Book Tags – Paws & Paperbacks

2021 Mid-Year Book Freakout

Published on June 28, 2021June 17, 2021 by Breanna1 Comment

Hello everyone! I’m back again with another Mid-Year Book Freakout! These are always one of my favorite posts to write! I’ve only read about half of what I normally do in a year so I’m hoping it’s not too difficult to fill this out.

BEST BOOK YOU’VE READ SO FAR IN 2019

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry. Friends-to-lovers trope for the win!

BEST SEQUEL YOU’VE READ SO FAR IN 2019

Chain of Iron (The Last Hours #2) by Cassandra Clare. Cassie heard me say I love angsty romance and decided to turn it up a notch (or ten).

NEW RELEASE YOU HAVEN’T READ YET BUT WANT TO

The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren.

MOST ANTICIPATED RELEASES FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR

She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan and Little Thieves by Margaret Owen.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

Down Comes the Night by Allison Saft was one of my most anticipated releases for the year. The book promised a dark, gothic fantasy story and failed to deliver on those promises unfortunately.

BIGGEST SURPRISE

Dustborn by Erin Bowman. This was on my radar and I was lucky enough to be approved for an ARC, but I honestly was not expecting to love it as much as I did!

FAVORITE NEW AUTHOR

After reading Life’s Too Short (and The Happy Ever After Playlist last year) Abby Jimenez has definitely solidified herself as a new auto-buy author!

FAVORITE NEW CRUSH

I haven’t read any books that have given me a new fictional crush*!

*yet

FAVORITE NEW CHARACTERS

Again, I don’t think I’ve read any books with characters that I would consider my new favorite.

BOOKS THAT MADE YOU CRY

Life’s Too Short by Abby Jimenez. Such a good, heartwarming story.

A BOOK THAT MADE YOU HAPPY

To Sir, with Love by Lauren Layne. Such a heartwarming, romantic story about finding love 💕

MOST BEAUTIFUL BOOKS YOU’VE BOUGHT SO FAR THIS YEAR

I bought the Strange the Dreamer set from LitJoy and I am so stoked for them to arrive!

WHAT BOOKS DO YOU NEED TO READ BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR?

Other my most anticipated releases above, the five books I need to read the most before the end of the year are:

The Christmas Bookshelf Scavenger Hunt | Book Tag

Published on December 17, 2020December 16, 2020 by Breanna3 Comments

I can’t believe we are halfway through the month! Even though the holidays will look much, much different for my family this year, I’m trying to find some holiday cheer by having fun decorating my house and watching Christmas movies on the nights I’m not working.

I found this tag on Bookshelf Your Thoughts blog and thought it looked too fun to pass up! I had a fun time perusing my shelves to find titles that matched the prompts!

🎄 A BOOK SET DURING CHRISTMAS 🎄

In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren. This is the perfect holiday read! After reading this, I wanted nothing more than to be in a cabin in the snowy woods cozying up with a good book and enjoying the company of my friends and family.

❄️ FIVE COLD WORDS ❄️

Shiver
Winter
Winter, White and Wicked
Wintersong
Winterwood

🎁 A RED AND GREEN BOOK COVER 🎁

Your One & Only by Adrianne Finlay. This was such a unique and interesting YA Dystopian that I really loved reading!

🎄 CHARACTER WITH A FESTIVE NAME 🎄

On the Corner of Love and Hate by Nina Bocci. The main character’s name in this book is Emmanuelle, a name which really reminds me of Christmas.

❄️ A FESTIVE OBJECT ❄️

Pride and Prejudice and Mistletoe by Melissa de la Cruz. The cover evokes all kind of holiday cheer with all the mistletoes and poinsettias.

🎁 A BOOK WITH BAKING IN IT 🎁

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han. Lara Jean does so much baking in this book and it was the very fist story I thought of when I read the prompt!

🎄 A BOOK COVER WITH A WINTERY SCENE 🎄

The cover for The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden gives such winter vibes! I love the cabin in the woods as the snow is falling all around.

❄️ A BOOK COVER WITH SILVER AND GOLD ❄️

10 Blind Dates by Ashley Elston. This is a super cute YA contemporary story set around Christmas!

🎁 A BOOK THAT WAS A GIFT 🎁

For the past few years, my mom has bought me the illustrated Harry Potter books! Those books are so beautiful and I can’t wait to have the full collection.

🎄 A TITLE THAT DESCRIBES HOW CHRISTMAS SHOPPING FEELS 🎄

To Love and to Loathe by Martha Waters. I actually really love shopping for gifts for other people, I just hate how much money it costs!

🎅🏻 SPELL ‘SANTA CLAUS’ USING BOOK TITLES: 🎅🏻

S Star Daughter – Shveta Thakrar
A Among the Beasts & Briars – Ashley Poston
N Ninth House – Leigh Bardugo
T These Violent Delights – Chloe Gong
A Always Never Yours – Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka

C Crazy, Stupid Bromance – Lyssa Kay Adams
L Lore – Alexandra Bracken
A Aurora Blazing – Jessie Mihalik
U Uprooted – Naomi Novik
S Small Great Things – Jodi Picoult

Behind the Blogger Book Tag

Published on November 9, 2020July 6, 2021 by Breanna2 Comments

Hello everyone! I saw this over at Elaine Howlin‘s blog and since I haven’t done a book tag in while, I thought this would be perfect! It’s been a few years from the last time I did a post similar to this was and I’ve gained so many new friends and followers since then so this is the perfect tag for me to do!

WHY DID YOU START BLOGGING? WHY HAVE YOU KEPT BLOGGING?

I started blogging because I wanted a place to share my book reviews and talk about all things bookish. I’ve kept blogging because I still love it! I’d be lying if I said I didn’t get drained or burned out sometimes, but reading has always been a huge part of my life and I love being a part of the book blogging community!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TYPE OF BLOG POST TO WRITE?

I really love writing discussion posts and lists! It took me a while to gain the confidence to starting writing discussion posts but now they’re one of my favorite kinds of posts and I love engaging with other bloggers.

WHAT ARE YOU TOP THREE FAVORITE BLOG POST?

1. #SixforSunday: Questions to Ask George R. R. Martin

2. Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Fanart & Part II

3. #SixforSunday: Favorite Characters from a Series

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE THINGS TO DO TO RELAX?

The obvious answer is reading! I love unwinding with a good book. I also find cleaning to be really relaxing. I think it’s because I’m an anxious, Type A person so I love making sure everything is in its place and organized.

WHAT ARE THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE THINGS?

How do I even go about answering this question?! I have no idea how I would decide my three favorite things, so I’ll just list three of my recent favorite items from book boxes!

1. Booklight

2. Wooden Block Calendar

3. Blanket

WHAT ARE YOUR PROUDEST BLOGGING MOMENTS?

I was so excited the first time I reached 1K views a month! I know it’s not a lot compared to other people but I was so happy to see the growth. I also reached 900 followers a few months ago which was a big accomplishment, and I’m so close to 1,000 followers!

WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES OUTSIDE OF BLOGGING?

This is the saddest question, because it made me realize I have no hobbies outside of blogging 😭 Blogging and reading are my hobbies. They’re what I like to do to destress from work. I used to be into fitness and working out but I haven’t done that since I started my new job; I’m hoping to get back into a routine though!

DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY IN THREE WORDS.

1. Ambivert
2. Idealistic
3. Dreamer

WHAT ARE YOUR TOP THREE PET PEEVES?

1. Bad driving
2. Intolerance
3. Passive aggressiveness

WHAT’S SOMETHING YOUR FOLLOWERS DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU?

I studied abroad in Sydney, Australia for five months when I was in college and it remains the best experience of my life!

2020 Mid-Year Book Freakout

Published on June 29, 2020June 29, 2020 by Breanna5 Comments

Another year, another Mid-Year Book Freakout! Every year I have so much fun writing these posts!

BEST BOOK YOU’VE READ SO FAR IN 2019

The Best Laid Plans by Cameron Lund. It has childhood friends-to-lovers and unrequited love and plenty of delicious angst!

BEST SEQUEL YOU’VE READ SO FAR IN 2019

The Silvered Serpents (The Gilded Wolves #2) by Roshani Chokshi. The tone of this book shifts to something darker and more serious and yet it maintained all of the things that made me absolutely love The Gilded Wolves.

NEW RELEASE YOU HAVEN’T READ YET BUT WANT TO

My Calamity Jane (My Lady Janies #3) by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows.

MOST ANTICIPATED RELEASES FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR

The Burning God (The Poppy War #3) by R.F. Kuang and Blood & Honey (Serpent & Dove #2) by Shelby Mahurin.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

This Vicious Cure (This Mortal Coil #3) by Emily Suvada was one of my most anticipated releases for the year but I ended up being extremely disappointed and unsatisfied by the conclusion to the trilogy. I talk more about what went wrong in my review here.

BIGGEST SURPRISE

Dance of Thieves and Vow of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson. I enjoyed The Remnant Chronicles but I was not expecting to absolutely love this sequel series!

FAVORITE NEW AUTHOR

I wouldn’t say I’ve found a new favorite author this year just yet, but I’m definitely looking forward to whatever Cameron Lund, Sarah Hogle, and Aleksandra Ross write next!

FAVORITE NEW CRUSH

I am doomed to fall for whichever male lead Cassandra Clare writes. James Herondale, you are giving your father a run for his money.

FAVORITE NEW CHARACTERS

Cordelia Carstairs is now my new favorite character from The Shadowhunters world.

BOOKS THAT MADE YOU CRY

The Empire of Gold (The Daevabad Trilogy #3) by S.A. Chakraborty. I will forever be trash for Darayavahoush e-Afshin. Those last few chapters…all the tears. It was both beautiful and poignant, yet completely devastating and heartbreaking.

A BOOK THAT MADE YOU HAPPY

You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle. I love reading second chance romances and two people learning to fall back in love with each other!

MOST BEAUTIFUL BOOKS YOU’VE BOUGHT SO FAR THIS YEAR

So far I’m really impressed by the Waterstones A Court of Miracles by Kester Grant and the FairyLoot edition of Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust.

WHAT BOOKS DO YOU NEED TO READ BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR?

Other my most anticipated releases above, the five books I need to read the most before the end of the year are:

2019 Mid-Year Book Freakout

Published on July 11, 2019June 25, 2020 by Breanna18 Comments

I think I missed the halfway point of the year (oops) but I had such fun with this tag last summer and I really wanted to do it again for this year!

BEST BOOK YOU’VE READ SO FAR IN 2019

Fireborne by Rosaria Munda. I was awestruck by this amazing debut. Do yourselves a favor and add it to your TBR!

BEST SEQUEL YOU’VE READ SO FAR IN 2019

The Dragon Republic (The Poppy War #2) by R. F. Kuang. Fans of the first book are not going to be disappointed by this action-packed, glorious sequel. Get ready for an onslaught of emotions and an ending that will stab you in the back.

NEW RELEASE YOU HAVEN’T READ YET BUT WANT TO

Bloodwitch (Witchlands #3) by Susan Dennard. It took me two tries to finish Windwitch, so I think I’m just nervous to pick this one up.

MOST ANTICIPATED RELEASES FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR

The Girl the Sea Gave Back by Adrienne Young and Queen of Nothing (The Folk of the Air #3) by Holly Black.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

Again, But Better by Christine Riccio. If you’ve seen my review, you know how disappointed I was by this. I couldn’t even finish the book.

BIGGEST SURPRISE

Enchantée by Gita Trelease. I’ll be honest, I was not expecting a whole lot from this, but it really impressed me!

FAVORITE NEW AUTHOR

Tessa Bailey has earned herself a new fan after Fix Her Up. I cannot wait to read more of her books!

FAVORITE NEW CRUSH

Tavin from The Merciful Crow by Margaret Owen and Reid from Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin are DELIGHTFUL. I cannot wait for the second books in both those series!

FAVORITE NEW CHARACTERS

Rasmira from Warrior of the Wild by Tricia Levenseller, Lee from Fireborne, and Louise from Serpent & Dove are characters I can think of from the top of my head that I really enjoyed.

BOOKS THAT MADE YOU CRY

No book has made me cry yet, but the ending of The Dragon Republic was definitely a suckerpunch to the gut. Please fix what you did, R. F. Kuang 😫

A BOOK THAT MADE YOU HAPPY

If I’m Being Honest by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegmund-Broka was such a feel good book!

MOST BEAUTIFUL BOOKS YOU’VE BOUGHT SO FAR THIS YEAR

My OwlCrate edition of We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal is really stunning, and I’m also in love with the cover of The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren. The cover is just so bright and tropical and fun!