February has been such a good month of reading! While I admittedly haven’t read a YES THIS IS A FAVORITE BOOK yet, two of the following are definitely in my top 3 favorites of 2023 so far and another was a highly anticipated 2023 read. 

On a Night Like This by Lindsey Kelk – I read Lindsey Kelk’s The Christmas Wish in December & I knew I wanted to read more by her in the new year. I know British romances usually have more wit and sarcasm, bu Lindsey Kelk’s books are so laugh out loud funny with some of the one-liners. On a Night Like This was no exception and it should honestly be part of a starter kit for contemporary romances because it was THAT good. The book follows a woman who’s had a series of temporary assistant gigs and lands a high paying role as an A-list singer’s assistant aboard a private yacht on the way to a charity ball. On a Night Like This felt like two stories in one – the first half of the book follows Fran’s role as an assistant on the yacht and the second half follows her Cinderella like night at the Crystal Ball where she falls for a handsome stranger – but I love how the story came together and made for the perfect happily ever after. So looking forward to picking up more of her work! My Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Starfish by Lisa Fipps – Starfish is officially one of my favorite middle grade books EVER. I am a middle school ELA teacher, so I like reading & staying updated on popular or award-winning books in the genre, but Starfish is genuinely one of those books that I recommend to everyone, not just my students. Told in verse, the novel follows a sixth grader who is bullied by her peers because of her weight and faces a lot of pressure even from her own mother to lose weight. Despite the negativity, the book is still uplifting, as Ellie receives a ton of support from her father, best friends, and therapist. This one is an absolute must-read that’s perfect for reading in one sitting! My Rating: 5/5 Stars

Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun (Finlay Donovan #3) by Elle Cosimano – Yes, this is the book I couldn’t wait to get my hands on! I LOVE Elle Cosimano’s Finlay Donovan series – I’m so happy it’s getting more attention with each installment, since this third book made the NYT Bestsellers List. I thought that Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun was another fun installment that again has such a fast-paced plot and writing style, but I couldn’t help but feel like it may have fallen into ‘middle’ book syndrome (I believe there’s at least 1 if not 2 books planned in the series). I think there was a lot of setting up for the next book while Finlay and Vero wrapped up some of the mysteries from book #2 (trying to avoid spoilers). My Rating: 4/5 Stars

The Reunion by Kayla Olson – The Reunion has received a ton of buzz surrounding its release and selection as a January Book of the Month pick. The book is set around a reunion special for a hit TV show and two of its teen stars reconnect. It was a light read that I think is perfect for a night in or a day at the pool, but I don’t think it brought anything necessarily new to the genre/books with a Hollywood premise. I think fans of Elissa Sussman’s Funny You Should Ask and Ava Wilder’s How to Fake It in Hollywood would enjoy, between the Hollywood setting & second chance romance trope. My Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

Age of Vice by Deepti Kapoor – It’s been almost 2 weeks since I finished Age of Vice and I still don’t know where I land on it. There were times while reading that I simply couldn’t put it down (I especially enjoyed when we followed journalist Neda’s perspective), and there were other times that dragged or I was confused by the politics, as this book set in India follows wealthy gangs and the people that are caught up in their conflicts and schemes. In a way, I was disappointed to learn about halfway through reading that this is just the first book in the series – I kind’ve just wanted to wrap up this 550+page beast and move on?? Unsure if I’ll pick up the next one. My Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

What have you been reading lately? Have you read any of these books? Share in the comments!