After our reading year starting off well in January, can we say it continued into February? Today we’ll be talking about the books we read last month. So keep on reading for our February wrap up!
Candyce
In February I read 24 books (7 ARCs, 6 Kindle Unlimited eBooks, 4 paperbacks, 4 eBooks, 2 manga, and 1 audiobook). I have to say February was a pretty good reading month. There were some new favorites and a few I didn’t enjoy, but all in all I can’t complain. Let’s talk about what books I read.
Boyfriend Material – Alexis Hall
Boyfriend Material has been on my shelf for about four years now I think, and I finally read it! I’m mad at myself for taking so long, because this book is a great example of why I love the fake dating trope. Luc and Oliver’s story is so heartwarming and emotional. Not having the greatest relationship with my father, I could really relate to Luc. I’ll be continuing the series soon.
Felix Ever After – Kacen Callender
Felix Ever After has been on my shelf for a few years and I should’ve picked it up sooner! I read this one in one sitting and it was an emotional and heartwarming. Felix has never been in love and is trying to figure out his sexuality. This is full of family, friendships, love, and even an enemy, I guess?
Chilling Effect – Valerie Valdes
Chilling Effect is a book I’ve been wanting to read for a while. Mostly because it had psychic cats. It was a fast, adventurous read but I didn’t love it. There wasn’t much world building and I never really connected to the main character. I’m not sure I’ll be continuing this series.
The Dixon Rule – Elle Kennedy
The Off Campus is still one of my favorite romance series and I love that we get this spinoff of the next generation. I loved The Graham Effect and I should’ve read The Dixon Rule sooner. Shane and Diana were so much fun. This book made me laugh, cry, and it ended with me smiling. I’ll be reading The Charlie Method very soon.
The Dangers in my Heart Vol. 1 – Norio Sakuari
For Valentine’s Day I received this manga. I flew through it. My boyfriend described this one to me (he saw the anime) and it sounds really good. I see potential in this story, but this one did have a few too many sexual innuendos than I appreciated. I will continue with this series.
Toradora! Vol. 1 – Yuyuko Takemiya
Toradora! is an anime I watched with the boyfriend a few years ago and I thought it’d be fun to give the manga a go. A lot of the times we get more of the story than just with the anime. I loved the start of this series just as much as I enjoyed the anime.
Out of the Woods – Hannah Bonam-Young
Every since I read Out on a Limb, I’ve devoured everything this author has written. Out of the Woods was one I knew would be a five star read after reading the first two chapters. Sarah and Caleb married young and have gone through a lot as a couple. This book was sad, steamy, heartwarming, and just everything I wanted. I’ll be shocked if Out of the Woods doesn’t make my top ten books of 2025.
Beneath the Stars – Emily McIntire
Beneath the Stars is a book I’m a bit conflicted about. It started off really strong for me. I loved the dual POV and dual timeline. It really helped me get to know the characters and their struggles. That’s where things get complicated, because I loved seeing Alina and Chase find each other again. But the middle of this book was pretty slow and I feel like the ending was settled just a bit too fast and easy. It just left me wanting more. I do want to continue the series.
Deep End – Ali Hazelwood
Ali Hazelwood is one of my favorite authors and Deep End is her first sports romance. Deep End was everything I was hoping for and more! Scarlett and Lukas’ story was so good and I couldn’t put this book down. I hope Ali gives us more books like this.
Heartbreak Hill – Heidi McLaughlin
I was expecting Heartbreak Hill to break my heart and put it back together again. While this one was emotional in the beginning, but it didn’t get to me like I was expected. We got multiple POVs and two stories being told, and I feel like that took away from the story.
Irreversible – Jennifer Hartmann & Chelley St. Clair
Irreversible is a book I saw on bookstagram quite a bit before it released at the end of January. This almost 600 page book is one I couldn’t put down. It’s dark, heartbreaking, hopeful, inspiring, and even a bit spicy. Our two main characters have been kidnapped and get to know each other through the wall that keeps their rooms separated. I have to say this one always kept me guessing and on the edge of my seat.
The Crash – Freida McFadden
The Boyfriend was my first Freida McFadden book last year and I loved it! I read it in one sitting and I was so invested. So I was really excited to pick up The Crash. It’s one I’m still not really sure how I feel about. It was addicting and easy to read, but I never really felt like I was at the edge of my seat. Some of the chapters felt a bit repetitive and the twist didn’t exactly feel fitting?
The Mercenary and the Mortician – Alexandra St. Pierre
This book is almost 800 pages and I couldn’t put it down. The Mercenary and the Mortician is a dark book but I got so invested in these two characters. I’ve also decided I need a book for ever side character and thankfully the author seems to plan on doing just that.
Cruel King – Rina Kent
It’s one of my goals this year to work through Rina Kent’s backlist. Cruel King is technically the prequel story to the Royal Elite series. When I read the first book in 2023, I didn’t read this one. I’m so glad I went back to it. This is a darker book, but I couldn’t get enough of Levi and Astrid’s story. I’m kind of sad that they only got one book.
Steel Princess – Rina Kent
Steel Princess is the second book in Elsa and Aiden’s trilogy and wow things got intense. There were so many twists and turns and they just kept coming! The ending really blew my mind and I need to read their third and final book in March.
Cherry Ice – Addison Beck
Cherry Ice was only a 67 page novella and kind of reminded me why I don’t do novellas. This MM best friend’s romance had a great concept. It just felt awkward and weird with it being so short. I may have liked this more if it were a full length novel.
Dream Girl Drama – Tessa Bailey
Tessa Bailey is hit or miss for me, but Dream Girl Drama was definitely a hit. I wasn’t sure about this one. While I loved Sig and Chloe in the previous book, the fact that Chloe basically called Sig for everything had me worried. But this book was everything I hoped for. Even though it was a bit of instalove, it worked in this one. We actually had a slow burn romance! I loved the characters, their development, the romance, and even the sexy scenes. I’m glad I picked up Dream Girl Drama.
Love You, Mean It – Jilly Gagnon
Love You, Mean It was a fun rom com with fake dating, a little amnesia, and a fun family. Ellie takes over her family’s deli when her father passes away. Even though she’s not sure it’s what she wants, when someone is thinking about buying them out, she wants to fight for it. I loved seeing her fall in love, but also really figure out what she wants in life and her career. I do wish we had had Theo’s POV in this one though.
Home Field Advantage – Dahlia Adler
In Home Field Advantage Jack transfers schools and becomes quarterback for her school’s football team. This isn’t exactly welcomed by everyone. Amber has her heart set on cheerleader captain, but when she starts questioning her sexuality and how her community is responding to different things she starts to think about what she really wants. I thought this was a heartwarming romance that also dealt with serious subjects really well.
Fireworks – Alice Lin
I’ve been trying to make a dent in my Netgalley TBR and Fireworks was my oldest book on there. Fireworks was a fun YA romance with a famous boy-next-door. I also really appreciated that the author really had them develop their friendship before it became a romance.
Booked on a Feeling – Jayci Lee
Booked on a Feeling has a book loving main character and a bookstore. You’d think with a romance added to that, that this book would’ve been one I’d love. Unfortunately, Booked on a Feeling fell flat to me. I didn’t really connect to the characters.
Frightmares – Eva V. Gibson
Frightmares was a read now on Netgalley a few years ago and it sounded interesting. This is supposed to be a YA horror book, but it was more murder mystery than anything. While I enjoyed the setting, it took too long for anything to really happen. I didn’t end up loving this one unfortunately.
The Matchbreaker Summer – Annie Rains
The Matchbreaker Summer is described as a pitch-perfect summer camp rom-com, but I don’t feel that description really fits. Our main character, Paisley, enjoys going to summer camp every year. It’s her parents’ camp and it’s something she looks forward to. This year is different though because it’s going to be the last year. Paisley’s father passed a few years before this and her mother wants to move with her new partner. Of course, this isn’t something she wants and things get intense. She tries breaking up her mother and new boyfriend and hopes she’ll get the camp to stay open. There’s also a developing summer romance. It’s an emotional story with friendships, first loves, and dealing with change. I enjoyed The Matchbreaker Summer, but it didn’t feel like Paisley was 16 years old. She felt a bit younger.
Love and Other Conspiracies – Mallory Marlowe
I’m a reader who doesn’t listen to podcasts, but I love when that element is added into books. In Love and Other Conspiracies a web producer and a true believer with a successful podcast team up. This book was so much fun. There was forced proximity, and I feel like this really let our main characters really get to know each other. I also really appreciated we didn’t have a third act breakup in this one.
Isabelle
I had a pretty good reading month thanks to insomnia and audiobooks. In total I read 12 books, most of them were rereads and all of them were audiobooks. I am reading some physical books, but I haven’t finished any of them yet.
Harry Potter #1-#7 – J. K. Rowling
Like I said, I had some really bad nights and I just couldn’t sleep so I decided to try a calming audiobook. I picked the Harry Potter series and finally slept for a bit. In no time at all I finished all 7 books. While I disagree with all things J.K. Rowling and I can see the flaws in the series, it still is a comfort series for me and it was what I needed this month.
All for the Game #1-#3 – Nora Sakavic
With The Golden Raven releasing in February, I had to reread the All for the Game series. I love this flawed series so much, these characters have a place in my heart. At this moment I’m still rereading The Sunshine Court and after that I have The Golden Raven ready to go!
Ninth House – Leigh Bardugo
I looked through my audiobooks on Audible and saw Ninth House. For some reason I decided it was time to finally start this book and it did not disappoint! I love Leigh Bardugo’s writing, and I’m happy that I don’t just love her Grishaverse.
The Dark Refrain – Jessica Khoury
This is the third book in the Mystwick series. I really like this series, it works wonderfully as audiobooks as music is a big part of the series. This is a MG series and the story isn’t that special, but the music makes it an enjoyable read.
So that’s our February wrap up! Have you read any of these? Or did you find any new favorites last month? Let us know in the comments. We’d love to hear from you!
