My 2025 February reading wrap-up is pure chaos because did I meet any of my reading goals last month? Barely. The combination of it being a short month and all seven of my library holds becoming available simultaneously led to madness. Let’s talk about it.
February Reading Stats
This month was pure CHAOS. I had a plan for how I wanted my reading month to go and due to seven of my library holds becoming available at the same time I had to quickly pivot to prioritize these reads as I wouldn’t be able to renew them and I was super excited about reading many of these books. Despite this drama and falling short of my reading goal by two books I still had a fabulous reading month.
When it came to my other reading goals I was quite successful and was able to read two Nonfiction and one Sci-Fi. I read a total of four five stars and had no books that fell below three stars.
February Favorites
This month’s reads centered on emotional and impactful stories that had me in my feels. There were at least six books that explored grief and the various ways it manifests. I find this topic to be such a compelling and interesting one to read about as grief is such a constant in the human experience. Here are a few of my favorite books from this month.
Book of the Month: All the Water in the World by Eiren Caffall
This Speculative Fiction novel explores the consequences of a dystopian society that struggles following an ecological collapse in which all the glaciers have melted resulting in climate change and extreme flooding. We follow Nonie, her family, and a band of survivors who’ve sought sanctuary in the National Museum of History of New York City. They’ve created a sort of community and reside on the roof of the museum far from the flood waters and have nicknamed their establishment “Amen”. While not perfect they’re able to survive until a superstorm known as a hypercane destroys their community causing them to flee in search of a new homestead in northern New York on a farm that may or may not exist. They’ll have to travel by boat on the Hudson River and face a world that has changed radically encountering different communities and survivors on their journey. Some friends and some foe. The biggest takeaway from this book was the inevitability of grief and loss. We’re all grieving something whether it’s a person or a way of life. How we use that grief to spur us forward determines everything about our ability to use these traumatic and heart-wrenching realities to inspire us to live a life of full measure. This was just one of the many themes explored in this poignant novel but perhaps one of my favorite. For my full review read Review: All The Water in The World by Eiren Caffall
Most Memorable Book: An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
This elegantly written novel follows Roy and Celestial as they are still figuring out their relationship during their newlywed phase trying to settle into a future together. Suddenly fate wrecks their future and marriage when Roy is accused and convicted to twenty years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. In the beginning, the couple clings to each other hoping for an appeal to free Roy from prison. Yet, the wear and tear incarceration has on their marriage leads Celestial to decide she needs to pursue a life outside of being Roy’s wife as she’s recently discovered her feelings for Andre her childhood friend who’s supported her relentlessly during this period. What happens next will throw everyone’s beliefs and expectations surrounding love, loyalty, and the ties that bind us into question. What a rollercoaster ride of emotions. I found it impossible to have a clear stance while reading this book because there were so many layers in this situation that made it unique for the characters involved and made it unthinkable to blame anyone’s way. If you want a thought-provoking exploration of love and marriage and the trauma of false imprisonment this is for sure a must-read. And please share all your thoughts with me because I’m still processing my feelings as we speak. Full review coming soon!
Most Emotional Book: Homeseeking by Karissa Chen
A stunning debut novel that explores the Chinese diaspora and the far-reaching consequences that one split-second decision has on two families in Shanghai during the rise of civil war and the communist regime. We see Suchi and Haiwen as they go from childhood friends to teenage sweethearts with their futures ahead of them. Until a threat is leveled against Haiwen’s family and he feels compelled to decide to preserve his family and sacrifice his future for their stability. This decision will lead him far from his home and his love until they reunite years later in a grocery store. He’s filled with equal parts hope and regret for the path not taken and surrounds himself with memories. Suchi focuses firmly on the present forsaking the pain of her past and all she’s gone through to find the peace she’s finally acquired. There are heavy topics in this book discussing war and its impact on communities and families, family duty, the displacement of being a refugee far from family and country, and the sacrifice we make to survive. I was continually crying as I read this novel and fell apart at the end. What a beautiful debut! Check out my full review Book Review: Homeseeking by Karissa Chen
Empowering Fantasy Book: The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna
I’ve been eager to start this Young Adult Fantasy series for a while and I’m so glad I finally started it because it’s amazing! We follow Deka a sixteen-year-old girl who is anxious about the blood ceremony which determines whether she’s pure or not. If her blood runs red she’s pure and eligible for marriage. If her blood runs gold she’s impure labeled a demon and sent to be executed. During a series of events it’s revealed that she is impure and falls prey to the death mandate as her father, the elders, and her community turn their back on her. Distraught a mysterious woman finds her and offers her the oppurtunity to join the emperor’s elite army of alaki, girls impure just like her, to defeat the Deathshreiks that have threatened their land. Left with no other options she agrees. So begins Deka’s journey of self-discovery as she learns the truth about her lineage, her country, and her destiny. For my full in-depth review read Book Review: The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna
Favorite New Romance: Funny Story by Emily Henry | Romance
In this story, we follow Daphne as she’s coming to terms with the love of her life Peter calling off their wedding after hooking up with his best girlfriend Petra the night of his bachelor party. As if that’s not enough he’s requesting she move out within a week while Peter and Petra go on vacation. Crushed and with nowhere to turn she ends up moving in with Miles who receives a Dear John letter from Petra ending their relationship. As they commiserate over their shared trauma they develop a friendship with Miles showing her all the wonderful things about their city. Soon, feelings become involved and they must determine if they should risk their friendship for something more. I’ve had multiple recommendations from those in various book groups to check out Emily Henry’s romances. And to celebrate Valentine’s Day I decided it was the perfect time for a silly, goofy romance. And wow what a time indeed. I thoroughly enjoyed this emotional love story. It had all the rom-com vibes yet there was this current of heartfelt, tender emotion woven throughout. We saw how the characters carried emotional baggage that colored their expectations and relationships. These conflicts were a major part of their character development and a point of tension in their romance as they navigated healing from their trauma and moving forward. Such a beautiful romance. I’m looking forward to reading more from Emily Henry in the future.
Most Quotable Book: Master of Me by Keke Palmer | Memoir
In this memoir, we enjoy entertainer extraordinaire Keke Palmer as she shares insights and wisdom from her life experiences in the entertainment industry and the lessons she’s learned along the way. And, how now she’s secure in her identity and has learned how to become her own master navigating her life in the way she sees fit. This book was an instant favorite as it felt like I was gabbing with Keke over a cup of coffee as we spilled the tea and the secrets about our lives. In addition to the conversational vibe of this book, there’s also the self-help aspect. She imparts a lot of wisdom and insight that can help readers shift their mindset about their lives and themselves and begin the process of self-actualization and pursuing their authentic purpose. Hence why, I found so many relatable and empowering quotes throughout this book!
Perhaps this was my favorite.
“I figured out my power was in diversifying. People told me to stay in my own lane, but I realized that to diversify is power and that my talent was putting my fingers into different buckets, that way no one could control me.”
As a person who’s multi-talented and loves pursuing multiple passions, I felt so validated and seen with this statement. Finally, someone GETS IT! I recommend this memoir for Keke Palmer fans and millennials who are looking to find their direction and path in life. She does a fabulous job addressing the pain points of this generation.
February Reading Wrap-Up
Now that I’ve shared some of my favorites let’s talk about the rest of the books I read this month.
Give Her Credit by Grace L. Williams | Women’s History
This true account of how a group of women in Denver, Colorado united to launch the First Women’s Bank a woman-owned and staffed bank providing banking services to women, and members of marginalized communities. We see their trials and tribulations as they navigate the sexist and misogynistic views of the time in the male-dominated industry of finance and business. I found this story to be educational in understanding how women and minorities struggled to achieve financial autonomy and equality keeping them stuck and struggling to manage their finances and receive home loans, or business loans. Hence why the creation of the First Women’s Bank was a big deal. Not to mention how women were breaking into finance and business and were hitting the proverbial glass ceiling being locked out of career advancements and higher salaries. The one factor that I wish was explored more was the impact the First Women’s Bank had on the marginalized communities they purported to support. There was one Black woman who was a part of the Women’s group Edna Mosley. We learned a little about her but not enough in comparison to the other women and their standing in society. Also, more background on the minorities they helped in the community would’ve been delightful to see. Full review coming soon!
Private Rites by Julia Armfield | Speculative Fiction
Siblings Irene, Isla, and Agnes have a fractured relationship and live in a dying world with continual rain and flooding forcing many inhabitants to flee to the hills or high rises for lodging to escape the impact of the ecological collapse. Following years of emotional manipulation and abuse from their father creating tension and competition between the girls they rarely connect or speak to one another, especially Agnes who Irene and Isla tend to gang up on and have secret resentments towards. That is until their father’s demise which reunites the sisters and reopens past wounds and reflections as they grapple with their grief. As the sisters drift farther away following a shocking reveal from their father’s will. Slowly truths from their past emerge as archaic rituals and family legacies threaten their future. I love a good weird Speculative Fiction. And this is definitely strange. While I enjoyed the literary elements and character-driven aspects of this novel I did find it cumbersome to immerse myself into this world. It’s highly character-focused with mostly no plot. The prose is beautiful yet it is a little dense and I found myself getting pulled out of the story often or struggling to concentrate. So, you have to prioritize reading this when you’re focused and engaged as it’s not a casual read. The ending was well it was an ending. I still don’t know what to make of it but I did like it. Even if it made no sense and left the story feeling a bit undone I vibed with it. It felt like it made sense for the story. This won’t be a good read for everyone. I only recommend it if you like Speculative Fiction with open-endings, that are extremely character-driven with unlikeable characters. For my full in-depth review read Book Review: Private Rites by Julia Armfield
The Way by Cary Groner | Sci-Fi, Dystopian
Will is on a journey to deliver a possible antidote to a virus that wiped out over half of Earth’s population following a deadly pandemic known as Mayhem leaving the word in dire straits. He’s set to travel from Colorado to California with two mules, a hollowed-out pick-up truck, a sassy cat, and an industrious raven for his companions. As he travels through a torn America he encounters small communities trying to rebuild, bioluminescent crocodiles, herds of camels, tigers, and other changes that have taken place following Mayhem. However, Will faces a threat from the man who relentlessly pursues him and will stop at nothing to prevent him from reaching California. This was a Sci-Fi that had strong literary leanings. And that’s my favorite part of this novel was Will’s introspection and the exploration of his philosophical theology and watching him engage with the new world that’s forming. This novel is an interesting exploration of humanity, our perseverance and indomitable spirit, and our resilience to survive against all odds. That’s where it ended for me. If it had stuck to this framework and not included the man chasing him for the virus it would’ve been perfect. Still an enjoyable read nonetheless. For my full in-depth review read Book Review: The Way by Cary Groner
The Bog Wife by Kay Chronister | Gothic Horror
Siblings Charlie, Eda, Percy, Wenna, and Nora gather to lay their ailing father to rest in the bog per their compact with the land. After his demise, the eldest will go to the bog to retrieve the bog wife who will continue with the tradition of continuing the family line and caring for the home. Yet, the bog wife never comes. Now, they’re stuck trying to reconcile this failure and determine the next steps for their shaky future. This story was weird. And while parts of me enjoyed it other parts of me just couldn’t because the characters were too much for me. The themes of family legacy, responsibility, and expectation truly blew over my head due to certain characters not making sense to me. Specifically, Wenna made no sense to me. I continually struggled with her logic and common sense because they flew out the window upon her arrival at her family home. A part of me understands the author’s intent for Wenna’s character and what she represents. However, I still felt it was whack for me. More than likely my personal bias interfered with my ability to suspend my disbelief in this aspect. Aside from that this is an eerie, uncomfortable story with a puzzling ending but perhaps it fits the whole weird ass vibe of this novel. Full review coming soon!
A Cruel Thirst by Angela Montoya | YA Fantasy
Carolina Fuentes is tired of her Papá not seeing her abilities as a Vampiro hunter. She’s trained with her aubleo and is just as good, if not better, than her brothers. Yet, her Papá refuses to acknowledge her and insists on marrying her off for her own protection. Lalo Villalobos is desperate to find the vampiro that killed his parents. His desperation leads him to disaster and he becomes the one thing he hates a vampiro. His only hope is to flee the Ciudad to the town of Del Oro where he hopes to find the original vampiro and put an end to their kind for good. Vampiro hunter and fledgling vampiro clash and are forced to work together as they share a common enemy and goal: to put an end to vampiros for good. However, what neither expected was to fall in love. Y’all this was super cute and I loved it! I was worried in the beginning because Lalo was a klutzy, ditzy wimp. However, I realized that this story was turning all the traditional tropes on their head. We have a strong, dominant, and assertive woman and a klutzy, ditzy, and intellectual man who needs rescuing. I love that! Also, their take on vampires was fresh. They weren’t romanticized as they usually are in paranormal romance but instead, humanity was held as supreme. We didn’t have the female love interest vying to become a vampire and change her life for the male love interest. Instead, it was the male love interest and the vampire who was desperate to reunite with his humanity and forsake immortality for love. We love originality over here! Full review coming soon!
A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young | Fiction, Magical Realism
Ever since James can remember she’s had a deep connection with her twin. What’s surprising is that even after his death she still feels his presence. And after arriving back to her hometown of Six Rivers it’s become unshatteringly oppressive as she’s beginning to hear and see him in his cabin and favorite haunts. She’s convinced that he’s communicating with her telling her his death was not an accident. Hence why, she’s returned to find out the truth. However, the combination of Johnny’s secrets, their shared secret about that fateful night at Trentham Gorge, and her past with first love Micah threaten to be her undoing. I can rely on Adrienne Young to write an atmospheric novel with stunning prose. However, I don’t know if her characters and stories work for me. I felt that the characters fell a little flat for me and that the plot meandered and got lost making the story feel longer than it was. I struggled with paying attention and remaining invested in the plot as my attention wandered constantly. The resolution to the mystery was satisfactory and I did enjoy the second-chance romance. So this is a middle-of-the-road novel for me.
Books I DNF’ed
I rarely have DNFs but this month I did, unfortunately. Let’s talk about my one DNF for the month.
An Insignificant Case by Phillip Margolin | Crime Thriller
Charlie Webb is a small potatoes lawyer who services a biker gang, and court-appointed cases. He’s taken for a ride when he accepts a case involving an artist Lawrence Weiss who goes by Guido Sabatini who’s notorious for selling his paintings to businesses and relinquishing them from said business if they don’t receive prominent display. He does so for an Italian restaurant and grabs a USB from the safe to use as leverage against the owner. Unwittingly, he bites off more than he can chew involving some powerful officials involved in a sex crime ring with underage girls. Now he’s a target and suspect in a murder. Charlie must navigate this tumultuous case and secure freedom for his client. The premise for this novel sounds amazing. However, the writing style is not so much. I didn’t make it past 40% due to the “dudebro” writing. Women were objectified. And Charlie was ridiculously stupid in revealing facts about his case to a perfect stranger who he was attracted to and wanted to have sex with so was doing all he could to make a good impression. Yeah, it’s a no for me. I couldn’t make it past that part I just knew it was going to be some bullshit after that and that I’m the wrong target audience for this novel. Maybe you’ll have a better experience.
All right friends that’s my reading month in a nutshell. I’m a happy-go-lucky reader and I had a good time with the books that I read this month. I have nothing but great expectations for March and looking forward to a spectacular reading month! Happy reading my friends!!
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