Mini Book Reviews--February 2026

 Disclaimer: I received ARCs of Family Drama, Little One, Kin, Saoirse, and A Good Animal from NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for my honest reviews. This post contains affiliate links.

February is a short month; it was also a busy month for me, and finding time to read was a challenge. I like to read before I go to bed, but I often drift off so quickly that I don't always remember what I've read. That meant that I had to re-read those passages the next day. I'm not complaining; it just made it a little tougher to get all my NetGalley books read for February. But I did, and 4 out of the 5 of those were just great. The other one was a rare DNF, a mess of a book.

I also had 2 library holds to read, one which was a disappointment and the other, a fun trip back to the 60s and 70s. 

Coming up for March? I have a boatload of NetGalley reads--it will be tough to get them done, but I also have a trip to California to see my sister, so I will have lots of downtime. Hopefully, they are all engaging, and I can fly through them! I do love to read...

When I picked up Homeschooled, I expected a story about homeschooling. Yes, the author was 'homeschooled' for a time by his mom, but the main focus of the book was his needy, narcissistic mom and his struggle to separate from her. Yes, he does talk about the homeschooling movement in the US, but that discussion felt out of place in what was really a memoir about a dysfunctional family. The author never did receive any schooling from his mother--at least none of the traditional subjects normally provided in school. For me, it was all about the misleading title and the way this book is being marketed--providing a disservice to parents who are legitimately homeschooling their children. 

A talented actress, living a bicoastal life, dies and leaves behind her young twins. Family Drama is told in alternating timelines, which, for this reader, did not work. The transitions between plotlines, timelines, and points of view were at times confusing and jarring. The narrative was free-flowing, almost rambling, and hard to follow. The premise was just great--I so wanted to love this one--but the execution did not do the plot justice. Where was the editor? I gave it my best shot, but finally DNF'd at 50%. 

Little One tells the story of Catharine, aka Rin, who grew up on a farm in Florida, living a carefree life. As she grew up, she realized that things weren't right on the farm, and she left to start a life of her own. When she's contacted by a reporter who wants to talk about a 'cult' in Florida, she does her best to evade his questions. Told in a format that alternates between the past and the present, the reader learns a great deal about what really went on at the farm--and it wasn't good. Beautiful writing and an interesting story kept me turning the pages. I had a few minor quibbles about the pacing of the story, but overall this was a win for me. AND THAT ENDING?! Can we talk?

Meet the Newmans takes the reader back to the 1960s! Reminiscent of shows like Ozzie and Harriet and Leave it to Beaver, the Newmans are the stars of their own long-running family TV show. But times are a-changing, and the show isn't keeping up with the times. The Newman boys are grown and trying to become their own people, which is hard to do when you're famous. When tragedy strikes, the family is left to figure out how to move forward. This was a fun read!

Wow, Kin was good. Niecy and Annie were cradle friends, motherless girls, raised in Honeysuckle, Louisiana. They grew up together, best of friends, better than sisters. As they grew older, they followed different paths. Annie left Honeysuckle, heading for Memphis, hoping to find her mama. Niecy takes a different path, going off to college in Atlanta. The narrative alternates perspectives between the two girls, except when they are together. This is a beautiful story of friendship, non-traditional motherhood, and kin. I could not put it down. So good.

Running from a traumatic and violent childhood and using a stolen identity, Saoirse escapes to Ireland to start a new life. With nothing but the clothes on her back, she befriends a young man who takes her to his family's home while she gets her bearings. Unfortunately, he is not the good Samaritan he seems to be, and Saoirse finds solace in her artwork. As she spreads her wings and gains independence, she hopes she can shake off her past. Saoirse is a gripping novel that I could not put down. The narrative flows between the past and the present, which worked well for this story. The writing was almost poetic, and the descriptions of the Irish countryside made me feel as if I were there. Highly recommended!

I love a good coming-of-age story, and A Good Animal was one of the best I've read in a long time. Set in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Everett is a high school senior, living and working on his dad's sheep farm. He hangs out with his friend Charlie, a typical 17 year old goofball. When a new girl moves to town, Everett is interested in her. She's standoffish at first, but they eventually start dating. Everett falls head over heels for her; she wants to spread her wings. Bad decisions have consequences, and life lessons are learned. I really enjoyed this book--the descriptions of farm life and animals were like a balm to my soul. There were animal deaths in the story, which made me sad, but in the context of the story, it fit. What a great debut for this author!!

What have you read this month? Do you DNF books that you just can't get into? Do you see any books here that you might want to pick up?

I'm linking up with Jenn and Jenny for Tuesday Topics!  I'm also excited to join Farrah for My Month is Booked! Also with Share Your Shelf with Slices of Life and Not in Jersey.