It’s March! That means spring is right around the corner, which makes this warm weather lover very, very happy. Come on, sunshine!
While I’m gad to welcome a new month, I have to say, February was good to me. I ran 160 miles, which puts my 2013 total at 321 miles. I also decided which writing project I most want to focus on next, and began outlining it in earnest. And, I read tons of amazing books. Like, so many! It was glorious! Here are the highlights:
The Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth LaBan – A quiet sort of book. The characters who populate its pages are wholesome kids mostly trying to do the right thing. But, they have weaknesses and vulnerabilities, and those weaknesses and vulnerabilities are what kept me turning pages. Perfect for fans of contemporary YA, and readers who appreciate clean, straightforward prose and characters who experience profound growth over the course of a story. My full review is HERE.
The Madman’s Daughter by Megan Shepherd – I’ve been waiting to read this one since my first glimpse of its beautiful cover many months ago. There’s been no shortage of buzz surrounding this book, and now I see why. While it was a bit of a slow start for me (Juliet doesn’t arrive at her father’s creep-tastic island until about 100 pages in), there was so much about The Madman’s Daughter I enjoyed. My full review is HERE.
Just One Day by Gayle Forman – Oh, this book… LOVE. I totally got main character, Allyson. I understood her need to please, empathized with her initial absence of identity, felt the gaping hole she suffered when things with Willem went to hell. And Willem was compelling in his own right: charming and fun and sexy and impulsive, but with depth we haven’t quite gotten to the bottom to yet. I can’t wait for his follow-up novel because Just One Day has become a new favorite. Find my full review HERE.
Taken by Erin Bowman – Full review to come next month, but oh my goodness… This debut novel is fantastic. Erin Bowman has a way with lovely, spare prose and Gray, her complicated and conflicted and — ahem — hot main character, is nothing short of compelling. I can’t wait for you all to experience this book and its unique world and its many twists and surprises. A total page turner!
Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally – I read Miranda Kenneally’s debut, Catching Jordan, last year and liked it a lot. I have to say, I enjoyed Stealing Parker even more. While it took me awhile to warm up to Parker, when I did, I was completely endeared. And the romantic interest she eventually ends up with… adorable. The way this novel tackles love and sexuality as they relate to religion and “right and wrong” was smart and fresh. A recommend for fans of contemporary YA romance novels with sassy voice.
Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi – I know I just raved about this one yesterday, but yes… This stuffing sequel more than lives up to its predecessor. There’s no dreaded Middle Book Dragging in this novel. Aria, Perry, Roar, Cinder — they are all as dynamic and fascinating as they were in Under the Never Sky. And the chemistry between Aria and Perry… Yowza. My full review is HERE.
How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr – I’ve had this book sitting on my shelf for nearly a year and I continuously passed it up because it involves teen pregnancy and that’s not really my thing. I should have know better, though, because Sara Zarr is amazing and apparently capable of taking any common-in-YA element and spinning it in such a way that I become totally and completely invested. Her writing is just so effortless and gorgeous; I actually shed tears at the end of this one (for those who’ve read: Dylan = Adorable). How to Save a Life is one of those quiet, lovely books that hasn’t gotten nearly enough attention. It has become my personal mission to remedy that. Read this book — you will LOVE it.
Tell me: What’s the best book you read in February?
katyupperman.com 
I am really looking forward to reading Through the Ever Night. it’s on the top of my TBR list. Next down, Cassandra Clare’s Clockwork Princess.
Can you believe I’ve never read a Cassandra Clare book? I feel less-YA even admitting that… Time to remedy, I think. 🙂
I hope you love THROUGH THE EVER NIGHT, Jenny!
Katy,
I’m loving your titles. Books are such an addiction, aren’t they?! I ❤ Gayle Forman, and also enjoyed CATCHING JORDAN too. And THE MADMAN'S DAUGHTER is one I'm dying to read; same for TAKEN. So many great books! All the ones you listed are on my TBR list (I just added THE TRAGEDY PAPER;I hadn't heard of it until your post). 🙂
My favorite read this month? It's tough, but I'm picking PIVOT POINT by Kasie West. SPLINTERED by Anita Grace Howard is a close second though; it was tight. 🙂 But I love the "what if" idea of PP, and Addie's ability to Search alternative futures. So fresh in concept that it gets my vote.:)
Thanks for sharing Katy! Cool post.
Thanks so much, Lynne! I haven’t read PP or SPLINTERED, but I’ve heard great things about both. Thanks for recommending them; I’ll definitely add them to my ever-growing TBR pile. 🙂
Wow, what a great reading month! Many of these are on my TBR, and HOW TO SAVE A LIFE is one of my very favorites. Sara Zarr is so fantastic.
Oh, I am such a Sara Zarr fan. HOW TO SAVE A LIFE totally blew me away. I’m still thinking about… Such a gorgeous, moving story.
Your Feb reading list is reminding me to read a lot of these books. I can’t wait for TAKEN! Congrats on your mileage, too–super-impressive!
Thanks, Rebecca! TAKEN is fantastic; I can’t wait for you (and the rest of the world!) to read it. 🙂
How to Save a Life was fantastic – I got choked up a few times by it, too! And agreed, it’s one of those quiet reads that takes you by surprise.
Definitely. I wasn’t even realizing how much I adored it until nearly the end. And the end — oh my goodness! That final scene with Dylan… Tears!
Best book I read in February…hmmm… I loved the Shatter Me series and Delirium. Oh and THE STORYTELLER by Jodi Picoult (which I need to review on the blog). Oh and SLIDE (which I reviewed today), YA mystery. Oh and….. Okay yeah this isn’t going to end. 😉
Haha! I had a hard time narrowing my best book down too, which is why I decided to highlight them all. I loved your review of SLIDE, Rachel. I haven’t heard a lot about that book either, so it was great to read your thoughts. 🙂
TAKEN is on my Debut Author Challenge list and it’s one of the titles I’m most looking forward too. Even more so after reading your recommendation here. THE TRAGEDY PAPER narrowly missed making it onto my final list, but it looks good, so I might just have to read it anyway.
THE TRAGEDY PAPER wasn’t on my original Debut Challenge list either, Erin, but it’s been getting great buzz and I just couldn’t pass it up. 🙂 And TAKEN is awesome!
You read so many awesome books this month!!! My favorite in February was Silver Linings Playbook. I saw the movie before I read the book which is practically unheard of in my life, but I loved both equally and was really excited to see Jennifer Lawrence take home the Oscar! Just One Day is on my list for March!
I hope you love JUST ONE DAY, Tameka. I thought it was gorgeous! I haven’t seen SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK yet, so maybe I’ll read the book first. If I catch the movie first, I’ll never read the book. 🙂
Well, I know what book I’m reading next. I’ve had HOW TO SAVE A LIFE on my bookshelf for way too long. And I can’t wait to read TAKEN. Sounds SO GOOD!!! Happy March! And have a wonderful weekend!
Alison, yes! Please read HOW TO SAVE A LIFE next. It is so beautiful and moving. I absolutely loved it!
I haven’t picked up HOW TO SAVE A LIFE YET for the same reason — the teen pregnancy theme. It does not surprise me at all that Zarr rocked the heck out of a familiar YA concept. Really need to bump it up my list. And thank you for the TAKEN shout-out. I’m thrilled you got to read and even more thrilled that you enjoyed it 🙂
PS — Your running mileage, like always, is amazing.
Thanks, lady! I’m so glad I got to read TAKEN too, though I’m not at all surprised that I loved it. And yes, please read HOW TO SAVE A LIFE as soon as possible. I loved it in the same way I love SAVING JUNE.
So many great books! I read and loved JUST ONE DAY, STEALING PARKER and HOW TO SAVE A LIFE. The others are on my TBR list. 🙂
I love that you’re a fellow contemporary fan, Ghenet. 🙂
I think the best book I read in February was JUST ONE DAY! I totally agree with everything you’ve said about it. I don’t think I’ve ever empathized so much with a YA character because her experiences resonated with a lot of my own. I’m excited to review this book for YA Book Club!
I read Through the Ever Night in January and really enjoyed it. Like you said, no middle book syndrome here!
I can’t wait to read TAKEN!!
I’m excited that JUST ONE DAY is our YA Book Club pick too. I feel a little fan-girlish posting about it twice, but you know… I think all my raving is warranted. 🙂
So many of these books are on my list. And I’m 100% jealous of you for getting to read TAKEN. I’m so excited for you on your WIP! I’m making some good progress on mine, so hopefully we’ll be able to swap pages before too long. As always, I’m impressed with your running. 🙂
I bet you’ll be a fan of TAKEN, Liz. Erin’s writing is so effortless and lovely, and it was a total page turner. And a big YES to swapping pages soon!
I did read Through The Ever Night this month and quite liked it, I read The Madman’s Daughter and Just One Day in January and enjoyed them. Right now I’m starting The Tragedy Paper and it’s quite good and surprisingly suspenseful. My February release favorites have to be Eleanor & Park and Out of the Easy, though. I also loved 39 Deaths of Adam Strand and The Sin-Eater’s Confession. I’m very excited for Taken, too! I haven’t read How to Save a Life yet, but we got it for teen book club this year, so it’s one I’ll check off soon. oh, and Graffiti Moon! That book is not to be missed.
So yeah, I’ve been reading quite a lot of good books!
Aah! I want to read ELEANOR AND PARK so bad! I’m going to order it on Tuesday when REQUIEM comes out. That way I can lump my order together. 🙂 And GRAFFITI MOON… I just read it a few months ago and absolutely adored it. So, so good! I hope you enjoy HOW TO SAVE A LIFE, Molly!