February Wrap Up (2025)

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And I'm back with my first 2025 Wrap Up... in February. 

Hey, it's okay! I was reading Harry Potter for the entirety of January- it's fine. 

I read a total of 6 books in February, and considering it's only 28 days, I'm happy with that. 

I was hoping it would be 7, but I will hopefully be finishing my CR by the end of the week. 

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this. 

1. Friday Black, by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

I haven't thought about this book since, maybe a few days after finishing it at the srtart of the month, but seeing the cover has brought it all back. Friday Black is only a series of short stories, but they sure do pack a punch. In only a few pages, each story makes you feel something. With some, it's anger. With others, you feel sorrow. With a couple, you feel fear. They each hold their own, none is better than the other. 

Based off of the title, I'm hoping you'll be able to tell what some (not all) are about. It's true, some of them raise the issue of racism, which is present, even decades after people started standing up for people of colour. Other stories are about greed, about violence, about most of the injustices that are present in society today. 

This book is extremely short, but if you care about anything I have said about this book today, do yourself a favour and read it. You won't regret it. 

2. Malibu Rising (Reidverse), by Taylor Jenkins-Reid

I don't know how I did this, but I read this in three days. There was something just so readable about this that made me not want to put it down, or at least, pick it up whenever I had a spare moment. Malibu Rising is very much a family orientated book, focusing on each of the children of world-famous single Mick Riva. They each have their own lives, their own journeys that their on- and their own secrets. Secrets that will bubble to the surface at their annual end of summer party- a party that's very much in the public eye, as anybody whose everybody will be there. 

Drinks will be poured, secrets will be washed up, and before dawn, the house will go up in smoke. But it's what happens before that, that changes everything. 

With this book, we follow the Riva family, from when the Riva children's parents fall in love, when each of them is born, all the struggles and hardships they go through, all the way to the legendary party, as grownups. Maybe it was the urge to find out what happens next, what it was that contributed to all of these dark secrets. But whatever it was, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the Riva children, and their missing father. 

3. What Does it Feel Like? by Sophie Kinsella

If you didn't know, What Does it Feel Like was one of the books on my Anticipated Releases post for October-December for last year. It's based on Sophie Kinsella's own diagnosis and recovery of her malignant brain tumour, back in 2022. It's told in a series of anecdotes and conversations, starting right when she's writing the first draft of a new book, when the book is released, when it becomes a film, and then after surgery, and her recovery. It's so simply written, so matter of fact, that it almost feels blunt when you realise what's happening. 

The word for this book, like Psycho, is concise. What Does it Feel Like does not tread lightly. But hope is threaded into the story as well, as the story goes on, that Eve will grow stronger, get her memory back, beat the odds. It's such a simple story, but it's powerful. I hope this isn't my last Sophie Kinsella book. 

4. The Pieces of Ourselves, by Maggie Harcourt

I must have really been in the mood for emotional books this month, this is the fourth one on the bounce! I ordered this immediately after finishing my re-read of Theatrical, and finding out that I wanted more of Maggie Harcourt's writing. It didn't matter to me that it wasn't about theatre, and backstage, I just wanted more. That's when I came across this. 

The Pieces of Ourselves is about a girl called Flora, who is trying to piece her life back together after a devastating 'incident' that apart her life as she knew it. It's a year later, and Flora is struggling to come to terms with her diagnosis, and trying to establish what's usual for her. She's working at a hotel, just trying to get through the day, when she's tasked with helping a young man, trying to find out more about a couple he know had something to do with the hotel. That's the starting point. 

What happens next is a story about Flora's own self discovery, as she delves deeper and deeper into this mysterious couple's lives, along with Hal, and their journey as they become closer. It's a truly beautiful story, that deals with sensitive subjects, and has a small amount of romance in it, but it's not the main focus. 

This is only my second Maggie Harcourt book, and I have no doubt that I will be reading the others soon. 

5. Psycho (Psycho #1), by Robert Bloch

Hey guys, I have a review for this. It's linked into the title. 

You don't need to read the same words twice- go and read the review if you're interested in this. All my thoughts are there. 

6. The Hatmakers (Cordelia Hatmaker #1), by Tamzin Merchant

If I'm honest, it was the second book that caught my attention. I thought it was a standalone, it looked like a standalone. 

Then I read the blurb and realised that 1)it was in fact a series, and 2) The Mapmakers was actually book 2. So what did I do? Naturally, I bought book 1. 

I've completely forgotten about how excited I was for book 2, because I was so invested in this. 

Cordelia Hatmakers is from the Hatmakers family (of course, it's literally in her surname), and is one of the five exclusive maker families in England. She is desperate to show how good she is, by finally making her own hat, until all her hopes are washed away- word is sent that the boat her family owns, currently out at sea, collecting a feather for the King's Royal hat has sunk, with everyone, including her father, on it. Aside from this devastating loss, someone is robbing all the Maker families, and trying to start a war between France and England. 

Cordelia is convinced her father is still alive somewhere- but how can she convince her family of that when she has no way to prove it? Especially as these weird robbings keep happening...

The Hatmakers is a fun, fast paced story, full of magic, interesting characters and well thought out plot. I kept wanting to get to my next available moment so I could see what happens next. 

On to book two... 

And those are all of the books I read in February! I'm sure you can guess what the next one would have been if I had finished seven, but you won't have to wait long, because my TBR should be out within a couple of days! 

As always, feel free to comment what books, or even videogames/tv shows/ films you watched in February! 

I hope you have a wonderful evening, and I'll see you all soon! 

Byeeee! 

-Abi xxxxx

Psycho (Psycho #1), by Robert Bloch

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And I'm coming at you today with a review- very much a surprise review, one even I wasn't expecting to write. But, nevertheless, here I am. 

Psycho! One of the ultimate horror book/film duo! 

This might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I'm writing this anyway- because I have a fair few thoughts on it- which is surprising for a 185 page book. 

I hope you enjoy it. 

Title: Psycho 

Author: Rober Bloch

Genre: Horror

Release date: 10/4/1959

Status: Book in the Psycho series

Pages: 185

Blurb: "She was a fuguive, lost in a storm. That was when she saw the

sigh: MOTEL-VACANCY. The sign was unlit, the motel dark. She

switched off the engine and sat thinking, alone and frightened. 

She had nobody. The stolen money wouldn't help her, and Sam 

couldn't either, because she had taken the wrong turning; she

was on a strange road. There was nothing she could do now- she

had made her grave and she'd have to lie in it. 

She froze. Where had that come from? Grave. It was bed, not

grave. She shivered in the cold car, surrounded by shadows. Then, 

without a sound, a dark shape emerged from the blackness and

the car door opened..." 

My Thoughts

I picked this up because even though it's only February, I'm already sick of deciding what it is that I want to read next. Not a good feeling when my Goodreads goal is 80 books for the year. 

My partner was actually the one that suggested I read it. When I said that I didn't think I owned it, he said that he did. Upon striking a deal with him that if he found the book by the end of the day, I'd read it, I was not-so-surprised when he found it five minutes later. 

So that's how I found myself picking this up. 

Now, anyone who has a slight horror interest will have seen this, me included. I was familiar enough with the film to feel a sort of melancholy, as I tried hard to forget the sorts of events that would be occuring within the pages. Please tell me I'm not alone in feeling like this with certain books, feeling an emotion immediatly upon starting?

Another thought that struck me at the very start, was how similar the book, and then the film, was. That might have been why I felt the way I did, right at the start to be honest. 

Anyway, Psycho follows Mary (Marion in the film) as she's forced to stop at Bates Motel in Fairvale, California, because of the horrendous storm that's descending around her. From there we meet Norman, find out why Mary is where she is, and the story goes on from. 

One thing I loved about this story, was that each character was introduced at exactly the right time. They all fit right into the story, and nobody felt like I was reading them for too long, or was unclear as for why they were being introduced. I admired Lila for her fearlessness when taking steps to find out what happened to her sister, especially when nobody else seemed to be. 

 I will also point out, one thing this book does well is GETTING TO THE POINT. So few words, so few pages, just 185, and I knew exactly what part each character was there to play, what kind of person they were, why they did what they did (Mary especially), and what they were going to use next. The word for this book is concise- and to finish- none of it felt rushed. 

My only critique was that I wish I'd had more on Norman and his mother- their relationship when Norman was growing up, and what led to the character we meet at Bates Motel, on that fateful night when Mary shows up. Of course the film more than fills in the gaps, I think having a bit more background in the book would have been a lot more detailed. 

Overall, I'm so glad I picked this one up- I haven't read a whole lot of classic horror, unless you're counting Stephen King and The Midwich Cuckoos, but I think this book might just have sparked a lot more interest in the genre. 

Okay! Those are all the thoughts and feelings I have on Psycho! If you've read it, or seen the film, or just have an opinion on Psycho, let me know in the comments! 

I hope you have a wonderful day, and I'll see you all soon with my Wrap Up! 

Byeeee! 

-Abi xxxx

Harry Potter Ideas

 Hey guys, this is Abi here, 

And I'm guessing if you've been on this blog at all, you might know that in the month of January, I endeavored to read the entire HP series- which I did- for the record. 

But now, I want to write a post for it. 

Not specifically about the story, but more, about the aspects I want to know more about, within the Harry Potter series. 

I know I won't be alone in thinking some of these things, so I encourage you all to write something in the comments: what would you like to know more about, what character origin stories, what concepts? Let me know. 

I hope you enjoy this post, as it's a little different to my usual ones (I need ideas for extra posts somewhere.)

1. Marauders Adventures

The legendary four. How these tremendous wizards met, and bonded, creating the Marauder's Map, sticking with Lupin upon finding out he was a werwolf, figuring out how to become animagi, and then running riot in the grounds afterwards. 

How could I not want to know more about this unique group of wizards? 

2. The Creation of Hogwarts

I want to know what led to the creation of hogwarts, right up until Slytherin leaves the school. I want to know how the decision to create a wzarding school was made, how the four founders worked in harmony to educate the next generation, even enchanting the Sorting Hat. 

Having done some research on time frames, it is unclear as for whether the Bloody Baron/ Helena Ravenclaw/ Rowena Ravenclaw story is in this time frame, but I would think not. 

Honestly, that doesn't matter (though it would be nice if it was within that time frame). It sure would be interesting to find out more about the people the houses are named after. 

3. Professor McGonagall origin story

I'm sure I'm not alone in wanting to know more about Professor. McGonagall growing up, as the sorting hat takes 5 and a half minutes (making her one of the few Hatstalls in Hogwarts' history) deciding whether to place her in Ravenclaw or Gryffindor; seeing her rise through the school, being especially talented at Transfiguration, and then her career after leaving. 

Although it might be a long story, I think the ideal time to finish might when Harry Potter joins the school. 

4. DUMBLEDORE ORIGIN STORY

Do I really need to explain this one?

Any part of Dumbledore's origin story would be fine:

-Student at hogwarts

-Time with Grindelwald

-What he did before finishing Hogwarts, but before teaching

-Family life

-Maybe even his interactions with Tom Riddle 

Literally any part. 

5. Concepts:

There are certain concepts, certain pieces of magic that are fascinating to me, which I just want more information on: These are:

1. The Mirror of Erised

2. The Philosopher's Stone

3. Wand lore- everything to do with making them, maybe with a focus on Ollivander

4. Floo powder

5. Brooms 

6. How Quidditch was established

I'm sure I'm not alone in wanting to know more about the wizarding world, and if I thought about it all for longer, I'm sure I could come up with half a dozen more aspects I would like to know more about. 

But don't let it be just me coming up with ideas, let me know what you want to know more about, in the comments below! 

That's going to be it for the post today, but hopefully I'll see you all soon, maybe even with a review, or a tag! 

I hope you have a wonderful evening and I'll see you all soon! 

Byeeeee! 

-Abi xxxxx