Books I Read in February

February was a good book month.

I read every day and forced myself to start a new book the minute I finished one so I wouldn’t be tempted to lose my momentum. This little trick worked. It helped me keep reading.

As of February 29 (happy leap day!), I read 14 books in 2020. Not too shabby, if I do say so myself! You can check out the books I read in January here. I also keep my Bookshelf updated in case you want to check that out, too.

1. Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis — 4/5 stars

I listened to this on audiobook specifically because Rachel Hollis narrates it and I thought it’d be cool to hear it told from the author. There’s a lot of hype around this book and honestly, it’s pretty good. Strong “you can do it!” type vibes. I enjoyed listening to her stories and she has a keeping-it-real type attitude, which I enjoyed.

2. The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah — 5/5 stars

Written by the same author who wrote one of my new favorite books of all time, Firefly Lane, I had pretty high expectations for this one. The Great Alone met my expectations and I was hooked from the start. It follows a family’s adventure to Alaska and battles with the struggles of abuse, love, and family.

3. Talk to Me by Dean Nelson — 4/5 stars

This was a more educational read. It’s written by journalist Dean Nelson and details how to ask better questions to get better answers and deeper stories. I wanted to read it because I thought it’d be more about how to ask better questions in general, but this is very interview-focused in journalism terms. I still found it helpful and worth the time, though.

4. How to Skimm Your Life by The Skimm — 5/5 stars

I listened to this on audiobook but I honestly wish I had read a physical copy of the book. I might go out and buy it. It’s based on the premise that there’s a lot to know about everything and you may not have time to sift through tons of information to learn it all. So, each chapter is about a topic and it basically gives you the bullet points version of the topic. For example, taxes and why they’re important or the stock market and what all the lingo means.

5. The Home for Unwanted Girls by Joanna Goodman — 4.5/5 stars

This took me a little bit to get into, but I’m really glad I kept up with it. The story is about how a mother and daughter were separated and what happens to them as they grow up. I don’t want to give a lot away, so I suggest checking this out when you can.

6. We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter — 4.5/5 stars

Based on a true story, this novel follows a Jewish family’s journey through WW2. The author is one of the character’s granddaughter, which I thought was a really cool connection. Each chapter features a different family member, so I was constantly wanting to keep reading to know how the story ended for each person.

7. Shine by Jodi Picoult — 4/5 stars

A short read, this audio book is the prequel to one of my favorite Jodi Picoult books, Small Great Things.

8. To Hell With the Hustle by Jefferson Bethke — 5/5 stars

I mentioned this is my Monthly Roundup: February Favorites post, but I am very thankful I read To Hell With the Hustle by Jefferson Bethke. It opened my eyes to the “hustle culture” (i.e., “no sleep, must work all the time”) and how it affects our relationships with each other and with Jesus. Here’s an excerpt from the book description, “In a society where hustle is the expectation, busyness is the norm and information is king, we have forgotten the fundamentals that make us human, anchor our lives, and provide meaning.” A powerful book I’m so glad I took the time to read.