February is always a quick month, and I didn’t get through as many books as usual. I read just three, and let me tell you—one of them felt like a complete waste of time! Two were on my to-be-read (TBR) list, and one was a beloved classic I reread with Cole for his English class.

So, let’s dive in!

1. Tracks: One Woman’s Journey Across 1,700 Miles of Australian Outback

📖 Author: Robyn Davidson
📚 Genre: Memoir

Summary:

This book follows Robyn’s ambitious goal to trek across the Australian Outback with her dog and a handful of camels. Does she have any experience? Nope. Does she know a single thing about camels? Also nope. Does she find joy in this journey? Absolutely not.

My Thoughts:

I want to start by saying that I love reading. I’m ridiculously stubborn about finishing books, even when I don’t enjoy them. And let me tell you—this one tested me.

I went in with high hopes, expecting a thrilling adventure full of resilience and self-discovery. Instead, I got a story filled with inexperience, animal cruelty that is brushed off as “the way things are done,” and a main character who spends most of the book complaining. She agrees to have National Geographic document her journey, but then resents their presence. She gets frustrated when people show her support. The whole thing was just… frustrating.

And yet, I kept reading, convinced it had to get better. Spoiler alert: It didn’t.

Who Should Read This?

No one. Seriously, don’t waste your time—I did that for you.

2. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

📖 Author: Robert Louis Stevenson
📚 Genre: Classic Gothic Fiction

Summary:

A gripping classic that follows the strange relationship between the respectable Dr. Jekyll and the sinister Mr. Hyde, as told through the eyes of Jekyll’s friend, who is desperate to uncover the mystery. If you’ve never read it, I won’t spoil it—but let’s just say the ending might not be what you expect!

My Thoughts:

I first read this book as a kid (shoutout to the Illustrated Classics version), then again as a teen, and then again as a young adult. And you know what? Reading it with Cole for his English class was my favorite experience yet.

Stevenson’s writing is so engaging, and unlike many other classics from this era, it’s easy to read without needing a history lesson to understand half the references. It’s suspenseful, eerie, and just an overall fantastic story.

Who Should Read This?

Everyone! If you haven’t read it yet, do yourself a favor and pick it up. It’s short, well-written, and completely worth your time.

3. The Only Woman in the Room: A Novel

📖 Author: Marie Benedict
📚 Genre: Historical Fiction

Summary:

This novel follows an Austrian actress who, as a young woman, marries an arms dealer and finds herself living a life of material wealth but emotional captivity. She is surrounded by key figures of WWII, overhearing conversations that no one would expect a mere “trophy wife” to understand. Eventually, she escapes to the U.S. and reinvents herself—contributing to the war effort in ways no one sees coming. Or do they?

My Thoughts:

First, let me confess: I thought this was a memoir when I picked it up. It wasn’t until I was enthusiastically retelling the story to my husband that I realized—wait a minute—this is historical fiction. Oops.

That being said, the first two-thirds of the book were fantastic. The writing was immersive, the story was compelling, and I was all in. But then? It’s like someone hit fast-forward. The last third of the book felt rushed, the rich, descriptive writing disappeared, and the ending was… odd. After all the effort the main character puts into contributing to the war, her work is dismissed, and she just accepts it. I wanted more from her story.

Who Should Read This?

Fans of historical fiction might enjoy it more than I did. If you love strong female leads and stories about women’s hidden roles in history, it’s worth a read—just be prepared for a less-than-satisfying ending.

Final Thoughts

If I had to rank these books in order of enjoyment, my list would look like this:

1️⃣ Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde – A timeless classic that never disappoints.
2️⃣ The Only Woman in the Room – Started strong, but lost me in the end.
3️⃣ Tracks – A journey I wish I hadn’t taken.

Have you read any of these books? What did you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts—and if you have any recommendations for March, drop them in the comments!

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