As A Book Blogger, This Is What I Actually Read This Month – February 2024

I am shocked I’m still doing this.

I’m not going to lie, I am not known for sticking to resolutions. I’m not very good at finishing what I start.

So I am very pleased to report that this is the second month in a row where I have kept track of every single book that I read!

I’m not really sure how I should total this month as I read a few short stories and two anthologies.

Do short stories and anthologies both count as a single book even though one is super short and the other is super long? Do they even each other out? Does it matter at all?

Nah, let’s just jump in!

Spoiler alert: February was a little dicey. I DNF’d nearly as many books as I read this month.

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Feb. 1 – Feb. 5

This book is amazing! Hateful Love by T. Ashleigh and Addison Beck was everything a person could want from an enemies-to-lovers M/M romance book.

Silas and Blaine were seriously pure gold together. This book has me very interested in following these two authors’ future endeavors.

Hateful Love absolutely deserves a review, so keep an eye out!

Feb. 5 – FEb. 8

The Heart2Heart: A Paranormal Charity Anthology was wildly successful.

I really enjoyed reading this. I was seriously wowed by some of the works in the anthology. The story by Tavia Lark might have been the best thing that I read in the month of February.

I put together a guide of what to read and what to skip from the anthology to make reading it a little more fun.

FEb. 9 – Feb. 10

After reading the entire paranormal romance anthology, I needed to read something that was just chill and fun. Crushed Ice by Ashlyn Kane and Morgan James fit the bill perfectly!

There was humor, a slight age gap, and grumpy/sunshine vibes.

These two killed this fourth installment in the Hockey Ever After series. The entire series is more than worth a read if you are in the hockey mood!

You could also check out this list of my top hockey recs!

Feb. 11 – FEb. 17

After reading Crushed Ice as a pallet cleanser, I was ready to jump into Heart2Heart: A Contemporary Charity Anthology.

And it was good! It was fine! But I definitely didn’t feel like putting the effort into a guide for this one.

I was not afraid to DNF a short story if it wasn’t working for me. You can see that it took me almost a week to slog through to the end. Yikes.

Feb. 17 – Feb. 19

After struggling through the contemporary anthology, I had trouble figuring out what I wanted to read.

I remembered that N.R. Walker’s latest book, Bloom, dropped on the 16th, so I decided to go for it.

And, after three days of trying to tell myself I was enjoying reading this book, I decided to be honest and give it up.

My first DNF of February.

I made it to 26% before I called time of death.

Feb. 19 – FEb. 20

You guys may have noticed that once I DNF a book, it is kind of hard for me to stop doing it.

I made it to 57% of the Step Bet. And who knows! I could come back and finish this book later…

But I probably won’t.

At this point, I have read a lot of stepbrother M/M romance books. I know what I like. And this just didn’t work for me.

Feb. 20 – FEb. 21

It was during this time that I was doing a little research for my Best Himbos of M/M Romance book list.

Everyone kept recommending Heat Stroke by Tessa Bailey. I had to give it a read and I am so glad that I did!

I loved every second of reading this book, and it was largely due to Marcus.

He is funny and sweet and so oblivious. He is one of the most compelling and endearing characters I’ve ever read about.

You have to read this one!

Feb. 21

After finishing Heat Stroke I jumped straight into Love Language, a short novella by Jax Calder.

I am a big Jax Calder fan, and this book solidified the fact that I will remain a big Jax Calder fan.

This read was quick and easy and well worth my time.

FEb. 22

What is better than reading one super cute and sweet Jax Calder short novella? Reading two.

So of course I had to read The Anonymous Hookup. It was great!

It works out very nicely as the sequel to this book, The Unforgettable Hookup, drops March 21!

Check them both out!

FEb. 22 – Feb. 23

By this time in February, I couldn’t help but notice that everyone seemed to be reading and absolutely loving To Catch a Firefly by Emmy Sanders, so I decided to check it out.

There is a reason this book is currently sitting at a 4.8 star rating on Amazon. Seriously, it is so freaking good.

Ellis and Lucky have a connection and a relationship that is beyond beautiful. I am tearing up thinking of the epilogue to the book as I write this.

Reading this book felt like an honor and a privilege.

FEb. 23

So, any book following To Catch a Firefly was going to struggle. It is a tough act to follow, but I was so insanely disappointed with Sunshine for Sale.

I DNF’d this book at 3%.

I know you’re thinking that I just didn’t give it a fair shot with giving up so early into the book.

But, after running into two of my biggest personal squicks within the first eight pages of the book, I know that I literally could not stand to spend an entire 213 pages with Jimbob.

This book is the amalgamation of the worst aspects of Cora Rose and Nicole Dykes’ writing. Hard pass.

I made it to 3% of Want You Still before I stopped reading it.

I think that CE Ricci and Marley Valentine should have made it much more clear that this is a cheating book.

I will never care about these characters, so I know I shouldn’t read this book.

Not for me. Throw it on the DNF pile.

When everything seemed to be going wrong and I DNF’d two books in the same day, I had to turn to Marina Vivancos.

I think it’s safe to call her my favorite author at this point.

There is a 99.99999% chance that I will enjoy reading her work.

Brother was exactly what I needed. It was super taboo and wild, but also shockingly sweet and deep. Easy five stars.

Feb. 25

I wanted to love this book so badly.

I want to love Charlie Novak so badly.

But Scene Queen just didn’t do it for me. I really was not into Rhys.

I gave up on this one at 6%

Feb. 25 – Feb. 26

I can really enjoy a Roe Horvat read, but I don’t tend to finish his books.

Skydive was interesting and cool and I loved the set up, but then things took a turn and got a little too weird for me.

I knew going into this book that it probably wasn’t going to be my thing, but I wanted to give it a try.

DNF at 23%.

FEb. 26 – FEb. 29

I stumbled onto Should the Sky Fall and was shocked that I hadn’t read it yet.

This book is right up my alley and I am enjoying reading it!

Buuuuut, I seriously could not wait to start reading Prince of Agony by Tavia Lark and this book was dragging just a tad too much.

I do believe I will come back and finish this one… Probably.

I am sitting at 52%, so we shall see.

FEb. 29

I am reading Prince of Agony right now and having the time of my life.

I will update you soon!

Summary of Reading

If you were keeping track that is eight books fully read this month, and seven DNF’s. It was a wild ride, but, as always, I loved every second I spent reading.

I hope your February was full of amazing books. Share your favorite find for the month in the comments below!

If you missed my January reading, you can find it here!

Want to see what my March reading looks like? You can find it here!

Hey, I’m Heather!

I read M/M romance books exclusively, and I help other readers find their next great M/M romance read.