February 2026 Birthstone Book Covers

Intro

This is a fun challenge where I match book covers to each month's birthstone based on their colors. It is a fun way to look back at a rainbow of reads by the end of the year! I got this idea from Books Are the New Black so thanks to them for the fun challenge! Let's hope I can keep up with this for the whole year! If you would like to tackle this challenge yourself, consider yourself tagged!

For each month I will find 5 books that match that month's birthstone. February's birthstone is amethyst which is a gorgeous purple color that looks like this:

Book Covers

Tough Guy by Rachel Reid

Cubby Season by Bindi Kennedy

Superfan by Jenny Tinghui Zhang

The Rival Upgrade by Lauren Blakely

Between the Lines by Olivia Hayle

Outro

Gosh I love a good purple cover! Aren't they all so pretty! I truly adore them so much. Next month should be a bit a challenge but we shall see. (Also yes I did forget to upload this on time but shhh, don't worry about that).

February 2026 Reads

 

 February 2026 Reads 

This month I read 16 books 

I DNFed 1 book

These books were 63% fiction

They were 19% physical, 13% digital, and 69% audio

The most popular genres were LGBTQ+, romance, and contemporary

My average rating was 4.18 stars

My longest reading day was the 23rd

The Books

➽ The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff

➽ Growing Up Urkel by Jaleel White

➽ Stolen Moments by A.B. Jackson

➽ Home Is Where the Bodies Are by Jeneva Rose

➽ All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson

➽ Cubby Season by Bindi Kennedy

➽ Tough Guy by Rachel Reid

➽ This Is Our Rainbow: 16 Stories of Her, Him, Them, and Us by (too many authors to list here)

➽ The House of My Mother by Shari Franke

➽ Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood

➽ Hurt Me Not by Davidson King

➽ Attention Seeker by Darcy Michael

➽ It Seemed Like a Good Idea by Lauren Blakely

➽ Delusions by Cazzie David

➽ Let Me Count the Ways by Laurel Osterkamp

➽ Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth

T10T: Books I Can't Believe I Read

 

Welcome back to Top 10 Tuesday, following the list from That Artsy Reader Girl! This week I am doing another backlist prompt... because I am awful about keeping track of quotes. I am very happy to see what everyone else pulls though!

This week's prompt is..... books I can't believe I read

These are in no particular order

1. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
2. Crimson Bound by Rosamund Hodge
3. My Hero Academia Volume 1 by Kōhei Horikoshi
4. Your Honest Deceit by Sakufu Ajimine 
5. Love, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
6. Impulse by Ellen Hopkins
7. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
8. Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
9. Madumo, a Man Bewitched by Adam Ashforth
10. The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix

Let's get into the why for all of these, because I feel like this prompt needs some explanation.

In terms of The Hobbit... well, I am not at all a fantasy person and this book reminded me of that tenfold. It was required summer reading for one of my classes in high school and I HATED it, to the point of not being able to finish. Longwinded fantasy books will never be my cup of tea, but I'm not here to yuck your yum.

Another fantasy Crimson Bound was not actually that bad for me. I enjoyed the retelling aspect a good bit actually. But it was not the first book in the series, it was just something randomly available at the library. I don't know why I wouldn't start at the beginning. Needless to say, I never went back to the series.  

For the manga representation on this list, I have My Hero Academia Volume 1. At the time, I quite enjoyed the anime (this was like season 4 time-period, okay?), so I was like "why not try the manga?" Looking back, I cannot help but cringe a bit, knowing a smidge of where the series ended up.

Another manga was Your Honest Deceit. This one was SPICYYYYYY. Which at the time I read it, was something I primarily avoided, so I was shocked I got through it back then.

While the OG book was a fond memory of my middle school years, Love, Stargirl is not a book I needed to pick up. That could've been left back then, with a book good for a middle schooler that truly did not require a sequel. This sequel was not good, I would gladly unread it not gonna lie. 

Impulse was so intense, again especially for me at the time (spoiler, none of these were read in the last 3 years). That said, it did convince me to check out the thriller genre more. 

I read Fangirl before we knew how not great of a person Rainbow Rowell is. This was also well before I had my bookish social media. I did not mind the book, being honest. But I will not be supporting this author in any way ever again. 

Oh wow another fantasy with Howl's Moving Castle. I again, did not love it as I cannot be a fantasy girlie no matter how hard I try. This was required reading for one of my college classes. I did like the discussion about it though.

The only non-fiction on the list is Madumo, a Man Bewitched. This one was quite fascinating, and I actually enjoyed it. I read it for an anthropology class, which was great. I just never thought I'd pick up a book featuring medicine men. That said, now I know I can be open to it. 

The unfortunate horror on this list is The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires. I definitely thought this book was a different one, whose title I cannot remember and was  not a disgusting horror. This book genuinely traumatized me. Way too many ample body horror descriptions for my tastes by far. But I got far enough in, I struggled through it. I am not happy to report I know the power of a DNF. 

Once again, none of this was to diss any books that others loved, I just know what is the vibe for me and what isn't and that's okay. We are all unique, including our reading tastes, and that is what makes the community so fun.

Here it all is in a pretty lil' graphic as always

What are some books you can't believe you read? Was that a good or a bad thing for you? See you next week, where maybe I will actually do the original prompt XD

Book Mail Monday #5

    

Intro

Welcome back to Book Mail Monday! I've got 2 pieces of book mail to gush about. Let's dive into it

The Book Mail

Books Included

-  What Happened That Night by Nicci French

- How to Fake a Husband by Bella Rivers

Discussion

What Happened That Night was sent to me by the publisher Harper Collins. It is a first printing that releases tomorrow. I'm happy to get another thriller for my shelves.

The other piece of book mail is How to Fake a Husband. This was sent by the author for an upcoming promo. Isn't the cover stunning??

Outro

Another chill week of book mail. Makes it a lot easier to store them. Did you get any fun mail this week?

See you next time I have some exciting book mail to share!

FFAF: In My Audiobook Era Tag

 

Intro

I have been an audiobook fan hardcore for the last few years. As such, this is the perfect challenge for me! I got the prompts from Alli the Book Giraffe whose list can be found here. Let's dive into it!

The Prompts and My Picks

The first audiobook I ever listened to: While I am not particularly confident about this, I think it might've been Impulse by Ellen Hopkins

My favorite narrators: I enjoy Emma Wilder, J.F. Harding, and Stella Hunter.

My preferred audiobook platforms: it is a whole lot of Libby, with some BookFunnel, and NetGalley for ARCs.

A book I enjoyed on audio that I might not have liked physically: My Roommate From Hell by Cale Dietrich

My go-to audiobook speed: I actually listen to almost everything at 3x speed. I know, I'm a heathen, but my ADHD likes it. My fiancée thinks I'm crazy for it. 

I prefer multi-narration when available

I listen while multitasking for example, I am listening to an audiobook while I write out this blog. I also color, journal, and do things like laundry while listening to audiobooks. It's how I'm able to read so many books in a year.

My biggest audiobook pet peeve: all characters sound the same and it doesn't suit the characters at all. Also when someone mispronounces a bunch of words.

A book I'd love to make into an audiobook: Bunny Season by Bindi Kennedy

My all time favorite audiobook experience: Lights Out by Navessa Allen. The narration was so funny and immersive. I feel like the narrators truly added to the experience and had such perfect delivery.

Have I ever listened to an audiobook that made me pause and say "wait, what did I just hear?": Oh gosh, Just Pervs by Jess Taylor. That book was truly awful and completely grossed me out to hear in headphones.

Outro

This was a lot of fun! These prompts actually made me stop and think about my audiobook experience. Are you an audiobook lover?

 

Spell the Month in Books: February 2026

Intro

This is a fun challenge that I am going to try for 2026. This is inspired by Mehsi-Hime! You can check out their picks here!

This month I decided to do this based on the first manga series I could come up with. I want to read more manga soon, so this is a smidge of motivation to help do that. It is also admittedly a way to help prevent the challenge of not overlapping books month-to-month.

The Books

F - Frieren: Beyond Journey's End by Kanehito Yamada and Tsukasa Abe

E - Eden: It's an Endless World by Hiroki Endo

B - Blue Period by Tsubasa Yamaguchi

R - Requiem of the Rose King by Aya Kanno

U - Uzumaki by Junji Ito

A - Ao Haru Ride by Io Sakisaka

R - Rent-A-Girlfriend by Reiji Miyajima

Y - Your Lie in April by Naoshi Arakawa

Outro

It's amazing to me, that with almost no limits, this challenge was actually still difficult. That lowkey blows my mind. That said, it was fun to do and I shall plan on continuing it.

CWW: Just Friends

 

This week's book is.... Just Friends

Author: Hayley Pham

Publisher: Atria Books

Release Date: March 3rd, 2026

Series: n/a

Blurb:

Blair and Declan were inseparable growing up—best friends who knew each other better than anyone else. But when an impulsive kiss took them from friends to something more, everything changed. Just as quickly as their romance started, one moment shattered it all, leaving them with nothing but heartbreak and silence.

Now, four years later, Blair is back in their coastal hometown of Seabrook to support her mom and care for her great-aunt Lottie as her health declines. To make ends meet, Blair applies to work at a coffee shop—only to discover it’s managed by none other than Declan. The boy she loved. The boy she lost. The boy who still makes her heart race.

As Blair’s path keeps crossing with Declan’s, old wounds resurface, secrets are revealed, and sparks reignite. But could their future ever be free of their past?

Told in dual timelines that unravel the magic and pain of first love, Just Friends is a moving, romantic story about second chances, the weight of dreams, and finding your way back to the people who feel like home.

Explanation:

I have watched Hayley's videos for a few years and followed along with her process of writing this book. While early reviews are mixed, I know it's a debut and I want to from my own opinions. I feel like I might actually like it.

T10T: Books I Liked, But Can't Remember

  

Welcome back to Top 10 Tuesday, following the list from That Artsy Reader Girl! This week I really don't have any books I would recommend for the original prompt (which I do not really understand in the first place...), so I am doing a backlist prompt.

This week's prompt is..... books I really liked, but can't remember much about

These are in no particular order

1. Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey
2. The Noh Family by Grace K. Shim
3. Y'allywood Billionaire by Terra Weiss
4. The Honeymoon Crashers by Christina Lauren
5. Love in the Scottish Christmas Village by Beatrice Bradshaw
6. Light Em' Up by Kelly Jamieson
7. Trouble in Love by Bindi Kennedy
8. The Wiener Across the Way by Amy Award
9. Half-Light Harbor by Samantha Young
10. Wild Love by Elsie Silver

No offense to any of these authors or books. I simply cannot remember everything. I do remember liking them and enjoying my time. Just please don't ask me to describe much about the plot

Here it all is in a pretty lil' graphic as always

Does this happen to you too? Please let me know I'm not alone. What's a favorite book you have forgotten? See you next week.

Book Mail Monday #4

   

Intro

Welcome back to Book Mail Monday! I'm pretty proud I get to do this again this week. I've got 2 fun pieces of book mail to gush about. Ready to see what I've got?

The Book Mail

Books Included

-  The Primrose Murder Society by Stacy Hackney

- Let Me Count the Ways by Laurel Osterkamp

Discussion

Here Lie All the Boys Who Broke My Heart was sent to me by the publisher Harper Collins. It is a first printing that releases March 3rd. I knew this one was coming and have been impatiently waiting to read it honestly.

The other piece of book mail is Let Me Count the Ways. This one was a lot of fun and beautifully personal. The book itself is signed. There is a personalized thank you note, a few stickers, a heart-shaped magnetic bookmark, and a copy of Emma's Poetry Journal (which is bonus content and oh so cute!) I am forever grateful for thoughtful 

Outro

This was a chill week for book mail, which my shelves are thankful for. Did you get any fun mail this week?

See you next time I have some exciting book mail to share!

FFAF: Romance Reader Book Tag

  

Intro

As Valentine's Day is tomorrow, it is definitely the perfect time to talk all about romance books. It is my favorite genre after all! I got the prompts from Alli the Book Giraffe whose list can be found here. Let's dive into it!

The Prompts and My Picks

What age did you start reading romance novels? I do not exactly remember, but I think I read a romance or two in middle school. Since then, my consumption of the genre has skyrocketed.

If you could pick one hero to meet from your favorite romance novels who would it be and why? Oh gosh, this is a tough one. Maybe Mark from Something Lost by Erin Fitzgerald. I feel like he has a pretty similar personality and mannerisms to my fiancée, so I feel like we would get along well. 

Who is your favorite romance authors and why? I enjoy Erin FitzGerald, Dani Galliaro, Maren Moore, and Harriet Ashford because they write incredible indie romance stories that feel like home.

What is a favorite romance novel to re-read? Soooooo, I don't actually reread almost at all. So uh, the only romance I have considered rereading is Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood so I can annotate it.

What book would you recommend to a non romance reader? I would recommend any books in the Colson Creek series by Erin FitzGerald because they are fantastic stories with such loveable characters. But more importantly, all of the books also have strong suspense storylines which adds a bit beyond the romance to get a good start.

Which is your favorite, contemporary, suspense, or historical and why? In the past, I would wholeheartedly say contemporary because that is what most of my favorite authors write. As of late, it is honestly romantic suspense. It makes me wanna keep reading endlessly. I will always kinda hate historical because all I can focus on is how it is inaccurate. 

Outro

I feel like this was the perfect tag to celebrate Valentine's Day. Are you a fellow romance lover? I would love to hear your recs!

T10T: Red and Pink Covers

 

Welcome back to Top 10 Tuesday, following the list from That Artsy Reader Girl!

This week's prompt is..... Valentine's freebie (so I am doing red and pink covers!)

These are in no particular order

1. Just for the Cameras by Meghan Quinn
2. Superfan by Jenny Tinghui Zhang
3. Dear Red, Be Mine by Bella Greene
4. Most Eligible by Isabelle Engel
5. Sounds Like Love by Ashley Poston
6. Writing Mr. Wrong by Kelley Armstrong
7. Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
8. Hockey Girl Loves Drama Boy by Faith Erin Hicks
9. Better Not Pout by Maren Moore
10. Once Upon a Holidate by Susan Mallery

  

  

   

I wanted to share the covers so we can admire the color palette. They all look so cute together! Have you read any of these?

Here it all is in a pretty lil' graphic as always

I hope you enjoyed my freebie Valentine's Day Top 10 Tuesday! I really enjoyed putting it together. I'm excited to see what everyone else does with the freebie! See you next week.

Book Mail Monday #3

  

Intro

Welcome back to Book Mail Monday! This week I've got 4 fun pieces of book mail to gush about. Ready to see what I've got?

The Book Mail

Books Included

- Here Lie All the Boys Who Broke My Heart by Emma Simmerman

- Missing Sister by Joshilyn Jackson

- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever by Jeff Kinney

- Murder at the CDC by Jon Land (continuing Margaret Truman's work).

Discussion

Here Lie All the Boys Who Broke My Heart was sent to me by the publisher Harper Collins. It is a first printing. I have actually already enjoyed the ALC of this one as part of the Epic Tastemakers program. You can read my review here. This one was actually a great debut book that I recommend. (Stay tuned to get your hands on a copy of this one as I may be selling 👀).

Next up is Missing Sister. This one is also first printing from Harper Collins and also expected. I have not had the chance to read it yet but the blurb has me intrigued. 

Another fun piece of book mail is Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever. This one is one I ordered from Little Free Bookshop for my sister. She loves this series and I saw I could get her a copy for free, so I can't complain. Maybe we will see a future review from her?

Last, but not least is Murder at the CDC This is one is also from the Little Free Bookshop! This one is a continuation of a book series from last week, so I am happy I can read more than one if I enjoy it. 

Outro

This was a nice and pretty calm week for book mail! I am grateful to Harper Collins for the books! Did you get any fun mail this week?

See you next time I have some exciting book mail to share!

FFAF: My Life in Books 2025

Intro

This is a fun bookish challenge that involves a number of life-milestone related prompts. I will see how many of these make sense versus are a bit of a stretch. I got the prompts from Secret Library Book Blog whose list can be found here. I also referenced Dini Panda Read's prompts which can be found here. Let's see how I do.

The Prompts and My Picks

In high school I was: Most Eligible by Isabelle Engel

People might be surprised by: Lessons from Cats for Surviving Fascism by Stewart "Brittlestar" Reynolds

I will never be: Secretly Yours by Stephanie Rose

My fantasy job is: Writing Mr. Wrong by Kelley Armstrong

At the end of a long day I need: Summer Reading by Jenn McKinlay

I hate: The Flirting Game by Lauren Blakely

I wish I had: A Tour to Die For by Michelle Chouinard

My family reunions always make me wonder about: The Wages of Silence by Erin FitzGerald

At a party you'd find me with: Annie, Juliet, and the Great-Tailed Grackle by Sandra LJ

I've never been to: Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk

A happy day includes: Nights with Him by Lauren Blakely

A motto I live by: The Bad Boy Rule by Maren Moore

On my bucket list is: One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune

2025 was the year of: Don't You Cry by Mary Kubica

In 2025 I wanted to be: Unapologetically ADHD by Pete D. Wright and Nikki Kinzer

In 2025 I was the: The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center

In 2025 I gained: Good Lookin' Cookin' by Dolly Parton and Rachel Parton-George

In 2025 I lost: The Girlfriend Zone by Lauren Blakely (this one is because I got engaged, not due to a break-up).

In 2025 I loved: Recommended Reading by Paul Coccia

In 2025 I learned: Everything is Spiritual by Rob Bell

In 2025 I missed out on: The Fiancé Dilemma by Elena Armas

In 2025 my family were: Will the Drama Ever End? by Karyl McBride

In 2026 I hope it will be: Runnin' No More by G.T. Dípè

Outro

This was a lot of fun! While most of the answers to these prompts are pretty truthful, there are a few that I just had to pick a book to fit the prompt and call it a day. I highly recommend giving challenges like this a go! I hope to do many more in 2026 as they are honestly my favorite kind of blog post. 

The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff Review

 

* This review is spoiler-free *

4.75/5 ⭐

Blurb

Winnie-the-Pooh has a certain way about him, a way of doing things that has made him the world's most beloved bear, and Pooh's Way, as Benjamin Hoff brilliantly demonstrates, seems strangely close to the ancient Chinese principles of Taoism.

Best Quote From the Book

“From the states of the Uncarved Block comes the ability to enjoy the simple and the quiet, the natural and the plain."

My Thoughts

I of course have a major warm feeling for this one due to the inclusion of Winnie the Pooh (which always adds a quarter star for me lol). But I have to give it a lot of credit for how thoughtful of a comparison it makes. I never would've thought that a willy, nilly, silly, old bear would make a fantastic mascot for an ancient method of thought, but here we are. 

This one took me a longgggg time to get through because the moments of reflection and many concepts I was previously unaware of required me to put the book down a few times for long intervals just to really wrap my head around it. I enjoyed my time with it, and how it expanded my mind. While I will be first to admit that I do no agree with every aspect of Taoism, I feel like I could still incorporate a few pillars from it into my life.

I also have to applaud the pacing of this one. It did not feel rushed nor drawn out and took the time to properly explain all concepts the average reader is unlikely previously familiar with. A memorable and worthwhile read for sure!

CWW: And Now, Back to You

 

This week's book is.... And Now, Back to You

Author: B.K. Borison

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: February 24th, 2026

Series: Heartstrings #2

Blurb:

Jackson Clark and Delilah Stewart have had their fair share of run-ins over the years, often ending in disaster. While Jackson thrives on routine and organization from the comfort of his radio booth, Delilah loves the spontaneity and adventure out in the field. When they’re partnered against their will to cover the snowstorm of the century, they find themselves scrambling to figure out how to work together.

Eager to be taken seriously as a journalist, Delilah offers Jackson a deal. If he can help her ace this assignment, she’ll help him rediscover his long-lost fun side. With an undiscovered chemistry burning beneath their clashes, the unlikely partnership quickly tumbles into an easy and surprising friendship.

But when other feelings start to enter the equation, can Jackson and Delilah withstand the storm? Or does what happens in the mountains, stay in the mountains?

Explanation:

While I have not yet had the chance to dive into the first book in this series, I have heard amazing things about it. The concept of a radio show driving a narrative sounds fantastic! I also find both of the covers to me amazing and would love the excuse to include them in my reading journal!

T10T: Books with Appealing Typography

 

Welcome back to Top 10 Tuesday, following the list from That Artsy Reader Girl! (Yes I am now going to try to pull 10 for every week).

This week's prompt is..... books with appealing typography

These are in no particular order

1. Superfan by Jenny Tinghui Zhang
2. Here Lie All the Boys Who Broke My Heart by Emma Simmerman
3. Oxford Blood by Rachael Davis-Featherstone
4. The Weight Of Ashes by Erin FitzGerald
5. Untangled by Mallory Thomas
6. The Rival Upgrade by Lauren Blakely
7. Sounds Like Love by Ashley Poston
8. Back to December by Laurel Osterkamp
9. Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
10. Better Not Pout by Maren Moore

              

All of these are such nice titles. As you can probably tell, I do have a bit of a go-to style. What can I say, pretty is my vibe. 

Here it all is in a pretty lil' graphic as always

This one was such a fun prompt to do. It made me realize I should spend a bit more time appreciating nice typography on book covers. Do you have any favorites?