february reads 2025
here they are!!
each of february’s weekly reading book reviews… complete with links to bookshop.org where you can learn more, or purchase any of these books online while supporting the indie bookstore of your choice! :D
with peace, love, and many (many!) colourful HEART MONTH reads to you!
xo,
*hallie :)
✨📖 weekly reading book review february 2025: episode one!! 📖✨
💖 here’s what i read this week:
☕️ BEFORE WE FORGET KINDNESS by toshikazu kawagushi
🌬️ MOMO ARASHIMA STEALS THE SWORD OF THE WIND by misa sugiura
🚃 EVERYONE ON THIS TRAIN IS A SUSPECT by benjamin stevenson
❤️ reading next (probably?):
🌊 A SEA OF UNSPOKEN THINGS by adrienne young
🎭 A COMEDY OF ERRORS by wm. shakespeare
my bn edition: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-comedy-of-errors-william-shakespeare/1107090769?ean=9781411499560
folger edition: https://bookshop.org/a/5254/9781982156909
💙 WATER MOON by samantha stto yambao
💚 WITCH OF WOODLAND by laurel snyder
💘 currently listening:
🎧 WHAT WENT WRONG's podcast episodes on THE GODFATHER
what stories are you loving right now?!
😄🎬🎨🩰🎭🎧📝📚📺
with all my vip elite travel wishes,
🩷xo,
*hallie 🤓
👉🏽 crayon box happy sticker mail v. special vinyl sticker valentines (& then some!) are heading out in the mail soon!! patreon.com/halthegal if you’re not already in on the fun!! 😄🥰🖍️🥳📬💌🎀🎉🙏🏽
✨📖 weekly reading book review february 2025: episode two! 📖✨
🙃 here’s what i read this week:
🖤 THE MAGIC TOYSHOP by angela carter
💛 MOSHI MOSHI by banana yoshimoto (adult fiction in translation; slice of life and much grief in japan + some healing…?)
🎬 watched:
😭 FROM HERE TO ETERNITY (1953; didn’t know it was about pearl harbor going in)
🎭 in my #brushupyourshakespeare2025 quest:
🖋️ THE COMEDY OF ERRORS
my bn edition: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-comedy-of-errors-william-shakespeare/1107090769?ean=9781411499560
folger edition: https://bookshop.org/a/5254/9781982156909
& next:
✒️ CORIOLANUS (which i’ve neither read nor seen 😬)
🎭 got to see LIVE:
💚 PETER & THE STARCATCHER at centre stage (stage show inspired by the dave barry & ridley pearson middle grade series of books; it was amazzzzing!!)
gonna get to see this week:
🎭 JANE ANGER at the warehouse theatre (shakespeare trying to write from home in lockdown; yes, dad, it’s a comedy. 😂)
📚 (sorta) #currentlyreading :
💙 FEAST AND FAMINE: THE LAST GREAT HEIR by carina finn
bn paperback: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-last-great-heir-carina-finn/1145435014?ean=9781464245299
on bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/5254/9781728298337
📚 finishing & maybe reading next:
❤️ SIX OF CROWS by leigh bardugo (re-read for next week’s #bookclub !!)
🎨 ART CLUB by rashad doucet
💙 TWELFTH NIGHT: A MUSICAL ADAPTATION by kwame kwei-armah & shaina taub
💖 MANSLAUGHTER PARK by tirzah price
📝 STEERING THE CRAFT by ursula k. le guin
🎵 i also happen to have the songs from A CHORUS LINE stuck in my head as i was listening to the obcr while i painted my winged monkey for my patreons… 😂🤪👠👠; i told you it was a weird week!!
ohkay, kids.
let me know what stories YOU’RE loving, reading, watching, enjoying…!!
🥰🎨🎭🎬💿📺🏈🎧🩰
i’ll check in after my editing morning!!
☕️
💖xo,
your forever galentine,
*hallie 🤓
✨📖 weekly reading book review february 2025: episode three!! 📖✨
💘 this week i read:
🧁 FEAST & FAMINE: THE LAST GREAT HEIR by carina finn
barnes & noble edition here.
❤️ SIX OF CROWS by leigh bardugo (a re*read for book club this week!!)
💚 STAR WARS: SOMEONE WHO LOVES YOU by beth revis & illustrated by sophie li
🩷 HEARTFELT by elaine vickers & pictures by samantha cotterill (explored further in last week’s picture book deep dive video in the crayon box!!)
crayon box video here.
📚 listened to (as YOU must!!):
🎧 MIDDLE GRADE MATTERS PODCAST two-part episode with james ponti (you’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll be INSPIRED!! i plan to re*read CITY SPIES next month on my vacay/road*trip! 🥰🇫🇷🔍
podcast part one: here.
podcast part two: here.
city spies: here.
📓 currently reading:
📝 STEERING THE CRAFT: A 21st-CENTURY GUIDE TO SAILING THE SEA OF STORIES by ursula k. le guin (comes with writing exercises for you or a group; inspired by her seminar)
🎭 CORIOLANUS for my #brushupyourshakespeare2025 challenge to read all the plays
🐱 THE TRAVELING CAT CHRONICLES by hiro arikawa
🎧 listening to the final chapters of isabel ibañez's WHAT THE RIVER KNOWS (so i can read the sequel: WHERE THE LIBRARY HIDES!)
audio book: here on libro.fm
the sequel: here.
🎬 currently watching:
💚 WICKED bonus features (i live for behind the scenes goodness!)
🥧 THE GREAT BRITISH BAKING SHOW
what stories are you loving right now?!
😻🎨🩰🎭🎬📺🎧📝📚🥰
with frosted cookie crumbs in her wake,
💖xo,
*hallie 🤓
✨📖 weekly reading book review february 2025: episode four!! 📖✨
💘 here’s what i read this week:
🐈 THE TRAVELING CAT CHRONICLES by hiro arikawa
❤️ SIX OF CROWS by leigh bardugo
🎭 CORIOLANUS by wm. shakespeare
📚 currently reading:
🎨 THE MURALIST by b.a. shapiro
(her latest, THE LOST MASTERPIECE, comes out june 17!! )
📚 not including what i have set aside for this weekend’s artsy author travel adventures, i miiiight read next:
🫣 SOMETHING IN THE WALLS by daisy pearce (comes out TomoRrOw, feb. 25 from minotaur books!!)
👻 THE GHOSTS OF BITTERFLY BAY by mary averling (yay spooky middle grade!!)
🎭 CYMBELINE by wm. shakespeare (next on my alphabetical #brushupyourshakespeare2025 quest!!)
what stories are you loving & enjoying?!
📖🎧🎨🎬🎭📝📺
reminding you to celebrate ❤️ month everyday,
💖xo,
*hallie 🤓
👉🏽 crayon box original art grab is up through thursday! 🥰🎉🎨🖼️🛒📬
(i’ll be invoicing & shipping starting today! huzzah & thank you!!) 🥹🙏🏽🎈
https://www.patreon.com/halthegal
👉🏽 monthly substack goes out this week, too!!