February 2026 Reading Wrap Up

Wow! 10 books in February!

Let's dive into the reviews!

Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score - ★★★★★

This is my new favorite romance book! The romance went from a slow sizzle to fiery passion in the most natural way. They felt like real people in a real relationship with real problems to overcome. It didn’t feel like a cookie cutter storybook romance. The plot was also amazing and evolved so well without relying on the romance to drive it. It focused on character growth separately from the romance as well. It was two people growing and dealing with their own problems in their lives, but still coming together in the best way to conquer it all together and take care of each other. I absolutely loved it!

Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood - ★★★⯪☆

This was a really cute romance book. I was swooning, laughing, and kicking my feet throughout the book. The story revolved more around the romance, but it had a good underlying plot as well that I enjoyed. I wasn't a fan of all the scientific jargon that was mentioned throughout the book. It felt like a lot more than necessary.

Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer - ★★★★★

I loved everything about this book. The characters were all so lovable and I laughed so much at the banter. The romance was very slow burn but still kept me swooning and kicking my feet. It showed the moral dilemma of “who is really the villain?” And highlighted how your actions make you who you are, and that isn’t always a bad thing. It ended on an amazing cliff hanger and I am so excited to start book 2 soon!

How to Keep House While Drowning by KC Davis - ★★★★★

What a great book! So many good tips given with such focus on self compassion. The importance of self kindness is the forefront of this book. Not only are there tips for how to complete care tasks so you can feel better, but also how to be kind to yourself so that completing care tasks becomes easier. This book gives small steps for starting on a lifelong journey to a better you.

Faking with Benefits by Lily Gold - ★★★★☆

I wasn't sure what to expect going into this book and I was pleasantly surprised by what I read. It's a cute why choose story with fake dating and real love.

The Awakening by Susanne Valenti/Caroline Peckham - ★★★★★

This is the first book in the Zodiac Academy series, and let me just say, it is worth the hype! I had to take a couple days after reading this to process my thoughts into words because I was just blown away.

I liked how the characters were very distinct in their personalities and acted accordingly to their values. The first book ends on a cliffhanger that felt like the perfect place to end the first book and makes me want to devour the next one. I especially liked that everything wasn’t answered in this first book. I know it’s a long series with many books, and I liked that this book felt like the start of a story and didn’t wrap everything up. It was part of an overarching story rather than a sub arch that wraps with book one and leaves the world to be built more in the next book.

The characters and plot were very well done and it was easy to read and follow. I loved rooting for/against different characters. The antagonists were so easy to hate and I loved that. It really made the book more enjoyable to have someone to root against and not just someone to root for.

This book took me from laughing out loud to my jaw dropping on the floor from plot twists. I literally covered my mouth with a gasp and tried to hide my eyes behind a blanket like you do at the movies when you know something is coming but you don’t know what.

All in all, a great read with fun characters and a storyline that will keep you engaged and guessing from the start.

Funny Story by Emily Henry - ★★★★☆

This was a cute fake dating story about two people finding each other despite what life has thrown at them. This book had me laughing out loud from the banter and on the verge of tears from heartbreaking honesty.

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins - ★★★★☆

What a book…it was devastating watching Haymitch go from having such fire in his heart to the shell of a man he is during the original trilogy. It was an engaging journey that showed the true power of the capitol.

The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix - ★★☆☆☆

I liked the idea of this book but the implementation of it didn’t really match what I thought it would be. It also seemed like a lot of the plot points were barely held together, like if one piece was missing from that scene, it wouldn’t make sense in the story. The events just felt loosely connected.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - ★★★☆☆

This was my third reread of this book, and I listened to the audiobook this time instead of reading it. I kept my rating consistent at 3 stars. It's still a decent book that holds up. But I just can't stand Katniss, personally. The more I think about it though, her actions and behavior do make sense when you consider the fact that she's spent her whole life in survival mode.

Overall Wrap Up