February 2020 Book Releases

Bestselling author Erik Larson turns his attention to Winston Churchill’s first year as Prime Minister as he unites a nation in the face of the horrors of the London Blitz. With thorough in-depth research, Larson brings Churchill to life – sharing details on his political and personal life.However, Larson’s thoroughness is also a drawback. Although not quite as long as Churchill’s own six-volume work, at over 600 pages, you need to love history books to appreciate this thick tome. Larson shows Churchill’s life in great detail, bordering on repetitive.

All in all, my love of World War II books made this my favorite of the February 2020 book releases I’ve read. Just be prepared for an informative read instead of a thrilling read. Read more →

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Crown Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Sadie and Will Foust are desperately in need of a new start, so after the death of Will’s sister, they relocate to a small island in Maine to help raise Will’s niece Imogen. Only weeks later, they are shocked by the brutal murder of their neighbor Morgan. Told from three points of view: Sadie, who seems to be of precarious mental state since the murder; Camille, Will’s stalkerish former mistress; and Mouse, an abused little girl. The Other Mrs is a bit convoluted. With all the storylines and complications, the plot was a hot mess.Early on, I figured out what was going on, and it just felt too easy. Really, you are going with that cliche? Luckily, Kubica had one more twist, which redeemed the book somewhat, but didn’t do enough to salvage it for me. Read more →

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Park Row through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Authenticity Project was nowhere on my radar when I first composed my list of February 2020 book releases. However, when one of my readers sent me a glowing review and suggested I read it, I emailed the publisher for a copy.Septuagenarian Julian Jessop feels like the world lacks authenticity. So he writes his deepest truths in a notebook which then gets passed along from stranger to stranger adding their own truths. Along the way, they will find connections they didn’t realize they were missing.

Despite its poor cover art, The Authenticity Project was a delight to read. The heartwarming interaction between the characters reminded me of Fredrick Backman’s A Man Called Ove. With a light love story and a few fun surprises, Pooley has penned the perfect little cozy read for winter. Read more →

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Pamela Dorman through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

After an affair with a married man, young Juliet LaCompte is doomed to repeat the affair again and again over centuries, all while her true love must tragically watch. Can she break the curse or is she doomed to repeat her mistake forever?Not my usual fare, but when Redhook offered me an ARC, I decided to chance it. From the start, I considered if I should finish it. The writing was subpar, relying too heavily on plot and oversharing details that should have been told in broad brushstrokes. I felt that the story didn’t have enough emotional weight and should have dived more into the characters’ thoughts and feelings.

However, I did eventually get caught up in the story, needing to know how it ended. (Yes, it ended satisfactorily, by the way). So credit to Constance Sayers for coming up with an engaging premise. I just wish it had been written a better writer, say Stuart Turton (The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle) instead. Read more →

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Redhook. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

In a post-apocalyptic world, the Earth has been stripped of civilization, with the few remaining humans returning to a basic life in the wilderness. Krivak’s fable tells the story of a girl and her father as they live alone in the woods. When her father dies during a trip to the ocean, the girl must journey back to her home alone, with the help of a bear.The best describing words I can think of for this fable are simple and emotionless. Krivak’s narration lays everything down as facts without any real feeling. You aren’t drawn in to the story, just noting the sequence of events.

I know the story is supposed to be about loneliness and coping with death, but in reality, the lack of emotional connection made it feel like a story about how to live off the land. Plus, the animals begin to talk to the girl, who is never given a name, and that just was the last straw for me. Definitely one to skip, The Bear is a serious contender for the worst book on my 2020 reading list. Read more →

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bellevue Literary Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

After being struck by lightning Eva Hansen wakes up to find her mother has been murdered, and she’s the main suspect. How do you prove you didn’t do it if you can’t remember what happened? Now, Eva must dive into her mother’s past to find out the secrets that someone doesn’t want known. I didn’t love McDonald’s The Night Olivia Fell, but I’m willing to give her another shot with her new release.  Read more →

I love a good legal thriller, and I’m excited to see one among the February 2020 book releases. During a tense murder trial, juror Maya Seale swings her fellow jurors to acquit black high school teacher Bobby Nock of the murder of the wealthy white student with which he was having an affair. Ten years later, when a fellow juror turns up dead in Maya’s room, Maya must prove her innocence. Special thanks to Sarah from Sarah’s Bookshelves for tipping me off to this one. Read more →

The bestselling writing duo is back with another psychological thriller picked among the February Book of the Month selections. After Shay Miller witnesses a suicide in New York City, she ends up connecting with the woman’s glamorous friends. But Shay doesn’t realize is that they might be just as interested in her as she is in them. Read more →

In Victorian London, female detective Bridie Devine faces her hardest case yet – the kidnapping of a young girl. The hidden daughter of Sir Edmund Athelstan Berwick, Christabel is rumored to have supernatural powers. Along the way, Bridie teams up with a giantess housemaid and a tattooed ghost to solve the mystery. Originally published last April in the UK, this Gothic mystery is finally getting its US debut among the February 2020 book releases. Read more →

In 1982, hoping to earn enough money to move to New York City, Viv Delaney takes a job as a clerk at the Sun Down Motel in Fell, New York, only to mysteriously disappear. Thirty-five years later, Viv’s niece Carly Kirk returns to the Sun Down Motel to investigate her aunt’s disappearance. Chosen among the January Book of the Month selections, The Sun Down Motel was called “a proper spookfest” by editorial director Siobhan Jones. Read more →

Palestinian Bassam Aramin and Israeli Rami Elhanan find a connection through grief when both have daughters killed by the ongoing conflict. United through tragedy, both hope to find a way towards peace. Based on a true story, McCann’s novel pieces together stories, literary quotes, biblical references and even art to convey the depth of grief felt by these two families. Different than my usual fare, I’m interested to see if I can fully appreciate this hybrid novel. Read more →Update: See my full review of Apeirogon on my February Reading List.