Jennifer Reads {February 2022}

Before I share the books I read this month, I have to tell you about the best ever birthday present I received from my friend Emily! She gave me this fabulous reading journal to keep track of the books I read. I absolutely love it!

I’m not normally someone who marks up my fiction books, but lately I’ve found myself underlining quotes. I love that I can add those quotes to this journal. So much fun!

If you want to add a little fun to your reading, grab a copy of the journal here.

Okay, here’s a little bit about the five books I read this month…

In My Dreams I Hold A Knife by Ashley Winstead

This is a twisty thriller about college friends who return to their alma mater for homecoming ten years after their friend Heather’s murder. They each hold their own secrets leading up to the night Heather was found stabbed seventeen times.  Heather’s brother surprises them all when he begins interrogating; determined to find out who really killed his sister.

This book sat on my Kindle for a long time. I loved it. There were so many twists and turns and secrets that kept me guessing with each page.

Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover

I’ve loved every book I’ve read by Colleen Hoover and her newest one didn’t disappoint. Kenna has just been released from prison. She’s spent five years consumed with guilt over the accident that killed her boyfriend, Scotty. Without a family, job or place to live, she’s determined to find the daughter she’s never met – the baby that was taken from her after she gave birth in prison. Kenna returns to the town where memories of Scotty are everywhere she turns. She also comes face-to-face with his best friend – will he help her get to know her daughter or do everything in his power to keep her away?

Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult

It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book by Picoult. This book honestly started out kind of slow for me and I considered quitting it. I’m so glad I didn’t, because holy plot twist! This book is about the pandemic. Diana and Finn are set to leave for a vacation in the Galapagos when COVID hits New York City. Since Finn is a resident at the local hospital, he must stay in NYC. He urges Diana to go on the trip without him, certain she’ll be safer from the virus on the small island. When Diana arrives in paradise she finds that the island has shut down and she’s stranded. Diana starts off as a tourist, but quickly becomes more like a local. Her only connection to Finn are the postcards she writes him daily and an occasional email when there’s internet service. Being stranded on an island during the middle of a pandemic gives Diana a lot of time to ponder what she really wants in life. Is it still Finn? Does she want to go back to her bustling career in NYC?

A favorite quote from the book:

Busy is just a euphemism for being so focused on what you don’t have that you never notice what you do. It’s a defense mechanism. Because if you stop hustling – if you pause – you start wondering why you ever thought you wanted all those things. 

One Night on the Island by Josie Silver

I loved, loved, loved this book! I fell in love with the characters! Cleo Wilder is about to turn thirty and she has some soul-searching to do. She’s determined to start the next decade focusing on herself instead of finding her flamingo (a man)! She plans to celebrate her birthday alone, on a remote island. There’s just one problem – the lodge has been double booked. Mack Sullivan is also on the island searching for clarity. The last thing he wants to do is share space with hot-headed Cleo. The two draw a chalk line, write out a set of rules and embark on a journey of self-discovery and unconventional romance.

A favorite quote from the book:

She looks like freedom, striding back across the beach, framed by a golden-streaked sunset.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling

I’m a little late to the game, but I finally read the first Harry Potter book, right before turning forty! John actually read the book to me and Jackson. We read together as a family every night and once we finished the book we watched the first movie! We chose to read the illustrated version because we knew Jackson would love the pictures. We’ve already started reading book 2!