It’s time for my first half of February 2026 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: Parenting Anxiety
Author: Meredith Elkins, PhD
Genre: Non-Fiction
Publisher: Crown, 1/20/26
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 4 Stars
The title of this book had me wondering if it was about anxiety around parenting or being a parent of someone with anxiety. And maybe it’s about both! This book helps parents help their kids without over parenting, over accommodating, etc.
“How do you raise resilient kids in this age of uncertainty? And how do you parent your kids if you yourself are anxious? Parenting is hard, even more so if you struggle with anxiety or have children who do. Seeking guidance means confronting an explosion of content shaped by cultural ideals of how ‘good’ parents should manage anxiety. How do you make sense of this avalanche of advice and support your child’s mental health—or, at the very least, not make things worse? Much of this content, unfortunately, encourages parents to act in ways that actually increase the risk of child anxiety in the long term. In trying to protect kids from anxiety, loving parents may block the very paths kids must take to build courage and confidence.”
I liked how this book said you should focus on what you value when making decisions on how to handle kids with anxiety. For example, if your kid is anxious about a certain activity, is that an activity they have expressed that they really want to do? Maybe it’s not necessary. But if you back off and don’t make them go, their anxiety is apt to increase next time. Also, I liked that the book addressed that anxiety is normal and useful in a lot of cases. I thought this book gave some practical ideas for interacting with kids in general.
Title: Love and Let Bark
Author: Alanna Martin
Genre: Rom Com
Publisher: Penguin Audio, 11/30/21
Source: Publisher – Print, Library – Audio
Why I Read It: Backlist
My Rating: 3.5 Stars, rounded up to 4 Stars
Next up from my backlist was Love and Let Bark by Alanna Martin. This is part of a series and it is about Lydia and Nate, who had a relationship back in high school, but due to a feud between their families, did not continue seeing each other. Now Nate is back in town (small town Alaska) and they start up a relationship again. There was a bit of a love triangle as well, as another character that Lydia’s family liked was also trying to get her attention.
“When Nate Porter left Helen, Alaska, to become a firefighter with the Forest Service, he claimed it was because he craved adventure. The truth was, he couldn’t stand to hang around, pining for a girl the town’s century-old feud meant he could never have. But Nate got over Lydia Lipin years ago, or so he thought until he learns that an old rival has come sniffing around. The solution—a trip home with his rescue puppies to prove to himself he completely extinguished that old flame. Lydia Lipin has always been satisfied being the ‘good’ Lipin daughter—dutiful, practical, and always putting others before herself. But that role begins to chafe as Nate’s return ignites old memories. No one in town knew about their secret friendship or those forbidden kisses they stole the summer after graduation. Suddenly, Nate and his puppies are everywhere, and sparks are flying. When Nate realizes he never got over Lydia, he’ll risk everything for a second chance. But Lydia’s not a risk-taker, and she has to make a choice—play it safe and pretend their summer fling was just puppy love, or step out of the family shadow and unleash her heart.”
My favorite part of this book was of course the dogs! Nate has two husky puppies who I enjoyed reading about.
Title: Anatomy of an Alibi
Author: Ashley Elston
Genre: Thriller
Publisher: Pamela Dorman Books, 1/13/26
Source: Book of the Month
Why I Read It: Book of the Month choice
My Rating: 4 Stars
Last year, I listened to First Lie Wins, and I knew I wanted to read her next book in print because it was hard to keep track of details in audio! This is about two women who switch places for a day in order to spy on a man. Camille is married to Ben and is trying to learn more about him. Aubrey may be connected to him from her past. When Ben is killed, Camille has an alibi through Aubrey, but Aubrey doesn’t have one. Ben’s law partner, Hank, also has view point chapters.
“Everyone at Chantilly’s Bar noticed out-of-towner Camille Bayliss. Red lips, designer heels, sipping a Negroni. But that woman wasn’t Camille Bayliss. It was Aubrey Price. Camille Bayliss appears to have the picture-perfect life; she’s married to hotshot lawyer Ben and is the daughter of a wealthy Louisiana family. Only nothing is as it seems: Camille believes Ben has been hiding dirty secrets for years, but she can’t find proof because he tracks her every move. Aubrey Price has been haunted by the terrible night that changed her life a decade ago, and she’s convinced Benjamin Bayliss knows something about it. Living in a house full of criminals, Aubrey understands there’s more than one way to get to the truth—and she may have found the best way in. Aubrey and Camille hatch a plan. It sounds simple: For twelve hours, Aubrey will take Camille’s place. Camille will spy on Ben, and the two women will get the answers they desperately seek. Except the next morning, Ben is found murdered. Both women need an airtight alibi, but only one of them has it. And one false step is all it takes for everything to come undone.”
This was pretty twisty! I did enjoy reading it and I’m glad I went with the print copy!
Title: Unfettered
Author: John Fetterman
Genre: Memoir
Publisher: Crown, 11/11/25
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 3.5 Stars, rounded up to 4 Stars
John Fetterman is a Democrat senator from Western PA who has struggled greatly with everything from self-esteem, his own appearance, the media calling him racist, depression, and having a stroke. He seems to be more of a centrist in his politics and has faced backlash from both sides of the aisle.
“In his early twenties, John Fetterman seemed to be set for life. He had an MBA, a job in the risk management industry, and a comfortable future ahead of him. Yet something felt missing, insufficient, lacking in purpose. Having paired with Big Brothers and Big Sisters after a close friend’s tragic death, Fetterman decided to make a change and devote his life to public service instead—first in AmeriCorps, then as the mayor of Braddock, Pennsylvania, later as the state’s lieutenant governor, and now as its senior senator. Today, Fetterman is the consummate anti-politician, instantly recognizable for his 6’8” height, his choice of facial hair, and his signature hoodies. A contrarian by nature, he quickly developed a reputation as a pugilist willing to take on Republicans and Democrats alike, in public if necessary. Little did the world know that his biggest fight was being waged in private, and often inside his own mind. In Unfettered, Fetterman reveals, for the first time, the full story of a life and career marked by battles, from his work with community leaders to revitalize Braddock to his recovery from the stroke that nearly ended his political career, to his lifelong struggles with the depression that landed him in Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and nearly ended his life. At each step, Fetterman displays a rare level of candor for a sitting senator, sharing insights into the difficult and nonlinear path to mental health, the strain his challenges have placed on his family, the auditory processing issues he’s still overcoming, and more—all in the hope of paying it forward for anyone who has struggled with the depths of depression in their own life.”
In my opinion, Fetterman comes across as defensive in this book. I wondered if he used a ghost writer because there are some typos and it seemed disjointed at times. It was interesting to learn more about his geographic area and more about him as a person as well.
Title: Fresh
Author: Margot Wood
Genre: YA Contemporary
Publisher: Harry N. Abrams, 8/3/21
Source: BookSparks
Why I Read It: Backlist
My Rating: 4 Stars
This coming of age novel takes place in Elliot’s first year of college and follows her as she finds her way, doing her best to sleep with a large variety of people she meets.
“[Movie trailer narrator voice]: In a world, where humanity has crumbled—wait, no, wrong story. Sorry! Let’s try that again.
[YA movie trailer narrator voice:] Some students enter their freshman year of college knowing exactly what they want to do with their lives. Elliot McHugh isn’t one of those people. But picking a major is the last thing on Elliot’s mind when she’s too busy experiencing all that college has to offer—from dancing all night at off-campus parties to testing her RA Rose’s patience to making new friends to having the best sex one can have on a twin-size dorm room bed. But she may not be ready for the fallout when reality hits. When the sex she’s having isn’t that great. When finals creep up and smack her right in the face. Or when her roommate’s boyfriend turns out to be the biggest a-hole. Elliot may make epic mistakes, but if she’s honest with herself (and with you, dear reader), she may just find the person she wants to be. And maybe even fall in love in the process . . . Well, maybe. We’re not promising anything. We can’t give everything away ahead of time.”Told in Elliot’s stream-of-consciousness voice, along with footnotes, I thought this had a lot of funny parts. It’s definitely a sexual story, but I didn’t think it was graphic at all. It’s just about Elliot having a lot of it. The story contained sexual assault as well as slut shaming. And there were certain things that made me cringe. But overall, it was a pretty fun story.
Title: Secrets of Adulthood
Author: Gretchen Rubin
Genre: Advice
Publisher: Crown, 4/1/25
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 4 Stars
This small book should probably not be counted as a book at all, since it’s basically filled with short bits of advice on a variety of topics. The author calls them aphorisms, and she shares some good ones.
“The right idea, invoked at the right time, can change our lives. Drawing from her long studies of happiness, and also from the challenges she’s faced herself, writer Gretchen Rubin has discovered the ‘Secrets of Adulthood’ that can help us manage the complexities of life. To convey her conclusions, she turned to the aphorism—the ancient literary discipline that demands that a writer convey a large truth in a few words. Perhaps you’re paralyzed by indecision, struggling to navigate a big change, fighting a temptation, or puzzled by the behavior of someone you love; whatever you face, the right aphorism can help. From procrastination to the pursuit of happiness, Secrets of Adulthood is filled with witty and thought-provoking reflections such as:
- ‘Recognize that, like sleeping with a big dog in a small bed, things that are uncomfortable can also be comforting’
- ‘Accept yourself, and expect more from yourself’
- ‘Easy children raise good parents’
- ‘What can be done at any time is often done at no time’
For anyone undergoing a major life transition, such as graduation, career switch, marriage, or moving, or for those just encountering everyday dilemmas, these disarming aphorisms will inspire you by articulating truths that you may never have noticed but instantly recognize.”
This would definitely be a good gift!
Title: How To Love Your Neighbor
Author: Sophie Sullivan
Genre: Rom Com
Publisher: Macmillan Audio, 1/18/22
Source: Publisher – Print, Library – Audio
Why I Read It: Backlist
My Rating: 3.5 Stars, Rounded up to 4 Stars
Although I’ve been reading a lot of backlist books, this is the first that I finished that I actually have on my 26 in ’26 list! It was a sweet, not very memorable rom com about Grace, who inherits a home next to Noah. They start out as enemies, since he wants to buy her house and she doesn’t want to sell, but they end up decorating the houses together and falling for each other quickly.
“Grace Travis has it all figured out. In between finishing school and working a million odd jobs, she’ll get her degree and her dream job. Most importantly, she’ll have a place to belong, something her harsh mother could never make. When an opportunity to fix up―and live in―a little house on the beach comes along, Grace is all in. Until her biggest roadblock moves in next door. Noah Jansen knows how to make a deal. As a real estate developer, he knows when he’s found something special. Something he could even call home. Provided he can expand by taking over the house next door–the house with the combative and beautiful woman living in it. With the rules for being neighborly going out the window, Grace and Noah are in an all-out feud. But sometimes, your nemesis can show you that home is always where the heart is.”
I thought this was somewhat cute, and I liked the parts about the designing process of the homes. Grace and Noah both had toxic parents and that definitely helped them bond, but their love was too instant for me. I also didn’t realize that this was the second in a series – the first was about Noah’s brother, who does appear in this one as well.
This post includes seven of the books I read this month. Five were print books and two were audio. Six of these were adult books and one was YA. Genres included non-fiction, rom com, contemporary, and thriller.
Have you read any of these books or do you want to? What have you been reading lately?
