I felt like the first half of February dragged a little bit. But maybe that’s because I read the same book (HOFAS) for 10 days straight, so it felt like groundhog day. Anyway, it’s the end of the month, which means it’s time for another monthly book blog wrap-up! I didn’t read as much this month, which I blame on HOFAS. Although, I feel HOFAS could definitely count as two books, possibly three, on its own. I made progress on some ARCs, though I received a few new ones. So it all evens out in the end! Keep reading to see what I was up to!

Book Reviews

I posted five book reviews in February. From earliest to latest they are:

• What The River Knows by Isabel Ibanez
• Mountains Made Of Glass by Scarlett St. Clair
• That Time I Got Drunk and Yeeted a Love Potion at a Werewolf by Kimberly Lemming
• Tales of the Celestial Kingdom by Sue Lynn Tan
• Shattered Spirits by Cal Black

Blog Statistics

Every month I share some statistics from Google Analytics because I think it helps put expectations into perspective for other micro-bloggers like me who are out there. These statistics are from Google Analytics 4.

As of the evening of February 28, my top five posts for total page views are:

1. Book Review: Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Maehrer: 352 views
2. Book Review: The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake: 288 views
3. Arthurian Retellings Reading List: 284 views
4. ARC Book Review Etiquette: 279 views
5. ARC Review: Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig: 193 views

My stats this month were significantly lower than January. I know with the holidays past, viewership likely declines, but it was so significant I wondered if something else was afoot. I tried to find out if Google updated their SEO algorithm. While I didn’t find a ton of overwhelming evidence that that was the case, I found one article on Search Engine Roundtable that showed proof that Google did a search ranking update in late January. Moreover, I asked others if they saw the same trend with their February viewership and it was a resounding “yes.” Some longer-term bloggers also shared that they tend to see a dip in February stats. I also didn’t post as consistently as in months past, either, so I’m sure that contributed to lower February viewership, too.

While my wellbeing doesn’t rely on my viewership numbers, I was curious nonetheless because of the marked drop. So, if you’re curious, too, now you know!

Finally, I gained some more blog followers and now have 172!

#BeattheBacklog

I finished one book that I officially had on my backlog list: FATHOMFOLK by Eliza Chan. It only half counts because it’s a 2024 release, but I put it on my TBR last year.

Other Bookish Items

I finished seven books in February, three of which were ARCs:

• HOUSE OF FLAME AND SHADOW by Sarah J. Maas
• SHATTERED SPIRITS: THE FALL OF ISHCAIRN by Cal Black (SFINCS)
• THAT TIME I GOT DRUNK AND YEETED A LOVE POTION AT A WEREWOLF by Kimberly Lemming (ARC)
• WHAT MOVES THE DEAD by T. Kingfisher (audiobook)
• TALES OF THE CELESTIAL KINGDOM by Sue Lynn Tan (ARC)
• FATHOMFOLK by Eliza Chan (ARC)
• A SORROW NAMED JOY by Sarah Chorn (SFINCS)

I’m definitely still behind on a couple of ARCs (sorry!), but I’m doing my best. Mood reads are good for the soul.

My husband and I visited a local independent bookstore last weekend during an errand run. It’s not as close as the one I typically go to, but it was super cute and cozy. While it didn’t have as much in-store selection, it made up for it in charm, displays, and lovely bookish items. My husband even bought a couple of books, which is atypical. (He reads, but not as voraciously as me.) So that made me happy!

Non-Bookish Items

Health-wise, I hit the pause button, which I really needed. I don’t regret it at all. I took this time to get a second opinion and, without any prompting from me, the doctor validated what I’d been thinking for a while now based on my own research. In short, while the label is different, the treatment is basically the same. That’s frustrating in its own way, but it is what it is. I kind of just want to get it over with, but everything has to be preauthorized with insurance, which takes time, and so on and so forth. I’ve slowly been reading nonfiction books that fall within this topic. Maybe when I’m feeling brave enough I’ll compile it all as a resource for others.

I planted pepper and eggplant seeds last weekend. Those always take a while to germinate (for me), so I started them earlier this year. I’ll sow other vegetable seeds (e.g., squash, tomatoes) in a couple of weeks. I direct sow beans, so depending on the weather I’ll plant them in a couple of weeks or a little later.

We booked a couple of vacations. First up is a short jaunt to Florida to visit with family. Then in a couple of months we go explore the Pacific! Yes, my wallet is burning!