What I Read in February
I’m so excited to share February’s book roundup. This month I discovered some great Kindle Unlimited books, plus a new releases worth purchasing. While I wouldn’t be surprised if I slow my pace once spring comes, I’m currently on track to hit my goal of 180 books this month - make sure to add me on GoodReads so I can keep up with your reading goal, too. This month featured more romance books than I typically gravitate towards (on a hunt to curate a list of the best romance books on Kindle Unlimited), but I still have a few great thrillers and non-fiction picks, so let’s jump in.
what i read in february
the last letter by rebecca yarrow
5/5 stars
I know it’s only February, but The Last Letter will 100% be one of my top books of 2026. You may have seen it on TikTok, and I am here to tell you it’s 100% worth the hype.
What a beautiful, emotional, captivating book. The Last Letter blends family, self-love, romantic love, and resilience into one story. It’s going to make you cry, even if you’re not a crier. I had put this off for months because I knew it was going to be an emotionally taxing, heart-wrenching book, but once I finished it, I wish I had read it sooner because it was that good.
The highlight of The Last Letter is the incredible characterization. The characters are vivid, complex, and real; you can picture them in your head, and it makes the book play out like a movie in your head. The plot is a little predictable but still worth it. No spoilers, but the last twist was too much for me even though I saw it coming. I get why the author wrote it that way, but my goodness. Wow.
I have no doubt this will be a movie someday, and while I think it might be too sad for book club, I highly, highly recommend it!
Fun fact: this author also wrote The Fourth Wing series, and seeing her switch genres and still captivate audiences speaks to her craft and talent.
Favorite quote: "Hope is good. Feel it. Because we have no idea what's coming around the corner. You have to take the good when it comes, because the bad isn't going to give you a choice." (p. 351)
Read it here (free through Kindle Unlimited).
thinking fast and slow by daniel kahneman
3/5 stars
This is my “school book” read of the year. I’ve seen so many people read it and rave about Thinking Fast and Slow over the years, but this was hard for me to get through. Less personal development and more of a “fun fact” vibe, this was theoretical and interesting, but not life-changing. If you like riddles and statistics, you’ll enjoy it.
Thinking Fast and Slow serves as a reminder to consider how our thinking is influenced by more than meets the eye (i.e. the subconscious). I wish there were summaries (rather than conversational quotes) at the end of each chapter or section.
Favorite quotes and takeaways:
“A reliable way to make people believe in falsehoods is frequent repetition, because familiarity is not easily distinguished from truth.” (p. 45)
“The feedback to which life exposes us is perverse. Because we tend to be nice to other people when they please us and nasty when they do not, we are statistically punished for being nice and rewarded for being nasty.” (p. 124)
“Organizations are better than individuals when it comes to avoiding errors, because they naturally think more slowly and have the power to impose orderly procedures. Organizations can institute and enforce the application of useful checklists, as well as more elaborate exercises, such as reference-class forecasting and the premortem.” (p. 291)
Read it here (free through Kindle Unlimited).
the way i am now by amber smith
5/5 stars
The sequel to the beloved book, The Way I Used to Be, I had been waiting for this to be available with Kindle Unlimited for a while. The Way I Used to Be is a young adult book, but so good and I loved it as an adult. A story about a young girl who is raped by her brother’s friend, the book is told in four parts (each a year of high school) and was one of the most riveting books I’ve ever read. It allowed me to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes, and reminded me of why I love reading so much. The subject matter is heavy, the characters are imperfect, and the justice system is messy, but I grew to love the main character, so I was very excited to start the sequel.
The Way I Am Now takes place just a few months after the last book; I loved that there wasn’t a time jump because it felt like a true continuation where you didn’t miss anything. The character development in this sequel was just as good as the first, and getting that second POV enriched the story and added a hint of freshness, whereas some sequels can feel a little stale.
Aspects of this book are just as heavy as the first, but there’s a deep sense of healing that makes it a quality, heartfelt read. The Way I Am Now is a realistic telling of a heavy, layered experience; It’s a powerful follow-up with a purposeful ending, though I found it to be slightly rushed in some ways but perfect in others. Overall, this is such a bittersweet, emotional dulogy - definitely recommend it.
Read it here (free through Kindle Unlimited).
her last breath by taylor adams
5/5 stars
Holy smokes. Her Last Breath will be one of my top 2026 books; my only complaint is that it isn’t available with Kindle Unlimited as I know purchasing a book outright isn’t in the cards for everyone. I loved No Exit by Taylor Adams, so I had high hopes for this, and it did not disappoint!
If you’ve checked out my book reviews before, you know that survivalist thrillers are too anxiety-inducing for me to fully enjoy, but Her Last Breath was SO well-executed. Most of the book takes place in a cave, and the author does an incredible job of explaining the setting and appealing to readers’ senses. I have no climbing knowledge, but was able to picture everything in my head… and feel the high-stakes stress, too. The author also mixed up the narration (scenes with the detective, then back in the cave) to keep the entire story fresh and engaging for the reader.
The twists were excellent, and got me until the very last page. I love how the author can make you love then hate then love a character all over again. While some friendship thrillers can pit women against each other or create a caricatured “good vs evil,” this highlighted two women with layered, complicated personalities amidst shifting dynamics.
I’d love to go back and re-read this, because the details are there for you to figure it out on your own (but there are still twists you won’t see coming). So whether you like to solve the crime as you go or let things unfold as they come, you’re sure to enjoy Her Last Breath.
Read it here (free through Kindle Unlimited).
clusterf*ck by brian o’sullivan
4/5 stars
Not going to lie, the cover/ title didn’t grab my attention, but once I saw Clusterf*ck listed as one of the most promising thrillers of 2026, I had to download it. This is a messy domestic thriller centered around two couples, but the tone and author’s voice makes this a clear noir thriller, not a popcorn domestic novel. It’s dreary, slightly detached, less emotional, and more masculine than, say, a Freida McFadden thriller.
I loved that the short chapters; I kept telling myself “one more” and then realized I finished this in less than 24 hours. You knew some of the main characters were untrustworthy, but couldn’t anticipate their next moves and that’s what made this so fun to read.
The ending lost me; no spoilers, but it was slightly too over-the-top for my taste. Still, I can also see how it made sense in the context of the story and why the author went that route. Clusterf*ck was entertaining and I recommend it, but I don’t see myself going back to re-read this.
TIP: If you read a Kindle version of Clusterf*ck, don’t look at the table of contents! It gives away some of the twists. If you must know, there are 109 chapters plus an epilogue and all chapters are pretty short.
Read it here (free through Kindle Unlimited).
the joy of being selfish: why you need boundaries and how to set them by michelle elman
3/5 stars
I read Bad Friend: Why Friendship Breakups Hurt and How to Heal by this author last year; I had bought both books at the same time, but I needed a break before jumping into this one. There’s a wealth of practical advice in her books, but the tone can be negative and draining. I recognize that reconfiguring your relationships takes work and consistency (especially when others are pushing back), but it seems like the author has a chip on her shoulder, which makes her books more tedious to get through.
The Joy of Being Selfish is all about boundaries, and there are plenty of journal prompts, suggested action steps, and text/ conversation examples you can apply directly to the relationships in your life, whether it’s with friends, family, partners, or colleagues. My main critique is that the author quoted/ sourced her personal life coach often, and I wish that the coach had written the book instead, or that they co-wrote it together.
If you’re choosing between her books, I think you could get away with just one (pick the topic that most interests you), since there’s overlapping themes in each (ex: boundaries, clear communication).
Favorite quotes and takeaways:
“A boundary is about you and how you want to be treated, a grudge is about them and how they need to be punished.” (p. 26)
Know the 5 C’s of boundaries: calm, compassionate, clear, concise, consistent (p. 62)
“Knowing how to apologize is a skill that a lot of adults don't have because it is not something that happens enough in parent-child relationships.” (p. 205)
Read it here (free through Kindle Unlimited).
beyond reasonable doubt by robert dugoni
3/5 stars
I’ve been a fan of Robert Dugoni for years now; he’s one of my favorite police procedural novelists. This is a series I started a year or so ago (Her Deadly Game is the first book), and it’s a legal thriller that has some action but is mostly character driven. His books take me longer to get through than other thrillers, and Beyond Reasonable Doubt was no exception, but it was worth the time to read it.
Beyond Reasonable Doubt borrows from real-life legal drama a la the Theranos case, and I have mixed feelings about it. On one hand, the familiarity made this more enjoyable, yet I find myself attaching too many details to the real-life case that the line between fiction and reality gets blurred. For that reason, my opinions are a little lukewarm on this book, but I continued the series with the third book, Her Cold Justice, and enjoyed that much more.
Her Cold Justice is a true series continuer. There’s a little progress with the characters, but the pace is slow; I’m thinking this will be a 7-8 part series. The case was intriguing but not captivating. However I did love the duel with the prosecutor and her clever storyline added an extra star to my review and ended the book on a high note (3.5/5 stars).
If you like a hint of drama and suspense but need to be able to put the book down for days at a time, this is a good series I’d recommend! There’s less. violence and scares, making it a safe bedtime read, too.
Read it here (free through Kindle Unlimited).
the hating game by sally thorne
4/5 stars
When I told friends I was working on a Kindle Unlimited romance book roundup, The Hating Game was the top recommendation I received. It’s also a movie on Hulu, so I thought it would be a fun choice, and I wasn’t disappointed. (Per usual, the book is better than the movie).
I’d consider The Hating Game to be a comfort read. You know the plot, the characters are familiar, and you’re reading for the predictability and happy ending. The main star of the show with this book is the witty banter; it’s sharp, funny, and makes the book fly by.
I appreciate that each character had hardships to overcome, but their characters are absolutely cliche - the type B, colorful, quirky girl and the type A, straight-laced man who’s a softie deep down. An enemies-to-lovers book that is perfect for a girly book club, The Hating Game is a lighthearted, breezy read that most everyone will enjoy.
Read it here (free through Kindle Unlimited).
the lies i tell by julie clark
3/5 stars
I enjoyed the book The Ghostwriter by this author last year, so I was excited to see a few of her books available with Kindle Unlimited. Her voice as an author is unique, and I really like that you can tell she’s the writer with each of her books. The Lies I Tell was interesting and fun; I love anything that has to do with unreliable narrators and tension-filled friendships, and con artist characters always make for a wild read.
The Lies I Tell is super twisty, yet the author creates a thought-provoking commentary on the abuse of power that connects on a deeper level with readers compared to other turn-and-burn thrillers. At times, I could not put this book down, but there were a few sections that didn’t hold my attention as well. It starts strong, but kind of falls short, thought the author excels at raising doubt amongst the characters.
I had higher hopes for the ending considering how engrossing the beginning was, but I did enjoy this one overall. If you like a cat-and-mouse thriller, this is for you.
Favorite quote: “The lies I tell serve a purpose, tipping karma in the right direction. Returning power to those who have lost it. The difference between justice and revenge comes down to who's telling the story. (p. 242)
Read it here (free through Kindle Unlimited).
crossroads by devney perry
4/5 stars
Crossroads is everything you want in a romance book: it’s under 300 pages, there’s spice, heartfelt moments, it’s summery, there’s an epilogue and it’s cute without being cringey. I will say it’s more spice than emotional connection, and I think that the setting of the book does a lot of the heavy lifting because you really fall in love with the family ranch as the plot develops. The flashback chapters give context, but they’re not so deep and analytical that I’d consider it to be a full-blown dual timeline novel.
If you’re someone who side-eyes romance novel characters that are too perfect to be true, you’ll probably like Crossroads, but I can see others wanting more substance, especially since the relationship focuses more on the physical. I think I fell somewhere in the middle, but for a book under 300 pages, I can see that the author had to cut something and that’s what fell on the chopping block.
The “baby” aspect was cheesy to me, and it did have that classic rich character with endless money as means of driving the plot, but I appreciate that she was smart, strategic, and hardworking.
There’s an epilogue to round out this story, but the author also wrote a second novel that focuses on the main character’s brother, called Sunlight (3/5 stars, also free through Kindle Unlimited.
Sunlight centers around a surprise pregnancy, and it’s another quick read. I found this to be cheesier and unbalanced. The romance plot was predictable and repetitive, and the secondary plot between the main character and his mother was choppy, unrealistic, and lacking, especially considering the first book provided quite a bit of the backstory.
Just like Crossroads, Sunlight is a quick, breezy, read. If you love a cowboy, small town romance, it’s worth the read, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend it.
Read it here (free through Kindle Unlimited).
spilled milk by k.l. randis
5/5 stars
Spilled Milk is a fictionalized memoir. I had seen the author’s social media posts before, so I was somewhat familiar with her story, but you don’t have to be to appreciate this book. A harrowing story about child abuse, family dynamics, and the flawed court system, I think everyone should read this as it was incredibly informing and impactful, even if you don’t have children.
The subject matter is heavy, but you can tell the book was written with the intent to educate the public and instigate policy changes. Spilled Milk is (somewhat) fictionalized, but it also provides so a clear blueprint on how to talk to children and be a leader when you suspect child abuse is occurring - whether it’s by reporting it, creating a safe space, or providing useful support.
Randis is clear about the mistakes made that kept her and her family in danger, which helps educate the reader about signs to look out for, appropriate dialogue to use, and how to avoid those key errors in the future. Spilled Milk a well-written, purposeful story that made me so grateful for reading and the power that books hold.
Favorite quotes:
“I needed a safe place, my bubble. I needed someone to talk to, a mentor, and I had my boyfriend's mom and my counselor. I also needed my breaking point, a final straw.” (p. 249)
"If a child does not want to tell, they won't. If a family does not want to heal, they won't. I wanted to heal, I wanted peace in my life, and I wanted to tell. So I did. I thought my family would want the same, and it kills me that they have such great potential to thrive but they don't. I lost a lot of sleep over that. I cried a lot over that. But at the end of the day, the only person I can make changes to is myself. No matter how much I tell them how liberating it feels to finally be as happy as I am, they'll never understand if they don't want to.” (p. 251)
Read it here (free through Kindle Unlimited).
before i let go by kennedy ryan
4/5 stars
Before I Let Go was a pleasant surprise. The perfect balance of emotional hardship, connection, and growth, this was well-written, realistic yet hopeful, and a true character-driven romance novel.
Many authors can create a literary world that feels genuine, but few can plop you in right away and make you feel at home instantly like Kennedy Ryan does. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters; they were all distinct with full personalities, yet they didn’t overpower or over shine each other. Therapy is a theme in this book; you can tell the author did her research but also included personal experiences that many men face. There’s hardship and grief as themes, but I found them to feel much more empathetic and cathartic, rather than shocking and heavy.
There’s spice sprinkled throughout to add some levity, but it isn’t gratuitous or overdone. Another aspect I loved: the main character’s body is celebrated by herself, her friends, and the men in her life as it is; no diets, hardcore workouts, or crazy stuff thrown in.
Favorite quote: “Our traumas, the things that injure us in this life, even over time, are not always behind us. Sometimes they linger in the smell of a newborn baby. They surprise us in the taste of a home-cooked meal. They wait in the room at the end of the hall. They are with us. They are present. And there are some days when memories feel more real than those who remain, than the joys of this world.” (p. 361)
Read it here (free through Kindle Unlimited).
story of my life by lucy score
4/5 stars
Story of My Life made the romance genre finally “click” for me. This book has a high average, but it’s one of the few where I also agree with the negative reviews. It’s long and full of the romance tropes so many love; it almost felt like the author was aiming for a blackout bingo when she wrote this. Think: quirky main character, moody love interest, charming small town, one perfect family and one that’s non-existent, a little spice, ride-or-die best friend… you get the picture. It’s also long at just over 500 pages.
Overall, this is a very breezy read. There’s tension, a few subplots to keep you entertained, and full of characters with big, distinct personalities. However, the romance aspect is a slow burn, and it seems like the author wants you to fall in love with the town and supporting characters just as much as the actual love story. I think the author could have cut out some of the eccentric traits and still had a full, lengthy story.
Story of My Life is perfect for those who want a lighthearted, opposites attract romance. Also if you just want to bring just one book on vacation, this is a great pick because it’s easy to pick up/ put down yet still holds your interest throughout.
PS: the sequel/ sister novel coming in March so stay tuned!
Read it here (free through Kindle Unlimited).
i came back for you by kate white
3/5 stars
This was my Amazon First Reads pick of the month, and it was pretty run-of-the-mill as far as First Reads books go. I find them to be half-baked; there’s potential and they’re good, but a bit more editing would’ve been beneficial - whether that’s with characterization, pacing, twists, or plot structure. With I Came Back for You, it was a mix of all.
The estranged daughter angle intrigued me, and it’s something we haven’t seen too much of in thrillers, but it wasn’t explored much in this book, and that would’ve really elevated my rating.
The author uses lots of red herrings to keep you guessing, but they read like distractions, rather than well-crafted twists. They fizzle, so the plot is overall subdued and tells more than it shows. If you want a punchy, fast-paced thriller, I wouldn’t recommend it.
Read it here (free through Kindle Unlimited).
follow me by kathleen barber
3.5/5 stars
I’m a sucker for a stalker plot (I feel like they’re rarely well-executed) and I also love an influencer angle, though they’re often cheesy. Follow Me hooked me right away and was the perfect weekend read because I could not put it down.
The multi-POV was well-done and adds nuance. The influencer character is definitely self-absorbed; having a second perspective centers the plot and keeps the influencer’s narcissism from being too insufferable. That being said, the author doesn’t lean into caricature territory; you find good and bad qualities in both girls and they exist in a grey, which I really appreciated.
As engrossed as I was with this book, I didn’t like the ending. The writing was clever, so I expected more, but it wasn’t bad per se.
Tip: if you read this on Kindle, don’t look through the table of contents as it’ll spoil who the stalker is.
Read it here (free through Kindle Unlimited).
beautiful on the outside: a memoir by adam rippon
5/5 stars
An Olympic-inspired read, I’m so glad I read this book this month. First things first, Rippon is hysterical and I imagine the audiobook version would be 10/10.
A true storyteller, this book is such a beautiful blend of personal, professional, snapshot anecdotes, and an overview of his entire skating career. You get a feel for how emotional and taxing his journey was, but there’s still humor sprinkled throughout that shows his charm and charismatic personality.
Jokes aside, as the first openly gay U.S. athlete to qualify for the Winter Olympics and the first openly gay U.S. athlete to win a medal at the Winter Games, Rippon’s story is so important and tells of his journey towards self-love, self-acceptance, and independence.
If you need a good laugh as well as a reminder to be resilient and that your judgement is your ultimate compass, you won’t want to miss this.
Favorite quotes:
“Having something to hide and worrying about people’s perceptions can be such a burden. Once I was able to be honest and be myself, I started making different choices and doing things I wanted rather than the things I thought people wanted to see. That made me feel smart, creative, powerful, and in control. I didn’t feel like a passenger in my own career anymore.” (p. 160)
“That was another thing I learned from competing - to do the hard work in the dark so I could shine in the light.” (p. 231)
Read it here.