Books Added to My Shelves in February 2025

This is my monthly roundup of books that I added to my shelves in February 2025. Some of the books came directly from authors or publishers, others were purchased or gifts. You’ll find books from all kinds of genres, including adult and children’s books. I’ll even share a few updates from our family’s life in the last month as well.

Family and Life Update

I’m back from a two-week trip to Texas! My sister and I drove over 20 hours to southeast Texas to visit our mom and then bring her back home after her two-month stay there during the winter. We left early on February 15 and returned home on February 28th.

Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t great while we were there, but we did have two decent beach days at South Padre Island.

We took a great dolphin cruise where we watched two different pods of dolphins swim next to our boat.

We had a great time with my aunt and uncle and cousins who also winter in the area. When we left Texas, we headed to Missouri to visit my mom’s 98-year-old friend for a few days. It was such a blessing to see the two of them back together.

Re-entry is hard after being gone for two weeks. It is overwhelming, and the to-do list is long, but I’m slowing digging through my piles and tackling the lists.

Now, on to the books! 

Even though I had a very full month, I still finished eight books in February. This is your encouragement to read in small pockets of time. Even twenty minutes a day can help you get through a few books a month. Be sure to follow me on Instagram, HERE, to see snippets of what I’m reading or what’s going on in my daily life.

This month’s list includes historical fiction, romance, poetry, memoir, an activity book, and some great children’s books.

If you have missed any of my recent book reviews, you can see all of them by clicking HERE.  Or you can stay up to date with my monthly Quick Lit Roundup.

Clicking the photos of each book will take you to a link to purchase. If you choose to purchase through any of the links, I may receive a small commission without you having to pay a cent more for your purchase.

Adult Fiction and Non-Fiction

THE GIRLS OF GOOD FORTUNE
By: Kristina McMorris
Published: May 20, 2025
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Historical Fiction
Format: eBook for Review

I have loved every book by Kristina McMorris. This one, focusing on a Chinese immigrant in the late 1800s, sounds extremely compelling.

She came from a lineage known for good fortune…by those who don’t know the whole story. 

 Portland, 1888. Amid the subterranean labyrinth of the notorious Shanghai Tunnels, a woman awakens in an underground cell, drugged and disguised. Celia soon realizes she’s a “shanghaied” victim on the verge of being shipped off as forced labor, leaving behind those she loves most. Although well accustomed to adapting for survival—being half-Chinese, passing as white during an era fraught with anti-Chinese sentiment—she fears that far more than her own fate lay at stake. 

 As she pieces together the twisting path that led to her abduction, from serving as a maid for the family of a dubious mayor to becoming entwined in the case of a goldminers’ massacre, revelations emerge of a child left in peril. Desperate, Celia must find a way to escape and return to a place where unearthed secrets can prove even more deadly than the dark recesses of Chinatown.

THE PARIS EXPRESS
By: Emma Donoghue
Published: March 18, 2025
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Historical Fiction
Format: eBook for Review

I love history based on real events. Plus, it’s Emma Donoghue.

Based on an 1895 disaster that went down in history when it was captured in a series of surreal, extraordinary photographs, The Paris Express is a propulsive novel set on a train packed with a fascinating cast of characters who hail from as close as Brittany and as far as Russia, Ireland, Algeria, Pennsylvania, and Cambodia. Members of parliament hurry back to Paris to vote; a medical student suspects a girl may be dying; a secretary tries to convince her boss of the potential of moving pictures; two of the train’s crew build a life away from their wives; a young anarchist makes a terrifying plan, and much more.

BEFORE DOROTHY
By: Hazel Gaynor
Published: June 17, 2025
Publisher: Berkley
Historical Fiction
Format: eBook for Review

I’ve always loved The Wizard of Oz and how Dorothy had an Auntie Em. I had an Aunt Emily, too, who was one of my favorite people ever. With the love for the new Wicked movie, I would expect this story to be popular. I have a few of Gaynor’s books on my shelves, and I read and enjoyed LAST CHRISTMAS IN PARIS.

Chicago, 1924: Emily Gale and her new husband, Henry, yearn to leave the bustle of Chicago behind for the promise of their own American dream. But leaving the city means leaving Emily’s beloved sister, Annie, who was once closer to her than anyone in the world.

Kansas, 1932: Emily and Henry have made a life in the warmth of the community of Liberal, Kansas, and among the harsh beauty of the prairie. Their lives hold a precarious and hopeful purpose, until tragedy strikes and their orphaned niece, Dorothy, lands on their doorstep.

The wide-eyed child isn’t the only thing to disrupt Emily’s world. Drought and devastating dust storms threaten to destroy everything, and their much-loved home becomes a place of uncertainty and danger. When the past catches up with the present and old secrets are exposed, Emily fears she will lose the most cherished thing of Dorothy.

THE FALL RISK
A Short Story
By: Abby Jimenez
Published: March 1, 2025
Publisher: Amazon Original Stories
Romance
Format: eBook from Amazon

I can’t turn down a free Abby Jimenez book. This one is only available on Kindle or Audible. At just 82 pages, you could enjoy this in an evening.

It’s Valentine’s Day weekend, and Charlotte and Seth are not looking for romance. Armed with emotional-support bear spray, Charlotte is in self-imposed isolation and on guard from men. Having a stalker can do that to a person’s nerves. Just across the hall and giving off woodsy vibes is Seth, a recently divorced arborist. As in today recently. Heights, he’s fine with. Trust? Not so much. But when disaster traps them one flight up and no way down, an outrageously precarious predicament forces a tree-loving guy and a rattled girl next door to embrace their captivity. Soon their defenses are breaking away. Considering how close they both are to the edge, Charlotte and Seth could be in danger of falling—in love.

A BIT MUCH
By: Lyndsay Rush
Published: September 17, 2024
Publisher: Griffin
Poetry
Format: eBook purchase

I heard about this book last fall, and then it was on Kindle Deal, so I grabbed it. I’m loving poetry more and more, and I especially love that I can read a poem or two a day, and it isn’t a huge commitment.

The debut poetry collection from Lyndsay Rush (aka @maryoliversdrunkcousin) is a humorous and joyful celebration of big feelings, tender truths, and hard-won wisdom, for fans of Maggie Smith, Kate Baer, and Kate Kennedy.

At long last, a book of poetry for people who didn’t even know they liked poetry. And they’re in good company: author Lyndsay Rush didn’t know she liked it either. That is, until she embarked on an internet experiment under the Instagram username @MaryOliversDrunkCousin that turned into a body of work that struck a chord with women across the country; thanks to her signature wordplay, witticisms, and—against all odds—wisdom.

With titles like “Shedonism”, “Someone to Eat Chips With”, “It’s Called Maximalism, Babe”, and “Breaking News: Local Women Gets Out of Bed”, Rush’s debut collection of poetry uses humor to grapple with the female experience—from questioning whether or not to have children, to roasting the patriarchy, to challenging what it means to “age gracefully”—and each piece delivers gut-punching truths alongside gratifying punchlines. Readers walk away from Lyndsay’s work feeling seen, celebrated, and wholly convinced that joy is an urgent, worthwhile pursuit.

With over 140 convention-bending poems—most of which are never-before-seen—this book is quite literally A Bit Much.

BE READY WHEN THE LUCK HAPPENS
A Memoir
By: Ina Garten
Narrated By: Ina Garten
Published: October 1, 2024
Publisher: Crown
Memoir
Format: Audiobook through Audible

I had this in my Libby holds, but it would take forever to get my hold, so I decided to use my Audible credit and purchase it.

Here, for the first time, Ina Garten presents an intimate, entertaining, and inspiring account of her remarkable journey. Ina’s gift is to make everything look easy, yet all her accomplishments have been the result of hard work, audacious choices, and exquisite attention to detail. In her unmistakable voice (no one tells a story like Ina), she brings her past and her process to life in a high-spirited and no-holds-barred memoir that chronicles decades of personal challenges, adventures (and misadventures) and unexpected career twists, all delivered with her signature combination of playfulness and purpose.

From a difficult childhood to meeting the love of her life, Jeffrey, and marrying him while still in college, from a boring bureaucratic job in Washington, D.C., to answering an ad for a specialty food store in the Hamptons, from the owner of one Barefoot Contessa shop to author of bestselling cookbooks and celebrated television host, Ina has blazed her own trail and, in the meantime, taught millions of people how to cook and entertain. Now, she invites them to come closer to experience her story in vivid detail and to share the important life lessons she learned along the way: do what you love because if you love it you’ll be really good at it, swing for the fences, and always Be Ready When the Luck Happens.

STICKER JIGSAW: THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ
By: L. Frank Baum
Illustrated By: Dinara Mirtalipova
Published: February 18, 2025
Publisher: Odd Dot
Activity Book
Format: Paperback for Review

With the popularity of Wicked, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is also seeing a surge in popularity. Create images from the movie or book by applying jigsaw puzzle-shaped stickers to pages. I’ve shared Dinara Mirtalipova’s illustrations in these children’s books.

Bring your favorite classics to life with STICKER JIGSAW! Journey along with your favorite characters through the most entrancing scenes of THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ–from the tornado, to meeting the Tinman, to heading to the Emerald City, and many more iconic moments.

Simply use the stickers like jigsaw pieces: Peel them, then place them in the right spots for each puzzle. Not sure if you placed a sticker correctly? No problem! Our removable stickers are easy to peel again and replace until you complete your masterpiece.

Great for traveling, and fun with friends or solo, STICKER JIGSAW finally makes puzzles transportable and effortless to save. Cherish your completed puzzles as an illustrated edition of THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ, or frame the pages and display your gorgeous artwork.

GITEL’S FREEDOM
By: Iris Mitlin Lav
Published: March 25, 2025
Publisher: She Writes Press
Historical Fiction
Format: Paperback for Review

This historical fiction about a woman who made do while working hard for her family sounded like my kind of book.

At an early age, Gitel questions the expected roles of women in society and in Judaism. Born in Belorussia and brought to the US in 1911 as a child, she leads a life constrained by her religious Jewish parents. Forbidden from going to college and pushed into finding a husband, she marries Shmuel, an Orthodox Jewish pharmacist whose left-wing politics she admires. They plan to work together in a neighborhood pharmacy in Chicago—but when the Great Depression hits and their bank closes, their hopes are shattered. 

In the years that follow, Shmuel’s questionable decisions, his poor health, and his bad luck plague their marriage and leave them constantly in financial distress. Gitel dreams of going back to school to become a teacher once their one daughter reaches high school, but an unexpected pregnancy quashes that aspiration as well. And when, later, a massive stroke leaves Shmuel disabled, Gitel is challenged to combine caring for him, being the breadwinner at a time when women face salary discrimination, and being present for their second daughter. 

Offering an illuminating look at Jewish immigrant life in early-1900s America, Gitel’s Freedom is a compelling tale of women’s resourcefulness and resilience in the face of limiting and often oppressive expectations. 

THE NIGHTINGALE
10th Anniversary Special Edition
By: Kristin Hannah
Published: February 18, 2025
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Historical Fiction
Format: Hardcover purchase

When I heard a new edition of THE NIGHTINGALE was publishing soon with a foil and embossed special edition, I immediately pre-ordered it. This is an all-time favorite book, and since I read it as an eBook, I didn’t have a physical copy. It is stunning. I rarely reread books, but I may have to make an exception for this one. It was a favorite read for me in 2016.

Limited edition hardcover jacket with foil and embossing, gorgeous designed edges, a ribbon bookmark, exclusive four color endpapers, and a decorative, gold foil stamp on the front case.

A #1 New York Times bestseller and Wall Street Journal Best Book of the Year, the stunning 10th Anniversary Edition of this unforgettable novel of love and strength in the face of war that has enthralled a generation.

With courage, grace, and powerful insight, bestselling author Kristin Hannah captures the epic panorama of World War II and illuminates an intimate part of history seldom seen: the women’s war. The Nightingale tells the stories of two sisters, separated by years and experience, by ideals, passion and circumstance, each embarking on her own dangerous path toward survival, love, and freedom in German-occupied, war-torn France―a heartbreakingly beautiful novel that celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the durability of women. It is a novel for everyone, a novel for a lifetime.

Children’s Fiction and Non-Fiction

WE LEAVE NO TRACE
By: Terry Pierce
Illustrated By: Nadja Sarell
Published: March 11, 2025
Publisher: Yosemite Conservancy
Non-Fiction
Format: Board Book

This is the newest in the series Pierce has written through the Yosemite Conservancy to encourage the youngest children to love and take care of nature and the creatures that depend on it. I love these little books.

The great outdoors could use some human kindness—and even the youngest children can help! Little hikers, picnickers, and campers will see how they can pitch in for nature by using the Leave No Trace principles modeled here, such as loving trees gently, leaving natural items in their place, using quiet voices to reassure shy creatures, and putting trash where it belongs. 

YOUR FARM
Your Places
By: Jon Klassen
Published: February 4, 2025
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Fiction
Format: Board Book

I’ve shared some other books illustrated by Jon Klassen, HERE. This new board book series is so good. I looked through them immediately when they arrived and raved about them to my husband. I’ll be sharing these with you soon.

With a minimal tableau of familiar objects and a gentle rhythm suited for reading aloud, a farm and all its items—a horse and its hay, a truck, a stool, a fence—are assembled, ending with bedtime as the sun goes down. This is a farm for a young child to have whenever they want to go there. One in a trio of board books focusing on safe spaces, comfort, and imagination, Your Farm signals both a departure for Jon Klassen and a story whose peculiar touches of whimsy stamp the book as iconically his.

YOUR FOREST
Your Places
By: Jon Klassen
Published: February 4, 2025
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Fiction
Format: Board Book

With a minimal tableau of familiar objects and a gentle rhythm suited for reading aloud, a forest and all its items—a cabin, some rocks, a (nice) forest ghost, a stream, a bridge—are assembled, ending with bedtime as the sun goes down. This is a forest for a young child to have whenever they want to go there. One of a trio of board books focusing on safe spaces, comfort, and imagination, Your Forest signals both a departure for Jon Klassen and a story whose peculiar touches of whimsy stamp the book as iconically his.

YOUR ISLAND
Your Places
By: Jon Klassen
Published: February 4, 2025
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Fiction
Format: Board Book

With a minimal tableau of familiar objects and a gentle rhythm suited for reading aloud, an island and all its items—a tent, a fire, a boat, a bird—are assembled, ending with bedtime as the sun goes down. This is an island for a young child to have whenever they want to go there. One in a trio of board books focusing on safe spaces, comfort, and imagination, Your Island signals both a departure for Jon Klassen and a story whose peculiar touches of whimsy stamp the book as iconically his.

HARD HAT HANK AND THE SKY-HIGH SOLUTION
By: Charlotte Gunnufson
Illustrated By: Brian Biggs
Published: February 4, 2025
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Fiction
Format: Hardcover Picture Book Purchase

I’ve recently shared a couple of Gunnufson’s other picture books. She is a local author, and we hosted her at our library. I was thrilled to hear about her new deal to publish books with Disney and hope to see many more from her soon!

Hard Hat Hank and his hardworking crew are ready to build!

With blueprints in hand, Hank knows just what to do, but it isn’t long before the plans go awry. Fortunately, Hank has solutions for just about everything—until two birds decide to make their home on the construction site. There’s no nest in the plan! The birds need to go!

But after several humorous attempts to get the birds to leave, Hank realizes that it’s time for a new plan—one in which builders and birds can both enjoy their new home.

I LOVE BLUEBERRIES!
By: Shannon Anderson
Illustrated By: Jaclyn Sinquett
Published: April 8, 2025
Publisher: Feeding Minds Press
Fiction
Format: Hardcover Picture Book

One of my favorite children’s books of 2022 was Anderson’s I LOVE STRAWBERRIES. I’m so glad she has written another book encouraging a love of blueberries. I also recently shared her book, DO-IT-YOURSELF DOLLHOUSE.

Told through Jolie’s comical scrapbook-style journal entries and Margot’s creative sketchbook, young readers will learn how they create a plan and work together to not only grow blueberries but also develop a new friendship. This heartwarming story emphasizes the value of friendship, a theme that will resonate with young readers.

With the help of Jolie’s faithful rabbit, Munchy, and Margot’s dog, Pip, plans are underway to bring the whole class together to convince the community to help them set up a hydroponics growing station in their classroom. Filled with engaging facts about blueberries, hydroponics, poetry, and a heartwarming theme of friendship, I LOVE BLUEBERRIES is not just a delightful read, but also a valuable educational resource. It’s a must-have for any bookshelf, promising to spark curiosity and promote learning.

Informational backmatter includes facts about blueberry nutrition, growing blueberries, and hydroponics. This story makes a great read before a family trip to a pick-your-own blueberry farm, a garden store, or in a classroom, talking about healthy eating and growing your own food.

THE STORY OF GUMLUCK AND THE HEROES
Gumluck the Wizard Book 3
By: Adam Rex
Published: April 29, 2025
Publisher: Chronicle Kids
Middle-Grade Fiction
Format: Hardcover Chapter Book

I’ve shared Adam Rex’s books HERE on the blog. Kids are loving this series!

A hero fights for what is right! A hero’s aim is true! Is the hero of this story like that? I don’t know. He is the kind of person who might turn you into a donut if he’s thinking too hard about donuts. His name is Gumluck the Wizard, and he is on a Quest. Along the way he’ll discover singing goblins, unicorn magic, a possible ostrich that breathes definite fire, and three companions who are pretty sure they’re heroes already.

With delightful illustrations and a lighthearted mix of fantasy and fairytale elements, this third installment in the chapter book series starring Gumluck the Wizard is a hilarious tale for the reluctant hero in all of us.

Which books are you adding to your reading list?

Click HERE to see all the posts featuring new books on my shelves.

So many books, so little time!