february 2025 reading wrap up
spoiler alert: i finally got a 4-star read. cue the confetti.
Books that I read this month
1. Immortal Dark, Tigest Girma
Immortal Dark is a dark academic fantasy with a society of Black vampires, secret societies, powerful bloodlines, and an alluring slow-burn.
I loved this book, and I couldn’t put it down. I was intrigued by a lot of things, including the world of Uxlay, the family legacies, and the way Adane House had a mind of its own. I also thought the book did the enemies-to-lovers trope right, where the leads are real enemies in the beginning. Susyenos and Kidan had so much tension and chemistry, and I can’t wait to see how their story unravels for the next two books.
Verdict: 4/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
2. I Am Not Jessica Chen, Ann Liang
In short, I Am Not Jessica Chen is about Jenna Chen, who makes a wish to become her cousin — Jessica Chen — who has it all. Her wish comes true, and as a result, she becomes trapped in her cousin’s body.
“Art can’t give me the kind of validation I want. It’s too subjective, too unstable, too temporary. Even if someone likes your art, they’ll inevitably move on.”
“I would never move on,” Aaron says softly. “I would never take your paintings down.”
I pause, and almost lose my next thought in the depths of his eyes. Aaron, as my first and final audience. Aaron, as my muse. It sounds so tempting, but—
“There’s no point,” I say, “if my paintings are not known and loved by everyone.”
With this book, I felt so seen. I saw so much of myself in Jenna and understood her actions and feelings. Even though I’m no longer in school, there were parts of the story that I could apply in real life. I related to her dreams for success, her desires to be known, her moments of self-comparison, her burnout, and her feelings of inadequacy in her craft (art for Jenna, writing for me).
There was a line in Ann’s first book about being careful what you wish for, and writing this blog made me realize how I Am Not Jessica Chen ties back to If You Could See The Sun. I think it’s a great parallel between the books, and the concept makes you reconsider what you already have in real life.
Verdict: 5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
3. Bingsu For Two, Sujin Witherspoon
I’ve been waiting for this book since the author announced it on writertwt and I’m glad to have finally read it.
Bingsu For Two may be my favourite read of the month and I loved it so so so so much. I finished it in one day — ONE — and it’s one of those books you gotta read if you’re looking for a fun and lighthearted read. It has a found family, enemies to lovers (it’s my favourite trope, okay!), and a cafe that I wish was real.
I adore everything about this book. It’s fast-paced, funny, and so darn cute. I was giggling the whole time I read the book, and I fell in love with Sarang and River — especially their bickering.
But my favourite aspect about Bingsu For Two is how the book switches to a movie script format every time they want to film a video for social media. It’s so creative, a little chaotic, and very comical. I love seeing everyone interact with one another this way for the camera — something like those crosscut scenes in the clips that I see from The Office.
Also, as a person who worked in marketing, I think the Bingsu For Two team is doing a great job at promoting the cafe. 10/10.
Verdict: 5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4. Not Another Love Song, Julie Soto
As a person who loved the first book, Forget Me Not, I wanted to start Not Another Love Song. It follows two incredible string players, Gwen and Xander.
Being a music-centric romance, you get to read more about the aspects of music like composing music and orchestras. I also love how music translated into the writing, especially when the author described the characters’ emotions. I saw how talented Gwen and Xander were in their craft and how music expressed the unsaid between them. Their relationship was electrifying, and I only wanted to read more of it.
Although my heart ultimately lies with Forget Me Not, I do admit the second book was a steamy and poetic read.
Verdict: 4/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5. Wrath of an Exile, Monty Jay
Back in October, I finished The Hollow Boys series by Monty Jay. Around that time, I found out the author would be doing a second-gen series (River Styx Heathens series). I wanted to pick it up, so I added it to my TBR.
Despite seeing my Twitter mutuals' bad reviews, I finally decided to pick it up. As it turns out, they were right. I put down the book at the 55% mark. The only redeeming factor that made me reach that far was the cameos from the original Hollow Boys: Thatcher, Silas, Alistair, and Rook.
Verdict: DNF 🚫📚
6. First-Time Caller, B.K. Borison
There’s one thing that B.K. Borison does right, and it’s writing a feel-good romance. First-Time Caller is a Sleepless in Seattle-inspired love story, and honestly, it’s a great book to read in the month of love. It features a romance hotline, a radio host who may have fallen out of love, and a single mom who’s looking for love.
Whether you’ve watched the movie or not, you should read this book. It felt like a cozy late-night phone call with rain in the background. I loved Aiden and Lucie’s effortless banter and their chemistry as radio hosts (and as a couple, too). He saw her in small, meaningful ways, like keeping a list of her favourite things in his car’s glove compartment. Plus, the cover’s so beautiful.
Like with music in Not Another Love Song, I enjoyed reading about how a radio station operated.
Verdict: 4/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
7. Deep End, Ali Hazelwood
Deep End was my final read of the month, and a buddy read with one of my closest Internet friend. I knew it was originally going to be titled Whet but other than that, I didn’t have any expectations for this book. It’s a (college) sports romance involving a diver and a swimmer exploring their ✨steamy arrangement✨.
While I adored past works like Not in Love and Check & Mate, I didn’t enjoy this book. I didn’t resonate with the characters, and I was bored throughout my reading period. Regardless, I think you should read it anyway — especially if you’re a fan of Ali Hazelwood, swim competitively, or just want a sports romance with lots of heat.
Verdict: 3/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Books that I reread this month
8. This Time It’s Real, Ann Liang
I reread This Time It’s Real after 2 years, and I think it’s so underrated. I always talk about If You Could See The Sun, but I think it’s time to give Ann’s second book some credit. It’s a heartwarming fake dating between a famous Chinese actor and a writer, and overall, the story is just so sweet. Caz and Eliza are downright cute, and my favourite scene is probably the one where he gets her tanghulu.
Verdict: 4/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
9. The Marghazar Trials, Aamna Qureshi
Besides This Time It’s Real, I reread The Marghazar Trials, too. It’s good to know that the quotes from the first book still destroy me, and I liked finding a couple of parallels between two chapters. The second book, The Man or the Monster, was angsty but I’m happy Durre and Asfi got their happy ending.
Unfortunately, I wanted to lower my rating for the first book to 4 stars because I thought the main character, Durre, was annoying this time around. I noticed how often she pouted in the first book and how immature she was in a few scenes.
Verdict:
The Lady or the Lion: 4/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Man or the Monster: 3/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
— featured image: pinterest
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