I had a goal for January: four books. I decided to keep that goal each month for the entire year. But February had other plans… I started with four books in mind and ended up reading seven. For such a short month, I have to say, I absolutely killed my goal.
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Earlier this month I wrote a post on Galentine Reads—books about complicated love and friendship. In that post I listed out the books I was reading for the month along with others that all shared the common theme.
After reading all of my planned February reads, I moved on to another (a trilogy) on said Galentine’s list. A short month, but no shortage of motivation.
I have a few heavy reads for March, so I don’t plan on going over my goal of four… but you just never know! Now, without further ado, here’s what I read in February:
Beautiful World, Where Are You?
Why I Picked It:
Simple: my neighbor let me borrow it after discovering our shared love for Normal People.
My Thoughts:
I’ll be honest—the beginning of this book was slow. Like painfully slow. But I trusted my neighbor’s taste, so I kept going, and I’m so glad I did. What started as a slow book turned into one I couldn’t put down. Rooney has this way of capturing human relationships in a way that feels both intimate and detached at the same time. While I didn’t love this one as much as Normal People, I still found myself thinking about it long after I finished.
One Day In December
Why I Picked It:
Gifted to me by my niece at Christmas (one of those blind dates with a book—such a cute idea!)
My Thoughts:
This book gave me everything I love about a great rom-com: missed chances, fate, and that just one more chapter feeling. I loved how it wasn’t just about romantic love, but also friendships and how timing isn’t always on our side. Laurie and Jack’s story was sooo frustrating at times (so many near misses!), but I was absolutely hooked from the first to final page.
In Five Years
Why I Picked It:
A thrift store find from a few months back. My best friend (whose book taste I trust with my life) had given it five stars on Goodreads.
My Thoughts:
I thought I was picking up a simple romance with a fun time-travel twist (you know I love romance and time travel!). But, I was wrong. This book had me emotional in a way I did not expect. And without giving too much away, this is one of those books that makes you rethink everything. The writing was so easy to sink into, and the emotional weight of the story hit me hard. It’s one of those books I’d recommend going into blind, seriously just trust the process.
Something Borrowed
Why I Picked It:
I’ve seen the movie countless times (first time was when it premiered in theaters, cracking up with my dad), and I’ve owned an unread copy of the book for years, thanks to my book-thrifter-Aunt. It was time I finally opened those pages.
My Thoughts:
Like all my February picks, I absolutely flew through this book! Even knowing the story from the movie, I was hooked. Rachel and Darcy’s friendship is complicated (to say the least). It’s the kind of story that makes you question what you would do if you and your bestie were in the same situation. And of course I texted my besties while reading to pose such questions. But we aren’t complicated in the slightest. Now, onto the book-to-film post!
The Summer I Turned Pretty (Trilogy)
Why I Picked It:
Since it fit the theme of my February reads and was featured on my Galentines Day book list, I thought why not? Plus February wasn’t over and I had already read all my February books!
My Thoughts:
I picked up book one thinking it would be a light, fun read. Next thing I knew, I was sprinting to the library to grab books two and three. Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah’s story is one that pulls you in fast. It’s messy, emotional, and full of that coming-of-age summer nostalgia. While I had mixed feelings about Belly’s choices at times, the love triangle was addictive in that I need to know how this ends way.
Also, with the TV adaptation out, I have a book-to-film post pending on this trilogy!
That’s a wrap on February! Did you read anything amazing this month? Any romance? Let me know—I’m always looking to add to my never-ending TBR.
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