February Reading Wrap-Up

Hi, everyone! Today I'm going to wrap-up my reading for the month of February. February was an incredibly busy and stressful month for me and I'm happy finally be done with it. March is looking to be just as stressful, but I'm on a media fast and it seems to be helping my spirits (surprisingly). So, let's dive right in!

Books I Read in February

 

Manga Classics: The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling, Crystal S. Chan, & Julien Choy - 2.75 stars This manga contains stories from The Jungle Book, Rikki-Tikki Tavi, The White Seal, and a few others. I really enjoyed the art, but I'm not a huge fan of Kipling's stories. I did love The White Seal immensely and it was so much fun revisiting Rikki- Tikki- Tavi, which was a childhood favorite. Check out my review here. (Netgalley ARC)

Anne Frank Remembered by Miep Gies & Alison Leslie Gold Narrated by Barbara Rosenblat 5 stars This was such an emotionally moving audiobook. I can't recommend it enough. It further expands upon the famous story of Anne Frank, but it is told by Miep Gies, the woman who helped hide the Franks and another family in the Annex. It was amazing. I also highly recommend the audiobook!

Reign the Earth by A.C. Gaughen - 5 stars I read a lot of amazing novels this month, but I think that this was my personal favorite. It's one of my newest fantasy novels and I feel like it could outrank the ACOTAR series for me. Check out my review here. (Netgalley ARC)

Flawless by Sara Shepard - 1 star This is the worst thing I've read this year. I will not be continuing with this series and I have a lot to say when I write my review. This is an increasingly problematic series that glorifies statutory rape and makes it seem hot, sexy, and cool. It sends bad messages to younger readers who may be the same age as these girls. Also the narrator sucks.

The A.B.C. Murders by Agatha Christie - 3.5 stars After the fiasco of Flawless, I wanted a decent mystery novel to listen to and my library happened to have this Agatha Christie novel, so I decided to download it. It follows Hercule Poirot as he tries to catch a serial killer who is killing people alphabetically. It wasn't amazing, but I had fun listening to it. Not Christie's best, but I do recommend it.

Starlings by Jo Walton - 3 stars This short story collection is a fun and entertaining time, but a lot of the stories are lackluster. I only gave one story 5 stars and it was amazing, but everything was sub-par or confusing. Check out my review here. (Netgalley ARC)
Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys - 5 stars I was a huge fan of Between Shades of Gray when I read it ages ago and I was ecstatic when I was able to get this audiobook from my library. The audiobook is amazing, but the content is heartwrenching and real. This is a wonderful novel that I think everyone needs to read because this is a part of history that is forgotten and overlooked. It was emotionally moving and it really resonated with me. Highly recommend it!
Manga Classics: The Stories of Edgar Allan Poe by Edgar Allan Poe, Stacy King, and a bunch of artists - 4 stars (overall) I haven't written my review for this collection yet, but I plan to soon. I really enjoyed the majority of these adaptions (especially The Cask of Amontillado), but The House of the Usher was horribly adapted. I figured it would be because that story heavily relies on description. (Netgalley ARC)
 Tess of the Road by Rachel Hartman - 5 stars I was blown away by this adventure story. It is a spin-off to Seraphina (which I haven't read), but I was deeply moved by Tess' story. This is a fantasy novel that I think many will appreciate. Check out my review here. (Netgalley ARC)

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas - 5 stars I'm so happy that I was finally able to pick this one up. I listened to the audiobook and I loved it so much. This was an emotionally gripping novel that focuses on the importance of the Black Lives Matter movement and police brutality.

2018 Goals

 -I want to finish at least three series (five doesn't seem doable). NOPE I did attempt to finish the Pretty Little Liars series, but I won't be continuing with that.
-I want to read five sequels (I don't have to finish the series). 1/5 Flawless by Sara Shepard is book 2 in the PLL series.
-I also want to read four short story collections. 3/4 So far I've read Harry Potter and Philosophy. This month I read: Manga Classics: The Jungle Book, Starlings, and Manga Classics: The Stories of Edgar Allan Poe.
-I want to read three classics that are not Stephen King novels. 4/3 Manga Classics: The Jungle Book, Anne Frank Remembered, The ABC Murders, and Manga Classics: The Stories of Edgar Allan Poe. In retrospect, I read at least ten classics a year so three was a low number. LOL

-I want to read five Stephen King novels (I've already read one in 2018). 1/5  The Long Walk (5 stars)

Read 2018 ARCs. Read 7/8!
Books I Posted on End of the Year Survey. NOPE.

 

Currently/ Hoping to Finish in March

Netgalley ARCs: The Sins of Lord Lockwood, A Darker Shade of Magic

Eldeweiss: Amity

I'm still reading The Fiery Cross, Helter Skelter, A Wilderness Station, Amity, A Darker Shade of Magic, East of Eden, and Against Forgetting. I started The Sins of Lord Lockwood and The Master Plan of Evangelism. I'm listening to Ready Player One on audiobook.

Have you read any of these books? What was your favorite book you read in February? Let me know down below in the comments!