Mid-Year Book Tag

Updated on September 29th, 2025

We are well into the summer, and I recently watched Melina Elisa‘s video on the Mid-Year Book Tag. I thought it would be fun to do the tag myself and share all about the books I have read so far in 2025.

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Mid-Year Book Tag for 2025

What is your book goal?

I set a reading goal of 50 books for 2025, as I did not want to put too much pressure on myself to constantly read. Last year, I set the same goal to read 50 books, and I surpassed it. Therefore, I do know it is possible for me to reach my goal.

How many books have you read so far?

As of writing this post, I have read 40 books, which is 80% of my reading goal for 2025! I have no doubt that I will be able to reach my goal.

What is your genre breakdown?

There is a little bit of overlap, but my genre breakdown is 15 mystery/thriller, 10 literary fiction, 9 fiction, and 9 young adult books.

What is the shortest and longest book you have read?

The Housemaid’s Wedding by Freida McFadden is the shortest book I have read, at 76 pages. I read the short story as part of my The Housemaid Series review, but it is terrible. On the other hand, the longest book I read is The First to Die at the End by Adam Silvera, which is 550 pages. The book is a prequel to They Both Die at the End, and if you have read and enjoyed They Both Die at the End, I do recommend reading the prequel.

What is my rating breakdown?

My average rating of the books I read in 2025 is 3.7 stars. The breakdown includes 5 5-star, 21 4-star, 9 3-star, 2 2-star, and 3 1-star books.

What is a book you enjoyed with mixed reviews?

I am going to go with Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry. I have heard mixed reviews going into the book because there is more of a literary fiction focus than Emily Henry’s other romance books, but I quite enjoyed it. Great Big Beautiful Life is not my favorite book by Emily Henry, but I still liked it.

What is your favorite book you have read?

Hands down, We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer. I listened to the audiobook, and I thought it was fantastic. However, the book follows different timelines, so I ended up buying the paperback to reread this summer.

What is the best sequel you have read?

The best sequel I have read is More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa. I read Days at the Morisaki Bookshop earlier this year, and I read the sequel more recently. The sequel follows Takako again and her uncle Satoru’s bookshop in Tokyo. I ended up actually liking the sequel more than the first book!

What new release have you not read yet but want to?

I want to read Loveless by Rawiya Al Aamri. It is a poetry collection that was released on July 12th. I have bought the poetry book, and I am looking forward to reading it.

What book has been the biggest surprise?

I would have to say Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree. I am not a fantasy reader at all, but I have heard good things about the book. I listened to the audiobook, and I actually loved it! The book follows the orc Viv, who wants to hang up her sword and open the first coffee shop in Thune.

What is your most anticipated release for the 2nd half of the year?

Brigands & Breadknives by Travis Baldree which is the second book in the Legends & Lattes series. The book releases on November 11th and follows bookseller Fern, who moves to Thune to hang out at her friend’s coffee shop. Since I enjoyed Legends & Lattes, I expect to like the second book as well.

Who is your favorite debut author or an author new to you?

Alice Feeney is my favorite author, who is new to me as of 2025. I read Beautiful Ugly earlier this year and Daisy Darker this summer. Overall, I enjoy Alice Feeney’s books, and I recommend them if you like mysteries.

What book made you cry?

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. 2025 marks the first time I am reading The Hunger Games series, and even though I knew the scene was coming from watching the movie years ago, it still made me upset.

What book made you happy?

The Kamogawa Food Detectives by Hisashi Kashiwai is such a delightful book! The book follows Koishi Kamogawa and her father, Nagare, who run the Kamogawa Diner in Kyoto. Together, they help recreate dishes from a person’s memories, and each chapter follows a different individual who has come to the diner to have a dish recreated.

What book has the most beautiful cover?

After going through all the books I have read, I am going to pick Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney. The cover is hauntingly beautiful with the waves and the house on the island.

What books do you want to read by the end of the year?

I have my Summer Reading List I definitely want to get through. I would also like to reread The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware because the Netflix movie is releasing in the fall of this year. Lastly, I have read Paper Towns and The Fault in Our Stars by John Green this year, and I recently found Will Grayson, Will Grayson at the thrift store. The book is coauthored with David Levithan, and I would like to read it as well.

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What is the best book you have read so far in 2025?