I don’t know what you’re talking about. I actually think I’m right on time with this. Wouldn’t you agree? Like what do you mean this post is not due in September? Your calendar must have got confused.

Not that we have all the admin out of the way, look! It’s that time of year again! Where we’re alllll talking about the books we love. Without anything else holding me back, let’s get into it!

BEST BOOK YOU’VE READ
THIS YEAR SO FAR

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Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood

Even I’m shocked that this book is here but ya know what? My serotonin levels flew sky-high and haven’t come down yet, so this spot is well deserved.

I have yelled about this book just about everywhere so I won’t say too much here. But my brain did actually explode. Like I mean it. Not even exaggerating there. I was so obsessed with the book I coerced my coworker into reading the dang thing and I WILL MAKE YOU DO THE SAME. OR ELSE.

Yes, that was a threat,,, Actually no I can’t threaten my lovely followers, I’m sorry. I just love this book a lot and get carried away. Please with a cherry on top read the book.

More very tame thoughts in my review right over here

BEST SEQUEL YOU’VE READ SO FAR

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One of Us Is Back by Karen M. McManus

Every year I think I haven’t read a sequel and flip out about creative ways to answer this question and then I remember that ONE sequel I read and enjoyed. Anxiety attack averted.

Gotta admit that this was not my favourite in the series and it’s been like 9 months since I read this book so the memory is foggy. But I will forever want to read about Nate and Bronwyn so I can’t not enjoy my time. I’m a hopeless romantic, we all know this.

Click here for my review

NEW RELEASE YOU HAVEN’T
READ YET BUT WANT TO

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The Getaway List by Emma Lord // Love At First Flight by Jo Watson // Only and Forever by Chloe Liese // Funny Story by Emily Henry // A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston // Old Flames and New Fortunes by Sarah Hogle // You Belong With Me by Mhairi McFarlane // The First King by Shameez Patel Papanthisou // Double Booked in Corfu by Samantha Pennington // The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson // The Lost Love of Akbar Manzil by Shubnum Khan // The Tilted Pentagram by Matthew MacDevette // We Have Everything We Need To Start Again by Koleka Putuma // Where The Dark Stands Still by AB Poranek // The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo // Not In Love by Ali Hazelwood

MOST ANTICIPATED
UPCOMING RELEASE

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A Dark and Drowning Tide by Allison Saft (17 September 2024): this cover still astounds me and I have an inkling this author will rip me apart, and my gut tends to be right about these things. So sign up for this sapphic dark academia rivals to lovers tale RIGHT NOW!!!

Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Wrath of the Gods (24 September 2024): was a great time being back in this world last year and I’ll ofc keep reading purely to hang with my blue-loving chaos child and sound-headed darling girl and the goat one,,,

Heir by Sabaa Tahir (1 October 2024): she has some nerve to come after us like this but I’m also very excited that there is more to read from this series. And I’m playing god’s fave with my eARC I snagged for the blog tour. Wish me luck as I devour the rest of the Ember series and jump into this one, I 100% will not survive…

Nothing Like The Movies by Lynn Painter (1 October 2024): in all honestly, my hopes aren’t that high for this one because sequels to great YA standalone books have had bad luck lately. That being said, I am obsessed with the bonus material we get from her so maybe there’s hope? Crossing fingers.

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Swordcrossed by Freya Marske (8 October 2024): manifesting I get chosen for the blog tour, but either way, my gut feeling also tells me I’ll love this author. And I’m into historical fantasy lately. Add some queer characters? I’m HERE FOR IT.

Don’t Let The Forest In by C.G. Drews (9 October 2024): we’ve ventured into ‘my blogging idols have books coming out and I’m so happy for them’ and part one has a cover TO DIE FOR. I’m also a sl*t for creepy magical forest books so inject this book into my veins.

Us Against The Likes by Marie Voinson (20 October 2024): And onto part two where I also scream about a cover and need a book injected into my veins right this second, except this time it’s a new adult contemporary !!!

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE YEAR SO FAR

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Lowkey hate this question because I barely have a proper answer. But I wasn’t as amazed by Past Present Future by Rachel Lynn Solomon as I wanted to be so we’ll go with that…

BIGGEST SURPRISE OF THE YEAR SO FAR

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When You Get The Chance by Emma Lord

I have already formally apologised for having taken so long to read this book and also for thinking I wasn’t going to enjoy this book. Total blasphemy. But hey, at least I can shove my 2nd favourite book of the year in your faces and call it a big surprise. Gotta find the upside somewhere.

I have screeched about all the reasons I adored this read, and the city shenanigans and rivals-to-lovers romance are only a few. If you haven’t picked up this author yet, I don’t know how else to convince you tbh.

Clickity click for the review here

FAVOURITE DEBUT / NEW AUTHOR

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Yulin Kuang, author of How to End a Love Story

Where are my Emily Henry movies ma’am? I’m not prepared after this emotional rollercoaster you put me through but I need it now nonetheless.

Also yes this book is freaking sad and amazing and everything in between and how DARE Yulin come for my throat like that? Ugh, it’s so good!!!

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Kelly Andrew, author of Your Blood, My Bones

Have I mentioned before how I loved creepy magical forest books? Yeah, this book made me remember why and I’m so not mad about it.

And because I enjoyed it so much, I now want to delve into all her books. Especially the first one as those characters made a cameo in this book.

Definitely recommend it if you’re looking for hardcore Raven Cycle vibes <3<3<3

NEWEST FICTIONAL CRUSH

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Eli Mora from The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce

I so badly need to yell about this book SOMEHOW and I did die of Eli‘s so it’s a win-win.

If you haven’t read this book then I will whack you over the head, and feel no remorse. DO IT RIGHT NOW IT IS SO GOODDDDDD!!!!

I’m just obsessed with Jessica Joyce at this point and this book broke me in half and sewed it back together *sobs*

NEWEST FAVOURITE
FICTIONAL CHARACTER

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Audrey from The Someday Daughter by Ellen O’Clover

If you were ever looking version for a Ruby in book form, you should just go read this freaking book. But I will warn you that you will also sob your eyes dry. I did have this book in the question right underneath this one but I thought I would screech about how hard I related to Audrey St Vain instead.

I would lay my life down for her because she is me. And then I’ll go cry about it, but that’s fine, right?

I will also take this moment to be obsessed with Ellen O’Clover who is a genius and I will be reading everything she writes just about ever *insert pterodactyl screech*

BOOK THAT MADE YOU CRY

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Just Last Night by Mhairi McFarlane

Okay I actually don’t think I cried reading this book, but my eyes did tear up and Mhairi McFarlane’s writing makes me want to weep rivers, so I think that’s good enough.

If you haven’t heard me yelling from the rooftops over this author, buckle up because I’m about to be annoying. I say that as if I’m ever not annoying *smirks*

I haven’t found an author other than Mhairi who can make me simultaneously laugh my head off AND stare into space for eternity. That might sound depressing, but I promise she’s worth it!

Blog review right over here

BOOK THAT MADE YOU HAPPY

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Begin Again by Emma Lord

I could’ve also used this book for my new favourite character because Andie Rose is also ME to a T and it’s scary. Plus I’m obsessed with Emma Lord. But this book gives more happy vibes than TSD and I’m too indecisive for this…

I decided 2024 was the year to catch up on Emma Lord’s books and yes I am 2 books behind again but it’s okay IM FINE.

Anyway, I just had such a wonderful time with this book. I loved the setting and the friendships and the cutesy romance and the radio subplot. She also made me emotional because ha grief again, but overall happy vibes.

More thoughts in my spoiler-free review here

FAVOURITE BOOK TO FILM
ADAPTATION OF THE YEAR

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Dune Part Two: haven’t read this book and I probably never will but watching this movie in IMAX is an otherwordly experience and I don’t think I’ve been the same since I saw this movie.

Turtles All The Way Down: we all forgot this came out in 2024 and I have made it my earthly duty to remind you all. Because it’s actually realllly good and made me feel the same hollow feeling in my chest I had when I read the book. Love that for me. And I did warn you.

My Lady Jane S1: unfortunately I have to warn you here too because they decided to cancel this show already???!!! I choose to live in denial about this and still have HOPE so you could come sit with me in delulu-land if you’d like. You should watch this genius show anyway because it’s as spectacular as they told you. Haven’t read the book and I lowkey think it’s very different so maybe never will but THE SHOW IS AMAZING I WANT TO DIE

FAVOURITE REVIEW WRITTEN THIS YEAR SO FAR

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It’s been my year of reviews, to be honest, but I think this one was THE most fun to put together

MOST BEAUTIFUL BOOK YOU’VE
BOUGHT THIS YEAR SO FAR

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Without a doubt, this goes to the Marper Muse edition of Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery which I would lay down my life for fr

BOOKS I NEED TO READ BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR

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As usual, you’ve all done the tag already so who am I even going to tag? Hope you enjoyed though. This post is literally always my favourite to put together, next to my end-of-year posts.

Let’s try and manifest to have next year’s up by July? I think we can do it!!!!

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE READS OF THE YEAR SO FAR? ANY NEW RELEASES YOU HAVEN’T GOT TO YET? WHAT BOOKS DID YOU WANT TO READ BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR? WHICH ADAPTIONS DID YOU WATCH THIS YEAR? I’D LOVE TO KNOW!