happy july everybody! i'm back to do my mid-year book tag. i've done this for a few years now... you can see my 2023, 2024, and 2025 tags by clicking the links at the bottom of the post. i also have the blank questions there if you want to copy them into a post and do this yourself. tag me if you do! i love hearing what others are reading.
Amount of books you’ve read so far: 31 as of July 2 (for reference, 16 of those 31 are manga or graphic novels)
Best book you’ve read so far this year: I can't choose! There have been a lot of great ones. Kakigori Summer, Yellowface, Careless People, Minor Arcana Vol. 3, The Irish Goodbye...
Best sequel you’ve read so far this year: Volume 3 of Minor Arcana by Jeff Lemire. I've been really into Minor Arcana since I came across it at the library last year. Each volume so far compiles five issues of the comic book. The series is still coming out, so I have to wait several months in between volumes, but so far I've been wowed every time.
New release you haven’t read yet but want to: The Typing Lady by Ruth Ozeki. Just waiting for my library hold to come in!
Most anticipated release for the second half of the year: Taipei Story by R. F. Kuang
Biggest disappointment: Game Changer by Rachel Reid. I wanted to join the fun of this book series after seeing the show but I just couldn't get into it. I've never been much of a romance novel girl.
Biggest surprise: The Irish Goodbye by Beth Ann Fennelly. (A surprise because I knew nothing about it ahead of time!) I picked up this book completely on a whim, knowing nothing about the author, and it became an instant favorite. I'll most definitely be buying myself a copy; the writing is exquisite and the stories are genuinely moving, be it funny or poignant or bittersweet. I can see myself coming back to it, and I've already convinced my partner to read it too!
Favorite new author (debut or new to you): Beth Ann Fennelly! See above.
Newest fictional crush: For the second year in a row... I don't think I have one. Crazy. Have I left the age of fictional crushes behind me? Or maybe I'm just reading different types of books than I used to.
Favorite character: I've been working my way through all the Anne of Green Gables books, so I have to go with Anne. She holds a special place in my heart.
Book that made you cry: The Irish Goodbye by Beth Ann Fennelly, Kakigori Summer by Emily Itami
Book that made you happy: Kakigori Summer by Emily Itami
A book I want to read by the end of year: The Typing Lady by Ruth Ozeki! But since I've already said that... I'd also like to do a re-read of The Guest by Emma Cline and revisit The Great Gatsby as well.
that's all i've got for you! sometimes i do a mid-year check-in to see how my yearly reading goals are going, but i don't think i set any definitive reading goals this year. i'm kind of just enjoying the ride this time. sometimes it's more fun this way!
blank questions if you want to fill this out yourself
my responses from previous years: 2025, 2024, 2023
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