Alli the Book Giraffe

Hello readers! It’s nearly half way through 2025, so I thought it’d be the perfect time to do the Mid Year Book Freak Out Tag.

At the moment, I have read 19 books in 2025, which is very low. But, I hope to read a lot more in the 2nd half of the year!

This tag was created by Read Like Wildfire on Booktube!

Best Book You’ve Read in 2025

I couldn’t decide between Nevermoor and This Poison Heart. Both are the first book in a series.

This has been kind of a weird year for me for reading. I was over reading YA books a long time ago, so I wasn’t even giving them a chance, and I don’t ever generally read middle grade fantasy, but somehow these two became my favorites of the year so far.

I am glad I stepped out of my comfort zone this year and tried them both.

Best Sequel You’ve Read in 2025

Wundersmith is the sequel to The Trials of Morrigan Crow. I really loved book one of this series, but book two was even better.

In this one, Morrigan goes to a magical school and we learn a lot more about her and her abilities.

If you ever are looking for a good middle grade book for yourself or someone who reads them, I highly recommend trying this one.

New Release You Have Yet To Read

Of Earthly Delights only came out in May, but I am still waiting for it on Libby.

I read from this author before and wanted to try something else by her, even if this is very different from the other book I read.

It’s a gothic horror book about a family and their garden full of secrets. I can’t tell if it’s a retelling of Secret Garden, but it sounds similar.

Most Anticipated Release From the 2nd Half of the Year

Make Me a Monster is Bayron’s fantasy horror retelling of Frankenstein that comes out in September.

I’ve read 3 books by her now, 1 I disliked and two I liked, and want to keep trying her books.

Have you heard of this one? I only heard of it because I was reading one of her books.

Biggest Dissapointment

This Wicked Fate lacked everything book one had. I really didn’t think there was enough character development or development of relationships.

The pacing was completely different from book one as well, which was just not good. It felt really rushed and I just didn’t like it.

It could’ve been longer, or maybe a trilogy instead of a duology. I’m not sure, but it needed something to make it as good as book one.

Biggest Surprise

This Poison Heart was one I didn’t really think I’d like. I had tried to start 4 or 5 books before this and none of them could keep my attention for one. It’s also a YA book and I haven’t heard a lot of good things about Bayron’s books.

I have read a book by her before, but it was a horror novel. I know most people didn’t like that one, either. So, I decided to just give it a shot and I really ended up loving it.

Favorite New Author

I honestly do not have one. I have a couple that I liked, but none that I think would be a favorite.

New Favorite Character

I really liked Jupiter North from Nevermoor. We didn’t see his character a lot and I wish we did. I actually think it’d be cool to get a book in his perspective because he always is off doing things that we don’t get to see.

A Book That Made You Cry

I honestly did not have one. I didn’t read any super sad books this year.

A Book That Made You Happy

This is a story about a family who finds out right before Christmas that they will be evicted at the beginning of the year. It’s a family with a lot of kids and not very much money.

It was actually such a cute story because all these kids were putting their heads together to save up some money to prevent this eviction.

I don’t read wholesome books like this often, but I’m glad I read this one.

What Book/s Do You Need to Read By the End of 2025?

I honestly want to read a bunch of my owned books.

I didn’t set myself a number, but I feel like I should have at the beginning of the year.

Washington A Life is a nonfiction book about Washington. I have 3 president books because I had this idea a few years ago to buy and read a book by or about every single president in order.

I read almost 200 pages in this book and never picked it back up. So, I really want to try and finish it this year.

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Happy blogging and bookish adventures! 📚🦒✨

This post was created by Allison Wolfe for www.allithebookgiraffe.com and is not permitted to be posted anywhere else.

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