April 25, 2019

What I Read This Month: February

What I Read This Month is a monthly series, sharing the books I read month by month. You can follow along here

After starting reading a lot more in 2018, I upped my reading goal for 2019, committing to reading 52 books (so, basically, one book a week!). In order to do that, I'm holding myself accountable and sharing what I read month-to-month. If you're a book lover, follow along with this series, follow me on Goodreads where I chronicle every book I've read and want to read or tap through my Instagram Story Highlight where I share my star-rating as I read. 

I'm kind of playing catch-up in sharing my reads, so I shared January on Tuesday, am sharing February today, will share March on Monday and then from here-on out, the previous month's on the first Friday of the new month (ie. April reads on the first Friday of May, May reads on the first Friday of June, and so on and so forth).

February was another great month for reading. I went over my goal of a book a week, and I read overall really great books, including my first three books from Book of the Month, picks from both my January and February boxes. That being said, I read six books in February, and today I'm sharing them with you. 


FEBRUARY
6 books


This book was a true psychological thriller, following Jessica Farris, who joins a psychology study on ethics, run by Dr. Shields. As the study becomes more and more real, the lines get blurred between the study and reality, and soon Jessica finds her life being controlled by the study. But can she leave?

I really enjoyed this book! While I figured out the plot somewhat early on, it didn't feel like a drag to finish it, and I found myself sucked in by a series of twists. It's definitely an easy read for those who love the psychological thriller genre.


THE SILENT PATIENT: 5/5 stars
A Book of the Month pick

This book follows seemingly-perfect artist and wife Alicia Berenson, who one night after her husband returns from work, shoots him five times in the face, and then never speaks a word again. Theo Faber is a criminal psychotherapist who's dying to work with Alicia and get to the bottom of what really happened that night. Will he get Alicia to open up?

THIS BOOK! I have recommended this book to literally everyone I know. For a debut novel, it was incredible. It had me thinking about it for days. I can't even write much more than this, except for the fact that everyone should read this. If you're a fan of psychological thrillers, you can't miss this one! 

Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine – but no one has ever told her she should be more than fine though. She certainly weird, and lives a bleak life, filled with work, vodka and chats on the phone with her mummy, and not much social interaction. So when a guy from work named Raymond enters her life after they save an old man, the friendship opens Eleanor's life (and eyes) up, and maybe she's not as fine as she thought she was.

I really enjoyed this book, much more than I expected. I didn't think I'd like it based on the description, but the hype was real with this book and I decided to go for it. It was so cute, while still balancing difficult topics, and I found myself in love with the character, flaws and all. This is soon to be a movie, with Reese Witherspoon slated to produce, so read it before it's out!



A memoir by comedian and writer Lindy West, Shrill focuses on what it's like to be a woman, a feminist, fat, funny, loud and proud. The book was a huge success, eventually being turned into a series on Hulu.

I wanted to love it.. but I couldn't. The book was decent. There were some chapters I found so difficult to get through, while others were so easy to read and I found myself laughing alongside her. The book really opened my eyes to a lot of different things that Lindy discussed, like fat-shaming, rape culture and abortion, grief and love and loss. All in all, this wasn't a favorite of mine, but I enjoyed it for what it was worth. A solid 3-stars from me.


GOLDEN CHILD: 5/5 stars

When I saw this book as a Book of the Month option, I freaked out. It's set in my home country, written by a Trini author and was hand-selected by Sarah Jessica Parker (CARRIE!) for her imprint at Hogarth. All of my worlds were colliding, and I quickly added it to my box.

Where do I start with this book? Based in Trinidad and Tobago, this book follows a set of twins, Peter and Paul: Peter is the bright child – smart, obedient and destined for greatness, while Paul is not – born a little odd, and definitely with a little mental and intellectual delay. The family loves Peter more, their golden child, and one day Paul goes missing. In the process of trying to find his son, the father Clyde is faced with some serious decisions and has to come to terms with what life was like for the not-so-favorite son.

I can't write much more without giving it away, but this book haunted me. I seriously finished the book and sat in silence for ten minutes (this never happens), and then quickly made other people read it so we could discuss it. I still think about it often. Seriously, read it!


ALL WE EVER WANTED4/5 stars

This book follows a well-to-do town where privileged families are held to their own set of rules and standards. Sound familiar, no? When a life-changing situation involving a young girl from a not-so-wealthy family and an affluent young boy, actions and consequences are required and taken, by the families and the school they attend. The book switches between a few different view points, and touches often on the differences between those with money and those without, and just how different their moral compasses seem to be.

Don't want to give too much away, but I thought this book was real and relevant, and felt a little sick reading it considering how often these kinds of people get away in real life for the same (or worse) actions. It was infuriating reading the behavior pass from one generation to another, and I really felt sad for the characters. This was one book that was worth the read, especially considering the time we're in right now.

BOOK COUNT: 12/52

Have you read any good books lately? Have you read any of these? Let me know in the comments!
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21 comments:

  1. I needed more recommendations so I love posts like this. I just finished Next Level Basic, which is as basic as it sounds.

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  2. The Silent Patient! SO SO GOOD! If you liked it, I think you'll like My Lovely Wife!

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  3. I am also reading 52 books this year! I read All We Ever Wanted last year and I think I gave it 4 stars as well- definitely a thought provoking read! :)

    xoxo A
    www.southernbelleintraining.com

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  4. I haven't read any of these, but I'm just about to start Lean In—can't wait! Thanks for sharing your latest reads.

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  5. The Silent Patient sounds like a really good novel. I shall put this book recommendation list on my Pinterest!

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  6. Great books! I read Eleanor Oliphant last year and it was my favorite!

    xo Deborah
    Coffee, Prose, and Pretty Clothes

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  7. These sounds like great reads! Always enjoy your reviews.

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  8. I don't think I've heard of any of these! I'm so behind on reading!!

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  9. I read An Anonymous Girl and The Silent Patient this year and loved them! Although Silent Patient did have some tropes that made me want to scream... haha! Still a great read, though.

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  10. I really want to read The Silent Patient. I recently read The Lies We Told, and I think you would really like it!

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  11. I’m on the waiting list at the library for The Silent Patient. After reading your review, I’m so anxious to start it!

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  12. Great list! I love the psychological thrillers too 😉

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  13. A book a week is such a great goal! I’d love to work up to that. When I was a kid, it was easy :D

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  14. Wow you read a lot this year so far! I really need to step it up... Good work!

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  19. The Silent Patient sounds like a really good novel. I shall put this book recommendation list on my Pinterest!
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