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Encountered this tag from booktube, by a lil bit mads.

Questions:
1. Best book you’ve read so far
2. Best sequel you've read so far
3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to
4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year
5. Biggest disappointment
6. Biggest surprise
7. Favourite new author. (Debut or new to you)
8. Newest fictional crush
9. Newest favourite character
10. Book that made you cry
11. Book that made you happy

Questions:
1. Best book you’ve read so far
Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano. This was my best book of May. It's a heartbreaking family saga.

2. Best sequel you've read so far
Cytonic by Brandon Sanderson. It's the 3rd book in the Skyward series and the world-building is so good here.

3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to
Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo. I just finished Ninth House and it's soooo good! Can't wait to read book 2.

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year
Defiant by Brandon Sanderson to be released on November. It's the final book in the series!

5. Biggest disappointment
The Keeper of Night by Kylie Lee Baker. This was just... okay. It had potential, but that's it. It was my biggest disappointment because this was the first BOTM copy that I was able to get my hands on, and I really wanted to love it. I don't live in the US, so it's hard to find BOTMs here.

6. Biggest surprise
Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I read this via audiobook and was just so into it! I couldn't wait to go on a long drive since I usually only listen to audiobooks while driving. The characters just felt so real here.

7. Favourite new author. (Debut or new to you)
Taylor Jenkins Reid. I read After I Do after finishing Daisy Jones, and still loved it. She writes about regular people that makes it feel so real. Plus of course I read/hear so many good things about her other books that I haven't read yet.

8. Newest fictional crush
Bayaz from The Blade Itself. He's a powerful magician, but he looks like a butcher and is unintentionally funny.

9. Newest favourite character
Jude from The Cruel Prince by Holly Black. She's smart, resilient, does what she can to survive, even morally questionable things.

10. Book that made you cry
Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano < /3

11. Book that made you happy
I'll say Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo, not because it's a happy story, but because it's my latest 5 star read, and that makes me happy.



My ATY 2023

Fun!

1. Best book you’ve read so far
The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires I've read a lot so far this year, but none have been absolute favorites. This got the closest so far.

2. Best sequel you've read so far
Jade War The Greenbone Saga is now one of my favorite fantasy series.

3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi I got this as my Book of the Month. I'm very excited to get to it, though.

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year
Vampires of El Norte I read The Hacienda by the same author earlier this year and really enjoyed it. Hopefully this can live up to my hype.

5. Biggest disappointment
Lone Women Another Book of the Month pick that just didn't do it for me. I felt like there was just too much going on.

6. Biggest surprise
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine I heard about this years ago and never got around to it because its not one that ever jumped out to me as needing to be read. I finally put it on ATY TBR and unexpectedly had a good time.

7. Favourite new author. (Debut or new to you)
Becky Chambers I've read three books from her now. I'm a big fan of the solar-punk/hope-punk scifi genre.

8. Newest fictional crush
Jack Stapleton from The Bodyguard. What a cinnamon roll.

9. Newest favourite character
Carrie Soto from Carrie Soto Is Back. She's so unapologetic in how awesome she is.

10. Book that made you cry
The Dead Romantics (view spoiler)[sad tears, then happy tears (hide spoiler)]

11. Book that made you happy
Gods of Jade and Shadow I just had such a good time reading this. It was fun.

1. Best book you’ve read so far - Demon Copperhead and Small World
2. Best sequel you've read so far - Who Cries for the Lost
3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to - The Covenant of Water
4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year - The Last Devil to Die (Thursday Murder Club series)
5. Biggest disappointment - However Long the Day - just a mess
6. Biggest surprise - Kon-Tiki - read for a challenge on book from year of my birth, wasn't sure it would interest me but it was totally compelling
7. Favourite new author. (Debut or new to you) - Alice Oseman, author of the Heartstoppers series
8. Newest fictional crush - Dean the baseball player from Evvie Drake Starts Over
9. Newest favourite character - the aunties in Dial A for Aunties
10. Book that made you cry - Facing the Mountain: A True Story of Japanese American Heroes in World War II
11. Book that made you happy - The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece, narrated by the author Tom Hanks

Questions: 1. Best book you’ve read so far: Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh
2. Best sequel you've read so far: Mammoths at the Gates by Nghi Vo
3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to: Hopeland by Ian McDonald
4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year: Menewood by Nicola Griffith
5. Biggest disappointment When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill
6. Biggest surprise: Horses of Fire by A.D. Rhine
7. Favourite new author: (Debut or new to you) Xiran Jay Zhao (Iron Widow)
8. Newest fictional crush: Wendell Bambley from Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Fairies by Heather Fawcett
9. Newest favourite character: Kitty Flint in Scandal in Babylon by Barbara Hambly
10. Book that made you cry: The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead
11. Book that made you happy: Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

Questions:
1. Best book you’ve read so far: Tales From the Cafe by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
2. Best sequel you've read so far : Same as above, Tales From the Cafe
3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to: Before Your Memory Fades by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year: Before We Say Goodbye by Toshikazu Yamaguchi
5. Biggest disappointment: Verity by Colleen Hoover
6. Biggest surprise: Roses, In The Mouth of a Lion by Bushra Rehman
7. Favourite new author. (Debut or new to you): Jonathan Escoffery
8. Newest fictional crush: NONE
9. Newest favourite character: Razia and Angela from Roses/Lion
10. Book that made you cry: Shanghai Girls by Lisa See
11. Book that made you happy: The Enchanted April by Elizabeth Von Arnim

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Questions:

1. Best book you’ve read so far: oh, tough one, so I picked two: True Biz; One Hundred Twenty-One Days. Ironically (or not) both of these books are a testament to surviving hardship in very different ways for very different reasons.

2. Best sequel you've read so far: A Sunlit Weapon. Maisie Dobbs mystery series that are very smart with a strong female character lead.

3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to: another tough one, I have way too many: Other Birds. I have loved all of her books and this one was a long time coming. Fantasy/Magical realism.

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year: The Mistress of Bhatia House. Another mystery series with a strong female lead, unusual in that the books take place in 1920's India.

5. Biggest disappointment: Bleeding Heart Yard by Elly Griffiths. Another mystery series, that had 2 very good books to start out with. I just found the main character quite annoying in this one. I found myself yelling at her a lot!

6. Biggest surprise: The Living Mountain by Nan Shepherd. This is a non-fiction about nature that I read for a challenge about a mountain range in Scotland. I had no expectations. It was beautiful - writing, narration, topic. When she talked about the people living on the mountain it was so poetic I cried.

7. Favourite new author. (Debut or new to you): Brendan Slocumb : The Violin Conspiracy. The author is an accomplished violinist who has decided to put his love of music into writing as well. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and then actually saw him in person at a Book Fest.

8. Newest fictional crush: none

9. Newest favourite character: Polly Havens in The Book of Polly: A Novel. Polly is not the main character in the book, that would be her daughter Willow. Polly is however, a chain smoking, smack talking, Texan who had Willow at the age of 58. An oops. And right after her husband passed away. The storyline follows Willow from the age of 10 to 16. Willow who from a young age worried that Polly was going to die because she was "old". Willow who can't understand why Polly won't talk about her own family and the town she came from. Willow who decides she has to do something about those things. This could have also been classified as a surprise.

10. Book that made you cry: Eleanor & Park
Soapbox warning: anyone who has tried (and won) to ban this book can't possibly have read it. Would I want a 10 year old to read it? Not mine (you do what you want with yours). Do I think a teenager should read it? Absolutely! It is the story of two teenagers in high school, one from an extremely dysfunctional family and the other from a solid middle-class family. It is the story of their meeting. Their rough start and then their friendship. Their coming of age. Quite frankly it is a beautiful story that deserves to be told. If nothing else, it would teach a young person who doesn't know that there are families out there worse than their own.

11. Book that made you happy: The Reading List. A library, a teenage girl, an old man recently widowed, a mysterious book list. What's not to love?

Thanks Ana AZ. That was fun!

1. Best book you’ve read so far
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi - Fiction
This Is What It Sounds Like: What the Music You Love Says About You - Nonfiction

2. Best sequel you've read so far
Magic Tides

3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to
Magic Claims (Well, it's being released on Tuesday)

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year
Sleep No More
The last book in the series ended on a MAJOR cliffhanger.

5. Biggest disappointment
The Stolen Heir
Given how much I love the previous trilogy, this continuation was just all right.

6. Biggest surprise
Muppets in Moscow: The Unexpected Crazy True Story of Making Sesame Street in Russia
I had no clue that there was a Russian version of Sesame Street, and the drama that went into making it was fascinating.

7. Favourite new author. (Debut or new to you)
Kwame Alexander (The Crossover, Booked, Rebound)

8. Newest fictional crush
None. But reading Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing did remind me of the crush I used to have on Chandler Bing. 😁

9. Newest favourite character
Dalila from The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi

10. Book that made you cry
The Travelling Cat Chronicles

11. Book that made you happy
The Starless Sea
I love this book more and more each time I reread it.

Gail W wrote: "Questions:

1. Best book you’ve read so far: oh, tough one, so I picked two: True Biz; One Hundred Twenty-One Days. Ironically (or not) both of these books are a tes..."

You're welcome. It's fun to read other people's responses too.
I loved Eleanor & Park back when I read it.


@Kendra
I think we have similar tastes! Currently reading Amina and loving it so far. Dalila's so fun.

Kendra wrote: "1. Best book you’ve read so far
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi - Fiction
This Is What It Sounds Like: What the Music You Love Says About You - Nonfiction

2. Best..."

I loved Muppets in Moscow: The Unexpected Crazy True Story of Making Sesame Street in Russia! I gave it 5 stars. Such a great look at culture clashes, while being engaging and often funny.

Robin P wrote: "I loved Muppets in Moscow: The Unexpected Crazy True Story of Making Sesame Street in Russia! I gave it 5 stars. Such a great look at culture clashes, while being engaging and often funny"

I know. You posted about it and it sounded so interesting I immediately tracked down a copy so I could read it too. Thankyou so much for the recommend.😊

Fun!!

1. Best book you’ve read so far: A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg - I don't think I've met a Flagg book yet I haven't loved.

2. Best sequel you've read so far: 2nd Chance by James Patterson - Classic Patterson!!

3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to: Chloe and the Kaishao Boys by Mae Coyiuto - It looks like perfection.

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year: Ryan's Hope: An Oral History of Daytime's Groundbreaking Soap by Tom Lisanti -- I loved this show and cannot wait for this book. Yes, it's a soap opera, but it was a great one. One of the best ever!

5. Biggest disappointment: Three Bedrooms, One Corpse by Charlaine Harris -- I loved the movie version so much (especially the movie version of Aurora's love interest Martin) and the book just paled in comparison, I am sad to say.

6. Biggest surprise: Deeper Than the Dead by Tami Hoag -- Even though the *ending* wasn't a surprise oer se, I was surprised how good of a book it was, because I didn't always think Hoag was the best writer lol

7. Favourite new author. (Debut or new to you): Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia -- I want to read more of her works as soon as I can.

8. Newest fictional crush: Jack in Tempted by the Tycoon's Proposal by Rachael Stewart -- Romance novels get such a bad rap but Jack was great. The whole book was great, very character driven and emotional and sweet. I loved him and I loved the setup and the couple.

9. Newest favourite character: Jill from The Women's Murder Club series by James Patterson

10. Book that made you cry: The Christmas Shoes by Donna VanLiere -- I defy anyone *not* to cry reading that book. I was a mess for hours lol

11. Book that made you happy: See book answer #8

Gail W wrote: "Questions:

1. Best book you’ve read so far: oh, tough one, so I picked two: True Biz; One Hundred Twenty-One Days. Ironically (or not) both of these books are a tes..."

Wow Gail, We like many of the same books. I'm looking for something different, and One Hundred Twenty-One Days sounds great. (I loved the classic film Battle of Algiers too.) I'm also adding the Scotland book and Polly. If you like audios, the new Sujata Massey book is on sale at Audible TODAY. (Everything is on sale even pre-orders like this one. The sale ends at midnight tonight.)

Questions:
1. Best book you’ve read so far.
Fiction: The Curse of Chalion
Nonfiction: People Love Dead Jews: Reports from a Haunted Present
There hasn't been an absolute blow-me-away, tell everyone I know to read it, fiction book for me yet this year. Last year I had 4, so I am hoping to find a few in the second half of the year. People Love Dead Jews is extraordinary though and I am telling everyone to read it!

2. Best sequel you've read so far: I've only read a few sequels and none stand out.

3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to: Witch King by Martha Wells

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year: Labyrinth's Heart - the second book in this trilogy was one of my 4 "blew-me-away" reads last year and this is book 3.

5. Biggest disappointment: The Romantic Agenda A romance with a Black asexual heroine? I couldn't wait! It was so terrible though, everyone was awful, making awful choices, and not in an interesting intentional way.

6. Biggest surprise:
Fiction: This Poison Heart I resisted this one for a long time, something about the cover and description just kept turning me off. But it was such a page-turner!
Nonfiction: Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood "Oh, I've read other comedian memoirs, this will be another comedian memoir." Um, no, it was an education in pre- and post-apartheid South African history and culture rolled into a poignant coming of age story.

7. Favourite new author: AJ Lancaster, author of the The Lord of Stariel series

8. Newest fictional crush: I don't really do fictional crushes. I wish it were the walrus shapeshifter from A Walrus & A Gentleman, though, because, walrus shapeshifter! (It's a pretty awful book. But - walrus shapeshifter!)

9. Newest favourite character: Gus & Julia, the 42 year old twin "spinsters" stirring up trouble and rescuing women in peril in Regency England in The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies

10. Book that made you cry: My Dark Vanessa This one captured the experience of being a teenage girl in a certain era so brilliantly. A hard read but a good one.

11. Book that made you happy: Splinters of Scarlet That gorgeous cover! The perfect pacing, lovable characters, and interesting worldbuilding! Learning stuff about Denmark in the 1800s!

My mid-year review:
1. Best book you've read so far? The Unwomanly Face of War: An Oral History of Women in World War II by Svetlana Alexievich

2. Best sequel? mm I’m not good with sequels or series
3. New release you haven't read yet but want to? mm need some recommendations for new releases.
4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year? Snapshots from Home by Sasha Wasley

5. Biggest disappointment? The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton

6. Biggest surprise? The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf by Ambelin Kwaymullina I don’t really like sci-fi but this was really good.

7. Favorite new author (debut or new to you)? Hiro Arikawa This book was adorable!

8. Newest fictional crush OR Worst book? Worst book. These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman Why would an Australian author write such a bunch of stereotypical American style characters?

9. Newest favourite character? Materena Mahi or Jo Breen

10. A book that made you cry. Almost! Song of the Sun God by Shankari Chandran

11. A book that made you happy. A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers

12. Most beautiful book cover/design? Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen

13. What books are you prioritizing to read by the end of the year?

Questions:
1. Best book you’ve read so far
Victory City

2. Best sequel you've read so far
n/a (I don't care for series)

3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to
A Spell of Good Things

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year
The House of Doors

5. Biggest disappointment
Never Mind

6. Biggest surprise
Search

7. Favourite new author. (Debut or new to you)
Eleanor Shearer

8. Newest fictional crush
Charles Ignatius Sancho from The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho

9. Newest favourite character
Pampa Kampana from Victory City

10. Book that made you cry
The Accidental Tourist

11. Book that made you happy
Roughing It

I know it's not really half-way anymore but I still thought I'd fill this in.

1. Best book you’ve read so far
Genghis: Birth of an Empire by Conn Iggulden and The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan

2. Best sequel you've read so far
Queen's Lady (Queens of the Tower #2) by Joanna Hickson

3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to
Past Lying (Karen Pirie #7) by Val McDermid

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year
Payback in Death (In Death #57) by J D Robb

5. Biggest disappointment
Code by Brendan & Kathy Reichs

6. Biggest surprise
Book Lovers by Emily Henry

7. Favourite new author. (Debut or new to you)
Conn Iggulden

8. Newest fictional crush
N/a

9. Newest favourite character
N/a

10. Book that made you cry


11. Book that made you happy
Made In Scotland: My Grand Adventures in a Wee Country by Billy Connolly

Questions:
1. Best book you’ve read so far
Fresh Water for Flowers by Valerie Perrin

2. Best sequel you've read so far
A Court of Mist & Fury by Sarah Maas

3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to
The All-American by Susie Finkbeiner

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year
The Running Grave by Robert Galbraith

5. Biggest disappointment
A Spell of Good Things by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀

6. Biggest surprise
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

7. Favorite new author. (Debut or new to you)
William Kent Krueger

8. Newest fictional crush
Aaron Falk (Exiles)

9. Newest favourite character
Cork O'Connor

10. Book that made you cry
Swimming Between Worlds

11. Book that made you happy
South of the Buttonwood Tree by Heather Webber
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1. Best book you’ve read so far: Island of the Doomed by Stig Dagerman

2. Best sequel you've read so far: A Red Herring Without Mustard by Alan Bradley

3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to: Fallet från Eden by E.P. Uggla

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year: It might be Every Drop Is a Man's Nightmare by Megan Kamalei Kakimoto or The Box by Mandy-Suzanne Wong

5. Biggest disappointment: Adrift on the Nile by Naguib Mahfouz

6. Biggest surprise: How Stella Learned to Talk: The Groundbreaking Story of the World's First Talking Dog by Christina Hunger

7. Favorite new author. (Debut or new to you): Michel Houellebecq

8. Newest fictional crush: I've never had a fictional crush, not from something I've read anyway (but maybe from a movie like when the Pirates of the Caribbean came.)

9. Newest favourite character: The girl in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

10. Book that made you cry: No book has made me cry this year, it happens rarely. But the last book that made me cry was Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. And I wasn't sobbing quietly, oh no, I bellowed, I howled lika child during the last chapters. I don't believe that any book before that has ever made me cry so much, so heavily.

11. Book that made you happy: The Moomins and the Great Flood by Tove Jansson

I've got a question concerning the word sequel since English is not my native language - do you always, by using that term, mean the second book or can it be a third or fourth book?

Nike wrote: "I've got a question concerning the word sequel since English is not my native language - do you always by that term mean the second book or can it be a third or fourth book?"
I reckon it can be third or fourth - and just did a quick google on the definition of sequel and got - something that takes place after or as a result of an earlier event. Therefore in my mind, any book that's not the first would count as a sequel.

Bec wrote: "Nike wrote: "I've got a question concerning the word sequel since English is not my native language - do you always by that term mean the second book or can it be a third or fourth book?"
I reckon ..."

Thank you! 🙂

Questions:
1. Best book you’ve read so far: Happy Place

2. Best sequel you've read so far: Yours Truly

3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to: Fourth Wing

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year: Holly

5. Biggest disappointment: You & I, Rewritten

6. Biggest surprise: Carrie Soto Is Back

7. Favourite new author. (Debut or new to you): Sarah Hawley

8. Newest fictional crush: August from Unfortunately Yours

9. Newest favourite character: Tennal from Ocean's Echo

10. Book that made you cry: Oathbringer

11. Book that made you happy: A Psalm for the Wild-Built

1. Best book you’ve read so far: The Heart's Invisible Furies
2. Best sequel you've read so far: Artificial Condition
3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to: Hello Beautiful
4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year: Holly
5. Biggest disappointment: Bunny
6. Biggest surprise: Bunny
7. Favourite new author. (Debut or new to you): John Boyne
8. Newest fictional crush: Demon Demon Copperhead
9. Newest favourite character: Gideon Gideon the Ninth
10. Book that made you cry: The Heart's Invisible Furies
11. Book that made you happy: The Twist of a Knife

1. Best book you’ve read so far - A Ballet of Lepers: A Novel and Stories
2. Best sequel you've read so far - Something Rotten
3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to - One of Us Is Back
4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year - I think all the 2023 books I want to read are already out
5. Biggest disappointment - Alice - too gory and too much human trafficking
6. Biggest surprise The Silver Chalice
7. Favourite new author. (Debut or new to you) - Alice Feeny
8. Newest fictional crush - None (but Cooper from the Heather Wells series if I was pressed)
9. Newest favourite character - I love Stephanie from the Skulduggery Plesant books, but she isn't new to me. I guess Kaz from The Apollo Murders - Kaz deserved a better paced book.
10. Book that made you cry Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology - It didn't make me cry, but I wanted to hug Leah at about 12 different places
11. Book that made you happy - The Jane Austen Project

Questions:
1. Best book you’ve read so far: Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver (although this was the hardest book to read all year so far)

2. Best sequel you've read so far: I've read books that HAVE sequels this year, but not read any actual sequels.

3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to: Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradal

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year:
For fun: Starter Villain by John Scalzi
For education: Black AF History: The Un-Whitewashed Story of America by Michael Harriot

5. Biggest disappointment: Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan Sounded like an interesting premise, and I've read another by the author that I liked, but this just didn't live up to my expectations.

6. Biggest surprise: Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus The cover made it look like a pretty fluffy book, and while it was accessible, there was a lot to ponder in this book as well.

7. Favourite new author. (Debut or new to you): Laurie Frankel via her This Is How It Always Is

8. Newest fictional crush: Max Kopelman from Never Meant to Meet You �� although with what I've read, there weren't a lot of choices (no offense Max).

9. Newest favourite character: Lizzy (trans woman who owns a music store) Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan (pretty sure Ms. Boylan wrote the Lizzy character).

10. Book that made you cry: Beartown by Fredrik Backman

11. Book that made you happy: Never Meant to Meet You by Alli Frank and Asha Youmans

Dubhease wrote: "1. Best book you’ve read so far - A Ballet of Lepers: A Novel and Stories
2. Best sequel you've read so far - Something Rotten
3. New release you haven't read yet, but ..."

I am so intrigued by that first title!