It could just be my algorithm, but the 90s seem to be having a bit of a resurgence. I cannot stop listening to Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls, which is such a fun throwback. The Goo Goo Dolls always make me think of my friend Clare, because Dizzy Up the Girl was one of her favourite albums when she was in uni. Also, who could forget the iconic performance in Buffalo when they’re being rained on? The romance! The drama!
Anyway, I digress. I mostly spent February cursing the new Beatles movies as they made my walk home ten seconds longer by occupying a car park near my apartment. You’ll pay for this, Barry Keoghan! Several of my friends have reminded me that I said I was going to have fewer plans in 2026, and of course that hasn’t worked. Work and personal lives continue to be hectic, which is why this blog is late. I know my fans are clamouring for more, so here goes.
Books and playlist for February are below.
Twilight by Stephanie Meyer
I can’t remember if I mentioned this previously, but I recently watched all of the Twilight films for the first time. What a wild ride! Who knew Michael Sheen had such dramatic range?! Anyway, I decided I was going to listen to all the books on audio, having never read them back in the day as I was too busy doing three tequila slammers in a row at Coppers or the George. It was absolute shite, as I’m sure you can imagine, and I found Bella even more annoying in the book than I did in the films. I decided to not continue on this quest, as the books get progressively longer, and who has time to listen to forty more hours of this nonsense?!
Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry
My quest to replace Danielle Steel with Emily Henry continues! I listened to this on audio, and it was really fun! It’s about two journalists who travel to a holiday island in Georgia, USA to meet a reclusive former Hollywood actor who wants to write her memoir, and they’re competing to be the one who gets the job. Mystery! Intrigue! Enemies to lovers! What’s not to enjoy?
The Constant Gardener by John le Carré
John le Carré has always been a dad author to me. Several people have recommended him to me over the years, and I always rolled my eyes and avoided him. I never even watched any of the film adaptations cos they just never felt like my thing. Cut to a few months ago, and I’m with some of my friends, and two of them come out to me as le Carré heads! Imagine my shock! I had a copy of The Constant Gardener from when someone had given it to me as a gift a few years ago, so decided to give it a go, and I’m so glad I did. I’m happy to admit that I was wrong. It’s about a British diplomat in Kenya who wants to find the truth after his wife, a humanitarian campaigner, is brutally murdered. It’s a beautiful and human story centred on love and corruption and I now want to read more le Carré. Like Robert Harris, I really misjudged him. I haven’t watched the film yet, but my sister tells me that it really isn’t great, so we’ll see if I make time for it.
Year of the Rat: Undercover in the British Far Right by Harry Shukman
Sara recommended this to Clare and I and we both ended up devouring it on audio. I actually ended up reactivating my libro.fm subscription so I could get it. It’s a non-fiction account of the author’s experience going undercover in the British far-right movement, and is genuinely terrifying in the mundanity of the people involved, and the extremity of their views. I’d recommend this to everyone who wants to learn more about the far-right in the UK, but if you don’t want to read or listen to a book, there’s a great documentary that features the author and his time undercover, alongside the organisation Hope Not Hate, on Channel 4.
Game Changer, Heated Rivalry and Tough Guy by Rachel Reid
I’ll preface this by saying I am not someone who reads smut. No judgement on anyone who does, but it’s simply never been my thing. Having said that, I inhaled these books. Like every other woman in the English speaking world, I am obsessed with the TV show Heated Rivalry, so when I saw that the series was on offer on Kindle, I decided to give it a go. All I’ll say is, if queer hockey players falling in love and having crazy sex isn’t your thing, give these books a miss, but if you’re in any way intrigued, go for it.
Woo Woo by Ella Baxter
This was our book club pick for March, and it was a really polarising read. I loved it, because I can’t resist a crazy narrator, but it wasn’t universally loved by our group. It’s about an artist, who manages the stress of the time preceding a big show opening, alongside being visited by the ghost of Carolee Schneemann, and being stalked by an unnamed voyeur. Sabine, the protagonist, is a complete mess, and you’re never sure of what you can trust from her, but this book is utterly unique and compelling. I loved her relationships with her audience, social media, and her husband, as well as her fellow artists and curators, and read the book in two sittings. It’s worth a read if you’re looking for something a little beyond the pale.
