We officially have 18 books on the list now. More than halfway to fully occupying the list! As with last month, the books from February might not necessarily land in the same order as the bracket results. They do still have to compete against the 8 books from January.
*Disclaimer: This list is completely subjective and based solely on my opinions. It is not meant to indicate that one book/genre is better than another. It is based on my personal preference and mood at the time of ranking. Please read my explanations for better clarity and take it all with a grain of salt.*
Top 3:
Freedom’s Fury was the top read, according to the bracket, and it snagged the highest rank of all the Feb. books. As much as I love Vivian and Sin, they couldn’t bypass Brimstone or The Grace Year.
4.
5.
6.
These three pushed out the previous spot holders because they were the three books behind Fury’s Freedom that were really the great reads of February.
Lightlark
Credence
What Fury Brings
Lightlark is such a great kickoff to a series. Mystery, betrayal, curses, slight romance, heartbreak, and magic. Exactly what you expect of a YA fantasy.
Putting Credence as fifth and not sixth was a tough decision. But, wow, the amount of raw emotions in this story. Such broken characters, in their own way and following along their journeys of healing and forgiveness, are what landed it at fifth.
While I absolutely love the controversy brought forth with the themes in this book, it lacks the emotional connection Credence has. This is memorable but didn’t hit as deep.
7.
8.
9.
The Damned
Nessa & the Bear
Coraline
The Damned got booted from third all the way down to seventh. It was boring compared to Lightlark, Credence, and What Fury Brings.
The story is very simple, and so is the writing style. It’s a feel-good-shifter-romance. While I enjoy this book very much, I couldn’t place it any higher.
Imaginative and unique. It deserved to be in the top 10, even if it just squeaked in.
10.
11.
12.
The overall heartwarming feel of this book has kept it in the top 10. Jack and Teo are simply the cutest.
Just behind Virgin Flyer, this had all the smut, just not as much gooey emotions. Sure, there’s a great HEA, but lacked the coziness.
Ava, the FMC, is just way too naive to really like her. The spice is not the best, but the rest of the story is done well.
13.
14.
15.
Lily and Nero are toxic from the beginning. Yet, I still found myself rooting for them.
A quick palate cleanser with a HEA and a lackluster epilogue. Short and quick to the point.
There are just so many things that went wrong with this one. The story is unique even though it’s written in a very convoluted way.
16.
17.
18.
The 2nd in the series ranked higher than the first one only because the story was a bit better. And even then, that’s splitting hairs.
The first in the series. Not the best start to a series, but it did keep me reading. Even if the FMC is not very relatable or likable.
Filled with disappointment. A FMC I wouldn’t mind seeing taken out. Self-absorbed and completely oblivious to the world around her.
There it is, the February update to the 26 top reads of 2026. Would you change the order around?
Checkout how the 10 new additions did in February’s Book Bracket.
Check out an in-depth review of February’s books.
