Hey bookworm friends! Mid-year Freak Out of 2026,
The Mid-Year Freakout tag was created by Earl Grey Books & Chami.
Covers lead to The StoryGraph and blue hyperlink titles to my reviews when available.
Best Book You’ve Read So Far in 2026?
The Vanished Birds was incredible and I have yet to read anything else this year that competes with its magnificence.
Best Sequel You’ve Read So Far in 2026?
I was reading The Illuminae Files early in the year but it’s hard to compete with it. Gemina, the second book, was utterly absorbing!
New Release You Haven’t Read Yet But Want To?
I started the ARC of Through Gates of Garnet and Gold a while back but then I got distracted and put it aside. I need to go back to it and actually read it!
Most Anticipated Release For The Second Half of 2026?
This question is hard because there are so many anticipated releases (I make one list per month) but I’m going to go with one from July’s list. I’m extremely excited for The Eye of Leviathan because Marie Brennan is one half of M. A. Carrick and I’ve really been enjoying a series by her so I know I like her writing already. Plus the synopsis sounds so good!
Biggest Disappointment?
I was expecting to really enjoy Brigands and Breadknives but I was disappointed to discover I didn’t really like it. Fern felt like a completely different character than in Bookshops & Bonedust, which I’ve read twice. I disliked other books more but didn’t have any expectations for those, or at least not as high, so this one hurt more.
Biggest Surprise?
Frontier was a surprise in multiple ways. Firstly, I ended up reading it in French which I wasn’t expecting. I ended up absolutely loving it which also took me by surprise; I read it slowly over a long time and really savoured the experience. The fact that it was massive in size was also a surprise. I highly recommend it if you like sci-fi graphic novels!
New Favourite Author?
This one is also tough so I’m going to pick a few. Simon Jimenez, because after adoring The Vanished Birds, I’m convinced I’ll love anything else he writes. Kira Jane Buxton, because her writing style is so unique and punchy, I definitely want more! And, C. J. Archer because she’s the new to me author I’ve read the most books from this year so far, and I’m really enjoying The Glass Library series from her.
Newest Fictional Crush?
Suhail from The Voyage of the Basilisk (The Memoirs of Lady Trent #3). IYKYK.
Newest Favourite Character?
Helianthes (Hel for Short) from The Demon of Beausoleil. He’s a jerk but my jerk whom I’ll defend and protect 🖤. Review.
Book That Made You Cry?
Braiding Sweetgrass was so beautiful, heartbreaking, and hopeful that I teared up multiple times while listening to the audiobook. Review.
Book That Made You Happy?
The Spellshop was everything that I want and need from cozy fantasy. I loved living in that world with those characters! I especially loved that the conflict was all external, just people working together to solve a bigger problem, and no annoying 3rd act breakup! I was so so happy reading this and the love interest in this book, Larran, could have been a good answer for fictional crush as well.
Most Beautiful Book You’ve Bought This Year (Or Received)?
Another, Mari Costa, Forgive-Me-Not is a recent addition to my shelves! I mentioned it in my latest It’s Monday, Let’s Catch Up post. This stunning graphic novel is easily the prettiest book I’ve bought so far this year😍.
What Books Do You Need To Read By The End Of The Year?
The Books I need to read before the end of the year are the ARCs I’m still behind on.
Canticle
The Fox and the Devil
How to Lose A Goblin in 10 Days
Invasive Species
Heaven’s Graveyard
The Questions
- Best Book You’ve Read So Far in *insert year*
- Best Sequel You’ve Read So Far in *insert year*
- New Release You Haven’t Read Yet But Want To
- Most Anticipated Release For The Second Half of *insert year*
- Biggest Disappointment?
- Biggest Surprise?
- New Favourite Author?
- Newest Fictional Crush?
- Newest Favourite Character?
- Book That Made You Cry?
- Book That Made You Happy?
- Most Beautiful Book You’ve Bought This Year (Or Received)?
- What Books Do You Need To Read By The End Of The Year?
Past Mid-Year Freak Outs:
I’m Tagging:
Anyone who wants to take a closer look at how their reading is going so far this year 🖤.
Let’s chat in the comments!
Have you read any of these books also? Or, feel free to answer any of the questions in the comments.
Gemina was amazing. One day I should reread that whole series. 🙂
Yes, Gemina is so good! I definitely recommend a reread as I’d love one myself! 🙂
Welcome to club Simon Jimenez! He’s one of my few must-buy authors. Vanished Birds is really special. His other book (The Spear Cuts Through Water) is also deconstructs its genre while feeling very timeless and faithful, but in a very different way. The way that Jimenez plays with story structure is unlike what anyone else in the genre is doing right now.
I’m still stubbornly waiting for the library copy of The Demon of Beausoleil to come in. At this point I should just buy it though. It looks so good!
I have been hearing such good things about The Eye of Leviathan. I also love Kira Jane Buxton’s writing😁
I haven’t read any reviews yet, I’m debating looking them up but I may also want to go in knowing as little as possible. Though I’m so glad that you’ve heard good things! And Buxton has such a specific style with so much personality!
Ooh I knew you loved The Vanished Birds but I didn’t realise it was your favourite read of the year so far. Thats wonderful!! I love that you had three new favourite authors to share but am ashamed to say that I’ve tried nothing by any of them 🙈 Forgive-Me-Not looks so cute!! I have to confess that I had mixed feelings for The Spellshop but I’m thrilled that you loved it. And I will say that I did love Larran at least 🥰 I really hope you love The Eye Of The Leviathan. And yay for Suhail!! If we’re wrong in our predictions I may cry…although at least that would give me an answer for a read that’s managed that 🙈 I always love seeing this tag and need to try and get to it sometime this month too. Also good luck with your ARC catch up, very intrigued to hear what you think of all of those.
It’s incredible, I can’t honestly say many (if any) of my reads so far can compare to it! 🖤 I’m glad I had lots of names to pick for new fav authors and Aw haha that’s okay! I’m glad you think Forgive-Me-Not looks cute too :)! Ah interesting, I’d love to hear what didn’t work for you about The Spellshop if you wanna share! Glad you loved Larran, I found him so adorable and kind; more love interests like that, please!
If we’re wrong I’m gonna be devastated too, I might cry with you 😂! AHAHAH that’s too funny. If you get around to this tag I’d love to see your answers and thanks, I’m gonna need all the luck for the ARC catch-up.
Have you tried Jimenez’s The Spear Cuts Through Water? I haven’t yet tied any of his work, but I’ve heard lots of great things about that one.
I have not yet, but it’s been on my TBR since it came out! I hear nothing but great things about both of his books and so I hope to get to that one soon! 🙂
You’re not wrong, Suhail is pretty great.
Hhehe Yesss so glad you think so too! What a great character! 😁
I agree with the disappointment aspect of Brigands & Breadknives. It wasn’t my most disliked book—I actually liked it a lot. But I had hoped to love it so much more.
Also agreed on Braiding Sweetgrass. That was such a touching book.
Oh I’m so glad you agree. I definitely didn’t hate it but considering I was hoping to love it, it was quite a let down for sure!
Ah, yes touching is such a good word for Braiding Sweetgrass, I really was so emotionally affected by it❤️.
The Eye of Leviathan is one of my next reads and I’v very much looking forward to it.
Lynn 😀
Ah, that’s so exciting, Lynn! I hope you enjoy The Eye of Leviathan! 🙂
Ah yes, I have heard that about Braiding Sweetgrass
I loved reading your answers! Unfortunately, I had the same opinion on Brigands and Breadknives, I couldn’t connect with it at all and it felt like such a disappointment compared to the other books in the series 😔 I love The Spellshop as well though, it’s one of my favorite Cozy Fantasy books 🥰
Thanks, Caro and I am so glad to hear that it’s not just me. I feel like so many people love it and I was the odd one out so you made me feel like we’re in good company then! 😜 I have to agree with you about The Spellshop being one of my fav cozy fantasies as well! 😀
This has made me want to read the Natural History of Dragons series even more!
I didn’t like Legends and Lattes very much, so I never bothered to try any of the other Baldree books, but it’s always a shame when you don’t like something from an author you usually really enjoy.
Oh yes that’s such a great series and I highly recommend it at least what I’ve read so far of it! I hope you enjoy it.
Fair 🙂 For me, I loved Legends and Lattes and then every subsequent book in the series I’ve liked less and less so that’s a bit of a bummer but oh well.