I read 13 books in February. Some were excellent. Some were awful.

Interesting Facts About Space by Emily R. Austin. If you are looking for a book about an awkward, paranoid, relationship-fearing lesbian who figures her problems out this is the book for you. If you aren’t looking for that book I would pass on reading this one. It’s fine. I give this book three out of five stars.

Resting Scrooge Face by Megan Quinn. If you are looking for a novella about a couple who fell in love young, broke up when the woman moved away, avoided each other as she moved back, and discover they loved each other all along, this is the novella for you. If you are looking for a quick pick me up this book would work. I give this book three out of five stars.

Having and Being Had by Eula Bliss. If you are looking for a collection of essays on art, capitalism, time, and home ownership, this is the book for you. When reading this book I found myself nodding my head and wishing I could talk to someone about this book. Please read this book and then call me so we can talk about it. I give this book five out of five stars.

Too Beautiful To Break by Tessa Bailey. Good Lord. Where to even start with this one? SPOILERS AHEAD A Successful young wedding planner in California returns to Louisiana to work in the salt mine to pay off her parent’s debts. Guy who rarely talks (like two words a day) falls in love with her, so he takes her place in the salt mine. Oh, they are both virgins, but they have sex once and both have multiple orgasms, which is something that would totally happen in real life, right? Of course. Oh, and that guy that takes her place in the mine? When he was a kid he was pushed into a well and was stuck there for three days until he was rescued, and he never told anyone he was pushed until super sexy wedding planner salt miner looks into his eyes and he spills his secrets. So what does she do? She almost marries the evil mine owner so he will erase her parent’s debts so silent virgin sex god salt miner won’t have to go down in the mines any longer (he gets panic attacks because he’s reminded of the time he was stuck in a well, totally understandable). Why doesn’t she marry the evil mine owner? Because silent virgin sex god salt miner is rescued from his kidnappers and goes and stops the wedding (oh, did I forgot to mention that evil mine owner had him kidnapped so he couldn’t stop the wedding? Sorry about that). What happens when the wedding is stopped? Evil mine owner fires silent virgin sex god salt miner. The town comes together to pay off wedding planner’s parent’s debt. They are free to return to California together. Or are they? No. Silent virgin sex god miner refuses to go until he overcomes his fear of the mine. He goes back into the mine (the book does not mention how he was able to return to the job after being fired). In less than two weeks he has cured his fear and returned to the wedding planner. This book is real dumb. I give it one out of five stars.

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. This is a book about an octopus, a septuagenarian widow, and a floundering 30-year-old orphan. It is a beautiful book about family. I love this book too much to write a detailed review. If you enjoy novels you should read this book. I give this book five out of five stars.

Call Us What We Carry by Amanda Gorman. I listened to this audiobook, which is how I discovered that I don’t like poetry audio books. I think I would have enjoyed reading this. Listening to this felt like a flashback to 2020. I give this book two out of five stars.

Leslie F*cking Jones by Leslie Jones. I was not terribly familiar with Leslie Jones before I picked up her book. I like how she has been true to herself throughout her career. I like her leadership and mentorship. I didn’t particularly like this book. I give this book two out of five stars.

Shirley and Jamila Save Their Summer by Gillian Goerz. Two middle-grade girls forge a friendship to avoid going to camp. Jamily plays basketball. Shirley is a detective. This was Audrey’s epic graphic novel book club book in February, so I read it too. It is cute and fun. I give this book three out of five stars.

Too Hard to Forget by Tessa Bailey. No. Just no. It is too bad to give a review. I give this book one star.

The Honeymoon Crashers by Christina Lauren. This follow up to the Unhoneymooners was written as an audio book and was recorded with a full cast. It was like listening to a radio drama. I liked the recording, and the story was fine. I give this book three out of five stars.

Window Shopping by Tessa Bailey. Ex-con and fancy department store owner fall in love and find themselves. It was a cute Christmas romance. I give this book three out of five stars.

One in A Millennial by Kate Kennedy. I’m not a millennial, so most of this book was meh to me. About one third of this book was excellent. I only finished this book because it fits a category for the Johnston Public Library reading challenge. I give this book two out of five stars.

Hooked: How Crafting Saved My Life by Sutton Foster. As a crafter I turn to knitting or watercolor when I am dealing with stress. I liked reading how Foster used crafting to cope with divorce, travelling shows, having a bad mom, and infertility. This was an enjoyable book. I give this book three out of five stars.

Have you read anything good lately?