Some February Books to Add to Your TBR

As if you don't already have more than enough books there already

I’m dreaming of spring; I’ve had enough of winter.

Hi readers,

It has finally warmed up here, and I’m so happy! I’m thankful I don’t live in the northeast; I can’t imagine temperatures below zero. I follow someone on Instagram, and she said it was -20 degrees in the Duluth area last week. I assume if you live in that kind of cold, you get used to it somewhat. She says that she wouldn’t live anywhere else. I’ll take her word for it.

February is usually a slowish month for new book releases; however, there are several really good-sounding books publishing during February. This month is also the month for “gorgeous book covers,” and as ya’ll know, I can’t resist those. Maybe some of these books will catch your eye too.

• Someone Else’s Shoes by Jojo Moyes (2-7-23) - I’ve read a few of Moyes’ books in the past, and they’ve been hit or miss with me. From the publisher, “… full of Moyes’ signature humor, brilliant storytelling, and warmth, this is a story about how just one little thing can suddenly change everything.” Nisha is blindsided by her divorce and is cut off by her husband. Sam is struggling to stay afloat and winds up in Nisha’s shoes, literally. Sounds like a cute story, maybe a good palette cleanser between heavier books.

• The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson (2-7-23) - I read Johnson’s first book, The Yellow Wife, and while it was a difficult read, I loved it; I have high hopes for this one. Her latest book set in the 1950s, follows Eleanor and Ruby, both young black women, navigating unplanned pregnancies and follows them as their lives intersect in ways neither imagined. From Booklist, “Johnson showcases the difficult boundaries of race, class, and education as she explores the obstacles and consequences that confront those who seek to cross them."

• The Killing of Innocents by Deborah Crombie (2-7-23) - The latest book in the Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James series finds the two Scotland Yard detectives trying to solve a shocking murder of a young woman before London panics. I have never read any of Crombie’s books, but I’ve been told that if you like the Three Pines Series with Inspector Gamache, you might like this series. Maybe some who have read both can tell me if that’s true or not. Reviews say that the series doesn’t get stale, the detectives grow and change, the cast of characters is always interesting, and the storyline is fast-moving. Fun fact, she lives in North Texas in McKinney, the town next to me.

• The Porcelain Moon by Janie Chang (2-21-23) - A WWI novel set in France about a little-known piece of history—the forced labor of Chinese brought to Europe during the war. From author Heather Webb, “Chang is at the top of her game with her latest, a fascinating, beautifully written novel set during the Great War that explores the forgotten role of Chinese laborers. A story of incredible courage, forbidden love, and the questions surrounding cultural identity. The Porcelain Moon is a heart-rending, thought-provoking addition to the canon of world war fiction.” I’ve heard so many good things about this author, and especially about this book; I can’t wait to read it.

  

• I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai (2-21-23) - I have read only one of Makkai’s previous books, The Great Believers, and I found it thoroughly researched, and while difficult to read, it was very well written. Author Jennifer Egan says, “Part boarding school drama, part forensic whodunit, this book is a true literary mystery—haunting and hard to put down.” Bodie, a student at a boarding school when another student was killed, returns years later to teach a course at the same school. One of her students chooses the murder as the subject of her paper, and Bodie finds herself drawn to the mystery and begins questioning if the police did their job correctly. I’ve been drawn to mysteries and suspense/thriller books, so I’m interested in reading this one.

• The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz (2-21-23) - This is the debut book for this author, and the fact that it was about an author writing a book is what put it on my radar. From author Wendy Walker, “darkly satirical and action-packed, The Writing Retreat brings a breath of fresh air to the locked room mystery. The writing is flawless, and the plot is adeptly woven. A splendid debut!” Alex is offered an opportunity to attend a month-long writing retreat, where her former best friend and now rival is in attendance too. At the retreat, they all learn that the winner of the “write a novel in a month” contest, which they didn’t know was a part of the retreat, will receive a seven-figure publishing deal. The only problem is strange things are happening, people are behaving erratically and even disappearing, and Alex has to discover the truth to save herself. Who knows, it might be interesting.

• We Should Not Be Friends by Will Schwalbe (2-21-23) - I just finished The End of Your Life Bookclub by Schwalbe, and I loved it. When I saw this ARC on NetGalley, I requested and received the book, but I haven’t started it yet. Since I read and wrote about Dinners with Ruth last year, I’ve done a lot of soul-searching about friends, or more specifically, the lack thereof. When I read the description, I knew I had to know more about a forty-year friendship between two men so different that they should never have been friends. Schwalbe’s writing makes me look at my own life for deficiencies, evaluate what isn’t where I want it to be, and make changes. I can’t imagine what it’s like to have a friendship that ebbs and flows over the years and maintains its importance through several decades.

• Time’s Undoing by Cheryl A. Head (2-28-23) - I have never heard of this author before, but the cover caught my eye enough to make me look further to see what the book is about. From author Fiona Davis, “this novel provides not only an in-depth, fascinating portrait of a journalist in pursuit of a story but also stands as a searing indictment of America’s racist legacy, from today’s BLM movement to the struggles of Black men and women a hundred years earlier. A suspenseful, immersive read that you won’t be able to put down." Inspired by true events, the book tells the story of a master carpenter and his family in Alabama in 1929 and the racial discrimination, violence, and corruption that was prevalent then and hasn’t changed much over the years. In 2019, a reporter travels to Alabama to learn more about her great-grandfather’s murder and uncover what has haunted her family for decades. It sounds like my kind of book, and I can’t wait to read it.

Do any of these books sound like something you might like to read? Do shiny, gorgeous book covers catch your eye, or can you resist? Are you looking forward to any February books I haven’t mentioned here? You can tell me all about it in the comments below.

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After having three days off work unexpectedly last week, tax season (my last one) began in full swing this week. I’m feeling behind now, and it’s just going to get worse, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel I’ve been in for forty-plus years now. I’ve got a couple of the above books on hold, and hopefully, one or more will come in soon. I think the book I’m most looking forward to reading is Time’s Undoing; I’ll let you know what I think about it in an upcoming newsletter. Have a great week, stay warm, and happy reading!

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