Hello fellow readers! Somehow we’ve made it to June, which means we are already halfway through 2024! Not sure how that happened but instead of trying to figure that out, I am here to share with you my answers to the mid year freakout tag.

I did this last year and enjoyed sharing with you my thoughts and impressions of the books I have read so far. So I’m back to do it again. As a little recap, my reading goal for 2024 is to read 52 books. Using what I have read (and what I have yet to pick up) I’ve answered the following questions from the mid year freakout tag, which I highly suggest you do as well. Now, let’s get started.

1. How many books you’ve read so far. 27

2. Best book you’ve read so far this year. Unlike last year when The Silent Reader was the clear winner of 2023, I’m not yet sure which book might take the top spot for my favorite book I read in 2024. You’ll have to keep guessing! But if I had to choose a clear favorite from the first six months of the year I would have to give it to The Golden Doves by Martha Hall Kelly. A historical fiction thriller set in post-World War Two Europe, this book had everything I wanted and more.

3. New release you haven’t read yet but want to. No matter what happens this year, Lucy Foley’s newest novel, The Midnight Feast, will be read before we say goodbye to 2024.

4. Biggest disappointment. I had high expectations but unfortunately Alice Winn’s In Memoriam fell a bit short for me.

5. Biggest surprise. Despite it’s violence and large page count, The Chestnut Man was superbly written.

6. Favorite new author (debut or new to you). I read my first Ruta Sepetys novel this year (I Must Betray You) and I can honestly say it won’t be the last one I will read by this talented author.

7. Book that made you happy. Christina Lauren must have a degree in making people smile. The Paradise Problem made me smile and happy for many reasons.

8. Most beautiful book you have acquired this year. Not surprisingly this is a special edition of a classic. See below for the gorgeous edition of Jane Eyre that I snatched up recently at Barnes & Noble.

9. Best sequel you’ve read so far. Finlay Donovan is back and she is knocking ’em dead.

10. What books do you need to read before the end of the year? The Fury by Alex Michaelides and The Only One Left by Riley Sager are my top priorities.