Since my last reading recap (on January 25), I have finished 17 books. (!!) I read 15 books alone in February, which is crazy for such a short month! But I listened to 4 audiobooks last month (including one that was a quick 90 minutes!) and participated in a readathon, so that really helped to boost my numbers. Anyway, here’s everything I’ve read with short snippets.

I Flipping Love You by Helena Hunting (★★★★☆) – This was such a fun rom-com, though the female protagonist could get on my nerves at times. And the dark moment had her jumping to such an insane conclusion that I was very nearly tempted to put down the book. But I’m glad I kept reading because the author brought it all together perfectly. I think Helena Hunting is becoming one of my favorite romance novelists! (Open-door romance)

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler (★★★★★) – There’s a reason why everyone gushes about the book: It’s simply amazing. It’s about a Black woman living in the 1970s (and married to a white man) who starts time-traveling back to the antebellum South of the 1800s. Which, of course, is an incredibly dangerous time to be a Black woman. I was on the edge of my seat each time she time-traveled, wondering what sorts of troubles awaited her. A fantastic novel that has earned its place on my favorites list.

Dear Emmie Blue by Lia Louis (★★★★★) – I loved this book so much! It’s about a woman who is turning 30 and in love with her best friend. She is devastated, though, when her best friend tells her that he’s getting married and wants her to be his “best man.” Emmie fully tugged at my heartstrings and there were multiple points where I got teary-eyed for the things she’s gone through. It reminded me a bit of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, although Emmie is much more socially aware than Eleanor. A sweet book that I think would appeal to most (female) readers.

A Night to Surrender by Tessa Dare (★★★★☆) – This was a really great historical romance, although there was a wee bit of misogyny in it that didn’t age well (the book was published in 2011 so I’m giving it a pass for that). It takes place on Spindle Cove, a place where the misfits in society come to heal and find community. Susanna is their leader (of sorts) and isn’t pleased when Bram and his very brawny men come to build an army. Of course, you know where this is going. Susanna and Bram fall in love and begin to heal from their own pasts as they do. (Open-door romance)

Running by Natalia Sylvester (★★★★☆) – This one is full-on angsty teenager drama, so steer clear if you don’t like your YA to feel YA. Mariana Ruiz’s father is running for president, which brings a whole new level of scrutiny to Mari and her family. And soon, Mari starts to realize that she doesn’t know if she fully agrees with her father’s politics and his decision to run for president. I thought it was a really interesting look at how these presidential races (and even senatorial and governor campaigns!) can deeply affect and put such a spotlight on families.

Turtles All the Way Down by John Green (★★★★☆) – In this book, we’re drawn into the inner life of Aza who has OCD and is drowning in her obsessive thoughts (such as how having a tiny cut on her hand could get infected and lead to her death). While I don’t have OCD, I do struggle with obsessive thinking from time to time and I thought the portrayal of mental illness was spot-on. The way the author explored how mental illness can affect friendships was also really well done and realistic. This is most definitely a book I would recommend, even to people who don’t love YA. It’s worth it to get a full understanding of how all-consuming mental illness can be.

Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert (★★★★★) – I was shocked by how much I loved this book! (I didn’t love “Get a Life, Chloe Brown” by this author.) Dani and her work husband, Zaf, go viral and decide to milk the popularity by pretending to be dating—except, of course, they end up falling in love. I loved how Hibbert explored anxiety and the way it can look so different from person to person. I also found the rapport between Dani and Zaf to be so much fun, and ugh, I just loved this book. It is STEAMY, though, so be prepared. (Open-door romance.)

When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir by Patrisse Khan-Cullors (★★★★★) – It feels like every time I read a racial justice book, I’m like, “GO READ THIS NOW. IT IS SO IMPORTANT.” And this one is no different. Patrisse Khan-Cullors talks frankly about her life as a Black queer woman, one who has watched her mentally ill brother be incarcerated twice, her father battle drug addiction, and teachers treat her differently as a Black girl. It’s infuriating and heartbreaking and ultimately healing. It’s a must-read.

The Lying Game by Ruth Ware (★★★★☆) – I really enjoyed this thriller! It doesn’t have a great rating on Goodreads (3.5), but it somehow really worked for me. It brings together four women who met at a boarding school when they were teens and formed a very tight bond. They’re now in their 30s and live separate lives: one is married with children, another just had a baby, the third is working at a casino, and the fourth is living in the same town the rest of them left after a terrible thing happened at their boarding school. I thought the characters were fairly likable and the plot compelling. Am I going to remember anything about what happened in this book in a couple month’s time? No, I will not. But it’s an easyish read and I liked it.

Marriage on Madison Avenue by Lauren Layne (★★★★☆) – Oh, how I love a best friends-to-lovers romance. It’s probably my favorite romance trope, and this one was excellent. I just adored Audrey and Clarke’s dynamic and their real (platonic at first) love for one another. They were just so good for each other! I also really enjoyed getting a glimpse into Audrey’s life as an Instagram influencer. There is truly so much that goes on for someone who has made that their career (and I did not envy her in the least for her job). Such a great romance overall, although I kinda wanted a bit more from the ending. (Closed-door romance.)

The Roommate by Rosie Danan (★★★★☆) – This book is so steamy! Whew. It’s not for the faint of heart because it made me blush, and that’s fairly hard to do, ha. It follows Clara who has moved across the country for a boy, and when things don’t work out with him, she finds herself rooming with Josh who is an adult film star. Zoinks! The novel delves into his life in the adult film industry (as well as the lives of other entertainers) from a sex-positive lens, which I really loved but I can see how it could make other people uncomfortable. I really enjoyed the novel, though, and the way Clara and Josh fell in love with each other. (Very open-door romance. Like, the openest door you’ve ever seen. In fact, there is no door. It’s just a wide-open space. WIIIIIDE OPEN.)

Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke (★★★★☆) – Ooh, this novel was really stressful! It’s about a Black Texas Ranger who visits a small town to solve the murders of a young white woman and a young Black man and encounters a whole bunch of racism along the way. I found myself on the edge of my seat throughout the novel as new twists and turns were revealed and Darren, the main character, continued to get himself into tricky situations. I just wanted him to be okay! The sign of a really good book, indeed.

Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Irin Carmon (★★★★★) – I’ve been meaning to read this book for a really long time, and I finally downloaded the audiobook to read when I somehow got totally caught up on my podcast feed. I loved reading more about Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s life, especially her time in law school and her marriage to Martin Ginsburg. It was also really interesting to learn more about the goings-on between the different Supreme Court justices. Very interesting and worth a read. What an inspiring life.

The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez (★★★★★) – I loved this romance! I wasn’t expecting to like it, as I didn’t love this author’s previous novel (The Friend Zone) but this one felt completely different in a very good way. While you can read this book as a standalone, I don’t want to get into specifics of the plot because it could be a bit spoiler-y for The Friend Zone. Suffice it to say, the hero is a successful musician and the meet-cute is the hero’s dog jumping into the heroine’s car. And the chemistry between the two main characters is explosive. (Open-door romance.)

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds (★★★★★) – A quick audiobook (90 minutes!) that I finished in an afternoon while puttering around my apartment. This is a novel in verse, and I highly recommend it on audio as the author reads it himself and he brings such life to his words. Most of the novel takes place while the main character, a 15-year-old Black boy whose brother has just been killed, is in an elevator to avenge his brother’s death. It’s truly imaginative and incisive. Highly recommend!

A Good Marriage by Kimberly McCreight (★★★★★) – CALLING ALL THRILLER FANS. Read this book now! It is probably one of the best thrillers I’ve read in a really long time. It kept me on the edge of my seat and the ending was truly surprising (but not in a weird out-of-left-field way). When the wife of a prominent businessman is found dead in her home, he’s obviously the prime suspect. So he calls his law school friend, Lizzie, to be his defense attorney. It’s a fantastic portrait of the complexities of marriage, the effect of childhood trauma, and toxic masculinity. I loved it!

Tweet Cute by Emma Lord (★★★★☆) – “Teens messaging on an app and not knowing who the other person is and falling in love while also falling in love IRL” is my new kryptonite. (See also: Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda and Tell Me Three Things.) I loved this sweet YA romance about two high school seniors who have somehow become the social media managers for their parents’ restaurants, and end up in a Twitter war. It could get angsty at times, but mostly, it was just a breath of fresh air and so damn sweet.

What was the best book you read in February?