In this February wrap-up, I’m chatting through the eight books I read and exactly what worked (and didn’t) for me across romance, historical fiction, literary fiction, and a little historical fantasy. I start with The Winter Witch by Jennifer Shiovalier, which gave me everything I want in historical fiction—1600s France-to-Canada bride ship vibes, a touch of witchery, and a really satisfying ending. It’s officially a favorite of the year for me. I also talk about a quick, cute YA romance—Never Thought I’d End Up Here by Ann Liang—set on a trip across China, and why I loved it as both a romance and a story. I read Everything Is Tuberculosis by John Green out loud with my kids (almost 8 and almost 10), and it ended up being such a meaningful, eye-opening read for our family discussions about healthcare and how systems fail people. For Book of the Month picks, I share my thoughts on A Good Animal (beautiful writing, rural Michigan, a sad but good story with an unconventional ending) and The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love (quirky characters, rare-bird competition, and a male main character I was fully in love with). And yes—there’s hockey romance too: Heated Rivalry, The Long Game, and Role Model by Rachel Reid, including my excitement about seeing more Shane and Ilia on screen.