Category: book tag

Book Tag: New Year’s Book Tag 2026
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Book Tag: New Year’s Book Tag 2026

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Hello reader!

Happy New Year to you all 😊 I hope everyone had a safe, fun New Year’s Eve and are having a relaxing start to 2026. As happens every time we move to December to January, I’ve been thinking about what I want out of this next year. I know for a fact that I want to get back into the groove of book blogging! 2025 was a bit of a crazy year here in my household and yours truly felt like she was drowning under the chaos on the best of days. But our life is starting to find a more chill balance and I feel like I can finally take a deep breath and get back into hobbies that I used to enjoy!

That being said, doing the New Year’s Book Tag seemed like the perfect fresh start for my little blog! I found this on Ashley’s (@BooksAre42) blog and it seemed like kismet. I’m not sure who the original creator might be, but if you know, please drop a comment! Now, let’s get to the tag.

How many books are you planning to read in 2026?

In previous years, I would always up my reading challenge by five if I managed to reach my goal. In 2025, my goal was 60 books and I absolutely smashed that goal by reading 98 books! You would think I could be bold and pick a goal closer to the 90 range, but reading is my favorite hobby and I find keeping my reading challenge lower helps keep it that way, haha. So, my goal for 2026 will be 65 books!

Name 5 books that you didn’t get to this past year but want to make a priority in 2026.

Hahaha, I could definitely list more than five 👀 I barely read anything from my 25 in 2025 list, so I’m going to go with five books from there:

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Mid-Year Book Freakout 2023
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Mid-Year Book Freakout 2023

kerrimcbooknerd2 Comments

Hello, reader!

We’re going into the second full week of July and the year is officially over halfway done. Which completely blows my mind! I can’t believe that we’re already steaming towards a new school year because I feel like that last one just ended, haha. But with the year being half over, it’s time for the Mid-Year Book Freakout book tag! I always enjoy doing this tag because I get so lost in the sauce during the year and it’s nice to look back at all the books I’ve read. Even if there are a lot of “Oh, I read that this year???” moments. Time has no meaning, y’all 😂

Now, sources seem to differ on who created this tag. I’m going to say it was originally created by ReadLikeWildfire and Earl Grey Books because that’s the version of the tag I’ll be completing today. Thank you to them and all the other credited creators with slightly different tags for such a fun idea.

Alright, now let’s get to it!

Best Book You’ve Read So Far In 2023

Delicious Monsters by Liselle Sambury

This was one of my first reads of the year and, oof, has it stuck with me. I find myself thinking about it randomly even in the heat of summer! It was wonderfully terrifying, with incredible atmosphere and compelling characters. It deals with some heavy topics, so, if you need them, please check trigger warnings. That being said, it’s a powerful book that had me devouring the pages. A perfect spooky read for the upcoming fall season!

Best Sequel You’ve Read So Far In 2023

Network Effect by Martha Wells

Honestly, I could put all of the books from the Murderbot Diaries into this category (beyond the first one, of course). The full length novel, however, stands out as my absolute favorite. Probably because we get so much more Murderbot! Who will, perhaps, make another appearance in this post 👀 Either way, this series is incredible and I cannot wait for the new book that is coming in November!

New Release You Haven’t Read Yet, But Want To

The Golden Frog Games by Claribel A. Ortega

There are so many I could name, but this is definitely at the top of the list. I loved the first book in this middle grade fantasy series, Witchlings, so I was excited to receive an ARC. Then life happened and I still haven’t gotten a chance to continue Seven, Valley, and Thorn’s story. If this story is anything like the first book, it’s going to magical with a lot of heart. I’m looking forward to finally giving it a read.

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The Quarter Year Crisis Book Tag
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The Quarter Year Crisis Book Tag

kerrimcbooknerd10 Comments

Hello, reader!

I’ve been rather MIA for the last few days, haven’t I? I thought I’d make that up to you by participating in a book tag! We are already a quarter through 2023 which blows my mind. Like… how is it already the end of April?! That being said, I thought this would be a great time to do The Quarter Year Crisis Book Tag! I was tagged by the wonderful Dini @ dinipandareads and it looked like too much fun to skip! Also, if you haven’t checked out Dini’s incredible blog, please go give it a look. Not only does she have great bookish posts, but her blog is just so aesthetically pleasing 🥰

This original tag was created by Roisin @Roisin’s Reading over on BookTube, so make sure to go check out her channel, as well!

Alright, now let’s get to the tag.

How many books have you read so far?

I’ve managed to read 34 books so far in 2023 and I’m pretty stoked about that! This is the first year that I’ve been bold enough to set my goal at 100 instead of a lower number even though I’ve read over 100 books for the last two years. I dunno… there’s something about those triple digits that made me nervous! But, as you can see, I’m currently five books ahead of schedule and going strong. I’m excited to see if I can beat my number for 2022!

Have you already found a book you think might be a 2023 favorite? If not, what was your favorite book you read that wasn’t quite five stars?

Oof, that’s always a tough question for my undecisive-self, haha. Of all my five star reads so far this year, I think the two top contenders for ‘favorite of the year’ would be Delicious Monsters by Liselle Sambury and Song of Silver, Flame Like Night by Amélie Wen Zhao. Both were so incredibly written and completely swept me away when I was reading them, though they certainly have very different tones. I have a review for Delicious Monsters and I’m working on one for Song of Silver, Flame Like Night.

Any 1-star books / least favorite book of the year?

No shade to the people that love Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren. I know this is a pretty beloved romance. I, however, hated this 😬 The characters made me want to shake them. One is a straight-up stalker and I will never be convinced that it was cute or okay! The other is bad at communicating (well, they both kind of are) and it’s so frustrating! Mix in the twist that made me want to toss the book across the room and this just did not work for me. The only reason it got two stars instead of one is because I loved the fact that both of the main characters were bookish.

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The In Or Out Book Tag
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The In Or Out Book Tag

kerrimcbooknerd2 Comments

Hello, reader!

Today feels like a good day for a tag! I’ll be doing the In Or Out Book Tag, which asks whether you love (or hate) certain bookish tropes. I was tagged by the wonderful Ashlee @ Books Are 42 and it looked like a lot of fun. By the way, if you haven’t visited Ashlee’s blog, you should definitely take a look. Go for the awesome blog name, stay for the even better blog content! This tag was created by Rick MacDonnell over on BookTube.

Now, let’s get to the tag!

1. Reading the Last Page First

Out!! I avoid spoilers for books as much as possible, so there’s no way I’d read the end of a story before I had read the rest of it. If I know how a story ends, what’s the motivation to continue reading? Although, if it’s a book I’m thoroughly enjoying it, I’m sure it would be fine, but still… I like the satisfaction of waiting til the end. There are times where a book is giving me ✨anxiety✨ and I skim ahead a bit to make sure everyone is okay, but, other than that, no reading ahead.

2. Enemies to Lovers

In! This is one of my favorite tropes. In romance, it’s my favorite trope, but in other books it’s still pretty high up there. Though, let’s be real, most books are really just rivals to lovers, but I’m okay with that, too. There’s something about the tension between two characters who are attracted to each other but refuse to acknowledge it because they “hate” each other that is just *chef’s kiss*

3. Dream Sequences

Out? I’ve honestly not read a lot of books where a dream sequence was a big thing in the story. I feel like I wouldn’t like it, though. Depending what happened in the dream, I’d probably feel cheated, haha. I know I’ve always disliked it when it happened in a movie or TV show, so I feel like that would hold true for books, as well.

4. Love Triangles

Out. This is probably my least favorite trope because, in my opinion, it’s very rarely done well. It feels formulaic and dull, for the most part, and it’s usually fairly obvious which love interest the author has picked as the end game. Now, if said love triangle leads to a possible polyamorous relationship that is done well… then I can get on board. I’m not poly, but I feel like we need more polyamorous rep in books!

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Characters of the Year Book Tag
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Characters of the Year Book Tag

kerrimcbooknerd4 Comments

Hello, reader!

Today is a good day for a tag! I’ll be doing the Characters of the Year Tag, which I always mean to do at the beginning of the year, but never quite manage, haha. Thankfully, I was tagged by Ashlee @ Books Are 42, who is an incredible book blogger and helped remind me to get this done in 2023. If you haven’t checked out her blog before, I highly suggest you do ❤ I’m not sure who originally created this tag, but if you know, please share!

Alright, now let’s get to the tag!

Favorite Male Character of The Year

Piranesi (Piranesi by Susanna Clarke)

I found the titular character in this book to be absolutely fascinating! I loved getting the story through his various journal entries and seeing the world through his eyes. It made learning about the world feel more personal, somehow, and certainly connected me to Piranesi quickly. I was very invested in his well-being!

Favorite Female Character of The Year

Eudora Fellowes (Inheriting Her Ghosts by S.H. Cooper)

I read a lot of incredible female characters this year, but Eudora stands out in my mind. It read this book closer to the end of the year but I knew I was going to love her from the moment I read the first excerpt for BBNYA. She’s independent, smart, and a great dog mom. I also love that we get to see both her strong and softer sides throughout this story. And she’s an older character which we need more of, honestly!

Most Relatable Character of The Year

Literally all the POC characters (Babel by R.F. Kuang)

Literally all of them! Though mostly Robin, Ramy, and Victoire, of course. The things they had to put up with resonated to my soul and the willful ignorance of their white counterparts made me want to rage right alongside them. I will admit to relating to Victoire the most, which makes sense as she is a Black woman, but I felt a true connection to all three of them in one way or another.

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New Year’s Book Tag
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New Year’s Book Tag

kerrimcbooknerd10 Comments

Hello, reader!

It’s time for my first tag of the new year! I’m going to try to keep up with these in 2023 because I very much failed to do so in 2022 😅 This tag seems to be a perfect one for a fresh start. It’s the New Year’s Book Tag and I was tagged by the wonderful Ashlee @ Books Are 42. If you haven’t checked out her blog before, I highly suggest you do!

Alright, now let’s get to the tag!

How many books are you planning to read in 2023?

My goal for this year is my most ambitious yet. I’m hoping to read 100 books this year! I think it’s totally doable as I’ve read over 100 books the last two years. It’s still daunting to see that number sitting on my Goodreads homepage 😂

Name 5 books that you didn’t get to this past year but want to make a priority in 2023.

Hahaha, there are so many books that I wish I had gotten to last year. I had two whole TBRs that I left… quite a few books on. I would love to get to all of the books that were left behind, but these five are ones I am going to try and prioritize in 2023.

What genre do you want to read more of?

I’d like to continue my romance journey and delve more into the genre! I’ve really only been reading rom-coms, so far, and I wouldn’t mind dipping my toes into different romances. If I don’t like them, I can just retreat into my fluffy, rom-com world 😂 I’d also like to make a conscious effort to pick up more science fiction this year! I feel like I’ve been ignoring the SF side of my SFF roots, lately, and I want to get back into it.

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Encanto Book Tag
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Encanto Book Tag

kerrimcbooknerd2 Comments

Hello, reader!

It’s been a minute since I’ve done a book tag, hasn’t it? Let me remedy that real quick and do one that speaks to my Disney-loving soul! The Encanto Book Tag is exactly what it sounds like… a tag focused on the songs of the incredible Disney movie, Encanto. How many times have I seen it? Probably too many. How many times have I cried while watching it? Pretty much every time 😂 It’s a beautiful movie and the songs are absolute perfection, so this was an easy choice when looking for a tag to do today!

Before I jump in, I want to thank Danni @ _ForBooksSake for tagging me! You should definitely check out her blog if you’re a fan of thrillers. Even if you aren’t, Danni’s blog is a great, bookish spot on the internet! This tag was originally created by Passport To Eden.

With that said, let’s get to it!

The Family Madrigal

Name a book that explores multiple family generations

The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls by Anissa Gray

This is a book I don’t talk about often, but one I thoroughly enjoyed. It’s a contemporary novel about a group of sisters who return home after their parents are arrested. There’s drama, there’s heart-wrenching emotion, and there’s a lot to unpack. It’s all told in such a tender way, though, that you can’t help but love it.

Waiting On A Miracle

What Is A Book You Enjoyed But Took Longer Than Expected To Finish

Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley

I ended up giving this book five stars because it was absolutely incredible. And yet it took me months to read it! Sure, most of those months I wasn’t actively trying to read it. I got distracted by blog tours and review copies. Once I buckled down and devoted my attention to this book, though, I knew it was something special. Definitely worth a read!

Surface Pressure

Name A Character Who Has To Do It All

Stillhouse Lake by Rachel Caine

Gwen Proctor is probably one of the more badass characters I’ve read recently! I suppose, in the end, she doesn’t do everything by herself, but for most of the book she is struggling to keep herself and her kids hidden and safe all on her own. It’s freakin’ intense! I think Gwen would relate to this song on a deep, personal level, haha.

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The Afternoon Tea Book Tag
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The Afternoon Tea Book Tag

kerrimcbooknerd2 Comments

Hello, reader!

It’s Thursday and that seems like the perfect time for a book tag! Today, I’ll be doing the Afternoon Tea Book Tag which combines two of my favorite things: food and books. I’m looking forward to giving this one a go.

Before I do, though, I must thank Ashlee @ Books Are 42 for tagging me! She has an incredible blog (with an incredible name!) and y’all should definitely go check her out. This tag was created by The Incessant Bookworm and you should check out their blog, as well!

Alright, now let’s get to the post!

Finger Sandwiches – A Book You Savored Every Minute Of

Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko

I talk about this book… a lot. But there’s a good reason for that! I truly loved every minute of this reading experience! So much so that this book has quickly become one of my most re-read books of all time. I just can’t get enough of Tarisai and company. And it helps that I loved the sequel just as much! I’m eager to read whatever Jordan Ifueko comes out with next.

Scones – A Book Everyone Should Own

Hmm. I don’t think there’s a book that everyone should own. Different readers have different tastes, after all. There’s no one book that is going to loved so much by everyone that it should be on all the bookshelves of all the readers of the world. I like Ashlee’s answer, that everyone should own a childhood favorite! I’m going to go in the same vein and say everyone should own a book that is their go-to escape from the world. A book they can come back to time and time again that will make them feel good.

Biscuits – A Book That Can Be Finished In One Sitting

Spy x Family by Tatsuya Endo

I recently picked up the first manga in this series because I was seeing it everywhere. Now I’m fully obsessed, so I guess I know why 😂 If you like found family, this is a manga for you! Add in the fact that there are spies and assassins and telepaths and it’s just an incredible fun, fast read. It’s also hilarious! I would suggest the whole series if you’re looking for a quick read.

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The Cheesy Goodness Book Tag
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The Cheesy Goodness Book Tag

kerrimcbooknerd4 Comments

Hello, reader!

It’s Thursday and that seems as good a day as any for another book tag! Today, I’m doing one that combines two of my favorite things: books and cheese! Makes me want to whip up a charcuterie board and have a snack whilst reading after I finish this post 😂 But maybe first I should tell you what it actually is… The Cheesy Goodness Book Tag!

Before I start, I must thank two incredible bloggers for tagging me! Shoutout to both Ashley @ Books Are 42 and Danni @ _ForBooksSake for thinking of me! You should definitely check out both of their blogs because they are fantastic. Lots of wonderful, bookish content!

Now, it’s time to get to the tag 😊

The Rules:

  • Pingback the original creator (Sydney at Fire and Rain books) so she can see all your cheesy goodness answers.
  • Pingback the person who tagged you or you stole this from (Thanks Ashley and Danni!)
  • Have fun!

The Prompts:

Cheddar – The Traditional Cheese: Name Your Favorite Classic Novel

Oh, it has to be The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas! I was so nervous about reading this book. Mostly because my experience with classics has been very hit or miss, but also partly because this book is THICK. Eventually, though, my curiosity won out and I picked up the audiobook. I absolutely fell in love with the king of all revenge stories! This was such an incredible novel and it made me want to explore more books by Dumas.

Swiss – A Hole-y Cheese: Name an Emotional Roller Coaster

I just finished Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley yesterday while I was at work. I probably should have held off until I got home because, dear lord, does this book pack a punch! My heart was in my throat for most of the last few chapters, from both joy and sadness. I was prepared for an intriguing thriller that kept me engaged. I was not prepared to have my feelings bounce around like a ping-pong ball 😂 Suffice it to say, I loved this book!

Blue Cheese – The Controversial Cheese: Name an Unpopular Book Opinion You Have

I’m slowly starting to realize that I’m not a fan of e-books 😬 I love the concept of them! I love that they make books more accessible and easy to bring wherever you go. But the actual experience of reading them? No thank you. I don’t know if it’s because I stare at screens all the time and adding one more screen to my routine is too much or if I just really prefer having a physical book in my hand, but they’re definitely my least preferred reading format.

Brie – The Favorite Cheese: Name an Author You Always Want More Of

Top of the list has to be Erin Morgenstern. She has written two of my favorite books of all time. She’s one of the few authors where I read one book they wrote and immediately added them to my ‘favorite authors’ list. And I cannot wait til whatever she’s working on next is announced! I just need more of her beautiful, lyrical writing and the fantastical worlds that she creates. Until then, I’ll just have to re-read The Night Circus and The Starless Sea until my books fall apart 😂

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Get to Know the Fantasy Reader Book Tag
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Get to Know the Fantasy Reader Book Tag

kerrimcbooknerd9 Comments

Hello, reader!

It’s Thursday and that seems a good time to do a book tag. And what better tag for a fantasy lover like myself than the Get to Know the Fantasy Reader Book Tag! This is very much inside my wheelhouse 😆 Thank you to the wonderful Becky @ Becky’s Book Blog for tagging me!

Alright, now let’s get into the tag.

The Rules:

  • Make sure you give credit to the original creators of this tag – this tag was originally created by Bree Hill.
  • If you want to, pingback to the post you first saw this tag!
  • Have fun!

The Prompts:

What is your fantasy origin story? (The first fantasy you read.)

I’m sure there were fantasy novels I read before this, like Dahl, but Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede is the first one that I truly fell into. I devoured the Enchanted Forest series and legit made it my entire personality for a looooong time. I wanted to be Cimorene, I wanted to hanging out with the dragons, I wanted to go on adventures. This book/series is what really made me fall in love with fantasy and I still think about it all the time. It really is time for a re-read!

If you could be the hero/heroine in a fantasy novel, who would be the author and what’s one trope you’d insist be in the story?

Ooo, that’s a really good question! Hmm… and kind of hard to answer, lol. I think I would want Jordan Ifueko to write my story because she builds such beautiful, lush worlds. She has a way of writing that is so evocative, so immersive, that you can’t help to lose yourself in her stories. She’s also great at writing the ‘found family’ trope, which is the one I would absolutely insist on in my story.

What is a fantasy series you’ve read this year, that you want more people to read?

Okay, there’s only one book in this series, so far, but I still need everyone to read Witchlings by Claribel A. Ortega! This was an incredible middle grade fantasy that I absolutely devoured. It has magic, it has an awesome friend group, and it tackles some pretty tough topics that I’m sure a lot of kids will relate to. I loved the writing in this and the world that Ortega created. My favorite part of this story, however, were our three main characters, Seven, Thorn, and Valley. I can’t wait to continue their story.

What is your favorite fantasy subgenre?

That’s another good question! I would have to agree with Becky and say folklore/mythology retellings. Retellings are some of my favorite stories, especially if it tends to focus on the characters that are usually in the background of such tales. I fell in love with Circe by Madeline Miller for that reason! I’ve also enjoyed Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia and, recently, The Witch’s Heart by Genevieve Gornichec.

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