The Books I Read In February 2023
- Alexa Burban
- Feb 28, 2023
- 9 min read
Wow, wow, wow, what an incredible reading month I had! I've never read so many books in one month (total 10) let alone as many pages as I did! The below books weren't short novellas, they were full-on, with an average of 470 pages among the group. Not going to lie, I'm really proud of myself.
February's overarching theme was billionaires although I did read outside of my typical comfort genre of contemporary romance. From a high recommendation by two of my best friends, I started Sarah J Maas' A Court of Thorns and Roses series and am beyond thrilled that I listened to them.
Here are my full reviews (as first published on my Goodreads) for the books I read in February:
⭑
What in the R-rated, cringey, Wattpad fanfic was this?
Based on reviews, I knew this wasn't going to be incredible however, I didn't think it would be this bad? I pushed through cause I heard Terms & Conditions (the second in the series) was really good but now I'm scared to spend time reading another 400+ page book that might leave me disappointed (again).
I've also decided that I'm not a fan of the grumpy/sunshine trope. I find that sometimes the sunshine character is written in a way that is juvenile and they end up irritating me more than I am rooting for them and their happiness throughout the book.
Genuinely really sad with how much I didn't like this but I'll remain optimistic for book two.
⭑⭑⭑.5
Overall, a huge improvement from the first in this series (The Fine Print) but there were still moments where I felt this was lacking. The writing style also improved and thank goodness for that!
I enjoyed Iris and her growth. She had her own reservations to love and trust so when the idea of a "contractual marriage" with no feelings attached to her boss (Declan) was presented to her, she was game.
I love when the hero falls first. Declan was genuinely fighting his feelings until he just ultimately gave up and was all in. Those are my favourite kind of romances!
⭑⭑⭑⭑.5
I LOVE a second-chance romance!
I loved Cal and his sarcastic and witty nature. His love for Lana was so evident throughout and it broke my heart to watch him struggle with his inner demons. I empathized with his need to cope because of the many hardships he and his brothers have experienced at the hands of their father but seeing them all come together was one of my favourite elements of the novel. The dynamic of the trio was perfection.
This was my favourite of the trilogy and while Cal was my favourite brother, something about Declan still has me hooked. I'm sad to be leaving this universe.
I absolutely love when characters from previous books appear in the current hero and heroine's story so seeing the other brothers and their partners interact and play roles in both Cal and Lana's lives warmed my heart.
I know people say you don't have to read the whole Dreamland Billionaires series to get the full picture but as someone who (practically) hated The Fine Print, I urge you to push through the first to get to the second and third. I think it's worth it!
⭑
I've always believed that the first of anything in a series is not the best and that theory still stands after finishing this novel. I 100% would've DNF'd if it was a standalone.
Both Huxley and Lottie were equally irritating and their entire relationship confused me. I did not understand why they both so suddenly disliked one another and they wouldn't let up. And of course, the inevitable fight that happens in the last 30% of a romance novel is expected however the reason behind the fight was frustrating.
My first Meghan Quinn read and I'm not impressed but I shall try again with the rest of the series.
⭑⭑⭑
While I didn’t completely love this book, I absolutely loved JP/Jonah. He was witty, sarcastic, and thoughtful. And the combo of him and his brothers? Pure gold.
But for the plot of the book: a pointless enemies to friends to lovers. The “enemies” was based on a preconceived idea that was false. I promise I’m #TeamWoman but gosh, I didn’t like Kelsey. Her relationship with her sister, Lottie (the heroine of Book 1 who I also wasn’t a fan of) was so immature I was cringing.
All in all, this book was a rollercoaster of emotions. From indifference/irritation to swoon-ish moments back to irritation/frustration, hardly sticking the landing with a happy ending that I’m okay with. Book 3, please don’t let me down!
⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑
Okay, this was GOOD!
One of my all-time favourite rom-coms is Made of Honor (I mean, Patrick Dempsey?!) and this book was everything I loved about that film and more. It was the perfect friends to lovers. Longtime best friends, Breaker and Lia are inseparable so when Lia gets engaged to Brian, someone Breaker hates, he knows he has to step up and become Lia's Man of Honor to show his support and help deter her soon-to-be monster/mother-in-law. As the wedding planning progresses, Breaker realizes he's actually madly in love with his best friend and gosh, as soon as he realizes he loves her, he stops at nothing to make her realize that she loves him too.
I full on laughed out loud at various points throughout the book. The banter was incredible! Breaker is my favourite Cane brother and I'm so thrilled that I actually enjoyed this heroine (Lia) when I've hated the rest of them in this series. I also cannot get enough of the brothers together. Chapter 1 especially had me in stitches and was a good indicator of just how much I'd love this book.
*mini spoiler* There wasn’t a third-act explosive argument/breakup and it was so refreshing! I hate when authors force an unnecessary misunderstanding/fight just to extend the plot so what Quinn did at the end was perfection! Other authors, please take note!
I'm so thrilled this series ended on a high! 10/10 would recommend!
⭑⭑.5
This had a lot of potential as I love a second chance romance (with dual timelines) however, it fell flat and a large part of it had to do with Quinn’s heroine, Myla. This is my fourth Meghan Quinn read and the third heroine that I really didn’t enjoy (the odds are stacked against her at this point). Myla was very immature in how she handled the attempt at a divorce with Ryot, who in my opinion, deserved better than her(?). He was willing to reevaluate and attempt to fix the wrongdoings in their relationship all while Myla was giving me a headache with her immaturity.
I really did like Ryot although he isn’t my favourite Quinn hero (Breaker takes the cake). He wanted Myla from the moment he saw her and I just ate it up. I enjoyed his relationship with his brother Banner (I love Quinn’s men) and I’m hoping he gets his own story too!
Overall, this was meh and I found myself skimming. I also haven’t figured out if I enjoy books with dual POVs yet.
⭑⭑⭑.5
In no way was this one of my typical reads (I’m not a fantasy gal) however, it came highly recommended by two of my best friends who said, and I quote, “we think you’d really like this series, give it a try” which 1) awe thank you for thinking of me and 2) how could I not at least try it? And wow, did I ever enjoy it!
I absolutely ate this up. To be fair, the first few chapters are questionable as the author’s writing style was far more descriptive than I would prefer, I quickly overlooked it and flew through the book in less than 24 hours.
There were moments where I found myself a bit confused by the plot (mainly the history and terms I wasn’t familiar with), but was able to ask my friends for further details as I can’t wrap my head around alternate universes (again, not a fantasy gal).
I really did enjoy the adventure behind the romance, even though the plot was predominantly a romance. I’m looking forward to the rest of the series as I’ve heard it only gets better from here.
⭑⭑⭑⭑
This was incredible! I'm not a fantasy reader but from start to finish, I genuinely felt like I had been whisked away to this universe, walking alongside these characters that I have grown to love.
I have a lot of thoughts and feelings but I can't say too much without spoiling anything so this is your chance to scroll away in case you plan to read this series ...
I ADORE RHYSAND! There was something about him from the first book that drew me to him and I felt he had WAY more chemistry with Feyre than Tamlin ever did (and this is later revealed in book two why this is the case). His first line to her in book one had me gasping when we revisited it in book two:
"There you are. I've been looking for you." - Rhysand, A Court of Thorns and Roses
IYKYK!!
Rhysand is everything. In book one he held so many secrets but everything that he did had meaning and purpose (again revealed in book two). I could honestly go on and on about how much I love him but I'll leave you with this:
"I'm thinking [...] that I look at you and feel like I'm dying. Like I can't breathe. I'm thinking that I want you so badly I can't concentrate half the time I'm around you, and this room is too small for me to properly bed you. Especially with the wings." - Rhysand, A Court of Mist and Fury
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?
Anyway, Rhysand's inner circle was incredible and their banter was great. Any little bit of me that liked Tamlin has been thrown away completely. What a weak, weak "male". His love for Feyre was ugly and possessive. I will say I still like Lucien despite it all. He deserves better/more.
Feyre's character growth was so fun to read. She was grasping her new reality and the travesties she's had to endure but had found something along the way that she had been yearning for forever - a family.
The last 10% of the book covered a lot. It was messy at times and I couldn't keep up with all the chaos but woah, what a way to end a book on a cliffhanger. I feel for the readers who had to wait a length of time until book three was published.
I still have so many thoughts but overall, I loved this and the escape from reality I genuinely felt. I'm looking forward to rereading this series in the future and applying everything I know from book two as I read book one again.
One final note, Sarah's use of "male" kills me and every time she wrote "my mate" or something along those lines, I would roll my eyes so hard. Just too much - haha.
⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑
This was absolutely incredible! So, so incredible! The level and variety of emotions I felt throughout reminded me of when I first watched Avengers: End Game. Shouting, hitting my hand against my bed, crying, etc. This was a journey!
I've noticed a trend with Maas' books (as confirmed by my girlfriends) that she builds up to a moment very close to the end of the book and then dumps event after event, revelation after revelation. I have found myself (with the other two books but especially this one) gasping so much and flipping through the pages at an alarming speed.
The third book in the trilogy picks up right after the events of the second; Feyre is back at the Spring Court, Rhysand and the inner circle are working to strategize to take down the King of Hyburn and dealing with the two new High Fae additions to their 'family', Nesta and Elain.
I genuinely enjoyed this so much. I grew to love Feyre and Rhysand's relationship even more (and just Rhysand in general). Rhysand's love for Feyre made my heart burst:
"Rhys squeezed my hand as he looked to me at last. "And if I had not met my mate..." His words failed him as silver lined his eyes. He said down the bond, "I would have waited five hundred more years for you. A thousand years. And if this was all the time we were allowed to have... The wait was worth it."' - Rhysand, A Court of Wings and Ruin
I cry.
Feyre is now the first High Lady of the Night Court alongside her mate, Rhysand, their dynamic is charming and sweet. Together along with the inner circle, they set out to put a plan into motion to defeat the King of Hyburn and his armies. It truly felt like something out of Avengers when everyone got together to defeat the big bad.
I'm a sucker for love, so a moment (there were two in total) between Nesta (who I have my reservations about) and Cassian was heart-wrenchingly sweet:
'Cassian grunted in pain, but lifted his bloodied hands - to cup her face. "I have no regrets in my life, but this." His voice shook with every word. "That we did not have time. That I did not have time with you, Nesta." She didn't stop him as he leaned up and kissed her - lightly. As much as he could manage. Cassian said softly, brushing away the tead that streaked down her face, "I will find you again in the next world - the next life. And we will have that time, I promise." Cassian, A Court of Wings and Ruin
I GASPED AND CRIED!
All in all, I adored this book and the new universe I've been introduced to. I called my girlfriends the second I finished to debrief and share my thoughts/emotions and thank them for the recommendation (again).
I'm so, so pleased with how much I've been reading as of late and it's become a bit of a personality trait but I can genuinely say I haven't been this happy in quite some time.
xx
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