2025 Mid-Year Freak Out Tag

Posted on by Red-Haired Ash Reads
The Mid-Year Freak Out Book Tag

The Mid-Year Book Freakout Tag was originally created in 2012 by BookTuber Earl Grey Books.

Best book you’ve read so far in 2025?

I can never choose just one with how many books I read in a year. So here are a couple of my top favorites.

Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2025?

I couldn’t decide what has been the best sequel so far so I just included both.

Biggest surprise?

Passing Through Purgatory is a book that had come up in my feed quite a few times and I had seen it had high reviews. I hadn’t read any books written exclusively by this author (I read the Black Oasis which they co-wrote with Lily Mayne). For some reason I didn’t have high expectations but I ended up loving this one. It’s a great romance with a great found family.

Vacationing with the Vampire in Hollow Cove was a book that I randomly picked up after seeing it on the new releases from Kindle Unlimited. It sat on my kindle forever until one night I randomly decided to start it. I really loved this story and plan on reading more of the books set in this universe now.

Biggest disappointment?

The biggest disappointment so far this year has been Whack Job: A History of Axe Murder by Rachel McCarthy James. This book wasn’t what I was expecting at all. I really though this would focus only on axe murders but instead the majority of the book discusses murders caused mainly from political executions, early killings that were done with something sharp, and some based on myths. For a book about axe murders, it spends very little time actually talking about them.

New release you haven’t read yet but want to?

One book that I have yet to getting around to reading yet is the graphic novel of The Innkeeper Chronicles, Vol. 2 by ChrossxXxRodes and Ilona Andrews. I love the novels of this series and really enjoyed reading volume 1 and seeing the story illustrated. I am excited to read how they illustrate the aliens. I haven’t read this yet because I was waiting to see if my library got a copy since they had volume 1, but its not looking good currently.

The second book that I haven’t gotten around to reading is Thunder Game (Ghostwalker #20) by Christine Feehan. This is the only series of Feehan’s that I continue to read and enjoy, so I am looking forward to reading it. But again, I am waiting on my library hold to come through.

Most anticipated release for the second half of the year?

I have two releases in the second half of the year that I am really excited for because the authors have never disappointed me.

Favorite new author (debut or new to you)?

I haven’t really read many new authors this year because I have been reading mainly sequels or rereading series. But I did read Tokyo Fears Rhapsody by Aikra Sugito and I loved it so much. I am so excited to see what happens next in this series and I can see myself reading more from this author.

Newest fictional crush?

I don’t form fictional crushes. I have characters that I really love but never in a romantic way. I know this is super common but it’s just not something that I do, maybe because I am asexual.

Newest favorite character?

Lizbeth Rose from the Gunnie Rose series by Charlaine Harris is probably my newest favorite character. She is such a badass woman who has dealt with a lot in her short life. She is also very deadly and has no problems taking people out who get in her way, which I like.

This world is a mixture of post-apocalypse, western, and paranormal, so if you like any of those, you might enjoy this series.

A book that made you cry?

This is something that rarely happens for me, and so far, it hasn’t happened this year. So I don’t have a book for this category.

A book that made you happy?

I love the Patrick and Jono from the Soulbound series so I was very excited when the author announced this surprise novella, Born of Legends. This takes place a few years after the series ends and they finally are getting married and starting a new chapter of their lives. It was perfect.

Most beautiful book you’ve bought this year (or received)?

I haven’t really bought any books this year because of the house fire. So I don’t have anything to add for this one currently. I do have some special editions pre-ordered though.

What book(s) do you need to read by the end of the year?

I have a lot of books I want to read by the end of the year, but here are the nonfiction books I really want to get to before the end of the year.

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