I have been powering through books like nobody’s business lately, and in an effort to get back into consistent blog posts, I wanted to dive into some of the books I finish in February! (Yes, I know I am very very late). I have to say, I have never read this many books in a MONTH before. My secret: AUDIOBOOKS!! I got a library card in my new city, which I then used to sign into the Libby app, and then went to town!
The Free People’s Village – Sim Kern
EASILY one of my new favorite reads! Super freaking timely and there were times I was gasping and shocked beyond words. Ever since I finished this book, I have been recommending it to all of my friends, even some strangers too! There were some truly tense parts in the book, and I’m glad I was listening to this on an audiobook, as if I were reading the physical edition I would be sneaking glances ahead. If you’re angry about the state of the world, this book is perfect to help inspire you to take action.
Loveless – Alice Oseman
I admit this book took me some time to get to read, as I felt it would be too close to home. I’ve identified as asexual for a few years now (almost a decade??), and while I was so excited to read a book with an ace protagonist, I was worried I would, I dunno, discover more things about myself I wasn’t ready to discover? I have to say, I regret putting it off for so long—I related so hard to the main character. There were some truly touching parts, and the conversations that were had in the novel were ones similar to ones I had with my loved ones. In short, an awesome book.
Happy Place – Emily Henry
I enjoyed Beach Read and Book Lovers, though I found Happy Place…not super happy (I’m sorry I’m sorry). The main relationship didn’t feel very, well, loving. I saw somewhere if the relationship didn’t work out the first time, and the way the two main characters were acting, would it work a second time? This book did help me figure out that romances aren’t quite my thing…at least not straight romances.
Last Night at the Telegraph Club – Malinda Lo
Another super important book. There were times when I was listening to it that I just had to stop what I was doing and just…listen and fully absorb myself in the story. It was also great to read about a history I didn’t know about, especially about a place I grew up near (well, San Francisco wasn’t near me, but you know what I mean).
The City We Became – N. K. Jemisin
Okay so whatever I was expecting from this audiobook SURPASSED IT. There was MUSIC, there were AUDIO EDITS, it was AMAZING!!!!! Audiobooks are still new to me, and this really showed me what they can be. Also, I enjoyed EVERYTHING about this book—it was surprisingly funny, every character was so compelling, the VILLIAN!! Oh my goodness, Robin Miles, the narrator Jemisin’s The Great Cities duology as well as her Broken Earth trilogy, is fantastic and awesome and I will listen to anything she narrates. Each character she voices is distinct and I cannot stop talking to people about this book and audiobook.
Really Good, Actually – Monica Heisey
One of the reasons I bought this book was because the author worked on Schitt’s Creek, which is one of my favorite shows ever. (A future blog post for y’all is a collection of my Schitt’s Creek fantheories.) In terms of this novel, it was equal parts funny and touching, and emphasized the importance of self-love and love within your friends. Also, like many of the books on this list, the main character was a little TOO relatable.
Kindred – Octavia E. Butler
I’m a bit of an Octavia E. Butler fangirl, ever since I did a project on her and her work in senior year of high school. After a trip to Powell’s, I bought a stack of her novels and planned on reading ALL of them. I started with her novel Kindred, and there’s not much else I can say about this novel except—READ IT. PLEASE.
The Bookshop of Yesterdays – Amy Meyerson
I’ll say it once, are they enemies to lovers, or did they have a disagreement/a not-so-meet-cute and that’s the basis of their entire relationship? Other than that, the general mystery of it all was…intriguing, but I couldn’t help be upset at someone of the characters at the choices they made. Instead of it being compelling choices, they were…just choices. I’m glad she broke up with her awful boyfriend though.
E. A. Young Writes 