Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: February 2026

Hello, everyone! I can't believe that it's time for another reading wrap-up. February started pretty promising for me as I thought that I would have a lot of time for reading. Plus, I had a pretty strong TBR on my mind (which I didn't end up finishing). However, these past couple of weeks, I needed to beta read numerous books, which prevented me from reading for pleasure. I'm not complaining though as I love beta reading and helping authors with their stories. 

Right now, I am in such a mood for reading, which makes me feel hopeful for March. The issue is that I've started numerous books at once and I don't know which one to pick up first. In any case, my hunt for my first 5* continues since, so far, only The Hobbit was one (and that was a reread). One of the books I'm currently reading though, has a strong 5* feeling, so the drought might come at an end.

Here is what I read this month: 

Books I've Completed in February

• Beg, Borrow, or Steal - Sarah Adams: My hunt for a 5* romance (according to my 2026 resolutions) continues. The first half of this book made me truly believe that I'd found it. However, as the story progressed, I ended up liking it less and less. That was mostly because I thought that the characters were too immature, especially for their age. 
• The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World - Robin Wall Kimmerer: This was the first non-fiction of the year, since I'd DNFed the previous one I'd picked up. The Serviceberry turned out to be really calming, and made me feel appreciative toward nature and the act of gifting. Yet, it didn't manage to teach me anything (something that I'm looking for from the non-fiction books I pick up).
• A Pocket Full of Rye - Agatha Christie: Then, I went for a classic murder mystery, which was a reread for me. Luckily, I had read it many years ago so I didn't really remember who had done it. I enjoyed the twists of this book, and even though I didn't get it right, I managed to predict one of the elements of the story. 
• Heartwood - Amity Gaige: I've had my eye on this book since late last year as it's a literary mystery, and I tend to enjoy those (for example, The God of the Woods by Liz Moore). Plus, it was the perfect pick for February's Buzzword Cover Challenge. In the end, it felt like an ok book for me. Even though I liked the writing and all the descriptions of nature and the trails, I wasn't really invested in the search. But I think that I would like to read more outdoorsy mysteries and thrillers. 
• What Moves the Dead - T. Kingfisher: The next book, I picked on a whim as I wasn't planning on reading it this month. I'm glad that I've finally started this series and sampled T. Kingfisher's writing. I found that this book had excellent gothic atmosphere and I'm eager to move to the next instalment. 
• I Know A Place: Rest Stop and Other Dark Detours - Nat Cassidy: This is the book I was most excited about reading this month. I received an ARC and I couldn't be happier about it. This book contains 13 of Nat Cassidy's short stories, including the novella Rest Stop. You can read my thoughts on each story in my review.
• Vigil - George Saunders: One of my most anticipated books of 2026. I was hesitating picking it up since its publication in January as the reviews were mixed. Ultimately, I'm happy I decided to give it a chance. This was exactly the time of book I like with strong themes of memory, appreaciation for life, and ecological consciousness. Now, I'm even more eager to read Lincoln in the Bardo. 
• The Hog's Back Mystery - Freeman Wills Crofts: The second murder mystery of the month was also a reread. I had received a copy from the published years ago, and the my review is still up on the blog. This time though, I listened to the audiobook. This is a very interesting murder mystery as the author tries to play fair with the readers, and gives them a chance to solve the murders along the investigator. 

Books I'm Currently Reading

• The Quantum Moment: How Planck, Bohr, Einstein, and Heisenberg Taught Us to Love Uncertainty - Alfred Scharff Goldhaber, Robert P. Crease: You know me, I love reading about science. But this is an interesting case of the book as it's written by both a physicist and a philosopher. So, it talks about quantum physics and its impact on our culture, which I find pretty interesting.
• The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre - Philip Fracassi: Guys, this is the one! It has no right to be so entertaining, and I'm enjoying every second of it. It is a slasher taking place in a retirement home, what more can you ask? I initially picked it up for the February's Buzzword Reading Challenge (even though I'll finish it in March). 
• The Silmarillion - J.R.R.Tolkien: Did you think that we were done with Middle Earth? Instead of reading it physically though, I chose to listen to the audiobook. Andy Serkis is so amazing at the narration that I feel like I was to also listen to The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit (which I know, I've reread just a few months ago). 
• The Only One Left - Riley Sager: The final book I'm currently reading is my book club pick for this month, and our meeting is on Saturday. Fortunately, I've already read 1/3 of it and I'd only started it last night. So far, I'm liking it a lot but I'm curious to see where the story is heading. 

What did you read in February?

Which was the best and worst book of the month?