Mid-Year Freak Out 2022

I made it to June, by golly.

I’ve read 111 books thus far, 55.5% of my 200 book goal.

Here are my reading highs and lows from the last six months.

Best book read so far

I’m on my third reread of Good Omens this year.

I find it really touching.

I also REALLY love American Gods.

My love for it rivals my love for His Dark Materials.

I just think it’s neat.

Best sequel read so far

I read all of the Lighthouse Family books this spring.

My favorite was either The Octopus or The Otter.

These books are just so precious and funny.

Pandora and Seabold actually live out the values they try to teach their kids.

I’m sobbing.

New release you haven’t read but want to

Hell Followed With Us and I Kissed Shara Wheeler are two of my highest priority reads.

I just brought home a copy of Hell Followed With Us.

I am both excited and scared.

Most anticipated release for the second half of the year

Sarah Gailey’s new book comes out this month! They are one of my favorite SFF authors. I trust this book to smash my soul up the way The Echo Wife did.

Olivia Dade and Alison Cochrun both have books out in November that I CAN’T WAIT TO READ.

Ocean’s Echo, a companion novel to Winter’s Orbit, comes out in October. I’m in a perpetual state of squealing.

Biggest Disappointment

Her Majesty’s Royal Coven started off so strong.

I think the author’s preoccupation with the message (which, granted, was an important one) ended up hurting the story.

There were a few moments at the end that actively made me roll my eyes, but one of them rubbed me the wrong way:

Theo’s magical transition didn’t read as triumphant to me. It felt a little like, “Wow, now we can take her seriously as a girl.” Which like…contradicts a lot of the earlier messaging.

I could be reading too much into it. I’m just frustrated.

Biggest Surprise

I did NOT expect to weep over dragon erotica!!

HOW is this one of the best books I’ve ever read about healing from abuse?

I keep recommending it to people and they just stare at me.

Little do they know I’m SERIOUS. This book is GOOD.

Ironically, it’s the most human love story I’ve read all year.

Favorite new (to you) author

Jen Winston’s bisexual memoir made my year.

Please check out her absolutely wild website.

Book That Made You Cry

What book DIDN’T make me cry is the better question?

(The answer is Light From Uncommon Stars.)

Pretty much every Neil Gaiman book I’ve read this year made me cry in some capacity. Special mention to The Ocean at the End of the Lane. You know what you did.

The Bone Orchard is an absolutely devastating book about survival. It earns that happy ending.

The Comeback made me so angry I wanted to throw up.

Both Act Your Age, Eve Brown and All the Feels made me sob with their excellent characters and moments of vulnerability. They were funny and sweet without sacrificing emotional honesty.

Book that made you happy

The Councillor was everything I didn’t know I wanted from a fantasy novel.

I’ve never been so invested in a beta couple.

It’s a political thriller that’s also very queer.

I love seeing myself in the genre I love best. That’s neat.

Favorite book-to-film adaptation

I didn’t finish the season because I got STRESSED OUT, but I LOVED Heartstopper on Netflix.

Surprise! Even though I hated the source material, I really enjoyed the series!

That sequence at the party with CHVRCHES’ “Clearest Blue” made me bawl.

Nick Nelson is everything to me.

Most beautiful cover you’ve bought this year

I haven’t bought very many books this year, believe it or not!

I did buy Daughter of the Moon Goddess and, wow, I’m in love with the cover.

Have I read it yet?

Of course not!

Books you need to read by the end of the year

I think this is the second (or third) year in a row of me not reading Soul of Stars.

I’M GOING TO READ IT. PROBABLY.

I’ve had A Marvellous Light for approximately 100 years. I need to read that at some point.

People have called it a surprise favorite but I haaate historical fantasy.

I’ve been meaning to read Book Lovers for as long as it’s been out. I need to read it before September, which is when Seattle Book Bingo ends.

Is this the year I read Mansfield Park? Probably not.

Favorite post you published this year

I’m pretty proud of Books That Would Have Been Improved with a Queer Romance, because I’m right. About all of it.

Two books to go until I finish Seattle Book Bingo!

This summer, I’ve had one outdoor party, been to Shakespeare in the Park, and have a tattoo appointment coming up!

My niece will be born soon!

My friend is going to make us cinnamon rolls!

I have some things to look forward to and plenty of good books to read.

Happy mid-year, I suppose.