February 2024
Iβve been reading so much, but I donβt always feel like writing a full review for everything. I was inspired by Modern Mrs. Darcyβs Quick Lit posts, as well as Hannah at So Obsessed Withβs monthly Quick Lit posts, and decided to do something similar as a way to briefly discuss the books I read in a month but donβt write full reviews for.
I didn’t wait until the last day of March to post February’s Quick Lit, that’s an improvement! I read 11 books in February, up slightly from my January reading.
I’ve already reviewed two of my February books, both of which I really enjoyed:
Nightwatching by Tracy Sierra; and
The Last Word by Taylor Adams.
Here are my thoughts on the rest of what I read in February:
Rabbit Hole, Kate Brody (purchased) – 3.5 β
This had a really intriguing premise, and I liked its exploration of the true crime world from the MC’s perspective. But this was a slower paced, more contemplative read than I think I was in the mood for.
I Found You, Lisa Jewell (Scribd) – 3.5β
This is my second read by Lisa Jewell and I liked this one much better than the other book of hers I read. This grabbed me from the beginning and I really liked the multiple perspectives and seeing how they all connected.
Near the Bone, Christina Henry (library) – 3.5β
This was a good, page-turning story with a great combo of horror and survival elements. I quite liked this and am looking forward to reading more by this author.
Why We Read, Shannon Reed (e-ARC) – 4β
I love books about books and reading, and this essay collection was fantastic. I so enjoyed this and found myself highlighting several passages on my advance copy that captured the magic that I feel when I read. It is such a delightful book and one I will be returning to.
The Return of Ellie Black, Emiko Jean (e-ARC) – 4β
I love Emiko Jean’s Tokyo Ever After series so when I heard she had an adult thriller coming out, I was so excited to read it. This was a book that surprised me a couple of times and that I was pulled into from the beginning. I stayed up past my bedtime reading this, needing to know what was going on. I would love to read another thriller from Emiko Jean!
Everything Is Ok, Debbie Tung (e-ARC) – 5β
This was a poignant, relatable graphic novel / comics memoir about mental health.
The Book of Delights, Ross Gay (Scribd) – 3β
This was just OK for me but the author’s audio narration was engaging.
A Rule Against Murder, Louise Penny (library) – 3β
I am hanging in with this series not so much for the murder mysteries, which have so far been either underwhelming or convoluted, but because I like Gamache and his team and like reading about them. This novel’s strength was moving away from the village of Three Pines, whose residents had started to grate on me, and generally restrict itself to a single location and a small cast of characters. I really didn’t like the weaponization of Bean’s gender by their mother against the rest of the family, and the mystery was underwhelming, but I again enjoyed seeing Gamache and his team at work.
Vampires of El Norte, Isabel CaΓ±as (purchased) – 4β
I loved her previous book and pre-ordered this one months ago. I love her writing and the combination of romance with horror elements. I can’t wait to read what she writes next.
What have you been reading?
