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February was a great month for reading, and I can’t wait to share all the books I picked up this month! Whether you’re looking for your next great read or just curious about what I loved (or didn’t love), this post has all the details. My goal for 2025 was to read one book a month, and in January, I read 5! I’ll be sharing a brief summary, my personal thoughts, and a rating for each book. Plus, I’ll highlight my top recommendation at the end!
Book List Overview (with links to buy)
- Only for the Week by Natasha Bishop
- The Kiss Countdown by Etta Easton
- The Fall Risk by Abby Jimenez
- Restore Me by J.L. Seegars
- The Love Lyric by Kristina Forest
- Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams
📖 Only for the Week – Natasha Bishop
- Genre: Contemporary Romance/Black Romance
- Synopsis: Dr. Janelle Cross is attending her sister’s destination wedding in Tulum. Sounds like a dream, right? Wrong! Janelle’s sister is marrying Janelle’s ex-boyfriend, and the situation is a little bit messy. But, Janelle has undeniable chemistry with her soon-to-be bother-in-law’s best friend Rome. And what happens in Tulum stays in Tulum…right? How hard can it be to keep a secret for just one week?
- My Thoughts: MESSYYYYY!!!! This novel has all the messiness, romance, and humor I look forward to in a book! But also, the male main character is definitely book boyfriend material! This book has a dual POV, he falls first trope, and just enough spice for me. It’s Black; it’s petty; it’s cute, and I love it!
- Favorite Quote: “Love is not easy. It’s waking up every day and choosing the person beside you. You two have seen each other at your best and your worst and you’re still here, choosing each other.”
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (out of 5)
- Would I recommend it? Yes – if you love romance and drama, this one’s for you!
📖 The Kiss Countdown – Etta Easton
- Genre: Contemporary Romance/Black Romance
- Synopsis: Amerie Price is jobless, single, and about to lose her apartment. And, her life gets even more messy when she runs into her ex and his new girlfriend at her favorite coffee shop. Panicking, she grabs the nearest (handsome) stranger, and pretends he’s her man. What she doesn’t expect, is that astronaut Vincent Rogers needs a favor from her in return. Blurring the lines between what’s real and what’s fake, Amerie and Vincent may have bitten off more than they can chew…
- My Thoughts: This novel is very cute. It’s a STEM romance with my favorite trope–fake dating. It’s perfect for a quick, easy read, and Amerie and Vincent’s love story is out of this world!
- Favorite Quote: “You’re not an afterthought. You’re the only thought”.
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (out of 5)
- Would I recommend it? Yes – if you want a lighthearted romance, pick this one up!
📖 The Fall Risk – Abby Jimenez
- Genre: Romance Novel
- Synopsis: It’s Valentine’s Day weekend, and neighbors Charlotte and Seth are stuck in their apartments after the stairs are accidentally removed. Neither is looking for romance, but that’s just what they find when they’re trapped and together sharing their traumatic pasts.
- My Thoughts: If a book says “Abby Jimenez” on the cover, you know it’s gonna be good! This Valentine’s Day short story gets deep quickly, and it’s the perfect mixture of depth, romance, and humor. Side note: it’s only available on Kindle.
- Favorite Quote: “Sometimes the start of something good begins during something bad.”
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (out of 5)
- Would I recommend it? Yes – like I said, Abby Jimenez = GREAT READ!
📖 Restore Me – J.L. Seegars
- Genre: Contemporary Romance/Black Romance
- Synopsis: After 4 years, Sloane Kent is still grieving the loss of her husband Eric. And it gets even harder when she finds out her new work partner is Dominic Alexander, Eric’s best friend, who for some reason, always hated Sloane. But, after a close encounter in a nightclub, things begin to change between Sloane and Dominic, and for some reason, she feels a familiar electricity every time they touch…
- My Thoughts: Although the plot moves a little slow, I really enjoyed this read! It’s a very spicy, dual POV, flashback romance with so much drama and unexpected turns. Both of the main characters carry a lot of trauma, but their love story is one that stands the test of time.
- Favorite Quote: “Love. Can’t eat, can’t sleep, can’t breathe without you, love. Your smile lights up my world, and your arms feel like home, love. I could stand here all day and watch you do the most mundane task without ever getting bored, love.”
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (out of 5)
- Would I recommend it? Maybe – it’s VERY spicy, and the plot drags a bit, but if you want the drama, spice, and romance, I’d say yes!
📖 The Love Lyric – Kristina Forest
- Genre: Contemporary Romance/Black Romance
- Synopsis: Oldest sister and single-mom Iris Greene has everything in her life planned and organized. She cares for her sisters, her parents, and her daughter Calla after the unexpected death of her husband, Terry. On paper, she is the exact opposite of Angel Hughes, R&B singer from Georgia. They keep running into each other, and the chemistry is strong, but Angel doesn’t quite fit into Iris’ life…until they find themselves forced to work with each other…
- My Thoughts: Kristina Forest is one of my FAVORITE authors, and this book did not let me down! It is the third book in the Greene Sisters Trilogy, and it is just as romantic as the others. There’s romance, emotion, a plot twist, and a dreamy male main character. What else could a girl ask for?
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (out of 5)
- Would I recommend it? Yes – anything with Kristina Forest’s name on it is a must-read!
📖 Beg, Borrow, or Steal – Sarah Adams
- Genre: Romance Novel
- Synopsis: Emily Walker’s perfectly curated life as a second-grade teacher (and secret romance writer) is disrupted when she learns that her longtime rival Jack Bennett has just moved back to her small town of Rome, Kentucky. And, to make matters worse, he is her next-door neighbor! With one Summer, close proximity, and Jack’s own hidden identity, their chemistry is at an all-time high. But, will their rivalry tangle into something else?
- My Thoughts: This love story is so cute! Emily and Jack’s witty banter brings the perfect balance of romance and comedy, and the plot is EXTREMELY well-written. This book is definitely a contender for my top read of the month!
- Favorite Quote: “It’s not that I care for some aspects of you, not that I care for you when you’re in a good mood…I care for you always. I want you always. The good, the bad, and the in-between. I. Want. You. Sharp edges, hot tempered, fiercely protective, gooey heart…all of it. All of you.”
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (out of 5)
- Would I recommend it? Yes – I enjoyed this one more than I thought I would!
My Top Pick of the Month Is…
Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams! The plot, banter, and tropes made this book my top read of February! “Rivals to lovers”, “forced proximity”, and “he falls first” all in one book…sounds too good to be true! I’ll definitely have to go back and read the other books from the When in Rome series because this one made a great first impression. February was a great reading month, and it was so hard to choose just one top pick, but Beg, Borrow, or Steal was a little bit better than the rest!
What’s TBR for March?
In March, my goal is to read 5 books, especially since I’ll have all of Spring Break to read. Here’s my list so far:
- Plantains and Our Becoming: Poems by Melania Luisa Marte
- Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall
- The Love Simulation by Etta Easton
- The Strawberry Patch Pancake House by Laurie Gilmore
- The Worst Best Man by Lucy Score
That concludes my February reading wrap-up! I’m so excited that I’ve read 11 books so far this year, and I can’t wait to see what’s next! What did you read in February? Do you have any recommendations for me? Let’s chat in the comments!
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