I’ve noticed the Mid-year Check-in (Tag) on a few blogs. Most recently @ The Irresponsible Reader @ 746 Books and @ Books Are 42. (check out their posts!) As usual with tags, bloggers tend to tweak them. I’ve chosen ten questions to answer from the blogs above.
I realize that this should have been posted at the end of June for a true Mid-year Check-in, but I’m hoping you can overlook my belatedness this year.
Mid-year Check-in
***This post contains Amazon Affiliate Links
Number of Books Read so Far in 2025
I’ve read 99 books so far this year. I’ve had five 5-Star reads and three DNFs.
Best Book in 2025 so Far
Best book of 2025 so far is The Correspondent by Virginia Evans. I loved it so much that I completed a reread in audio format within two weeks. I was also motivated to make a FREE Book Club Kit for The Correspondent.
Favorite Sequel of the 1st Half of 2025
I’ve eagerly waited for two sequels this year: installment #6 in the Wartime Library series and installment #5 in the East End Library Girls series. (I’ve linked to one of my reviews in each series)
A New Release I Am Looking Forward To in 2025
I’m eager to read The Black Wolf (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series) by Louise Penny this fall.
Biggest Disappointment So Far in 2025
There have been a few disappointments. The two biggest might be the recent Rachel Joyce release. The Homemade God. Expectations are difficult and I was expecting something lighter and quirkier from her. Even though it’s well-written (4 stars), I didn’t enjoy the reading experience. Another disappointment was Tilt by Emma Pattee…that ending was too open-ended for my taste, and the character too unlikable, or perhaps too impulsive?
Biggest Surprise So Far in 2025
One surprise so far is how much I adored Abigail and Alexa Save the Wedding. It arrived in my life just when I needed something light, delightful, and humorous. Another surprise is how much I loved The Correspondent (in print) and that I reread it (in audio format) almost immediately. I’m not usually a rereader, so this immediate reread is surprising indeed.
Favorite New-to-me Author or Debut Author So Far in 2025
My favorite new-to-me (women’s fiction) author is Liz Eeles (Heaven’s Cove series).
My two favorite debut authors so far this year are Virginia Evans (The Correspondent) and Christine Hill Suntz (The Lawyer and the Laundress).
A book That Made Me Cry in 2025
The end of The Correspondent caused me to shed a few tears in the best possible way. Are you tired of me talking about this book yet?!
The Genre I Have Read the Most in 2025
No surprise that historical fiction is my most read genre.
Bookish Goal for the Rest of 2025
I recently revised my reread list, and I’d love to cross some books off that list. Perhaps the most ambitious goal on that list is a reread of Gone With the Wind. I’ve been meaning to reread it for years…maybe this is the year. In addition, I’m eager to make a couple more book club kits.
QOTD:
How would you answer these prompts?
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Nice post
Fab answers, Carol!
Thanks! 🌻
The Black Wolf is high up on my TBR too although I have to say that the previous book wasn’t one of my favourites in the Gamache series
I haven’t particularly enjoyed the last few….but I can’t give up on the series! I’ve decided to get on the library hold list from now on instead of buying more installments.
That’s exactly how I feel. I just wish we could get back to proper Three Pines rather than international conspiracy
🙌 💯
The Black Wolf is high on my TBR list for this Autumn too although I have to admit that the previous book wasn’t one of my favourites in the series so far.
Great review prompts, Carol. Here are my answers to your prompts:
45
The Great Gatsby
Whale Bay Series by Joanne Tracey
The Southern Lady Code and Brave New World
The next book by Joanne Tracey
Fahrenheit 451
Claire Cameron
The Great Gatsby
Classics
Slow down. I’ve already read more than I said I would. <3
Thanks for sharing! So many great reads out there that it’s difficult to slow down!
sounds like a great first half, enjoy the second!
Hee are my answers:
https://wordsandpeace.com/2025/06/20/2025-mid-year-reading-check-tags/
Thanks! Hopping over to read your post….
I’m eagerly awaiting The Black Wolf because there were so many loose ends by the end of The Grey Wolf. Just hoping that if this does take us back to Three Pines that dratted duck has become a pate appetizer in the bistro.
😂😂😂 we need to start a hashtag #duckpate
I love reading everyone’s answers on this tag. I am definitely moving The Correspondent up my TBR list with a goal to listen to it by the end of the month.
I wish I could read it again for the first time! Enjoy!