February 2023 Books

I'll preface this by saying I was not fond of several upcoming novels of authors I typically like, which always feels like something wrong with me and not them when it happens in a string, but actually might be the books this time? I don't know. 

February reads: 

Engrossing Reads

Exiles by Jane Harper (Aaron Falk #3) - Big love for this book, I devoured it. I was so happy to be back with Aaron Falk again. Good story, I liked the characters a lot. OCNJ library hard cover

The Weight by Jeff Boyd - About a 4.5- I can’t believe this is a debut novel. Loved the writing, storylines, the pace, characters, and everything. There’s a part describing what it feels like to be in the zone (for lack of a better term) with band mates on stage in front of a crowd and it was so well done people who have no musical experience whatsoever (me) can feel it humming through them. Gold.

Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest debut, book comes out April 11

Out of the Ashes by Kara Thomas - Close to a 4.5, so many threads to grasp at throughout. I couldn’t put it down. Excellent pacing Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book comes out May 1

The Girls Who Disappeared by Claire Douglas - Love the podcast angle that reminds me of several recent books but which I am not sick of yet. I was glued to this one. OCNJ library hard cover

What Have We Done by Alex Finlay - This felt a little piecey and strung together but I really liked Jenna's arc (I'd read another book about her alone) and the concept overall. It was a quick read that held my attention. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes March 7

I Will Find You by Harlan Coben - I live for new releases by Harlan Coben, and then I rip through them so fast it feels like it took five minutes. This was no different. I could not wait to see what was next.

Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book comes out March 14

Passed the Time Just Fine

Woman Without Shame: Poems by Sandra Cisneros - A good collection, I read a few a day and several spoke to me. That's all I can ask for of poems, right? OCNJ library hard cover

Quietly Hostile by Samantha Irby - Made me think and bust out laughing, what more can you ask for from a collection of essays? Each piece was strong, some hit a little better for me than others which is to be expected. Look at me with poems and a collection of essays thrown into my typical fiction shit.

Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, publishes May 16

The Twenty by Sam Holland - I need to preface with the fact that I read many books in this genre and this is definitely more graphic regarding abuse and violence, specifically against women and children.

The end was a surprise to me, the deaths were frequent, and there was a lot of personal soap opera throughout that probably extended the book by 50 pages it didn’t need. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book comes out May 11

Recipe for a Perfect Wife by Karma Brown - Sooo I got this book from Netgalley in 2020 and just now read it. If this book was Nellie alone, I would have loved it. Alice and Nate are completely unlikeable and the present storyline is a whole mess. All of the past chapters are great Free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

The Fake by Zoe Whittall - Yikes! This was good but drove me crazy with the scamming. I felt bad for one of the main characters but really bad for the other. A quick read, thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchanged for an honest review, comes out March 21

Not For Me/Did Not Finish

The Shards by Bret Easton Ellis - Alt title: Self indulgent overwriting killed the radio star. There was a good story here and he killed it with his own hubris as he is wont to do. I loathed the over detail and name dropping of roads, places, brands, but loved the consistent soundtrack he created that someone nicely made into a spotify playlist of every song mentioned in the book. That was the prize for slogging through this too long by 400 pages novel. OCNJ library hard cover

With My Little Eye by Joshilyn Jackson - It pains me to put a JJ book in the not for me category, but this was not for me. There were too many storylines, zero likable characters, it lacked cohesion, and it read like it was written down - her smart and dark edginess was missing here. This one was not for me. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes April 25

The Senator's Wife by Liv Constantine - I was really looking forward to this one and it comes in about a 2.5. This is not a thriller, which I think it’s billed as. It’s domestic drama and a repetitive one at that. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes May 23

The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth - Great concept for a story, something unraveled along the way though. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, publishes April 4

For You and Only You (You #4) by Caroline Kepnes - Unfortunately I think Joe and The Formula of Joe have run their course in my life. This seemed to drag and drag. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book comes out April 4

The Chateau by Jaclyn Goldis - DNF, free advanced copy from Netgalley, publishes May 23

What have you been reading?