Such an incredible month! I think I only gave one book 3.5 stars and the rest were 4 and above. Success!
Total Number of Books: 16
Total Number of Pages: 4,645
Physical: 2
eBooks: 11
Audiobooks: 3
Favorite (New) Reads of the Month: Honey & Spice by Bolu Babalola AND Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan
Physical:
By the Book by Jasmine Guillory – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Honey & Spice by Bolu Babalola – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi – ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Reggie and Delilah’s Year of Falling by Elise Bryant – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
We are Not Like Them by Christine Pride and Jo Piazza – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Love & Radio by Ebony LaDelle – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Valentine’s Day + Black History Month = A whole lot of Black Love! By the Book is another installment in the Meant to Be series, with this being a reimagining of Beauty and the Beast. Compared to a lot of these other books it was so tame in the romance department, but I still thought it was sweet and entertaining—you know me, I’m almost always down for some Disney. Love Radio was a really strong YA debut. It was refreshing to read about a teen boy who was so sure himself and his feelings towards love. Plus, wonderful disability rep with Prince’s mom having Rheumatoid Arthritis with him being one of her main caregivers. Honey & Spice was an A+ college romance that had everything—fake dating, excellent banter, and fun side characters. Another one of my favorites was my first Kennedy Ryan, Before I Let Go, a second chance romance between a divorced couple who still co-parent and work together with their restaurant. Oh, the sexual tension!
eBooks:
Just My Type by Falon Ballard – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Study Break edited by Aashna Avachat – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
And Other Mistakes by Erika Turner – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Confessions of an Alleged Good Girl by Joya Gaffney – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Study Break: 11 College Tales from Orientation to Graduation was a cool YA anthology that was unlike any I’d read before. Just like it says in the title, these interconnected stories explore the experiences of different college student throughout their time at one university. Whether it be growing friendships or relationships, questioning majors or sexuality, these stories cover it all. I’m such a sucker for second chance romance, especially with high school sweethearts and Just My Type was just what I wanted. Though it started as an enemies-to-lovers, I felt like the progression was really well paced—which doesn’t happen all that often. I also appreciated the growth with our main character Lana as she goes to therapy and discovers that she needs to stand up for herself and her work.
Audiobooks:
What My Bones Know by Stephanie Foo – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Passing by Nella Larsen – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Blue Nights by Joan Didion – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
First time listening to the audiobook for Daisy Jones & The Six—had to get ready for the new show—and it was just as good as everyone said. The full cast just makes it even better than it already is—something I didn’t think was possible. What My Bones Know by Stephanie Foo was an impactful exploration of CPTSD that is not for the faint of heart. I’m now a Joan Didion bitch.
Lindsay Glenne 