Favorite books of the year (so far)

A midyear check-in

One of the ways I’ve gotten the most out of my reading life is by being reflective. I like to pause at the mid-year and end of the year to look back on what I’ve read, what I’ve loved, and what isn’t working for me. It helps me notice patterns and stay connected to the joy of reading.

Now that we’ve tipped into the second half of the year, I recently spent some time looking at what I’ve read so far. I’ve read 45 books, and 11 of them have been five-star reads, which feels like a real win. I also haven’t had any one- or two-star reads, thanks to my habit of setting a book aside if it isn’t clicking in the moment.

When I think ahead to the rest of the year, I’d love to discover a few backlist gems. Most of my favorite reads so far have been new releases, and I’m hoping to mix a little more variety in for the coming months.

While putting this post together, I noticed the Midyear Book Celebration tag popping up and decided to have a little fun with the format. So for today’s post, I’m sharing my picks in a more visual way. I hope it’s a fun scroll.

First, you’ll find all the books I’ve rated five stars this year. Then, my picks for the celebration tag, including the books I’ve loved, what has disappointed me, and what I’m most looking forward to. I’ve also included a list at the end for easy reference.