This February really felt like the heart of winter to me, which always makes me want to read more, but this was a very hit or miss month when it came to enjoying what I read. While most of my thriller picks failed me, there was one 5-star read that addressed a topic I haven’t really seen before. I also read an autobiography and continued my monthly self-help streak by learning quite a few negotiation tactics from a former FBI international hostage negotiator.

Here’s the breakdown of what I read this month:

what i read in february

the teacher by danielle stewart

5/5 stars

I think this book needs a trigger warning for sexual assault so I want to start with that.
This book is told from a few different perspectives, but primarily from a teacher and mother named Elizabeth Meadows who has a past and secret that could jeopardize her career and home life.
I thought this book was really well-thought out and the characters were complex and layered, which added to the suspense element as you really didn’t know who to trust and their emotions/ perspectives were so believable from one chapter to the next
I could not put this down and finished it in two days. I read a lot of thrillers and some of them fall flat, but this held my attention from start to finish
Read it here (free through Kindle Unlimited).

give them lala by lala kent

4/5 stars

I read this knowing Lala was on Vanderpump Rules but without having seen the show; now I want to go back and watch it to see some of the things she references, but you don’t have to watch the show to read her book.
Her honestly is refreshing and while this is a book you could read in a few hours, she goes deep and there’s a lot of heart here.
I connected a lot to what she said about grief, and respect her openness about her sobriety immensely.
Even with heavier topics, she adds humor, levity, and her big personality throughout and this book felt like hanging out with a friend or big sister.
Now that she’s a mom and no longer with Randall, I’d love to read a follow-up book that brings everything up to date and I’m definitely rooting for her.
Read it here.

the devil wears scrubs by frieda mcfadden

1/5 stars

I’ve read most of Frieda McFadden’s books, so I assumed this would be a thriller like her other books (especially with the title), but it was just sort of a fiction book - there wasn’t really a plot so I can’t identify a genre that it would solidly fit under.
This was probably the worst book I’ve read in a long time, if not ever.
It was repetitive and there didn’t seem to be any real point to the story. There was tension between characters but it never really amounted to anything.
There is a sequel and I usually like to see how stories play out but I’m skipping it, and probably taking a break from this author for a while.
Read it here (free through Kindle Unlimited).

never split the difference by chris voss and tahl raz

5/5 stars

A non-fiction book on how to negotiate in business and in life, written by a former lead FBI international hostage negotiator.
I like that the chapters start off with one of his FBI stories that exemplifies negotiating with high stakes. Sometimes non-fiction/ business books can be a bit dry, but this grabs your attention and brings you into each chapter.
The steps and keys to negotiation are clearly laid out in each chapter, with different examples that show how to integrate the steps in various home/ business scenarios, but the book doesn’t feel over-written or too long.
There are key summary points at the end of each chapter so you can ensure you understood what you read, or refer back to them at a later date.
Highly recommend this to anyone who wants to negotiate a salary raise/ better benefits or strengthen their communication skills overall. I feel more capable in not only negotiating, but communicating on a more nuanced level after reading this.
Read it here (free through Kindle Unlimited).

the day after the party by nicole trope

2/5 stars

This is about the a woman named Katelyn who loses her memory in the middle of her birthday party and is told through her perspective as well as her best friend’s. The book includes flashbacks so you get the depth and history of their 30-year friendship as Katelyn tries to piece together what happened at the party and why she lost her memory.
It kept me guessing and there were a lot of turns, but the ending fell flat for me.
One of the main characters is at a point in her life where she feels discontented and disappointed with where her life has gone and how she’s fallen short on some of her life goals. While this is a relatable circumstance, I found the book to have a whiney and entitled tone in some parts that left me feeling somewhat annoyed, which is atypical for me.
Read it here (free through Kindle Unlimited).

the night of the sleepover by kerry wilkinson

3/5 stars

Told from the perspective of Leah, who attends a sleepover with three of her friends, and all of her friends are missing when she wakes up. Still missing twenty years later, there’s a documentary being made about that night and Leah gets an anonymous message to stop them from making it.
This was a very blah read. I realized I was about 70% done when I realized nothing had really happened; there wasn’t a ton of suspense, and the characters weren’t dynamic enough to form any strong opinions about them.
The ending of the book feels somewhat rushed. While there is one good twist, ultimately finding out the truth about what happened the night of the sleepover is a let-down and I saw it coming.
Read it here (free through Kindle Unlimited).