If you’re looking for a new book, you’ve come to the right place. Maybe your New Year’s resolution was to read more and you’re slipping. Maybe you’re a little intimidated to ask the librarians for their recommendations. Don’t worry, here’s a list of five books that’ll be great to devour this month.
Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado-Pérez
Invisible Women is the book about feminism for those that want to kick off their February with some righteous anger ahead of International Women’s Day in March.
Criado-Pérez tells about the data—or lack thereof—in several fields from drug studies to work hours. Did you know that drug studies, even before getting to human trials, sometimes avoid testing on female animals so they don’t have to worry about hormone cycles affecting the trial? It also talks about the reasons it may economically “make sense” for a woman to stay in the home after she has children.
Little Weirds by Jenny Slate
Slate’s Little Weirds bridges the gap between a memoir told in essays and personal prose poems. With February a hurry up and wait time in the semester, Slate’s comedic but poetic style is perfect for quick breaks or a nice binge.
The book mostly tells Slate’s personal life in shorts bits and pieces. She talks some about her love life—both the ups and the downs—and what it was like growing up with her two sisters in a haunted house.
The Martian by Andy Weir
The Martian is one book I will recommend to anyone at anytime, so of course it’s great for February. If you like comedy, space, sci-fi, or survival stories, you’ll like this book.
The Martian tells the story of Mark Wattney, an astronaut stranded on Mars after his crew is forced to abandon their mission and think he’s dead. There won’t be another manned mission to Mars for years. Mark has to use both his NASA training and his scientific background as an engineer and a botanist to figure out how to survive, or as he says, “science the shit out of it,” until he can get home with the next crew.
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
The first in a trilogy, this story of fake dating and high school drama is perfect for February and Valentine’s Day. Lara Jean and Peter need to pretend they’re dating to make her crush and his ex jealous. Of course, comedy and drama follow the two throughout their “relationship.”
Because this is a teen romance, many of the big plot points are easier to predict. But, with a fun story and likable characters, I give Han a pass. Sometimes knowing what’s coming makes you that much more excited to see it unfold.
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
February is a great time to hide inside and dive into a new fantasy world! In Six of Crows, six outcasts that don’t really get along have to band together to form a team and pull off a heist everyone thinks is impossible. Think Ocean’s 11 with a science-based magic system, but just as many casinos.
The goal is to make it to the Ice Palace and rescue a scientist and his dangerous discovery. It makes people with magical abilities dangerously powerful. The team has to decide who they can trust while breaking into one of the most secure places in their world.
