february reads

I was hoping to continue the reading trend for the month of February … but would it last? Spoiler alert: YES! I’m pretty thrilled. Lots of fabulous reads and a few that just published that I was lucky enough to take an early look at.

Outofshapeworthlessloser by Gracie Gold (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5)

I knew I had to read this book after watching an interview with Gracie Gold on the TODAY Show. I used to watch skating regularly, stopping just shy a bit before her era. Her book is a very honest and often harsh look at the competitive world of skating and the challenges she faced both on and off the ice. Such a powerful read on her determination and coming to a new understanding with what had for a while become a nemesis. Highly recommend this audiobook. She also joined for this great episode of Peter Shankman’s Faster Than Normal podcast to discuss the book and her experiences.

I Promise it Won’t Always Hurt Like This by Clare Mackintosh (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5)

This book felt like a hug from a stranger I didn’t know I needed. I haven’t read Claire’s other books but was immediately interested in this one from the title and cover alone. I knew it would be a gem and wasn’t disappointed. I felt like Clare was describing so much of my own experience — things I thought or felt which I thought were strange but she shared in her own story. We didn’t suffer the same kind of loss but so much rang true. I have a many underlined passages I will keep with me as they so beautifully summarized the sentiment.

This was such a great read for anyone who has experienced loss — whatever the stage. One I will be recommending to others looking for comfort.

This Will Only Hurt a Little by Busy Phillips (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5)

It’s strange to me that someone who was not my fave on Dawson’s Creek (I’m a hard core main cast kind of fan) has evolved into one of my favorite Instagram follows. I missed her early days on Freaks and Geeks and really enjoyed her self-narrated audiobook going through it all. I was especially moved by the role Tori Amos plays in overcoming some of her pain and the sometimes brutal honesty she’s able to bring to bear at some of her most heartbreaking moments over the years.

Wildflower by Drew Barrymore (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5)

This is more essay versus memoir, bouncing around a bit in time. I will forever have a soft spot for Drew though with her so integrated into one of my core memories from childhood — the first movie I remember in the theater (ET.) Interesting and easy listen – though brace for Drew’s sudden jumps in inflection + occasional screams!

I didn’t realize she has another memoir which I believe goes more into her addiction and recovery process. This only lightly touches on that and focuses more on her life she’s built since, into her career, (then) marriage, motherhood and beyond.

The Last Time She Saw Him by Kate White (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5)

I found this an easy and enjoyable read — preferring the back half of the book where the intrigue and pace picked up a bit for me. The action unfolded a bit too slow for me in the beginning but did lay the foundation necessary for the way the story progresses. I did find myself rooting for these characters and did find the ending satisfying.

Open Book by Jessica Simpson (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5)

I was surprised how much loved this one — and how much I did not know about her. I always thought about her as the bubble gum pop star who had a falling out with her older boy band counterpart, with a reality show along the way. Though that’s sort of part of it, this shows just how much more she really is — the abuse she endured as a child, addition she struggled with as an adult and the love she ultimately found in her new partner and in her kids. The audiobook is the way to go as she sings some of the songs she discusses throughout it.

Mean Baby by Selma Blair (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5)

I loved following Very raw look back at Selma’s journey and rise to fame — the good, the bad and the ugly. I know her mainly from Cruel Intentions, where her portrayal of Vicente

Another one where the audiobook is the way to go.

Come and Get It by Riley Kiley (⭐️⭐️⭐️/5)

This is my first read from Kiley Reid as I haven’t yet read her other book. Being from the South, I loved the setting for the book and thought she did a great job of taking the reader to the space. The book itself was a great in-depth character study in particular of Millie, Agatha and Kennedy. She did a great job of making them multi-dimensional people with lots of flaws that helped to propel the story forward.

My main issue with the book was that the action really focused in the last third of the book, which made reading the beginning slow. It’s a credit to her writing that I was as engaged as I was because she is such a great writer. I felt a little bit of whiplash from everything happening all at once but was pretty happy in the end with where it leaves us. I was not expecting where we landed with Kennedy and was a little sad with Millie’s story arc and hoping her character learned from this experience.

Ready for March’s reads already — though being so late in getting this out, I can confirm I’ve already knocked out quite a few fabulous ones!