I feel like I am still playing catch up. I was out of commission for over a week in early January with the flu, and I’m still not back to where I need and want to be in all aspects. But, on top of that, life is just busy and crazy. Granted, I say that last part every month!
This year is shaping up to have so many great releases. Jennifer Armentrout, Leigh Bardugo, TJ Klune, and so many more have announced 2024 releases. While my January was a weird reading month to match my overall weird experience, I’m hoping that February will begin to turn that all around. I’m excited for several releases this month.
Usually, I really struggle to narrow down my top ten, but this month I found that it was fairly easy to narrow it down. Even my honorable mention list was pretty easy to determine. Maybe after the January I had the world is trying to help me out a little bit.
So, what are you looking forward to? We’ve already had one publication day so far. Are you reading Bride? The Woman? If Only I Had Told Her? Thanks for stopping by and checking out the list of my most anticipated reads of the month.
What are you looking forward to? Did I miss something? Leave me a comment and let me know.
Bride by Ali Hazelwood (February 6)
I am currently reading my first Ali Hazelwood book, The Love Hypothesis, and it’s pretty good. Definitely enjoying it. Finding the usual little things that typically annoy me with rom-coms, but I like the writing, story evolution and character development. I am thrilled to see what she can do when it’s not a rom-com. I mean, it’s still romance, but it’s paranormal in nature. BLURB: Misery Lark, the only daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman of the Southwest, is an outcast—again. Her days of living in anonymity among the Humans are over: She has been called upon to uphold a historic peacekeeping alliance between the Vampyres and their mortal enemies, the Weres, and she sees little choice but to surrender herself in the exchange—again… Weres are ruthless and unpredictable, and their Alpha, Lowe Moreland, is no exception. He rules his pack with absolute authority, but not without justice. And, unlike the Vampyre Council, not without feeling. It’s clear from the way he tracks Misery’s every movement that he doesn’t trust her. If only he knew how right he was…. Because Misery has her own reasons to agree to this marriage of convenience, reasons that have nothing to do with politics or alliances, and everything to do with the only thing she's ever cared about. And she is willing to do whatever it takes to get back what’s hers, even if it means a life alone in Were territory…alone with the wolf.
The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett (February 6)
A murder mystery with touches of a magical world. I love that this book is more of a mystery than anything, making the magical elements more intriguing to me. I’m curious to see how the world is built and how it all works together in a structure that is opposite from what I’m used to seeing. BLURB: In Daretana’s greatest mansion, a high imperial officer lies dead—killed, to all appearances, when a tree erupted from his body. Even here at the Empire’s borders, where contagions abound and the blood of the leviathans works strange magical changes, it’s a death both terrifying and impossible. Assigned to investigate is Ana Dolabra, a detective whose reputation for brilliance is matched only by her eccentricities. Rumor has it that she wears a blindfold at all times, and that she can solve impossible cases without even stepping outside the walls of her home. At her side is her new assistant, Dinios Kol, magically altered in ways that make him the perfect aide to Ana’s brilliance. Din is at turns scandalized, perplexed, and utterly infuriated by his new superior—but as the case unfolds and he watches Ana’s mind leap from one startling deduction to the next, he must admit that she is, indeed, the Empire’s greatest detective. As the two close in on a mastermind and uncover a scheme that threatens the Empire itself, Din realizes he’s barely begun to assemble the puzzle that is Ana Dolabra—and wonders how long he’ll be able to keep his own secrets safe from her piercing intellect.
An Education of Malice by S.T. Gibson (February 13)
I’m a huge fan of dark academia, and I haven’t felt like I’ve read a good one (or any at all) in a while. As a result, I am putting this one on my list! BLURB: Deep in the forgotten hills of Massachusetts stands Saint Perpetua’s College. Isolated and ancient, it is not a place for timid girls. Here, secrets are currency, ambition is lifeblood, and strange ceremonies welcome students into the fold. On her first day of class, Laura Sheridan is thrust into an intense academic rivalry with the beautiful and enigmatic Carmilla. Together, they are drawn into the confidence of their demanding poetry professor, De Lafontaine, who holds her own dark obsession with Carmilla. But as their rivalry blossoms into something far more delicious, Laura must confront her own strange hungers. Tangled in a sinister game of politics, bloodthirsty professors and magic, Laura and Carmilla must decide how much they are willing to sacrifice in their ruthless pursuit of knowledge.
The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown (February 13)
Besides having a beautiful cover, there is something to be said about adult, contemporary fantasy. Everything about this book makes me want to read it. I just want to dive into Cassie’s bookshop and stay for a while. BLURB: Cassie Andrews works in a New York City bookshop, shelving books, making coffee for customers, and living an unassuming, ordinary life. Until the day one of her favorite customers—a lonely yet charming old man—dies right in front of her. Cassie is devastated. She always loved his stories, and now she has nothing to remember him by. Nothing but the last book he was reading. But this is no ordinary book…It is the Book of Doors. Inscribed with enigmatic words and mysterious drawings, it promises Cassie that any door is every door. You just need to know how to open them. Then she’s approached by a gaunt stranger in a rumpled black suit with a Scottish brogue who calls himself Drummond Fox. He’s a librarian who keeps watch over a unique set of rare volumes. The tome now in Cassie’s possession is not the only book with great power, but it is the one most coveted by those who collect them. Now Cassie is being hunted by those few who know of the Special Books. With only her roommate Izzy to confide in, she has to decide if she will help the mysterious and haunted Drummond protect the Book of Doors—and the other books in his secret library’s care—from those who will do evil. Because only Drummond knows where the unique library is and only Cassie’s book can get them there. But there are those willing to kill to obtain those secrets. And a dark force—in the form of a shadowy, sadistic woman—is at the very top of that list.
Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli (February 20)
A witch and a witch hunter. An enemies to lovers story. AND the first book of a new duology. Sign me up. I’m definitely back on a fantasy kick. BLURB: On the night Rune’s life changed forever, blood ran in the streets. Now, in the aftermath of a devastating revolution, witches have been diminished from powerful rulers to outcasts ruthlessly hunted due to their waning magic, and Rune must hide what she is. Spending her days pretending to be nothing more than a vapid young socialite, Rune spends her nights as the Crimson Moth, a witch vigilante who rescues her kind from being purged. When a rescue goes wrong, she decides to throw the witch hunters off her scent and gain the intel she desperately needs by courting the handsome Gideon Sharpe - a notorious and unforgiving witch hunter loyal to the revolution - who she can't help but find herself falling for. Gideon loathes the decadence and superficiality Rune represents, but when he learns the Crimson Moth has been using Rune’s merchant ships to smuggle renegade witches out of the republic, he inserts himself into her social circles by pretending to court her right back. He soon realizes that beneath her beauty and shallow façade, is someone fiercely intelligent and tender who feels like his perfect match. Except, what if she’s the very villain he’s been hunting?
Visions of Flesh and Blood by Jennifer Armentrout (February 20)
Anything that is part of the FBAA series is a must read. I absolutely love Poppy and how the last book ended, I am dying to get back to Atlantia and figure out what it all means. Sadly, this isn’t the next installment. This is a “companion guide”. Oh, well, it is still a must have for my book shelf and at 576 pages, it’s definitely going to be worth it! And since Miss Willa is telling the story, it’s sure to be a little spicy! BLURB: This is a comprehensive companion guide for background, history, reader-favorite information, art, and reference materials. Combined with original short stories and scenes from some of the world’s most beloved characters, as well as never-before-seen visual enticements, it’s a treat for the senses. Told from the point of view of Miss Willa herself, the compendium acts like research material but reads like a journal and cache of personal notes, allowing the reader to revisit the characters and history they so love yet view things in a different way.
End of Story by AJ Finn (February 20)
As soon as I saw “for fans of Knives Out,” I knew that this was going to be my kind of book. I’ve also, for some reason, have always enjoyed books that are centered around authors asking someone to write the story of their life. Basically, an author is writing a book about an author who is working with another author. I guess it doesn’t take much to make me happy! BLURB: “I’ll be dead in three months. Come tell my story.” So writes Sebastian Trapp, reclusive mystery novelist, to his longtime correspondent Nicky Hunter, an expert in detective fiction. With mere months to live, Trapp invites Nicky to his spectacular San Francisco mansion to help draft his life story . . . while living alongside his beautiful second wife, Diana; his wayward nephew, Freddy; and his protective daughter, Madeleine. Soon Nicky finds herself caught in an irresistible case of real-life “detective- fever.” “You and I might even solve an old mystery or two.” Twenty years earlier—on New Year’s Eve 1999—Sebastian’s first wife and teenage son vanished from different locations, never to be seen again. Did the perfect crime writer commit the perfect crime? And why has he emerged from seclusion, two decades later, to allow a stranger to dig into his past? “Life is hard. After all, it kills you.” As Nicky attempts to weave together the strands of Sebastian’s life, she becomes obsessed with discovering the truth . . . while Madeleine begins to question what her beloved father might actually know about that long-ago night. And when a corpse appears in the family’s koi pond, both women are shocked to find that the past isn’t gone—it’s just waiting.
Till There was You by Lindsay Hameroff (February 20)
This is my one rom-com of the month, and I did debate with this one and another. I went with this one because it includes food. I’m a sucker for food! I love it when you have a story with two people from such different worlds. It just seems fun, even though there is bound to be miscommunication and all that nonsense. I’ll still read it and probably still enjoy it! BLURB: Culinary student Lexi Berman, 24, has one goal: to make her late mother proud by becoming an executive chef in a Michelin-star restaurant. And she isn’t going to let anything–or anyone–get in the way. But when she meets Jake Taylor, a dive bar musician who charms her with show tunes, she makes a rare exception to her no-dating rule. After a steamy weekend together, Jake leaves for L.A. to record his demo, and Lexi never expects to see him again. And she definitely doesn’t expect him to become an overnight celebrity, with a breakout single that’s almost certainly about her famous blueberry pancake recipe. As Jake’s star rises and the world speculates about the subject of his song, Lexi keeps the affair to herself. After all, she’s finally found her footing at her new restaurant job, and even has a prospective romance with her coworker. But when a distraught Jake turns up on her doorstep late one night, her carefully-laid plans are thrown for a loop. Though she and Jake try to be friends, things between them soon reheat faster than a bowl of Lexi's matzah ball soup. But a relationship with Jake means risking her face in tabloids, withstanding cruel internet comments, and worst of all, jeopardizing her career. As Jake’s upcoming tour approaches, and rumors swirl about him and another pop star, Lexi has to decide if holding onto her meticulously-planned future is worth walking away from what could be the perfect recipe for love. Set both in the chaos of fame and the high stakes world of New York City restaurants, this novel sprinkles in a second chance at love and a dollop of celebrity drama to create a romantic romp that will make even the most jaded reader smile.
Snow Globe by Soyoung Park (February 27)
Hunger Games meets Squad Games? Sounds fascinating. The world is a constant state of winter but not for those in Snowglobe. I love this combination of dystopian/ catastrophic weather/futuristic world setting. I hope that it lives up to what I am already creating in my mind. This Korean work is being translated into English for the first time! BLURB: Enclosed under a vast dome, Snowglobe is the last place on Earth that’s warm. Outside Snowglobe is a frozen wasteland, and every day, citizens face the icy world to get to their jobs at the power plant, where they produce the energy Snowglobe needs. Their only solace comes in the form of twenty-four-hour television programming streamed directly from the domed city. The residents of Snowglobe have everything: fame, fortune, and above all, safety from the desolation outside their walls. In exchange, their lives are broadcast to the less fortunate outside, who watch eagerly, hoping for the chance to one day become actors themselves. Chobahm lives for the time she spends watching the shows produced inside Snowglobe. Her favorite? Goh Around, starring Goh Haeri, Snowglobe’s biggest star—and, it turns out, the key to getting Chobahm her dream life. Because Haeri is dead, and Chobahm has been chosen to take her place. Only, life inside Snowglobe is nothing like what you see on television. Reality is a lie, and truth seems to be forever out of reach.
After Annie by Anna Quindlen (February 27)
Just reading the synopsis of this one breaks my heart. I typically don’t gravitate to books that I know are going to make me cry, but there is something just in the wording of the description that draws me in. I guess it’s really the family element. I love reading about family dynamics. I feel this is going to be a beautifully emotional book. BLURB: When Annie Brown dies suddenly, her husband, her children, and her closest friend are left to find a way forward without the woman who has been the lynchpin of all their lives. Bill is overwhelmed without his beloved wife, and Annemarie wrestles with the bad habits her best friend had helped her overcome. And Ali, the eldest of Annie’s children, has to grow up overnight, to care for her younger brothers and even her father and to puzzle out for herself many of the mysteries of adult life. Over the course of the next year what saves them all is Annie, ever-present in their minds, loving but not sentimental, caring but nobody’s fool, a voice in their heads that is funny and sharp and remarkably clear. The power she has given to those who loved her is the power to go on without her. The lesson they learn is that no one beloved is ever truly gone.
There you have it. My top ten for February is complete. Of course, there are way more good books coming than just these, so check out my honorable mentions below:
The Woman by Kristen Hannah (February 6)
The Teacher by Freida McFadden (February 6)
The Resort by Sarah Ochs (February 6)
Infinity Alchemist by Kacen Callender (February 6)
Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey (February 13)
The Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal (February 20)
Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange (February 27)
The Moorings of Mackerel Sky by MZ (February 27)
Right on Cue by Falon Ballard (February 27)
I hope that you find lots of amazing reads this month!
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