February 2026 Book Reviews and Recommendations
Almost all of the book reviews this month are part of a series. While they vary in genre (thriller, fantasy, romance, etc), I do apologize that there are not more standalone books. I know not everyone has the time or desire to commit to starting a series, though some can be read by themselves without any problem!
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Excellent (4.5 – 5 Stars)
In Your Dreams
Published Date: December 2025
Genre: Romance
How I Read: Kindle
This book is the fourth and final in the series about four adult siblings in Rome, Kentucky, who were orphaned at a young age and raised by their grandmother.
Now the youngest sister, Madison, has just graduated from culinary school in NYC and she feels like a failure. The only reason she graduated is that she got extra credit for cleaning the kitchen labs. The chef she interned for thought she was too emotional to work in a professional kitchen. New York was lonely and soul-sucking for her. Now, even stepping foot into a restaurant kitchen gives Madison anxiety.
One night, she accidentally calls her brother’s best friend, James, and he happens to be opening a restaurant on his farm and needs a head chef – what a coincidence. It’s less cheesy than it sounds. It’s very sweet; he takes care of her and he needs her care in return.
There are a lot of family dynamics. It’s friends to lovers. I liked the chemistry and the book made me hungry at times.
Firekeeper’s Daughter
Published Date: March 2021
Genre: YA Mystery
How I Read: Audio
Daunis is half-Native American and has just graduated from high school. Her plans for college change and she decides to stay local after her grandmother has a heart attack.
Her half-brother is a hockey star and a senior in high school. There is a new guy on the team that everyone is crazy about and Daunis might be falling for him too.
She soon is secretly involved in an FBI case concerning all the meth deaths occurring locally, including some of her loved ones. Daunis has a science background, plus she knows everyone in town, making her an asset to the investigation.
I like this book a lot. The story wasn’t completely predictable for me, but it did get a bit long and repetitive at times, though I tend to rate audiobooks a little lower than books I read with my eyes. I thought the tribal dynamics were interesting. You might want to read the trigger warnings first if you have anything in particular you are sensitive to.
Great (4 Stars)
Fearless
Published Date: April 2025
Genre: YA Fantasy
How I Read: Kindle
This is the conclusion to the series. While I liked this book, I don’t feel it is a must-read. At the end, I found myself wanting to move on to a new story.
Paedyn is an ordinary (she has no powers) and the plan is for her to marry the king to unite the land. Obviously, this is upsetting because the king’s brother, the Enforcer, is in love with her and vice versa.
Elite citizens are not happy about accepting an ordinary as their queen. Once again, she must prove herself in trials. This time, the trials are only for her. While this plot point is redundant, at least it adds some action.
Many secrets from the past are revealed, adding twists to the story. It’s not too complicated. The love story is good but there’s no spice.
The First Time I Saw Him
Published Date: January 2026
Genre: Thriller
How I Read: Kindle
This sequel easily picks up the story The Last Thing He Told Me five years later. Hannah sees Owen and finds a flash drive in her pocket. She knows something has changed. She has prepared for this and has prepared her adult stepdaughter, Bailey, for this as well. It’s time to run. Go bags are grabbed and plans are set in motion.
The timeline jumps around a bit. You learn more of the history of “the organization” and how Owen’s father-in-law got involved. A few times it gets a tad confusing but it quickly straightens out. I liked the book but not as much as the first book. The ending was a bit anticlimactic.
Somewhere Beyond the Sea
Published Date: September 2024
Genre: Fantasy
How I Read: Paper
Another sequel, this story is good but felt unnecessary. It just doesn’t add anything. It also doesn’t take away – which is important!
Arthur is back on the island, now with his love Linus. He is the headmaster of an orphanage and wants to adopt the magical children who live there and are classified as dangerous.
These “monsters” are funny, lovable, caring children but Arthur must go before the government to testify to that fact after another inspector has been sent to the island to observe.
Conform
Published Date: October 2025
Genre: Dystopian
How I Read: Kindle
People are divided into very segregated classes. Your only hope of rising in station is to abide by specific rules.
Emeline spends each day looking at old art and pressing delete if the Illumm has decided it is to be destroyed. But she just got approved for a mate and will enter the courting moon phase before she breeds and becomes a vessel for an offspring of an elite male. If she is lucky, Emeline will get to live in the clouds for a couple of years with her child before the child goes to the academy.
Shockingly, Emeline has been chosen as a mate for the youngest Illium, “the Enforcer”. Why would he choose a Minor Defect? Does it have something to do with a rebellion by the Major Defects?
The story has themes of good vs bad, loneliness, and following authority. It does get confusing sometimes but the main character is meant to be confused and she often feels torn.
I didn’t love the book but found I couldn’t put it down. I will probably read the next in the series when it comes out.
Good (3.5 Stars)
This Book Made Me Think of You
It’s a total knock-off of PS I Love You but it doesn’t acknowledge it. I would recommend reading PS I Hate You instead (same vibes but much better).
Tilly’s husband Joe recently died from a quick illness. Now she is a young widow. Tilly has always been a book lover and is in the world of publishing but since his death, hasn’t been interested in reading for pleasure. One day, she gets a call from a local bookstore. It seems her late husband arranged for her to get one book a month plus a letter from him.
One of the books she receives is a cookbook because he was worried she wouldn’t be properly taking care of herself, another book is to get her to travel, and another is to get her to go camping, something he could never convince her to do.
Some parts are meant to be funny and a bit of it includes a romance. I couldn’t get into it. The story is too cheesy and predictable, especially including all the stereotypes – funky dresser, knitting, etc.
Want to check out more book recommendations? Take a look at my January book reviews!
