February Reads
Add this fresh slate of books to your TBRs.
Ahhh, February. The shortest month of the year, thankfully. I cannot think of a more boring month — it’s too cold around here to leave my house, so I’m glad I have great books to keep me occupied. I hope you’re staying warm and cozy, as well as doing loads of reading, wherever you may be.
My numbers for February: ten books! Not bad, not bad.
I borrowed seven books from the library (five audiobook, two eBooks).
I read three from my physical stack(s).
That brings me to twenty-two for 2025, so far. Whoo! 🥳
Gentle reminder: it’s not a race to see who reads the most books — just read.
That is the goal!
I also set a monthly book budget, because let’s face it — book buying is getting a bit out of hand over here and I have plenty of stacks to work through. Naturally, I decided to blow my freshly-set, first monthly budget on banned books. Barnes & Noble has a nice little list to browse, if you’re so inclined. I picked out a handful I’ve already enjoyed at one point in my life and will probably re-read some of them this year.
If you’re like me, you’ll scroll that list and be like “wtf, how was this banned?” And if you do so, I encourage you to go on a little dive into the why for specific books. Banning books is stupid. A very small thing we can do is keep copies floating around to share in case bans happen to hit in your community.
Moving on!!
I maxed out my holds on Libby again this month, so I think it’s finally time to apply for a Public Library Access Card within my state that will allow me to borrow from other libraries, if they have the book available. My bestie also recommended trying Hoopla to see what else I can get my hands on through the library system.
Speaking of library cards… I found this great resource that shares where you can get non-resident library cards, if you’re looking to expand your borrowing experience! Browse through each state and see what they have to offer. Maybe you’ll find a new card for your wallet and Libby app!
Alright, let’s get to the books. Tell me what you’re reading this month, too! Add anything you’re devouring in the comments, DM me, send a smoke signal, tell me on Goodreads — basically, I wanna know so I can add the book on my TBR!
Also, just to keep it top-of-mind, please refer to the Instagram post on what my star ratings mean.
FICTION
A KILLING COLD, by Kate Alice Marshall
Who it’s for: Thriller kings and queens who devour twisty tales
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Riveting. Succession vibes, with a family who keeps dark secrets close and doesn’t like to let in outsiders, plus a woman who has a clouded past. Theo and Conner met six months ago and are already engaged. She is meeting her fiancé’s family for the first time at their secluded compound, during a two week winter holiday. Connor wants his family (who are very rich and powerful) to accept Theo as his future wife but that will prove to be tough, given his grandmother has the “final say”. Theo quickly feels unwanted by the grandmother, but is getting along with other family members… regardless, she has this inkling that she needs to GTFO and ASAP. It doesn’t help that someone has been sending her texts telling her to stay away from her fiancé. There is SO much more happening, though — the darkest secrets emerge, sending you on a twisty journey to the end of this story. Do not skip this one!
TELL ME WHAT YOU DID, by Carter Wilson
Who it’s for: People who dig suspense in a nail-biting way
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Unputdownable. The premise of this book had me psyched to borrow it from the library as soon as I could. Poe Webb is the host of a popular true crime podcast, Tell Me What You Did, where she invites people to anonymously confess their crimes. Like, tell me you wouldn’t devour this in real life?! Anyway, Poe also witnessed her mother’s brutal murder when she was younger. When a new mystery guest comes on her show and confesses he’s the one who murdered her mother, her life is turned upside down. Because her mother’s murderer is very, very dead. What unravels is a dark tale of reckoning with the past and unraveling threads to figure out who the mystery guest is and what he wants with Poe. Very, very well written and captivating. I won’t forget this one for a long time.
STATION ELEVEN, by Emily St. John Mandel
Who it’s for: Lovers of literary fiction
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Dazzling. I have never met a book by Emily St. John Mandel that I didn’t absolutely devour and love, and left me hungover when I finished. This was no exception. I actually bought this paperback a few years ago but let it rest on the shelf because I was a bit inundated with pandemic PTSD and wasn’t sure how it’d make me feel. If that’s you, rest assured: the pandemic of it all was kind of in the background. This mostly takes place twenty years after the fall of civilization, due to a ravenous flu that wiped out most of humanity and modern technology. A traveling troupe of actors and musicians travel through the Great Lakes region, performing classical pieces and Shakespeare, while a dangerous “prophet” threatens their existence. We learn about some of their lives before the pandemic, and how they are surviving to this day. This story flows back and forth through time and is written so gorgeously — something this author is absolutely known for.
I have not watched the limited series adaptation on MAX, and I don’t know if I will, given I know it deviates pretty far from the book, despite having St. John Mandel’s blessing. If you watched, let me know?
THE STOLEN QUEEN, by Fiona Davis
Who it’s for: People who enjoy historical fiction, especially with a heist
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Stunning. I knew I wanted to own this one as soon as I read the synopsis. We follow Charlotte at two points of her life: when she’s nineteen (in 1936-37) working on a dig site in Egypt to uncover ancient tombs/artifacts, and when she’s sixty working as an associate curator for the Met (1978-79). When an important Egyptian artifact is stolen, Charlotte is faced with the past she has tried to forget for decades and finds herself back in Egypt to uncover more than just who stole the piece. This story was so gorgeously written and absolutely captivating. I’ll now be checking out more work by Fiona Davis, for sure.
THE CABIN IN THE WOODS, by Sarah Alderson
Who it’s for: Those who love a suspenseful page turner
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Gripping. Man, I could not put this one down. Short chapters, fast-paced, and thrilling from start to finish. Rose is on the run from something, hiding out in a remote cabin. But why? All you need to know before you jump in is that she had a troubled childhood but seemed to have everything anyone could want as an adult — her very own Prince Charming and a life of luxury. When she’s comfortable, things hit the fan and she’s shocked by a devastating discovery about her husband, which sets the rest of the story in motion. I really don’t want to say more because you need to go in blind to enjoy this thrill-ride.
This one is linked to Goodreads, since I couldn’t find it on Bookshop!
NONFICTION
YOU’LL NEVER BELIEVE ME, by Kari Ferrell
Who it’s for: People who like to read about wild experiences of others
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Captivating. I knew nothing about Kari Ferrell before I picked up her recently published memoir. To tell you the truth, which I always aim to do, I borrowed it from the library because of the cover and seeing Cat Marnell’s blurb across it. I figured it would be good and I wasn’t wrong. Kari shares about her upbringing — being adopted from Korea by Mormon family from Utah — and her tales of grifting to the point of landing in jail a couple of times for extended periods of time. I enjoyed listening to her story and found it very interesting. Well-written and definitely a good audiobook.
MAKE IT NICE, by Dorinda Medley
Who it’s for: Fans of Real Housewives and specifically, Dorinda
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Nice! One of the better memoirs by a Real Housewife, IMO. Dorinda Medley is best known for her soundbites and being very authentic on The Real Housewives of New York City — “CLIP!” “I MADE IT NICE!” “Say it, forget it, write it, regret it.” are some of my all-time faves. But Dorinda is much more than the woman we see on television, even though she does present her most authentic self. I really enjoyed hearing about her life in more detail — her upbringing, the closeness she has with her family and exes, her marriages and becoming a widow before the age of fifty. She’s iconic, this book was lovely. She really did make it nice.
YEARBOOK, by Seth Rogan
Who it’s for: People who want to LOL
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hilarious. Solid LOLs all the way through. But what else do you expect from one of our generation’s greatest comedic kings? Seth Rogan presents a handful of essays about various points of his life, family, and career. The audiobook was superb, a great production with various voice actors and music to enhance the stories. Highly recommend this one if you need to laugh for a while.
HEARTBREAK IS THE NATIONAL ANTHEM, Rob Sheffield
Who it’s for: Fans of Taylor Swift!
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Fun. Rob Sheffield is an acclaimed music writer and when I saw he published a book late last year about one of the biggest women in pop (and music in general), I was glad my library had a copy of the audiobook available to borrow. Look, I love Taylor Swift— a lot — and her talent knows no bounds. Sheffield puts together a good overview of her career and her impact on culture, and the world. And knowing he’s a true fan made this read even more fun. A good listen, but if you’re looking for a chronological timeline of Swift’s career, this will feel a bit unorganized. Overall, I enjoyed it!
THE HOUSE OF GUCCI, by Sara Gay Forden
Who it’s for: People who like history of niche subjects + drama
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Dense. I grabbed this audiobook on my Libby app to round out the month, because the other audiobooks I’m waiting for are still on hold. The length intimidated me a bit (over sixteen hours!) but I decided to go for it. Mostly because I want to watch the movie! Anyway, the title of this book is a bit misleading. It is a very, very detailed account of the beginnings of the Gucci brand, the trials and tribulations of the brand itself, and a brief glimpse into the people who made the brand what it is. It’s billed as being a drama about murder and greed, which is definitely a part of the story, but if you’re after that you’re going to have to read/listen for a long time before you get the details of Maurizio Gucci’s murder. Still, it’s interesting and compelling, and dramatic at times — if you’re into the learning the history of an iconic brand, you might enjoy it.
All the (non-affiliate) links for the books reviewed go to Bookshop.org, a wonderful site where you can purchase your books and support your local independent bookstore(s). 📚
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