Everything I Read in February 2025
My reading this month was dominated by rom coms and leveled out by some deeply thought-provoking non-fiction. While the two non-fiction books I read this month stuck with me the most, I picked my favorites from the fiction titles in this reading journal. They were the jolts of happiness I needed in an otherwise rather dismal month, news-wise. Deep End by Ali Hazelwood continues to live rent-free in my head, and I found a new must-read author in Tarah DeWitt. I branched out in regards to tropes with Out on a Limb (you’ll see why in the review below) and found a fun Bridgerton-esque historical romance that fans of the series will love. Keep reading for my book reviews from February and join my newsletter here to get the latest and greatest book recommendations!
Of the 10 books I read this month, here are my top 3 favorites:
Table of Contents:
February 2025 In Books
Romance & Contemporary Fiction
Out on a Limb by Hannah Bonam-Young
5/5 Stars
First things first, I typically do not love books about pregnancy — especially the surprise pregnancy trope. So, bear that in mind when I say that I could not put this book down. Out on a Limb is a surprise pregnancy story, yes, but the story is so much more than that. Both protagonists have differences — Win has a limb difference and Bo lost his leg — and the story is hardly about that, either. Instead, the book is a well-written, thoughtful story of personal growth and ultimately a romantic relationship that had me hooked from beginning to end. There is great representation throughout, smart characters with good heads on their shoulders, and witty banter galore.
Out on a Limb by Hannah Bonam-Young is available from Amazon here.
Deep End by Ali Hazelwood
5/5 Stars
Deep End dominated Bookstagram throughout February — and for good reason. In this book, Ali Hazelwood, a giant in the romance genre, crafted a sports romance for the non-sports loving readers. Described as a “steamy college romance,” Deep End follows a Stanford swimmer (Lukas) and diver (Scarlett) who get together through unconventional means. While I have seen some legitimate critiques of the book based on the role of Lukas’ ex-girlfriend, Penelope (who happens to be Scarlett’s diving teammate), I did not hesitate to give this book 5 stars. Throughout the book, Scarlett deals with a few traumas in her past, which are relevant to how she interacts with Penelope, and the character growth arc is thoughtful and realistic. Beyond that, the writing is a delightful mix of spicy and witty that had me ordering more Ali Hazelwood books to read next.
P.S. I listened to the audiobook and the narrators were fantastic. Then I ordered a physical copy (with pretty sprayed edges!) of the book because I needed it for my library.
Deep End by Ali Hazelwood is available from Amazon here.
Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams (when in Rome Book 2)
5/5 Stars
“But the thing about quiet people is, we’re only quiet because our brains are so busy overthinking everything.”
The second book in Sarah Adams’ When in Rome series, Practice Makes Perfect follows a painfully introverted* (and deeply relatable) florist, Annie, who is eager to find love and settle down. After a disastrous first date, Annie is set up with her soon-to-be sister-in-law’s body guard, Will, as a dating coach (you’ll know her from book 1 in the series**). It sounds ridiculous, but stay with me here. What develops is a delightful opposites attract kind of romance that at once a delightful rom com and a thoughtful journey of self discovery. Sarah Adams knows how to write, that’s for sure!
*The author’s note/dedication reads: “This one is for the softies. The tenderhearted sweeties. The introverts who are afraid to shine.“
**I started this series with book 3, then went back to book 1. You can definitely read them out of order, but if you have the opportunity, I’d go in the order they were published: (1) When in Rome, then (2) Practice Makes Perfect, and then (3) Beg, Borrow, or Steal.
Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams is available from Amazon here.
Savor It by Tarah DeWitt (Spurns Series Book 1)
5/5 Stars
I picked up Savor It after I received an advance e-book of Tarah DeWitt’s Left of Forever. While the books can be read separately, I have learned from the Sarah Adams/When in Rome series that I like to read these kinds of books in order — I like all the little inside jokes and Easter eggs the authors share.
Savor It is a sweet fake dating/grumpy-sunshine romance between the free spirited Sage Byrd and a disgraced NYC chef, Fisher Lange. Fisher winds up in Spunes, Oregon, with his niece after he loses his high profile job in the city. If you like books where the small town is its own character, then this one is for you. Plus, there are a whole slew of rescue animals — including a tripod cat named Legoless — that really just add to the story.
Savor It by Tarah DeWitt is available from Amazon here.
Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt (Spurns Series Book 2)
5/5 Stars
In this novel, Tarah DeWitt picks up roughly where Savor It ends and tells the story of Wren (Sage’s best friend from Savor It) and Ellis Byrd (Sage’s brother), exes who had been together most of their lives and are tied to one another through their son and the close knit Byrd family. The romantic plot line is pretty predictable, but that’s not a bad thing. In fact, it made all the twists and turns that the characters go through that much more engaging, in my opinion. DeWitt does a great job of weaving in backstory from Savor It (including family history mentioned in that book) to Wren and Ellis’ relationship, and the character grown feels very thoughtful and realistic.
Since you have some time before this one comes out, I definitely recommend reading Savor It first; it’ll make you appreciate the characters — both the protagonists and the minor characters (including the animals) — even more!
Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt is available from Amazon here.
Historical Fiction
The Wrong Lady Meets Lord Right by Suzanne Allain
4/5 Stars
Perfect for fans of Bridgeton, this Regency Era romance follows two cousins — one a well off heiress and the other impoverished — as they embark on a London season. The pair swap identities, thanks in part to an unwitting aunt who was supposed to keep an eye on them, so that the poor relation (Arabella) can experience a season in high society while the heiress (Isabelle) can happily spurn society all together. Unsurprisingly, their identity swap causes some problems. Basically, they dig themselves deeper into the lie while simultaneously falling for men who know them by the wrong name. In all, it is a fun, lighthearted read.
The Wrong Lady Meets Lord Right by Suzanne Allain is available from Amazon here.
Isola by Allegra Goodman
3/5 Stars
A survival story about a little-known historical woman, I found that the research and development of Isola was very compelling. The story itself was interesting, but not particularly engaging. Marguerite, an orphaned heiress, is subjected to a guardianship by a distant male relative who is, at best, ambivalent about his ward and, at worst, actively trying to destroy her. Perhaps because the story is based on real people about whom little is known, but the characters felt flat. Maybe I wasn’t in the right headspace for the novel, either, because I felt like I was just watching one train wreck after another. That is to say, I felt like there wasn’t a hugely moving story arc or reason to root for any of the characters — just trauma after trauma.
Isola by Allegra Goodman is available from Amazon here.
Oracle of Helenthia by M.J. Pankey
5/5 Stars
If you enjoy mythological retellings, then this book — along with the first in the series — are right up your alley. M.J. Pankey’s writing is engaging and dynamic, weaving intricate storylines between the two books in her series, Epic of Helenthia. Uncertainty about the motives of the Greek gods emerge when two oracles come forward. Mortal conflicts arise when the cast of characters feel they have been slighted by one another, making their goal of saving their land all the more perilous.
Oracle of Helenthia by M.J. Pankey is available from Amazon here.
Non-Fiction
Abortion: Our Bodies, Their Lies, and the Truths We Use to Win by Jessica Valenti
5/5 Stars
I’m not sure how I hadn’t come across Jessica Valenti’s work before this year, but I am grateful it came cross my IG feed. The feminist author and columnist behind the wide-reaching Abortion Everyday Substack newsletter, Valenti breaks down the anti-choice movement’s strategies and motives in stirring detail — details which are all the more motivating since the failure of Florida’s abortion ballot measure in November 2024 and the latest Inauguration.
As I was reading this book, I found myself taking picture after picture of highlights I was making, because it all seemed both groundbreaking and banal. When I say banal, that is not a critique of Valenti’s writing or analysis; I mean that the anti-choice arguments have become so mainstream and well known that they are hardly shocking. And that is part of the point — the normalization of what are deeply misogynist designs to control women’s bodily autonomy — and the groundwork with which anti-choice advocates will continue to chip away at women’s rights (see, e.g., chapter 4: “They’re Banning Birth Control” — for which we have seen hints with the CDC purge of reproductive health guidelines in early February 2025).
I could talk about this book and the quotes I highlighted for hours, so I’ll stop myself and end with this poignant reminder Valenti writes in the introduction of her book:
“At first I had naively worried that one the post-Roe dust settled, I wouldn’t have enough news to write about daily [in the Abortion Everyday newsletter]. That never happened. It became clear, and it is still is, that the overwhelm is very much the point.”
Abortion: Our Bodies, Their Lies, and the Truths We Use to Win by Jessica Valenti is available from Amazon here. I highly recommend checking out Jessica Valenti’s Instagram here and her Abortion Everyday Substack here.
The Sirens’ Call: How Attention Became the World’s Most Endangered Resource by Chris Hayes
5/5 Stars
For anyone who has felt both drawn to and enraged by social media, this book is a must-read. Chris Hayes lays out the “addictive focus” we experience thanks to the internet and social media in thoughtful, plain detail. Relating these technologies to the Sirens’ call in the Odyssey and ancient mythologies, Hayes illustrates the different ways that our attention has been commodified as a resource to be extracted from us, and how that leads to an increasingly alienated society.
As someone who lives and works online, and who genuinely loves certain parts of social media, I appreciated Hayes’ perspective as someone who has to engage with this commodification in order to do his job as a news host. His analysis really illustrates how the good of the internet and the connection it brings can be exploited by all kinds of actors — some good, many neutral, and mostly bad actors — for financial and/or ideological gain. In all, it really makes the reader step back and survey how they interact with the internet and social media — and, perhaps, feel less alone.
Curious about the Kindle Unlimited subscription? Want to know if it’s worth the monthly fee?
(Spoiler alert: yes, it certainly is!)
Check out my complete guide to the e-book subscription service here!
Shop the Books Featured In This Post
Still searching for your next favorite read?
Check out my reading journal from last month for more great titles for your TBR!
Bookish Essentials for Readers
*This page contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
*Some of the novels featured here were gifted to me as part of various book review programs in which Cats & Coffee participates.
