February 2026 Reading Wrap-Up and My Cozy Slump Reset
My February 2026 reading wrap-up: 13 books, ratings, mini thoughts on each, top 3 favorites, and the one that seriously let me down. Plus a cozy reset.
13 Books I Read in February
February wasn’t a month of being a functional human and devouring books. It was a real life is a lot month and on a lot of days, reading felt like too much. Not because I didn’t want to read stories… but because my brain didn’t want that.
So I didn’t force it.
When I was reading, I could still blow through a book, but I spent a lot of time not wanting to pick one up at all and I let that be okay.
Instead of defaulting to scrolling, I started reaching for my iPad for gentle comfort: coloring + cozy games that helped me decompress without draining me. It’s been surprisingly calming, and I’m writing a separate post about the start of this habit and why it’s been such a supportive little “burrito but functional” tool.
Even with the slower pace, I still finished 13 books this month and one of them was a full on 5-star read.
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February Reading Stats (At a Glance)
- Total books read: 13
- Average rating: 3.5
- Reading mood: comfort-seeking + gentle distraction energy
- Best surprise: a new favorite by an old favorite
- Reading truth: sometimes the win is showing up at all
Watch: My February Wrap-Up Live
Prefer to watch? I did a February 2026 Reading Wrap-Up Live where I talk through my top 3 reads, my thoughts on The Flame and the Flower (and why I didn’t rate it), plus my big disappointment of the month.
Watch the live show here:
Top 3 Picks of the Month
Crown of War and Shadow by JR Ward 5 STARS
My favorite book of the month, hands down. It’s a new genre lane for J.R. Ward, and it felt like epic fantasy journey first, romance second. But that really worked for me. I loved being grounded in a single first-person POV (which felt new for her), and watching the heroine’s growth over the course of a high-stakes, cinematic adventure.
I did an interview with JR Ward this month about this book. Don’t forget to check it out.
If you like: D&D energy, LOTR vibes, Raiders of the Lost Arc, monster fights, “road trip” fantasy journeys, only one horse, and a romance that supports the heroine instead of overpowering her, this is worth a look.
Romanceopoly: I used this book for Crying Room.
Grab Crown of War and Shadow on Amazon or read my full Crown of War and Shadow review.
Vanguard by Karina Halle 4 STARS
This was such a fun genre blend: dystopian + sci-fi + spy thriller + romance. The heroine is an MI6 agent sent to infiltrate the hero’s world (he’s very “Captain America / Batman-adjacent” energy), and it gives you that delicious tension when she realizes things are not quite how she thought.
If you like: super-soldier vibes, espionage, future world-building, and romance threaded through action, you’ll probably enjoy this.
The Epicenter of Forever by Mara Williams 4 STARS
I went into this expecting a straightforward contemporary romance and got something that leans a little more women’s fiction / heroine’s journey, in the best way. There’s real emotional complexity here with family dynamics, strained relationships, caretaking, and the messy truths you uncover when you return to a place (and a person) you thought you understood. Plus a single dad romance in a small town setting.
If you like: emotional stories, complicated family relationships, found family/community, and romances with real-life weight, this one surprised me.
Grab The Epicenter of Forever on Amazon
February 2026 Mini Reviews
Kiss and Cry by Keira Andrews 3.5 STARS
I picked this up because the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. Keira Andrews is one of my go to authors when it comes to Olympics romances of all kinds, and this one didn’t disappoint. It’s emotional and sweet, but also complicated and spicy at the same time.
Grab Kiss and Cry on Amazon or read my Kiss and Cry book review
Not My Romeo by Ilsa Madden-Mills 3.5 STARS
This wasn’t my favorite Ilsa, but it had cute moments and it’s great when you want a simple, easy story and you don’t want to think too hard. But still plenty of spice. That said: if you’re here for the sports, you might be disappointed. It’s not a very sport-forward book.
Romanceopoly: This was the February Study Session.
The Trident and the Pearl by Sarah K.L. Wilson 3.5 STARS
This started out SO strong for me. Big sweeping story energy that reminded me of reading Jacqueline Carey or Anne Bishop in the best way. I was fully locked in at the beginning. Somewhere along the way, I lost a bit of that early excitement, but I still ended up liking it overall… it just didn’t keep me as fascinated as that first impression. It is still a big epic story and I’ll be interested to see what happens next.
Grab The Trident and the Pearl on Amazon
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Muscles & Monsters by Ashley Bennett 3 STARS
Muscles & Monsters totally understood the assignment… even if I didn’t understand the “shifter” part 😂
I grabbed this for the Romanceopoly Lycanthrope Hall (Shifter Romance) square and… plot twist: there’s no shifting. So I re-routed it to Nightshade Society Club (Into the Shadows) instead.
This was a super fast read and OH BOY was it spicy… but also weirdly adorable and cozy-cute at the same time. It had me giggling between the “training sessions”.
Quick setup: after a wedding cake disaster, baker Tegan literally crashes into Atlas, a gym-owning wolven with golden retriever energy in a monster-man body. She joins his gym to get stronger (wink, wink), and the chemistry escalates real quick.
Grab Muscles & Monsters on Amazon
The Flame and the Flower by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss NO RATING
This felt like reading a time capsule, not just a historical romance, but a piece of romance history. There are absolutely elements that are tough through a modern lens, and I wouldn’t recommend it if certain topics are triggering for you. But as a genre “artifact,” it was a genuinely interesting experience and that’s why I didn’t feel right assigning it a star rating the way I would a modern romance.
If you want deeper discussion, I also did ongoing episode-by-episode conversations on the podcast as we read it. Check out all about The Flame and the Flower book club discussion here.
Grab the Flame and the Flower on Amazon
Fated to the Frost King by Elle Madison & Robin D. Mahle 3 STARS
This was slightly disappointing for me because the world-building felt pretty shallow. The concept is there, but I wanted more depth to really sink into.
Romanceopoly: read for the Frostbitten Trials (Shimmer Clash prompt) because of the winter theme.
Grab Fated to the Frost King on Amazon
Whispers of the Lake by Shanora Williams 2 STARS
This was my biggest disappointment this month. I usually enjoy Shanora Williams, but this one didn’t work for me. It felt boring, some threads felt like filler, and the resolution didn’t land the way I wanted.
Grab Whispers of the Lake on Amazon or check out the Whispers of the Lake book club discussion.
Big Girl Blitz by Danielle Allen 3 STARS
This was a wonderful story of found family, community, and a sweet romance. I loved how the appreciation for the sport came through, but what I loved most was the way the relationships (especially the women + friendships) gave the whole book a complete, warm “family” feeling.
Trailbreaker by Ruthie Knox & Annie Mare 3.5 STARS
I enjoyed the first book in this series and was excited to get more Prairie Nightingale. This one felt slightly different because now she’s running her own investigation agency, so the vibe shifted a bit, but it was still a fun ride. There’s something casual but captivating about the investigations in this series, and this was a really good time.
Game On by Navessa Allen 3.5 STARS
I really liked both main characters and the revenge plot, but I also felt like this had less of the dark romance vibe than I expected. I’ve come to realize that the more I read into this series. Even with morally grey characters and darker elements, it read lighter to me, more like a contemporary romance with a bad boy edge.
When I Didn’t Want to Read, I Didn’t Scroll (and That Helped)
This month, when reading felt like too much, I chose cozy iPad time instead of spiraling into scrolling. It gave me the stress free time I needed without the post-scroll crash. If you’re in a slump or going through it, this might be a gentle option for you too.
What’s Next: March Romanceopoly TBR (Discord Recs Edition)
For March, I pulled my Romanceopoly picks straight from recommendations in my Discord server, because if I’m going to be influenced, I want it to be by people who are doing the reading challenge with me. It also takes decision fatigue off my plate and makes the month feel like a cozy community experiment. Watch my March Romanceopoly TBR on YouTube.
March Intentions
March is getting a softer goal: consistency over volume.
If I read a lot, amazing. If I read a little but feel more like myself, also amazing.
Tell me: what was your best book of February? Biggest flop? And are you a reader-burrito, a game-burrito, or full hibernation-burrito?
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