February 2025 Reads: What I Loved and Abandoned
February 2025 Reads: Tomes, Magic, and a Bit of Existential Angst
Well, February 2025 has been a right old mix, hasn’t it? I spent what felt like 129498593753 days reading The first Crescent City novel. (Which I loved, but that book is CHONKY!) Then the next minute I’m pondering the meaning of life and processing emotionally stunted millennials.
I genuinely thought February was going to be a duffer. That is, I started off strong and then sort of lost my way a bit. THANKFULLY, I have had a well-deserved week of annual leave to help get me back on track!
Let’s get into it, shall we?
The Dog of the North by Elizabeth McKenzie – 4/5
Genre: Literary Fiction, Quirky, Road Trip
Tropes: Dysfunctional Families, Found Family
A delightfully oddball novel featuring family drama, a bizarre road trip, and a cast of eccentric characters who are all slightly unhinged (in the best way). It’s witty, heartfelt, and full of dry humour. If you like your books a little offbeat – this is for you.
Heartless by Marissa Meyer – 3/5
Genre: Fantasy, Fairytale Retelling, Tragic Romance
Tropes: Villain Origin Story, Star-Crossed Lovers
This was a re-read for a read-a-long I am hosting alongside my wonderful sister – our February pick!
A Queen of Hearts origin story that had all the ingredients I love – villains, fairytales, baked goods…but somehow left me a bit cold. The writing is solid, and the world is beautifully built, but watching the inevitable tragedy unfold felt like witnessing a slow-motion car crash (but with extra pastries). Not bad, just not my fave. No idea what ingredient was missing, but fell flat.
Under the Same Stars by Libba Bray – 4/5
Genre: Contemporary, Literary, Coming-of-Age
Tropes: Family Drama, Self-Discovery
This is my first novel by Libba Bray, and boy did I enjoy it!
I was invited to take part in a read-a-long by a fellow bookstagrammer and gifted this novel by Atom Books which I am so grateful for!
This was deep, thoughtful, and full of the kind of cosmic musings that make you stare at the ceiling at 2 AM wondering if we’re all just stardust. Emotional, powerful, and the kind of book that sneaks up on you with a gut punch when you least expect it.
Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney – 2/5
Genre: Contemporary, Literary, Millennial Angst
Tropes: Friends to Lovers, Miscommunication
Ah, Sally Rooney, the queen of writing characters who desperately need therapy but instead send each other 4,000-word emails about capitalism. Her writing is sharp, and the dialogue feels painfully real, but I think I’ve hit my limit on emotionally constipated characters. Someone please write a Sally Rooney character who is just happy for once. I dare you.
Crescent City: House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas – 5/5
Genre: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Romance
Tropes: Found Family, Slow Burn, Trauma Recovery
OH. MY. GOD. I feel like I’ve been emotionally mugged by this book. Bryce Quinlan starts off as a party girl living her best life (respect) but then – BAM! Quinn’s entire world is shattered, and she’s suddenly thrown into a murder investigation alongside a broody, tortured fallen angel (hello, Hunt Athalar). The worldbuilding is insane, the twists had me gasping, and the slow-burn romance? Absolutely feral.
Sarah J. Maas really said, “Let’s destroy every single one of this reader’s emotions” and I thanked her for it. If you’ve been putting this off, please don’t. Read it. Now.
Weyward by Emilia Hart – 5/5
Genre: Historical Fiction, Feminist, Witchy Vibes
Tropes: Multi-Timeline, Generational Trauma, Magic Realism
Three women, three time periods, one shared legacy of magic and persecution. Atmospheric, haunting, and full of beautifully written, powerful women. Made me want to live in a mossy little cottage and talk to birds. Magical in every sense of the word.
The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst – 4/5
Genre: Fantasy, Cozy, Low Stakes
Tropes: Found Family, Small Business, Magic Books
A terrified librarian flees to an island with her sentient spider plant and decides to open a spell shop.
There’s merfolk and sea horses and just about the sweetest, most lovely love interest you’ll ever meet!
Honestly? That’s the kind of energy I aspire to. This was so cosy – like a magical warm hug in book form. If you’re a fan of Legends & Lattes or anything with an adorable found family, you’ll love this.
Who Wants to Live Forever by Hanna Thomas Uose – 5/5
Genre: Sci-Fi, Philosophical, Existential Dread, Dystopian
Tropes: Immortality, Moral Dilemmas
Wow. So much to say about this one, so little time.
Yureta is a drug which pauses aging – it more or less makes it’s user immortal – giving that person time to achieve everything they’ve ever wanted – but at what price?
Still processing this one. It’s very thinky – lots of musings on what it means to be human, whether immortality is a blessing or a curse, and other deep stuff that I have to say, I absolutely LOVED it. All those questions we ask ourselves, all those thoughts we have of “If only I had more TIME.” Well, this book explores it all with absolutely no prisoners taken.
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So, that’s February in books! Bit of magic, bit of madness, as always, a touch of the feral. Have you read any of these? What was your standout book this month? Let’s chat!
Until next time,
Your Chaotic Bookworm,
