For the Love of Reading, February 2026

Let’s take a look back at the books I read in the month of February.

The Encore by Juliet Izon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is one of those books that’s hard to categorize and I think that’s also what made it quite compelling. There is romance, but it isn’t a romance in the traditional sense. It’s certainly an exploration of relationships, what constitutes a family, and how ambition, love, and timing can shape and misshape an entire life. The characters are human and flawed, each struggling in their own way with self preservation and how to let someone in and share with them their deepest desires and dreams. There is trauma, but it’s not sensationalized and the characters aren’t rushed into convenient healing. Instead, they learn to live alongside what they’ve endured. Izon honestly depicts how they compartmentalize, deflect, and sometimes make damaging choices in the name of survival. With a dual timeline; settings that take you from idyllic New England college campuses to New York City to the countryside in Ireland and the tediousness and glitter of a rock ‘n roll tour; and a deeply satisfying ending, this will appeal to readers with an interest in music who enjoy thoughtful, emotionally rich stories that linger.
Thank you to Union Square & Co and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It Girl by Allison Pataki
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
The It Girl has a solid premise and a plot that’s easy to follow, but it unfolds in a fairly predictable way. While the story itself is engaging enough, there is a lot of telling rather than showing, which makes it all feel rather surface-level rather than carrying much emotional weight. The writing is competent and readable, but it rarely has any spark. The prose does its job in moving the story along, but there are no lines or scenes that made me pause or reread and I missed having that depth of experience. The pacing is a little uneven, starting out strong and then falling off about a third of the way through before picking up speed again near the end. And I will say that the ending is very satisfying and adds a bit of a twist to the story. That said, I think this will appeal to readers who are fans of historical fiction and enjoy a straightforward, plot-driven narrative without needing deep psychological or emotional complexity. It’s fine, pleasant, and readable, but not a book that lingered with me once I finished.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

Good People by Patmeena Sabit
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Told exclusively through interviews and statements from family, friends, and reporters, this is a riveting story of an Afghan family living in America in the aftermath of tragedy. The format is unique and compelling; we never hear directly from the people at the center of the story and are instead left to piece together what happened from the outside looking in. The novel asks,but does not always answer, questions about the cost of the American dream, the difficulty of enduring intense public scrutiny and judgment, who gets to claim the moral high ground, and what constitutes the truth. The pacing is mostly strong, though it slows somewhat around the halfway point, and at times the many voices begin to feel repetitive. Still, it’s provocative and thought-provoking, and would make an excellent book club selection.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Kin by Tayari Jones
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Tayari Jones beautifully captures the complexity of friendship, loyalty, and ambition in Kin, set against the backdrop of the Jim Crow South. Told through alternating points of view, we follow Vernice and Annie through all of their hopes, resentments, compromises, and the quiet calculations required to survive when the paths forward are limited.
Though they choose very different ways of escaping their upbringing, they remain connected to one another, even when things are strained or uneasy. Jones doesn’t simplify their choices into right or wrong. Instead, she shows how survival can look radically different depending on personality, opportunity, and circumstance.
This would have been a five-star read for me if not for the ending. After such careful development of both women’s arcs, the conclusion felt somewhat rushed and more ambiguous than satisfying. I didn’t need everything tied up neatly, but I did want just a bit more emotional resolution.
Still, this is a thoughtful, emotionally resonant exploration of friendship and the cost of survival. I’d recommend it to readers who appreciate character-driven literary fiction and nuanced portrayals of female friendship.
I was given a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
In my review eight years ago, I wrote: “This is a beautiful book. The prose is gorgeous; it deserves to be read slowly, with plenty of time to reread certain passages and ponder the meaning of grace, mortality, and community.” Rereading it now, I did not have quite the same reaction. While I still think it is a remarkable novel, I found it tedious at times and grew frustrated with the slow pace. What seems to have changed is my patience with John Ames as a narrator. The novel is framed as a letter from a dying father to his young son, and yet I question whether Ames truly offers his son meaningful guidance or whether he is primarily curating his own legacy. The extended theological reflection, which once felt luminous to me, now felt distancing and at times self-serving. I still admire Robinson’s prose and was engaged by the moments of tension in the story, particularly those involving Jack, where grace is tested in lived experience rather than contemplated in abstraction.
Four stars on this reread and a recognition that sometimes it is the reader who has changed.

The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Night We Met is another emotionally rich and thoroughly engaging novel from Abby Jimenez. While it’s primarily a romance, it reaches well beyond the genre. This is a story about friendship and the bonds that shape us, and how even the strongest connections can fracture and what it takes to rebuild them. Jimenez explores grief, vulnerability, and the quiet courage required to trust someone with your truest feelings. It is also about ambition and instinct, about chasing what calls to you and showing up again and again for the people who matter most. There are moments that are genuinely laugh-out-loud funny, balanced by scenes so raw and honest they catch you off guard. As always, Jimenez writes characters with real depth. They face complicated, messy problems and speak to one another in ways that feel authentic and real.
Highly recommended, not only for romance readers but for anyone who appreciates a story with heart, humor, and emotional resonance.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is a charming story sure to appeal to anyone who loves bookstores, libraries, and reading in general. Libby Page writes about grief and loss with a keen awareness of how it changes us, while also recognizing that the change that comes because of grief is a necessary part of healing and moving on. The pacing is good, the characters are quirky and flawed, and the writing is accessible. Can you see the ending coming from a mile away? Absolutely. And does it matter? Not at all because you are rooting for these characters to find security and happiness and Libby Page delivers that in a wonderful way. Recommended for fans of women’s fiction, romance, and happy endings.

Mostly 4 star books = a good month of reading. I hope you found some titles to add to your TBR.