We’re halfway through the year and I have read a lot and also nothing!!
I never understand how this works đȘ Apparently if you read 1 book and add 3 to your TBR pile, it will, in fact, never go down. Trying to ignore this. I am a bit late with this tag as it’s already July, but always excited to do a bit of a mid-year-recap!
So far for me, 2021 has been more dedicated to writing. I’m always disappointed when I don’t read as much as I used to. (Cannot fathom the year I read 300+ books. Who was that. WHO.) But at the same time, I’m fiercely proud of the writing I’ve been doing lately. I’ve written over 200,000 words so far this year (estimating) and am having a small lull for July to catch up on reading.
I always feel I should apologise for the way my blog slid. But it is what it is, and writing + managing health issues is a lot, plus I just use instagram as my micro-blog anyway. Do join me over there. Many memes, much explosions of obsessive book love. And I do have exciting reviews coming up for Paper Fury here soon too so keep an eye out.
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1. HOW MUCH HAVE YOU READ?
This time last year I’d already read 100 so đ„ș missing those days of reading hard and fast. But I am stressing less about reading and THAT I enjoy.
2. WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN READING?
This is a question I add in each year for an excuse to make pie charts. I do love pie (who doesn’t?!).
Okay so my star-ratings are not GREAT and I feel a bit sheepish here đI don’t actually do public star-ratings unless it’s 4 or 5 these days, so these are just recorded on my spreadsheet. Basically only 47% of my reeds have been good (I consider 3 a meh rating) which is a statistic that is a solid yikes. As for my genres, I pretty consistently favour contemporary (and contemporary fantasy) so this isn’t a surprise.
3. Best book youâve read so far in 2020
I have literally only had ten 5-star ratings; and most were rereads so đđđ»again we are improving that later. But I’ve already reread These Violent Delights TWICE and I’m dying. It is so downright phenomenal that it has wrecked my life.
 4. Best sequel youâve read so far in 2020
The Theft of Sunlight was incredible. I thad the thoughtful political and social commentary that I crave from YA fantasy (and sadly rarely get đȘ) coupled with gorgeous prose and dimensional characters. Such an underrated series truly. I also really appreciate Rebecca Westscott & Libby Scott’s autistic middle-grade contemporary series. It is the BEST and absolutely captures the heart of what it is to be autistic.
5. New release you havenât read yet, but want to
Was just laughing as I looked at least year’s list for this question and I still haven’t read a single one. Let me lay down softly and weep. For this year I will say…
6. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year
I am most thoroughly dying for Summer Sons. Like if I could only have ONE more book in 2021, it would be this. But also the others too because I want all the books and cannot be stopped.
7. Out of Your Comfort Zone
I technically haven’t finished A Little Life buuuuut…it’s an adult literary novel so that’s definitely out of my comfort zone. (Cannot say I’m “enjoying” it but it is deeply, deeply affecting me.) Also Winter’s Orbit! I rarely read adult sci-fi but I adored this one.
8. Biggest surprise
Maybe Rain City Lights because this book absolutely hit me in the guts and I loved it (as well as suffered for it đ) and it’s super underrated so please pick up a copy!!
I also adored Lifestyles of Gods & Monsters which is a super bizarre modern Ariadne and the Minotaur retelling, and it got me so emotional!!
9. New Favourite author (debut or new to you)
Into The Heartless Wood came out of nowhere for me and I just ADORED it with my whole soul!! I listened to an audio and never wanted to turn it off (also the narrator was so peaceful). It’s almost a cozy fantasy, but also feral tree girls who eat hearts and soft boys who bake. đ„șGhostwood Song is a southern lowkey horror about grief and ghosts and heavily features a fiddle and messy family relationships and it was just excellent. The Boy From The Mish is such a heartfelt and beautiful story of an indigenous teen coming out and fitting being gay in with his culture. Tweet Cute was just so so CUTE, like downright funny and adorable.
 
10. underrated gems you’ve discovered recently
Tap through for my reviews on these but they’re AMAZING and I want everyone to take notice of these perfect books. I’ve actually read more underrated than popular this year, and just fell in love with so many.
11. rereads this year
THE WAY I’VE REREAD THESE VIOLENT DELIGHTS TWICE WITHIN 3 MONTHS THOUGH. I do need to do more rereads before the year ends because I miss prioritising them. I also reread a few first books with intentions of reading the sequels finally…can report I still have not read the sequels.
12. Book that made you cry
Will say These Violent Delights again just to suffer with myself. It didn’t make me cry, I suppose? Just my soul ached. I actually haven’t felt teary this year for anything. Getting tough in my old, old age. Although Heartstopper’s unconditional love themes always make me đ„șand Volume 4 was beyond perfect.
13. Book that made you happy
Tweet Cute for the levels of adorable!! And Roman and Jewel was also just one of those books that is so fun, you can’t help but smile. Also Social Queue! It’s not out yet but the it nailed the autistic experience with such finesse I just đđđ».
14. Most beautiful book youâve bought so far this year (or received)
Ariadne (UK edition) has stolen my heart!! But also Ghost Wood Song and Things That Grow were total cover buys and I do not regret it.
 
15. goals for the rest of the year
- I am aiming for 150 reads and will probably overachieve a bit but not aiming for 200 this year. Less pressure đ©đđ»
- I would like to write another book! Maybe for NaNoWriMo, still?
- Dreaming of hitting 90K on instagram but that one is a little far-fetched.
- Read more ebooks and eARCs đ€šđđ»actually TRY for this and get my Netgalley ratio back up.
- I’d like to have read all my books from book boxes by the time 2021 ends.
- Challenge myself to pick up more adult books because I’m really enjoying them this year for some reason. Probably because of all my white hair.
| What about you? |
time to tell me all your half-yearly news!! are you behind or on track with your Goodreads goal? what have been your highlight reads of 2021 so far? have you done any writing?
Well, These Violent Delights by Micah Nemerever and Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo are certainly books that everyone should have on their racists and I’m glad you do too đđđŒ that’s all
hello!! ah it’s great to hear that though you didn’t have as many reads (though 90 is still a huge number in my eyes haha), you ‘ve managed to write a lot!! hehe i’ve seen you talk SO much about these violent delights on instagram, you’ve definitely convinced me to give it a go! i’m truly glad to hear that you enjoyed tweet cute, i’m excited to try that one out too! wishing you a lovely 2nd half of the year and all the best with your goals! â€ïž
Some of those covers – ALL THE HEART EYES – I won’t have money to go book shopping again for a while, unfortunately!
It hurts my soul so much that I can’t get my Instagram account to work! Since I can’t afford a cell phone – and this won’t be changing anytime soon, either – I’m never able to post, and usually can’t even log in to try to follow others, since the website login demands my cell number be added to the account, which…of course, is impossible for me to provide. *sob* Maybe one day soon?!?!
Good for you on all the writing!!! I’m nowhere near my WIP goals from January, so, hey, screw it, I’ll finish it eventually! I’m seriously considering doing NaNo this year, if I have the time, because I really want to get these projects wrapped up!
Looks like first half of the year has gone really well. You can easily complete goal of 150 books. 90k! I can only dream of getting 5000 for now. đ
Congratulations! You’re doing so well with your challenge.
hii, cait!! i’m so jealous of your milestone of 90 books, that number is huge. i think i’ve read maybe 45 books this month? i don’t know, i only started keeping track a few months ago haha. ahh i’ve been wanting to read libby scott’s books. i have autism and am really hoping that the representation will be done well, i’ve read too many books with not great autism rep. anyways, your first half of the year looks like it was super productive and i hope that the second half on 2021 goes well for you đ.
great post! i’m so excited for once upon a broken heart!
Yay for reading 90 books! Not stressing about reading is so relieving and I’m glad you’re not doing that!
Ahh 3 is pretty meh for me too so I completely get what you mean – although my stats are more around 60% being 4 stars or more.
I am so excited to read These Violent Delights and I hope I read it soon! I hope you enjoy Hani and Ishu – it’s one of my favourite books of the year so far!
and Tweet cute was so cute <3
So I actually reached my initial goal of 50 books, so now it’s time to try for the stretch goal of 100 books! My plan for achieving this includes a lot of graphic novels and manga and I couldn’t be happier! I’ve basically only read romance and graphic novels this year and I see no reason to change that too much.
This hasn’t been the best year for me in terms of enjoyment though. A few weeks ago I had more 2 star reads than 5 star reads, which is just sad considering how rare 2 star reads are for me. So trying to answer any of the favorites questions would be really difficult for me at this point. I’m hoping that the second half of the year brings more absolute, totally obsessed favorite books!
I’m glad to hear that you’ve been doing more writing! I’ve only just eased myself back into writing and I’ve been doing a lot more of that than reading too (although I have been in a huge movie soon since October last year which also pushes books aside đ ) I stopped setting goals for how many books I read a couple of years ago and it’s helped me to focus more on reading what I enjoy rather than filling a quota.
SO, I actually did achieve my Goodreads goal, but only because random . org kindly made it 84 books this year? Not as good as the year it was 13 or something but hey, we take what we can get! Honestly I think you are doing AMAZING, especially since you have so much going on! I mean, writing, and Instagram fame, and blogging and you STILL have read 90 books in half a year!? Yeah that is impressive! (Also SO excited about the writing, I miss your books in my life, and I am sure you miss them being in our lives đ)
Also HARD ouch at your ratings. I mean a full 25% are TWO STARS? I am sobbing with you, frankly. That is rude of the books. I have actually had the opposite this year- I worry that I am getting too easy to please because SO many books have been wins for me (though I did just read one that was BAD and I am actually a little happy about it? That is messed up isn’t it?) And you are right, Ariadne (the UK one anyway) is GORGEOUS!
Agh, I love this so much that I stole it and just scheduled my own 2021 book freak out post for tomorrow. Hope you check it out. <3
I don’t have a proper reading goal this year in an effort to not stress about my reading as well. I’ve read 77 books so far and I’m currently in a slump so things aren’t great at the moment, BUT I did read some really good books this year. I’m currently reading These Violent Delights, actually! Savouring it by reading slowly and annotating haha.
It’s so great that you’ve been so dedicated to writing this year, I admire all of your words so much ahh!! You still managed to read a whole damn lot though, how and what kind of magical powers do you have, I wonder, ahah. I loved Tweet Cute so, so much as well, such an adorable read. Wishing you all the best of luck for your goals!! <3