Midyear Freakout Tag. 2026 Edition

 I do this tag every year sometime in June. 

Check out my answers for the previous years on the Navigation page!

1. Best book you read so far this year?

I've got two: The Witch Who Chases the Sun by Dawn Chen and Lonely Castle in the Mirror by Mizuki Tsujimura 

2. Best sequel you read so far this year?

Amari and the Metalwork Menace by BB Alston and Under All the Lights by Maya Ameyaw.  

3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to. 

Smash or Pass by Birdie Schae

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year.

This is actually a revised edition of a book originally published in 2009, but The Diaries of Emily the Strange: The Lost Days is coming out in September 2026.  

Another one is the second book of the Kiki's Delivery Service series (yes, it's a whole series) titled Kiki and the New Magic. The author is Eiko Kadono.  The book was originally published in Japanese back in 1993 and getting an English release in August 2026. 

5. Biggest disappointment.

The graphic novel version of Juliet Takes a Breath was pretty mediocre. I hope the original book is better. 

6. Biggest surprise.

What I've read of Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan so far! (The Lightning Thief and The Sea of Monsters) 

7. Favorite new author.

I've only read two books from them so far (Pet and Bitter), but I'd say Akwaeke Emezi is slowly starting to become a new favorite.  

8. Newest fictional crush.

Don't have one! 

9. Newest favorite character

I'm kinda cheating on this one because I already kind of liked him when I first watched the Dressrossa arc of the One Piece anime, but I grew to absolutely love him when I read the light novel of his backstory, and that is Trafalgar D. Water Law from One Piece! 

10. Book that made you cry.

The omnibus of Puella Magi Madoka Magica by Magical Quartet 

11. Book that made you happy.

A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicholl. 

12. Most beautiful book you've bought or received this year.

The Castle Corona by Sharon Creech. 

13. What books do you need to read by the end of the year? 

Here are several: This is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone, And Both Were Young by Madeline L'Engle, Akata Witch by Nnedi Okarafor, To Be Taught if Fortunate by Becky Chambers, Love at First by Kate Clayborn, and Again but Better by Christine Riccio.