I’ve read a lot of books in the first half of the year – 233 to be precise – so I thought that this tag would be a great way to look back on some of the highlights of 2021 so far!
Best Book You’ve Read So Far in 2020
Half a Soul has got to be up there, despite being literally the first book I read this year. I’m always down for Regency fantasy romance and this is an exceptionally fun one with a very swoonworthy hero! I also adored Winter’s Orbit, which is a marvellous sci-fi romance with an arranged marriage, great character work, and a bunch of politics – like court fantasy in space. My review is here if you want more of my thoughts!
Best Sequel of 2020 so far
Master Artificer was a fabulous sequel that really expanded the world of the first book – my review has more detail, but be warned, it’s hard to avoid spoilers for book one! Dead Man in a Ditch was also a brilliant follow-up to a book I loved, and Voidbreaker was one of the best final books in a trilogy I’ve read in a long time!
New Release You Haven’t Read Yet, But Want to
Oh goodness, most of them! I’m so very behind on my 2021 releases. I’m looking forward to The Jasmine Throne very much, and The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels.
Most Anticipated Release of the Second Half of 2020
I am desperate to read The Last Graduate! I adored A Deadly Education and that cliffhanger left me on tenterhooks!
Biggest Disappointment
For the Wolf. I wanted dark and luxurious fairy tale romance, but what I got was a lot of overblown teen angst. My review has more details but I was so let down!
Biggest surprise
I didn’t expect to have as much fun with Serpent and Dove as I did! I’m a bit worn out on enemies-to-lovers YA, but this is quite a romp. Not perfect, but very enjoyable.
Favourite New Author
Sarah Pinsker. I love her brand of eerily believable speculative fiction – I’ve read and reviewed both A Song for a New Day and We Are Satellites in the first half of this year and they were both stunning.
Newest Fictional Crush
I loved Half a Soul‘s Elias Wilder, the Lord Sorcier, and Leander Fabian from Stephanie Burgis’s Good Neighbours series. Both go straight on my list of Hot Wizard Boyfriends.
Newest Favourite Character
My most recent favourite is Wendy from Wendy, Darling. The book is a fantastic take on what might happen after Neverland, and I loved adult Wendy’s resilience and heart.
Book That Made You Cry
The Midnight Bargain made me cry happy tears, but I can’t tell you why!
Book That Made You Happy?
So many, but it’s hard to top the sense of joy and comfort I had from discovering that the book of Kiki’s Delivery Service is even better than the film. It’s so cosy and wonderful.
Favourite Book to Movie Adaptation You’ve Seen This Year?
I don’t think I’ve seen any! I actually really tend to dislike adaptations – no matter how good they are, they’ll never look exactly like I imagined things, and some things will inevitably be changed, and so they’re always disappointing to me!
Favourite Review You’ve Written This Year?
I don’t really think I have a favourite of my reviews – once I’ve written them, I mostly forget about them…
Most Beautiful Book You Bought or Received So Far This Year?
It would be hard to beat Botanical Curses and Poisons by Fez Inkwright!
What Books Do You Need to Read by the End of the Year?
Uh, all of them! The TBR is at 420 and counting, and I’d like to get it down even further, so I’ve got my work cut out for me!
A Cat, A Book, and A Cup of Tea 
I must jump on Wendy Darling. Winters Orbit was so lovely, I loved it too!
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I was genuinely surprised by how much I loved Wendy, Darling! I thought it might be a bit mopey for me, but it was fast-paced and I really loved the character work!
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More than 200 books? That is so very amazing! I’m glad to see you’ve found some favourites, including a new fave author.
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Haha, it’s making a dent in the TBR at least! Thank you – there have been some real highs so far this year!
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