What I Read in February
What I Read in February
This post includes affiliate links. I may make a small commission off of purchase made through links shared on Made in Mom Jeans. As always, I strive to only share the best products with MIMJ Readers. All proceeds made through affiliate links go directly to the blog. Thank you for your support!
These “What I Read” posts are definitely not my most popular but I have so much fun writing them and I know it will be so cool to look back at the end of 2019 and easily be able to wrap up everything I’ve read just in time this year just in time for you all to start your reading lists for 2020! Anyways, after basically speed reading through three books in January (pssst: click here to see What I Read in January) it was nice to be challenged to slow down by the books I read this month.
If you didn’t know, I’m following the Made in Mom Jeans Reading Challenge, created by myself, for 2019. Through January and February, I’ve managed to check 6 books off of the challenge reading list! February was definitely a challenge because it included two genres that I don’t generally read or enjoy. First things first, let’s recap the rating system I’m using:
Love books? Join our Bookish club by submitting your email below and selecting “Book List” from the options! You'll receive weekly emails from Darrian including current books on her radar and so much more!
Subscribe
* indicates required
Email Address *
First Name
Made in Mom Jeans Email List
Coffee Break Newsletter
Book List
New Blog Posts
Marketing Permissions
Made in Mom Jeans will use the information you provide on this form to be in touch with you and to provide updates and marketing. Please let us know all the ways you would like to hear from us:
You can change your mind at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in the footer of any email you receive from us, or by contacting us at hello@madeinmomjeans.com. We will treat your information with respect. For more information about our privacy practices please visit our website. By clicking below, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with these terms.
We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By clicking below to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices here.
How I’m Rating Books
Before we dive in, I wanted to chat a bit about how I actually rate each book. Over the years, I’ve developed certain criteria for how I rate books so that I can have a personalized standard for myself. I want to stress that there isn’t a right or wrong way to rate a book, I just wanted to share mine so you understand why my ratings might be a little harsher for some books and not others. Books that I recommend will automatically receive a rating of 3 stars or higher. So, here’s how I rate the books that I read based on a 5-star system:
1 star - Utter waste of time
This book added no value to my life. I didn’t want to finish it but kept reading it anyway because there was at least a part of me that wanted to see if it got better. One star books are often riddled with inaccuracies, problematic writing styles, or just didn’t make much sense at all.
2 stars - It was just okay
This book was more annoying than it was pleasurable to read. There were definitely points that were problematic but not so much so that I struggled to finish it like the one-star books. Read for the sake of reading. The main plot was lost and the author had to work to come back to the point again and again.
3 stars - Average read but enjoyable
This book wasn’t life changing but I enjoyed reading it. Somewhat rewarding of a read and not a total waste of time. The author did something to make an otherwise tired concept fresh again in terms of writing style. I might recommend this book.
4 stars - A book I loved reading
A good book that could have used minor improvements. Something I had fun reading and found enjoyable. This book made somewhat of an impact on me, my thoughts, and/or my life. I can see myself rereading this book in the future and would definitely recommend.
5 stars - Life-changing
This book was one of the most impactful books I’ve ever read. Something about reading this fundamentally changed my thoughts or feelings about something. The book was flawless in terms of execution and I absolutely could not put it down. I will continue to think about and talk about whatever topics were covered in this book. I will avidly look forward to other works from this author. I strongly recommend this book and believe that everyone should read it.
What I Read in February
Where’d You Go, Bernadette
Why I chose it: A book becoming a movie in 2019
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
I was so interested in the concept of this book because it’s written from the perspective of a bunch of documents compiled by the main character’s daughter who was “writing a novel” about her mother’s disappearance. It was definitely a good, easy read. I could see it being a great read for a plane ride or the beach but overall I felt the plot left a lot to be desired. The plot routinely lost the air of believability for me so I’m interested to see if others had the same problem. The movie version has a release date of August 9th from what I can tell from Google and I’m interested to see how they take the unusual format of the book and translate it into a movie.
It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way
Why I chose it: A book that is motivational
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
I listened to Uninvited a little over a year ago in audiobook format and absolutely loved it. When I heard that Lysa had written another book, I knew immediately that I would be reading it and thought it would be the perfect motivational book for me to actually read for this challenge (since I don’t have a great track record with finishing self-help books). Y’all, I loved this book. I definitely am not experiencing a true season of disappointment so I’m not really the target audience for this particular book of Lysa’s but the tools and knowledge I gained while reading this book (that I had to force myself to only read one chapter a night so I could really dig into the word) have definitely changed my life. I know that when I have a friend or loved one who needs to hear the message of this book I’ll be able to pass it along to them. If you’re not strong in your faith or having a rough patch and questioning God, I highly suggest picking this one up. I wish I had read this 10 years ago!
Becoming by Michelle Obama
Why I chose it: A book written by someone famous
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
If you thought my ratings were harsh on the January books, February’s are the opposite. We’ve got our second 5-star rating, Y'all! I mean, how was I not going to give Michelle Obama a 5-star rating for Becoming? I truly loved this book and that is coming from someone who can’t remember the last time she read an autobiography. Actually, I can. It was A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway and it is one of my favorite books. Add this one next to it on the shelf then because the way Michelle Obama tells her story is about as down-to-earth and epic as it gets. This book inspired me to think about the ways in which we tell our stories and how I wanted mine to be told one day. I think this is a must read for any young woman!
What was your favorite or least favorite book that you read in February?
