We’re already into the third month of the year and as I write this my Goodreads goal is a book behind schedule apparently I really wish they would remove this feature and the one that emails you right after you’ve logged a book saying what next? ANYWAY

I did not finish a book until the 14th of February…the middle of the month. I know, I was shocked too. I just couldn’t pick up a book long enough to get interested, you can find out why in my recent life update. That said, when I did get my reading mojo back I found some crackers in new releases, including my new favourite book in a series.

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Someone I know was getting rid of a stack of books so of course I couldn’t help myself. One of them, Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker and Wendy Xu, was one that I had been waiting to pick up for a while because everyone said it’s absolutely adorable. I picked it up on Valentines Day and it didn’t disappoint. Cute, witches, werewolves and very inclusive. I really hope there will be another volume at some point.

Another of my New Years Waterstones sale buys was Dearly by Margaret Atwood. I’d heard a lot about it and thought it was about time to ease myself into Atwood. The book was ok, perhaps not my favourite kind of poetry. While there were some pieces I enjoyed, I’m not really into nature poems and there’s a fair few in here.

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One of my favourites Nikita Gill released this sneaky collection she wrote during 2020. Where Hope Comes From really is a small book of hope, of courage and reflection. I highly recommend this collection, a short but powerful read.

In any interview I’ve seen of the new First Lady of the United States she has seemed lovely. When Where Light Enters: Building a Family, Discovering Myself came up as an audiobook recommendation I thought I’d give it a shot. Dr Biden is an incredible woman, an educator and stands in her own right, not just as someone’s wife. Chronicling her life I was seriously impressed by her and I look forward to seeing what she does as First Lady.

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Reading A Shot at Normal while in the middle of the UK’s vaccine rollout and the pandemic. This is a great look at what happens when a child who has not been vaccinated grows up and decides that they don’t agree with their parents. For Juniper it comes after tragedy but it really made me think about whether it was fair that children had to wait until 18 to ask for their vaccinations. I thought it was really well done!

The big one, probably my most anticipated read of the year and over 700 pages, the next in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series. This time from Nesta and Cassian’s perspectives and oh wow was I impressed. There were some parts I wasn’t crazy about but as I whole I thought this was brilliant. You’ve probably seen a great deal about the sexy scenes (oh my were they) but it is more than that. This is a complex novel about trauma, healing and friendship. My favourite book of the month, hands down.

I really enjoyed Phil’s first novel, The Gravity of Us, so I pre-ordered As Far As You’ll Take Me as soon as I could, I also received an arc. This is about finding your place in the world, even if that means moving to the other side of it. A quick and lovely read about working out who you are.