february ‘23 book reviews
2/12 months down in 2023. february brought with it seven unique and page-turning reads. my favorite of the month has to be daisy jones & the six; i couldn’t out it down and i’m counting down the days until the amazon series comes out on march 3. my least favorite was tomorrow & tomorrow & tomorrow only because i felt like it went over my head (and the characters were boring).
the perfect marriage by jeneva rose
rating: 4/5
they say you never really know what goes on behind closed doors, and that couldn’t be more true for sarah and adam. she just learned her husband has been cheating on her. and the mistress has been found dead. in their lake house. big yikes. lucky for her husband, sarah is the leading criminal defense attorney in d.c. unlucky for sarah, she decides to take on his case to prove his innocence. this is a wiiiild story with an ending (that’s revealed in the last few pages i might add) i truly did not see coming. it’s cunning and calculated and oh, so intriguing!
people we meet on vacation by emily henry
rating: 4/5
the witty banter in this one!!!!! (any love island fans out there?) it is so clear that poppy and alex have been friends for forever when you hear how they speak to each other — poking jokes, anticipating reactions. emily henry creates characters that are so relatable and lovable. poppy and alex are essentially polar opposites, but every year, they take a summer trip to spend quality time together. any rom-com fan knows what happens next — yes, they develop feelings for one another! it reads so quick and leaves you wanting to know more about their story.
the guest list by lucy foley
rating: 4/5
lucy foley is known for her suspenseful and drawn out mysteries so the guest list is no different. it takes place on a secluded (and 100% creepy) island in ireland. the jagged cliffsides set the scene for an ominous backdrop. it’s here that a high-profile actor and an editor of a wildly famous digital magazine are to be married, surrounded by friends and family. except the family doesn’t really get along and the friends are all a bit of assholes (er, arses). like many great mysteries, this is told through multiple povs where everyone has something to hide. it was a really amazing twist that shows just how small the world is.
we are the brennans by tracey lange
rating: 5/5
first five star of february! we are the brennans is a wonderful story about a deeply tight-knit family and the never ending problems that they face. sunday is recovering from a car accident that left her pretty shaken up. denny is trying to salvage his rocky marriage. shane is working hard at being independent despite his disabilities. jackie is abiding by his parole rules and taking up painting in the meantime. and kale — the fifth and honorary brennan — is still seemingly heartbroken from his ex-fiance, though married with a little son. it’s a story about the unwavering support that one can only get from a family. they go to bat for you, stand up for you, defend you (most times no matter what). i thought tracey lange knocked this one out of the park. utterly obsessed, i wish there was another book.
tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow by gabrielle zevin
rating: 2/5
centered around the world of gaming, tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow follows three friends on their journey to create the next best video game. inspired by donkey kong, the oregon trail and others, sadie green and sam masur (with the help of producer marx watanabe) create ichigo, which becomes a “blockbuster classic.” as in life, there are ups and downs along the way and the relationships between these three characters are tested at every turn. overall, i felt the book to be slow and uninteresting, but maybe that’s because i’m not a gamer. i didn’t love the characters and their progression grew irritating as the book went on. this was definitely outside my comfort zone and i’m glad i read it, just wasn’t my cup of tea.
daisy jones and the six by taylor jenkins reid
rating: 5/5
my friends, ruuuuun to buy this book if you haven’t read it already. wow. just irresistible. a masterpiece. taylor jenkins reid is no stranger to the spotlight (malibu rising and the seven husbands of evelyn hugo are also some of my favs) but i believe this is her best work. very loosely based on fleetwood mac, daisy jones and the six follows the rise and fall of a world famous band in the 70s. the dynamic of the band and the personalities that contribute to the success and failures of the band is incredible. the book is written as if it were a documentary with quotes from all major players involved and it is addicting. i cannot wait for the series to come out!!!!
smalltime by russell shorto
rating: 4/5
russ shorto has always known his family is in the mob. it’s unspoken but it’s true. when his cousin approaches him and says he should write a story, russ isn’t so sure where to start. with a little help from his family and the “panera guys” — his grandfather’s buddies who meet at panera for a series of interviews — he uncovers a interesting story of his namesake’s connection to the mob in johnstown, pa in the 1940s & 50s. this historical novel humanizes the italian mafia in a way that doesn’t condone organized crime but rather sheds light onto the key players in a small town during its time. the 250 page book is an easy and enjoyable read!
what have you read this month? let me know! and while we’re at it, let’s be friends on goodreads; find me here. interested in book of the month, sign up here!