Mid-Year Book Freak Out 2026

I’m a little late to the party this year for the Mid-Year book tag, but it’s been a little tougher to squeeze in blogging time. I do love doing this tag though, so here are some of my favorites/books of note for the first half of 2026!

BEST BOOK YOU’VE READ SO FAR THIS YEAR

I could have easily picked 3 or 4 other books alongside this one because it’s been a great year for reading excellent works, but Alchemised really was spectacular! It’s dark and takes unexpected turns, while also delving deep into two very fascinating characters.

BEST SEQUEL YOU’VE READ SO FAR THIS YEAR

My first pick for best sequel is The Exquisite Torment of Loving Your Enemy, which was a rollicking good time and had me laughing out loud. My second pick is Lethal White, the fourth book in the Cormoran Strike series, which I haven’t been reviewing on my blog. This is the book that really made me fall in love with a series that I was casually enjoying and I proceeded to read the next four as slowly as I could make myself because the ninth book doesn’t yet have a release date!

A NEW RELEASE YOU HAVEN’T READ BUT WANT TO

I have a gorgeous copy of Daughter of Crows sitting on my shelf and just haven’t picked it up yet.

YOUR MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK FOR THE REST OF 2026

As is tradition, here are three books I’m looking forward to this year – Dead Beat by Leigh Bardugo (September 15, 2026), ACOTAR 6 by Sarah J. Maas (October 27, 2026), and The Thrice-Bound Fool by Christopher Buehlman (October 13, 2026).

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT SO FAR

To be clear, Shadows Upon Time is NOT the worst book I’ve read this year, but it is the most disappointing. I think I just expected something grander that kept me hooked for entirety but I found myself rather bored with most of the book. The author also started leaning more heavily into religious themes that just… didn’t appeal to me. One day I hope to re-read this series and see how I feel about it then.

BIGGEST SURPRISE SO FAR

I suppose I just wasn’t sure what to expect from The Red Winter when picking it up. It’s historical fantasy, but with lots of supernatural elements beyond the werewolf.

NEW FAVORITE AUTHOR

My foray into The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion may be recent, but it still stands that Beth Brower is probably my new favorite author. You can’t binge read six (short) books in five days and not have that be the case. Series review to come after I finish off the most recent two installments.

NEW FAVORITE CHARACTER

See Emma M. Lion, above! She and her friends are absolutely wonderful. If I could be part of a fictional friend group, it would probably be this one.

NEW FAVORITE SHIP

I am LITERALLY obsessed with the Robin Ellacott and Cormoran Strike ship – otherwise known as Strellacott. Especially after the end of The Hallmarked Man. I am FRAUGHT! WHERE IS THE SEQUEL!?

A BOOK THAT MADE YOU CRY

I’m sure there was a book that made me cry, but apparently that wasn’t worthy enough to make it into a review. So, unfortunately this will remain blank.

A BOOK THAT MADE YOU HAPPY

This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me was just a joy to read! It’s fun without being low stakes, it has wonderful characters, world building, and banter. Give me more!

MOST BEAUTIFUL BOOK YOU’VE BOUGHT THIS YEAR

I’m feeling umotivated to unshelve and photograph my special editions from the Broken Binding, but literally all of them fit this description. Amazing art, great quality.

BOOKS YOU WANT TO READ BY THE END OF THE YEAR