I didn’t get as much reading done in February as I did in January, but I’ll blame that on it being a short month.
I didn’t read any truly standout books in February, but at least there weren’t any DNF (Did Not Finish) reads this month.
(As a reminder: I always track my reading on Goodreads.)
・・・
The Names by Florence Knapp
Don’t recommend
SPOILERS: This book started out so strong. The writing is beautiful and the concept is provoking, but the execution fell flat for me and I found myself getting more and more disappointed the closer I got to the end. None of the characters felt dimensional in any of the three timelines, the “character development” felt shallow, rushed and meaningless, and the side characters added absolutely nothing to the story and became hard to keep track of by the end. The only timeline in which Bear/Julian/Gordon and Cora both live is the timeline in which Cora stays with her abuser for 40 years, which felt off to me. One of the Goodreads reviews for this book says “If you’re going through life feeling a little too happy, have I got a book for you” which sums it up pretty well for me, I think.
The Long Game by Rachel Reid
Recommend
I am not immune from the Heated Rivalry craze! I read “Heated Rivalry” last month for book club, and downloaded the sequel-of-sorts right afterward. I didn’t love “The Long Game” as much as I loved “Heated Rivalry,” but — yes — I still loved it. While the first book (spoiler alert) focuses on Shane and Ilya coming to terms with and defining their relationship, this sequel focuses a bit more on the challenges they face as a closeted couple. I’m fully invested in the relationship of these two fictional characters and I have zero shame about it.
Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson
Recommend
Twenty-seven-year-old Jet Mason has spent her whole life leaving all her ventures unfinished, always assuring herself she has later. Until a violent attack leaves Jet with a fatal aneurysm in her brain. Jet has just a week left to live — which means she’s given one last chance to finally finish something: Her own murder investigation. I devoured this book. The characters were great, and while it was heartbreaking to get so close to the cynical and fierce Jet knowing she was going to die at the end of the book, I felt like this was a pretty satisfying mystery.
Fight (Sky Ridge Hotshots #1) by Sloane St. James
Don’t recommend
That’s right: I found Hotshot smut. Nobody should ever be having that much sex at fire camp. Gross. I did appreciate the proactive messaging about the necessity of prescribed fire, however! I hated both main characters and all of the dramatic monologues, though I did enjoy all the very niche and specific slang and terminology. And while I definitely did not love this (completely unrealistic) book, it’s the first of a trilogy and yes, I do plan to read the other two. A solid 2/5 stars.
・・・
