February 2025 Reads
I know February is most people’s least favorite month of the year. It’s usually cold, gray, and provides more precipitation than anyone wants in the form of snow, sleet, or gross rain. The latter turning the two former into sheets of slick ice or dirty mounds of slush on the sidewalk.
Personally, though, I don’t mind February. I’m probably a little biased as it is my birth month, but it’s also the shortest and one of the last sprints of true winter.
This year, February was the beginning of a new chapter for me professionally. I recently transitioned into a new role at a supply chain design tech company and could not be happier! It’s definitely a different speed of marketing than what I’m used to, but that means there’s so much for me to learn and I am loving it so far.
As for my birthday, I got a new tattoo (see below) and also went roller skating with some friends because if you can’t be childish and silly at 31, then what’s the point of your 30s?? P.S. Thank you for all of the birthday wishes!
It’s a monstera leaf!
On the book front, ya girl went pretty hard in the paint for the first half of February lol. I was riding out the fantasy wave I caught in January, followed that up with some cowboy romances and then slowed down substantially towards the last two weeks of the month. Which is how I somehow got through 18 books lol.
So with that said, let’s get into everything I read in February.
*All summaries are taken or paraphrased from Goodreads.
All The Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby
Rating: 4.75/5 stars
Summary: A Black sheriff. A serial killer. A small town ready to combust. Titus Crown is the first Black sheriff in the history of Charon County, Virginia. In recent decades, Charon has had only two murders. After years of working as an FBI agent, Titus knows better than anyone that while his hometown might seem like a land of moonshine, cornbread, and honeysuckle, secrets always fester under the surface. Then a year to the day after Titus’s election, a school teacher is killed by a former student and the student is fatally shot by Titus’s deputies. Those festering secrets are now out in the open and ready to tear the town apart. As Titus investigates the shootings, he unearths terrible crimes and a serial killer who has been hiding in plain sight, haunting the dirt lanes and woodland clearings of Charon. With the killer’s possible connections to a local church and the town’s harrowing history weighing on him, Titus projects confidence about closing the case while concealing a painful secret from his own past. At the same time, he also has to contend with a far-right group that wants to hold a parade in celebration of the town’s Confederate history.
My Thoughts: I flew through almost this entire audiobook in one sitting thanks to a long cleaning day. Let me tell you—S.A. Cosby’s writing feels like witnessing a heated confrontation between strangers on the street. You don’t want to watch, but it’s impossible to look away. This book follows Titus Crown, the first Black sheriff of a small town in Virginia. When a school shooting leaves a beloved teacher and the teenage shooter dead, an investigation begins to uncover the motive behind the attack. But what they discover is far more disturbing than they ever expected—something that will haunt them for years to come. I was completely hooked as Titus and his team worked to solve the case while trying to avoid bringing in the state police. Despite his background as a former FBI agent and the fact that he was elected sheriff by the people of Charon County, the racism running through much of the white community made his authority constantly questioned. At the same time, some members of the Black community doubted his loyalty now that he wore the badge. He’s caught in an impossible balancing act—maintaining respect and authority while upholding the law. The only reason I docked 0.25 stars is that the culprit wasn’t really introduced or hinted at in a way that allowed for any real guessing. Instead, you’re left suspecting every character who enters the story. That said, S.A. Cosby is a phenomenal writer, and this book forces you to confront some of society’s ugliest realities. Just a heads-up—the plot is really dark, so be sure to check the trigger warnings before diving in.
Quicksilver by Callie Hart
QUICKSILVER by Callie Hart
Rating: 5/5 stars
Summary: Do not touch the sword. Do not turn the key. Do not open the gate. In the land of the unforgiving desert, there isn’t much a girl wouldn’t do for a glass of water. Twenty-four-year-old Saeris Fane is good at keeping secrets. No one knows about the strange powers she possesses, or the fact that she has been picking pockets and stealing from the Undying Queen’s reservoirs for as long as she can remember. But a secret is like a knot. Sooner or later, it is bound to come undone. When Saeris comes face-to-face with Death himself, she inadvertently reopens a gateway between realms and is transported to a land of ice and snow. The Fae have always been the stuff of myth, of legend, of nightmares… but it turns out they’re real, and Saeris has landed herself right in the middle of a centuries-long conflict that might just get her killed. The first of her kind to tread the frozen mountains of Yvelia in over a thousand years, Saeris mistakenly binds herself to Kingfisher, a handsome Fae warrior, who has secrets and nefarious agendas of his own. He will use her Alchemist’s magic to protect his people, no matter what it costs him… or her. Death has a name. It is Kingfisher of the Ajun Gate. His past is murky. His attitude stinks. And he’s the only way Saeris is going to make it home. Be careful of the deals you make, dear child. The devil is in the details...
My Thoughts: Listen, going off of vibes alone, this book is solidly a 5-star rating for me. If I was rating it more objectively, it’d probably be more like a 4.25 because this book was nowhere near perfect, but good LORT did I enjoy the ride. Saeris lives in the poorest section of her city. She basically keeps herself and brother alive by pick-pocketing and stealing water from the Undying Queen’s reservoirs. When she steals the wrong thing from a palace guard, she’s taken to the castle where the Queen sentences her to death. While that process is underway, she accidentally opens a portal between realms that has been closed for centuries and is transported to a winterland of Fae. Although they’re figures of lore back home, Saeris figures out they are very real and are in the middle of a huge war that she ends up being their key to winning. Cue Kingfisher, the hottest, mildly unhinged Fae who her survival in this new world depends on. Y’ALL. When I tell you I could not put this book down. It had me in a mf chokehold. I LOVED how scrappy and resilient Saeris is - almost to a fault. She’s never had to depend on anyone and was not inclined to start. Kingfisher has PLENTY of demons he’s dealing with from his past in addition to a few other magically-induced issues, but by god this man is GONE for her. The tension was thicc. The plot and pacing was spot on. I also appreciated the tenets surrounding Fae and their culture paralleled what you’d find in ACOTAR or Throne of Glass. So it’s easy to follow if you’ve read those. Also, imagine how upset I was to find out that the sequel to this book won’t be published until later this year… DISTRAUGHT, I TELL YOU. Anyway, if you’re looking for an absolutely fantastic escape or something to bring you out of a book hangover from a different fantasy series, you definitely need to pick this up!
Spiral by Bal Khabra
SPIRAL by Bal Khabra (Off the Ice #2)
Rating: 4/5 stars
Summary: Elias Westbrook, a newly drafted hockey player for the Toronto Thunder, is facing the challenges of fame and media scrutiny. With a growing fan base and too many expectations on his shoulders, he’s struggling to make his first career goal. The tabloids are reporting on his every move, including which woman he was last seen with, but all he wants to do is escape the spotlight. Enter from stage left Sage Beaumont, an aspiring ballerina with dreams of joining the Aurora Ballet Theatre, but her lack of popularity online leaves her at a major disadvantage for securing the lead role. When Sage finds herself with the perfect opportunity to make her dreams come true by fake dating Elias, she takes her shot. Soon enough, the flimsy fake-dating rules they set in place fall away in the face of their sizzling connection. But before things spiral out of control, Sage and Elias will have to decide if they’re willing to take the leap together or if they'll call it quits.
My Thoughts: I read the first book in this series back in November (Collide review here) and absolutely loved it. So, of course, I preordered this one so that it’d hit my Kindle the moment it was published. This book was so freaking cute, fun, flirty, and had the perfect amount of spice. Elias Westbrook is a newer player to the professional hockey scene and the media has been following the new golden boy’s every move. With all of the pressure from them reporting that he’s an absolute player off the ice, Elias can’t seem to make any goals on it, and he cannot wait to get out of this spotlight. Sage Beaumont is an older ballerina who is still aspiring to make it big with a professional ballet company. However, she’s realizing dancers with bigger social media clout are making it farther in their career. Cue a convenient fake-dating agreement that is beneficial for both parties: Elias and Sage will act like they’re in a relationship which will put the playboy rumors to rest and boost Sage’s popularity online. Listen, this book has some of my favorite tropes: fake dating, forced proximity, he-falls-first, etc. Although I didn’t LOVE Sage’s character at first, she definitely grew on me as this romance started to build. I was an absolute SIMP for how protective and caring Elias was for her and her little brother, even when she never asked for it. In the grand world of the hockey romance subgenre, Bal Khabra knows how to write some quality characters and smut. I definitely recommend checking out this book if you haven’t already!
One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig
ONE DARK WINDOW by Rachel Gillig (The Shepherd King #1)
Rating: 4/5 stars
Summary: Elspeth needs a monster. The monster might be her. Elspeth Spindle needs more than luck to stay safe in the eerie, mist-locked kingdom of Blunder—she needs a monster. She calls him the Nightmare, an ancient, mercurial spirit trapped in her head. He protects her. He keeps her secrets. But nothing comes for free, especially magic. When Elspeth meets a mysterious highwayman on the forest road, her life takes a drastic turn. Thrust into a world of shadow and deception, she joins a dangerous quest to cure Blunder from the dark magic infecting it. And the highwayman? He just so happens to be the King’s nephew, Captain of the most dangerous men in Blunder…and guilty of high treason. Together they must gather twelve Providence Cards—the keys to the cure. But as the stakes heighten and their undeniable attraction intensifies, Elspeth is forced to face her darkest secret yet: the Nightmare is slowly taking over her mind. And she might not be able to stop him.
My Thoughts: We love a gothic fantasy! This premise was so refreshing. Not that I’m not as equally obsessed with all of the fantastical storylines involving hot fae men, but I do applaud authors who can break out of that trend. In the kingdom of Blunder, there is magic controlled by a deck of Providence Cards. As legend has it, anyone who collects all twelve cards has the ability to save Blunder from a deadly encroaching mist and heal those who caught a specific fever as a child. This sickness leaves the kids touched with a different kind of magic - one not controlled by the cards. Those found with infected blood are immediately sentenced to death. Which is why most people who have been infected try to hide their infection and the magical abilities it’s blessed them with. Elspeth Spindle has been hiding her magical abilities for almost a decade. After a chance encounter reveals her secret, she’s recruited into a group of rebels who are secretly trying to collect all 12 cards behind the King’s back in order to prevent him from gaining endless power. Listen, I was absolutely hooked throughout this entire story. The world-building was simple yet vivid, the plot was fast-paced and kept me on my toes, there was a touch of romance that had me SWOONING, and don’t get me started on that MAJOR cliffhanger… I’m incredibly interested in how the next book will pan out based on how this one ended but I can’t wait to dive into it. If you’re looking for a solid high fantasy that’s a little off the beaten path, I highly recommend giving this one a read!
The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johson
THE HOUSE OF EVE by Sadeqa Johnson
Rating: 3/5 stars
Summary: 1950s Philadelphia: fifteen-year-old Ruby Pearsall is on track to becoming the first in her family to attend college, in spite of having a mother more interested in keeping a man than raising a daughter. But a taboo love affair threatens to pull her back down into the poverty and desperation that has been passed on to her like a birthright. Eleanor Quarles arrives in Washington, DC, with ambition and secrets. When she meets the handsome William Pride at Howard University, they fall madly in love. But William hails from one of DC’s elite wealthy Black families, and his parents don’t let just anyone into their fold. Eleanor hopes that a baby will make her finally feel at home in William’s family and grant her the life she’s been searching for. But having a baby—and fitting in—is easier said than done.
My Thoughts: Where to start? This book was well written and I enjoyed it enough for the most part. The audiobook narrators were great, and I liked that the format of the story was split into three parts between two POVs. It’s the 1950s in Philadelphia and teenage Ruby is on her way to becoming the first person in her family to attend college despite her home life circumstances. That is, until a heated moment with a forbidden love interest leaves her pregnant and her dreams of becoming an optometrist in shambles. She has to decide if she wants to follow in her mother’s footsteps, keep the baby, and end up working low-paying jobs, or if she wants to give up her baby and keep pursuing that college diploma. Meanwhile in Washington DC, Eleanor is a college sophomore with the ambition of becoming a historian and archivist. When she falls for a soon-to-be doctor, she’s introduced to DC’s elite wealthy Black society. One thing the women in that world make clear: she is not welcome. This book does an exceptional job of portraying the types of discrimination and adversities that Black women, even well-educated, faced repeatedly in society. The colorism present in wealthy Black society was also a topic I don’t think I’ve come across often and thought was very interesting. Despite being empathetic to the struggles these women were facing, there was just something missing for me. It was clear how Ruby’s and Eleanor’s paths were going to cross eventually, but it wasn’t as impactful of a crossover as I was hoping for. I also felt like although some scenes touched on tenser, emotional situations, the story didn’t dive in as deep as I was expecting it to. I haven’t read this author’s other, more popular book, Yellow Wife. However, I did appreciate her writing style enough to want to read that soon too. Side note: do not sleep on the author’s note! She touches on her research for this book related to the Baby Scoop Era, limited resources for families dealing with infertility, and the dangerous situations young women faced looking for safe abortion services.
Rebel Witch by Kristen Ciccarelli
REBEL WITCH by Kristen Ciccarelli (The Crimson Moth #2)
Rating: 5/5 stars
Summary: A WITCH… Rune Winters is on the run. Ever since the boy she loved, Gideon Sharpe, revealed who she was and delivered her into enemy hands, everyone wants her dead. If Rune hopes to survive, she must ally herself with the cruel and dangerous Cressida Roseblood, who’s planning to take back the Republic and reinstate a Reign of Witches—something Cressida needs Rune to accomplish. A WITCH HUNTER… Apparently it wasn’t enough for Rune to deceive Gideon; she’s now betrayed him by allying herself with the witch who made his life a living hell. Gideon won’t allow the Republic to fall to the witches and be plunged back into the nightmares of the past. In order to protect this new world he fought for, every last witch must die—especially Rune Winters. AN IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE… When Rune makes Gideon an offer he can’t refuse, the two must pair up to accomplish dangerous goals. The more they’re forced into each other’s company, the more Gideon realizes the feelings he had for Rune aren’t as dead and buried as he thought. Now he’s faced with a terrible choice: sacrifice the girl he loves to stop a monster taking back power, or let Rune live and watch the world he fought so hard for burn.
My Thoughts: THE WAY THIS BOOK HAD ME. I started it in the morning on a lowkey Saturday, realized quickly that if I wanted to be productive at all, that I needed to put it down and run some errands. (Which I somehow managed to do.) Then as soon as I got home, I settled in for about a 5-6 hour BINGE on the final book of The Crimson Moth duology. Where to even start?? The book’s format is split into three parts and bounces between Rune’s and Gideon’s POVs. Part one immediately reunites the Crimson Moth and the witch hunter on the mainland where the recently returned evil witch queen Cressida and her followers have taken refuge from the New Republic. Gideon has been dispatched to kill Rune and wreck an alliance between the crowned prince and the witches so that they can’t use the royal family’s army against the New Republic. To literally NOBODY’S surprise, Gideon chokes when it comes to actually pulling the trigger, and Rune has her own agenda outside of what Cressida has planned for her. Cue a whole mess of lying and deceiving between Rune and Gideon, neither knowing if they can trust the other and trying to suss out any alternative motives. I fucking loved this entire experience. I could not put this book down and I couldn’t have asked for better character arcs. ALSO GIDEON BE DROPPING LINES THAT MADE MY INSIDES MELT AND TOES CURL. I cannot express how much I was SWOONING over this man. Mildly proud to say I did guess one of the bigger plot twists earlier on, but did not see where this ending was going AT ALL. Needless to say, this is still one of my all time favorite fantasy duologies and you best expect me to recommend it to EVERYONE. If you read and liked Heartless Hunter, you MUST continue onto Rebel Witch.
Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage
DOWN AND DUSTED by Lyla Sage (Rebel Blue Ranch #1)
Rating: 3/5 stars
Summary: She’s off-limits, but he’s never been good at following the rules. For the first time in her life, Clementine “Emmy” Ryder has no idea what she’s doing. She’s accomplished everything on her to-do list. She left her small hometown of Meadowlark, Wyoming; went to college; and made a career for herself by doing her favorite thing: riding horses. But after an accident makes it impossible for her to get back into the saddle, she has no choice but to return to the hometown she always wanted to escape. Luke Brooks is Meadowlark’s most notorious bad boy, bar owner, and bachelor. He’s also the unofficial fifth member of the Ryder family. As Emmy’s older brother’s best friend, Luke spent most of his childhood antagonizing her. It’s been years since he’s seen her, but when she walks into his bar and back into his life, he can’t take his eyes off her. Despite his better judgment, he wants to do a whole lot more than just look at her. Emmy’s got too much on her mind to think about romance. And Luke knows he should stay away from his best friend’s younger sister. But what if Luke is just what Emmy needs to get her spark back? Or will they both go up in flames?
My Thoughts: This book was super cute! I’ve heard great things about this series and since I was listening to a horror story audiobook, I figured a little cowboy romance on my Kindle would be a nice balance. I loved the premise of this book and the visuals the author provided painted such a beautiful picture of this family ranch surrounded by mountains in rural Wyoming. Emmy is the youngest of the Ryder kids and after living in Denver for the last decade, she surprises everyone by moving back home. She’s a professional barrel racer, but after a recent bad fall, she hasn’t been able to muster up the courage to get back on the horse (figuratively and literally). Luke Brooks is Emmy’s older brother’s best friend and the local bar owner. Growing up on Rebel Blue Ranch, he’s basically a part of the Ryder family. Although they used to butt heads when they were younger, Emmy and Luke quickly fall into an easy, comfortable rhythm as friends - which leads to Luke helping Emmy face her fears. As they spend more time together, this effortless connection turns into something more and the sexual tension grows THICC. I loved their dynamics and truly appreciated what the side characters added to this story, but now for the rust on my spurs lol. It just felt like there was SOMETHING missing. The pacing moves at a quicker clip which was great, but also made me wonder when we were going to get around to resolving a few obvious issues when there’s only 20% of the book left. There’s also a scene towards the end that feels kind of surface level, when its purpose is to reemphasize how strong Emmy’s and Luke’s connection is. So yeah idk. I definitely liked this book and will for sure be moving onto the next book in the series. It just didn’t have enough kick in its boots, yanno? ;)
The Changeling by Victor Lavalle
THE CHANGELING by Victor Lavalle
Rating: 2/5 stars
Summary: When Apollo Kagwa’s father disappeared, all he left his son were strange recurring dreams and a box of books stamped with the word IMPROBABILIA. Now Apollo is a father himself–and as he and his wife, Emma, are settling into their new lives as parents, exhaustion and anxiety start to take their toll. Apollo’s old dreams return and Emma begins acting odd. Irritable and disconnected from their new baby boy, at first Emma seems to be exhibiting signs of postpartum depression, but it quickly becomes clear that her troubles go even deeper. Before Apollo can do anything to help, Emma commits a horrific act–beyond any parent’s comprehension–and vanishes, seemingly into thin air. Thus begins Apollo’s odyssey through a world he only thought he understood, to find a wife and child who are nothing like he’d imagined. His quest, which begins when he meets a mysterious stranger who claims to have information about Emma’s whereabouts, takes him to a forgotten island, a graveyard full of secrets, a forest where immigrant legends still live, and finally back to a place he thought he had lost forever.
My Thoughts: I reeeeally wanted to like this book. I won it in a Goodreads giveaway a few years ago and just never picked it up. However, since it’s a genre outside of my comfort zone (horror), I decided to listen to it on audiobook instead. For starters, I must admit, I had no idea where any of this book was going for basically a majority of it. A lot of it felt extremely random and disjointed. I learned later that it’s based off of changeling folklore where fairies are stealing human babies and replacing them with fairy babies. However, even knowing that didn’t really clear up the parts of this book that felt a little out of left field. In addition to the jumbled plotline, the pacing of this story was sooooo slow. It absolutely DRAGGED. I don’t know if it’s because as soon as scenes felt like they were ramping up, they ended just as abruptly or if it’s because I was getting impatient to finish the book lol. Mind you, I was listening to it at 1.5x speed, then kicked it up to 1.75x speed, and then by the time I was about 70% in, I was ready for it to be DONE. So I hate-listened to the rest of the book at 2x lol. I also never felt super connected to any of the characters - even Apollo - which did not help my attention span. Thinking back, I don’t even remember there being that much foreshadowing or like plot connection points? It also wasn’t so much a horror book as it was magical realism mixed with mystery/thriller. I don’t know. I can tell the author is a talented writer, and there is great messaging about the potential dangers of sharing too much about yourself on the internet and social media, parental anxieties, etc. The bones for a great book were there, I just don’t think this was executed as well as it could’ve been.
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
THE GOD OF THE WOODS by Liz Moore
Rating: 4/5 stars
Summary: Early morning, August 1975: a camp counselor discovers an empty bunk. Its occupant, Barbara Van Laar, has gone missing. Barbara isn’t just any thirteen-year-old: she’s the daughter of the family that owns the summer camp and employs most of the region’s residents. And this isn’t the first time a Van Laar child has disappeared. Barbara’s older brother similarly vanished fourteen years ago, never to be found.
My Thoughts: Okay I 10,000% understand the hype behind this book now lol. It took a quick minute to get into it because I had to understand the format and cadence of the story before I could fully immerse myself. However, once I found my footing, everything took off at full speed. The book mainly takes place in the Adirondacks of upstate New York at a summer camp called Camp Emerson. It cycles through the POVs of different characters and on a few different timelines. So you slowly start collecting nuggets of information from every person’s perspective to try to figure out not only where 13-year-old Barbara Van Laar has disappeared to in the present day, but also what happened to her brother 14 years prior. When I tell you I was suspicious of literally every person at this camp lol. The wealthy Van Laar family that lived up on the hill above Camp Emerson were the most eyebrow raising. Especially during the flashbacks to the days when Bear Van Laar went missing. This book was full of flawed, complex characters, vivid details that brought this camp to life, and a twisty plot that had me second guessing every proclamation I made until literally the last 10%. If you’re looking for a rich people/summer camp vibe mystery that’s mixed with a dash of historical fiction, The God of the Woods is the perfect book to dive into!
Interesting Facts About Space by Emily Austin
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT SPACE by Emily R. Austin
Rating: 3.75/5 stars
Summary: Enid is obsessed with space. She can tell you all about black holes and their ability to spaghettify you without batting an eye in fear. Her one major phobia? Bald men. But she tries to keep that one under wraps. When she’s not listening to her favorite true crime podcasts on a loop, she’s serially dating a rotation of women from dating apps. At the same time, she’s trying to forge a new relationship with her estranged half-sisters after the death of her absent father. When she unwittingly plunges into her first serious romantic entanglement, Enid starts to believe that someone is following her. As her paranoia spirals out of control, Enid must contend with her mounting suspicion that something is seriously wrong with her. Because at the end of the day there’s only one person she can’t outrun—herself.
My Thoughts: This book won’t be for everybody but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It follows half-deaf 20-something Enid throughout her day-to-day life where she listens to true crime podcasts for comfort, navigates a new relationship with her previously estranged half-sisters, impulsively serial dates via apps, tries to figure out if she’s being followed, and struggles with an irrational phobia of bald men. There was something so endearing and relatable about this book. You get to see both Enid’s interactions with the world around her but also what her internal dialogue looks like. Although it’s clear from the beginning that Enid is neurodivergent (she talks a lot about masking and copying the behaviors of others in social situations), there are so many layers to her character the deeper you get into the book. It was impossible not to empathize with her, especially in the moments of high anxiety. I don’t know if I’d consider the content as dark humor necessarily, but there are plenty of situations Enid gets herself into that added comedic relief to this story. There are also some bigger topics covered such as PTSD behavior, parent-child relationships, depression, disabilities, etc. so please check trigger warnings before starting. However, I would totally recommend adding this book to your arsenal if you like extremely relatable characters. Also, all of the fun facts about space that she shares with her mom throughout the book were just a pleasant bonus to the rest of the experience.
Swift and Saddled by Lyla Sage
SWIFT AND SADDLED by Lyla Sage (Rebel Blue Ranch #2)
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Summary: The last thing Ada Hart needs is a man to take care of her. Not anymore. After failing out of her interior design program and the disaster that was her short-lived marriage, Ada clawed her way up from her rock bottom. Now, the only person she trusts is herself, and that has gotten her further than ever before. She has her own business, and one of the largest ranches in Wyoming just hired her for the most important project of her career. When Ada arrives in Meadowlark, she finds herself in a dive bar where she can’t seem to shake the eyes of a handsome cowboy. When she leads him to the back of the bar, he leaves her with a kiss that most people can only fantasize about. She almost regrets that she’ll never see him again . . . except it turns out he’s her new boss. Weston Ryder is a happy guy. Even happier now that the mystery woman from the bar is the interior designer for his dream project on his family’s ranch. He feels like he hit the jackpot. It’s too bad she wants absolutely nothing to do with him outside of work. Ada is convinced the pull she feels toward Wes will go away, but Wes can’t stop thinking about her. Even though walls are coming down around Rebel Blue, Ada’s walls are firmly in place. Can they make it through this project without giving in? Or will they both put their dreams on the line for a chance at love?
My Thoughts: I have to say, I’m not usually the biggest fan of the golden retriever characters, but Wes Ryder has my heart. <3 Since he’s always been seen as the “nice guy” who can fit in anywhere, he’s having a bit of an identity crisis. He’s not sure where he fits into the dynamics of his family and wants to prove himself by creating a B&B by restoring the old farm house on Rebel Blue Ranch. That’s where Ada comes in. She’s an interior designer looking for a big break in her career and anything that will take her away from her current situation in California. Although the connection between Ada and Wes is instant, it isn’t until the next day that they realize who each other really is. I freaking loved how patient Wes was with Ada. She had much more trauma to work through than he did, but he never faltered in his feelings for her. They were also the perfect tag team for breathing new life into this dilapidated house. My only complaint about this book is that although Ada’s character arc felt complete, it didn’t feel like Wes’s inner turmoil was completely resolved. It just wasn’t addressed again, IMO. Otherwise, I thoroughly enjoyed the second book of this series and say it is definitely worth the read!
Lost and Lassoed by Lyla Sage
LOST AND LASSOED by Lyla Sage (Rebel Blue Ranch #3)
Rating: 3.75/5 stars
Summary: Teddy Andersen doesn't have a plan. She's never needed one before. She's always been more of a go with the flow type of girl, but for some reason, the flow doesn't seem to be going her way this time. Her favorite vintage suede jacket has a hole in it, her sewing machine is broken, and her best friend just got engaged. Suddenly, everything feels like it's starting to change. Teddy's used to being a leader, but now she feels like she's getting left behind, wondering if the life she lives in the small town she loves is enough for her anymore. Gus Ryder has a lot on his plate. He doesn't know what's taking care of his family's 8,000 acre ranch, or parenting his spunky six-year-old daughter, who is staying with him for the summer. Gus has always been the dependable one, but when his workload starts to overwhelm him, he slips up, and he has to admit that he can't manage everything on his own. He needs help. His little sister's best friend, the woman he can't stand, is not who he had in mind. But when no one else can step in, Teddy's the only option he's got. Teddy decides to use the summer to try and figure out what she wants out of life. Gus, on the other hand, starts to worry that he'll never find what he needs. Tempers flare, tension builds, and for the first time ever, Gus and Teddy start to see each other in a different light. As new feelings start to simmer below the surface, they must decide whether or not to act on them. Can they keep things cool? Or will both of them get burned?
My Thoughts: Listen, of all of the tropes I can get behind, age-gap and single-dad are the two that I am the pickiest about. If they’re not done well and within reason, you will not get my sign off. I’m pleased to share that this book passed the test, and I was obsessed with watching Teddy and Gus slowly fall in love. Especially after watching them bicker so much in the previous two books. This was an enemies-to-lovers story through and through. Teddy is a little firecracker whose light has been feeling a little dimmer lately after the boutique she’s been working at for years shuts down, and she starts realizing the dynamics with her best friend have started to change now that Emmy is engaged. Gus is the grumpiest cowboy you will ever meet and is trying to prove that he can be everything, everywhere, all at once. However, when the co-parenting arrangement with his baby momma goes temporarily awry, his family has to intervene to say he needs help. Unfortunately for Gus, the only person available to help out with his kid this summer is his arch nemesis, Teddy. I wasn’t sure how believable this story was going to feel because there was so much animosity between these two characters. However, once their softer sides came out and they became so much more vulnerable with each other, I couldn’t imagine them with anyone else. Not to mention, Gus’s 6-year-old daughter, Riley, adds an extra shot of sunshine into the story which makes the dynamics of this trio so much more believable. The fourth book of this series comes out in the spring and I cannot wait to get my hands on it!
When I Think of You by Myah Ariel
WHEN I THINK OF YOU by Myah Ariel
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Summary: Kaliya Wilson has paid her dues. But all the years behind the reception desk at a flashy film studio have only pushed her movie-making dreams further out of reach. That is, until a surprise reunion presents an opportunity that could make her career, or break her heart…a second time. It’s been seven years since Kaliya’s whirlwind college romance with Danny Prescott went up in flames. While her passions have stalled, his career is taking off. So when the hot shot director reappears to offer her a job on his next production, it’s a shock to the system. Working with Danny may recapture the intensity of their film school days, but trusting him again won’t come as easily. As the pair allows themselves the openness and vulnerability to entrust their deepest truths to each other, the possibility of a true connection draws ever closer. But when Hollywood politics and scandal threaten to sink the production and her career, Kaliya may have to risk everything to do what’s right—even if it means letting go of the second chance love of a lifetime.
My Thoughts: The fact that this is a debut novel is beyond impressive. The story follows Kaliya, a 26-year-old hustling to break into the film industry. For now, that means paying her dues at the reception desk of one of L.A.’s biggest studios—where she’s been stuck for years, constantly undervalued and overlooked. She’s more than ready for her big break. What she doesn’t expect is for that opportunity to come from the man who shattered her heart seven years ago. Danny Prescott is the son of one of the most legendary film directors in recent history. Now that his father has passed, he’s determined to tell the story of his parents’ extraordinary romance—a love that defied all odds in the face of racial injustice between a white man and a Black woman. But this book is so much more than just a romance. It shines a light on the discrimination people of color face in the film industry, and the relentless challenges of making it in that world. That being said, the romance? You feel it in your gut. The tension between Kaliya and Danny is palpable in every interaction. With so much left unsaid from their past, I was itching for them to finally lay it all on the table. And without giving anything away, I loved that their happily-ever-after didn’t unfold in the typical, predictable way. If you’re looking for a romance with complex characters, raw emotions, and a powerful storyline, this book is a must-read!
Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi
TRANSCENDENT KINGDOM by Yaa Gyasi
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Summary: Gifty is a fifth-year candidate in neuroscience at Stanford School of Medicine studying reward-seeking behavior in mice and the neural circuits of depression and addiction. Her brother, Nana, was a gifted high school athlete who died of a heroin overdose after a knee injury left him hooked on OxyContin. Her suicidal mother is living in her bed. Gifty is determined to discover the scientific basis for the suffering she sees all around her. But even as she turns to the hard sciences to unlock the mystery of her family's loss, she finds herself hungering for her childhood faith and grappling with the evangelical church in which she was raised, whose promise of salvation remains as tantalizing as it is elusive.
My Thoughts: I read Homegoing a few years ago and really enjoyed it, so I was excited to pick up Transcendent Kingdom. Even though I own a physical copy, I opted for the audiobook and I’m glad I did. This story took me by surprise. Religion played a much bigger role than I expected—so much so that I almost considered DNFing it. But I felt I wouldn’t be giving it a fair shot if I stopped, so I pushed through. This isn’t an uplifting story in the traditional sense, but it’s a deeply moving one. As a child, Gifty’s mother moved her and her brother, Nana, from Ghana to the U.S., settling in a white, rural town in Alabama. Religion became a cornerstone of their lives as her mother devoted herself to a Pentecostal church. The family struggles to fit in, and while Nana finds success in sports, an injury leads him to painkiller addiction, eventually resulting in his overdose. His death shatters the family—Gifty’s mother sinks into a deep depression, her father returns to Ghana to start a new life, and Gifty is left to pick up the pieces, trying to forge her own path in this so-called "land of opportunity." As an adult, Gifty is still grappling with her identity—not just as a Ghanaian-American, but as a Christian. Through her research at Stanford, she searches for answers, both scientific and personal, while also attempting to reconnect with her mother, who continues to battle grief and suicidal thoughts. This book is deeply poignant and thought-provoking. If you’re open to exploring themes of faith, loss, and identity, you’ll likely find it incredibly impactful. But if heavy religious themes aren’t your thing, this may not be the right read for you.
The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young
THE UNMAKING OF JUNE FARROW by Adrienne Young
Rating: 4/5 stars
Summary: In the small mountain town of Jasper, North Carolina, June Farrow is waiting for fate to find her. The Farrow women are known for their thriving flower farm—and the mysterious curse that has plagued their family line. The whole town remembers the madness that led to Susanna Farrow’s disappearance, leaving June to be raised by her grandmother and haunted by rumors. It’s been a year since June started seeing and hearing things that weren’t there. Faint wind chimes, a voice calling her name, and a mysterious door appearing out of nowhere—the signs of what June always knew was coming. But June is determined to end the curse once and for all, even if she must sacrifice finding love and having a family of her own. After her grandmother’s death, June discovers a series of cryptic clues regarding her mother’s decades-old disappearance, except they only lead to more questions. But could the door she once assumed was a hallucination be the answer she’s been searching for? The next time it appears, June realizes she can touch it and walk past the threshold. And when she does, she embarks on a journey that will not only change both the past and the future, but also uncover the lingering mysteries of her small town and entangle her heart in an epic star-crossed love.
My Thoughts: I tried to read this book at least three times, but the small print kept throwing me off, so I kept putting it down. Recently, though, I’ve been reading more physical books, and I think my eyes have finally adjusted—because this time, I was able to dive in without a hitch. The vibe of this book is a mix between The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger and Weyward by Emilia Hart. In Jasper, NC, the Farrow women are known for two things: their thriving flower farm and the mysterious curse that haunts them. June, raised by her grandmother, has always heard the rumors about her family and the madness that plagues its women. When she starts experiencing strange visions and voices, she fears the curse is catching up to her. Then, a year later, her grandmother dies—leaving behind more questions than answers. But just days after her passing, a letter arrives, revealing secrets about the curse and giving June a rare chance to break the cycle. This book was an absolute page-turner. With overlapping timelines, high-stakes choices, and small clues leading June closer to breaking the curse, I couldn’t put it down. And that final plot twist? I never saw it coming—I was floored by how well the author wove everything together. While it’s not exactly groundbreaking, I really enjoyed it. If you're looking for a book that’s not full-fledged fantasy but still has strong female leads and a touch of magical realism, this one’s worth picking up!
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
LITTLE WOMEN by Louisa May Alcott
Rating: 5/5 stars
Summary: The four March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy—navigate love, loss, and personal growth during the American Civil War. Raised by their strong and compassionate mother, Marmee, while their father is away serving as a chaplain, the sisters experience the challenges of womanhood, societal expectations, and their own dreams. Each sister has a distinct personality: Meg, the responsible and traditional eldest; Jo, the ambitious and rebellious writer; Beth, the gentle and selfless musician; and Amy, the artistic and sometimes vain youngest. Their close-knit family faces financial struggles, heartbreak, and personal triumphs, all while staying grounded in their love for each other. As the years pass, the sisters forge their own paths—Jo pursues a literary career, Meg embraces domestic life, Amy chases artistic success, and Beth’s quiet strength deeply impacts them all.
My Thoughts: Admittedly, the only interaction I’d had with Little Women in my life is seeing the 2019 adaptation in theaters because I am an absolute SIMP for any movie Saiorse Ronan is in lol. Although I had made it a goal a couple of years ago to integrate more classics into my reading list every year, last year I didn’t read any. So we’re going to try to incorporate more in 2025, starting with LW. I went the audiobook route and it was an absolute delight! It’s a sweet coming-of-age story following the four March sisters. Each one is so different, and yet they all just kind of make sense as a whole. It felt like Jo’s and Amy’s characters were a little more fleshed out than Beth and Meg, but I still appreciated the role the latter sisters played in the overall story. The format of the book is interesting as well. I’d say the first half is entirely character driven as you get to know not only the March sisters, but those in their close orbit as well such as Laurie, Laurie’s grandfather, Hannah, etc. Then the story jumps about 3-5 years into the future between the first and second half. Once we get into part two, a plot slowly starts to form. I’m sure this isn’t a new book to anyone, but if you haven’t read it, I highly recommend it. The writing read much more modern than I was expecting and it was just all around such a pleasant experience lol.
Poverty, By America by Matthew Demond
POVERTY, BY AMERICA by Matthew Desmond
Rating: 5/5 stars
Summary: The United States, the richest country on earth, has more poverty than any other advanced democracy. Why? Why does this land of plenty allow one in every eight of its children to go without basic necessities, permit scores of its citizens to live and die on the streets, and authorize its corporations to pay poverty wages? In this landmark book, acclaimed sociologist Matthew Desmond draws on history, research, and original reporting to show how affluent Americans knowingly and unknowingly keep poor people poor. Those of us who are financially secure exploit the poor, driving down their wages while forcing them to overpay for housing and access to cash and credit. We prioritize the subsidization of our wealth over the alleviation of poverty, designing a welfare state that gives the most to those who need the least. And we stockpile opportunity in exclusive communities, creating zones of concentrated riches alongside those of concentrated despair. Some lives are made small so that others may grow.
My Thoughts: Wow—this book was a total mic drop. If Evicted by Matthew Desmond left my jaw on the floor, this one had it plunging straight into Middle-earth. Everyone should read this. It’s not a long book, but the insights are so eye-opening that the impact is huge. As usual with nonfiction, I went with the audiobook, and I’m so glad I did. The narrator’s delivery is both conversational and powerful, making the data-heavy content easier to digest. Compared to other countries, it’s clear that poverty in America isn’t just an unfortunate reality—it’s almost systematically designed. What I really appreciated about this book is that it doesn’t just blame the obvious culprits (the wealthy); it also examines how the middle class plays a role, especially in resisting changes that could genuinely help those most affected by poverty. With our current administration being completely unhinged, this book should be required reading. It left me absolutely floored, reflecting on just how much we’ve failed this nation’s poor. If you haven’t read it yet, I highly recommend it.
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
THE HEAVEN & EARTH GROCERY STORE by James McBride
Rating: 4/5 stars
Summary: In 1972, when workers in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, were digging the foundations for a new housing development, the last thing they expected to uncover was a human skeleton. Who the skeleton was and how it got buried there were just two of the long-held secrets that had been kept for decades by the residents of Chicken Hill, the dilapidated neighborhood where immigrant Jews and African Americans lived side by side, sharing ambitions and sorrows. Chicken Hill was where Moshe and Chona Ludlow lived when Chona ran the Heaven & Earth Grocery Store, which served the neighborhood's quirky collection of blacks and European immigrants, helped by her husband, Moshe, a Romanian-born theater owner who integrated the town's first dance hall. When the state came looking for a deaf black child, claiming that the boy needed to be institutionalized, Chicken Hill's residents—roused by Chona's kindness and the courage of a local black worker named Nate Timblin—banded together to keep the boy safe.
My Thoughts: I absolutely loved this book! I went in knowing nothing about it, but after seeing it everywhere, I decided to dive in—and I’m so glad I did. If you enjoy audiobooks, this one is a must. The narrator’s performance is pure art—he flawlessly delivers different accents, dialects, and even reads dialogue in multiple languages, making the experience incredibly immersive. The book’s structure is complex, and the first part may feel a bit aimless at first, but that’s because it’s so deeply character-driven. And trust me—there are a lot of characters. What impressed me most about the author’s writing is how distinct and well-developed each one feels. Every character plays a unique role in the tight-knit Chicken Hill community, making it easy to keep track of who’s who. The story begins with a Jewish couple, Moshe and Chona Ludlow. Moshe, a Romanian-born theater owner, and Chona, the outspoken owner of the Heaven & Earth grocery store, live in a predominantly Black and Jewish neighborhood. Chona is a bold, unconventional woman who often clashes with the local white Christian community that looks down on Chicken Hill’s residents. But her unwavering dedication to those she cares about earns her fierce loyalty from her neighbors. Things take a dramatic turn when word spreads that the state is searching for an orphaned deaf Black boy, Dodo, to place in a “special school.” Under Chona’s leadership, the community comes together to hide him for months—until tragedy strikes, leading to his capture. Now institutionalized, it’s up to the people of Chicken Hill to figure out a way to break him out. Y’all. This book is so compelling. It tackles heavy themes like racism, religious discrimination, and ableism, yet still manages to weave in humor and hope. If you’re looking for an unconventional historical fiction novel that will make you laugh and cry, I highly recommend this one!
That’s it for February!
I have a feeling I’m going to be reading a little bit slower in March because most of my weekends are already jam-packed with various plans. However, I have my eye on a few books already, so I’m sure by this time next month I’ll have some decent recs for y’all.
2025 Book Count: 32
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YOUR TURN! What’s a book that’s been on your radar lately?
