RTW: February’s Reading Wrap-Up and Book of the Month

Winter Heart

Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where the girls at YA Highway post a weekly writing- or reading-related question for participants to respond to on their own blogs. You can hop from destination to destination and get everybody’s unique take on the topic.

This Week’s Topic: What’s the best book you read in February? 

First, here’s my book wrap-up for the month:

The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour – Love, love, LOVE. Technically my very favorite book of February, but I’ve already reviewed it for a Bookanista post so I won’t rehash today. Please do check it out HERE if you’re interested. 🙂

Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard – (I was lucky enough to read an ARC of this book and plan to review it in more detail closer to its publication date, July 24th!) Eleanor is a fantastic protagonist: strong and smart and funny, definitely no damsel in distress. I loved how the elegant Victorian setting contrasted with the eerie creepiness of the Dead. And Susan’s writing is awesome–perfect for this action-packed story. Definitely check it out when it debuts in July.

These Things Hidden by Heather Gudenkauf – An adult novel about the cost of secrets. Initially, I wasn’t sure how I felt about this one. While the writing is lovely, there are multiple POVs (some in first person, some in third person) and tons of backstory. There were also a few plausibility issues I just couldn’t wrap my head around. Still, an intense climax and a well-executed twist tipped the balance of my opinion and I did end up enjoying the story. I recommend it if you like books in the same vein as Jodi Picoult’s.

And February’s Book of the Month: Ditched: A Love Story by Robin Mellom

Ditched: A Love Story

From Goodreads: High school senior Justina Griffith was never the girl who dreamed of going to prom. Designer dresses and strappy heels? Not her thing. So she never expected her best friend, Ian Clark, to ask her. Ian, who promised her the most amazing night at prom. And then ditched her.

First, I love Ditched‘s cover so much. Such a fun, cheeky twist on the ever-so-popular melancholy girl in a super elegant dress. And the model looks just the way I pictured the story’s protagonist, Justina. Another plus? This cover totally relates to the story, and the dress’ image is carried throughout the pages of the book. Genius.

I have to admit: I was a little hesitant about Ditched when I first read the story synopsis. I thought this one might have the potential to come off as young, or maybe a little cheesy. Thankfully, that was so NOT the case. Ditched is about teens acting like teens. Yay! And Robin Mellom has a fantastic authorial voice, a style that’s one of my favorites–genuine, funny, straight-forward, and unflinchingly honest.

I could not help but smile as I read about Justina and her prom shenanigans. The people populating her world felt real and were full of quirks and imperfections, even will-they-won’t-they romantic interest Ian.  But, flaws and all, Justina and her cast of supporting characters are inherently likable, as was this book! I highly recommend it if you’re in need of a smart and funny contemporary.

Tell me: What’s the best book YOU read in February?

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30 thoughts on “RTW: February’s Reading Wrap-Up and Book of the Month”

  1. Kitty says:

    I finally got around to reading Across the Universe and A Million Suns. Awesome books! I can’t believe I have to wait a whole year for the third book. Boo! Ditched sounds like a fun read!

  2. Erin Bowman says:

    THE DISENCHANTMENTS is next on my to-read list because of you!! And I’m so glad you liked Dennard’s SS&D. I thought the setting/time period of that novel was so much fun!

  3. Elodie says:

    Thanks again for the recommendation for THE DISENCHANTMENTS 😀 I need to put DITCHED on my TBR, sounds like a great read and a wonderful one to have at hand after reading some dark books 🙂

  6. Ghenet Myrthil says:

    I read DITCHED this month too and loved it. I’m planning to blog about it on Friday for the 2012 Debut Author Challenge.

    I have a copy of THE DISENCHANTMENTS and I can’t wait to read it! I keep hearing great things.

    Thanks for the other recommendations. I’m a big fan of Jodi Picoult so I should check THESE THINGS HIDDEN out. I read so few adult novels these days…

  9. Eve says:

    I haven’t heard about those books but well for sure have to check them out now. I don’t think my to-read list ever shrinks I read on and add 20 more lol.

  10. Alicia Gregoire says:

    Disenchantments is on my list, but I haven’t given much thought to Ditched because I’m not a fan of the cover. You haven’t led me astray yet, so guess what’s going on my list now?

    • katyupperman says:

      Alicia, DITCHED is great if you’re in need of something light and fun. (Which, after reading about your post-TFIOS funk, it sounds like you might be!). And I wonder if you’ll feel differently about the cover after reading? I went from LIKE to LOVE. 🙂

  11. Jessica Love says:

    I’m SO glad you loved DITCHED! I’m always worried that I over-hype the books I love and that people will be disappointed. I’m so stoked that you loved it as much as I did! 😀

  12. Alison Miller says:

    I think I read maybe two books this month. But one of them was the Hunger Games so that COMPLETELY makes up for my slow reading month. I plan to reread Catching Fire and Mockingjay this month, but I’m afraid to start them because I will just have to shut life off for a day and I don’t know if I can do that. Darn those unputdownable books!

    • katyupperman says:

      I’m tempted to reread THE HUNGER GAMES before the movie comes out too… But, then again, my To-Read pile is already completely out of control. Will I have time?!

      By the way, I’m reading DELIRIUM now (in preparation for PANDEMONIUM!) and I’m really liking it so far. So intriguing!

  13. Donelle Lacy says:

    I’m so very glad to see a begowned girl on a cover who actually fits with the plot of the book! It’s a breath of fresh air! Plus, this cover isn’t mopey or gothic at all – yay!

    The book sounds so fun and quirky. The other books make me pretty curious too. I’ll love to see what the cover of Something Strange and Deadly looks like.

    • katyupperman says:

      Something Strange and Deadly has a cover, Donelle. You should definitely check it out (on Goodreads, maybe?). It’s another girl in a gown, but it’s gorgeous and totally fitting to the book’s Victorian setting. 🙂

  14. karibradley7 says:

    Have you read LOVE AND LEFTOVERS, yet? I’ll be anxious to hear what you think. 🙂 That was my favorite book of February. I didn’t get my hands on THE DISENCHANTMENTS until last weekend, and hopefully I’ll have time for it in between all the other stuff I have going on! I’ve had DITCHED on the TBR list for a while… I’ll have to pick that up soon, as well!

    • katyupperman says:

      No, I haven’t read LOVE AND LEFTOVERS, but I really want to. I’ve heard great things from you and others! And I can’t wait to hear what you think of THE DISENCHANTMENTS. I loved that book so much!

      • karibradley7 says:

        I have The Disenchantments and The Mockingbirds on my coffee table at home. I’ve read only the first few pages of both and am DYING to read them. I may have to just take a couple nights and read them, tiredness be damned. 🙂

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