegal to read a physical copy of this book (I’ve read every book in this universe via audiobook, so it’s the way this one MUST be consumed.)

Out of your comfort zone

Goblin Slayer by Kumo Kagyu. When I was in my manga phase, I decided to try this one. I did not, in fact, realize that it was marked explicit until AFTER I got home from the library. Ultimtaely, it was a flop for me. I didn’t realize it was marketed as one of those sexy-focused manga books for teen boys (which is gross, by the way. Whoever decided that we should market boobs and sexy girls in distress to teen boys was seriously mental). That obviously made me NOT the target audience, but yeah, I don’t recommend. This had a cool story idea but the execution was just . . . bad.

And again, the boobs were just a bit much for me. Like, could they not?

Biggest disappointment

The Child Finder by Rene Denfeld. I read this one recently, and it was really disappointing. The premise was intriguing, and it had a lot of potential, but I literally couldn’t connect to it emotionally. I really tried to engage with it, but I could not reach a place of actually caring about anything that happened. I chalked this up to the third-person POV of the main character, but I really don’t know exactly what went wrong with this book.

I gave it 2/5 stars, so I wouldn’t recommend it.

Biggest surprise

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. As I said before, I hadn’t really planned to read these books because I found out that it deals heavily with a topic I was not okay with reading. However, then I saw The Spoiler. The one that every fan will lie about to your face and say is not true. (IYKYK.) Even so, I wasn’t fully convinced to read them until I watched Mortal Instruments: City of Bones on Netflix. It was like a 97% match for me, and Y’ALL IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT. If you like YA paranormal/urban fantasies that feature hot boys, sarcasm that hides trauma, strong family bonds, and love that would literally die for you, YOU HAVE TO CONSUME THIS.

I will say this though: If you watch the movie, you will learn about The Spoiler. It’s kind of subtle, but it’s there. So, if you want to go in without ANY spoilers, you should start with the books and then watch the movie.

But yeah, this book was great. I loved it. Immediate 5 stars.

New favorite author (debut or new to you)

I’ve encountered SO MANY new (to me) authors this year. It’s a long list, but it includes: Cormac McCarthy, Gillian Flynn, Shawn David Brink, Haro Aso, Margaret Atwood, Reki Kawahara, Rei Tōma, Daiki Kobayashi, Kumo Kagyu, Lois Lowry, Alexandra Monir, Peadar Ó Guilín, Anne Lamott, Jennifer Armentrout, Rene Denfeld, and Cassandra Clare.

It’s so hard to choose just one of these incredible authors as my favorite, but . . . I have to choose Cassandra Clare. Her books are my current obsession, and whatever I’m currently obsessing over usually wins. #lifeasafangirl

Newest fictional crush

Jace Wayland from The Mortal Instruments universe. I absolutely fell in love with Jamie Campbell Bower’s version of him in the 2013 movie adaptation. His looks were on point, the sass was incredible, and Jamie is just a very beautiful human who was lovely to look at for two hours and ten minutes. *heart eyes*

Rereads this year

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I reread this early in the year, and it was really interesting to see how different it is when you’re a little older. It felt like Katniss was so much younger this time around, which is weird because she was always sixteen, but that feels less prominent in the movies (since Jennifer Lawrence looked so much older).

I was also struck by how much Katniss suffered as a result of the politics required by the games and the sponsorships. I still love this story, but it was fun to reread it and see so many elements from such a different point of view.

Book that made you cry

[CAROUSEL] Shuntaro Chishiya* by @PersephoneNyx28 on Wattpad. It’s an Alice in Borderland fanfiction, and I’m not even exaggerating when I tell you that I literally sat in my kitchen and SOBBED while reading the later chapters of this story. This author absolutely destroyed my soul, but then found a way to piece it back together before the end. If you enjoyed the TV show, I cannot recommend this fanfiction enough. It is SO good and will make you feel all of the things.

The honorable mentions in this category that did make me shed a few tears are The Road by Cormac McCarthy and Turtles All the Way Down by John Green.

*Trigger warnings include: Abuse, mentions of sexual assault, abusive father, and blood. There is also frequent and strong swearing.

Book that made you happy

A Foul Thing by Chloe Gong. This was basically the cutest, fluffiest, most domestic story she has ever written, and I ate it UP. It was so unlike Chloe to give us something this light, but it was also delightfully stabby. 10/10 recommend if you are invested in the Secret Shangai series.

Favorite book to movie adaptation you’ve seen so far this year

I’m sure this comes as a surprise to absolutely nobody, but The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones. I’ve already expressed why I love this movie so much, so I won’t subject you to anymore Jamie Campbell Bower fangirling. *literally holds myself back*

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

I have to choose Starling by Isabel Strychacz because I literally bought this book because of the cover. It remains the prettiest thing on my bookshelf, and no, I will not accept criticism.

Honorable Mentions: Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber and Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard.

What books do you really need to read by the end of this year?

Since the rest of The Mortal Instruments are a given, I’m not including them on this list:

• I Loved You in Another Life by David Arnold
• Beyond the Story: 10-Year Record of BTS by Myeongseok Kang
• Once I Knew by Victoria Lynn
• The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

Goals for the rest of the year

There are many goals, but these are the ones that I really want to accomplish (and think that I can):

• Finish The Mortal Instruments series.
• Read my ARC of I Loved You in Another Life.
• Post my review of I Loved You in Another Life.
• Post my review of The Problem With Forever.
• Annotate my copy of The Otherworld.

Let’s Talk!

Which Mortal Instruments book is your favorite? What’s the best book you’ve read in 2023 so far? Has any book surprised you? Do you like reading manga? Let’s talk about all the 2023 bookish things in the comments!