📖February Reading!📖

[junch817]

Feb 5, 2024 18:20:40 GMT -6 dc2london said:

Ahhh I didn't realize Vera Wong is in the 4 Aunties series. I have Dial A and Four Aunties in my physical TBR (Christmas presents). I think I'll return Vera to the library and read her in order

She isn’t. It’s just the same author. I loved Vera! She was my favorite. I enjoyed Dial A but it was completely ridiculous. I still loved it. Four Aunties was too much of the same for me and I didn’t enjoy it. I would read Vera separate from Dial A because even Vera is a little far fetched,(but not in the same way Dial A is) and if you read them too close to each other I think it’s just too much “yeah right” at once to be able to enjoy the stories IMO. Dial A might be like that no matter what though 😂😂

[bunnyfungo]

I finished Iron Flame today and woof. I really want to like this series because I think it’s an interesting idea and dragons! I told my sister that I felt like if “this meeting could have been an email” were a book it would be this book. There were like 300 straight pages where nothing happened. All that to say that I’ll read the next one though 😅

[DGM]

Popping in to say I finally read The Dead Romantics last week. I almost DNF because I didn't know the sub-plot was going to be about Florence's dad which is so bittersweet for me. I finished though and am glad I did. Looking forward to when it's my turn for The Seven Year Slip.

Over the weekend, I started This Time Tomorrow which I knew had a father-daughter storyline. I've laughed and cried a few times already but am enjoying it.

After that is a dual timeline, To Make You Feel My Love, by Robin Lee Hatcher. She is a faith-based writer I read a long time ago, and I wanted to read her again after seeing her name on libby.

[DGM]

Oh and I'm reading Because of Winn-Dixie for my first time with my 9 year old. It's a cute book. It's making me want to read other Newbery Honor or Medal books from the last 25 years.
ETA spelling

[Pizzaslut]

I finished Everyone on the Train is a Suspect in a day. I liked the first but this one was way better. I gave it 4 stars.

I got about 25% through The Women by Kristin Hannah that came out today. I'm hooked so far.

[trueblue]

Feb 5, 2024 20:27:38 GMT -6 bunnyfungo said:

I finished Iron Flame today and woof. I really want to like this series because I think it’s an interesting idea and dragons! I told my sister that I felt like if “this meeting could have been an email” were a book it would be this book. There were like 300 straight pages where nothing happened. All that to say that I’ll read the next one though 😅

Depending on how long my Libby wait is for it, I am either going to read spoilers or the ending of the next one first to figure out if it’s worth the time investment

[caer]

Feb 6, 2024 7:51:22 GMT -6 Pizzaslut said:

I finished Everyone on the Train is a Suspect in a day. I liked the first but this one was way better. I gave it 4 stars.

I got about 25% through The Women by Kristin Hannah that came out today. I'm hooked so far.

I finished it yesterday and thought it was really fun. I also liked it better than the first one.

[blurnette989]

So I started the month being like yeah romance isn't really my thing and have since finished two romance novels on different ends of the spicy spectrum.

Half a soul - ADORABLE. Faeries in the regency period and social justice. Really enjoyed it.

The court of silver flames. The best Sarah J Maas book so far. But also I can't do the spicy scenes on audiobook. They just feel too long and out of place and I listen at 1.5x. but the book was enjoyable. I do think I read it out of order though. There is another Nesta book isn't there?

Still reading Sister Novelists, which I'm enjoying, it's just quite long.

[clairefraser]

What is everyone's rating scale? I.e what does 1 star, 2 star, etc mean to you?

[angelashly]

Feb 6, 2024 9:22:23 GMT -6 clairefraser said:

What is everyone's rating scale? I.e what does 1 star, 2 star, etc mean to you?

For me I don’t do 1 stars anymore because I don’t finish books if I don’t like it it used to be those types of books

2-finished but didn’t like it
3- liked
4- liked it enough to recommend and it kept me reading when I should have been sleeping
5- couldn’t put down will recommend to everyone I see

[junch817]

I basically only use 4 star ratings because if it’s 1 star, I DNF.
2 stars is bad and I probably should have stopped
3 stars is meh. It was ok. I acknowledge that the author put time and effort into this book.
4 stars. The book was good. I wanted to know what would happen. I enjoyed some of the characters.
5 stars. I loved the book. I’ll think about it for a long time. Beautiful writing.

I don’t give out 5 stars very often. 4 stars are my most used rating. I have stopped rating books as much as I used to when I first started reading though. I often feel different about books over the course of time. I’ll rate a book right after I read it, and sometimes even 48 hours later, I’ll feel definitely about it, let alone a few weeks/months or a year down the road.

[cakewench]

So I just finished the audiobook of a Court of Sugar and Spice. It's a dark, spicy fae-based retelling of the Nutcracker story.

As a concept, and the plot itself, I was 100% there for it! I saw some comments on various sites that it accidentally got tagged as "cozy" somewhere, and it is most definitely NOT. (If you want specific trigger warnings, let me know.) It's definitely dark with very adult themes - and usually I don't mind spice, but this was a little too much/explicit for me personally. A lot of it toes the line of ridiculousness, some places cross it outright, and it took me out of the story. Which is a shame because I really liked the concept.

I've read SJM's Court of Silver Flames (and loved it), and I feel like Court of Sugar and Spice is the kind of book the House of Wind would give Nesta to read.

Giving it 2.5 stars, I think. (I literally just changed this writing out my rating scale LOL)

[cakewench]

I'm still working out my rating system since I just decided to start a reading journal this year, but here is where I'm landing:

1- DNF. I only DNF'ed two books last year that either made me outright angry or spiked my anxiety.
2- It's fine, I guess. Good enough to not DNF but not a lot else going for it.
3- Good - Maybe an issue here or there but overall I enjoyed it
4- Really Good - Would recommend to others, will probably re-read at some point
5- Love it! Absolutely recommend, might actually buy my own copy

I also change ratings as I think about books more. A few have changed since my initial rating.

[caer]

Feb 6, 2024 9:37:05 GMT -6 angelashly said:

Feb 6, 2024 9:22:23 GMT -6 clairefraser said:

What is everyone's rating scale? I.e what does 1 star, 2 star, etc mean to you?

For me I don’t do 1 stars anymore because I don’t finish books if I don’t like it it used to be those types of books

2-finished but didn’t like it
3- liked
4- liked it enough to recommend and it kept me reading when I should have been sleeping
5- couldn’t put down will recommend to everyone I see

Ditto all of this.

[emma]

I finished CC3. It wasn’t as good as the previous 2 but still enjoyable. I have Two Twisted Crowns up next, my library hold finally came up on it and I’m excited because I loved the first one in the series.

My rating system is similar to others
1 - I don’t give because I probably DNF
2 - bad and I likely hate read it to the end
3 - meh. It was fine but nothing special
4 - my usual default. I enjoyed it, would recommend it but wasn’t mind blown
5 - I don’t give out a lot, has to be all consuming can’t put down and lives with me after

[Pizzaslut]

Feb 6, 2024 9:58:39 GMT -6 cakewench said:

I'm still working out my rating system since I just decided to start a reading journal this year, but here is where I'm landing:

1- DNF. I only DNF'ed two books last year that either made me outright angry or spiked my anxiety.
2- It's fine, I guess. Good enough to not DNF but not a lot else going for it.
3- Good - Maybe an issue here or there but overall I enjoyed it
4- Really Good - Would recommend to others, will probably re-read at some point
5- Love it! Absolutely recommend, might actually buy my own copy

I also change ratings as I think about books more. A few have changed since my initial rating.

I have also changed ratings as I've sat with some books.

[Pizzaslut]

My system:
1 - I have never given because if a book was the bad I DNF.
2 - Not great at all, but I finished it, hoping it would get better (maybe had potential at the beginning but really fell off)
3 - Overall, not bad. It means either I was entertained but there were plot holes or poor writing or terrible characters, or I really enjoyed most of it but the ending ruined it for me.
4 - I really enjoyed it and would recommend to others and perhaps reread. I most likely didn't want to put it down.
5 - Loved it. The book really stayed with me and I want a physical copy of it.

[beepers]

I also never give a 1 because that means I legit hated it and DNF
2: awful but kept reading, or hate-read it. But wasn’t awful enough to DNF
3: fine and I liked it well enough. Nothing to make me actively dislike the book but I might not even remember I have read it in the future
4: really liked it, will probably recommend it. Probably like it enough to possibly reread in the future
5: could not put it down. I have a book hangover and I don’t want to pick up the next book because I’m still hung up on this one and I love it so much I wish I’d never read it so I could read it for the first time all over again.

[bearfootzcontinued]

January was slow for me, mainly because I didn't enjoy my first pick and the second was good but very long.
Happiness Falls **
The Covenant of Water ****

Should finish The Celebrants today. It had me laughing out loud last night, which I needed.

I am also giving audio books another shot and started listening to Thank you for Listening

[bearfootzcontinued]

Feb 6, 2024 9:22:23 GMT -6 clairefraser said:

What is everyone's rating scale? I.e what does 1 star, 2 star, etc mean to you?

1. F*ck this. Had strong feelings against it or DNF (either because it bored me or irritated me)
2. Ugh.  Finished it, didn't all out hate it but didn't think it was worth the read. 
3. Meh. Don't regret reading it, likely appreciated some part of the storyline or story telling, but wouldn't ask it out for a second date.   
4. Ahhhh. Really liked it, would read another by the author and/or recommend to a friend. 
5. YES! YES! YES!  It brought me joy, moved me, and/or I wouldn't forget it anytime soon.  I'll be looking for future recs based on my love for this book.    

[bearfootzcontinued]

I feel like y'all need to give the 1's to balance out the fangirls that are giving 5 stars to authors based on their TikTok presence vs. their writing.

(cough, cough, Jeneva Rose)

[caer]

Feb 6, 2024 11:10:08 GMT -6 bearfootzcontinued said:

I feel like y'all need to give the 1's to balance out the fangirls that are giving 5 stars to authors based on their TikTok presence vs. their writing.

(cough, cough, Jeneva Rose)

This is so funny because I was literally coming back here to say that I’ve actually given one 1 star rating. Aaaaand it was to The Perfect Marriage. So I’ve got your back!

[abs]

I was going to say I don’t give one star ratings either but that’s not true! I have 2. One was for The Perfect Marriage and one was for The Silent Patient. I guess I use them for dumb books that are easy to read but I fail to understand the popularity of. The ones that are just so bad I hate read.

[adelbert]

Feb 6, 2024 7:51:22 GMT -6 Pizzaslut said:

I finished Everyone on the Train is a Suspect in a day. I liked the first but this one was way better. I gave it 4 stars.

I got about 25% through The Women by Kristin Hannah that came out today. I'm hooked so far.

I'm so mad that Germany doesn't get this until the end of the month, as I found the first book so fun. If I didn't much prefer E-books I would order Everyone on the Train is a Suspect from the U.S.

[junch817]

I’m sort of kicking myself (but not really) for picking The Women for my in person book club pick for April. I got first in line for the ebook of it on one of my library cards (oddly enough, only one of my many library cards has the book in their system at this point… even with it being as popular of an author as it is), and the book came in for me at exactly 12:00am midnight today, and I sadly skipped it (but held my place) so I can wait to read it until April. I couldn’t believe my luck in literally getting the first digital copy. I still have a tag on it to be notified whenever it does show up on Libby on my other cards, but I would have thought the other systems would have entered it in at least a few days early, but so far, it’s no where to be found. I told everyone in my book club I would let them know when it does show up so we can request it and then just hold our place towards the front of the line until closer to April.

[marygracerich]

Feb 5, 2024 20:27:38 GMT -6 bunnyfungo said:

I finished Iron Flame today and woof. I really want to like this series because I think it’s an interesting idea and dragons! I told my sister that I felt like if “this meeting could have been an email” were a book it would be this book. There were like 300 straight pages where nothing happened. All that to say that I’ll read the next one though 😅

I blame her publisher that insisted it be one book instead of two. She could have split the book and just added a little to each one and it would have been significantly better.

[marygracerich]

Feb 6, 2024 8:23:07 GMT -6 blurnette989 said:

So I started the month being like yeah romance isn't really my thing and have since finished two romance novels on different ends of the spicy spectrum.

Half a soul - ADORABLE. Faeries in the regency period and social justice. Really enjoyed it.

The court of silver flames. The best Sarah J Maas book so far. But also I can't do the spicy scenes on audiobook. They just feel too long and out of place and I listen at 1.5x. but the book was enjoyable. I do think I read it out of order though. There is another Nesta book isn't there?

Still reading Sister Novelists, which I'm enjoying, it's just quite long.

No. Silver Flames is the only Nesta centric book. She is talked about quite a bit in Frost and Starlight but I wouldn’t call it a Nesta book.

There is at least one more acotar book coming out.

[marygracerich]

I finished CC2 last night and started CC3 this morning. I read 1600 pages in 8 days. 😂

After I finish CC3 I am going to read The Hurricane Wars because I am meeting Thea Guazon on March 3rd.

After that I will read Bride by Ali Hazelwood. Then after that I will decide if I want to start the Percy Jackson books. I am sure I can get through them quickly. I also have Legends & Lattes to read and MH gave me his copy of Red Queen to read.

[nelzie]

Feb 6, 2024 11:07:06 GMT -6 bearfootzcontinued said:

Feb 6, 2024 9:22:23 GMT -6 clairefraser said:

What is everyone's rating scale? I.e what does 1 star, 2 star, etc mean to you?

1. F*ck this. Had strong feelings against it or DNF (either because it bored me or irritated me)
2. Ugh.  Finished it, didn't all out hate it but didn't think it was worth the read. 
3. Meh. Don't regret reading it, likely appreciated some part of the storyline or story telling, but wouldn't ask it out for a second date.   
4. Ahhhh. Really liked it, would read another by the author and/or recommend to a friend. 
5. YES! YES! YES!  It brought me joy, moved me, and/or I wouldn't forget it anytime soon.  I'll be looking for future recs based on my love for this book.    

This is pretty much mine too

[cnf]

I finished Midnight by Amy McCulloch and really enjoyed it. Fun little thriller set in a remote location, similar to Breathless, but different enough to stand out from it.