Books Read in February & March 2023
Remember how I talked about trying to do reading wrap-ups monthly so I wouldn’t have too many books to do in one post? Yea, well it’s almost May and the last wrap-up I posted was in January so here I am combining February and March. Can you really blame me for getting so caught up in the books I was reading that I forgot to write about them? #oopsiedaisy
While it’s not as long as my Books Read in 2022 wrap-up, there are still 22 books to get through so enough pleasantries–
Star (⭐️) ratings are out of five and have no strict criteria. I’m a big mood reader so while a book might not have the strongest writing/plot/etc, I might still give it a strong rating because I had fun reading it. Here is the general way I decide on a rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - Absolutely loved. Vibes were immaculate. Would definitely read again.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - Thoroughly enjoyed. Vibes were still amazing. Might read again.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ - Good but not necessarily my cup of tea.
⭐️⭐️ - Left a lot to be desired.
⭐️ - Given out very, very rarely. Typically reserved for books with offensive content
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February
The Yellow Wall-Paper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
The Yellow Wall-Paper is highly regarded as one of the best short stories of our time but after I read it I learned about Gilman’s racist beliefs. Instead of reading my review, I suggest reading Halle Butler’s essay “The Trouble with Charlotte Perkins Gilman.”
A Dangerous Education by Megan Chance (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
Bookshop* | Amazon* | Goodreads | StoryGraph
I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
A slow-burn historical thriller that I couldn’t put down. Set in the 1950s during the middle of McCarthyism and House of Un-American Committee (HUAC) hearings, A Dangerous Education follows Rosemary Chivers, an unmarried 34-year-old teacher who returns home near the end of her mother’s life. Her mother convinces her to take a teaching position at a local reform school where the daughter Rosemary gave up 17 years earlier is a student.
Despite its slow pace, I could not put this book down. The tension and suspense draw you in. It was like watching a train wreck. You can’t look away. Rosemary was incredibly frustrating at times and made so many poor choices but because of Chance’s writing and the way she develops the characters and setting, it all came together beautifully.
Not The Witch You Wed by April Asher (⭐️⭐️⭐️ ½)
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I received an ARC for the second book in Asher’s Supernatural Singles series so naturally I had to read the first one. This book is a fun, witchy romcom and that’s about it. There’s not much depth to the main plot or characters but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. One thing that I really did enjoy and that kept me reading was the rich world-building. There’s a lot of lore to explore so I can see why this is a series.
As far as the romance goes, if you like second chances tossed in with fake dating then you’ll definitely enjoy this. Violet and Lincoln are super cute and I can’t wait to get more of them in the next book.
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Another author who has done and said things that are harmful to marginalized communities. I won’t be finishing this series.
Kiki’s Delivery Service by Erika Kadono. Translated by Emily Balistrieri (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
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I had been on a Studio Ghibli kick when I found out Kiki had been a book first. This is the second book I’ve read that a Ghibli movie is based on and it did not disappoint. While it is different from the movie—as all adaptations are—it is just as whimsical. Kiki is still a young witch who has to strike out on her own and in doing so starts her own delivery service. Definitely a childhood must-read.
Mouse Trap by Caryn Larrinaga (⭐️⭐️⭐️)
Amazon* | Goodreads | StoryGraph
I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Something dark haunts Dakota Scott’s family home. Something that claimed the life of both her brothers, 20 years apart, and now is trying to claim Dakota. Mouse Trap is a good, quick horror read that seemed like it couldn’t decide whether to be more of a psychological thriller or true horror. The tension builds at the perfect pace for the length leaving you just scared enough to want to keep reading.
Not Your Ex’s Hexes by April Asher (⭐️⭐️⭐️ ½)
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I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The second book in Asher’s Supernatural Singles series is enjoyable and not much more than that. Don’t get me wrong, I did like this book but after the introduction to such an interesting world with strong characters in the first one I couldn’t help but feel as though something was missing. The pacing was inconsistent at times which kept me from being fully immersed in the story but that didn’t keep me from wanting more of Damian and Rose. The use of Grumpy x Sunshine and Close Proximity made for some good ol’ fashioned rom-com fun.
While I liked Not the Witch You Wed more than Not Your Ex’s Hexes, I’m still looking forward to more books in the Supernatural Singles universe. I recommend this series for anyone who wants a fun, lighthearted, witchy romcom.
That Time I Got Drunk and Saved A Demon by Kimberly Lemming (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
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I had seen this series by Kimberly Lemming on Booktok several times and put off reading it for the longest time. That was a mistake. This book was so much fun! Lemming has created such a rich, magical world with well-rounded characters. The book is easily read in a single sitting with a fast-moving plot & romance.
They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
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TBDATE is another one of those books with rave reviews I kept putting off. This time it’s because I knew it was going to emotionally devastate me. Which it definitely did—in the best way. Even though the title gives away the end, this book is about the journey, and the question: what would you do if you knew you only had one day left on Earth? It’s a beautiful story about not being afraid to love, and not letting life pass you by.
That Time I Got Drunk and Yeeted a Love Potion at a Werewolf by Kimberly Lemming (⭐️⭐️⭐️ ½)
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The second book in Lemming’s Mead Mishaps series is a fun follow up to the first book. It didn’t quite live up to the standard set by book one but it expanded on the world and left me ready for book three.
City of Day by October K. Santerelli (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ½)
Amazon* | Goodreads | StoryGraph
I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
City of Day is mostly a fantasy but blends elements of horror and mystery seamlessly. There is a lot of heavy worldbuilding to get through at first but it sets everything up to develop into such a rich experience. You’re pulled into the world of Astera immediately and fall deeper and deeper into the mystery as the stakes are upped with every chapter. I felt like I was there with the characters experiencing what they were experiencing.
Speaking of the characters, the development of the two main characters, Mila and Thislen, was amazing to see. You get such a clear sense of who they are, or who they think they are, and then they’re thrown into this wild adventure only for them to question everything they thought they knew about themselves. I truly can not wait to see how they handle what comes at them in the next book.
You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
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If you like messy people in messy relationships you’ll definitely like this book. I picked it up because I saw rave reviews on Booktok, and I was hooked almost immediately. It’s a beautiful, messy exploration on opening yourself up to love after loss and allowing yourself to say yes to life.
Immortality by Dana Schwartz (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
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I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Immortality: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz is a delightful follow-up to the first in the series, Anatomy: A Love Story. It picks up right where we left Hazel Sinnett, a young woman living in Scotland determined to become a surgeon during the Regency era when it was severely frowned upon for women to do anything other than become a wife and mother.
Ever since I finished reading Anatomy last year, I could not wait for Immortality to be released so I could find out what happens with Hazel & Jack. Despite some minor plot holes and pacing issues, I had a lot of fun reading this book and could not put it down. My only wish was that it was a bit longer to give more space to develop some of the relationships more. I didn’t feel as emotionally invested as I did with the first book. That being said, the pages flew by as I immersed myself in the mysterious, Gothic world of Hazel Sinnett. Schwartz’s ability to blend historical fact with fiction adds a layer of authenticity that brings everything to life. The amount of care and research that went into the book is clear.
If you’re looking for a fun, quick read that has aspects of multiple genres including romance, historical fiction, and fantasy, the Anatomy: A Love Story duology is an excellent choice.
March
Seven Days in June Tia Williams (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
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Seven Days in June is one of those books that is so good you immediately want to read it again. The depth of the characters contributes to the complex relationships which creates a compelling and authentic story. I can’t wait to read more from Tia Williams.
Rootless by Krystle Zara Appiah (⭐️⭐️⭐️)
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I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I normally don’t actively seek out novels that have a pregnancy storyline but I wanted to give this one a chance because the blurb really caught my attention and it just felt different. Instead, I got an average debut novel. I wanted to love this book from the beginning, I really did, but it took half the book to convince me to finish the whole thing. I am ultimately glad I finished but I wish the first half didn’t fall so flat that I almost DNF’d. The second half of the book was such a stark contrast to the first half. I felt more engaged with the story, the emotions were more complex compared to the first half which felt more like bullet points than a narrative.
Unfortunately, once I was hooked, I was blindsided by the shocking ending. I won’t say exactly what it is but here’s your opportunity to stop reading in case of any spoilers. I felt robbed of an emotional payoff because of the ending. I was finally hooked on the story and was excited about the emotional journey the two main characters were going on, individually & as a couple. It was there and then suddenly, it wasn’t. No growth needed. Overall, it was a decently written story that just fell short of its potential.
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
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Would it surprise you if I said I am 33 years old and this was the first time I read a Percy Jackson novel? What if I told you I took Latin in high school & Greek in college? Or that Hercules is one of my favorite animated Disney movies? Yea, the fact it took me so long to start the series surprises me too. What’s not surprising is how much I enjoyed it and how impatient I am waiting for the second book from my library.
The Plus One by Mazey Eddings (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
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I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
When I picked up this book I thought I was getting a light, cozy enemies-to-lovers romance. That’s not quite what I got. Instead, I got something that has “For those who hurt…” as part of the dedication, and a few content warnings. It kinda threw my expectations for a loop but I started reading, and kept reading, and finished reading, and was really glad I did.
The Plus One is delightful. It’s funny. It’s emotional. It handles the stigma of mental health and therapy beautifully. The characters are frustrating at times but they’re human and they’re flawed and that’s ok. Being flawed, and feeling broken doesn’t mean you’re not deserving of love. My biggest criticism would be that there wasn’t much “enemies” in enemies-to-lovers and not much “fake” in the fake dating.
The Davenports by Krystal Marquis (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
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I first saw The Davenports described as a Black Bridgerton and was instantly sold. It’s a super fun read that hits every classic Regency era romance trope. I look forward to more from Krystal Marquis which hopefully includes more of The Davenport family.
Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
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An absolutely beautiful, uplifting story about a Trans teen learning to find himself. I cried happy tears at the end of this book instead of the emotionally devastated tears I’m used to.
The Honeys by Ryan La Sala (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
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A wild, spooky ride from start to finish. When Mars’s twin sister, Caroline, dies horrifically, they decide to take her place at the prestigious summer camp Caroline was supposed to be attending. Mars gets involved with Caroline’s friend and gets more than they expected. I could not put this book down. Just when I thought I had it figured out there comes yet another twist followed by a turn. It took classic aspects from all over the horror genre and put it all together in its own unique way.
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
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Have you ever read a book so good, that you resonated with so much, that you felt like it changed your brain chemistry? Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is one of those books for me. This is a story about love but it’s not a romance. It’s about all the different types of love and all the different ways it can affect us throughout our lives. Gabrielle Zevin masterly portrays those different types of relationships in such an authentic way that the characters almost feel tangible.
Mistlefoe by Kimberly Lemming (⭐️⭐️⭐️)
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Another delightful entry in the Mead’s Mishaps series. Mistlefoe is a super quick read that fits perfectly in with the other two novellas. While it’s technically placed between Book One and Book Two, it’s not necessary to read in that order.
It’s such a great time to be a reading fan. As a mood reader, it can be difficult at times to decide on what to read next but I am never in a shortage of excellent options. In fact, the hardest decision I have to make is picking just one book to read because I want to read them all!
Stay tuned to see what I’ve picked for April. Who knows, maybe I’ll get that one out on time 😅
What are some of your recent 5-star reads? I’m always looking to add books to my TBR!
