Overall mood – restless: I knew I would feel a little antsy when it came to my reading this month. To be fair, I did get a few books read and have my February reads lined up, ready to go. I just have to find ways to get myself engaged in the reading like I am in the cooler months.

Books Read:

The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley

This slow-burn romantasy is crass, yet so funny. It is definitely one for the more mature readers, and the language and imagery are for an adult audience, but it was such a hilarious read, and I did enjoy it a lot. The humour is not like that often found my romantasy these days, so it stands out a lot more, and it has a genuine enemies-to-lovers slow-burn which makes for incredible reading.

Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy

This adult thriller is eerie, intense, and so intriguing. The setting and tone make for the perfect sinister prickle on the skin, with each chapter bringing more questions and more tension to the interactions and character dynamics. This is a fantastic read for all you adult thriller mystery readers out there, and the plotting is so good that you will not want to put this novel down.

My Hero Academia Vol. 1 by Kohei Horikoshi

This manga is action-packed and full of incredible characters, funny interactions, and a magic/sci-fi system that has so many possibilities and space for so many awesome moments. I was tossing up between reading more volumes or jumping into the anime, but I think I am going to need to binge the fast-paced episodes to really feel the intensity and wonder of this story world. Highly recommend as this is a popular one, and for a very good reason!

The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang

This novel was so bittersweet and made me feel all sorts of emotions. From joy to despair, it has it all, and you’d best be prepared for the possibility that you will cry and maybe fall in love with this book. It is the perfect ending for The Love Quotient series, and I feel a lot of readers will enjoy this one, not to mention all you contemporary romance readers. There is a bit of everything in here, and it makes for an incredible story.

Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 1 by Gege Akutami

I loved volume one, and I know I will be reading more volumes in the future, but I am full-speed ahead with the anime and enjoying it immensely. I already surpassed the point where the first volume ended and couldn’t stop myself from continuing. The magic/curse system is intriguing and provides amazing action scenes, the character interactions and relationships are so fun to read, and the overall impression this volume had on me was akin to finding a new favourite that you know is going to shape your personality for the foreseeable future.

A Dim Prognosis by Ivor Popovich

This Kiwi medical memoir hit the perfect spot, satiating my need for some hard-hitting fiction and a little bit of more recent New Zealand history to help frame the much-needed discussion regarding required improvements to the medical sector in Aotearoa New Zealand. Ivor is not afraid to tell it how it is, and this makes for an engrossing tale that will keep you engaged from cover to cover.

Currently Reading:

Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeleine Thien

This historical fiction spans continents, from Canada to China, and covers decades worth of protests, revolution, and music. It is a story that dives into so many deep and emotional topics and provides perspectives that are powerful and touching, showing the strength of resilience and the significance that every single person makes in the world. I am looking forward to reading more of it, and hopefully will be done soon.

Make Your Way Home by Carrie R. Moore

Make Your Way Home is a short story collection debut which details the complex emotions and thoughts regarding home and belonging of Black men and women in the South. It is a book with so much heart, so many voices and truths, and it paints scenes with such beautiful language and imagery, making for a profound and heartfelt reading experience. The first of a series of books by Black authors for February, Make Your Way Home feels like it will take a part of me with it when I finish reading it.