February didn’t feel like a good reading month. I felt like I was slogging through books and didn’t think my total read count was high. Looking back on the numbers, I was probably right about half of that.
I read 17 books in February, which is more than my average. I’ll have to stay above my average every month to reach my goal of reading 200 books this year. So, it’s good that I had a productive reading month, number-wise.
But I only gave two books perfect grades. I gave multiple books failing grades, which is probably why I felt like I was pushing myself to finish them. So, why didn’t I drop them? Each of those books was highly recommended. I kept thinking they’d improve. It happens sometimes.
My Favorite Books of February 2023
Of the 17 books I read this month, I gave two fiction books perfect grades. Read my reviews below.
Lessons in Chemistry
I almost didn’t give Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus a perfect grade. The book isn’t really my style. It’s more like a historical Rom Com, but the writing was so amazing that I knew I’d be thinking about it for awhile.
The book is about a brilliant female chemist, Elizabeth Zott. I normally wouldn’t describe her gender, but it’s an integral part of the story in the early 1960s when Elizabeth is breaking barriers at Hastings Research Institute, where she’s not only the only female scientist but also a stand-out above her male colleagues. Well, all of them except Nobel-prize-nominated Calvin Evans, the most amazing chemist on the staff. Elizabeth and Calvin have a run-in about supplies — beakers, to be exact. They don’t like each other. Right until they do. You see where this is going, right?
After years of quirky happiness together, tragedy strikes, and Elizabeth finds herself a single mother without a job. When she goes to set a TV producer straight about his daughter stealing her child’s lunch, he becomes fascinated by her chemistry-based approach to cooking. He talks her into launching a cooking show, Supper at Six, where Elizabeth becomes a change-maker for women across the world who learn more than cooking from her.
“Children, set the table. Your mother needs a moment to herself.”
I Know Where You Live
I downloaded I Know Where You Live by Gregg Olsen because my husband and I needed something to listen to on a road trip. I actually thought it was non-fiction like Olsen’s other popular writing I’d read. We can always kill the hours in the car with a good whodunnit. I was wrong and pleasantly surprised. You know I love a good vigilante female.
Violet’s grandfather sexually abused her as a child. Her mother and grandmother ignored it… pretended it didn’t happen. But it happened, and it changed Violet forever. Now she’s using the hate stored up for her grandfather to get revenge for other children like her. She’s going after predators.
Violet’s Papa has a fatal heart attack at her wedding. Is he one of hers, or did someone else do her a favor?
Happy Reading
There they are! My favorite books of February. They’re extremely different, so hopefully, you can still find something to read and love.
What have you enjoyed reading lately? Drop your recommendations in the comments. I always want them!
As always, happy reading!
