What I Read this Month; February 2026

Piglet by Lottie Hazel

Library Worthy- 3/5 Stars
‘Piglet’, a successful cookbook editor living in Oxford with her affluent fiancé, Kit. Piglet’s confidence and control crack wide open after Kit reveals a devastating betrayal and she spirals emotionally, often turning to food for comfort. The novel explores themes of identity, class, self-worth, and the tension between outward perfection and inner turmoil, using food as both metaphor and mirror for what it means to fill the cracks when everything falls apart.

Overall this was an easy listen that I did enjoy on my afternoon drives home from work. The characters, plot and writing style were all ok, and I appreciated the foodie references, finding the character’s relationship with food interesting.

While I might not be inclined to buy it myself, it is worth the read if you’re able to find it at your local library, or through the Libby App.
Amazon: US or CA

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

Hard-Cover Worthy- 5/5 Stars
Set in a futuristic world inspired by China, humanity fights relentless alien creatures called Hunduns with giant mechanized warriors known as Chrysalises. Here, male pilots are celebrated while the women forced to power them are treated as expendable. When eighteen-year-old Wu Zetian volunteers as a concubine-pilot to avenge her sister’s death, she defies the system’s sexist expectations, and uncovers her own extraordinary power.

I devoured this book in 3 days and think I may have already found a favorite for 2026!

The plot was unique, with some slight Hunger Games x Power Ranger vibes. The characters are good, while the leading female character, Zetian, is perfection in her character arc. Writing style is good, with the exact amount of breadcrumbs, and ugh, that ending. I can’t wait to read the second installment!
Amazon: US or CA

This is Marketing by Seth Godin

Shelf Worthy- 4/5 Stars
Seth Godin reframes marketing as building meaningful connections by serving a specific audience, not shouting at the masses. Through clear principles grounded in connection, generosity, and culture-building, the book teaches you how to create work that resonates deeply and spreads because it matters to the people it serves.

So many highlighted quotes!

I love how Seth take the mundane world of marketing, and turns it into a journey of self reflection, asking the reader to figure out what change they want to make in the world, and finding their why as a way of connecting better with those they wish to serve. This honestly turned into an evening of journaling and reflection on my part, and I loved getting more intimate with the change I want to make in the world and how I want to show up for all of you here too!
Amazon: US or CA

Daughter of No Worlds by Carissa Broadbent

Read Worthy- 3/5 Stars
Tisaanah, a young woman who escaped slavery and is determined to gain the power needed to free the people she left behind. To do so, she seeks training with the powerful magical Orders, where she is forced into an apprenticeship with the brooding and reluctant fire wielder Maxantarius Farlione. As war looms and dark secrets within the Orders begin to surface, Tisaanah must learn to master her a new magic thrust upon her.

After getting hooked on the Crowns of Nyaxia, and being gifted an ARC for Mother of Death and Dawn, I was so excited to start in on this series. Overall it was good; an enjoyable read and an ending that helped tie it all together. Kind of similar to my feelings regarding Quicksilver, while not nec. a stand out read for me, I am looking forward to picking up the next book, and it will most likely find its way onto my shelf if I find a good second-hand deal.
Amazon: US or CA

QuickSilver by Callie Hart

Shelf- Worthy- 3.5/5 Stars
Saeris Fane has spent her life surviving in a brutal desert city, when a risky theft leads to her capture and being pulled through the Quicksilver and into the world of the Fae. As tensions rise and war looms, Saeris must confront her power, and learn to use it in order to save herself, and the Fae realm itself. Dark, fast-paced, and laced with simmering tension and fated mates.

I really enjoyed this read, it has a great plot and character lineup. Kingfisher is that quintessential brooding badass that’s actually well-loved by friends and family and prioritizes the ones he loves under all of that emotional armor. The ending and the writing style were both good and I will absolutely be following along with this series and reading Brimstone soon!

I guess, I’m just feeling like a lot of the recent fantasies are starting to blend together a bit. I might have to switch up genres for a while, because I’m finding these fantasies are starting to have a hard time standing out. I think maybe that’s why I don’t feel like I HAVE to have this one on my shelf in hard cover, but you can definitely bet it’s getting added to my ongoing search list at the second hand book store!
Amazon: US or CA

The Songbird & the Heart of Stone by Carissa Broadbent

Shelf Worthy- 4/5 Stars
Mische has lost everything, her home, her humanity, and the love of the sun god she once served, after being forcibly turned into a vampire. After being sentenced to death for killing the vampire who turned her, she is unexpectedly saved by Asar, a deadly prince of the House of Shadow, and bound to a perilous mission into the underworld to resurrect the god of death.

Right off the bat I do have to say, the ‘hero’s quest & Herculean Challenges’ plot line is starting to get a little overused in this series. It seems like every book there seems to be competition-structured and staged challenges ie. pass these tests, collect these items and you win. It really took me a while to get into the book because of this, however, I did appreciate delving into the history of the supporting character Mische and ended up really enjoying the second half of the book. In fact, I loved the ending! There were so many good ones in this book too!
Amazon: US or CA

NotMyThing

Dare to Lead by Brene Brown
2.5 stars- I usually love Brene Brown, I adored Atlas of the Heart, but this one was a little too corporately geared for me. Despite not being in a leadership role myself, there were some great quotes, but many seemed to be referencing her previous books as opposed to new ideas being presented in this one.

What was your favorite read this month?
-Anna R.

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