Bookish Reflections: HALF-YEARLY STOCKTAKE

I know, I know - it's a cliche', but time seems to be going faster every year. It's July already, and time for some bookish reflection on reaching the half-way mark of 2017.

Total books read: 

66 (which is 16 books ahead of my schedule - not bad!)

Total countries visited by armchair travel:

20

Best mystery so far in 2017:

 Dead Woman Walking, by Sharon Bolton

Best historical fiction so far in 2017: it’s a tie!

 Devastation Road, by Jason Hewitt

 All the Light WeCannot See, by Anthony Doerr

Best general fiction so far in 2017: it’s a tie!

 The Scandal (also published under “Beartown”)by Fredrik Backman

 Our Endless NumberedDays, by Claire Fuller

Best book in a series so far in 2017:

 The Deepest Grave, by Harry Bingham

Most anticipated new release in the second half of 2017:

 Then She Was Gone, by Lisa Jewell

Most anticipated new release of a book in a series in the second half of 2017:

 Force of Nature, by Jane Harper

Most interesting and unusual protagonist so far in 2017:

 Eleanor Oliphant isCompletely Fine, by Gail Honeyman

Biggest disappointment so far in 2017:

 The Burial Hour, by Jeffery Deaver

Favourite read by a new or debut male author so far in 2017:

 Watching You, by Arne Dahl

Favourite read by a new or debut female author so far in 2017:

 Follow Me Down, by Sherri Smith

Favourite read by an Aussie author so far in 2017:

 Ache, by Eliza Henry Jones

Most beautiful book cover:

 The Red Hunter, by Lisa Unger

Biggest “happy dance” approval by Netgalley:

 The Secrets SheKeeps, by Michael Robotham

Most devastating “request denied” by Netgalley:

 Then She Was Gone, by Lisa Jewell

Must-reads coming up in 2017:

 Since We Fell, by Dennis Lehane

 Sunday Morning ComingDown, by Nicci French

 The Lying Game, by Ruth Ware

 The Dark Lake, by Sarah Bailey

 Exquisite, by Sarah Stovell

 Im Wald, by Nele Neuhaus

 The Girl in KellersWay, by Megan Goldin

A big thank-you goes to Netgalley and the authors and publishers who granted me access to many wonderful ARCs and gave me the opportunity to review them prior to publication. Receiving an ARC is better then Christmas! 

Here is to many more books and reading pleasure in the second half of 2017!