The Gist: Kicking off 2025 with a whirlwind of books! From new favourites to unexpected flops, here’s my January & February reading wrap-up—ratings, rants, and all.
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We’re now officially two months into 2025; to be blunt, it feels like it. Like many people I see on the internet, January (and, for me, February too) was a pretty mid (and February was flat-out horrible) start to the year.
I have yet to give a book 5 stars that isn’t a re-read, which for someone who has consistently read over 300 books for the past decade is disconcerting. While I’m not in a reading slump per se — I’m well over my reading goal (albeit it’s reduced compared to years previous) — none of the books I’ve picked up have given me that 5-star feeling. Although a few have come really close.
My Top 5 Favourites
Dragon Mage by M.L. Spencer ❃ Add on Goodreads
A fantastic standalone fantasy about friendship and belonging, set in a world split between oppressive magic control and dragon lore. The chosen one trope was well-executed, but the ending was too convenient. Still, an excellent read of 4.5 stars. Read my full review here.
Perfect Fit by Clare Gilmore ❃ Add on Goodreads
A great second-chance, friends-to-lovers workplace romance with a relatable heroine. Loved the burnout commentary, but the unresolved “scandal” and unrealistic consulting details knocked it down. A 4.5-star read if I didn’t overthink it.
Cytonic by Brandon Sanderson ❃ Add on Goodreads
A slow start but a strong continuation of Spensa’s journey, highlighting her growth. The twist wasn’t mind-blowing, but I enjoyed the adventure. Solid, but still missing that 5-star feeling, I landed on 4.5 stars.
First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison ❃ Add on Goodreads
A sweet, emotional romance with a devoted hero and themes of vulnerability. I wanted more interactions between the hero and the heroine’s family. Since it focused more on their journey to coupledom than life as a couple, it’s 4.25 stars.
All the Missing Pieces by Catherine Cowles ❃ Add on Goodreads
A true crime podcaster and small-town sheriff clash over a cold case. The setup was strong, but the mystery and town setting lacked depth, and the reveal felt cartoonish. Still, the romance carried it to 4.25 stars.
Most Unexpected Reads
Andromeda by Therese Bohman ❃ Add on Goodreads
This is a polarizing novella about the blurred boundaries between a young woman and her older mentor in Swedish publishing. Despite finding the book relatively slow and the characters not that compelling, I thought the exploration of perspective, legacy, class, and politics quite interesting. It’s one of those books that you’ll learn something new with each read, so I gave it a 3.5-star rating.
Biggest Disappointments
Roaring Flames by Katie May ❃ Add on Goodreads
My most anticipated 2025 release should have been amazing, but it dragged out the cliffhanger from book one, and the heroes made the worst choices as a result. Keeping secrets to “protect” the heroine? No thanks. The setup for the next book is intriguing, though, so I’ll probably read it. Still, I give it 3.75 stars.
The Monsters We Are by Suzanne Wright ❃ Add on Goodreads
I hate to say this, but some indie authors just don’t translate well to traditional publishing. I love Suzanne Wright’s indie books, but this one? Two-dimensional characters, a plot that didn’t feel high-stakes despite people dying left and right, and side characters that felt more like caricatures. A disappointing 3 stars.
And a Few DNFs
Two books were DNF’d because I didn’t like the writing and found the characters juvenile: Blood Tether by Eve Newton (@ 6%) and Stealing Hearts by Lex Martin(@ 16%). Comparatively, I DNF’d The Price of Scandal by Lucy Score (@ 17%) because the Hero gave me the ick.
Most Read Author(s): Tamar Sloan with 3 books
January – 24 books read
Most Read Genre(s): Romance
Longest Read: Dragon Mage by M.L. Spencer (986 pages)
Shortest Read: Praise Me: Princess by Jessa Kane (97 pages)
Latest Obsessions
💼👠 CEO Heroines — Perfect Fit (4.5 stars) & The Mogul and the Muscle (4 stars, re-read)
🖤🥃 Mafia Romances — Sweet Temptation (4 stars) & With Us (3.5 stars, re-read)
🔎🔪 Romantic Suspense — Safe with Me (4 stars), All the Missing Pieces (4.25 stars), Hero Unbound (2 stars), Burn the Wild (2.5 stars), Hard Edge ( 3 stars) & Smoke on the Water (2.5 stars)
🏡🌾 Small-town Romances — Safe with Me (4 stars), All the Missing Pieces (4.25 stars), A Simple Life (3.5 stars), Burn the Wild (2.5 stars) & What Heals Us (3 stars)
Most Read Author(s): Brandon Sanderson with 4 books
February – 25 books read
Most Read Genre(s): Romance
Longest Read: Wildflower by Willow Hadley (516 pages)
Shortest Read: Tell Me You Need Me by Lucy Darling (133 pages)
Books I Read in One Day
Definitely Better Now by Ava Robinson ❃ Add on Goodreads
A contemporary fiction with a romantic subplot that follows a 25-year-old celebrating a year of sobriety while figuring out dating and family drama. I loved the way it tackled the AA system and the relatable struggle of trying to find yourself in your 20s. Also, the slow-burn romance was so well done – 4 stars!
The Love of My Afterlife by Kristy Greenwood ❃ Add on Goodreads
Loved the premise—magical realism plus a protagonist growing into herself? Sign me up. The humour balanced the heavy themes well, but the romance? Meh. I just didn’t buy their connection, especially since it’s hammered in that they’re not each other’s type. Plus, why was the love interest constantly shown with other women? It felt unnecessary for a romance. That said, the friendships, character growth, and the Heroine’s prickly personality made this a solid 4.25 star read.
The Au Pair Affair by Tessa Bailey ❃ Add on Goodreads
It’s been a minute since I picked up a Tessa Bailey book, and wow, I forgot how over-the-top her heroes are. This was a fun, fast read, but I wasn’t a fan of the heroine’s commitment issues or the unnecessary ex-drama (why is there always OW drama when there doesn’t need to be?). Still, it’s a good time if you don’t think too hard – 3.5 stars.
The Jewel of the Isle by Kerry Rea ❃ Add on Goodreads
Two indoorsy people find themselves thrown together on a hiking trip, witness a murder, and suddenly find themselves very outdoorsy as they run for their lives. Loved the themes of grief and vulnerability, but the romance moved way too fast—like, they barely had time to breathe before they were in love. I needed at least a few more chapters of them existing as a couple to give the book higher than 4.25 stars.
Books I Keep Re-Reading
My Darling Duke by Stacy Reid ❃ Add on Goodreads
I’m a sucker for historical romances where women go after what they want, and this book delivers. It plays with Beauty and the Beast trope while poking fun at them, which keeps it from feeling cliché. I’ve re-read it four times, so My Darling Duke is a classic for me. The only thing keeping it from 5 stars? I wanted more on-page courting and an extended epilogue. But the pining? Chef’s kiss. An easy 4.5-star read.
The Viscount and I by Stacy Reid ❃ Add on Goodreads
A historical romance where the hero’s been pining for the heroine but held back due to class differences? Yes, please. I appreciated how this book tackled class disparities while still giving me that Bridgerton-level escapism. I need my historical romances to have high-society balls and ridiculous social rules—and this book delivered on that front, so it’s an enjoyable 4 star read.
Anything But a Gentleman by Elisa Braden ❃ Add on Goodreads
A heroine bending the rules in high society? Say less. She’s from a noble family but struggling financially, and she’ll do whatever it takes to secure her sister’s future. This is another romance exploring class dynamics, and I loved how competent and strategic the Heroine was. The only reason this isn’t a 5 star read is that some choices didn’t have the weight they probably should have, given the historical context. But even with that, it’s a 4.75 star romance that had me completely hooked.
Cricket, A Series by Willow Hadley ❃ Add on Goodreads
This series is purely self-indulgent, Gossip Girl-style fluff with a paranormal twist. The high school drama is wildly unrealistic, but that’s part of the fun. First two books? 5 stars. The third? A questionable decision by the author and protagonist brought my rating down (hello, 3-star rating), which brought the series average down to 4.5 stars. Also, caution: it’s supposed to be a seven-book series, but the author hasn’t released a new one in three years.
Slowburns but Worth It
Skyward, A Series by Brandon Sanderson ❃ Add on Goodreads
Brandon Sanderson’s books always take a minute to get into—he’s got worlds to build, politics to establish, and characters to flesh out. The Skyward Flight novellas and Cytonic (book three) were no exception. Each time, it took me a while to fully get invested, but once things started clicking into place, the payoff was incredible. However, the slow start is why none of these have hit 5 stars for me. Still, this is a solid 4.15 star series that’s worth the effort.
The Abandoners: Of Mothers and Monsters by Begoña Gómez Urzaiz ❃ Add on Goodreads
The concept of this essay collection fascinated me—exploring women throughout history and pop culture who have abandoned their children, either temporarily or permanently, in pursuit of their ambitions. It made me think a lot about how ambition and motherhood have been framed, and I loved that. But, like most nonfiction, it was a slow read, and the pacing wasn’t consistent. Some essays were brilliant; others lost the thread of what the book was trying to say. By the end, I had a few theoretical quibbles, but I still landed on 4.25 stars overall.
Five Tuesdays in Winter by Lily King ❃ Add on Goodreads
Lily King’s Writers & Lovers was one of my favourite books of 2023, so I was excited to dive into this short story collection. Given the title, I figured winter was the perfect time to read it. While the collection is only about 200 pages, it was a slow burn for me—not just as a whole, but for each story. King loves juxtaposing innocence with fraught, even traumatic, themes, which made for a jarring reading experience. There were strong moments, but the inconsistency left me at 3.5 stars.
Series Updates
I started the Mistborn trilogy by Brandon Sanderson, an epic fantasy series set in a world ruled by a dark lord, where magic is based on consuming metals. 🌬️
I’m caught up in Katie May’s paranormal reverse harem Mated by Fire series, an angsty fated mates reverse harem romance that follows a conspiracy at the heart of a supernatural community. ❤️🔥
I have one book left in the Big Shots series by Tessa Bailey, featuring professional athletes and the OTT Tessa Bailey Heroes we love. 🏒 I’m also nearly done with Brandon Sanderson’s Skyward series, a YA sci-fi that follows Spensa’s journey to become a pilot in a world under constant attack by aliens. 🛸
I finished Rachel Gillig’s The Shepherd King series, a gothic fantasy series with magic, political intrigue, and a quest to right centuries of wrong. ⚔️ I also read the last book in Suzanne Wright’s Devil’s Cradle series, a paranormal romantic suspense featuring a romance between an immortal and the witch who tames him. 🖤 Lastly, I discovered and binged the Ever Seas duology by L.J. Andrews, which features fae pirates and an enemies-to-lovers romance. 🌊
And That’s A Wrap
And that’s a wrap on my January and February reads! 🎉 Two months, 40+ books, and plenty of highs, lows, and unexpected surprises. Looking ahead, I’m excited to dive into my March TBR and (hopefully) keep up the momentum.
Have you read any of these books? What were your favourite (or most disappointing) reads of the past two months? Let’s chat in the comments—I’d love to hear what’s been on your shelf!
If you enjoyed this wrap-up, don’t forget to follow Talk Nerdy Book Blog for more reviews, reading updates, and bookish discussions.
x Sarah
Blog Posts Published in January and February
• End of Year Book Survey: 2024
• My February TBR: A Month of Romance and Legends
• 2024 Wrap Up: 334 books read
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