Hey, loves! The month of February has been such a rewarding month, but such a busy month, too. I’ll be honest, I’m going through a really big reading slump right now, and I hope it doesn’t stick around for much longer. I just think I really burnt myself out reading so many things, nonstop, for Contemporaryathon! But I can already start to feel myself getting more and more refreshed creatively and physically!

But besides this last week, I did have a really good reading month! I was able to read 16 things, and I loved so very many of them! Yet, I did DNF my first book of 2019, which is never a good feeling, but at least I don’t have to dread it anymore!

What I read in February…
(Like always, you can click the links in each of the titles if you would like to read a more in-depth review of each book and see the individual trigger and content warnings.)

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➽ Once Ghosted, Twice Shy (Reluctant Royals #2.5) by Alyssa Cole – ★★★★

“Out of all the train cars in all the world you had to walk into mine.”

Oh my word, this was glorious. Alyssa Cole just keeps proving, over and over, that she is the queen of romance, and that the Reluctant Royals series is such a bright shining light for the romance genre. And I truly and utterly fell completely in love with Likotsi and Fabiola, and this is one of my new favorite f/f stories ever written.

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➽ Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë – ★★

“People feel with their hearts, Ellen, and since he has destroyed mine, I have not power to feel for him.”

Okay, I know that Wuthering Heights is so many people’s favorite book of all-time, and so many people’s least favorite book of all-time, so I went into this not really knowing what to expect. I will be honest, I didn’t really love it, but I was for sure not expecting the wild ride that this story took me on. I just truly found all of the characters (Except for Ellen/Nelly) to be so damn insufferable.

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➽ Fame, Fate, and the First Kiss by Kasie West – ★★★

“I have to convince audiences everywhere that a zombie loves a zombie hunter. So far, it’s not happening. So far, the only thing future viewers care about is that I’m not someone else.”

Okay, the only other thing I’ve ever read by Kasie West was the short story of hers in Snow in Love, but I think it is safe to say that I am officially just going to preorder everything she writes from now on, because this story was also such a damn delight. And she is now 2/2 for writing the sweetest and softest boys in YA literature. I honestly just had a smile on my face while reading the majority of this book. If I’m ever in need of a feelgood book, I’m just going to turn to Kasie West’s backlist from now on.

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➽ A Girl Like Her (Ravenswood #1) by Talia Hibbert – ★★★★★

“There are some things you don’t get over. You just accept them, and keep breathing. That’s enough.”

Talia Hibbert is a national treasure, and I don’t think that I ever want to leave Ravenswood or these characters. Talia truly crafts the most heartwarming romances, with amazingly diverse characters, and weaves in some of the sexiest scenes I’ve ever read in my entire life. I have loved everything that she has written so far, and A Girl Like Her is probably my favorite yet. Truly a masterpiece, and she is truly creating a brand-new tier in the romance genre, above the rest.

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➽ The Risk (Briar U #2) by Elle Kennedy – ★★★★

“I know you’re Chad Jensen’s daughter. I know you would take any opportunity to mess with my players’ heads. I know we’re probably going to be facing off with Briar in the conference finals in a few weeks”

I’m not sure what the world has done to deserve Elle Kennedy and all the amazing stories she keeps giving us set around this hockey team, but we are so damn blessed, friends. I hope she continues to write them forever. And The Risk was so sexy, so funny, and so phenomenal. Reading this was pure joy, and my biggest complaint is that I wish we had an extra epilogue, because I want and I need more. The Risk perfectly plays with the enemies to lovers trope, but also adds the fake dating element, and I was truly living my best life while reading this story.

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➽ The Kiss Thief by L.J. Shen – ★★★

“A story of a Nemesis and a Villain with no chance at a happy ending.”

Francesca Rossi thought she had her life already figured out, even though she was only nineteen, and regardless of what kind of life she has ever wanted for herself. Her father is very powerful and has built an empire in Chicago, even if he deals with and in some very dark things. And Francesca’s hand in marriage is going to be connection to another powerful family one day. And it appears that the day is coming very quickly.

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➽ Torn (All Torn Up #1) by Carian Cole – DNF @ 36%

“The line between Tor and I is somewhat unique, because it criss-crosses between family and friend, and just now it blurred into something I can’t quite describe.”

This was pitched to me as a romance where a young woman falls in love with her father’s best friend. And like, I was looking for something taboo and smutty, so I was ready for it. But I didn’t know that: 1.) The girl was going to be seventeen, which I get is legal in some states, but it still skeezes me the fuck out! And 2.) that the dad’s best friend was going to be a very big figure in her life from the day of her birth. Like, he was legitimately there the day she was born and given the title of godfather.

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➽ Fence Vol. 2 (Fence #2) by C.S. Pacat – ★★★★

“All I have to do is fence.”

Oh my word, this was such a damn treat. I love these characters and this graphic novel series so very much. Vol. 1 completely stole my heart last year, and Vol. 2 was a wonderful addition. Even though the wait for Vol. 3 to get published is going to maybe be the death of me.

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➽ Bingo Love by Tee Franklin – ★★★★

“I’ve hidden my love for a woman for fifty years”

Wow, I loved this second chance romance so much. It was sweet, and heartwarming, but so real, and so heartbreaking. I laughed, I cried, I wanted more. Seriously, I’m so dang happy that I picked this up.

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➽ When Summer Ends by Jessica Pennington – ★★★

“Aiden and Olivia decide to live summer by chance. Every fleeting adventure and stolen kiss is as fragile as a coin flip in this heartfelt journey to love and self-discovery…”

Friends, this is going to be the perfect summer read. I know a three star rating seems low, but I promise I still really enjoyed this one. And I promise a full review to come very soon!

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➽ Vicious (Sinners of Saint #1) by L.J. Shen – ★★★★

“I met Baron Spencer and he became my nightmare.”

Okay, you were all 100% correct. Vicious is totally the human equivalent of Cardan Greenbriar and I immediately want to reread this book this very second. Like, the first scene in his room, where he is sitting on the bed? I was waiting for my good dude to sprout a tail, honest to God. But yeah, this was an amazingly sexy read, and I enjoyed every single second of it. I can’t wait to continue on with the rest of this series.

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➽ Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston – ★★★★★

“First, you’ve been, like, Draco Malfoy–level obsessed with Henry for years—do not interrupt me—and since the royal wedding, you’ve gotten his phone number and used it not to set up any appearances but instead to long-distance flirt with him all day every day.”

This book was glorious perfection! I can’t believe I haven’t wrote up a full review for it, but I think that is because I know that no word combination will do this heartwarming story justice. But I can safely say that I have never smiled so hard while reading, even when I was crying, and that you all should preorder this one immediately!

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➽ A Heart in a Body in the World by Deb Caletti – ★★★★★

“She survived something big, and when you survive something big, you are always, always aware that next time you might not.”

I can truly say, with every single ounce of my heart, that this is one of the best books I’ve ever read in my entire life. It’s so quiet, but so loud. It’s so heartbreaking, but so healing. It’s so impactful, it’s so powerful, and it’s completely and utterly unforgettable. I truly recommend this story with my entire soul. A Heart in a Body in the World is now one of my favorite books of all time.

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➽ The Weight of the Stars by K. Ancrum – ★★★★★

“Fighting for yourself is another way of loving yourself.”

This book is a masterpiece. It’s about finding yourself, and finding a family of your choosing, and finding love that you deserve. I haven’t fully written up my review yet, but I promise it will be up soon. But friends, this is one of the best books I’ve ever read in my entire life. I love it with the sum of who I am.

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➽ Once & Future (Once & Future #1) by Amy Rose Capetta & Cori McCarthy – ★★★

“I’ve been chased my whole life. As a fugitive refugee in the territory controlled by the tyrannical Mercer corporation, I’ve always had to hide who I am. Until I found Excalibur.”

This ended up doing a trope I hate a whole lot and I’m so sad! But this still had so much good in it! I promise, full review coming very soon!

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➽ The Shadow Glass (The Bone Witch #3) by Rin Chupeco – ★★★★★

“I will save the kingdoms, and I will save you in the process, and maybe I will save the bits and pieces of myself that need rescuing too.”

Friends, I just finished this late last night! But my blog tour post will go up this Sunday and I can’t wait to full gush!

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Man oh man, just looking at those five five-star reads? My heart. Truly some of my favorites of all-time, that I will carry in my heart forever and always! Also, I am more than halfway into The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon, so hopefully that will be one of the first things I finish in March! What was your favorite book you read this month? I’d love to know! And I hope you all are having the happiest of reading currently! 💛✨

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Bonus highlight of February:

Booktube Games with Lea!