Mid-Year Book Freak Out 2019

So it is currently July as I am writing this, meaning that we are into the seventh month of 2019! It is crazy how fast this year has gone already, and I have read some amazing books this year! Unfortunately, due to the high demands of my University course, I have not managed to read many books in the first half of 2019, which is why I have made the decision to also include plays/scripts I have read in this tag since they are still technically books. I have previously done this post before last year, I am updating everything for the books that I have read this year, so if you would be interested in reading last years edition of the mid-year book freak out click here. Without further ado, here is the mid-year book freak out 2019!

1) Best book read in 2019 so far?

The Surface Breaks by Louise O'Neill

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this books, it was one of the firsts books I read this year. It was a very interesting retelling of the little mermaid story, and related back to its origins rather than the sugar coated Disney movie (with I still have much love for!) It was a feminist retelling of the story, which was refreshing to read about, and I loved how much the female characters stood up for themselves and fought back in this story. That being said, there were many darker elements to the story, and some parts were quite brutal. It may not be a book for the faint of heart, but this should be on everyone's must read list, particularly for people with a love of fairy tales and fantasy. Also, the cover is so pretty, could you really leave this book on the shelf?

2) Best sequel read in 2019 so far?

Changed for Good: A Feminist History of the Broadway Musical by Stacy Wolf

This book is not really a sequel, it is more a companion to the book "A Problem Like Maria: Gender and Sexuality in the American Musical". Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and finding out new things about the industry that I would like to enter. Learning about the history and the struggles women have faced in the Musical Theatre industry has been fascinating, and although it seems like we have come a long way, its eerie to see that in reality, we have not made much progress at all.

3) New Release you haven't read yet but want to?

Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertti

Although this may technically be a new release for 2018, I am including it on this list as I have owned this book since it first came out but I have not had chance to pick it up just yet. I really enjoyed reading the first book in this series - Simon versus the Homosapien Agenda - and am really excited to see what will happen to these characters next. I am particularly excited for the fact that seemingly the narrative is told from the point of view of an LGBT female character - mainly because I rarely have come across non-straight women in YA fiction (or any other type of fiction might I add! If there are any books with gay women in please throw suggestions my way, I would love to read abut women who are like me!) I really need to find time to read this book this year hopefully, as the first book was very good and I have a lot of high hopes for this book!

4) Most Anticipated Release for the Second Half of 2019?

Of Ice and Shadows by Audrey Coulthurst

Leading on from above, I am really looking forward to reading the second book in the Of Fire and Stars Series as it is one of the rare book series with two lesbian protagonists. Both characters were very fleshed out and felt like four dimensional characters, and both were very likable. To top it of, this is a fantasy series, which is just the cherry on top of a Christmas cake as I love fantasy series and to read about these bad-ass gay women was awesome! I am really looking forward to the follow up to this story.

5) Biggest Disappointment of 2019?

On the Other Side by Carrie Hope Fletcher

I really hate to put this book in this answer on the mid year book freak out, but out of all the books I have read so far this year, it has been the one that has stuck with me the least. I really enjoyed this book and the concept behind it was very interesting, but it was not as fascinating as other books I have read this year have been. I feel like I haven't done a great job of selling this book to you, but I did write a review of it on Good Reads that you can check out!

6) Biggest Surprise of 2019?

Playing a Part by Daria Wilke

I feel like this is a story that focuses more on the characters than story itself. I really enjoyed reading it, it was a little short and I do think there may have been a couple of errors in translation as some of the phrases sounded very strange, but it was a lovely read! I also find it fascinating that a Russian Author wrote a story with an LGBT Protagonist, especially with all the LGBT rights issues going on over there, so it was a very bold move to make.

7) Favourite New Author

Louise O'Neil

I really enjoyed reading The Surface Breaks written by Louise O'Neil as mentioned above, and there was something about her writing style that I really loved. I will definitely be looking out for more books written by Louise O'Neil in the future.

8) Newest Favourite Character

Yeva from Hunted

 Yeva used to go hunting with her father in the wood as a child, but then when she grows up, she stops since it is something that a young lady shouldn't do. When their father is forced to sell his home and move to his hunting cottage with his three children, Yeva begins hunting again. Her father goes missing and Yeva goes into the forest to see what has happened to him, which is where she encountered the Beast.

I loved how awesome Yeva came across in this story and how she seemed to be a no nonsense taking girl (if that makes any sense to you). I also loved how she fought back and did not give up when she was initially held in captivity in the early stages of the book. She was a brilliant character to me and one of the strongest in the books that I have read so far.

9) A Book that made you Cry

Bare: a Pop Opera

When auditioning for Bare: A Pop Opera, I had no idea what the story was about, I only researched the characters I auditioned. So when it came to actually reading the script the heartbreaking ending, I was not emotionally prepared. I will not ruin it for anyone who has no idea what I am talking about, but I will say that if you get a chance to go and see this show, please go and see it! It is a lovely, tragic story and the music really helps to carry the story along. Even better, if you get the opportunity to be in Bare, AUDITION FOR IT!

10) Favourite Review you have wrote this year

The Surface Breaks

I think the review for The Surface Breaks that I wrote is my personal favourite from this year. It was a review that didn't feel forced and that I really enjoyed writing. 

You can read the full review of this books here.

11) Most beautiful book you have bought this year

The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge 

I am unsure if this means the most beautifully written book I have read this year or the book with the most beautiful cover that I have bought this year, but I have taken it as the latter. I have not had the chance to sit down and read The Lie Tree as of yet, however, the hardback copy that I bought in the middle of this year is very pretty, and it is easily the prettiest book I have bought this year so far.

12) What books do you need to read by the end of 2019?

There are probably too many books that I need to read to put all of them on my list, so I have just picked a select few to put on this list (that I will have to read now since I have written them down):

• The Game of Thrones Series by George R R Martin
• All That She Can See by Carrie Hope Fletcher 
• The Lunar Chronicles: Scarlet by Marissa Meyer
• A Counjuring of Light by V.E Schwab
• Alex in Wonderland by Simon James Green
• Things a Bright Girl can Do by Sally Nicholls
• A Good Girls Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson