The time has finally come for the Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag. A few of my blogging friends shared this book tag dedicated to sharing some of your favorite reads and reading plans for the rest of the year, since we’re at the halfway point for the year. If you want a tiny taste of how my reading has changed over my blogging years, check out my mid-year freak out tags for 2020, 2019, & 2017.

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Best Book You’ve Read So Far in 2021: The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon & People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry 

It’s probably no surprise that 1) I have more than one favorite book and 2) that they’re both contemporary romances. The Ex Talk is definitely one of my favorite enemies-to-lovers books, and I cannot get over the humor and coziness in Poppy and Alex’s relationship in People We Meet on Vacation

Some other favorites I had to share because I have no self-control as usual:

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Take Me Home Tonight by Morgan Matson, Second First Impressions by Sally Thorne, We Can’t Keep Meeting Like This by Rachel Lynn Solomon, & Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter 

Best Sequel You’ve Read So Far: Another tie because I just can’t choose 1! If we’re talking literal sequel (aka book #2) and contemporary romance world, it’s The Intimacy Experiment by Rosie Danan. If we’re talking new book in a multi-book series, it’s obviously A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas… I also can’t help but mention Anna K: Away by Jenny Lee

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New Release You Haven’t Read Yet, But Want To: Indeciveness/multi-book options always rules, including:

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The Road Trip by Beth O’Leary , One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston,  It’s Kind of a Cheesy Love Story by Lauren Morrill, & God Spare the Girls by Kelsey McKinney 

Most Anticipated Release for the Second Half of the Year: Never Saw You Coming by Erin Hahn 

Biggest Disappointment: Controversial opinion, but From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout – I didn’t dislike it but didn’t blow me away like everyone else & I don’t plan on reading the sequels 

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Biggest Surprise: Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano – I was so surprised by how much LOVED this book and can’t wait to continue this series 

Favorite New Author (Debut or New To You)

Debut: Sheba Karim (The Marvelous Mirza Girls), Mia P Manasala (Arsenic and Adobo), Libby Hubscher (Meet Me in Paradise)

New To Me: Beth O’ Leary, Elin Hilderbrand

New Fictional Crush: Alex from People We Meet on Vacation 

New Favorite Character: Emerie from A Court of Silver Flames 

Book that made you cry: Meet Me in Paradise by Libby Hubscher 

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Book that made you happy: The Secret Bridesmaid by Katy Birchall – this is a more recent read of mine following a professional bridesmaid who’s hired by a royal British family – so much fun! 

Most beautiful book you’ve bought or received so far this year: I don’t have my own copy, but I love the cover of It Had to Be You by Georgia Clark 

What books do you need to read by the end of the year? All of them but here’s a few on my must-read TBR (including some anticipated releases):

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Isn’t it Bromantic (Bromance Book Club #4)by Lyssa Kay Adams, Never Saw You Coming by Erin Hahn, Last Chance Books by Kelsey Rodkey, & If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane 

What have been some of your favorite books of the year? What are your anticipated releases for the rest of 2021? Have you done the mid-year book freak out tag? Share in the comments!