"10 Exciting Books to Add to Your February Reading Challenge for 2024"
- Celestique
- Feb 3, 2024
- 12 min read
Welcome, bookworms and literature enthusiasts, to the exhilarating world of February reading challenges! As the second month of the year unfolds, it brings with it a renewed opportunity to dive into captivating narratives, explore diverse genres, and embark on literary adventures that ignite the imagination. Whether you're an avid reader seeking discoveries or someone looking to reignite their passion for the written word, this curated list of "10 Exciting Books to Add to Your February Reading Challenge for 2024" is bound to spark your interest and keep you turning pages late into the night.
With a mix of timeless classics, contemporary bestsellers, and hidden gems waiting to be unearthed, this collection promises something for every reader, regardless of your preferred genre or taste. From heart-wrenching tales of love and loss to gripping thrillers that will leave you on the edge of your seat, each book selected for this list offers a unique opportunity to escape reality and immerse yourself in the transformative power of storytelling.
So, gather your cozy blankets, brew a steaming cup of your favorite beverage, and prepare to embark on a literary journey unlike any other. Whether you're seeking solace in the pages of a beloved classic or eager to discover new voices and perspectives, these 10 books will inspire, entertain, and leave a lasting impression on your February reading challenge.
Without further ado, let's explore the titles that will accompany you on this exciting literary adventure. Get ready to expand your horizons, challenge your perceptions, and lose yourself in the magic of reading as we delve into "10 Exciting Books to Add to Your February Reading Challenge for 2024."
10. A Winter in New York by Josie Silver
A young chef stumbles on a secret family recipe that might lead her to the love–and life–she’s been looking for in this stunning novel. When Iris decides to move to New York to restart her life, she realizes she underestimated how big the Big Apple is–all the nostalgic movies set in New York she’d watched with her mom while eating their special secret-recipe gelato didn’t quite do it justice. But Bobby, Iris’s best friend, isn’t about to let her hideaway. He drags her to a famous autumn street fair in Little Italy, and as they walk through the food stalls, a little family-run gelateria catches her eye–could it be the same shop that’s in an old photo of her mother’s? Curious, Iris returns the next day and meets the handsome Gio, who tells her that the shop is in danger of closing. His uncle, the sole keeper of their family’s gelato recipe, is in a coma, so they can’t make more. When Iris samples the last remaining batch, she realizes that their gelato and her gelato are the same. But how can she tell them she knows their secret recipe when she’s not sure why Gio’s uncle gave it to her mother in the first place? Iris offers her services as a chef to help them re-create the flavor and finds herself falling for Gio and his family. But when Gio’s uncle finally wakes up, all of the secrets Iris has been keeping threaten to ruin the new life–and new love–she’s been building all winter long.
Book Genre: Adult, Chick Lit, Christmas, Contemporary, Fiction, Holiday, Romance
“Life is just so damn complicated, isn't it, a series of random coincidences and chance meetings that add up to a lifetime.”
― Josie Silver, A Winter in New York
9. Wildfire by Hannah Grace
The latest in the Maple Hills series follows two summer camp counselors who reconnect after a sizzling one-night stand. Maple Hills students Russ Callaghan and Aurora Roberts cross paths at a party celebrating the end of the academic year, where a drinking game results in them having a passionate one-night stand. Never one to overstay her welcome (or expect much from a man), Aurora slips away before Russ even has the chance to ask for her full name. Imagine their surprise when they bump into each other on the first day of the summer camp where they are both counselors, hoping to escape their complicated home lives by spending the summer working. Russ hopes if he gets far enough away from Maple Hills, he can avoid dealing with the repercussions of his father’s gambling addiction, while Aurora is tired of craving attention from everyone around her, and wants to go back to the last place she truly felt at home. Russ knows breaking the camp’s strict “no staff fraternizing” rule will have him heading back to Maple Hills before the summer is over, but unfortunately for him, Aurora has never been very good at caring about the rules. Will the two learn to peacefully coexist? Or did their one night together start a fire they can’t put out?
Book Genre: Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, New Adult, Romance, Sports, Sports Romance
“If I change one thing in my past, it’d cause a ripple effect, and I wouldn’t chance not meeting you.”
― Hannah Grace, Wildfire
8. The Hundred Loves of Juliet by Evelyn Skye
A woman fleeing her disastrous marriage discovers that she is part of a legendary love story that spans lives, years, and continents in this modern-day reimagining of Romeo and Juliet. When Helene was young, she dreamed of the perfect man and filled her notebooks with stories about him and love in its purest form. But after a messy divorce, she has let go of such naïve fantasies. She has moved to a small town in Alaska, where she is ready to write her novel and build a new life without romance. Fate has other plans, though. Helene soon meets Sebastien Montague, a handsome fisherman who is her invented hero-made flesh, down to the most idiosyncratic details. But how can a man she created possibly exist in the real world? While Helene tries to discover the truth behind his existence, Sebastien is determined to keep that truth from her, for he is a man scarred by serial tragedy, hiding a secret that has broken his heart time and again. Yet the shadows of the past emerge, endangering Helene and Sebastien’s future before it even begins–and it becomes clear that it won’t be easy to forge a new ending to the greatest love story of all time.
Book Genre: Adult, Chick Lit, Contemporary, Fantasy, Fiction, Retellings, Romance
“Perhaps a life well lived isn’t measured in months or years, but in love. In kisses and gentle twining of hands, in fiery embraces and soft, whispered affections.”
― Evelyn Skye, The Hundred Loves of Juliet
7. Plot Twist by Erin La Rosa
She’s written off more than she can chew…Romance author Sophie Lyon’s ironic secret just went she’s never been in love–and it’s ruining her reputation. With a manuscript deadline looming, Sophie makes an ambitious plan to overcome her writers reunite with her exes (including her last girlfriend Carla, the one person she could have loved) to learn why she’s never fallen in love, and document it all for her millions of new online followers. Luckily, Sophie’s reclusive landlord, Dash Montrose–a former teen heartthrob–has social media all figured out and is willing to help. What he doesn’t mention is that he’s an anonymous online crafter, a hobby that helps him maintain his sobriety. No one knows about his complicated relationship with alcohol, and with a family that’s Hollywood royalty, Dash has to steer clear of scandal. As Sophie and Dash grow closer, they discover a heat between them that rivals Dash’s pottery kiln. But Sophie needs to figure out who she is outside her relationships, and Dash isn’t sure he’s stable enough for the commitment she deserves. So Sophie suggests that any good romance author a friends-with-benefits arrangement. Surely a strictly casual relationship won’t cause any trouble.
Book Genre: Adult, Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, LGBT, Romance
“He saw her legs first. Ankle boots met her bare calves, and the tops of her knees were hidden under a maroon, long-sleeved body-con dress”
― Erin La Rosa, Plot Twist
6. Do Your Worst by Rosie Danan
Sparks fly when an occult expert and a disgraced archeologist become enemies with benefits in this steamy romance. Riley Rhodes finally has the chance to turn her family’s knack for the supernatural into a legitimate business when she’s hired to break the curse on an infamous Scottish castle. Used to working alone in her alienating occupation, she’s pleasantly surprised to meet a handsome stranger upon arrival–until he tries to get her fired. Fresh off a professional scandal, Clark Edgeware can’t allow a self-proclaimed “curse breaker” to threaten his last chance for redemption. After he fails to get Riley kicked off his survey site, he vows to avoid her. Unfortunately for him, she vows to get even. Riley expects the curse to do her dirty work by driving Clark away, but instead, they keep finding themselves in close proximity. Too close. Turns out, the only thing they do better than fight is fool around. If they’re not careful, by the end of all this, more than the castle will end up in ruins.
Book Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Fantasy, Fiction, Paranormal, Romance
“We all hurt the ones we love,” he said, softly, pointedly. “It’s why we must learn to make amends.”
― Rosie Danan, Do Your Worst
5. Check and Mate by Ali Hazelwood
In this clever and swoon-worthy YA debut from the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis, life’s moving pieces bring rival chess players together in a match for the heart. Mallory Greenleaf is done with chess. Every move counts nowadays; after the sport led to the destruction of her family four years earlier, Mallory’s focus is on her mom, her sisters, and the dead-end job that keeps the lights on. That is, until she begrudgingly agrees to play in one last charity tournament and inadvertently wipes the board with notorious “King killer and ” Nolan Sawyer: current world champion and reigning Bad Boy of chess. Nolan’s loss to an unknown rookie shocks everyone. What’s even more confusing? His desire to cross pawns again. What kind of gambit is Nolan playing? The smart move would be to walk away. Resign. Game over. But Mallory’s victory opens the door to sorely needed cash prizes and despite everything, she can’t help feeling drawn to the enigmatic strategist. As she rockets up the ranks, Mallory struggles to keep her family safely separated from the game that wrecked it in the first place. And as her love for the sport she so desperately wanted to hate begins to rekindle, Mallory quickly realizes that the games aren’t only on the board, the spotlight is brighter than she imagined, and the competition can be fierce.
Book Genre: Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, New Adult, Romance, Young Adult, Young Adult Romance
“Galaxies pass through his black eyes, and I wonder whether this second could last a century. Whether the universe could be just me and him, understanding each other on a forever loop.”
― Ali Hazelwood, Check & Mate
4. The Good Part by Sophie Cousens
At twenty-six, Lucy Young is tired. Tired of fetching coffees for senior TV producers, tired of going on disastrous dates, and tired of living in a damp flat shared with flatmates who never buy toilet rolls. She could quit her job for a better living, but she's not ready to give up on her dreams. Not just yet. After another diabolical date lands her in a sudden storm and no money for bus fare, Lucy finds herself seeking shelter in a tiny shop, where she stumbles upon a curious wishing machine. Pushing her last coin into the slot, Lucy closes her eyes and wishes with everything she's got: Please, let me skip to the good part of my life.
When she wakes the next morning to a handsome man, a ring on her finger, a high-powered job, and a storybook-perfect little boy and baby girl, Lucy can't believe this is real--especially when she looks in the mirror, and stares back at her forty-something face. Has she skipped ahead to the future she's always wanted, or has she simply forgotten a huge chunk of her life? And as Lucy begins to embrace this new life and new relationships, she'll have to ask herself: Can she go back, and if so, does she want to?
Book Genre: Adult, Chick Lit, Contemporary, Fiction, Magical Realism, Romance, Time Travel
“Is that what life is—missing out in your twenties because you have no money, then missing out in your forties because you have no time?”
― Sophie Cousens, The Good Part
3. Change of Plans by Dylan Newton
In this charming romantic comedy, a hometown hero comes to the rescue of a chef unexpectedly left to care for three little girls–who may end up saving him too. When disaster strikes and chef Bryce Weatherford is given guardianship of her three young nieces, her life goes from cooking with fire…to controlling a dumpster fire. Five-year-old Addison refuses to remove her fairy wings, eight-year-old Cecily won’t bathe, and tween June is majoring in belligerence. With all this chaos, Bryce jettisons hope for a life outside of managing her family and her new job. It’s been years since Ryker Matthews had his below-the-knee amputation, yet the phantom pain for his lost limb and Marine career haunts him. To cope, he focuses on his vehicle restoration business. He knows he’s lucky to be alive. Yet, “lucky” feels more like “cursed” to his lonely heart. When Ryker sweeps Bryce off her feet in the grocery store’s baby aisle, they both feel sparks. But falling in love would be one more curveball neither is ready to deal with… or is it exactly the change of plans they need?
Book Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Humor, Military Fiction, Romance
“It’s easy to get lost when all you see is your feet on the path in front of you. If all you’re doing is avoiding the next obstacle, you’ll never find your way out of the forest. At some point, you’ve got to find the time to create a map. Pick your head up, and figure out where you are and where you want to go.”
― Dylan Newton, Change of Plans
2. Fancy Meeting You Here by Julie Tieu
Every single one of Elise Ngo’s close girlfriends–Rebecca, Jesse, and Beth–is getting married within the same few months, and every single one of them has asked her to be both bridesmaid and florist. Though it’s a lot for her to juggle, the work and exposure are a boon to her struggling flower shop. The stakes are high at Rebecca’s high-profile wedding, where the guests are mostly political connections of Rebecca’s parents. Desperate for the event to go off without a hitch, Elise enlists the help of an outside caterer who turns out to be Ben Yu, Rebecca’s elusive younger brother. Though Ben is prickly and aloof, he offers Elise much-needed business designing flowers for his mom’s campaign fundraisers and Elise begins to see there’s more to Ben than his gruff and handsome exterior. But their romance takes off as the political campaign ramps up, complicating their relationship with unforeseen consequences. Now always-the-bridesmaid Elise must fight for what she wants to finally get her own happily ever after.
Book Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Romance
1. Outdrawn by Deanna Grey
Noah Blue’s finally got her foot in the door. After clawing her way to the top of the charts with her webcomic, she’s garnered enough attention to earn a full-time position at a company re-launching their cult classic Queen Leisah.
Queen Leisah is predicted to be an instant bestseller with movie deals already in the making. Things are falling into place. There’s nowhere to go but up…as soon as she gets one person out of her way.
Sage Montgomery has always been the best artist in every building she’s stepped foot in. Raw talent’s gotten her webcomic to the top of the charts every month for the past eight years. She’s been the best for as long as she can remember. Sure, her career has plateaued but that can be easily fixed by working on a big, mainstream comic.
She was promised complete creative control over Leisah. Instead, she got a shared credit with the one artist who’s been breathing down her neck since college. The one artist who has a fighting chance of being better than her.
Sage and Noah have to work as a team — or, at least appear to work as a team. They thought the hardest part of the relaunch would be drawing together. But that's easy in comparison to falling in love.
Book Genre: Romance
“She could be a siren; I painted her on the water in my mind, her hair splayed across the surface, eyes daring the viewer to jump in. Would she save them? Save me? Did I want her to?”
― Deanna Grey, Outdrawn
As we reach the end of our literary journey through the "10 Exciting Books to Add to Your February Reading Challenge for 2024," I hope you've found inspiration, joy, and perhaps a new favorite read or two. February, with its shorter days and colder nights, provides the perfect backdrop for immersing ourselves in the world of books, where each page turned feels like a small triumph over the winter chill. Whether you're navigating the stormy seas of historical fiction, unraveling the mysteries of a gripping thriller, or basking in the warmth of a heartfelt romance, the power of these stories lies in their ability to transport us to different worlds, times, and perspectives.
In the spirit of embracing diversity, our curated list offered a wide range of genres and themes, catering to every taste and preference. From the poetic prose of classic literature to the pulse-pounding excitement of contemporary thrillers, each book was carefully chosen to add depth and variety to your reading challenge. As you turn the final pages of these novels, take a moment to reflect on the worlds you've explored, the characters you've encountered, and the emotions you've experienced. It is through these literary adventures that we not only escape reality but also gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us.
Remember, a reading challenge is not merely a checklist but an opportunity for personal growth and enrichment. Let the words you've consumed linger in your thoughts, sparking conversations, introspection, and, most importantly, a hunger for more knowledge and storytelling. Share your thoughts and recommendations with fellow readers, and perhaps form a virtual book club to further enrich your reading experience.
As we bid farewell to February, let the magic of these books continue to resonate in your heart. May the lessons learned, the characters met, and the stories woven into your February reading challenge serve as stepping stones for a year filled with countless more literary adventures. Happy reading, fellow bibliophiles, and may the pages of your next book be as thrilling as the ones we've explored together in "10 Exciting Books to Add to Your February Reading Challenge for 2024." Until our next literary rendezvous, happy reading!
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