I’m going to have a lot of time for audiobooks this month so I imagine my re-read of Guild Hunters is going to see some pretty impressive progress being made, but I do also have other books I’m trying to read. So we’ll see how this goes. In other news, February! I’m hoping to make a heart pillow this month with my crochet skills that are…. very limited. So wish me luck on that. Anyway, let’s talk about the books that are coming and that I intend to read!
ARCs
One & Only by Maurene Goo is her adult debut and is about Cassia who is from a family where they have the ability to look into a client’s future and find their soulmate. Cassia asked to do that years ago and as she’s approaching 40, she still hasn’t met him. But she has now met 28 year old Ellis who is not her fated love, but he is connected to him. So I’m obviously so intrigued to see how this is going to go. And I’ve loved Goo’s writing in I Believe in a Thing Called Love most especially so I’m very excited for her adult debut. One & Only is out on February 3, 2026.
How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates by Shailee Thompson is the Literally Dead Book Club pick for February so I seized the opportunity to pick up an ARC on Netgalley immediately. Essentially though, our main character attends a speed dating event and someone winds up dead during the event. So she needs to figure out how to survive the speed dating event while bodies are piling up. I’m really not sure if this book is going to be for me, but one can always hope. I’ll be sure to let y’all know. How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates is out on February 3, 2026.
Only Friends by Lydia San Andres is going to be her first contemporary romance, as far as I know, and I’m really looking forward to it considering how much I have enjoyed her historical romances. Mariel meets Dashwood Bennet when she’s two seconds away from having a meltdown on the subway and he’s conveniently dressed in Regency wear, which is perfect for Mariel who needs him to star in her historical shorts. I’m very much looking forward to this because I do not know where this is going, if I’m being honest. Only Friends is out on February 10, 2026.
Maybe This Once by Sophie Sullivan is the next book in Sullivan’s Rock Bottom Love series and I’ve been having such a fun time with this family connected series. I’m not 100% sure on the plot of this one, beyond these two are going to “keep it casual” only to realize that casual met feelings and maybe it’s not so casual after all. Maybe This Once is also out on February 10, 2026.
In Her Spotlight by Amy Spalding is the fourth installment in Spalding’s Out in Hollywood series, which I’ve really enjoyed. This particular installment is a sort of second chance romance between an actress and a director. I think it should be a good time. In Her Spotlight comes out on February 24, 2026.
New Releases
Book Club & Challenge Reads
The first two books you see are book club picks for my local in person bookstore’s book clubs. Of Blood and Aether is on KU, which is about the only reason I will be reading this one because I have no idea if it’s a book for me or not. We Who Will Die is one I should have already read, but you see, I knew it was going to be a book club pick so I waited. Then Blood in the Water is the pick for the Swifties Book Club that I’m in online. I’m actually going to have to read it early because of my library hold system. Then Return to Hummingbird Way and Plus Size Player are both books that fit with the Buzzword Challenge of keyboard words. At least on a MacBook the enter key is return so that’s how Return to Hummingbird Way works and then there is a plus symbol so that’s where I’m getting Plus Size Player to fit.
Closing Thoughts
What books are you hoping to read? I’m really excited about the reads I have lined up for this month.
xx
firewhiskeyreader 