So… I haven’t been seen for about two weeks, which lets be honest is kind of the norm for this blog, unfortunately this time I was absent for some not so fun reasons. I’m so relieved February is over because I went through far too much and for the shortest month in the year it somehow managed to floor me.
I just want give a couple of life updates before I get into my reading for the month. Mid-way through February I managed to catch covid, and at the time in the UK we had to self-isolate for at least six days, and this could end if we tested negative two days in the row (first test on the fifth day, second on the sixth); however I tested positive for ten whole days which was the maximum period for self-isolation. It was rough. I was really lucky not to have a lot of symptoms, but fatigue did mess me up really bad so I didn’t read as much as I wanted to during that time.
Second of all, on the 22nd our family dog Scout, aged 15 and a half, suddenly fell ill and we decided to put him down as he could no longer breathe. It’s been really hard and I miss him so much. It’s been just over a week and half and it’s still really tricky, I can’t even completely finish a piece of toast as he used to always have my last corner! I also look for him everywhere I go, but I’m trying to remember all the good with him, and it’s easing a little more everyday.
However, one of the only good things that happened in the last month was joining tiktok as a small distraction and running a booktok account. I joined for fun and I’m definitely having that! It’s a really cool community, and one that’s going to hurt my bank account with all it’s diverse and fun recommendations, because there are so many good books on there I’ve never heard of before! It’s also been a welcome distraction for me from everything bad that has been going on in my life, and I’m finding myself quickly becoming addicted. My username is @moonlitbooks_ so come check me out so we can be mutuals!
Now onto the books: I read seven books this month, all of them ended up being four and five stars! Which is incredible, and now I’m slightly fearful of what my March reads will look like because they can’t possibly live up to this standard again.
I’ve also included a few stats for my reads this month as this is something I want to try and do moving forward! I’ve only included four so far, even though there’s other categories I want to add as I’m still learning how to use google sheets.
Note: for the graph exploring the race of author’s I’ve read this month I included N/A as one author’s race didn’t appear to fit neatly into any label
ExtraOrdinary by V. E. Schwab
This was a nice addition to the universe in which the Villains series is set within, and I did enjoy the story as it added to what we already know; but then again, maybe I’m just starved for Villain‘s content. It wasn’t fantastic and it’s definitely not necessary reading if you enjoy Vicious, and you can also read this without reading any other material. In the end it came out as a 4 star rating for me.
The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri
This made me cry at work; it was humiliating, but if you need any incentive to read it this is it! It made me, an anxiety disorder mess, cry in public without any regrets. It’s as beautiful as everyone claims it to be, and a read that will leave you haunted. I have already managed to pick up a second-hand copy of Lefteri’s Songbirds in an attempt to chase the highs this gave me. I ended up rating it 5 stars.
Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson
Honestly, this is a little hard to get into as it’s told in the second person with highly emotive, and almost lyrical language, so it’s not just something you can pick up randomly. However, it’s an absolutely incredible read and it was the kind of book I feel like should be required reading, and it’s simply about two black people falling in love with London. Truthfully, no review or description can encapsulate everything this is, my rating is 4 stars.
Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall
If you follow this blog, or read my WWW Wednesday posts, you will know that it took me an age to read this. However, that doesn’t mean it wasn’t fantastic, because it was definitely that. I would note this feels very much an introduction into intersectional feminism, and obviously the majority of the focus is on America, so if you’re looking for something more ‘advanced’ and outside of the American cultural landscape look elsewhere. My rating is 5 stars.
The Twyford Code by Janice Hallett
This is Hallett’s second novel after her debut The Appeal was published last year, which you can read my review for here. This is just as incredible as her first, and the way the mystery unravels with in this one, with plot twists and turns that leave you stunned, was honestly thrilling. I made so many notes when reading this, tabbed too many pages and obsessed over everything I learnt. If you’re looking for a modern day whodunit with clever twists, Hallett is your girl. Easily a 5 star read.
Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan
This was such a strange read for me! I had placed it on my anticipated publications for the first half of this year (you can read it here), and at first I thought I was going to be horribly let down, and then all of a sudden this book picked up out of nowhere? At first, everything with this book rubbed me the wrong way and somehow along the way it hooked me, and I could not put it down. It was a strange experience, but ultimately a YA fantasy I would recommend with a female character whose strong in the best way – she gets her ass handed to her but she always gets back up. In the end, I decided to give this 4 stars.
Lore Olympus Volume One by Rachel Smythe
I know a lot of you will know this a webcomic, and that you have read it, but I haven’t so I picked this up on a recommendation; and oh my god why hadn’t I done this sooner? It’s such an incredible fun story full of entertaining characters, but it’s also incredibly touching and deals with dark subjects with grace and consideration I rarely see in any form of literature. 5 stars from me!
Moonlit Books 
isn’t it a bit racist to sort authors by the colour of their skin? 😉
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Hi! So in my spreadsheet of books I’ve read this year (where those stats are from) I keep track of the race of authors to ensure my reading is diverse and I’m taking in different cultures and perspective! Plus, it’s to help ensure I’m doing my part to fight back against the publishing industry’s tendency to push white authors over any others. I don’t not pick up books because of race.
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Oh no! Evelyn, I’m so sorry about Scout. Losing a pet is so, so hard. I can’t even give you any good advice since I know that there is no good advice for that. But I hope remembering the good things will help you.
Also, oh no, for catching covid. The self-isolating can be rather hard. But I’m glad your symtoms weren’t severe.
I have not read any of the books on your list but it’s good that it was mostly 4 and 5 stars for you. 🙂
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thank you for your kind words! Well, I highly recommend all of them!!!
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Oh no, I’m so sorry to hear that you had to contend with such a tough month 🥺 It’s great that you’ve recovered from being sick but I’m sorry to hear about losing Scout! At least you have many amazing memories to cherish and one day those memories will bring more joy than pain. Despite not reading as much as you wanted, it looks like you had a great month of books—I’m a huge Olympus fan but almost all the others are on my TBR and I’m particularly keen to pick up Bee Keeper and Open Water asap this year! I hope March is a better month for you all around 💜
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Thank you for those kind words! I can’t recommend the Beekeeper enough so I hope you’ll be able to get to it soon:)
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