The good thing about the midway point of the year is that it is like a mini New Years and a bit of a fresh slate to start anew. So checking in on progress is important to me as I reevaluate my goals and reading habits. And honestly? How the heck is it almost July? How is 2021 almost halfway over? 2020 was such a trashfire of a year that I didn’t get around to this tag but it’s back now. 🔥🔥🔥
Reading Statistics for January – June 2021
It wouldn’t be a reflection post on Reader Voracious without some charts and data, would it?! Lucky for us all I am here to deliver the goods compliments of my 2021 Reader / Book Blogger Spreadsheet Template.
Surprising absolutely nobody, most of my reads this year have been fantasy, but I’m impressed that it’s just under 50% of my overall genre pie! I’m trying to bounce genres a bit more to avoid fantasy burnout and slumps, which has some success. I also like that I’m putting a dent in my purchased books… go me!
It’s worth it to mention that my charts include reading up to June 19, 2021, so it’s just under the full six months. I’ve also been an uncharacteristically voracious reader the past few days (I’ve read 6 books in the last 4 days wtf) so who knows what it will look like by the end of June. But whatever, close enough!
My reading overall is paced a little better than in 2020, but that was a low bar not difficult to beat 😂 But I definitely made a lot of progress in the last few days so I’m sure another reading drought is on its way.
2021 Mid-Year Check In Tag
The original tag was created by ReadLikeWildfire and Earl Grey Books.
My 2018 Mid Year Check In My 2019 Mid Year Check In
Now that I’ve looked at my reading on the macro level, it’s time to dive into specifics with the Mid-Year Check In Tag. I’ll do my best not to repeat books but… I had a lot of favorites ok?
1. The best book you’ve read so far this year?
I narrowed it down to my top 3 reads so far, which is For the Wolf by Hannah Whitten (rtc), Dustborn by Erin Bowman, and That Weekend by Kara Thomas.
2. The best sequel you’ve read this year?
A War of Swallowed Stars by Sangu Mandanna hands down! It’s the final installation in the Celestial Trilogy and worth every minute that I waited for it. This series is so good and this finale broke my heart and then mended it.
3. New releases you haven’t read yet but want to.
I limited this to my owned TBR because whenever I’m able I like to pre-order books to support the authors… and then never get around to reading them. The top 3 books from the first half of the year I want to read: Witches Steeped in Gold by Ciannon Smart, Down Comes the Night by Aliison Saft, and The Forest of Stolen Girls by June Hur.
4. Most anticipated releases for the second half of the year.
Dark academia and gothic fiction are in my future and I can’t wait! How We Fall Apart by Katie Zhao, A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee, and Within These Wicked Walls by Lauren Blackwood.
5. Biggest disappointment.
As evidenced by my average rating this year (4.3 on 37 books), I have been pretty good about picking up books that I am more likely to enjoy usually DNF books that aren’t for me. But I was disappointed by Trouble Girls by Julia Lynn Rubin. Part of this is due to my familiarity with Thelma & Louise and the book falling short of its potential; it’s not a bad book.
6. Biggest Surprise.
I expected to enjoy The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia but was surprised just how much; this book changed my stance on romance novels and made me crave more novels of manners.
7. Favorite new to you, or debut, author.
I know I said I wouldn’t repeat books, I’m SORRY! (Eammon now lives in my head rent-free.) The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin, For the Wolf by Hannah Whitten (rtc), and Nothing but Blackened Teeth by Cassandra Khaw (rtc).
8. Newest fictional crush.
I don’t really have fictional crushes as I primarily read young adult these days.
9. Newest favorite character.
Delta from Dustborn by Erin Bowman and Eammon from For the Wolf (I’m sorry ok).
10. Book that made you cry?
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig made me cry so many damn tears (rtc).
11. Book that made you happy?
I am making an effort to read some books that aren’t soul ripping and heart rending this year. Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean was such a delightful read and it brought me a bunch of joy. More like this please!
12. Favorite book to film adaption?
I haven’t watched any so far. I’m also the only bookish person who hasn’t watched Shadow and Bone yet lol
13. Favorite post you have done this year?
- Winners of the 2020 Bookish Jazz Awards brings the 2020 awards season to a close with the announcement of the reader nominated & voted best books of the year!
- Favorite Reads of 2020 breaks down my top reads of the year!
- Why I Love Morally Gray Characters discusses my obsession with morally ambiguous characters and the characteristics that I particularly enjoy.
- All About Readerly breaks down the new independent alternative to Goodreads that burst onto the bookish scene this April.
- How to Refresh Evergreen Content is my love letter to book reviews and discusses the ways we can approach our niche with SEO in mind.
Okay listen: I know the prompt says favorite post. Singular. But I have a lot of posts that I’m extremely proud of from this year that I haven’t properly promoted due to bouts of dropping off the face of the internet for weeks.
14. Most beautiful book you have bought this year?
I love all of my pretties, but I will forever treasure my Goldsboro hardcover for The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. Especially because it was the only hardcover option and the sprayed edges are stunning. Plus it looks great on the shelf next to my Goldsboro copy of Mexican Gothic!
15. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?
There are honestly way too many to name! Right now I have 12 ARCs for books being published in the second half of the year that I hope to get to, and also hope to work on my owned TBR/backlist.
I Tag…
Chloe @ The Elven Warrior * Ari @ Bookish Valhalla * Avhlee @ Teacups and Torn Pages
* Cassie @ Let’s Get Galactic * Haley @ The Caffeinated Reader *
As always, no pressure to do this tag if you don’t want to and consider yourself tagged if you want to do it yourself!
✨ Well, that’s it for my 2021 mid-year freakout tag! Have you read any of the books that I highlighted? What are some of your favorites? Do you have happy book recommendations for me?
Looks like you’re having a great reading year so far! I’ll be doing this tag in a couple of weeks and it’s one of my favorite posts to pull together. I’m looking forward to reading Nothing But Blackened Teeth soon😁
Yea my reading year has been pretty great and I’m so thankful for it! This is one of my favorite posts as well, so I can’t wait to see your tag when it goes up. Nothing But Blackened Teeth was SO GOOD!
I’m glad you had so many good books this year – I really want to read dustborn by Erin bowman and forest of stolen girls from June hur! And yes, the cover for the beautiful ones looks stunning!
I’m really lucky to have so many good reads this year! I hope you enjoy Dustborn as much as I did because it deserves WAY more attention than it’s gotten, and I think I’ll be picking up The Forest of Stolen Girls next!
I love this Tag, it’s always so much fun and I loved to read your answers!! ❤ You definitely made me curious to try out For the Wolf and That Weekend 🙂 I’m also so excited to read The Nature of Witches 🥰
I think this is my favorite book blogging tag – I am SO MAD the pandemic led me to skip it last year. And LISTEN: For the Wolf is still living in my head rent freaking free, and That Weekend is one of my favorite thrillers ever. Happy reading!
Loved reading this! I just got a copy of For the Wolf, so really glad to see that you loved it! I was also surprised by how much I loved The Beautiful ones!
I really want to read The Nature of Witches, just for the cover alone haha!
The Beautiful Ones really just took us by surprise and I love that for us, Evelyn! I hope you love For the Wold as much as I do because I need more people to be on my “let’s midnight sun this book with an eammon version” bullshit.
Don’t worry, I haven’t watched Shadow and Bone either (I haven’t watched TV since 2019 either though). Yeah for The Nature of Witches. Reviews are sort of mixed, but I loved it. I am excited to see Thomas’ new book listed as a favorite. I am excited about that one. I really enjoy her books.
YAY I am so glad to not be the only person to not have seen Shadow & Bone haha I haven’t seen many reviews for The Nature of Witches, but I haven’t had a lot of time to blog hop. I can see why it’d be mixed though, I think some of the tropes/elements are rather love it or hate it. That Weekend is SO GOOD, Sam. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did — I liked it more than The Cheerleaders, and it got me to buy Little Monsters and The Darkest Corners to read.
So many of these books are on my TBR and How We Fall Apart is also one of my most anticipated releases! 😀
I hope both of us love How We Fall Apart, I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy!
What an awesome year so far! I love the graphics you took the time to create too. Really highlights how you’re trying to mix things up while keeping fantasy up there! 😀
Thank you, Lashaan! I love when people appreciate my nerdy pie charts as much as me haha — they’re from my reader spreadsheet template so it’s pretty easy to create. But I am so pleased with how I am actually mixing up on genres this year… and I think that’s largely why I’ve been able to avoid major slumps of 2020.
I haven’t watched Shadow and Bone yet either 😅 I’ve got too many shows to watch on my list so it’ll be a while before I get around to it. Ahh your copy of The Beautiful Ones is so gorgeous 😍 Silvia Moreno-Garcia is quickly becoming a favourite author of mine so I’ll definitely have to get a copy for myself.
YES another person holding out on Shadow & Bone! I honestly love Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s work so much, particularly how she hops genres with each book. I still need to read Gods of Jade & Shadow and Untamed Shore… those books have been staring at me from my bookshelves.
The Beautiful Ones was also a pleasant surprise for me. I didn’t expect to fell so deeply with the atmosphere, slow burn and second chance romance in the story!
I’m glad to not be the only one pleasantly surprised with The Beautiful Ones, it was such a lovely book!
I loved reading your wrapup! I’ve heard such good things about The Midnight Library, and I’m definitely looking forward to getting to it soon. Great post! <3
Thank you so much and I hope you enjoy The Midnight Library as much as I did!
Looks like you’ve had a wonderful reading year so far!! I can’t wait to read For the Wolf; I’ve heard nothing but good things.
I’ve truly been blessed with my reading this year so far! I hope you enjoy For the Wolf as much as I did — I am STILL thinking about that darn book a week later
all i hear is ravings and gushings over the midnight library–it’s about time i picked it up for myself!! so far in 2021, my favourite reads have been the space trilogy from cs lewis & the emily books from lm mongtomery 🙂
I picked up The Midnight Library because a friend was gushing about it on Goodreads, and let me tell you that the 3 month wait with my library was worth it! I think it’s a book that people will love or hate, depending on their philosophical outlook, because it is kind of depressing. Hopefully you enjoy it as much as I did though!
oh wow, i’ve had for the wolf on my tbr but you having it as one of your top reads of the year definitely just pushed it up a lot! and i love to see the fantasy domination in your reading, i’m the exact same lol. hope we both love a lesson in vengeance — i’m so so excited for it too!!
May you NEED to read for the wolf! it is so good, I’m still swooning weeks later high five to needing to escape reality through fantasy lmao
Yay for being at a better place than last year – 37 books is great! A War of Swallowed Stars was so so good and I’m still sad that this trilogy is over! I’m currently reading Tokyo Ever After and enjoying it a lot so it’s good to hear you thought so too! I haven’t watched shadow and bone either lol but maybe we’ll both get to it, eventually? And yesss For The Wolf was so so good and I adored it!
I think set a low bar, but it does feel nice to feel a bit better about things! I am still so bereft that my adventures with Esmae have ended though, I hope she has a lovely rest full of love.
Ah wow you’ve had such a great reading year so far, that’s fantastic! I can’t wait for A Lesson in Vengeance and How We Fall Apart either, both sound SO good! 🙂
I’m so happy with the reading quality I’ve been blessed with this year and I hope you’ve had similar fortune!