February 2025 Wrap Up
A look back at February and what's to come in March.
Oh, hi! Welcome to Swoon Worthy!
If you received last month’s newsletter, this might look a big different to you. I moved the Swoon Worthy News to Substack for two reasons. The first is that it was far too difficult to make a newsletter through SquareSpace, which is where swoonbooksellers.com resides. The interface isn’t user friendly (or, at least it isn’t for technology challenged users) and for what I want this newsletter to be, it was a waste of my time to fight with their formatting. The second reason for the move is that I’m a writer and I love long form content and Substack is for the long form, long-winded people out there. That’s me. Hi, welcome.
You guys blew my mind in February. You’ve been blowing my mind since Swoon started, but Holy Book Buyers, Batman, you guys came through in February. Every event was so fun, and as an obvious romantic, I enjoyed celebrating Valentine’s Day and Galentine’s Day all month long. I’m so fortunate to be building strong relationships with local businesses around Greenville and the upstate, so I’m looking forward to what is to come next.
February also saw a LOT of new releases. The book buying process is easily one of my favorite parts of this job because I get to research debut and new-to-me authors (and get excited about my favorite authors releasing new books). Book buying is also the most dangerous part of this job for my wallet! I swear my TBR gained 60 books last month. Anyone relate?
Book Reviews
I read five romance books in February, which is honestly impressive to me because not only did Swoon have one heck of a month, but I also moved houses so like where did I find the time? Anyway, I post reviews on Goodreads if you’ve got an account and would like to follow me there. For those of you who can’t be bothered to go to another site, hell yeah, this is for you.
One Dark Window and Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig | 4 & 5 stars respectfully
After so many friends raved about this duology, I finally read it and I’m so glad I did. The magic system in this series is so unique to anything I’ve read. Plus, the world itself was easy to follow—I didn’t have to look up the pronunciation of any names and I never questioned who or what the antagonist was in either book. The one thing I despised about this duology is the fact that “god/gods” was replaced with “tree/trees.” That just…wasn’t a good call.
Deep End by Ali Hazelwood | 4 stars
If you haven’t read this yet, what are you doing? In the Ali-verse, the contents of this book are similar to Not in Love. Kind of. Given that Ali puts a warning up at the beginning of the book, I expected the contents to be smut city and yet the sex scenes were kind of mid? However, there is still somehow so. Much. Tension. Between the two leads. I don’t know how to explain it, but the way they talk to each other is hotter than any description of penetration. Not a 5 stars read for me only because of the friend plot line. Iykyk.
Fan Service by Rosie Danan | 3 stars
I got an e-ARC of this book; it releases in March. I was introduced into the omega verse with Bride by Ali Hazelwood, and I’ve been wanting to dip my toe into more werewolf books. (The #TeamEdward in me is shocked to learn that I’m into werewolves??) So, when Fan Service became available, I dove in. Only, this is very much a story about a man who turns into a werewolf. It has really nothing to do with the omega verse. Huge bummer. The story itself was hilarious and I enjoyed the writing. Worth a read.
Behind the Net by Stephanie Archer | 3 stars
I’m such a sucker for hockey romance. I read this book when I was moving because the books on my TBR would’ve require more brain power than I was willing to give. Jokes on me because now, of course, I need to read the rest of this series.
March Events
Here’s where you can find Swoon in March!
March 8 (aka International Women’s Day): The Greenville Spark | 11 am - 3 pm
March 23rd: Southernside Brewing | 11 am - 3 pm
March 29th: Scout’s Doughnuts | 10 am - 2 pm
What I’m…
Reading: From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout
TBD on this one. I’m slowing making my way through it. I hope it picks up speed.
What I’m Watching: Yellowstone
I’ve never been into cowboys or westerns. I was forced to watch Tombstone too often as a kid. The cowboy hat has historically done nothing for me. I haven’t even gotten on board with reading cowboy romances. I read Lyla Sage for a book club; otherwise I wouldn’t have chosen it for myself. Sure, I’ve been tempted by Elise Silver just to see what she’s all about, but only passively. I keep cowboy romances on the shelves for you guys.
Yellowstone, though? Holy moly, Yellowstone is making me understand cowboys. Specifically, Rip Wheeler. The man that you are, Rip Wheeler. Yellowstone might’ve been written by a man, but Rip was so clearly written by a woman. If you’re caught up on the show, don’t spoil anything for me. I’m on season four. I’d like to assume Rip stays wearing black and making subtly blatant comments about his future with Beth.
I love Kasey, too, but I can’t get past the fact that the actor who played him also played Elliot Grey (aka Emmett Cullen) in the Fifty Shades of Grey movies. The image of him smacking his gum in every scene of that trilogy is permanently seared into my brain. But every deep sounding F-bomb he drops is helping me reconcile the two.
Snacking On: Peanut M&M’s
I go through chocolate phases. January was Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. February (and probably March) is M&M’s.
Did you make it to the end?
TL;DR: February was busy for Swoon and my personal life. I have 16,000 books I want to read, and the list is getting longer. You da best.
This February I learned growing TBRs are contagious.