February was a great reading month for me, in fact there is one book that I feel fairly strongly that it could be a contender for my favorite of the year. While I also felt that way in January, this one may have even be better. In all, I finished 13 books in February, one which was a re-read in preparation for a sequel. I also started 3 others that I DNFed – I have decided not to mention titles for those anymore here, but I do bring it up as I think normalizing putting a book down is important. There are far too many books to read for me to struggle through something that I am not enjoying! My quantity was a bit higher than my norm – the nest is empty again and things have settled down from the holidays. I was also driving around a bit more this past month so audio books are in full rotation right now.
Here is what I read in February.
The House of Eve – Sadeqa Johnson
Excellent. Definitely lives up to the hype. I know that this will be at the top of my list of best books of the year – but could it be my #1? I don’t know, only time will tell but it is a possibility. We follow the separate lives of Ruby & Eleanor, two very smart young women (teens, really) as they both follow their hearts to love and beyond. It is thoughtful, eloquent, with deep character development and lots to think about. Just superb. I will be moving Johnson’s Yellow Wife up on my TBR list.
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Exiles – Jane Harper
Start with The Dry. While this is the best of the Aaron Falk books, there’s much to learn about Aaron before you read Exiles. I don’t think you’ll enjoy this clever, slow burn that is dripping with a sense of place (the Australian small town wine country) as much as I did if you haven’t read the others first.
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The Kind Worth Killing – Peter Swanson
So this is interesting. When I first read this in 2019 I rated it a 3.5. This time – a 4.5.
Over time this one has grown one me as I have seen how dark, twisty and clever it really is. I did a quick re-read to prepare for the sequel. Did I mention this book is dark? It is the kind of “dark” that makes your friends look at your funny when they start reading it, knowing how much you love it. Yes friends, I am ok. I promise.
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Nine Women One Dress – Jane L. Rosen
I enjoyed this cute and clever compilation of what seemed like short stories that are woven together due to a dress. I listened to Nine Women One Dress on audio and while a few times I got a tad lost about who was what – overall I liked it in this format.
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The Personal Librarian – Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher Murphy
This was a pick from both of my books clubs. My first group picked it quite some time ago and I knew I would miss the meeting, things were busy and I didn’t get to it. I was sure to read it when my other group picked it, and for the most part I enjoyed it. The pace was a little slower than I normally prefer, however I very much appreciated the history behind the story and plan to visit many of the locations in the book. Belle da Costa Greene becomes the personal librarian to J.P. Morgan – while at that alone is a feat, she is a young black woman who hides her heritage beneath her lighter skin. This is a solid and important historical fiction selection.
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The Light We Carry – Michelle Obama
I enjoyed The Light We Carry more than Beloved. It is slightly less political than Beloved and I think will appeal to more people. I think Michelle is brilliant and well spoken and did like some of her advice and thoughts that have carried throughout her life. I enjoyed this one on audio, narrated by Michelle Obama.
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Stone Cold Fox – Rachel Koller Croft
Sometimes a 4 and even pushed slightly over that a few times.
But mostly in the 3 area for me.
Bea is a con artist, we know that from the get-go. She was raised by another con artist, her mother. She (Bea) is determined to retire for good with this one last con – she will marry Collin after she makes him fall in love with her – and he just happens to be one of the wealthiest bachelors in the country from deep, old money. I really wanted to love this book and did love the premise but I probably went into it with too much hype that for me it didn’t live up to. It felt overall to me that it was written to get onto the screen. With all that said, I did like it enough to keep flipping, waiting for more and I also adore the cover.
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What Have We Done – Alex Finlay
I found this one to be pretty different than past Finlay books. It was fast pace with both multiple POVs and multiple timelines. The style in which the past timeline was written was a tad confusing at first but I got used to it. Nico, Donnie and Jenna were friends in Savior House when they were young which was a terrible, horrid place for parent-less kids. Their lives separated after the home was shut down and they all went on to build their own successful paths. They are brought together again to find out why someone is trying to kill them all. I thought the characters were well thought out and I particularly enjoyed Jenna. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books for an advance e-copy in exchange for my opinion. What Have We Done will be published on 3/7/23.
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The Lions of Fifth Avenue – Fiona Davis
Historical fiction set around the New York Public Library? Yes, please! This was a good read that I enjoyed but it didn’t move into the love category for me. I enjoyed this on audio.
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The Golden Spoon – Jesse Maxwell
I had high hopes for this one based on the marketing and premise – but it never went where I thought it was going. It took a long time to really feel like it got anywhere and then the ending was a bit too rushed for me. It is a bit of re-creation of The British Baking Show but set in tents outside of a Vermont castle – added in with a light mystery vibe. Think Murders in the Building or Knives Out. If you like “cozy mysteries” you may enjoy it and perhaps even love it more than I did. Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced e-copy in exchange for my honest opinion. The Golden Spoon will be released on 3/7/2023.
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The Silent Woman – Minka Kent
Jade & Wells are newlyweds – but get this, his ex-wife Sylvie who no longer speaks after a terrible accident lives on their property. Um, no. Sylvie takes an opportunity to communicate with Jade with one word written on paper, “Run.” Thus begins Jade’s quest to dig into what is really going on. I would classify this more as domestic suspense than thriller. It was all quite predictable with no big mystery. Entertaining enough to enjoy but nothing too deep. I liked it enough to request an ARC by Kent, but that was a mistake. Keep reading below…
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Hello Sleep: The Science and Art of Overcoming Insomnia Without Medications – Jade Wu
I picked this one up from my library to see if I could find any advice to help improve my own sleep. I found a lot of great tips on what Not To Do, however, I didn’t feel like most of the To Do items were realistic for me. But perhaps that is why I have sleep issues to being with.
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Gone Again – Minka Kent
I really don’t enjoy it when I have an ARC to read and review and can’t give it a nice write up – but in short, this was not the book for me. While I am generally up for a dark thriller, this was just horrific family dysfunction resulting in horrible child abuse and then some at the heavy hands of religious fanatics. I really don’t have anything nice to say, so I will leave it at that. I am giving it a 2 and not a 1 just because I finished it. Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advance e-copy in exchange for my honest opinion, Gone Again will be available on 3/7/2023.
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