February 2024 Wrap Up
A look back at my month. This post will be linked up with The Sunday Post hosted by Kim @Caffeinated Reviewer and Stacking the Shelves hosted by Marlene @Reading Reality
Life Update
This month started out quite slowly, reading-wise. Not that I was reading slow (or even less), but after finishing so many books in January, I was pretty much starting all new books in February (there were a few carry overs, but most were only around 10% or less completed). I didn’t finish my first book until February 9th, but then finished several more titles quickly after that. I was hoping to match my January performance and finish 29 books this month, but didn’t hit that mark. 19 books certainly isn’t a bad month though!
The big news for the month is that my job was eliminated, so now I’m unemployed again. I knew it was a possibility, but thought I had a little longer before they would close things up. I talked about this in more detail in a couple of other posts this month (featured below). But right now, I’m just focused on finding something else.
My mental health took a pretty big hit again with the layoff, especially since it came so close to the anniversary of the firing from last year. I’m struggling at the moment and feeling incredibly alone. But so far, I make the choice every day to stay. And if I can do one positive thing each day, I consider that a win.
Books Read
The Bane Chronicles by Cassandra Clare, et al ****
How Not to Be Afraid of Your Own Life by Susan Piver ****
You’ve Reached Sam by Dustin Thao *****
Field Notes on Love by Jennifer E. Smith ****
Over the Edge by Suzanne Brockmann ****
Two for the Dough by Janet Evanovich ****
Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine ****
A Good Day for Chardonnay by Darynda Jones *****
Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins ****
Greywaren by Maggie Stiefvater ****
Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert ****
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas ****
The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones by Daven McQueen ***
Black Enough edited by Ibi Zoboi ****
My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry by Fredrik Backman ***
The Heir by Kiera Cass ***
Lessons in Falling by Diana Gallagher ****
Rapture in Death by JD Robb ****
Sea Swept by Nora Roberts ***
Books Acquired
Heir, Apparently by Kara McDowell (DRC, Net Galley)
Hypnotized by Love by Sariah Wilson (Kindle, Amazon First Reads)
The Next Best Fling by Gabriella Gamez (DRC, Net Galley)
The Romance Lovers Book Club by MA Binfield & Toni Logan (DRC, Net Galley)
The Road Trip Rewind by Kate Tamberelli & Danny Tamberelli (DRC, Net Galley)
Self-Care for Autistic People by Megan Anna Neff (DRC, Net Galley)
Last Call for Love by Rebekah Crane (DRC, Net Galley)
Past, Present, Future by Rachel Lynn Solomon (DRC, Net Galley)
Snowed in with Summer by Tiana Warner (DRC, Net Galley)
What Happens in Idaho by Bonnie Jo Pierson (DRC, Net Galley)
Director’s Cut by Carlyn Greenwald (DRC, Net Galley)
Currently Reading:
Kate in Waiting by Becky Albertalli
I Wanna Be Where You Are by Kristina Forest
The Getaway List by Emma Lord
The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness
The Short Bus by Jonathan Mooney
Let’s Talk About Love by Claire Kann
Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber
A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer
Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare
To Have and to Hoax by Martha Waters
The Bad Muslim Discount by Syed. M. Masood
Out of Control by Suzanne Brockmann
Paper and Fire by Rachel Caine
Three to Get Deadly by Janet Evanovich
Early Departures by Justin A. Reynolds
Black Girl Unlimited by Echo Brown
The Emerald Sea by Richelle Mead
Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins
The Field Guide to the North American Teenager by Ben Philippe
Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender
The Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers
The Masked City by Genevieve Cogman
Miss Mary’s Book of Dreams by Sophie Nicholls
Okay, Cupid by Mason Deaver
Principles of Emotion by Sara Read
Pretty Little World by Elizabeth LaBan
It Had to Be You by Melissa Kate
Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
The Right to Write by Julia Cameron
Writing Brave and Free by Ted Kooser & Steve Cox
Adulting by Kelly Williams Brown
Stop Self-Sabotage by Pat Pearson
A Year by the Sea by Joan Anderson
Deliver Me by Farrah Rochon
Running with a Police Escort by Jill Grunenwald
Notable Posts from the Month
My Stats
Reviews Posted: 2
Review Books Read: 1
DRCs Added: 10
DRCs Remaining: 170
New-to-me Authors: 7
Series Completed: 1
Series Started: 1
Series Progress: 8
DNF: 0
Reread: 0
Owned TBR: 2305
Unowned TBR: 1797
All covers link to Goodreads
Ugh, ending up without work is so stressful. Hope you find something else quickly!
I’m sorry to hear about the unemployment. That’s never fun.
Your new acqusitions look good. I’m a big fan of Record of a Spaceborn Few.
I hope your books will help you weather the jobs situation until you find something new.
You have a nice variety of books.
Sorry about the layoff. That is so stressful! Hugs! You have some great reads to keep you busy though. Hopefully that helps.
Keep going, you are doing great 😊
I am pleased if I read more than 5 books a month 😂 There are lots of interesting looking ones. I need to read some more Cassandra Clare and I have The Book of Life to read.
I hope you find a great new position. Enjoy your books while you look.
Anne – Books of My Heart This is my Sunday Post
I’m sorry to hear about the lay-off, I hope you find a better one soon.
You have some intriguing titles on your Currently Reading list – I’m curious about Running with a Police Escort by Jill Grunenwald
Wishing you a great reading week
So sorry to hear that you’ve just been laid off – it is a huge blow:(. I do hope you find something else soon. I’m intrigued and a bit awed that you read so many books in tandem – I hope you enjoy the Becky Chambers book as much as I did and The Masked City is one of my favourites in The Invisible Library series. I hope the coming week is a kinder one.
Ink and Bone is a good book. I have yet to finish reading the series.
Have a great March reading month.