It’s time for my first half of February 2025 book review post! I am sharing what I read in February so far, although I am skipping my 5 star reads to share later in the month. The Amazon links to the books I’ve read are affiliate links and if you use them and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. If you’ve read any of these books or are interested in them, I’d love to hear about it in the comments!
Title: Let’s Call Her Barbie
Author: Reneé Rosen
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Berkley, 1/21/25
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 4 Stars
Let’s Call Her Barbie by Reneé Rosen is a fictionalized retelling of the woman behind the creation of the Barbie doll and of Mattel and its employees as well. The main viewpoints are of Ruth, the creator, Jack, the man who got a lot of the credit, and Stevie, a fictional Barbie fashion designer.
“When Ruth Handler walks into the boardroom of the toy company she co-founded and pitches her idea for a doll unlike any other, she knows what she’s setting in motion. It might just take the world a moment to catch up. In 1956, the only dolls on the market for little girls let them pretend to be mothers. Ruth’s vision for a doll shaped like a grown woman and outfitted in an enviable wardrobe will let them dream they can be anything. As Ruth assembles her team of creative rebels—head engineer Jack Ryan who hides his deepest secrets behind his genius and designers Charlotte Johnson and Stevie Klein, whose hopes and dreams rest on the success of Barbie’s fashion—she knows they’re working against a ticking clock to get this wild idea off the ground. In the decades to come—through soaring heights and devastating personal lows, public scandals and private tensions— each of them will have to decide how tightly to hold on to their creation. Because Barbie has never been just a doll—she’s a legacy.”
There was a lot of drama and scandal as well as mental illness, infidelity, cancer, and drug use that affected the story. One of the things I wondered about was the story that Ruth didn’t want Barbie to marry – but one of the first outfits made for her was a wedding dress!
Title: Yolk
Author: Mary H. K. Choi
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Audio, 3/2/21
Source: Library Audio
Why I Read It: Backlist
My Rating: 4 Stars
The second book I read from my 25 in ’25 list was Yolk by Mary H. K. Choi. I had previously read a book by her that I didn’t love, but I liked this one more. This is marketed as YA, but it is about sisters Jayne and June, who are in their 20s. I would consider the content to be more adult than YA. I listened to the audio of this one.
“Jayne and June Baek are nothing alike. June’s three years older, a classic first-born, know-it-all narc with a problematic finance job and an equally soulless apartment (according to Jayne). Jayne is an emotionally stunted, self-obsessed basket case who lives in squalor, has egregious taste in men, and needs to get to class and stop wasting Mom and Dad’s money (if you ask June). Once thick as thieves, these sisters who moved from Seoul to San Antonio to New York together now don’t want anything to do with each other. That is, until June gets cancer. And Jayne becomes the only one who can help her. Flung together by circumstance, housing woes, and family secrets, will the sisters learn more about each other than they’re willing to confront? And what if while helping June, Jayne has to confront the fact that maybe she’s sick, too?”
The story is told from Jayne’s perspective and it’s a hard one to be immersed in, as she is struggling. Her thoughts are disordered and she has an eating disorder. Her relationship with her family is strained, but when June reaches out needing Jayne’s help, the sisters reconnect. I could tell they loved each other, even with the way they talked to each other. June has cancer, and this book contains depictions of binge eating, bleeding, toxic relationships, and mental illness. The narrator did a great job and while it’s not a book one can really enjoy, it is one that can be appreciated.
Title: The Favorites
Author: Layne Fargo
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Publisher: Random House, 1/14/25
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 4 Stars
The Favorites by Layne Fargo was high on my list of anticipated reads because her thriller They Never Learn remains one of my favorite thrillers ever, and because this one has such high praise. This book has been compared to a Taylor Jenkins Reid style book. As someone who is not a huge TJR fan, that comparison does hold up. This is about Kat and Heath, ice dancers who have an addictive and toxic relationship from a young age. They grow up together in their sport and in their relationship. Another character, Bella, got in their way in a love triangle and by breaking up their skating partnership. The story is told partially as a documentary in interview style. It was full of scandal.
“She might not have a famous name, funding, or her family’s support, but Katarina Shaw has always known that she was destined to become an Olympic skater. When she meets Heath Rocha, a lonely kid stuck in the foster care system, their instant connection makes them a formidable duo on the ice. Clinging to skating—and each other—to escape their turbulent lives, Kat and Heath go from childhood sweethearts to champion ice dancers, captivating the world with their scorching chemistry, rebellious style, and roller-coaster relationship. Until a shocking incident at the Olympic Games brings their partnership to a sudden end. As the ten-year anniversary of their final skate approaches, an unauthorized documentary reignites the public obsession with Shaw and Rocha, claiming to uncover the “real story” through interviews with their closest friends and fiercest rivals. Kat wants nothing to do with the documentary, but she can’t stand the thought of someone else defining her legacy. So, after a decade of silence, she’s telling her story: from the childhood tragedies that created her all-consuming bond with Heath to the clash of desires that tore them apart. Sensational rumors have haunted their every step for years, but the truth may be even more shocking than the headlines.”
I was mostly invested, though I was distracted after realizing this was a Wuthering Heights retelling. The characters were immature in a lot of ways and overall, like the TJR books I’ve read, I liked it but I didn’t love it.
Title: We Would Never
Author: Tova Mirvis
Genre: Thriller
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Audio, 2/11/25
Source: Publisher Audio
Why I Read It: I like the author
My Rating: 4 Stars
Tova Mirvis is an old favorite author of mine and I was excited when I heard she had a new release! This is about a family, centering around Hailey, whose ex husband is killed, putting her under suspicion. Hailey and her ex have been fighting due to her desire to move from NY to FL with their daughter. Hailey’s mom is a bit overbearing, but she seems to mean well, while her ex makes her seem much worse. Also a part of the story are Hailey’s father and her brother Nate. Her other brother Adam is estranged from the family.
“No one appears more surprised than Hailey Gelman when she comes under suspicion for the murder of her soon-to-be ex-husband Jonah. Hailey—nicknamed Sunshine by her mother for her bright outlook and ever-present smile—has always tried to do what is expected of her and is regarded as the family peacemaker. But is anyone, including Hailey, who she has always seemed to be? The months leading up to Jonah’s death have been fraught, including a bitter separation and a messy custody battle over their young daughter, Maya. When Hailey files a motion to relocate to Florida so she can be near her family, Jonah retaliates and the divorce begins to spiral dangerously out of control. Sherry, Hailey’s mother, will stop at almost nothing to keep Jonah from getting what he wants. Nate, Hailey’s impetuous and protective older brother, has tried to keep his distance, but he can’t stand to see his little sister suffer. And then there’s Solomon, the patriarch, who is keeping a secret that threatens the stability and security Sherry has worked so hard to maintain. Soon, they are forced to reckon with who they are as individuals and as a family, and just how far they will go for each other.”
This book is based on a real true crime story and reads as an interesting family drama. The audio was well done and it held my interest. I appreciated the Jewish representation and it was great to read a new book from this author!
Title: Lost, Found, and Forever
Author: Victoria Schade
Genre: Rom Com
Publisher: Berkley, 3/30/21
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Backlist
My Rating: 4 Stars
The next book I chose from my 25 in ’25 list was Lost, Found, and Forever by Victoria Schade. I have read a few other books by this author and I liked this one more than the one I read most recently. It is about Justine, who discovers that her dog Spencer actually belonged to Griffin before the dog got lost and was adopted by Justine.
“Justine Becker could not be more in love with her rescue dog, Spencer. He’s her best friend and ‘colleague’ at her dog supply store, Tricks & Biscuits, in upstate New York. When she discovers a heartbreaking social media post trying to locate a dog that looks suspiciously like Spencer, Justine realizes that her beloved pup might actually belong to someone else. Her worst fears are realized when she and Spencer meet up with Brooklyn-based Griffin McCabe, and he wants Spencer back. He claims he is the dog’s rightful owner, and has the paperwork to prove it. But Justine refuses to roll over and let him take Spencer without a fight. It’s not easy juggling Spencer’s burgeoning new career as a dog actor, along with the demands of her life upstate, all while constantly trying to prove she’s a better pet parent than Griffin. Their not-so-friendly competition teeters on the edge of flat-out hate, so when romantic feelings for Griffin catch Justine off guard, she needs to determine if it’s all part of his plot to win the pup back, or if the guy who was good enough for Spencer might also be good enough for her.”
I wasn’t a huge fan of the way Justine took full claim of Spencer and was resistant to having Griffin even see him, but when Spencer gets an acting job in the city and since he tends to get carsick, Justine agrees to spend more time with Griffin so Spencer doesn’t have to commute as much. I liked the way the dog helped to get Justine and Griffin closer, though there was definitely a bit of insta love involved! Overall, this was a cute story.
Title: We Are Made of Stars
Author: Rochelle B. Weinstein
Genre: Contemporary
Publisher: Lake Union, 2/25/25
Source: Get Red PR
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 4 Stars
I enjoy Rochelle B. Weinstein’s books and this one is quite different from her previous one! We Are Made of Stars is about a group who spend a week at an inn, owned by Jean-Paul and Reneé. The group includes two couples that are friends and come back every year, an actor and his estranged wife who are there for their anniversary, and a mom and her daughter, who chose the inn for their annual trip, but her reasons for choosing it are not clear. Due to financial issues, the inn may be closing soon.
“At the Vis Ta Vie inn, Reneé and Jean-Paul De La Rue face the daunting decision to close their beloved home for good. They’re not the only ones going through a season of change, though. Their guests include three couples in crisis: Hollywood celebs Leo and Penny are spending their silver anniversary together while on the cusp of divorce. Lucy, a practical-minded therapist, and Henry, an astronomer with his head in the stars, are struggling to find common ground. And former lawyer and current stay-at-home mom Sienna and charismatic sports agent Adam look perfect but are hiding rifts of their own. Thrown into the mix are self-absorbed single mother Cassidy and her sullen fifteen-year-old daughter, Rosalie. The stage is set for a week of betrayals, regrets, and shocking truths that can rend the heart or heal it. Vis Ta Vie―live your life―captures what it means to love through the darkness, and to find the light even after the magic fades.”
The story is told in alternating chapters in the voices of six of the characters. I had some difficulty keeping track of the couples Henry and Lucy and Adam and Sienna. With the third couple having marital problems as well, it was a little confusing at times. The main story had to do with 15 year old Rosalie and her very difficult mom, Cassidy, who struggles with disordered eating and drug use. The group unites in their caring for Rosalie, which was very sweet. This book was an interesting look at a variety of characters, marriages, family relationships, and more. It definitely held my interest and was a worthwhile read!
Title: The Princess Swap – Cinderella and The Beast (or, Beauty and the Glass Slipper)
Author: Kim Bussing
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Publisher: Random House Books For Young Readers, 1/7/25
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 3.5 Stars, Rounded up to 4
I thought this Disney inspired middle grade book would be a cute and quick read, but somehow I found the story hard to follow! In this book, Belle finds herself in Cinderella’s fireplace and trapped by her step family, while Ella is imprisoned by the Beast. Belle is planning to enter a competition and she meets Prince Amir, whose sister is missing. The story of the two girls becomes intertwined through Amir, who also knows Ella.
“Ella’s spent her life dreaming about adventure, but it’s hard to have adventures when you’re stuck with a stepfamily who treat you like a servant. When she unexpectedly wakes up in a land far, far away, she’s thrilled at the chance to embark on an epic quest. That is, until she finds herself trapped once more—this time in the castle of a dangerous beast. Belle, meanwhile, has plans. Her family’s trading company is on the brink of ruin, and to save it, she’s going to enter—and win—a royal competition in the prince’s honor. But when she unexpectedly winds up in a cellar with a wicked stepfamily who have their own plans to keep her from the competition . . . things get complicated. Happily-ever-after couldn’t feel farther away. Can Ella escape the beast’s clutches? And can Belle get rid of this stepfamily in time for the competition?”
There were parts of this book that I enjoyed, but overall it read like a middle schooler wrote a Disney princess fan fiction. I felt like the story could have been more fleshed out. I am not sure what middle grade readers would think of it! There is a second book called Snow White and the Dragon (or, Sleeping Beauty and the Seven Dwarfs) but I won’t be reading that one at this point!
This post includes 7 of the books I read this month. 5 were print books and 2 were on audio. 6 of them were adult books and 1 was middle grade. Genres included historical fiction, thriller, contemporary, rom com, and fantasy.
Have you read any of these books or do you want to? What have you been reading lately?
